At noon the next day, I stood nervously inside the palace gate, clutching my admission certificate like a lifeline.

Last night, when Master heard the news, he actually wept. He called it heaven's blessing, saying our hardships were finally ending. Yet I couldn't help remembering my parents' fate and barely slept a wink.


"Are you Feng Lin? The one who made the egg fried rice?" a sharp voice cut through my thoughts.

I turned to see the eunuch who had overseen yesterday's selection. His eyes swept over me with barely concealed disdain.

"Follow me. Master Scarlet awaits you in the kitchen."


The kitchen was vast—far larger than I'd imagined. It was divided into sections: the outer area for washing and storage, the middle for regular cooking, and the innermost sanctum reserved for preparing the imperial family's meals. One glance at the gleaming pots and ornate stoves told me everything here was worth a fortune.

"Everyone, meet the new apprentice, Feng Lin," the eunuch announced with a clap, bringing all activity to a halt as everyone turned to stare.


I counted about twenty people, mostly women in their twenties who appeared to be full-fledged kitchen staff. A few were closer to my age—other apprentices, I assumed.

"So this is the girl who got in with a bowl of egg fried rice?" a pretty woman sneered. "I can't imagine what Master Scarlet was thinking."

"Right? We all went through rigorous testing," another added. "Yet some people waltz in with a simple home dish."

They made no effort to lower their voices, clearly wanting me to hear. I bit my lip and tried to ignore them. Master always said, "The pure remain pure, the tainted remain tainted—you needn't prove yourself to everyone."

"Enough gossip," an older woman approached, wearing a dark official robe. "I'm Mistress Willow, head chef. You'll work under my supervision."

Mistress Willow examined me critically, making no attempt to hide her disapproval.

"Since you're new, you'll start with basics. Wash vegetables, then chop firewood in the yard. Remember, palace rules differ from the outside world. Keep your hands clean and your mouth cleaner. Understood?"

"Yes, Mistress Willow," I replied meekly.

Truthfully, I welcomed these tasks. I'd rather handle ingredients than navigate the complex web of human relationships.

The washing area stood at the kitchen's edge, with an entire wall lined with vegetables. When I approached, my eyes widened in wonder.

Good Lord! Such an incredible variety!

I recognized cabbages, radishes, and winter melons, but there were dozens of items I'd never seen before. What were those green leaves with purple edges? And that herb with the fruity scent—could it be the legendary vanilla?

I couldn't resist leaning in for a sniff. A bright citrus scent filled my nostrils. Lemongrass! A luxury only Southern Territory nobles could afford, yet here it sat casually on an imperial rack.

"What exactly are you doing?" a sharp voice demanded from behind.

I turned to find the pretty woman from earlier glaring at me.

"Washing vegetables," I answered honestly.

"Do you need your face that close to wash them? This isn't some market stall where you browse at leisure," she sneered. "Just do your job and stop pretending to be an expert."

I didn't argue, just silently began washing. Inside, though, my curiosity about these ingredients burned uncontrollably.

Why did this radish root have such unique sweetness? How did that winter melon develop such delicate fuzz? And these unfamiliar mushrooms—each with its own distinct aroma.

The more I worked, the more excited I grew. This was like discovering an entirely new world.

"Feng Lin! After the vegetables, chop firewood!" Mistress Willow's voice carried from across the kitchen.

The woodpile in the backyard surprised me—not just ordinary logs, but numerous varieties of wood.

Beyond common pine and fir, I found sandalwood and camphorwood, each with its distinct aroma. Master once told me different woods create different scents when burned, affecting the flavor of dishes in surprising ways.

The smoky notes of sandalwood complement roasted meats perfectly, while camphorwood's fresh scent enhances delicate steamed dishes.

As I chopped, I mentally cataloged each wood type, already imagining the delicacies I could create with them.

Days passed in this routine: washing vegetables, chopping wood, scrubbing pots, cleaning dishes. The other apprentices occasionally mocked me with their glances, while the senior staff barely acknowledged my existence.

But I couldn't have cared less. The incredible variety of ingredients meant daily discoveries. My memory captured each ingredient's properties, while my keen senses detected even the subtlest differences in quality.

It was a treasure trove! I lost myself in the joy of learning and discovery each day.

"What's she so damn happy about?" I overheard someone whisper. "Washing vegetables and chopping wood all day, yet she's grinning like an idiot. Is something wrong with her?"

"Who knows? Maybe she actually enjoys grunt work."

"Whatever. She's not causing problems, at least."

I pretended not to hear and focused on my task. Today, Mistress Willow had assigned me to clean fresh sea cucumbers. They were exceptional quality—plump, tender, without a trace of fishiness.

Just as I lost myself in the work, a sharp crash came from the imperial kitchen section, followed by the unmistakable sound of liquid splashing across the floor.

"Oh God! The soup's spilled!"

"What do we do? The Emperor's lunch is due any minute!"

"We're dead! What now?"

I looked up to see chaos in the imperial kitchen. Milky white soup covered the floor while a young cook stood frozen in horror, his face ashen.

Master Scarlet rushed over at the commotion. Seeing the mess, her expression darkened instantly.

"What happened?" Her quiet voice carried unmistakable authority.

"Master Scarlet, I—I accidentally spilled the Emperor's silver ear and lotus seed soup," the cook stammered. "There's no time to make another batch. The Emperor's meal is due shortly."

Master Scarlet frowned deeply. The Emperor was strict about meal timing—delays meant punishment for everyone involved.

"Can we prepare something else?" she asked.

"But... silver ear fungus needs hours of stewing to develop its texture. There's no way to replicate that now."

"Then make something else! Anything! Just ensure it's served on time!" Master Scarlet's patience was wearing thin.

Just then, her gaze fell on me standing at the edge of the commotion.

"Feng Lin!" she called sharply. "Come here!"

I dropped the sea cucumber and hurried over.

"Can you prepare a soup in half an hour?" Master Scarlet asked.

I glanced at the spilled soup, then at the panicked faces around me, and nodded.

"Yes, Master Scarlet."

"Then get to it immediately!"

Just as I turned to gather ingredients, a thought struck me.

"Master Scarlet, may I see His Majesty's breakfast leftovers?" I asked carefully.

"Leftovers? What for?" Master Scarlet looked puzzled.

"I need to gauge His Majesty's current taste preferences to prepare the most suitable soup."

Master Scarlet hesitated briefly, then nodded. "Bring them for her inspection."

Soon, a eunuch brought the Emperor's breakfast remains. I leaned in to smell them and frowned slightly.

The dishes were barely touched. I detected a faint bitterness—not from the food itself, but from something else... the taste of troubled emotions.

I studied the face of the eunuch who had served the meal. He looked tense and worried.

"Is His Majesty in poor spirits today?" I whispered to him.

The eunuch looked startled, then nodded. "His Majesty has been troubled by the border conflict. He's had little appetite for days."

I understood immediately. Troubled minds often dull the palate—sour or sweet flavors can reawaken the appetite.

"I know what to make," I told Master Scarlet. "I'll need sour plums, rock sugar, and mint leaves."

"Sour plum soup?" Master Scarlet looked surprised. "It's autumn already. Is something so cooling appropriate?"

"Not the standard recipe," I explained. "I'll modify it to be both appetizing and gentle on the system."

Master Scarlet checked the time and gritted her teeth. "Fine. Proceed. But if anything goes wrong..."

"I'll take full responsibility," I said firmly.

Making plum syrup isn't difficult, but balancing its appetizing qualities without excessive cooling effects requires precise proportions and technique.

I selected plums with balanced sweet-tart profiles rather than the sourest variety. The rock sugar required exact measurement—too much would mask the plums' appetizing effect, too little would leave it unpleasantly tart.

The crucial element was the mint treatment. Rather than adding fresh leaves directly, I briefly blanched them to remove raw bitterness while preserving their aromatic qualities—maintaining freshness without excessive cooling properties.

Throughout cooking, I watched the syrup transform. The plums' acidity gradually released, melding with the rock sugar's sweetness, while mint's fragrance infused the rising steam.

Half an hour later, my crystal-clear plum soup was ready. Light amber in color, it released a sweet-tart aroma that would stimulate appetite without burdening digestion.

"It's ready," I said, pouring the soup into a delicate porcelain bowl. "This will stimulate His Majesty's appetite and calm his restless mind."

Master Scarlet took the bowl, first inhaling its aroma, then carefully tasting a spoonful. Her eyes widened instantly.

"Send it immediately!" she ordered without hesitation.

About fifteen minutes later, the eunuch who delivered the meal rushed back.

"Well?" Master Scarlet demanded anxiously.

"His Majesty... finished the entire bowl!" the eunuch exclaimed breathlessly. "And he asked who made it!"

The kitchen fell silent. All eyes turned to me.

Master Scarlet regarded me with newfound respect in her eyes.

"Feng Lin, well done," she nodded. "From today, you're relieved from vegetable washing and wood chopping. I'll arrange for you to learn more advanced skills."

I bowed deeply. "Thank you for your guidance, Master Scarlet."

But what truly filled my heart wasn't the recognition—it was knowing I'd helped someone through my cooking. Just as Master always said, cooking's true essence lies in bringing joy and comfort to those who taste your food.

In that moment, I knew entering the palace had been the right choice. No matter how much intrigue and deception lurked within these walls, I could still bring a touch of warmth to this cold place in my own small way.