In the following days, I devoted almost all my time to studying the secret recipes left by my mother.

Every night, when all was quiet, I would light a candle and carefully hold the pages close to the flame, watching as the hidden words slowly revealed themselves. Each page left me more awestruck, deepening my understanding of the precious and weighty heritage of the Hawthorne Family.


"Calming Mind and Spirit Soup: Atractylodes macrocephala, three qian; Poria cocos, five qian; Dragon bone, two qian... After consumption, it brings peace to the mind and dissolves resentment..."

"Clarifying Heart and Brightening Vision Powder: Chrysanthemum, one liang; Lycium chinense, three qian; Cassia seed, five qian... Long-term use clears toxins and sharpens the mind..."

These formulas were already astonishing, but what surprised me even more was the content that followed.


In the final pages of the recipe book, some magical dishes I had never imagined were recorded.

"Reminiscence: Angelica, ginseng, and gastrodia elata are mixed in specific proportions, combined with special cooking techniques, can awaken deep memories suppressed by drugs or external forces... Note: This method is extremely dangerous, use with caution. Overdose may lead to confusion or even life-threatening conditions..."


I paused, my heart pounding.

Awakening suppressed memories? This... isn't this the answer I've been searching for?

I continued reading:

"This method must be carried out in three steps. First, use a mild medicinal diet to purify the toxins and impurities in the consumer's body; second, use a specially made soup to relax their mind, bringing them into a half-dream, half-awake state; third, the crucial memory-awakening soup must be consumed when the consumer is completely off guard..."

"Remember: This method is only effective for memories that have been artificially suppressed or obscured, not for natural forgetting or traumatic amnesia. Moreover, the user must harbor righteous intentions, or the consequences could be dire..."

I was so excited I almost jumped up!

This is it! This is the key to clearing my father's name!

If the emperor was indeed deceived or administered some memory-altering drug back then, then this 'Reminisce of the Past' could help him recall the truth!

But... here comes the problem.

How can I make the emperor willingly taste the dish I prepare? And not just any dish, but one that might remind him of unpleasant memories?

As I was racking my brains, a soft knock came from the door.

"Lin'er, it's me," Aunt Scarlet's voice.

I quickly put away the recipe and went to open the door.

Aunt Scarlet walked in, looking somewhat nervous. She glanced around to confirm no one else was present, then whispered, "Lin'er, there's something I must tell you."

"What's the matter?"

"Starson just sent a message that the emperor has decided to hold the 'Millennial Banquet' next month."

Millennial Banquet? I was stunned for a moment: "What is that?"

Aunt Scarlet sat down, her expression growing even more serious: "The Millennial Banquet is a traditional feast of the royal family, usually held before major decisions. This time, the emperor said he would use this opportunity to assess the abilities of several princes, and..."

She paused, looking deeply at me: "And he is likely to announce the choice of the new crown prince during the banquet."

I instantly understood the implications.

This was the most critical moment for Noble Consort Lewis and her son. If her son could perform exceptionally well at this banquet, he would likely be named the crown prince.

But at the same time, for me...

"Aunt Scarlet," I tightly grasped her hand, "This is my opportunity! At such an important event like the Millennial Banquet, the emperor is sure to taste every dish served. If I can be involved in the preparation of the banquet..."

Aunt Scarlet immediately understood what I meant: "You want to use the cuisine of the Millennium Banquet to..."

"Exactly!" I lowered my voice and said excitedly, "I've already found the method in my mother's recipes. There's a special dish that can awaken artificially suppressed memories. If the emperor was truly misled back then, this is our only chance to prove our father's innocence!"

Aunt Scarlet remained silent for a long time, then slowly nodded: "You're right. The Millennium Banquet is indeed the best opportunity, and perhaps the only one. But Lin'er, you must understand, the risks are great. If we're discovered..."

"I understand," I said firmly, "but Auntie, I can't wait any longer. Noble Consort Lewis's influence grows stronger every day. If her son truly becomes the Crown Prince, I'll never be able to clear my father's name. This is my last chance."

Aunt Scarlet gazed into my eyes, as if confirming my resolve. Finally, she let out a long sigh: "Alright, if you've truly made up your mind, I will help you. The scale of the Millennium Banquet is enormous, requiring many chefs to participate. I can find a way to let you serve as an assistant to one of the head chefs, but..."

Her expression turned worried: "Linn, you must understand, the Millennium Banquet is different from ordinary palace feasts. Every person involved in its preparation will be under strict surveillance and scrutiny. And given Noble Consort Lewis's caution, she will undoubtedly find ways to eliminate any factors that might threaten her plans."

I thought for a moment: "Then let her know I intend to participate in the preparation of the Millennium Banquet."

"What?" Aunt Scarlet looked at me in shock. "Linn, have you gone mad? If Noble Consort Lewis finds out you're involved in the Millennium Banquet..."

"Aunt Scarlet, think about it," I calmly analyzed, "If I participate secretly, Noble Consort Lewis might find it strange and increase her vigilance. But if I openly apply to participate, she'll only think I'm a naive young girl trying to show off at an event like the Millennium Banquet."

I paused, a glimmer of cunning in my eyes: "Moreover, given her personality, she would surely see this as a great opportunity to completely eliminate me at the Millennium Banquet under the guise of 'poisoning'. She would let down her guard, believing everything is under her control."

Aunt Scarlet stared at me in astonishment, and after a long while, said: "Lin'er... since when did you become so... so cunning?"

I smiled sheepishly, "Perhaps it's because I've been in the palace for too long. Moreover, this was taught to me by my mother's cookbook. There is a passage in the book that says, 'The essence of cooking lies in adapting to circumstances. Sometimes, letting your opponent think they have the upper hand is the best strategy.'"

Aunt Scarlet looked at me deeply, her eyes filled with both relief and worry, "Alright, since you've already thought it through, I will help arrange it for you. However, you must promise me that if you find the situation turning for the worse, you will abandon the plan immediately."

"I promise you."

The next day, Aunt Scarlet submitted an application to her superiors for me to participate in the preparation work for the Thousand Autumn Banquet. The reason given was my outstanding performance in the culinary department, and that it would be a good opportunity for me to gain experience in such an important event.

The news soon reached the ears of Noble Consort Lewis.

According to what Starson later told me, when Noble Consort Lewis heard the news, she was momentarily stunned and then burst into laughter.

"She really has no sense of self-preservation," Noble Consort Lewis sneered to the maid beside her. "How dare the daughter of a traitor participate in such an important event as the Millennium Banquet? Well, let her go. As soon as any 'irregularity' is found in the dish she’s responsible for, she can be executed on charges of plotting against the Emperor. This way, we eliminate a major threat while also showcasing our loyalty and vigilance to the Emperor."

"Your Majesty is truly wise!" the maid flattered.

"However," a glint of malice flashed in Noble Consort Lewis's eyes, "to ensure there are no mistakes, we’ll actively add something to her dish. Once she’s dead, there will be no evidence, and no one will ever know the truth."

When Starson mimicked Noble Consort Lewis’s tone and recounted these words to me, I listened quietly, feeling both anger and calmness in my heart.

What enraged me was Noble Consort Liu's cruelty and shamelessness, but what calmed me was knowing this was exactly the result I had aimed for.

The more she felt certain of victory, the less she would seriously guard against my true plan.

"Lily," Starson looked at me with concern, "Are you really sure about this? Noble Consort Liu is a ruthless woman; she is capable of anything."

I held Starson's hand: "Starson, I know you're worried about me. But this time, I cannot back down. For my father, for all the innocent people who have been wronged, I must give it a try."

"Then... is there anything I can do for you?"

"Help me gather the detailed schedule of the Thousand Autumn Banquet, including which dishes the Emperor will taste, when he will taste them, and what tricks Noble Consort Liu might pull."

Starson nodded earnestly: "Alright, I will definitely do everything I can to help you."

In the following days, on one hand, I continued to study my mother's recipes, especially the preparation method of "Reminiscence," and on the other hand, I began to familiarize myself with the preparation process of the Millennium Feast under Aunt Scarlet's arrangements.

The preparation of "Reminiscence" was far more complicated than I imagined. It was not a simple dish but required three distinct stages to complete.

The first stage was the "Detoxification Soup," which needed to be made from herbs like light bamboo leaves, coix seed, and woolly grass root, known for their heat-clearing and detoxifying properties, to purify the toxins in the consumer's body. This soup tasted refreshing and sweet, completely unsuspicious.

The second stage was the "Calming Tea," which used herbs like albizia flowers, spina date seed, and polygala root to create a delicate floral tea. After drinking, it would induce relaxation and joy, lowering one's alertness.

The third stage is the true "Remembrance of the Past," which requires the precise proportioning of precious medicinal ingredients such as angelica, ginseng, and gastrodia elata, and the entire cooking process must be completed within a specific time frame. The key to this dish lies in the control of temperature and timing; even a second off could lead to complete failure.

The most challenging part is that these three stages must be completed in sequence during a single banquet, and the diner must be in a completely relaxed and trusting state when tasting the third stage.

In other words, I need to ensure that the emperor, in an unsuspecting manner, tastes these three special dishes in the correct order.

This sounds like an almost impossible task.

But I have no choice.

The day of the Qianqiu Banquet is approaching, and this might be my last chance to overturn my father’s case.

Aunt Scarlet told me that on the day of the Imperial Banquet, there would be eighteen main courses and countless snacks and desserts. The emperor would taste each dish in the traditional order, and I was assigned to oversee three of them: a clear soup, a tea snack, and a final medicinal dish.

This was simply the perfect arrangement!

I could turn the "Cleansing Broth" into an appetizing clear soup, the "Calming Tea" into an exquisite tea snack, and "Recalling the Past" could be disguised as a nourishing medicinal dish to be served last.

But I also knew that Noble Consort Lewis wouldn’t let me carry out my plan so smoothly. She must be plotting something in the shadows.

"Lin'er," Aunt Scarlet approached me the day before the Imperial Banquet, "I’ve just received news that tomorrow, Noble Consort Lewis will send her trusted maid 'Ruyi' to supervise the preparation of the banquet. Officially, it’s to ensure perfection, but in reality…"

"In reality, she’s here to keep an eye on me, right?" I chuckled bitterly.

"Not just watching, I'm afraid she might try to tamper with your food and then frame you."

I pondered for a moment: "Then let her do it."

"What?"

"Aunt Scarlet, what do you think would happen if something really went wrong with my dish, but it helped the emperor recover some crucial memories?"

Aunt Scarlet widened her eyes: "You mean..."

"I mean, perhaps Noble Consort Liu's scheme might actually do us a great favor. If she poisons my dish, and then the emperor eats it and remembers the truth from back then, what do you think the emperor would think?"

Aunt Scarlet gasped: "The emperor would think... he would think Noble Consort Liu is trying to stop him from remembering the truth!"

"Exactly!" My eyes sparkled with excitement. "This way, not only will my innocence be proven, but Noble Consort Liu's conspiracy will also be completely exposed!"

"But Lin'er, this is too dangerous! What if the poison she uses is very potent? What if the emperor is truly harmed because of it?"

I said earnestly, "Auntie Scarlet, do you trust me?"

"Of course I do."

"Then please believe that I will absolutely not let the emperor suffer any harm. I will find a way to ensure that no matter what poison Noble Consort Lewis uses, it will not truly hurt the emperor."

In truth, I already had a plan in mind.

My mother's recipe book didn’t just record special dishes like "Reminiscence of the Past," but also many antidote and body-protection formulas. I could add some special herbs to the "Cleansing Soup" to build an immune barrier for the emperor in advance.

The risks were still great, but this was my only chance.

On the eve of the Millennium Banquet, I lay in bed, holding my mother’s recipe book, silently praying.

Tomorrow would be the day that determines everything.

Success, my father's grievances are redressed, and I can regain my innocence.

Failure, I might die, but at least I tried my best.

No matter what, I’ve already made my resolution.

The phoenix’s rebirth is not always successful.

But how can I know if I can’t rise from the ashes without trying?