Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

Weren’t they expecting a drink? Why were they looking at a pair of women’s shoes?

Moreover, these shoes were incredibly small. Were they for a child? But that didn’t seem right either.

Looking closer, they noticed a small cup placed inside one of the shoes, holding a pale, clear liquid.

Liu Changshi, holding the pointed shoe as though it were a wine glass, proudly announced, “This is the ‘Golden Lotus Cup,’ and the drink within is Fragrant Lotus Dew.” With that, he raised the shoe to his lips to sip from the cup inside…

“Urk—!”

Liu Changshi froze mid-sip as he turned to see Xu Yanmiao clinging to the table, vomiting.

“Urk—”

“Urk—”

It wasn’t just a dry heave; Xu Yanmiao was actually throwing up the noodles he had eaten earlier.

To him, this method of drinking was normal—even elegant. But watching someone retch right next to him made it impossible to continue sipping the so-called Fragrant Lotus Dew.

The other officials sprang to their feet, surrounding Xu Yanmiao.

“Master Xu, are you alright?”

“Call a doctor!”

“Drink some water…”

“Urk—!”

“Alright, alright, no water! Forget we even mentioned drinking!”

“Fragrant Lotus Dew? Foot sweat… I’m sorry, I mean no disrespect to women, but foot sweat! Even a woman’s foot sweat stinks! How could anyone’s hobby involve forcing someone to bind their feet, then using their bound shoes to serve wine?!”

“And those are actual shoes that have been worn!”

Many officials who had pre-ordered the so-called “Fragrant Lotus Dew” turned pale. Their sluggish minds finally caught up, and upon realizing the meaning of “foot-sweat wine,” their stomachs churned violently, prompting several of them to dry heave.

“I was wondering why the shape of the cup looked so strange!”

“Urk—”

“So filthy! Absolutely disgusting!”

“Foot binding isn’t even fashionable in society anymore! No, it probably never was, except for that one household. Why would anyone willingly create such a twisted thing? Scum! Degenerates!”

“Urk—”

Stop… Please stop…

Some officials, their faces ashen, weakly clutched the edges of the table for support.

We only came to support the Crown Prince out of courtesy—why must we endure such trauma?!

Xu Yanmiao rarely took leave, but this time he did, citing illness as the reason.

The entire court was thrown into a state of alarm.

The aging emperor wore a grave expression and even brought the matter up during the morning assembly. “The Imperial Physician has already examined him. There’s nothing serious—merely shock. But from what I’ve heard, he vomited so severely that I doubt it’s just that.” ṜἈ𐌽∅ＢÈȘ

Could Xu Yanmiao be suffering from some unknown illness?

The thought made the emperor agitated. He immediately dispatched an eunuch with a scathing edict lambasting Prince Fu, ordering him to his domain to endure the emperor’s verbal wrath.

The decree also included a reduction in Prince Fu’s territory and stipend.

After some quiet discussions among the ministers, Prime Minister Dou stepped forward and decisively said: “Your Majesty! The Bai Ze is a sacred beast, known for its purity and high moral standards. It naturally detests filth. Folk tales even say that excrement can destroy a Buddha’s golden form. Since Bai Ze’s divine abilities remain unbroken, it must simply abhor foot binding and view it as unclean.”

The Minister of Revenue also stepped forward to support: “Your Majesty! Bai Ze’s refusal to explicitly call it ‘filthy’ already implies its disdain. I humbly petition Your Majesty to decree that both in the palace and among the common people, foot binding is strictly forbidden. Furthermore, condemn it as an unclean practice that harbors impurity, which might invite malevolent forces.”

The Minister of Rites also stood up: “Your Majesty! Considering how Prince Fu’s steward appeared accustomed to the so-called ‘Golden Lotus Cup,’ it’s likely this practice has been rampant in his territory for some time. I humbly suggest summoning Prince Fu back to the capital for a stern reprimand. Let the censors investigate his past conduct, and if similar incidents are uncovered, punish him severely.”

Several more officials stepped forward, echoing the call to ban foot binding and punish Prince Fu. Their words carried an underlying plea:

Your Majesty! Bai Ze may only be mildly discomforted now, but if this trend of foot binding is allowed to spread as a fashionable practice, it could provoke Bai Ze further. What if one day it’s angered to death?

That must not happen!

The emperor shuddered at the thought and immediately declared, “Let it be as my loyal ministers have advised!”

Foot binding was officially banned, and Prince Fu was reprimanded.

Flower Dew Rice:

When hosting guests, meals must be slightly more refined than everyday fare. How does one refine rice? By adding fragrance. I once instructed a young housewife to prepare a small bowl of floral dew in advance. When the rice was nearly cooked, she poured the dew over it, covered it briefly, and mixed it thoroughly before serving.

Guests would marvel at the taste, attributing it to a rare grain and asking for its source, unaware it was ordinary rice.

This method, kept secret for years, is shared here for the first time. To conserve floral dew, do not pour it over the entire pot; instead, pour a single bowlful over a corner to satisfy esteemed guests.

The best floral dew is made from roses, citron, and osmanthus. Avoid regular roses, as their fragrance is too distinct and easily identifiable. Instead, use varieties that blend harmoniously with the natural aroma of grains, making it indistinguishable from the rice itself.

From “A Leisurely Miscellany”

Translation:

When hosting guests, one must serve rice that is more refined than everyday fare. How can rice be refined? By giving it a fragrant aroma. I once suggested to my daughter-in-law that she prepare a small bowl of floral dew in advance. When the rice is just cooked, pour the floral dew over it. Cover the pot briefly to let it infuse, mix it evenly, and then serve it in bowls. Guests would marvel at the taste, believing the rice to be of a superior and rare variety, but in truth, it is just ordinary rice.

I’ve kept this method a secret for a long time, sharing it only now. When using this method, it’s not necessary to pour the floral dew over the entire pot of rice, as that would be wasteful. This method would not become widespread if it required excessive amounts of floral dew. Instead, use only one small bowl to flavor a portion of the rice, enough for the guests to enjoy. The best floral dew is made from roses, citron, or osmanthus. Avoid using regular roses because their fragrance is easily recognizable, making it clear that the scent isn’t intrinsic to the rice. The fragrances of roses, citron, and osmanthus blend seamlessly with the natural aroma of grains, making them ideal for this purpose.

Golden Lotus Cup:

Yang Tieya, known for his indulgence in music and beauty, would often, during feasts, notice performers or dancers with small bound feet. He would remove their shoes, place a wine cup inside, and serve wine using it. This was called the “Golden Lotus Cup.”

— From “Nancun Notes from a Farming Pause”

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