MTCCP Chapter 15

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The weather was growing colder, and even Toto was now permitted to enter the palace during morning and evening salutations, curling up in the warm rooms.

When Yue Yiwan arrived, he brought the small rug neatly packaged in a gold-embossed gift box decorated with marigolds. After paying his respects to the Empress Dowager, he asked the palace attendants to present the gift.

“A rug?” The Empress Dowager hadn’t expected such a gift. “Where did you buy it?”

The attendants opened the box in front of her. Inside was a soft, thick white rug with elegant geometric patterns.

The Empress Dowager squinted as she took out the rug, stroking its plush texture with her hand. She found it surprisingly well-made. “Something this fine—it feels like a waste to use it as a foot mat.”

“This was woven by His Highness and me,” Yue Yiwan said with a smile. “The size has been carefully measured to fit perfectly in your quarters.”

“Oh?” The Empress Dowager chuckled. “So men can weave rugs these days?”

“I can also knit hats and scarves, though I doubt you’d have much use for those,” Yue Yiwan added with a grin. “This rug was made from Toto’s brushed fur, cleaned and processed by hand.”

The Empress Dowager glanced at Toto, lounging obediently by her chair, and then back at the rug, thoughtfully stroking the soft white fur. “You didn’t strip the poor dog bare—your skills must be impressive.”

After Yue Yiwan and Hua Muzhi finished their visit, the Emperor and Empress arrived fashionably late.

As the family chatted, the Emperor’s gaze fell on the rug under the Empress Dowager’s feet.

“This is well-made,” he remarked. “Who gifted it to you?”

The Empress Dowager sipped her tea leisurely. “Thinking of taking it?”

The Emperor chuckled awkwardly and replied, “It’s just a rug. We could commission someone to make another one.”

“That might be difficult,” the Empress Dowager said calmly. “This was a gift from my grandson’s spouse. Best to forget about it.”

“Wait, Yue can make rugs now?” The Empress burst out laughing. “That boy knows too much, doesn’t he?”

“If Yue made it, that’s easy,” the Emperor said confidently. “I’ll just have Muzhi ask him for another one.”

“That won’t work,” the Empress Dowager said slowly. “Maybe next year.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Do you know why this rug feels so fine?” She looked at her son, a hint of amusement in her tone. “It’s all Toto’s fur.”

The Emperor and Empress froze, the latter going pale. “What did he do to Toto?”

Surely, they hadn’t harmed or skinned the dog—after all, it was Muzhi’s beloved pet of many years!

“It’s…”

“The fur was brushed off by hand, then spun into yarn and sun-dried,” the Empress Dowager explained. Even she seemed a bit puzzled as she continued, “Could you find anyone in the northern district with the skills to do this? Are you certain Yue is truly from the Yue family?”

 Yes… yes indeed."

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, the palace grew lively once more.

Various types of mooncakes were prepared—not just those with peach mountain crusts but also snow skin mooncakes.

(Photo of Mooncake)

link: 

https://eatlittlebird.com/chocolate-fudge-mooncakes/

Custard fillings and mung bean fillings were steamed to perfection, and the aroma of baked goods wafted far and wide.

Yue Yiwan, after finishing his lessons, enjoyed wandering around the palace grounds. This time, he dragged Hua Muzhi along to the imperial kitchen to watch the chefs make mooncakes.

Though Yue Yiwan still had over a month before officially moving into the palace, he had already become a familiar presence. Whether it was sketching in the imperial gardens and aviary or strolling in the front court, he seemed to have free rein.

Hua Muzhi, in contrast, rarely visited these areas. His usual haunts were the study, the stables, or family estates. He had no culinary skills and didn’t know how mooncakes were made.

Yue Yiwan didn’t know either, which made him all the more eager to study the chefs’ craftsmanship.

When the two entered the imperial kitchen, nearly everyone immediately stood up, bowing and greeting them—even leaving faucets running in their haste.

The steward, slightly uneasy, quickly approached from the back of the group and cautiously asked, “Is there something urgent, Your Highness? Or are today’s meals unsatisfactory?”

“Nothing of the sort. I’m just accompanying Mr. Yue to watch you make mooncakes,” Hua Muzhi replied, motioning for them to continue their work. The previously frozen staff collectively exhaled in relief.

“Let’s make some ourselves,” Yue Yiwan said, turning to Hua Muzhi with a gleam in his eyes. “We can make two batches—one for my dad.”

“Is that… appropriate?” Hua Muzhi hesitated, still unsure of how things operated in the kitchen.

“Back in Lin City, you’d have to pay for this kind of experience at a bakery workshop,” Yue Yiwan replied, pulling Hua Muzhi further inside. “Roll up your sleeves. Let’s wash our hands.”

It was 2030, after all—knowing how to cook wasn’t exactly embarrassing anymore.

Initially reluctant, Hua Muzhi was persuaded by Yue Yiwan’s casual use of “us,” which made him feel at ease. He rolled up his sleeves and joined him at the sink.

The steward, realizing the two were there to play, patiently explained the steps to them with a smile.

The fillings had already been prepared days in advance. The chefs were now steaming peach mountain crusts, made from soaked white beans that had been boiled and mashed into a velvety paste, releasing a wholesome aroma.

Hua Muzhi, who had little interest initially, found himself intrigued by the meticulous process.

The bean paste was placed in a wok, combined with sugar and maltose, and stirred until it reached a cohesive consistency.

Yue Yiwan knew that the prince had probably never even fried a dish, so he rolled up his sleeves and went over to help fry the bean paste.

As the heat rose, the aroma of the beans and maltose blended together, and the smell made people want to try it.

The two of them moved through the steps like students in a crafting class. Hua Muzhi, unfamiliar with the tools, at least managed to distinguish between butter and milk, following the steward’s guidance to measure and pour ingredients into ceramic bowls.

When the milk-based peach mountain crusts were finally prepared, the sweet potato paste and mung bean paste were also ready.

They divided the crusts into small portions, flattening each one to form a wrapper. A dollop of filling was placed in the center, and pressing gently, the pale crust absorbed the vibrant colors of the fillings like a blossoming flower.

Hua Muzhi, curious and surprised, pressed the dough flat while Yue Yiwan fetched several wooden molds.

Unlike the plastic molds common in urban households, the palace molds were crafted from walnut wood and engraved with intricate patterns. Some bore silver accents with designs of snapdragons, signifying their royal provenance.

“Just as I thought—it’s like playing with modeling clay,” Yue Yiwan said, opening a mold to show Hua Muzhi. “You just press the dough in, and voila—you get flowers or bunnies.”

Hua Muzhi, fascinated, followed his instructions, carefully spooning fillings into the dough, wrapping them into small balls, and placing them into the molds.

The balls, resembling magical eggs, were pressed into molds with clearly defined floral and bunny motifs. Each mooncake emerged charmingly detailed, with streaks of purple and green adding a vibrant touch.

Despite seeing himself as a mature and composed man in his twenties, Hua Muzhi found himself playing like a child, eagerly trying out more molds to stamp patterns onto the mooncakes.

Once shaped, the mooncakes were brushed with oil and baked for fifteen minutes.

As the aroma of milk and baked beans filled the room, the pair felt a twinge of hunger.

Outside, the October winds howled, and light rain began to fall. The branches of yew trees, heavy with tiny red berries, bent under the weight of the droplets.

“I’ll pack this box for my brother and this one for my dad,” Yue Yiwan said, bending down to inspect their baked mooncakes with the sly satisfaction of a little fox admiring its work. “You can take these two boxes—one for your father and mother and one for the Empress Dowager.”

Hua Muzhi caught the scent of wheat lingering on his fingertips, rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, and went to wash his hands.

Turning his head, he saw his future crown princess peeling a freshly roasted candied chestnut under the warm yellow light, his demeanor relaxed and carefree as always.

“Hmm?” Yue Yiwan noticed Hua Muzhi watching him and peeled another chestnut for him. “Try it! It's soft and sweet!”

The chestnut was offered to him with pale, delicate fingers, leaving Hua Muzhi momentarily stunned.

Lowering his head, he took the chestnut and slowly savored it.

“Mmm, it’s delicious,” he said.

That afternoon, as the Empress Dowager was engrossed in a soap opera, a court attendant informed her that the Crown Prince and his consort were coming to visit.

On the screen, the third wife was clutching her child and sobbing, while the first wife brandished a whip, ready to deliver her lesson. The Empress Dowager hesitated, giving the screen one last longing glance before reluctantly waving her hand.

The attendant promptly paused the show and assisted her to the front hall.

Before she even arrived, a tantalizing aroma reached her.

So fragrant… freshly baked, perhaps?

By the time she entered, the Crown Prince and Yue Yiwan were already explaining the origin of the scent. Not long after, the Emperor and Empress arrived, too, having planned to discuss a suitable title for Yue Yiwan’s noble rank. As soon as they stepped into the courtyard, the enticing aroma greeted them.

“What delicacy are you sneaking this time?” the Emperor asked, striding in. Noticing Yue Yiwan, he added with a chuckle, “Ah, Xiao Yue is here, too?”

“Your timing is always impeccable,” the Empress Dowager said with a dismissive wave. She instructed, “Bring another pot of tea.”

(Photo of Tea)

link:

https://inpursuitoftea.com/blogs/the-ipot-journal/babelcarp-glossary

Eating mooncakes, which can be a bit rich, called for a palate-cleansing tea. The attendant brewed some premium Pingshuizhu tea, and poured a cup for the Emperor and Empress as well.

“I was enjoying afternoon tea with my grandson’s wife,” the Empress Dowager said with a hint of sarcasm, “and here you are, eager to intrude. What? Afraid you’d miss a bite?”

“No such thing. In fact, Muzhi even made a box of mooncakes for His Majesty and Her Majesty,” Yue Yiwan said with a sparkle in his eyes. “Su-style ones with fresh meat filling! Why not bring them over and try them together?”

“And why is it that I get egg yolk and white lotus seed, while they get meat filling?” The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow. “Do you young ones think I can’t handle chewy food anymore?”

“Your teeth are perfectly fine,” Hua Muzhi said smoothly. “Try this one—it’s a special double-yolk mooncake I made just for you.”

link: https://www.breadgarden.com.sg/premium-lotus-double-yolk/

The Empress Dowager picked up a piece with a smile. “You’ve really learned to sweet-talk from Xiao Yue.”

The family chatted over tea and mooncakes when a court attendant arrived with a message.

“Little Prince has just landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport and will arrive in Lin City by midnight.”

Yue Yiwan, halfway through his mooncake, blinked in surprise.

Oh, that’s right—Hua Muzhi has a younger brother in high school.

Author’s Note:

Little Prince (furious): Who even eats salty mooncakes?! Blasphemy!

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