Ming Lingyi mixed the mung bean paste with the plum blossom jam. Soon, the once-beige paste took on a faint, plum-pink hue.
Ming Lingyi divided the fragrant plum filling into several equal portions and set them aside.
She had Xiao Chun bring over the kneaded dough, then dripped juice from plum blossoms picked and crushed that morning into the flaky pastry dough. The pastry dough instantly turned red.
After wrapping the flaky dough in the outer dough and repeating the process of rolling and folding three times, Ming Lingyi finally wrapped the plum filling inside the pastry.
She had Xiao Chun hand her a small knife. Using the back of the blade, she pressed a pattern into the sides of the dough balls. She then poked a small dimple in the center. She added yellow liquid extracted from soaked pagoda tree buds to another small piece of white dough, pinched off a tiny ball, and used two fine needles to shape it like a flower's stamen before placing it in the dimple.
"Go light the fire in the stove by the wall," Ming Lingyi directed.
Xiao Chun did as she was told.
A few days ago, when her lady hired Zhang Qi to repair the house, she'd also had him renovate the kitchen.
What Xiao Chun found most baffling was this particular stove, the one built against the wall.
It was a standalone stove, but instead of the usual round recess for a wok, its top was sealed completely flat. It didn't look like you could place a pot on it at all.
But this was how her lady had instructed it be built, and the craftsman had simply followed her orders. Xiao Chun had no idea what purpose such a stove could serve.
Now that her lady was telling her to light a fire in it, Xiao Chun was extremely curious.
This small oven Ming Lingyi had the craftsman build was, in fact, modeled after those made by palace artisans.
The design was derived from the tandoor-style ovens used for roasting meat in the Western Regions. She had first heard of them from Li Yun. Out of curiosity, she'd mentioned it, and Li Yun had the craftsmen at the General Mansion build one. He had then personally grilled countless lamb skewers for her.
After hearing that the people of the Western Regions also used them to bake naan, flatbreads, and buns, Ming Lingyi began experimenting with it at home. She wasn't fond of bread, but she loved all sorts of small sweets, so she made a variety of flaky desserts.
Though Li Yun had no sweet tooth whatsoever, it didn't stop Lingyi from her passion for baking. He would dutifully eat every single item in the food boxes she brought him, leaving not a single crumb behind.
"Is the fire lit?" Ming Lingyi asked without turning her head as she arranged all the plum blossom cakes on an iron tray.
"It's ready!" Xiao Chun's reply came from the stove.
Ming Lingyi then carried the iron tray to the oven.
As Ming Lingyi slid the iron tray into the stove, Xiao Chun, standing nearby, noticed two deep grooves running along the inner walls. Watching her mistress's movements, she asked in surprise, "Miss, did you have these put here on purpose?"
"Mhm," Ming Lingyi nodded. "They should be ready in the time it takes to drink two cups of tea."
Xiao Chun waited in anticipation.
Ming Lingyi covered a yawn. She had been busy making the plum blossom cakes for days, and she was starting to feel tired.
Xiao Chun spoke up, "Miss, you should go rest for a bit."
Ming Lingyi didn't refuse. Her constitution was rather weak, and as a pampered young lady who had never had to lift a finger, these past few days of work had truly exhausted her.
When Ming Lingyi awoke from her nap, she smelled an exceptionally sweet fragrance wafting from the storefront into the rear courtyard before she even opened her eyes.
The familiar aroma brought a faint smile to Ming Lingyi's lips. 'It seems the last few days of work have finally paid off.'
She rose from the bed. Although she couldn't hear the faint CRACKLE of the pastry layers splitting in the rising steam, the aroma was growing richer. It was like an ancient plum tree in the snow suddenly bursting into bloom, a warm sweetness erupting from its cold beauty. The very air seemed to be dyed a golden, honeyed color by the scent of the pastry, whose layers were flaking open like plum petals. Suddenly, she felt her stomach rumble with hunger.
Ming Lingyi stepped out into the courtyard. She didn't even notice the tray of plum blossom cakes Xiao Chun had already brought out before she saw her maid at the front door, speaking with a group of people.
Nearly all the shops in the market were closed. Despite the approaching New Year, there was no festive atmosphere on the streets.
After all, this was Emperor Jing'an's decree. Even after five years, it was enforced with uncompromising severity each year.
During this time, the common folk would see not only the Jingzhao Mansion's Patrols and armed officers from the county government offices on the streets, but also the Black Armor Guards.
The Black Armor Guards were the Emperor's personal guard, the very army that had stayed by Emperor Jing'an's side throughout the turbulent years of the war.
It was nearly impossible for commoners to catch a glimpse of the Black Armor Guards on a normal day. But in the days leading up to New Year's Eve, they would appear in Shangjing City.
If anyone dared to defy the imperial decree, even covertly, the Black Armor Guards would execute them on the spot, no questions asked, regardless of their identity.
For this very reason, Shangjing City, normally a bustling metropolis, became as silent as a ghost town in the ten days leading up to New Year's Eve.
'But why are there so many people at our shop's door now?'
Ming Lingyi was surprised. 'Even though this is an eatery, we haven't officially opened. Where did all these people come from?'
Just as she was about to walk over, Ming Lingyi heard Xiao Chun's voice.
"Everyone, all you neighbors! This aroma is from pastries my lady made, and they're cold foods."
Of course, Xiao Chun wasn't about to admit in public that they had used a fire. That would be handing their enemies leverage on a silver platter. She wasn't that foolish.
"If you all like the smell, please come again on our shop's opening day!"
Xiao Chun hadn't expected it either. Not even half a tea's time after her lady slid the pastries into that bizarre oven, a rich aroma had begun to fill the room.
The poor girl had to stand guard by the oven, her mouth watering nonstop.
Who would have thought the sweet scent would not only linger for so long, but would also truly live up to the saying "a fragrance that travels for miles," ultimately attracting a crowd of neighbors.
'They came, drawn by the aroma.' While the situation gave Xiao Chun a headache, she couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.
'This is all thanks to my lady's skill!'
'My lady is truly amazing!'
Ming Lingyi halted. 'If I don't show my face, the neighbors can't really do much, since Xiao Chun doesn't have the authority to make decisions. But if I, the owner, make an appearance, I'll be caught up in social obligations no matter what I do.'
Hearing the scattered, disappointed murmurs from the crowd, the smile on Ming Lingyi's lips grew wider.
'Looks like the aroma of these pastries is even more effective than I could have imagined.'
Xiao Chun finally managed to disperse the crowd of neighbors. As she turned to head back inside, she was startled to see her lady standing there, having emerged from the courtyard at some point, watching her with a wide grin.
Xiao Chun suddenly recalled her "grand announcement"—her lady had never actually said the pastries were for sale after the New Year. Instantly, the excited expression on Xiao Chun's face froze.
"Miss..."