The banquet was in full swing, its grandeur unabated.
Nine exquisite final courses, jointly crafted by Jinlan Cottage and Tingyu Pavilion, were presented one by one before the Imperial dais. As the attendants placed the delicacies upon the table where Your Majesty, his consort, and his daughter sat, Yuling stepped forward to announce each dish, explaining the ingenuity behind every creation.
"This dish is a renowned Jiangnan delicacy known as 'Golden Relish, Jade Sashimi.' To prepare it, fresh sea bass is slaughtered and sliced, then cured in salt and drained. We then mash white plum meat, orange pulp, cooked nonglutinous rice, cooked chestnut meat, and osmanthus flowers into a paste, mixing in garlic, ginger, and vinegar. Finally, the succulent fish is arranged in alternating layers with the golden relish. This Jiangnan flavor echoes the verses of contemporary poets: 'When the golden wind meets the jade dew, they outshine all others in the mundane world.' Your Majesty, Consort Liu, and Imperial Princess Zhaode, pray take a few pieces of the jade fish with your golden chopsticks, place them on the jade plate, and dip them in honey. I believe you will find the contrast between the tender, snow-white fish, the rich relish, and the unique sweetness of the honey to be a flavor quite unlike any other."
Chapter 103