Ch 125: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

When a child reaches their one-month milestone, it is indeed a time for grand celebration. In the village, whenever a family welcomes a healthy baby boy, it’s not uncommon to host a flowing feast for three days straight. However, if the child is a girl or a ge’er, the affair is usually much smaller, with only a few tables set up at home.

Qin Xia was clearly very fond of his firstborn ge’er; otherwise, he wouldn’t be making such a grand gesture.

Gao Yang accepted the task wholeheartedly and, after a few days, came up with an elaborate menu, which he handed to Qin Xia.

The typical flowing feast of the time was known for its “nine big bowls,” usually consisting of nine dishes and one soup to symbolize completeness and perfection. These nine dishes must include chicken, duck, fish, and meat—anything less would be considered lacking.

Qin Xia looked over the menu. Gao Yang couldn’t write, but his daughter, Gao Han, could, so she wrote the list for him. The handwriting was neat and delicate, reflecting the care she had taken.

The first items were two cold dishes: shredded tripe salad and wasabi duck feet. Then there were six meat dishes: braised carp, salt-and-pepper shrimp, braised pork with preserved vegetables, glutinous rice-stuffed chicken wings, crispy pork knuckles, and fried meatballs. The two vegetable dishes were golden tofu and stir-fried mixed vegetables. The dessert was “Auspicious Persimmon” glutinous rice balls, and the soup was a vegetarian shark fin soup.

A flowing feast, by nature, should be filled with hearty meat dishes. On the day of the full moon banquet, anyone of importance would surely go to the banquet inside the pavilion, while the outdoor feast was meant for the common folk living nearby. Even in the shadow of the imperial palace, ordinary people didn’t always have the chance to eat their fill of fish and meat, so the more meat dishes there were, the happier the crowd would be.

“There’s nothing wrong with this menu,” Qin Xia said after reviewing it, “but I’d like to serve ‘All Under Heaven as One’ at the flowing feast, so everyone can have a taste. We’ll need to remove one of the meat dishes.”

Picking up the brush, he glanced at the list and decided to cross off the fried meatballs. Since there was already braised pork and pork knuckles, removing one more meat dish wouldn’t make much difference.

Gao Yang hadn’t expected Qin Xia to serve “Four Seas as One” at Heguang Pavilion and was excited at the prospect. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing this dish in action,” he said eagerly.

Previously, when Qin Xia had prepared the dish for the palace banquet, very few had the chance to observe its preparation. But now, he would finally have the opportunity to watch and learn.

Qin Xia smiled and said, “I’ll arrange for a tandoor to be built in the backyard over the next two days. You can learn to use it as well. Huang Xing and Huang Guang know how to make nang bread, so we can add some new items to the menu.”

Since the tandoor would be built, it made sense to use it for more than just one dish—it would be a waste otherwise.

The two then discussed how many sets of roasted meats would be needed for the feast day.

One serving would definitely not be enough, especially considering that the lamb on the outermost layer has the most meat, while the inner layers have progressively less. If the dish were portioned traditionally, many people might not even get a taste of the innermost pigeon.

In the end, Qin Xia decided to make some adjustments. Instead of following the original recipe that included a pigeon inside, he opted to stuff only a goose and a chicken inside the lamb. By roasting two more sets, they could slice it and serve enough for everyone both inside and outside the pavilion. This way, all guests would be catered to, upstairs and downstairs alike.

After settling this matter, Qin Xia called for Qiu Chuan and instructed him to go to the city to rent tables, chairs, and wind-blocking canopies for the flowing feast.

Rental services had been a business since the previous dynasty. With the flourishing economy and growing prosperity of towns, people became more particular about various aspects of their lives. Rental shops provided furniture, ornamental items, clothing, and accessories. Some households with modest means would rent an entire outfit during festivals or for important events, while others would borrow furniture or decorations to make their homes more presentable when hosting guests. What may have started as a trend of one-upmanship had since become a common practice.

It made sense to rent, rather than buy, items that would only be used a few times a year. Qin Xia, for instance, saw no need to purchase extra tables and benches for the flowing feast. There was limited space at Heguang Pavilion, and buying more would only cause storage issues. Renting was the better option.

For a reasonable fee, the rental service would deliver everything and retrieve it once the event was over, saving time and manpower.

“Choose long tables, but make sure they’re not too cramped. Don’t worry about blocking the road—your little boss has already informed the authorities,” Qin Xia added.

Since the feast was free, with only a symbolic collection of offerings, it was similar in nature to the charitable porridge offered by eateries in winter or the free clinics hosted by pharmacies. As long as such events were reported to the local authorities, they were usually approved, especially when the request came from someone as influential as the Grand Attendant. The officials were eager to facilitate the event, seeing it as a way to curry favor with Yu Jiuque.

In fact, a few officials had even secured invitations to Heguang Pavilion’s feast. They were eager to taste the renowned dishes of the establishment, and the chance to savor a dish from a royal banquet only sweetened the deal.

Preparations for the flowing feast were progressing smoothly, and the tandoor oven was soon completed.

Knowing that Yu Jiuque was fond of this particular style of cooking, Qin Xia asked the Huang brothers to prepare several salty and sweet nang breads, stacking them together to take home.

The freshly baked flatbreads, wrapped and kept warm, was still steaming hot by the time it arrived at the house after a short ride in the sedan chair.

The scent of the freshly baked flatbreads wafted through the air, carrying its fragrance a good two miles. Before long, Yu Jiuque poked his head out from inside.

“Husband, what did you bring back to eat?”

“The tandoor oven at the restaurant is done. Huang Xing and Huang Guang were eager to test it out, so they made quite a few flatbreads. I brought some back for you, thinking you’d be craving this by now.”

He handed his outer robe to a nearby maid, washed his hands and face with warm water, then approached Yu Jiuque, shedding the cold from his body.

Yu Jiuque, who had been sitting on the bed, leaning against the railing of the small crib while playing with An’an, smiled when he heard that. “How did you know? I really have been craving this lately. I even dreamt about it last night.”

Then, he hesitated. “I didn’t talk in my sleep, did I?”

He had never had that habit before.

Qin Xia sat beside him, casually wrapping his arm around Yu Jiuque’s slender waist.

“You didn’t talk in your sleep. I just guessed. Looks like my guess was spot on.”

He added, “The menu for the flowing feast is settled. On the day of the event, leave everything to me. You just need to show up with the baby and briefly entertain those colleagues of yours who’ll come bearing invitations.”

Yu Jiuque lightly tapped An’an’s little nose, causing the baby to flail his arms and legs in delight.

“They all know my temperament. I just gave birth; no one’s going to drag me into unnecessary socializing. Anyone who comes specifically to deal with the Directorate of Ceremonial can be handed off to Eunuch Xia to deal with.”

Qin Xia relaxed a bit after hearing this.

Yu Jiuque had been enjoying some peace and quiet during his month-long postpartum confinement. The imperial physicians had reported the dangerous details of his delivery to the Emperor, who had then rewarded him with numerous medicinal ingredients, instructing him to rest well.

Fortunately, nothing significant had happened in the court during this time. The borders had seen constant military victories, and the army was expected to return triumphantly before the year’s end.

“You’ve been sitting here for a while. How about I walk with you around the room?” Qin Xia suggested.

Yu Jiuque, now aware of the slight soreness in his waist, agreed. “I should move around a bit. I just hope this little one won’t mind.”

As he made to stand, the little boy in the crib immediately began to pout, about to cry.

“Look at you, little one. Just two days ago, I was praising how well-behaved you are, and here you are, proving me wrong in an instant.”

Qin Xia experimented by walking alone—no reaction from the baby. The moment Yu Jiuque took a step, however, the little one fussed.

“Alright, your little father is the real parent, and I’m just the one picked up from the streets.”

Hearing the mock grievance in Qin Xia’s tone, Yu Jiuque couldn’t help but smile.

“Why are you competing with a baby who isn’t even a month old? He doesn’t know anything yet.”

He patted Qin Xia on the shoulder lightly. “Just pick him up and soothe him. That’s all it takes. He’s not as sharp as Da Fu yet.”

Qin Xia chuckled, shaking his head.

“Comparing a baby to a goose? Only you and I would do that.”

Yu Jiuque watched as Qin Xia skillfully picked up the baby, strolling around the room while murmuring playful phrases. It all seemed so dreamlike. Ever since marrying Qin Xia in Qinan County, it felt like he’d fallen into a nest of fortune. Back when he was just a newly-entered eunuch in the palace, he never dared to hope for such a life.

When Qin Xia finished his round and returned, Yu Jiuque stood to greet him, and the two of them huddled together, gazing at their child. An’an, with his big, bright eyes, looked left and right, remaining quiet and well-behaved once again.

As the time for dinner approached, a plate of flatbreads, cut into triangular pieces and reheated, was brought to the table. The highlight of the night’s meal was the braised frog with soybeans and mashed potatoes with minced meat.

The frogs were sent over by Chief Steward Zhong from their estate, a rare delicacy during winter, renowned for its nourishing properties. It was especially beneficial for postpartum recovery and even helped with lactation. That’s why Zhong had eagerly rushed to bring it to the house.

The frogs had arrived alive and quite plump. Qin Xia slaughtered a few and braised them with soybeans. Although stir-frying frog with chili would have been tastier, since Yu Jiuque couldn’t eat spicy food at the moment, Qin Xia opted for a common southern-style method.

He chopped the frogs into small pieces, marinated them with salt, ginger, and rice wine, then stir-fried them with minced garlic. Once the frog pieces changed color and were half-cooked, he added pre-fried and softened soybeans, seasoned with a bit of soy sauce, and covered the pot to let it braise.

The texture of frog meat is so delicate that, if someone didn’t know better, they might mistake it for chicken. The name “tianji” (field chicken) likely originated for this reason. When eating, you savor a piece of frog meat, spitting out the small bones, then chew on the crispy soybeans, creating a wonderful blend of flavors.

“This dish goes well with wine. Husband, would you like a little?” Yu Jiuque asked.

Qin Xia shook his head. “The smell of wine lingers. I’ll pass.”

He feared that if the baby smelled the wine on him, he might refuse to cuddle with his father.

After the frog dish, there was minced meat mashed potatoes. This dish was much simpler to prepare. The key to making mashed potatoes taste great is to mix in milk while mashing them, giving them a creamy and smooth texture.

The sauce poured over the mashed potatoes was thickened minced meat, mixed with corn and peas for decoration. When served, the mashed potatoes were shaped into a small mountain, with the meat sauce cascading down like lava, glistening and appetizing.

“This dish could also be called ‘Volcano Mashed Potatoes,'” Qin Xia joked.

As early as a thousand years ago, there were already records of “volcanoes” on this land. Yu Jiuque, who was no stranger to learning, had come across related content and illustrations in his readings.

Now, hearing Qin Xia name the dish “Volcano Mashed Potatoes,” he couldn’t help but think it was quite fitting.

He took a spoonful of the mashed potatoes, which were soft and smooth, requiring no effort from his teeth—just a gentle press of the tongue before they slid down his throat.

“When An’an is old enough to eat solid food, you could make this dish for him to try,” Yu Jiuque said with a smile.

It’s typical of new parents to get ahead of themselves, imagining their child’s future even while the baby has barely moved on from milk.

Time indeed passed quickly, and soon enough, it was time for Yu Jiuque to complete his month of postpartum confinement.

The first thing he did afterward was take a long, satisfying bath.

During his confinement, Qin Xia had helped him bathe, but it was always brief and cautious, done in the room with fire basins all around to ensure he wouldn’t catch a chill.

Now, things were different. He luxuriated in the bath, soaking for what felt like ages, his entire body turning a little pink from the heat, making him look particularly appetizing.

Qin Xia, mindful of the imperial physician’s warnings that intimacy was still off-limits just after confinement, could only restrain himself as he wrapped Yu Jiuque in his arms, showering him with kisses.

It had been a long time since they had been close, and the atmosphere quickly heated up.

Yu Jiuque, sensing his husband’s rising tension, reached out with his hand, his eyes darkening with desire.

Though they didn’t go all the way, they still found ways to share a moment of intimacy.

In the steamy bathhouse, the air was thick with both heat and affection.