Page 6 of Markets & Mooncakes

I'm not sure I like the sound of salty dried plums, but I know that we're here to try things. Maybe it will also give me acceptable things to talk with the ambassador's daughter about, though something tells me that I shouldn't be asking her whether her body is hot or cool, I don't think Mama would like that very much. It might not even be a thing from her part of Shengda.

Carefully, I pick up one of the salty plums. It feels like a nice texture, but I truly have no idea what to expect from the salt level. Then again, I liked the salted egg custard we made for the bao buns when the first delegation came from Shengda. I even remade them a couple of times while Nate was away, hoping that it would make me feel close to him, but they never turned out as well as when we made them together.

With that in mind, I pop the piece of plum in my mouth, my eyes widening as I'm immediately hit with an intense saltiness that goes far beyond what I expect it to. I use all of my royal training to keep my face neutral so that our host doesn't know that I'm struggling with the taste. I don't want to insult him and stop him from working with Nate in the future.

I swallow down the piece of plum and pick up my teacup. The mellowness of the tea helps a little bit with the salt, but I can still taste it on the tip of my tongue and on my lips.

"You should try some more of the ginger," Nate suggests.

"I should," I respond, setting my cup down and replacing the saltiness with more of the sweet spice instead. The man takes us through several more of the dried fruits on the plate, as well as letting us smell five different teas and making recommendations for what they should go with. While I'm not so keen on the li hing mui, the teas all smell delicious, and the not-so-salty dried fruits are also very tasty. I'm not sure why they're different from those we get from other kingdoms, but they are.

Eventually, he leads us into a small parlour which has several low tables in it. I fluff out my skirts and sit down opposite Nate, smiling at him as he makes himself comfortable.

"How are you coping?" he asks me softly.

"Well," I respond. "I think it's because I'm just with you. That always makes things easier. And we're here to try lots of tasty food. I like that too."

He laughs. "You do like trying food."

"Though I'm not so sure about the plums."

"I didn't think you would be, but they gave me a great idea for something to try baking," he responds.

I'm sure my eyes light up as he says it. "Oh? Are you going to tell me, or is it a surprise when I taste it?"

"You'll only taste it if it's good," he responds. "I'm thinking that it could make an interesting twist on tea loaf. If I use a different tea, and then incorporate some of the Shengdanese dried fruits along with the sultanas. It could make a nice twist on it."

"You would have to make sure not to use salted butter on the slices," I muse.

He chuckles. "Something like that."

The man appears with some bamboo baskets and sets them down on the table between us. He carefully unloads them before bowing and leaving the two of us alone.

"I'm glad I know what these are," I say, tapping the basket.

He nods. "I'm sure the ones we have back at the castle will come in useful with the arrival of the Shengdanese ambassador."

"True. Is he bringing a chef with him?"

"I don't believe so, but even if he does, I believe they'll be stationed in the general kitchen, not in the royal one."

"Oh, I didn't think of that." I look over the steaming baskets, intrigued by what's inside. I reach out to pick up a big white fluffy bun that doesn't look unlike the custard ones we made. But I don't think any of these are going to be sweet. "That's hot."

Nate laughs. "You've just seen it come out of the kitchen."

"I know. But sometimes I forget." I put it on my plate and slowly pull it apart with my fingers. More steam comes from the bun, releasing a savoury and sweet smell from the filling inside. I tear off a bit of the bun and lift it to my lips, only for Nate to shake his head.

"Let me first."

I frown. "You're not going to poison taste for me."

"You shouldn't be the one eating first."

"One of my guards has been in the kitchen the whole time," I assure him. "It'll already have been checked." Not that anyone in my family has been poisoned in a long time. I'm not even sure why we continue to have the checks done.

Nate doesn't look so sure, so I hold the piece of bun out to him, resigning myself to the fact he's not going to budge.

He takes it from me and puts it in his mouth, chewing slowly and looking thoughtful, as if expecting to drop over. "It's fine."