THE ROYAL CHEF’S MODERN FLAVOR

In my final memory of the past, the capital of Great Lin was consumed by a sea of fire. The sound of enemy hooves crushed the silence of the Imperial Palace, and the wails of court ladies and eunuchs rose in despair. As the personal chef to His Majesty, I carried the loyalty of a subject and the grief of a crumbling nation. Rather than face capture, I threw myself into a cold, deep well to preserve my honor.

But death did not claim me as expected.

When I opened my eyes again, I did not see the underworld. Instead, I saw a brilliant blue sky sliced by towering steel giants. I lay on the edge of a pitch-black road where iron “monsters” roared past at terrifying speeds. People surrounded me, their eyes filled with judgment and curiosity. My silk robes and wide sleeves, once symbols of my status, were now alien rags in this world of short clothes and strange fabrics.

“Miss, are you okay?” A clear, youthful voice asked.

In front of me stood a young girl named Xiao Ye, her eyes brimming with worry. I answered dazed, “I… I just don’t remember what happened.”

Seeing me lost and alone, Xiao Ye kindly helped me up and took me to a “Police Station.” It was there that I met the man who would change my destiny: Lu Yichen.

At the station, I truthfully shared my story—that I was a royal chef from the Great Lin Dynasty who had jumped into a well. The officer, Mr. Qin, looked at me with pity. He whispered to Xiao Ye, “She must be an actress filming a period drama who got hit by a car and lost her memory.”

Then entered Lu Yichen—the Chief of Police and Xiao Ye’s older brother. He was tall, stoic, and radiated authority. Despite his cold warning that his family “couldn’t afford to raise another soul,” he eventually sighed and agreed to take me in after Xiao Ye’s relentless begging.

The Lu family owned a cozy noodle shop in a small alley. On my first night, I won over the parents with my craft. While watching the owner prepare duck noodles, I stepped in to create a special dipping sauce—a secret blend of fermented rice and herbs known only to the imperial kitchens.

“Delicious! Truly wonderful!” Father Lu exclaimed. Even as a veteran cook, he had never tasted such a refined balance of flavors. From that day on, I stayed with them as Yang Nian, their “adopted daughter” and the secret weapon of their kitchen.

Xiao Ye taught me how to use a smartphone and navigate this modern era. Lu Yichen, though he worked long hours and rarely spoke, watched over me in his own way. One night, when he returned late smelling of alcohol, I stayed up to cook him a bowl of warm chicken congee. In his hazy, drunken state, he pulled out a chair for me to sit beside him. That simple warmth began to thaw the loneliness of a displaced soul.

To support the family, I began livestreaming my cooking. Dressed in elegant hanfu, I recreated imperial dishes like “Ginseng Stewed Chicken” or “Yuanxiao Dumplings.”

My channel exploded. People were captivated by my “fairy-like” aura and the meticulous artistry of my food. During one stream, a famous actor named Chen Shi walked into the shop. To protect his privacy, I refused to point my camera at him, despite the viewers’ demands. This act of grace touched Chen Shi, and he became a regular.

However, behind his fame lay a dark secret. One evening, Xiao Ye and I spotted Chen Shi standing on a bridge, ready to leap. Xiao Ye rushed forward, sobbing, and pulled him back from the edge.

Back at the Lu house, Chen Shi revealed the truth: he was trapped in a “slave contract” by a powerful female mogul who had coerced him while he was intoxicated. Lu Yichen, already investigating the industry’s dark side, took the lead on the case.

To help Chen Shi reclaim his life, I hosted a special livestream from home. Before tens of thousands of viewers, Chen Shi stepped out and courageously exposed the “hidden rules” of the entertainment industry. The stream went viral, sparking a massive public outcry. Armed with the evidence, Lu Yichen personally arrested the mastermind behind the exploitation.

On the day justice was served, the Lu family and Chen Shi gathered for a celebratory feast. As the parents became tipsy with joy, Lu Yichen suddenly slammed the table and stood up.

“Yang Nian, I love her, Mom and Dad!” he declared firmly.

He turned to me, his cold eyes now burning with sincerity. “I like you. Will you marry me?”

Amidst the cheers of Xiao Ye and Chen Shi, I smiled and nodded. In this strange world, I had finally found my home.

Suddenly, I opened my eyes to find myself on an old wooden bed. The wind whistled through the palace shutters. “No! I don’t want to go back!” I screamed, bolting upright in a cold sweat.

A strong pair of arms pulled me back into a warm embrace. Lu Yichen’s deep voice rumbled, “Why are you up so early? Go back to sleep.”

I let out a long breath, realizing it was just a nightmare. I was safe. I was home. I buried my face in his chest and whispered, “Wake up, dear. Did you forget? Today is Xiao Ye and Chen Shi’s wedding. We’ll be late if you keep sleeping!”

The morning sun filtered through the window, shining on the phone screen that displayed our photo together. The past was gone; my happiness was now my reality.