High Liang employed his divine power to level mountains into plains, after which skilled craftsmen constructed buildings upon them. Modern machinery enables these craftsmen to significantly enhance their work efficiency. High Liang’s architectural approach differs from contemporary construction techniques. He adopted an intelligent architectural art, utilizing a primary structural framework—large machinery fixed the main steel beams, followed by the installation of secondary beams. Once the secondary beams were set, he provided the construction blueprints to craftsmen from various eras and cultures, empowering them to each fulfill their respective roles, responsibilities, and capabilities.
Ying'er slept continuously for six days in the small wooden cottage built by Gaoqing, neither eating nor drinking. When she awoke on the seventh day, she was stunned by the breathtaking sight stretching out before her: grand palace complexes rose up in every direction, with pavilions and terraces scattered throughout. Flowers bloomed profusely, grasses grew lush, birds sang, horses galloped, and under a clear sky, an endless expanse of green unfolded. A wide river flowed, its water a clear, refreshing jade green, with boats gliding gently upon its surface. Between the pavilions and terraces, palace maids moved continuously—feeding goldfish in the ponds, tending to flowers and grasses, and caring for the horses.
"Could it be that my eyes have gone blurry? Is this perhaps just a dream?" Ying'er rubbed her eyes again. As she stepped into the pavilions and terraces, gently touching the lattice of dragon-and-phoenix patterns on the balustrade, she was deeply moved.
It was real! It was truly real!
Suddenly remembering something, Ying'er rushed toward the most magnificent palace.
On the plaque above the palace, three golden characters read "Yongle Palace." As Ying'er entered the palace, many attendants immediately bowed and said, "May the Yongle Lady be blessed!"
"Am I the Yongle Lady?"
Her heart raced with excitement—what a delightful surprise!
Surrounded by a group of attendants, Ying'er was dressed in a magnificent ensemble—fine silk and brocade adorned with pearls and precious stones, and she wore a phoenix crown topped with a moonstone. As the first-rank celestial beauty from the heavenly realm, she now looked even more stunning.
She had become the most beautiful fairy in the entire universe.
"Madam Yongle, please dine," one attendant gently invited, guiding her to a bright round table. Immediately, twelve attendants carried dishes of mountain delicacies and sea treasures, placing them one by one on the table. The courses continued to arrive, eventually forming a pattern—a rose blossom shape.
Delicious in color, aroma, and flavor, Ying'er had not eaten for six days and now felt a clear sense of hunger. As the beautiful lady savored the fine dishes laid out on the large table, she became a striking sight. Ying'er moved with exquisite grace—she picked up a few bites of food with her ivory chopsticks, brought them to her mouth, and sipped them slowly. The flavors were truly excellent. Ying'er felt deeply content.
Ying'er felt a sweet, warm happiness in her heart. At this moment, dishes were being served continuously, and the large round table was nearly overflowing. Without knowing why, she suddenly grasped the hand of a maid and said, "I want to go to the kitchen!" The maid immediately led Ying'er to the kitchen. After passing the Yongle Palace, winding past several flower beds and small trees, a house came into view, marked with the sign: "Shuangshi Fang." "Yongle Lady! That's it!" The maid said, then hurried off to attend to other matters.
Ying'er couldn't help but call out to someone, and when that person turned around and saw it was Ying'er, immediately stopped waving the spatula in her hands, gave her a simple, sincere smile, and said, "Ying'er! I'm not very good at this—please forgive me!"
"No! Husband! It's wonderful!" Ying'er was truly touched.
She reached out her jade-like hand, gently wiping the fine beads of sweat from her high-forehead with a handkerchief, then took over the spatula from Gao Liang. Together, they prepared a dish.
That was life—exactly the life that Gao Liang and Ying'er both wanted.
"Husband! What was that dish I just ate? Why was it so delicious?" Ying'er asked Gao Liang while still waving the spatula.
Gao Liang smiled and replied, "The dish we're making now is exactly that one! It's a renowned imperial dish from our Chinese court—called 'Fó Tiào Qiáng'!"
"Fó Tiào Qiáng?" Ying'er found the name quite unusual and immediately became interested, pressing Gao Liang to explain the origin of this dish: "Fó Ti
In the 25th year of the Guangxu era (1899), an official of the Fuzhou Government Money Bureau invited Zhou Lian, the Governor of Fujian Province. To win Zhou Lian's favor, the official had his wife personally prepare the dish, using ten or more ingredients such as chicken, duck, lamb, pork stomach, pigeon eggs, and seafood, packed in a Shaoxing wine jar and slowly braised. The dish was named "Fu Shou Quan" (Complete Blessings of Good Fortune and Longevity). After tasting it, Zhou Lian praised it enthusiastically. Later, when the kitchen staff Zheng Chunfa mastered the recipe and refined it, upon opening his restaurant "Ji Chun Yuan," the dish became a sensation in Fuzhou. Once, a group of literati and scholars came to sample it. As the "Fu Shou Quan" was served and the lid lifted, a rich aroma filled the room. One scholar was so enchanted that he spontaneously composed a poem: "When the jar is opened, the savory fragrance spreads to the neighbors; even the Buddha, hearing it, abandons his meditation and jumps through the wall." From then on, the dish was renamed "Fo T
At this moment, the main ingredients were highlighted: abalone, fish maw, sea cucumber, fish skin, fish lips, deer penis, deer tendon, crab roe, freshwater shrimp meat, and dried scallop—eighteen varieties combined with a specially crafted broth.
"Husband! I'd also like to learn! Please teach me! Teach me, please!"