Sweeter than the Syrup

Xing-Fu folded the long sleeves of Sheng Li's robes. "Your Majesty, the Royal Chef can prepare the sweets. His Majesty can watch him," Xing-Fu advised Sheng Li. He did not want the Emperor to again fall sick when he had yet to recover from the injury.

"I need to prepare the sweets myself," Sheng Li stated and told the Royal Chef that he wanted to prepare the Glutinous Rice Balls (A famous sweet/dessert that originated in Han, called Tangyuan).

The Royal Chef brought the black sesame when Sheng Li asked him if he had to crush them.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will do it," the Royal Chef said humbly when Sheng Li took the black sesame jar from him. "However, in the wintertime, its preparation is tougher. If His Majesty wants, then I can prepare another type of sweets for the Empress." During winter, kneading and heating became difficult which needed extra muscle work.