T/N:
Heikou (Black Dragon Mouth)
Heicheng (Black Dragon City)
...
Recently, a strange object appeared in the city.
A massive stone monument had been erected in the square in front of the Imperial Censorate.
Before anyone could figure out its purpose, one day, strange moving images suddenly appeared on the monument!
At first, everyone was terrified, thinking it was some kind of demon-devouring stone. That was until someone recognized their child in the images.
This was bizarre. Their child had been at home when they left—how could they have been captured inside?!
The adults rushed home in a panic, even despairing, only to find their children safe and sound at home. They breathed a sigh of relief.
But what were those moving images on the monument?
They had no choice but to go to the Imperial Censorate for answers.
To be honest, the Imperial Censorate was just as confused at first. However, the Queen had given them a heads-up beforehand, so they didn't overreact.
Still, everyone found it strange. Why would such a magical treasure exist?
Of course, rumors began to spread.
According to palace gossip, this was a "Memory Stone" gifted by the King to the Queen. While no one knew exactly what a Memory Stone was, it was clear that anything the King gave the Queen must be extraordinary.
Once it was confirmed that the monument posed no harm to any demon citizens, many parents finally relaxed.
Just a day later, the Imperial Censorate officially named the monument the "Open-Air Screening Platform," announcing that all demon citizens were free to watch it.
This put the city's residents at ease. So, it was just an object for viewing! They had been terrified for so long, afraid to get too close, worried they might be sucked inside.
Now, people finally dared to approach the screening platform. They could see their own mischievous children in the images, and sharp-eyed citizens noticed the background was their school.
It was a school event—a physical fitness exercise. The most impressive was Lian Ze, standing in the front row.
Look at how perfectly he performed the exercises, even more precisely than the adults. No wonder he was a child taken in by the Queen herself.
Many adults blushed with shame, realizing they couldn't even match the skills of a five- or six-year-old.
"That Lian Ze is going to grow up to be something great."
"No doubt about it. Look at his movements—I can't even remember them, and he's doing them flawlessly."
The already bustling square became even livelier with the appearance of the Open-Air Screening Platform, drawing crowds every day.
Adults would stop by to watch for a while after their military training, and children would come after school to take a look before heading home.
At the same time, the city was filled with an atmosphere unlike any other. It was clear that all the demon citizens were in high spirits, and even the palace maids and guards were chattier than usual.
"New Year?" Yin Jixue widened her eyes. "What are the customs for celebrating the New Year in Black Dragon City?"
She hadn't expected the demon race to have a New Year tradition.
Feng Xiu explained, "For the demon race, the New Year marks the arrival of the coldest time. It's also a reminder for hibernating citizens to go out and stock up on food."
Yin Jixue nodded thoughtfully. No wonder those foreign merchants had booked the inn for two months straight—they planned to hibernate through the winter. By the time they woke up, it would be spring, and they could head back.
But then she thought of something odd. "Why doesn't Black Dragon City hibernate?"
Feng Xiu hesitated before answering, "The Black Dragon Clan has always lived in harsh conditions. Hibernation isn't an option for us."
She spoke tactfully, but Yin Jixue understood the underlying meaning.
Before she arrived in Black Dragon City, the people here struggled to even have enough food and warm clothing, let alone heating.
For other clans, hibernation was a way to conserve energy for spring plowing or hunting. But for the Black Dragon Clan, hibernation meant death. Without stored food, many would freeze or starve in their sleep. Over generations, hibernation became synonymous with suicide, and eventually, the Black Dragon Clan lost the need for it.
Yin Jixue felt a pang of sympathy, but she also saw the upside. The Black Dragon Clan's generations of enduring harsh environments and adapting to extreme weather had turned them into a formidable warrior race.
"I'm not very familiar with New Year celebrations. Let's follow Black Dragon City's usual traditions. Next month, we'll have another harvest of sweet potatoes. There's no need to ration food—just make sure there's no waste and that everyone gets enough to eat."
Feng Xiu was astonished. "But we haven't even planted anything yet. Where will the harvest come from?"
Yin Jixue smiled brightly. "As I mentioned before, sweet potatoes can be harvested every three months after planting. Unless we plant something else, we can keep harvesting them indefinitely."
Feng Xiu's mouth fell open. "That's incredible!"
Yin Jixue also found it hard to believe, but in reality, sweet potatoes were one of the demon race's long-extinct staple foods.
Her earlier guess had been correct—sweet potatoes had likely been extinct for nearly a thousand years, which was why even the foreign merchants didn't recognize them.
The Boar-goat they had hunted earlier were distributed to every household in the city, along with the long-haired rabbits. Only some undamaged rabbit fur was kept.
Feng Xiu had discreetly set aside the fattiest parts of the Boar-goat for Yin Jixue, even expressing concern that it was to help her regain her strength.
Faced with a large bowl of steamed fatty meat, Yin Jixue felt dizzy just from the smell.
This fatty meat was something else. She could already imagine the greasy, overwhelming sensation it would leave in her mouth.
Not eating it wasn't an option, but eating it was pure torture.
Looking at the steaming brazier, Yin Jixue came up with a compromise.
The fatty meat sizzled and crackled on the iron griddle, filling the room with the rich aroma of rendered fat.
The two palace guards, Teng She and Gou Chen, who were stationed under the eaves, opened their eyes at the enticing smell.
Demons had far sharper senses than humans, and Yin Jixue was completely unaware that the aroma of her cooking had spread throughout the entire palace.
Even the royal chef was drawn by the scent.
The meat was grilled to a crispy, golden brown, and without the thick layer of fat, it no longer felt greasy when eaten.
The demon race's seasonings were limited to simple salt, but Yin Jixue wasn't picky. She had finally managed to deal with the fatty meat.
As for the oil rendered on the griddle, she decided not to waste it. She sliced two sweet potatoes and fried them in the oil, making them her dinner.
Who would have thought that as the Queen, she'd be secretly cooking grilled meat in her study?
Perhaps the savory aroma had awakened her taste buds because she suddenly felt a craving.
Grilled meat, wrapped in lettuce with a couple of garlic cloves—it had been years since she'd had that.
Having survived the apocalypse for so long, she hadn't been particular about food. As long as she could eat her fill, that was enough. And in ancient times, meals were mostly steamed or roasted, with little oil. Even the royal delicacies of the Yin Dynasty weren't anything to write home about.
But now, memories of fried chicken, grilled meat, hot pot, and milk tea, long buried in her mind, came rushing back. Yin Jixue swallowed her saliva and forced herself to think of something else.
She'd make a note of these cravings for later when conditions allowed.
To celebrate the New Year, every household in the city received a piece of meat and a ration of sweet potatoes based on family size.
Those outside the city only received sweet potatoes, but they were still grateful.
The disparity was unavoidable. The Boar-goat they hunted were medium-sized at best, and these weren't even fully grown. An adult Boar-goat could weigh over a thousand kilograms.
Only the beasts hunted by the Demon King himself could provide each household with over a pound of meat. One could only imagine how massive those beasts had to be.
Even the city residents only received a palm-sized piece of meat, but they were still content.
In previous years, meat distribution was a once-a-year treat, and they cherished it. This year, they no longer had to worry about hunger or cold, so the meat was an unexpected bonus.
Yin Jixue opened the window to air out the smell, only to lock eyes with the royal chef pacing outside.