This elegant name comes from a legend.

这道汤的雅称来源于一个传说故事。

During the reign¹ of Emperor Jia Qing (A.D 1796-1821)in Qing dynasty, there lived a family named Guo in Yi Yang , Hunan Province, who were the descendents of the renowned² General Guo Ziyi of the Tang dynasty. Guo Xin, the eldest³ son of this family, was skilled in martial⁴ arts and took service when he was young. He was a courageous⁵ warrior⁶ and won a lot of credits during campaigns and expeditions. Later, he was promoted to assistant minister of the war department.

清仁宗嘉庆（公元1796-1821年在位）年间，湖南益阳住着唐代名将郭子仪的后代郭氏一家。郭氏的长子郭信拥有一身好武艺，年轻力壮时就从军，在随军征战中立下了许多功劳，官升兵部侍郎。

Guo Xin was granted by Emperor Jia Qing to pay a home visit after promotion⁷ where he met and married a beautiful lady named Yu Lan. They were deeply in love with each other and led a sweet life. After Guo Xin left for office, Yu Lan stayed at home to take care of Guo’s elderly parents. During days of separation Yu Lan often asked people to take native products to Guo to convey her feeling of love.

升官后，嘉庆皇帝特许郭信回家探亲，娶了个美丽贤淑的妻子叫玉兰。两人相亲相爱，甜甜蜜蜜。后来郭信离湘，赴京上任，玉兰留在益阳的家中，照顾郭信年迈的双亲。平时夫妻二人虽然不常见面，但玉兰常托人带一些家乡的土产给郭信，所以恩爱之情并不衰减。

One winter, Yi Yang celebrated⁸ a bump harvest of bamboo sprouts⁹. Yu Lan dried them under the sun and then had them taken to her husband. One day when Guo Xin was cooking bamboo soup at home he is told that the Emperor had arrived.

有一年冬天，益阳竹笋大丰收，玉兰就将竹笋晒干，捎往京城。郭信在京城的家中用笋干煮食烧汤，正欲食之，恰逢门外来报：“皇上驾到！”

When Emperor Jia Qing stepped into the room he sniffed¹⁰ the fresh smell of the bamboo, then asked: “What great dish are you cooking my dear minister, I’d like some too.” Guo was embarrassed and said: “I was simply cooking soup with the bamboos my wife had sent me. How could it be any better than soups cooked in your majesty¹¹’s palace!” However, Emperor Jia Qing insisted and Guo Xin served the Emperor with the soup. His Majesty took a sip¹² and praised very highly of it before discussing state affairs with Guo Xin. Upon leaving, knowing his Majesty was still attached to the soup, Guo Xin asked the emperor if he could have the honor to have the uncooked dried bamboos as tribute to His Majesty.

话音刚落，嘉庆已经踏入郭信前屋，只见他鼻子嗅了嗅，便道：“郭爱卿，什么好吃的？别藏着了，也让朕尝一尝吧！” 郭信不好意思地说：“这是微臣家中媳妇玉兰捎来的竹笋，微臣只是草草将其切片，煮成汤喝，哪里能跟皇宫里的汤比呀？” 嘉庆坚持要尝，郭信只好端了上来。嘉庆尝了一口，发现滋味鲜美，海夸了一阵，然后才和郭信谈正事。临走时，嘉庆还对刚才喝的那道汤恋恋不舍，郭信把未煮过的笋干让随行太监带回宫。

Emperor Jia Qing nodded and said: “Since the soup is made from the dried bamboo shoots of your wife Yu Lan, then we will name it after her.” Since then, the elegant name “Yu Lan soup” enjoyed an incessant¹³ national fame.

嘉庆点点头道：“这汤既然是爱卿之妻玉兰的笋干所制，以后就管他叫玉兰片汤吧。”从此，“玉兰片汤”这一雅号就不胫而走，名扬天下。