Chapter 27 Birthday Banquet Liu Yeshu understood, walked to the front of the table, and bowed...

Three days later, inside the general's mansion, red silk was hung high on the gate, and tiny pinpricks of light from lanterns shone through the flowers and trees. Guests had already arrived in twos and threes, and the servants of Liu Yeshu's mansion were guiding them to their seats in an orderly manner.

Liu Yeshu was wearing a simple and elegant light blue long dress with a milky white jade pendant on her lapel, which symbolized her status as a housekeeper. She was standing inside the mansion gate, with a mahogany table next to her, on which were neatly placed writing brushes, inkstones, gift books, and red lacquer ink pads.

"Dear guests, please leave your calligraphy."

After the doorman checked the visiting card, the guests came forward one by one. Liu Yeshu stood aside and glanced at the list. The one who was writing was Wang Yuanwai.

He was dressed in gold brocade, while his wife was clad in rich silk. Behind him, a servant held a brocade parcel embroidered with delicate cloud patterns. Upon opening it, a night-shining pearl shone with a faint blue luster. Its body was flawless, its surface ablaze with starlight. Liu Yeshu was secretly amazed, but her expression remained unwavering. She respectfully accepted it with both hands, not commenting on the gift.

When Captain Cheng arrived, Captain Ji happened to be walking towards him. Captain Cheng took the initiative to salute, and Captain Ji smiled and nodded slightly. As soon as he turned around, Captain Ji's smile faded and could not be found.

Commander Ji unfolded the landscape painting inlaid with gold thread in his hand and said with a smile, "A small gift, a long landscape scroll, to express my gratitude."

Captain Cheng presented a meticulously crafted sword with both hands, its scabbard inlaid with precious stones, its cold gleam gleaming with a chilling light. Following closely behind, Medical Officer Du solemnly presented a box of precious, thousand-year-old ginseng. The ginseng was rich in color, its roots lush and luxuriant, as if condensed with the essence of a thousand years of nature, its clear, medicinal fragrance permeating the air. Seeing that it was Liu Yeshu who was receiving him, Medical Officer Du added, "This ginseng is best sliced ​​and slowly simmered. Its mild medicinal properties make it suitable for the general's recovery."

Captain Cheng asked sharply, "Is the general injured?"

Before Doctor Du could answer, Captain Ji glanced at him sideways and said in a calm tone with a hint of teasing, "If the general is well, then I can't give him this thousand-year-old ginseng?"

Captain Cheng looked unhappy, but was about to ask more questions. Liu Yeshu smiled and interrupted, "The general's birthday banquet is about to begin. Three distinguished guests, please take a seat and rest for a while."

Reminded by Liu Yeshu's words, Captain Cheng was startled for a moment, then suddenly realized that with so many people around, it wasn't the right time to discuss this matter. His eyes flickered, and his expression softened slightly. Captain Ji glanced at Captain Cheng, sneered, and said nothing. Liu Yeshu sensed a subtle spark between the two men and thought it was a good thing that Butler Zhao had warned them and changed their seats. Then, with a gentle wave of her hand, she signaled the servants to usher the two men to their seats.

There was a constant stream of visitors at the mansion gate. Liu Yeshu noticed two figures at the back of the crowd that looked particularly familiar. Upon closer inspection, she discovered that they were Chu Yurou and her father.

Chu Yurou, dressed in a moonlit dress, was pure and elegant. She stood far away from the crowd, her gaze wandering. Her father, stretched out his body, peered into the mansion with curiosity, occasionally lowering his head to whisper something to his daughter. As he spoke, he nudged Chu Yurou's shoulder with his elbow and continued to push forward, but Chu Yurou remained hesitant. Liu Yeshu was inside the mansion, and the two men didn't see her.

Taking advantage of the break in welcoming the guests, Liu Yeshu walked towards them quickly.

When Chu Yurou saw Liu Yeshu coming, she was stunned for a moment, with a hint of surprise in her eyes. She obviously didn't expect to meet her here.

"Miss Liu? Why are you here?" Chu Yurou asked softly, with a hint of doubt in her tone.

Liu Yeshu replied, "I am currently working in the kitchen of the general's mansion." Seeing that Chu's father was there, she did not mention anything about acting as the housekeeper.

Upon hearing this, Father Chu's expression grew complex, his eyes filled with surprise and a hint of barely concealed jealousy. If she were merely working in the kitchen, why would she be entertaining such dignitaries? She must be hiding something. He had never imagined that the young woman before him would have already entered the general's mansion, while his own daughter, no less impressive, was still struggling.

Chu Yurou opened her eyes wide, and the surprise in her eyes quickly turned into admiration. She always felt that Liu Yeshu was different from others. Now seeing her working in the general's mansion, she was only happy for her.

"We... didn't bring a visiting card," Chu's father cleared his throat awkwardly, "But we brought some gifts to express our gratitude to the general." After saying that, he poked Chu Yurou with his elbow.

Chu Yurou understood and took out an exquisite food box and a scroll from the basket behind her, handing them to Liu Yeshu with both hands: "This is a snack I made myself, and a painting. Although it is not worth much, the general saved my life, so this is a small token of our gratitude. If it is convenient for you, Miss Liu, please help convey it to me."

Liu Yeshu took the gifts and said, "I will present these gifts personally."

Seeing another guest arrive, Liu Yeshu said goodbye to the two and turned back to the door to continue receiving guests. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Chu's father lower his head and say a few words to Chu Yurou. His tone seemed a little excited, and his finger pointed at the gate of the general's mansion from time to time. It was unclear what he was saying. But Chu Yurou seemed a little impatient, frowning and shaking her head gently, as if she didn't agree.

When she looked over again, Chu Yurou's face suddenly darkened, and she seemed to have said a few harsh words to her father. Then she stomped her feet, turned around and left quickly. Her back looked resolute and determined. Chu's father stood there, watching his daughter's figure going away, sighed helplessly, and followed her with dejected steps.

Liu Yeshu watched them leave, a bit stunned. According to the original book, the general should have fallen in love with Chu Yurou at first sight, and it should be Chu Yurou who entered the general's mansion at this time. But now, it seems that Qi Yu doesn't seem to pay any special attention to Chu Yurou, and the two of them have very few interactions. What's the problem?

Just as Liu Yeshu was lost in thought, another distinguished guest arrived. She quickly gathered her thoughts and went to greet him. This man was quite special; judging by his appearance, he was a Hu merchant, and he was leading a tall and handsome horse.

Wherever he went, passers-by would look at him sideways, not at the people - but at the horse.

Hu Shang proudly handed over the visiting card, his eyes brimming with pride. "This is a rare Ferghana horse from the Western Regions, galloping tirelessly for thousands of miles. I present it to you, General."

Liu Yeshu's gaze was fixed on the steed, her eyes filled with shock. The horse's strength and unruly demeanor were as frightening as a gust of wind sweeping across the grasslands, its coat like satin, its hooves as strong as iron. Overwhelmed by the horse's vitality, she was momentarily distracted, only to snap back to her senses a moment later. Realizing her own loss of composure, Liu Yeshu quickly composed herself, hastily straightening her demeanor and saying, "Come in."

Hu Shang noticed her shock, but he just smiled heartily, not caring at all. He patted his horse's back and strode into the mansion.

The last guest took his seat, and the banquet officially began. Graceful dancers danced gracefully, string music filled the air, and music filled the air. Liu Yeshu retreated to a corner, directing the arrival of the delicacies while closely observing the guests' expressions. She still felt a lingering fear from Yang Qing's previous incident, and today she dared not slack off even a bit.

The first dish, the "Jade Dragon Roll", was served. The jade-white radish shreds were finely cut and neatly wrapped with fresh shrimps. It was served on a white porcelain plate, like a winding dragon, symbolizing good luck and fortune.

He tasted it and found that the refreshing radish and the delicious shrimp complemented each other perfectly. Qi Yu put down his chopsticks and looked around, seeing that all the guests had expressions of approval on their faces.

The waiter then brought the second dish, "Golden Coin Duck." The duck was cut into round shapes resembling copper coins, coated in a golden batter and deep-fried to a crispy exterior and tender interior, creating an alluring sheen. Not only was the appearance mouth-watering, but the bite was also incredibly crispy, tender, and fragrant. After tasting it, County Magistrate Li raised his eyebrows slightly, "Is the General's Mansion hiring a new chef?"

Qi Yu smiled and said, "Prefect Li is indeed a man of great insight."

Lieutenant Ji raised his glass and jokingly said, "I heard that the chefs in the General's Mansion are often replaced. If there is a change, could you please let us know? We will definitely hire him at a high price."

Qi Yu raised his eyebrows and said, "There are more than ten cooks in Captain Ji's mansion, and this is the only one in my mansion. Are you trying to poach him?"

Captain Ji drank a glass as punishment and said, "These dishes are all new to us. I wonder if anyone can introduce them to us in detail?"

Qi Yu looked at Liu Yeshu, who understood. She walked to the front of the table and bowed, "My humble servant, I am honored to present my humble service. If you, my distinguished guests, have any questions, I am willing to answer them."

The guests were quite surprised to hear this. Qi Yu nodded slightly, signaling Liu Yeshu to continue.

Liu Yeshu said calmly, "The 'Jade Dragon Roll' takes its name from the auspicious symbol 'dragon'. The shredded radish symbolizes dragon scales, and the shrimp represents dragon pearls. This symbolizes that all of you distinguished guests will soar across the world and enjoy long-lasting blessings. The 'Golden Money Duck', shaped like a copper coin, symbolizes 'a house full of gold and jade.' I wish all of you great wealth and prosperity."

The guests were all amazed. Wang Yuanwai couldn't help but sigh, "No wonder the dishes are so exquisite. They actually hold such profound meaning. General, you are truly blessed!"

For a moment, the guests were filled with astonishment. Such exquisite dishes had been prepared by a young woman. Everyone already admired skilled chefs, but now, knowing this chef was a woman, their awe was even greater. Many whispered inquiries about Liu Yeshu's identity, and some noble ladies even inquired about her background, wondering which young lady could possess such talent.

"The third delicacy is called 'Five-Colored Pearl Balls,'" Liu Yeshu explained. "This dish is made with five brightly colored vegetables and minced meat. The vibrant colors resemble five crystal-clear pearls scattered across the plate. Each ball is meticulously arranged, symbolizing the arrival of five blessings."

The Hu merchant took a sip and exclaimed, "This tastes quite unique, with a hint of the charm of the Western Regions!"

"Next is the 'Hundred Flowers Fish Balls,'" Liu Yeshu continued. "They're made with fresh, tender fish, finely pounded into balls, and adorned with colorful shredded vegetables, just like a hundred flowers blooming."

Wang Yuanwai's wife picked up a fish ball and savored it carefully, praising it highly: "This fish is really delicious, soft yet chewy, showing the skill of the chef."

The banquet was in full swing, and the atmosphere was becoming increasingly lively. The sound of clinking glasses and laughter mixed together, and the entire general's mansion was filled with a peaceful and festive atmosphere.

"This is the grand finale dish, 'Dragon and Phoenix Bring Good Luck,'" Liu Yeshu said. "It's made with lobster and anchovies. The lobster symbolizes the dragon, and the anchovies symbolize the phoenix. It symbolizes the auspiciousness of the dragon and the phoenix, and good fortune and happiness."

However, just as the dish was about to be served to Qi Yu, Liu Yeshu caught a glimpse of something strange out of the corner of her eye. The waiter's movements were steady, but his steps were a little unnatural.

Like... a puppet controlled by strings.

Looking at the attendant again, he should have lowered his head to look at the road, but now he was staring straight at the general. Qi Yu was accepting a toast from Captain Cheng and didn't notice it for a moment.

Liu Yeshu's heart was filled with alarm.

She no longer hesitated, took a quick step forward, and shouted loudly: "Be careful!"

Before he finished speaking, the servant suddenly dropped the tray, a cold light flashed from his sleeve, and he went straight for Qi Yu's throat.