Seeing Li Huan give her a meaningful look, Princess Jianning understood immediately.

She swallowed the "stuffed pig's trotter" in her mouth and praised it repeatedly.

"This 'stuffed pork knuckle' is absolutely delicious! I love it!"

Ake waved her folding fan, appearing quite elegant.

She struck a pose of dashing young master and said with a smile, "Thank you for your appreciation, Princess."

Princess Jianning said, "I have eaten many kinds of pig's trotters in the palace, some braised, some stewed, and some fried, but none of them are as good as your 'Stuffed Pig's Trotters'!"

Duolong nodded hurriedly: "Yes, yes, Master Ouyang's 'Stuffed Pork Trotters' are not only exquisitely deboned, but also have a wonderful flavor that leaves a lasting impression and whets my appetite! It suits my taste perfectly, it suits my taste perfectly!"

Wei Xiaobao said, "What a coincidence! I usually love eating pig's trotters. I can eat three braised pig's trotters in one meal. Master Ouyang's 'stuffed pig's trotters' has broadened my horizons and completely won me over! I even worry about what I will do if I can't eat such delicious pig's trotters again."

Li Huan chuckled to himself.

Wei Xiaobao truly lives up to his name; his skill in praising others is clearly a cut above Duolong's!

Wu Yingxiong said, "Father and all judges, please vote for Ouyang Yun's 'Stuffed Pork Trotters' from 'White Camel Manor'!"

Princess Jianning raised her hand without hesitation and gave Ake her vote.

Wei Xiaobao and Duolong immediately raised their hands and said in unison, "I vote for Master Ouyang!"

Immediately afterwards, Wu Sangui and Wu Yingqi also raised their hands to vote.

Wu Yingxiong said, "Master Ouyang currently has five votes. Teacher Feng, will you vote?"

Feng Xifan stroked his beard: "As I just said, the 'stuffed pork knuckle' is a bit too salty, so I won't vote for Master Ouyang."

That vindictive guy deliberately didn't vote as revenge against Ake.

Wu Yingxiong announced: "Ouyang Yun's 'Stuffed Pork Knuckle' has received five votes! It is currently in first place!"

This means that Yue Zhuoran and Wang Dahu have been eliminated.

Yue Zhuoran dared not rashly agree to serve Wu Sangui, so he would ultimately return empty-handed.

Wang Dahu was not afraid of being scolded by the people of the martial arts world. He decisively surrendered to Wu Sangui. Although he lost the competition, he gained 100,000 taels of silver and a beautiful woman, so his trip was worthwhile.

Wu Sangui said, "Master Ouyang, are you willing to submit to me and serve me?"

Ake laughed and said, "I am willing to serve Your Highness and be loyal to you!"

Wu Sangui laughed loudly: "Good, very good! I will reward Master Ouyang with 100,000 taels of silver and a beautiful woman!"

The guards brought in a box, opened it, and displayed 100,000 taels of silver.

Another cheer erupted from the audience.

Wu Sangui was extremely pleased with himself.

He proved with his actions that as long as one pledges allegiance to this king, one will immediately receive a huge reward.

Of course, there are also stunningly beautiful women.

Ake clasped her hands in thanks: "Thank you, Your Highness! I swear to serve you to the death, and I will go through fire and water for you without hesitation!"

Wu Sangui laughed loudly.

Ake's acting skills were quite good, and she completely deceived Wu Sangui, Feng Xifan, and Wu Yingqi.

The more she swore allegiance, the more Wu Sangui lowered his guard.

Currently, Ake's five votes could make her the winner of the first round, or she could enter a tiebreaker stage due to a tie.

Wu Yingxiong called out, "Please welcome the fourth contestant!"

A woman steps forward, holding a round plate in her hand.

The plate was covered with a bamboo lid, so the food inside could not be seen.

Li Huan observed intently.

The woman was about twenty years old, slender, and pretty. Dressed like a female knight-errant, she looked heroic and radiant.

Wu Sangui's eyes lit up as he stared at the woman's waist.

"What's your name? What sect are you from?"

The woman clasped her hands in greeting: "Your Highness, my name is Song Yuyuan, and I come from the Lotus Sect."

"Sizzle... sizzle..." Wu Sangui slurped a few times, his mouth watering.

He wasn't lusting after Song Yuyuan's cooking; he was lusting after Song Yuyuan's body.

Because Song Yuyuan is not only slim, but also has an extremely perfect body proportion and curves.

Li Huan knew nothing about the "Lotus Sect".

If I'm not mistaken, it should be a small sect in the martial arts world.

Such minor sects failed to pique Wu Sangui's interest.

The only thing that cheered Wu Sangui up was Song Yuyuan's beauty and figure.

Wu Sangui asked with a smile, "What dishes did you cook?"

Song Yuyuan placed the plate on the judges' table and said with a smile, "The dish I cooked is called—Fragrant Sticky Rice Chicken!"

She lifted the bamboo lid on the plate, revealing the food wrapped in lotus leaves.

Li Huan knew that "sticky rice chicken" originated in the Chaoshan region of Guangdong and was not popular in the early Qing Dynasty.

Wu Sangui lived in Kunming, Yunnan for a long time, so naturally he had never eaten "sticky rice chicken".

"Sticky rice chicken? A chicken made from glutinous rice?"

Wu Sangui asked in a friendly tone, his eyes darting around Song Yuyuan.

Song Yuyuan said, "Your Highness, glutinous rice chicken is not a chicken made of glutinous rice. Instead, chicken meat is placed inside glutinous rice, wrapped in fresh lotus leaves, and steamed together."

Wu Sangui laughed and said, "So that's how it is. I've never eaten 'sticky rice chicken' before. Bring it here quickly so I can have a good meal."

As he spoke, he stared at Song Yuyuan's slender waist, looking like a lustful bear.

Li Huan's heart stirred slightly.

If I had known, I should have used a "honey trap" to deal with that shameless old lecher Wu Sangui and castrated him first.

Song Yuyuan first unveiled the lotus leaf, and instantly, a fragrance filled the air.

The fragrance of lotus leaves is refreshing and delightful.

It contains the aroma of chicken and the rich fragrance of shiitake mushrooms.

Song Yuyuan picked up her chopsticks and deftly divided the "Fragrant Sticky Rice Chicken" into six portions, placing them on a plate.

She then explained, "In addition to chicken, the glutinous rice also contains scallop meat, salted duck egg yolk, and shiitake mushrooms."

Song Yuyuan first picked up a plate and placed it in front of Wu Sangui.

"Please, Your Highness, have a taste!"

Song Yuyuan picked up the second plate and placed it in front of Princess Jianning.

"Please, Your Highness, have a taste!"

The other four portions were given to Wei Xiaobao, Duolong, Wu Yingqi, and Feng Xifan.

Wu Sangui smelled the aroma of the dish and nodded: "I don't even need to taste it to know that this dish is fresh and delicious!"

Princess Jianning looked at the "sticky rice chicken" on the plate, then glanced at Song Yuyuan, who was smiling radiantly.

She wasn't sure whether Song Yuyuan was a friend or foe.

If Song Yuyuan is highly skilled in martial arts and willing to submit to Wu Sangui, then Song Yuyuan would be an enemy, and Princess Jianning would never vote for her.

Seeing that the princess was rejecting Song Yuyuan, Duolong and Wei Xiaobao would inevitably work together to sabotage her, deliberately picking on her and preventing her from voting.

Princess Jianning raised her head and looked at Li Huan, hoping he would give her a hint.

Li Huan was helpless, as he didn't know Song Yuyuan's stance either.

Therefore, Li Huan shrugged and indicated to Princess Jianning that a normal evaluation could be made, without any deliberate bias or slander...