The emperor said, "This is a great day for the Lian family to have a double celebration."
Everyone looked at Lian Yan meaningfully. Lian Yan felt complicated and forced a smile.
Lian Yiyi looked at Lian Yan and sneered in her heart.
Didn't you want to stop her? Now let's see who can stop her!
The queen looked at the complacent Lian Yiyi and a sneer appeared on her face. Lian Yiyi was just named a concubine, but look how complacent she was.
Something that is not presentable.
The emperor deliberately looked in Gu Wei's direction, trying to see a hint of sadness on her face.
But there was no expression on Gu Wei's face, as if this matter had nothing to do with her.
If he hadn't had someone forcibly take her out of the bedroom, she might not have attended the banquet.
Thinking of this, the emperor's eyes darkened and a hint of displeasure rose in his heart.
Suddenly, the sound of pouring wine rang in his ears, and Lian Yiyi poured him a glass of wine.
Lian Yiyi said, "Your Majesty, I offer you a toast."
The emperor looked up at Lian Yiyi, seeing her face that was similar to Gu Wei, and took the wine glass handed to him by Lian Yiyi and drank it all.
"Your Majesty, please have some snacks. This Western Region ham paired with this Western Region wine tastes good." Lian Yiyi said.
"Oh?" The emperor looked at Lian Yiyi meaningfully, his eyes suddenly darkening. "How can you, an ordinary official's daughter, understand all this?"
"Are these rare?" Lian Yiyi looked at the emperor in surprise. "I have them at home..."
Lian Yiyi seemed to realize what she had said, and suddenly denied it in a panic: "Your Majesty, our family doesn't often have access to these drinks."
The emperor smiled, but the smile did not reach his eyes.
He turned his head and looked at Lian Yan deeply.
Lian Yan felt that the emperor's eyes were like a knife, as if he wanted to kill him immediately.
He frowned helplessly, and a sense of foreboding arose in his heart.
Suddenly, the emperor said, "Mr. Lian, I heard that you have also tried this Western wine with Western ham. I wonder what it tastes like?"
Lian Yan's heart skipped a beat, and he understood instantly.
Lian Yiyi must have said something she shouldn't have said in front of the emperor.
However, Lian Yiyi is not the kind of person who talks nonsense normally, so why is she so abnormal today?
"Dad, just tell the truth." Xie Yunjiao reminded in a low voice.
Lian Yan said, "Your Majesty, my daughter-in-law once brought back wine from the Western Regions, and also brought back ham from the Western Regions, but I couldn't get used to the sour taste, nor did I like the dry and strange smell of the ham.
I still prefer to drink our Kyushu Nv'erhong and eat our Kyushu red-braised pork."
The emperor raised an eyebrow and said, "I see. This is a good attempt, but if you don't like it, forget it."
The emperor changed the subject and asked, "Madam Lian, how did you know about the pairing of wine and ham?"
Lian Yan smiled and sat down, but he felt that his clothes were soaked with cold sweat.
Xie Yunjiao stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I once lived with my husband in the northwest for a period of time. There, I met many merchants from the Western Regions. They taught me how to make wine and also how to make Western Region ham.
But I think this Western Region ham tastes bland if eaten this way alone, so it could be eaten in a different way."
The emperor immediately became interested and asked, "Oh? What do you think? Tell me."
"You can use this ham to make soup. It just so happens that spring bamboo shoots are in season now. By making soup with ham and spring bamboo shoots, you can taste the most mellow and unique flavor of spring." Xie Yunjiao said.
"Eat in season. Food is all about freshness. Your words have really whetted my appetite."
"If Your Majesty doesn't mind, I can cook a soup for you all."
The emperor agreed immediately and ordered all the pots, pans, and ingredients in the imperial kitchen to be taken out.
Xie Yunjiao immediately ordered people to set up a stove in the middle of the imperial garden and start cooking.
Looking at Xie Yunjiao's skillful cooking skills, the officials below were full of ridicule.
"I heard that Xie is from the countryside, so it's normal that she knows how to cook."
"If Lian Qi hadn't left home at a young age, he wouldn't have ended up like this, marrying a woman like this."
Although Xie Yunjiao was busy, she listened to everything those people said.
Strangely enough, she found that her five senses had become more and more sensitive recently, and she could hear other people's whispers from a long distance away.
This is good and bad.
The feeling was most obvious when she was sleeping every day. She clearly didn't want to wake up, but she would always be woken up by the sounds of servants sweeping the floor and talking.
Gu Huai said that people who practice martial arts will always remain alert, but it was difficult for her to get a good night's sleep.
Just like now, the sound of knives cutting food and spatulas stirring the pots was endless, but it did not prevent her from hearing the whispers of everyone present.
At first everyone was still talking about it, but when they saw her skillful and quick movements, they felt a sense of beauty. Gradually, they were attracted by her cooking skills and became quiet.
They were all worried that they might miss a move by accident.
It was the first time for them to know that cooking could be so pleasing to the eye.
Xie Yunjiao swung the cut food hard with the knife, and the ingredients fell into the pot in an orderly manner.
Gurgle, gurgle, after an unknown amount of time, the fresh and fragrant smell drifted into everyone's nose along with the wind.
"It smells so good!" someone couldn't help but exclaim.
Even the amusement on the emperor's face disappeared, and only anticipation remained.
It smells so good, it must taste delicious.
"The dishes can be served now." Xie Yunjiao said to the imperial chefs who were helping.
The emperor tasted it first. The milky white soup had a delicious taste, so he didn't care that it was hot. He picked up the spoon and blew hard on it. When he felt it was almost done, he drank it all in one gulp.
The amount was too small and a bit unsatisfying, so he took another spoonful and started drinking.
In a short while, the bowl of soup was finished.
He couldn't help but praise, "Exquisite, wonderful taste, this is the most delicious taste I have ever tasted in spring."
After tasting it, others couldn't help but praise it.
"Excuse me, Madam Lian, can this soup be named?" the emperor asked.
"The ladies call it Yan Du Xian." Xie Yunjiao said.
The emperor uttered an "oh" and asked, "What is pickled pork with preserved vegetables?"
"Xian refers to the salted meat, Xian refers to the freshness of spring bamboo shoots, and Du means slow cooking over low heat. The salty, fresh, and fragrant flavors come together to form the most delicious spring flavor, which makes people drop their eyebrows at the first taste."
"What a delicious pickled pork with preserved vegetables, it's really wonderful!" said the emperor.
As usual, the emperor looked towards Gu Wei unconsciously.
Seeing Gu Wei finish a bowl of soup, which was rare, with a satisfied look on her face, he couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth and a smile flashed across his eyes.
"Very good, reward!" said the emperor.
"Thank you for your grace." Xie Yunjiao said respectfully.
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