Chapter 382 Not Lost
The Wanshou Festival is the emperor's birthday, which means eternal life.
On this day, the capital city was decorated with lights and colorful lanterns everywhere. Craftsmen used colorful paintings and silks to decorate the main streets to make them look gorgeous and festive. People's smiling faces could be seen everywhere in the streets and alleys to greet each other.
The Wanshou Festival lasts for three days. During these three days, slaughtering, killing and seeing blood are prohibited in the capital. Even the Ministry of Justice is not allowed to interrogate criminals during these three days; the criminal slaves in the Yunting Palace will also be allowed to rest for three days.
On this day, Yun Ran specially changed into the brocade fairy skirt sent by the Fangxian Embroidery Tower. The cuffs were embroidered with cloud patterns with silver thread, and the hem of the skirt was embroidered with white cranes with gilded silk thread, which made her slender figure even more graceful and her eyes more radiant.
She has a fairy bun with flowing tassels and a small lily flower hairpin inserted in the bun. Her face is covered with a veil, which seems real and illusory, and she is so beautiful that she looks like a fairy who has fallen into the mortal world.
At this time, she was waiting with Jiu Yue in a secluded corner of the Shangshi Bureau.
Jiu Yue stood beside her and was very angry when she saw the two chefs standing there with their hands on their hips, acting bossy.
"Are all the people in this palace so snobbish? We were invited by Concubine Xin, and yet we're being treated so coldly!"
Yun Ran glanced at the already cold tea on the table next to him and chuckled softly: "Then I guess Concubine Xin is not very favored."
"Even so, Ranran, you are the master of Shanhai Tower! The emperor has sent people to invite you before! Twice! These people from the Shangshi Bureau don't even give the emperor face?!" Jiu Yue was a little angry.
Yun Ran didn't care: "Didn't I give the emperor face before?"
The emperor invited her twice, but she never agreed to come to the palace to meet him.
Then he comforted Jiuyue, "This is the imperial palace after all, not like our Shanhai Tower. Okay, Sister Jiuyue, just wait a little longer and the palace banquet will begin."
Seeing her gentle smile and unhurried demeanor, Jiu Yue's anger dissipated: "Alas, how come you are so much more patient than me at such a young age?"
Yun Ran tapped the edge of the table with her slender white fingers and winked mischievously:
"If I don't keep my composure, am I going to rush over and whip them, and then be tied up and thrown out of the palace by the palace guards?"
"Pfft, that's not what I meant."
Jiu Yue was amused by her and waved her hands, saying, "Never mind, I'll just sit there for a while."
As the two were talking, they saw the young palace maids who were busy running around in the Shangshi Bureau. They seemed to have heard some news and were chattering in groups of three or five.
Yun Ran pricked up her clever little ears and listened carefully, and she heard the little palace maids saying something like "Prince Jing'an", "He is very handsome", "He also came back to celebrate the emperor's birthday", etc.
Just as I wanted to listen again, the two chefs who were in charge of the Imperial Food Bureau came in.
One of the stewards, a slightly plump man with raised eyebrows, scolded, "What are you all doing? Hurry up and put these nine dishes on plates and into boxes. It's time for us to go out!"
All of a sudden, the young palace maids dispersed and went about their own business.
After she finished speaking, she walked towards Yun Ran and the others, a smile on her face. "Sorry to have kept you waiting, Miss Yun. The palace banquet is about to begin. How are your preparations going?"
Yun Ran didn't know the exact time when the palace banquet would start, so it was not convenient for him to prepare it too early and keep it in the pot.
After hearing what the chef said, Jiu Yue suddenly became anxious: "How dare you ask how our preparations are going? Didn't my master tell you in advance? Please let me know when it's half an hour away!"
"This dish tastes best when it's fresh out of the pot. Why are you here when we should be leaving now?!"
The kitchen nanny raised her hand to gather her hair, a fake smile on her face: "Oh, look at my memory, I forgot about our girl!"
"You...!" Jiu Yue was so angry that she wanted to hit someone.
Yun Ran pulled her sleeve and smiled at the nanny. "It's okay. It's understandable that the chef was so busy that she forgot. This isn't an important dish. I was lucky enough to get this opportunity because of Concubine Xin's invitation. I'll put it last."
"Okay, young lady, you are sensible." The kitchen nanny looked very proud and rolled her eyes at Jiu Yue before leaving.
All the people from the Imperial Food Bureau left in a flash, and the nanny only left a little palace maid at the door to lead the way for them.
"slowly!"
Jiu Yue looked at the kitchen door squeak shut and stamped her feet in anger. "You said you were fine, why didn't you come here with Lord Yin and the others? Instead, you accepted the invitation of that Xinpin and suffered humiliation here for nothing!"
"If I come with my grandpa and his family, and my grandfather finds out, the old man will get jealous again."
As the Minister of Justice, Yin Qiu naturally had to go to the palace to pay his respects; but Rong Bing had resigned long ago, and had some grudges against the emperor, so he would definitely not be invited, and he himself would not go to the palace.
"Are you really afraid that Lord Yin and Old Pavilion Master Rong will fight, so you come here as the owner of Shanhai Tower?" Jiu Yue was still a little unconvinced.
Yun Ran nodded: "What else?"
Seeing her sincere eyes, Jiu Yue didn't think much about it.
Yun Ran rolled up his sleeves and looked at the strange fish in the basin that was shaking its head and tail. He grabbed the fish's lips with his slender white fingers and lifted the fish out of the basin neatly.
The strange fish flapped its wing-like fins, splashing a string of water.
Concubine Xin was the noble lady who had the honor of being a distinguished guest that day and came to Shanhai Tower to eat black plum and golden fish soup.
She accepted Xinpin's invitation, not only because of her two grandfathers, but also because she wanted to meet Jingzhen secretly.
If she came as Yin Qiu's granddaughter, she probably wouldn't be able to escape unscathed.
Yin Qiu had lost her beloved daughter for many years. Once she found her, she brought her daughter with her a pair of smart and clever children. This would definitely become the topic of conversation among those gossipy civil officials, and she didn't want that.
The fish scales were scraped off in just a few strokes with a sharp kitchen knife. Then a fingernail-sized incision was made in the fish's lower abdomen, and the internal organs were cleaned. Then a layer of egg liquid was brushed on the surface and the fish was roasted on the fire.
After roasting, Yun Ran put spices in the big pot, made a few diamond-shaped cuts on the fish to make it easier for the seasoning to enter, and then began to stew the fish.
After a while, waves of tempting aroma wafted out from the pot, and even the little maid guarding the door could not help but peek inside through the crack.
Jiu Yue had already prepared a large plate specifically for the fish. She started to arrange the dish as soon as Yun Ran took the fish out of the pot.
The two of them moved with skill, and soon, a fragrant, brightly colored, simple and elegant dish was out of the pot.
Jiu Yue was carrying a wooden tray, and Yun Ran was walking beside her. The two of them followed the little maid leading the way and headed towards Chengqian Hall where the emperor was holding his birthday banquet.
The hall was brightly lit, and a red carpet had been laid in the center of the hall. Several dancers in Western-style dance dresses were dancing gracefully on it.
The maid who led the way took them both to the door and then left. Yun Ran stood at the door of the hall and looked inside.
Then I heard Ye Jingzhen's voice coming from inside.
"...This is the 'Geographical Records' I found while stationed at the border. My brother told me that my father had always cherished this book, so I sought it out and presented it to him as a birthday gift."
Yun Ran was stunned and subconsciously touched his collar, feeling the corner of the book that had been turned over by him.
I can't help but wonder, it's not lost?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
