Chapter 134 An arranged marriage is not an option!!!
"It's so late, why did you come here?" Lin Yao asked the person beside her.
"I heard you were selected, so I came here to congratulate you." As he spoke, he took out a delicate sandalwood box from his sleeve and handed it to Lin Yao, his eyes full of anticipation. "This is a congratulatory gift for you."
Lin Yao raised an eyebrow, took the wooden box, and gently opened it.
When she saw the items inside, she burst out laughing.
A hairpin lay quietly in the box.
This hairpin is completely different from the usual style. It is neither the common plum blossom, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum pattern, nor a shape with auspicious meaning. The hairpin head is actually a small and exquisite bowl, which seems to be filled with soup, and it is very lifelike.
Lin Yao examined the jade bowl hairpin head carefully in the moonlight, a faint smile on her face, her tone tinged with surprise: "Did you make this yourself?"
Seeing that she liked it, Xu Zhiheng nodded with undisguised pride: "This is a congratulatory gift for your selection. I spent a lot of time thinking about it before deciding on the design, and then spent several more days refining it."
Seeing his smug look, Lin Yao couldn't help but laugh again, shaking the hairpin in her hand and asking, "Why did you insist on making it in the shape of a bowl?"
Xu Zhiheng gave him a smug look, as if to say, "I hope you can always do what you love, eat what you like every day, and live a comfortable and carefree life."
Lin Yao felt a warmth in her heart, took Xu Zhiheng's hand, and the two strolled around together, close to each other.
Xu Zhiheng seemed to suddenly remember something and squeezed Lin Yao's hand: "The palace banquet is in three days. If His Majesty summons you that day, you can go without worry."
He gently smoothed her wind-blown hair. "I will also be going to the palace with my father that day. You don't need to worry. I'll take care of everything."
Lin Yao was very much looking forward to entering the palace.
The palaces that modern people visit have been repaired by several generations. Now, not only can she enter the original palace, but she also has the opportunity to meet the living emperor, which is still very attractive to her.
As for the situation Xu Zhiheng mentioned, she didn't care much.
After all, it's the Lunar New Year.
Having a happy Lunar New Year ensures a smooth and successful year ahead; this is something ingrained in the DNA of the older generation. Not to mention, this is the first Lunar New Year since the new emperor ascended the throne, so there's no chance of him causing any trouble.
On the day of the palace banquet, just as dawn was breaking, Lin Yao set off with the palace attendants leading the way.
Unlike the gate used by ministers and their families, the cooks, who were selected from among the common people, entered the palace through the east side gate for attendants.
As soon as Lin Yao stepped into the palace gate, her view was blocked by the endless palace walls, the tops of which were covered with glazed tiles that shimmered with a faint golden light in the morning.
Walking along the palace road, you can see the outlines of several grand halls in the distance. The double-eaved hip roofs are solemn and majestic, and the auspicious beasts on the eaves are lifelike.
This is completely different from the feeling of visiting the Forbidden City in modern times.
Lin Yao was overwhelmed by the sights. Palace servants would occasionally hurry by, and she suddenly felt as if she were in a large-scale murder mystery game filled with high-quality NPCs.
Before long, they arrived at the imperial kitchen.
Lin Yao instantly suppressed all her curiosity. She hadn't forgotten that she was in a place where imperial power was supreme, and the emperor could decide life and death with a single word. There was no room for error in what she was doing today.
Today's palace banquet is of extremely high standard, with princes, dukes, and ministers of the first to third ranks all attending with their families, and the amount of food is enormous.
Fortunately, the officials in charge of this matter assigned them many palace servants to assist them.
Lin Yao glanced at the palace servants assigned to assist her and suddenly smiled. The head eunuch was the same one who had recorded the ingredients for her last time.
The young eunuch recognized her and gave a shy smile.
It's no exaggeration to say that the amount of food was enormous. This group of people worked in the imperial kitchen from before dawn until dark, and finally finished preparing all the dishes.
When the last dish was carried away by the palace servants, the imperial kitchen was filled with the sound of pots and pans being put down; everyone was too exhausted to continue.
The empty chairs were quickly snapped up by those who were quick, while those who didn't simply sat down on the cleaner floor tiles, showing none of the restraint and formality they had displayed when they first met that morning.
Lin Yao found a chair against the wall and sat down, pounding her aching shoulders with both hands. She felt exhausted even lifting her arms and just wanted to lie there motionless.
But Lin Yao could sense that although everyone's bodies were extremely exhausted, their spirits were unusually high.
Moreover, the day spent working side by side helped the strangers quickly become acquainted.
"I almost didn't get the cooking time right for the glass chicken I made today, thanks to Chef Li's help!" A cook in a blue cloth jacket spoke first, his voice tired but unable to hide his excitement.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than someone chimed in, "That's right! My braised sea cucumber in abalone sauce was ruined if Chef Wang hadn't reminded me that it was sugar, not salt!"
Once the conversation started, it was hard to stop. Everyone chatted about today's dishes, and when they got excited, they would even stand up and demonstrate their cooking techniques.
While the people in the Imperial Kitchen were still resting, the Linde Hall was already brightly lit.
Dozens of banquet tables were set up in the hall, and imperial relatives and ministers, along with their families, took their seats in order of rank.
Xu Zhiheng sat quietly among the court officials, waiting for the banquet to begin.
The new emperor, dressed in bright yellow robes, sat on the dragon throne and spoke of his New Year's wishes and expectations for the court.
Xu Zhiheng listened with his head bowed along with the others, but his thoughts began to wander. He wondered if A Yao was resting now, and whether she was tired today.
As soon as the emperor finished speaking, the eunuch announced loudly, "Greetings, the banquet begins!"
The melodious sounds of silk and bamboo instruments filled the hall, and a group of dancers dressed in flowing sleeves entered with graceful steps. Their skirts fluttered like butterflies as they twirled, drawing gasps of admiration from the audience.
Xu Zhiheng had no interest in watching the singing and dancing; his eyes were fixed on the dishes that the palace servants were bringing to the table.
When the dish, adorned with emerald green lotus leaves and featuring a fish lying on its back, was placed in front of him, his eyes lit up immediately. The dish looked far more exquisite than A-Yao had described.
His sister is so clever that she can make ordinary yellow croaker look so interesting, and the taste is impeccable.
Xu Zhiheng was so proud that he could hardly contain himself. He ate with great relish, and before he knew it, the "Fish Playing with Lotus Leaves" dish in front of him was gone.
The emperor at the head of the table happened to witness this scene.
He had only casually glanced around the table when he noticed that the Xu family's son was eating a dish with great gusto, completely ignoring the singing and dancing, which piqued his curiosity.
He raised his chin, gesturing for the eunuch beside him to bring the "Fish Playing with Lotus Leaves" dish from his table to him.
The emperor examined it for a while; its appearance did seem quite ingenious.
He took a bite, and his eyes flashed with appreciation. Seeing this, a palace maid standing by said, "Your Majesty, this dish is called 'Fish Playing with Lotus Leaves,' and it was made by a cook selected from among the common people."
"A cook?" The emperor raised an eyebrow.
Before the New Year, he had asked the Empress to sound out Madam Xu's opinion, wanting to betroth the daughter of the Duke of Wei to Xu Zhiheng. Firstly, the second young lady of the Duke of Wei's mansion had a good reputation in the capital, and the two would be a perfect match. Secondly, he could use this marriage to win over both old and new court officials and stabilize the court.
Unexpectedly, the young man from the Xu family refused outright, saying that he already had someone he loved, and that person seemed to be a cook from the common people.
Since this young man already has someone he likes, he won't be the villain who breaks up the couple.
Later, I heard from the eunuch that Xu Zhiheng had made a special trip to Lin'an Prefecture just to see the cook participate in the cooking competition he was organizing.
The emperor glanced at Xu Zhiheng, who was sitting upright below, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips: "Issue my decree to summon that cook to the palace."
The eunuch went straight to the imperial kitchen to deliver the emperor's oral decree.
The lively conversation in the imperial kitchen came to an abrupt halt, and everyone's eyes turned to Lin Yao.
The cook in the blue cloth jacket was the first to react, his face full of envy: "Miss Lin, His Majesty has summoned you! You are truly blessed!"
Lin Yao quickly stood up, straightened her clothes, and followed the eunuch outside amidst the envious gazes of the crowd.
The path from the Imperial Kitchen to Linde Hall wasn't long. She followed the mannerisms she had seen in period dramas, walking respectfully to her designated spot in the hall. "This commoner, Lin Yao, greets Your Majesty."
"Rise." The emperor looked at the person below him. "This dish, 'Fish Playing with Lotus Leaves,' is your creation?"
Lin Yao replied, "Your Majesty, this was a chance discovery for me. I have loved studying food since I was a child. In my hometown, there is a lotus pond where lotus flowers bloom every summer, and fish occasionally play in the pond, creating a beautiful scene. I thought of incorporating this scene into a dish, using yellow croaker to shape it, which not only preserves the tenderness of the fish but also makes it look like a lively fish. I then used lily bulbs and yam paste to make lotus flowers, which is how this dish, 'Fish Playing on Lotus Leaves,' came about."
As the emperor listened, his scrutinizing gaze gradually faded, and his eyes showed more genuine appreciation as he looked at Lin Yao: "What a wonderful way to incorporate scenery into a dish! You're quite clever."
Hearing the emperor's delighted praise, Xu Zhiheng, who was not far away, also felt honored, even though no one else present knew about his relationship with Lin Yao.
The emperor, of course, did not miss the change in Xu Zhiheng's expression, and could not help but curse inwardly at this brat who could not keep his composure at all.
Whether for the purpose of stabilizing the court or to take care of the Xu family for their contributions to the founding of the dynasty, the emperor favored the Xu family.
Today, the emperor changed his mind about bestowing the marriage upon Xu Zhiheng, but when he thought of Xu Zhiheng's flirtatious appearance, he couldn't help but feel a little mischievous.
The Emperor said, "Your culinary skills are superb, and your speech and manners are also refined. You are truly beautiful inside and out. Now, let me ask you, are you married?"
Lin Yao's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected the emperor to suddenly ask about this matter, so she had no choice but to answer truthfully: "Your Majesty, I am not yet married."
"Oh?" The emperor feigned surprise, his tone carrying a deliberate hint of contemplation. "Most women your age, even if unmarried, are already engaged. With your talent and beauty, you should find a good match. Perhaps..."
"No!" Before the emperor could finish speaking, an urgent voice rang out from the ranks of court officials.
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw that Xu Zhiheng had already stood up from his seat. Ignoring the etiquette in the hall, he quickly walked to Lin Yao's side, bowed deeply towards the dragon throne, and said in a voice with a hint of panic that was hard to detect: "Your Majesty, I beg you to rescind your decree!"
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