Chapter 7 The Prince's Palace Cuisine: Even Dogs Wouldn't Eat It
It was already late when I returned from the Prime Minister's residence.
After a whole day of acting and scaring people, Jiang Mianmian was completely exhausted. At this moment, she was so hungry that her stomach was practically sticking to her back, and all she could think about was the roast chicken she hadn't had time to finish eating.
Upon returning to the main courtyard of the Prince's Mansion, it was just time for dinner.
"Serve the meal."
Shen Jin changed out of his court robes and into a loose, moon-white casual robe, which made him look more homely, but his face was still as cold as ice.
Jiang Mianmian sat obediently at the table, but her eyes were fixed on the plates that the maids brought up one after another, like searchlights.
[Finally, dinner's served! Even though I had a nice lunch at Dad's, that was noon! Right now, I could eat a whole cow! Come on, lots of meat and fish! Come on, a Manchu Han Imperial Feast!]
However, as the lids were lifted one by one, the light in Jiang Mianmian's eyes went out instantly.
First dish: Boiled cabbage in plain water. Second dish: Steamed tofu. Third dish: Stir-fried bamboo shoots. Fourth dish: Plain congee.
There wasn't a single speck of oil in it; it was so light that you could practically see your reflection in it.
Shen Jin picked up his chopsticks and elegantly picked up a piece of cabbage, saying calmly, "Your Highness is in poor health and has just recovered from a serious illness. The imperial physician advised you to eat a light diet. These are health-preserving meals that I specially instructed the kitchen to prepare for you. Please eat more."
Jiang Mianmian stared at the ghastly green vegetable leaf in her bowl, her hand trembling as she held the chopsticks.
[What the hell! Shen Jin, are you even human? This is what you call dinner? This is rabbit food! Even a dog would shake its head at this stuff, and you want me to eat it? Healthy? I think you're trying to kill me!]
Where's my braised pork? Where's my sweet and sour pork ribs? Even a salted duck egg would be fine! This congee is so watery you can count the grains; it'd probably barely make a sound if you drank it!
Jiang Mianmian raised her head, revealing a smile that was more like a grimace: "Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness... but are these dishes... perhaps a little too... delicate?"
"Refined and elegant?" Shen Jin raised an eyebrow. "Does the Princess not like it?"
"I like it, I... I like it very much." Jiang Mianmian said through gritted teeth, then picked up a piece of tofu and put it in her mouth.
It has no taste. It even has a slightly beany smell.
Jiang Mianmian felt that her life had suddenly lost its color.
Heavens above! Earth below! When will this end?! I want to eat spicy crayfish! The kind that's bright red and glistening with oil, full of roe when you peel it open, with firm and bouncy meat, dipped in minced garlic and chili oil, one bite and your lips go numb with spiciness!
Shen Jin paused slightly as he was about to drink his porridge.
Spicy crayfish?
The voice in my mind continued, becoming increasingly vivid, as if it were some kind of 4D surround sound food broadcast:
[And then there's boiled beef! You have to layer it with those super-rich chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, then pour hot oil over it with a sizzle—the aroma explodes instantly! The beef should be tender and juicy, the bean sprouts crisp and refreshing, and with a bowl of rice, I could easily eat three bowls!]
[If all else fails, a spicy blood curd will do! Duck blood, tripe, beef aorta, and luncheon meat, all tumbling in a red oil broth, bursting with juice with every bite, making you sweat from the spiciness, it's so incredibly satisfying...slurp...]
Shen Jin clearly heard a sound of swallowing saliva in his mind.
The voice was so real, the description so vivid, that Shen Jin looked at the bland food he was used to on a regular basis and suddenly felt... utterly tasteless.
It was even a little hard to swallow.
Although he wasn't particularly fond of food, that didn't mean he had lost his sense of taste. He had never even heard of many of the dishes Jiang Mianmian described, but just hearing the description of the sizzling sound of hot oil being poured over them made his stomach inexplicably twitch.
I'm hungry.
She said I was hungry.
Jiang Mianmian was still mechanically chewing on the bamboo shoots while replaying "A Bite of China" in her mind:
[If only I had some lamb skewers right now, sprinkled with cumin and chili powder, sizzling and dripping with oil, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside... Or a Chongqing hot pot, goose intestines cooked in the broth, crispy like chewing cucumber... Waaah, I want to go home, I want to order takeout.]
Shen Jin put down his chopsticks.
He simply couldn't eat anymore. If he listened any longer, he was afraid he would start drooling, which would be extremely impolite.
"Someone come here," Shen Jin suddenly said, his voice low.
The steward, who had been waiting nearby, immediately stepped forward: "What are your orders, Your Highness?"
Jiang Mianmian was startled.
【What's wrong? Do you think my eating manners are too unsightly? Honestly, I haven't even touched my food much!】
Shen Jin glanced at Jiang Mianmian's face, which was smiling but whose eyes were filled with "life is meaningless," and coughed lightly to hide the unnaturalness in his eyes:
"Today is her homecoming, and the Princess Consort has been working hard all day. Eating only this much is indeed a bit bland."
Jiang Mianmian suddenly looked up, her eyes instantly shining like two big light bulbs.
What does this mean? Is there a chance for things to turn around?
Shen Jin turned to look at the butler, and relying on his memory of Jiang Mianmian reciting the names of the dishes in her mind, he tried his best to repeat them:
"Tell the kitchen to add a few more dishes. Make them...spicy."
The butler was taken aback. Wasn't the prince the one who hated strong flavors the most?
“Specifically…” Shen Jin frowned slightly, recalling those strange names, “Make… boiled beef, with lots of… Sichuan peppercorns? And… stir-fried river shrimp? If there are no river shrimp, make spicy diced chicken. In short, it should be very oily and spicy, the more fragrant the better.”
The entire room fell silent.
The butler doubted he had misheard.
The maids suspected that the prince had been possessed by a spirit.
Jiang Mianmian was completely dumbfounded.
[Holy crap?! Boiled beef? Spicy chicken? Does this bastard have mind-reading abilities? How come he ordered all the things I want to eat? No, that can't be! It must be a coincidence! Or... is this the last supper? Did he add a chicken leg to my last meal?]
Shen Jin felt inexplicably pleased as he looked at her stunned expression.
"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and go!" Shen Jin tapped the table.
"Yes, yes, yes! This old servant will go right away!" The steward snapped out of his daze and hurriedly ran to the kitchen.
While waiting for the food to be served, Shen Jin picked up his teacup again and took a sip as a cover-up.
"Why is the princess looking at me like that?" he asked, knowing the answer already.
Jiang Mianmian swallowed hard, cautiously probing, "Your Highness...don't you prefer light flavors? Why the sudden change..."
“It’s fine to change things up once in a while,” Shen Jin said without changing his expression. “Besides, the princess seems to be… starving, her eyes practically green with hunger.”
Jiang Mianmian: "..."
[Why are you speaking such blunt truths! But since you get to eat meat, I'll forgive your analogy. You are electricity, you are light, you are the only myth! As long as you're fed, you're my half-brother!]
Soon, the kitchen demonstrated amazing efficiency.
A rich and intense aroma of spicy numbing flavor wafted into the main hall on the wind.
Achoo!
Several maids who weren't used to the smell of chili couldn't help but sneeze.
Shen Jin also felt a little itchy in his nose, but this smell... was indeed very appetizing.
A large bowl of bright red, glistening boiled beef was served, topped with red chilies and Sichuan peppercorns, the hot oil still sizzling. Next came golden-red spicy chicken cubes, and a plate of stir-fried double crispy vegetables.
The originally cool and elegant dining table was instantly filled with the warmth of everyday life.
Looking at the table full of bright red dishes, Jiang Mianmian was so moved that tears almost fell from her eyes.
This is the taste of happiness! This is what human food should be like! Shen Jin, I take back what I said about you before. You may be a scoundrel, but you're a scoundrel with taste!
She picked up her chopsticks, and this time, without pretending, she directly picked up a slice of beef and put it in her mouth.
Although ancient chili peppers are not as spicy as modern ones, this beef is tender, flavorful, spicy, and fragrant, making it an absolute delicacy for her after eating nothing but grass for two days.
"Delicious!" Jiang Mianmian squinted her eyes and let out a satisfied sigh.
Looking at her expression of complete satisfaction, as if she had gained the whole world, Shen Jin felt a soft spot in his heart.
He also reached out his chopsticks and tentatively picked up a piece of spicy chicken.
It was slightly crispy upon first bite, followed by a burst of spicy and numbing sensation on the tongue, making him want to cough, but then came the aroma of charred chicken.
Indeed...not bad.
It's much more interesting than those bland and watery medicinal dishes.
"Your Highness, this beef is delicious too, please try it!" Jiang Mianmian was so pleased with herself that she used her chopsticks to pick up a piece of beef for Shen Jin.
She regretted it as soon as she finished.
[Oh no! This guy's a germaphobe! Did I use serving chopsticks? I don't think so! Oh no, he's definitely going to explode! He's definitely going to throw the bowl away!]
Jiang Mianmian's hand froze in mid-air, unsure whether to retract it or release it.
Shen Jin looked at the piece of beef in the bowl, then at Jiang Mianmian's terrified little eyes.
In the past, this bowl would definitely have been thrown away.
But at this moment, the insincere compliments were gone, replaced only by her simple joy at eating delicious food and her genuine fear.
He didn't say anything, but silently picked up the piece of beef and put it in his mouth.
Jiang Mianmian: !!!
Maids: !!!
Is it going to rain blood? The prince, who has severe mysophobia, actually ate the food that the princess picked up for him?
[He ate it? He actually ate it? Does my saliva have detoxifying properties? Or was the beef so delicious that it cured his mysophobia? Shen Jin, something's not right.]
He swallowed the beef with composure, picked up a handkerchief and elegantly wiped the corner of his mouth, feeling as if the numbing and spicy taste had burned all the way down his throat to his heart.
"The taste is acceptable." He gave a smug review, "One should not speak while eating or sleeping. Let's eat."
"yes!"
Jiang Mianmian responded loudly and then lowered her head to start eating like crazy.
This meal was the noisiest meal in the history of the Regent's Palace (although only Shen Jin could hear it), and also the most appetizing meal.
Surprisingly, Shen Jin ate two bowls of rice, something that never happened before.
When they put down their chopsticks, they were both quite full.
Jiang Mianmian slumped in her chair, rubbing her round little belly, and uttered the most sincere thought of the night:
I'm too full to move. If only I could go straight to sleep without showering. Shen Jin may be a bit odd, but the chef at this prince's manor is truly excellent. Looks like I'll have to endure this job for a while longer just to satisfy my appetite.
Shen Jin listened to the words "stay put for a while longer" and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
That's right.
Want to run? Not so easy.
Now that I've won over your stomach, it shouldn't be long before I win over the person who truly cares for you, right?
Wait, what is he thinking?
Shen Jin suddenly snapped out of his daze, startled by his own thoughts, and broke out in a cold sweat.
Who captured her?
Has he gone mad?
Shen Jin immediately stood up, reverting to his aloof demeanor: "I'm going to the study to handle official business."
After saying that, he fled in panic once again.
This time, however, it wasn't out of anger, but out of a kind of panic that even he couldn't control.
Behind him, Jiang Mianmian watched his hurried departure and yawned.
[He went to the study again? This workaholic is hopeless. Well, at least he's not back, this big bed is mine again! Hehehe, time for bed!]
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