Everyone: ...No wonder they are uncle and nephew.
"This is the heart of a child."
It was clearly just a plate of boiled water spinach, but when the imperial physicians and Peng Rui heard the name, they immediately felt that the Crown Prince had opened a door for them, proving that auspicious words weren't always necessary.
"This is Long Live the Emperor." The Crown Prince introduced the last dish, which was a bit special. It contained spinach boiled in water and was surrounded by carrots.
After introducing the dishes, it was time for the soup. Everyone craned their necks to wait. When he pointed at a deer and called it a horse, Jin Xi lifted the lid of the bowl, revealing a vegetable and egg soup. "A lotus flower blooms in the beginning of chaos."
Everyone: ...
After the Crown Prince finished his introduction, it was Zhao Shu's turn: "Like a long-awaited rain after a drought, like meeting an old friend in a foreign land. On the wedding night, like passing the imperial examination, four kinds of happy dumplings."
"May your fortune and longevity last forever, like a thousand-layer tofu." She can also make up nice-sounding names, such as "A newborn calf is a force to be reckoned with, and a cowboy with abundant fortune and prosperity."
After introducing the dishes, it was time for the soup: "Old Duck Soup with a Clear Mind".
Having said that, she smiled, selectively ignoring the terribly ugly dumplings. Neither the Crown Prince nor Prince Yong introduced them, and since she didn't, no one else said anything either, since everyone's cooking skills were extremely poor.
After she finished speaking, everyone naturally let Sun Yun speak. Although she had no official rank and was young, she and Zhao Shu were the only two girls at the table.
Waiting quietly for Sun Yun to introduce her dishes, all of which were exquisitely made and had been trained in cooking. "All the world pays homage," she said, pointing to the dumplings on the plate. The dumplings were very creatively made, arranged around the edges like swimming fish, with dipping sauce in the center.
The Empress Dowager muttered to herself, "Why can't my precious granddaughter learn to make dumplings even when she's with Sun Yun?"
However, little did she know that Zhao Shu probably had more recipes in her head than Sun Yun, but her practical skills were extremely poor, and she really had no talent.
"Good fortune comes one after another." This dish is actually tofu, with some minced meat on top. However, the tofu is cut into the shape of clouds and is still connected. The minced meat on the tofu is arranged to form the Chinese character for "good fortune," which is very clever and exquisite.
"Five Blessings Golden Rolls." This dish consists of fillings rolled in bean curd sheets and placed on top of carrots. The yellow and red colors are vibrant, and the dish comes with a broth that is very fragrant. It is a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.
"Eternal Rainbow, Red Date and Yam Pork Rib Soup." After introducing the three dishes and one soup, it was time for the staple food, dumplings, "Yuanbao Dumplings."
The filling of the Yuanbao dumplings contains corn and carrots, and the tender yellow color with red tinges is crystal clear and looks very appetizing.
At this point, the imperial physician and Peng Rui, who had not yet announced the names of the dishes, both lowered their heads. After Sun Yun finished speaking, it should have been the imperial physician's turn. The imperial physician Peng recited a list in a haphazard manner, "Medicine cures all diseases, miraculous hands bring the dead back to life, a living Hua Tuo, able to bring flesh back to the dead."
Everyone: ... No one wanted to look at those dark lumps he made, fearing that if they ate them, they wouldn't see the morning light tomorrow.
After Physician Peng finished speaking, it was Peng Rui's turn to speak. Peng Rui also gave a long report, "Fighting in the south and north, a lifetime of military service, loyal to the country, with golden sword and iron horse."
Hearing this, Zhao Shu already knew what Physician Zhou and the others were going to say, and had no interest in listening any further. The Empress Dowager was in the same boat as her, saying, "I never knew that the one who started was the one who suffered the most."
"Ah Jun, try it first for Grandmother." After saying that, she took a bite of the "Everyone Gets Rich" dish made by the Empress Dowager. The taste was just right. "Mmm, delicious. Grandmother is truly a culinary goddess. Grandmother, you have never made any food for Ah Jun. Ah Jun is not happy."
"When you have half of A-Yun's cooking skills, I will cook my best dishes for you." The Empress Dowager smiled, extremely confident in her cooking skills. When she was still a young lady, she was actually similar to Zhao Shu. Later, after entering the palace, she would occasionally cook for the late emperor. Over time, she honed her skills.
After finishing the food in her mouth, Zhao Shu tasted a piece of boiled broccoli. This broccoli was delivered by express horse from another place; Guanzhou didn't have this kind of thing.
Broccoli without oil and salt is also extremely delicious, especially when you take a bite of the oily kind and then a bite of the plain boiled kind, you can really taste the flavor. "It's so delicious, isn't it Grandmother's specialty? Ah Jun must practice his cooking skills so that he can eat Grandmother's specialty dishes."
After saying that, he didn't forget to praise the broccoli, saying, "This flower symbolizes wealth and prosperity, it's wonderful, wonderful."
The Empress Dowager watched with a smile as Zhao Shu tasted the dishes one by one. Just when Physician Zhou thought the Empress Dowager would let them off the hook, she said, "Minister Zhou."
Physician Zhou's heart skipped a beat, and his old face turned red. "The Empress Dowager..."
"Alright, I won't make things difficult for you anymore. Let's have our meal." The Empress Dowager knew that all the creative answers had been taken by surprise, and the imperial physicians, including Zhou, were so nervous that they couldn't think of any good words.
The group breathed a sigh of relief and silently ate the dishes that Jin Xi had shared. They were made by them, and the food was not even as good as boiled food.
During the meal, everyone took turns offering their congratulations and best wishes. They drank some wine, ate dumplings, and finished all the dishes prepared by Zhao Shu and the others. They were almost full, but the Empress Dowager still asked Jin Xi to bring out the dishes prepared by the kitchen.
Jin Xi and the kitchen staff prepared a dish that was naturally delicious and visually appealing, far superior to Sun Yun's. However, no one felt that their own cooking was bad, since it was made by hand, like their own child, and no one would say it was ugly.
As night fell, everyone ate and drank their fill and then took their leave. The Empress Dowager went to bathe and change her clothes. Peng Rui and Prince Yong agreed to fight until dawn. The Crown Prince, still recovering from serious injuries, went to rest first.
Looking around, Dr. Peng picked up the parrot and found a corner to outwit and outmaneuver it.
“Ah Jun, one must burn incense and bathe to stay up all night. When are you going?” Sun Yun asked.
Zhao Shu was thinking of sending some food to Wei Tingsi, so she said, "You go back first, I'll come back later. I'm going to see my brother, the Crown Prince."
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