Little Bull in Charge
When Wei Jin issued the decree appointing Shen Zhangwu as the Grand Commander of the Imperial Household Department, it was like pouring cold water into boiling oil, instantly causing an uproar in the court.
The next morning, at the Golden Palace.
"Your Majesty! Absolutely not!"
Grand Censor Wang Ke practically leaped out of the ranks, heartbroken and trembling with grief. "The Imperial Household Department oversees all palace affairs, which are crucial to the dignity of the royal family. It has always been managed by cautious and prudent eunuchs. Although Young Master Shen is commendable for his loyalty and courage, he is still young and not yet a palace attendant. This is against etiquette and regulations! I implore Your Majesty to rescind your decree!"
"Your Majesty agrees! Your Majesty should generously reward the princes with gold, silver, and land; how can you treat important court positions as a joke?"
"Internal affairs involve purchasing, banquets, repairs, and storage; the items are numerous and complex, and only a seasoned veteran can handle them. I'm afraid Young Master Shen is not up to the task!"
"Your Majesty, Young Master Shen is not a palace attendant, yet he walks around the inner palace year-round, which also violates palace rules!"
Opposition was widespread, with the civil service almost unanimously in favor. Even some neutral officials expressed their disapproval.
On the dragon throne, Wei Jin yawned, and after they had stopped arguing, he lazily raised his hand.
The hall gradually quieted down, and everyone looked at the new emperor who did not play by the rules.
"My esteemed ministers," Wei Jin said, picking at his ear with a hint of innocent confusion, "you've all been talking about etiquette and rules, it's giving me a headache. I'll just ask you one question: who does the Imperial Household Department serve?"
Wang Ke was taken aback, then replied, "Naturally, it is for His Majesty, for the harem, and for the royal family."
"yes!"
Wei Jin slapped the armrest and leaned forward. "Since you're working for me, isn't it most important to make sure I can use it easily and live comfortably?"
"That's true...but..."
"There's no such thing as 'otherwise' or 'otherwise'."
Wei Jin interrupted him, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials before finally settling on Huo Ying, who had remained silent. "Grand Tutor Huo, I find Xiao Manniu (Huo Ying's nickname) to be very useful. I love his cooking; it suits my taste. I find him to be a reliable accountant; he can make the most of every copper coin and never lets me suffer a loss. Can the people you've recommended cook as well as Xiao Manniu? Can they manage accounts as effectively as him? Hmm?"
The courtiers were speechless once more. This was simply... utter nonsense!
"Your Majesty, this is not a matter of settling accounts in the kitchen, but rather..."
"Then let's have a competition!"
Wei Jin suddenly raised his voice, his tone decisive and leaving no room for argument, "Since you all think my men are incompetent, let's see who's the best! We'll have two competitions: cooking and accounting! You each nominate someone to compete with my little bull! Let the facts speak for themselves!"
He gave no one a chance to object and directly ordered: "By imperial decree, this afternoon, at the Imperial Kitchen! I invite the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, the Empress, officials from the Ministry of Revenue, and Old Madam Yang, who used to manage the accounts at the Xishan Villa, to come and act as judges! Fair and impartial, no one will have anything to say!"
On this afternoon, the area outside the imperial kitchen was bustling with people.
Palace servants who rushed to the scene, along with some lower-ranking officials who were granted special permission to observe, crowded to the side, whispering amongst themselves. In the center of the area, on one side stood Chef Liu, the head chef recommended by the Imperial Kitchen. He was over fifty years old, with a lean face, well-maintained fingers, and eyes that held his usual arrogance and scrutiny. On the other side stood Shen Zhangwu, dressed in brand-new official robes yet still unable to conceal his honest and robust appearance. He curiously examined the gleaming kitchen utensils around him, inspecting them one by one, much like a very experienced kitchen helper.
The Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, Ling Zhan, officials from the Ministry of Revenue, and Madam Yang, who had been urgently summoned to the palace, sat at the head of the table.
Wei Jin sat lazily to the side, playing with two walnuts in his hands.
Huo Ying did not come in person, but sent a trusted aide to show his disdain for such "child's play" and to see how it went.
At the order of the current Ministry of Internal Affairs officials, the first competition, a cooking contest, begins.
Master Liu snorted coldly and took the initiative.
Select the finest squabs, and use knife skills as exquisite as embroidery to debone, stuff, fry, and drizzle with sauce... The movements are fluid and graceful, full of the artistic flair of a performance. The dish "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" is made in a magnificent and fragrant way.
In contrast, Shen Zhangwu took a deep breath, as if he had returned to the stove in Xishan. He picked up a piece of fatty pork belly, and the black iron cleaver in his hand seemed to come alive. It wasn't a delicate carving, but a powerful and rhythmic chopping and slicing motion, with wide, sweeping movements, full of a wild rhythm. The large pot was heated, scallions and ginger were sautéed in oil, the pork chunks were added and stir-fried, the sugar was caramelized to a glossy red, water and seasonings were added, it was brought to a boil over high heat, then simmered over low heat... The whole process was simple and unpretentious, yet a strong, mouthwatering aroma filled the air, domineeringly overpowering the delicate fragrance of Chef Liu's dish.
Master Liu's "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" was respectfully presented. It was brightly colored and beautifully shaped.
The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager tasted it and nodded slightly: "Master Liu's cooking skills are indeed excellent."
It was Shen Zhangwu's turn. He served a large bowl of braised pork, its color a deep red, its shape slightly trembling, and its aroma filling the air. It was served alongside a small bowl of glistening white rice.
"Father... Your Majesty, please try it. I made it to your liking. It's so tender!" He almost let slip the secret, and then gave a silly smile.
Wei Jin was the first to pick up his chopsticks, took a piece of meat, put it in his mouth, squinted his eyes, and sighed with satisfaction: "Mmm! This is the taste!"
The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager took a bite with some skepticism. The meat melted in their mouths, rich but not greasy, salty with a hint of sweetness, and the rich aroma of meat instantly filled their mouths. It was a direct and primal taste sensation that made them want to immediately shovel a mouthful of rice into their mouths.
In comparison, Master Liu's elaborate "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" dish seemed somewhat flashy but ultimately lacking in substance, and its flavor was completely overshadowed.
Even the young Empress Dowager couldn't resist taking an extra bite.
Ling Zhan tasted it and simply said, "Delicious."
As she listened, Madam Yang nodded repeatedly, her eyes filled with the joy and pride of seeing her son grow up.
The difference in quality is immediately apparent.
Master Liu's face turned pale as he stared in disbelief at the simple bowl of braised pork.
The little bull thoughtfully picked up a piece of meat for him, along with a spoonful of rice, and handed it to him, inviting him to try it.
After eating, Master Liu remained silent and nodded.
The match proceeded directly to the second round: Settling Accounts.
The Imperial Household Department introduced an elderly accountant, Mr. Qian, with gray hair and crystal glasses, and a sandalwood abacus beside him.
There was nothing in front of Shen Zhangwu.
Imperial Censor Wang Ke personally set the following question: "The palace needs to purchase one hundred bolts of Suzhou and Hangzhou brocade, ten bushels of Liaodong pearls, one coral tree from the South China Sea, and the imperial kitchen's daily purchases for half a month. What is the total amount? List the details!"
Mr. Qian immediately buried his head, his fingers flying across the abacus, making a clattering sound, while he muttered incantations.
Shen Zhangwu scratched his head and blinked, seemingly deep in thought.
Just when everyone thought he was about to be stumped, he spoke, his words slow but exceptionally clear:
"A bolt of top-quality Suzhou and Hangzhou brocade costs eighteen taels of silver on the market, but the Jiangning Textile Bureau has a surplus of tribute goods, which is priced at twelve taels internally, so one hundred bolts would cost one thousand two hundred taels. Liaodong pearls, depending on their quality, are about two hundred and fifty taels per bushel for medium to high quality, so ten bushels would cost two thousand five hundred taels. South China Sea coral trees vary greatly in price; a good quality tree would cost about eight hundred taels. The Imperial Kitchen's expenses for half a month, including rice, flour, cooking oil, meat, eggs, vegetables, seasonings, and firewood, I... based on the calculation of expanding the Xishan Villa fivefold, would require about three hundred taels."
He paused, then summarized: "In total, it's four thousand eight hundred taels of silver. But that's the market price. If the palace purchases directly from imperial merchants or producers, we can save six hundred taels on brocade, perhaps one or two hundred taels on pearls, and while the price of coral is uncertain, it's negotiable. The actual expenses can probably be kept between three thousand eight hundred and four thousand taels."
As soon as he finished speaking, Mr. Qian stopped using his abacus. He wiped his sweat and announced the figures: "Reporting to my lords, the total is four thousand eight hundred and fifty taels!" The details were roughly the same as those given by Shen Zhangwu.
But Shen Zhangwu, through mental arithmetic without any tools, even offered a money-saving solution and some flexibility!
Speed, accuracy, and usability—it's a complete knockout!
The entire venue was silent.
The old accountant, Mr. Qian, looked at Shen Zhangwu as if he had seen a ghost.
Censor Wang Ke stood there with his mouth agape, while all the officials behind him who were ready to find fault were rendered speechless.
Wei Jin clapped his hands slowly: "Good! Good! I knew Little Bull was a master accountant! Not only is he quick at calculating, but he also thinks of ways to save me money! My dear ministers, can the person you recommended do the same?"
No one answered.
The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager exchanged a glance, their eyes also filled with surprise.
They never expected this simple-minded boy to have such abilities!
It seems the emperor wasn't entirely being ridiculous.
The advisor to the Huo family changed his expression and quietly withdrew to inform Huo Ying.
Wei Jin stood up, walked to the center of the room, patted Shen Zhangwu's strong arm, and said loudly, "The result is clear! My son Shen Zhangwu is a master chef, shrewd accountant, and, more importantly, has a loyal and patriotic heart that saves me money! I appoint him as the Grand Commander of the Imperial Household Department. Does anyone have any objections?"
The court officials looked at each other, and no one dared to stand up and say "no".
Shen Zhangwu knelt down with a thud, his voice loud and clear, filled with immense joy and determination.
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Father! I will definitely manage the household well for you! I will keep the accounts straight! I will never let a single mouse steal our grain!"
Wei Jin laughed loudly: "Good! My home is now in your hands!"
With this, there was no longer any controversy regarding Shen Zhangwu's position as Grand Commander of the Imperial Household Department, and he officially took office.
When the news reached Huo Ying's ears, he was admiring paintings in his study. Upon hearing this, he merely smiled faintly: "As expected, he's just a cook who only knows how to calculate small things. His Majesty is determined to take his petty-mindedness to the extreme. Well, it's fine, letting him manage those trivial matters saves us trouble." He was completely relieved, feeling that the new emperor's vision was nothing special.
However, they underestimated the Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Department, a true second-rank official. He managed the most intricate and crucial logistical lifeline of the royal family.
Entrust it to the person you trust most.
From now on, Little Bull will be in charge of much more than just daily necessities.
Inside the imperial kitchen, the outcome was decided. The aroma of that bowl of irresistible braised pork filled the air.
The younger empress dowager was clearly still not satisfied, her gaze lingering on the glistening, tempting chunks of meat.
The Empress Dowager looked at Shen Zhangwu with a hint of the gentle warmth of the past that was not easily noticed by others.
Shen Zhangwu rubbed his hands together, a warm and familiar smile on his face—the kind of relaxation one feels when returning to a familiar place and seeing familiar elders. He stepped forward, his tone full of natural concern, carrying a touch of childhood intimacy and the sense of responsibility he now bore as the "head chef."
"Great-Grandmother," he said, startling several new palace servants, while some of the more senior servants looked on with understanding and nostalgia. "Empress Dowager," he then turned to the young Empress Dowager, "I've braised this meat thoroughly, rendering out all the oil. It's very fragrant, but you two mustn't overindulge. Especially at night, if you can't digest it properly and have indigestion, you won't sleep well at night."
He stretched out two thick fingers and gestured earnestly, just like when he was taught as a child.
"Just a taste, maybe... maybe just a small piece to satisfy my craving, that's all!"
The young Empress Dowager covered her mouth and chuckled, looking at the Grand Empress Dowager: "Mother, look at him, his worrying habit hasn't changed at all, and now he's starting to meddle with us." She married the late Emperor at the age of eight and grew up in the palace. Little Bull's glorious deeds, like bringing the snow wolf to play in the palace, would prompt the young Emperor to anxiously ask if Little Bull had entered the palace before dawn!
Looking at Shen Zhangwu's solemn expression, the Empress Dowager seemed to see the little calf from many years ago who would always send her some of the snacks he made. She couldn't help but smile and said, "At my age, it's you, young man, who has to remind me. Alright, I'll listen to you and not eat too much."
Seeing that they listened to his advice, Shen Zhangwu's face broke into a wide, untroubled smile, as if he had received immense affirmation. He casually took a small plate from the side, skillfully picked up a perfectly sized piece of meat, added some broth, and respectfully presented it to the Empress Dowager, then prepared a similar portion for the Empress Dowager.
“This is the best way to eat it!” he said confidently, as if sharing some valuable experience.
After doing all this, without giving any orders, he turned to the old eunuchs in the imperial kitchen who were already familiar with him and waved his hand. His voice was as loud and clear as ever: "Eunuch Li, quickly bring up the jade soup that I'm keeping warm on the stove! The one with the vegetable broth and chicken soup base!"
Soon, two bowls of bright green, fragrant vegetable soup were served.
The old eunuch added with a smile, "Your Majesty, the Grand Eunuch Zhangwu ordered it to be prepared early this morning, saying that no matter what the outcome of the competition is, this soup to cleanse your palate and soothe your stomach must be provided."
The Empress Dowager looked at the steaming soup before her, a familiar sight from her memories, and a genuine warmth and nostalgia flickered in her eyes. When the late Emperor was alive, this boy often did this, watching over their meals with even more care than the imperial physicians.
She picked up the small spoon, took a bite, and found the taste to be as warm and comforting as ever.
She sighed softly, her tone unusually relaxed: "You child... after all these years, you still have the same thoughts. Alright, this soup is very good."
The Empress Dowager also tasted it and smiled at the Grand Empress Dowager, saying, "Mother, with Zhang Wu back to manage this matter, you can really relax from now on." In her words, she unconsciously revealed her identification with "one of her own."
Wei Jin watched from the side, a smile playing on his lips.
The little bull's seemingly "unruly" concern, fueled by their past friendship, felt incredibly natural and genuine, far surpassing any carefully crafted scheme. He successfully lowered the two empress dowagers' guard, evoking a warm memory and leading them to fully accept the child they had watched grow up and who had now returned to "manage" the household.
The advisors sent by the Huo family witnessed everything and reported back with a somewhat complicated tone: "...Shen Zhangwu spoke very intimately with the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, even addressing them as 'Great-Grandmother,' as if they had an old friendship. He advised against eating and offered them soup, and the two empress dowagers were not only not annoyed, but quite pleased with it, which shows that their relationship is extraordinary."
Upon hearing this, Huo Ying paused slightly as he stroked his beard.
A fleeting hint of doubt crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a deeper arrogance and disdain.
“I had forgotten about that. It’s alright. No matter how good our past relationship was, he is still just a cook, with limited vision. His Majesty may have placed him in the Imperial Household Department to make things easier by taking advantage of this relationship, but in the end, he is only in charge of trivial matters, which does not affect the overall situation. On the contrary, it will put the two empress dowagers at ease.”
He confirmed it again.
The new emperor's plans still revolve around "family matters" and "personal relationships," and cannot be truly brought to the forefront.
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