Zhao Junyao smiled.
"There isn’t even a proper forest. What good things could there be?"
"Just a few wild chickens and hares!"
"Wild chickens and hares are good too. When accompanying the Emperor, surely many people didn’t even manage to get a wild chicken or hare!"
Zhao Junyao curved his lips into a faint smile, not saying anything more.
But he thought to himself, with so many skilled archers among the Imperial Forest Army—Xia Tingfeng, Yang Chenyi, and Little Seventh—yet in the end, only he had caught something. What did that imply? Did it mean they had let him have the game?
You see, as an emperor, one can never experience true joy. No one dares to win against you in chess, and no one dares to best you in hunting. You can’t even get a fair competition. Sometimes, it’s actually quite disheartening. He didn’t really need them to do that, did he?!
Shaking his head, he threw aside these worries.
Zhao Junyao smiled and patted her shoulder. "Enough about that. Let’s eat early; I’ll take you somewhere!"
Xia Ruqing’s eyes immediately lit up.
"Great!"
"I haven’t been out at all since we arrived two days ago!"
She asked cheerily, "What would the Emperor like to eat? Hand-torn rabbit meat, or spicy rabbit meat? There’s a chef in the Imperial Kitchen whose cooking is delicious!"
"The wild chicken meat should be diced, marinated with salt, and then fried until crispy—that’s how it’s tastiest!"
"Also, there are plenty of small fish in the pond! We should have someone catch some and fry them until they’re crispy little dried fish, sprinkled with chili powder and crushed sesame seeds. They’ll be both fragrant and crunchy!"
In ancient times, without pollution, all of these were pure, natural, untainted, green, organic foods. In modern times, they would be considered rare delicacies!
Zhao Junyao then laughed.
"We’ll do as you say!"
With that, he ordered Li Shengan to relay his requests to the Imperial Kitchen, adding as a final instruction to bring a jar of fine wine.
These dishes all pair well with wine; how could they be enjoyed without it?
Receiving the order, Li Shengan happily went off to the Imperial Kitchen.
...
For this trip out of the palace, they had brought along the best chefs, all of whom the Master favored.
The chefs and eunuchs, upon seeing him arrive, rushed forward with smiling faces to greet him.
"Oh, Eunuch Li, what good wind brings you here!"
"Indeed, Eunuch Li, your presence honors us!"
The Emperor’s meals were usually managed by Zhaochen Palace’s own Small Imperial Kitchen; they didn’t normally fetch meals from the Grand Imperial Kitchen. Even if they did, it wouldn’t be Eunuch Li’s task.
Thus, these chefs rarely saw Eunuch Li.
Now, having this rare opportunity, they naturally tried hard to ingratiate themselves.
The clamoring group completely surrounded Eunuch Li.
"Go, go, go!"
Li Shengan drove them away.
"Get back to whatever you’re supposed to be doing!"
The crowd laughed and dispersed.
Flattery is fine, but one shouldn’t overdo it, right?!
After shooing the crowd away, Li Shengan issued his instructions. "The Master wants rabbit meat, wild chicken, and fish. You are to prepare them! Also, fetch some good wine—bring whatever kinds you have and let the Master choose himself! As for the other dishes, prepare them according to the Master’s usual preferences. Remember, the Master’s palate is similar to Consort Xian Pin’s, so don’t make any mistakes! We are outside the palace, and it’s a rare chance for the Emperor to relax. Don’t cause any trouble!"
Serving those dishes that look good but taste awful would only cause annoyance, wouldn’t it?!
Which of the master chefs in the Imperial Kitchen didn’t know Consort Xian Pin’s tastes? Each one thumped their chest in assurance.
"Eunuch Li, rest assured, we will absolutely not make any mistakes!"
Hearing their sworn assurances, Li Shengan finally left, relieved.
...
Soon after, palace maids filed in, and the evening meal was served.
The Emperor and Xia Ruqing received all the dishes they had requested, and the remaining dishes were also novel preparations. These were obviously not the usual palace fare.
Xia Ruqing looked at this dish and then that one, momentarily unsure of how to begin!
"What are all these?"
"What is this?"
She asked, pointing to a large plate of colorful noodles.
"These noodles..."
Li Shengan smiled. "It is said they were made by a chef from Guanxi. The chef claimed these noodles are made from coarse grains! They look simple, but they are not at all simple to make!"
Li Shengan recalled and described the process. "First, the wheat flour and various coarse grain flours are ground and mixed together. Then, juice is extracted from fresh fruits and vegetables and blended into the flour. After that, the dough is kneaded repeatedly to enhance its texture. Finally, it’s rolled into thin noodles, cooked in chicken broth, and a rich sauce is poured over them when serving... They taste wonderfully aromatic!"
After hearing this detailed explanation, Xia Ruqing was slightly stunned.
"Good heavens, even a simple dish of noodles has such an elaborate origin! I simply must try them!"
Xia Ruqing’s interest was piqued.
Zhao Junyao wanted to taste them too, so each of them tried a little.
The noodles were perfectly al dente and flavorful, and the broth was rich and mellow. It wasn’t like modern dishes that often rely on excessive MSG for flavor; this was the true, inherent aroma of the noodles and broth themselves.