CHAPTER 622: CHAPTER 622: COARSE CEREAL FLOUR

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.

Xia Ruqing couldn’t stop after one bowl and ate another small half-bowl before finally setting down her chopsticks.

Zhao Junyao, however, ate two full bowls.

"These noodles are excellent. Reward them!"

Li Shengan was thrilled.

This new chef is truly skilled! This is the first time the Emperor has wanted to reward someone before even finishing the meal! What a rare occasion!

"Yes!"

Li Shengan withdrew.

...

The rest of the dishes each had their own distinct flavors.

Zhao Junyao was generally easy to please; he wasn’t overly concerned with culinary delights, content as long as his stomach was full. Even when he encountered delicious food, he would at most eat a little more. For instance, if he usually ate until he was eighty percent full, this time he might eat until he was eighty or eighty-five percent full, but no more.

But it was different for Xia Ruqing.

She ate until she was one hundred and ten percent full.

When the evening meal was cleared away, she touched her rounded belly, nestled on the heated brick bed, and a look of utter contentment spread across her face. Her small face glowed, clearly showing her immense satisfaction with the meal.

Having eaten and drunk her fill, she felt drowsy. She had completely forgotten the Emperor’s earlier promise to take her somewhere romantic.

In the end...

It was Zhao Junyao who couldn’t resist bringing it up, and only then did she remember.

"Emperor, where were you planning to take me?"

Her eyes sparkled as she pretended she hadn’t forgotten.

How could Zhao Junyao not see through her little ploy? He simply chose not to expose it, looking at her with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

"Where else could we go? You... We can’t go horseback riding, Qingqing. We’ll have to go another day!"

"Ah?!"

Xia Ruqing was quite disappointed.

But there was nothing to be done; she truly couldn’t ride a horse at that moment. If she were bounced around, she would surely vomit everything she had eaten! So... perhaps it’s better not to go. Although I feel a bit sorry for the Emperor, my own well-being is important too!

...

Since they couldn’t go anywhere specific, they simply strolled around outside for a while before going to sleep.

The night passed uneventfully. The next day, Zhao Junyao took charge early on, forbidding her from eating too much and instructing the Imperial Kitchen not to prepare anything overly elaborate or creative for her.

When Xiao Xizi went to collect the meals, he returned with bland and simple fare.

Thus, Xia Ruqing ate what felt like a meal of grass. Indeed, I don’t feel stuffed at all, she thought.