CHAPTER 149: CHAPTER 149: CONNOTATION

Eunuch Fu turned back to glance at the Imperial Chefs.

The Imperial Chefs looked pale.

Their eyes revealed a plea.

They were just short of kneeling down to beg him.

Having finally entered the palace as Imperial Chefs, bringing glory to their families, how could they willingly fall into the hands of bandits?

Eunuch Fu looked around twice, unable to make a decision for Su Jin.

He looked at Su Jin and said, "Eldest Young Madam, these are the chefs carefully selected from various regions to enter the palace. Their culinary skills are excellent. Just pick anyone you feel a connection with directly, and take them with you."

Feel a connection?

Is she supposed to choose an Imperial Chef based on their appearance for her young lady?

"Culinary skills are judged by the dishes, not by the face," Xingxing said.

"..."

"If it’s about looks, none of them are as good-looking as our young master."

"..."

Eunuch Fu looked embarrassed.

This was choosing a husband based solely on looks without considering family background.

So, when selecting an Imperial Chef, there’s nothing wrong with looking at appearances.

Not looking at appearances, but instead focusing on skills show that the Eldest Young Madam and her bandit-like little maid have developed depth.

"How about a cooking contest then?" Eunuch Fu suggested.

"Then let’s have a cooking contest," Su Jin said.

Eunuch Fu turned to the Imperial Chefs and said, "Each of you make a signature dish for the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion to taste."

The Imperial Chefs looked at each other.

Eunuch Fu immediately knew what crafty ideas they were having.

"Cook as you usually would for the Emperor, and give it your all," Eunuch Fu said.

The Imperial Chefs appeared distressed.

The Imperial Kitchen had many stoves, allowing over a dozen chefs to cook at once.

All sorts of ingredients were neatly arranged.

Eunuch Fu came over and said, "Eldest Young Madam, the Imperial Kitchen is full of smoke, shall we wait outside?"

"No need, this bit of smoke won’t bother me," Su Jin said.

Su Jin didn’t leave.

Considering the safety of the Imperial Kitchen, Eunuch Fu had no choice but to stay with her.

Watching those chefs select ingredients.

Su Jin’s lips curved into a bright smile.

She glanced over and saw Xingxing pat her belly.

Thinking about how much she just ate, Su Jin asked, "Did you overeat because you were eating too fast just now?"

"No, I’m hungry," Xingxing said.

"..."

Su Jin’s mouth twitched.

This maid’s appetite is really something.

Xingxing always had a big appetite, and knowing they were going into the palace to select an Imperial Chef today, she didn’t eat much the night before. In the morning, she was starving and only drank two cups of tea.

What she just ate wasn’t nearly enough.

Xingxing swallowed her saliva in hunger.

"Go ahead and eat," Su Jin said with a helpless smile.

Xingxing had been waiting for Su Jin to say this, and she dashed over to eat heartily.

Eunuch Fu was uninterested in the chefs’ cooking, but watching the little maid eat, he was intrigued for a moment.

He watched Xingxing eat from one end of the table to the other, circling back around.

Eunuch Fu felt a severe case of indigestion just watching.

Her one meal could outmatch his entire day’s food intake.

More importantly, she wasn’t finished yet.

The dishes on the table were prepared for the concubines of each palace; because they couldn’t be cooked on the spot and might lack flavor, they were prepared in advance.

These oily dishes were the kind that the concubines might just try a couple of bites of, while the maid stuffed them directly into her mouth—was she not afraid of eating until she was as round as a ball?

Xingxing, in a whirlwind mode, had almost cleaned the table.

Finally, she patted her belly and burped contentedly.

As Xingxing finished eating over here, the chefs had completed their dishes over there.

A dozen or so dishes were lined up swiftly on the table.

Xingxing swallowed.

Eunuch Fu rubbed his forehead and said, "Do you still want to eat?"

"I do," Xingxing nodded.

"..."

"But I really can’t eat anymore," Xingxing said with a burp.

"..."

Su Jin went through all the dishes.

Very well.

She had never seen anyone so openly try to poison her.

If she ate as recklessly as Xingxing, she might as well have handed her life over to the Imperial Kitchen today.

Hmm.

If the story spread, it would be known as the mountain bandit woman from Qingyun Mountain dying from overeating on the delicacies of the Imperial Kitchen.

Such a loss of face and disgrace was something even her father’s immense wit might not have a way to salvage.

Judging by the dishes made by the chefs, it was easy to tell which ones were the Empress Dowager’s people.

Which is good; it’s better than choosing a chef with ulterior motives to be around her.

Su Jin picked up her chopsticks to taste.

She went from one dish to another, sampling each.

The Imperial Chefs looked at each other in dismay.

The maid eats like a wolf, but how come the master is so leisurely?

Moreover, she avoided all the clashing dishes.

With a plate of food, Su Jin took a bite, then put down her chopsticks.

Eunuch Fu asked, "Has the Eldest Young Madam made her choice?"

"That stir-fried squid strips and braised straw mushrooms were below standard. Whoever made them, stand over there," Su Jin casually pointed out.

The two Imperial Chefs’ faces went ashen.

Su Jin smiled faintly, "After watching for so long, I feel that cooking is not difficult at all. My palms itch with excitement to try."

"Miss, do you want to cook?" Xingxing asked with wide eyes.

"Help me light the fire," Su Jin said.

Xingxing nodded fervently like a pecking chicken.

Su Jin walked over, picked out seven or eight kinds of ingredients, and then started chopping on the cutting board.

Oil was poured into the pan.

Then she stir-fried.

It looked quite like the work of a master chef; even the oil and salt proportions were on point.

Eunuch Fu looked on with praise.

The Eldest Young Madam is a promising talent.

Then—

The smell of burnt food wafted over.

Eunuch Fu, "...."

Why slap the face so quickly?

Once the dish is cooked, just take it out of the pan quickly.

Su Jin plated the dish.

Picking up the plate, she walked over to the Imperial Chefs and said, "Having eaten your cooking, you should also try mine."

The Imperial Chefs, "...."

All the clashing dishes were thrown together by the Eldest Young Madam.

A bite of this, and one’s life might not be safe.

This was definitely no coincidence.

The Eldest Young Madam knew they wanted to harm her.

They had mistakenly flattered the Empress Dowager and offended the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion.

Each one was filled with anxiety, cold sweat streaming down.

Eunuch Fu saw they weren’t moving and said, "Go on, have a taste then; being able to eat the Eldest Young Madam’s cooking is your fortune."

"Exactly, even my Marquis and Madam haven’t tried it," Xingxing said.

Better not eat it.

Who knows if it can be eaten with it being so dark.

Did Miss throw some charcoal in when no one was looking?

"Giving me the cold shoulder?" Su Jin’s voice turned slightly cold.

"No, no."

The Imperial Chefs’ hands trembled as they picked up the chopsticks.

Picking up a piece and swallowing it, the burnt taste exploded on their tongues, a feeling akin to arsenic for a chef.

The Imperial Chefs had difficulty swallowing.

Eunuch Fu even felt a little sorry for them.

Actually, he was more afraid of the Eldest Young Madam saying, "Eunuch Fu, you have a try too."

Seeing the chefs’ awkward expressions, Su Jin said, "Swallow it all down!"

The Imperial Chefs quivered all over.

Xingxing puffed out her cheeks.

The Imperial Chefs took the plunge and gulped it down.

Su Jin smiled with satisfaction, "Seems like my cooking isn’t bad, finish this whole plate."

Eunuch Fu, "...."

The Imperial Chefs, "...."

Cough cough!

Eunuch Fu cleared his throat and said, "Eldest Young Madam, the Imperial Chefs have to prepare lunch; would you like to save this dish for them to eat later?"

"This dish has to be eaten while it’s hot; otherwise, it loses its flavor," Su Jin said.

"...."

It’s other people’s dishes that lose flavor.

This plate’s taste definitely won’t disappear.

Xingxing added, "Can’t they just eat faster? I could finish the whole plate in a few bites."

The Imperial Chefs, "...."

Facing a tough situation, the Imperial Chefs finished the whole plate.

Su Jin was very pleased.

"Which Imperial Chef did you take a liking to, Eldest Young Madam?" Eunuch Fu asked.

"Are all the Imperial Chefs here?" Su Jin asked.

"All available ones are here," Eunuch Fu said.

"Are there those who aren’t available?" Xingxing asked curiously.

"...."

This maid, must she pick a fight like this?

Isn’t having so many chefs enough?

"There is one chef who specializes in making pastries for the Emperor; other than him, the Eldest Young Madam can choose any," Eunuch Fu said.

"Then I’ll choose the one who’s snoring over there," Su Jin casually pointed.

"...."