PART 04 Finally infiltrated the palace

Old Master Zhou smiled awkwardly, shot a fierce glare at Miao Fangfei, and replied in a sarcastic tone: "Even if she is not cross-eyed, with a word from any adult at the table, how could I not lower my head?"

He has always loved the profession of eunuchs more than he has felt sorrow about it. If he must enumerate one aspect that he is dissatisfied with and has been troubled by, it would be that... he can no longer grow his distinctive mustache shaped like the character "八".

While crying and wiping her tears, the powder became a lump. She could not wipe it away no matter how she tried. Reaching out to use her own sleeve, she suddenly remembered her third sister who had lent her the clothes, and immediately awkwardly put her sleeve down. She then grabbed the long robe of Miao Manxi and wiped vigorously.

Typically, each person is assigned a signature dish from Lin Da's kitchen, and by chance, Tang Xin's assignment is the candied pig trotters, which are adorned with dark red pig's trotters embroidered on the autumn green satin robe.

From the sidelong glance of her eyes, Lord Zhou perceived more than just a hint of disdain

Yet a miracle occurred

Miao Man glanced with her cold, clear eyes, furrowed her brows slightly, pressed her lips together, took several deep breaths in secret, and then coldly reopened the large door.

His gaze fell upon the extremely white and smooth lump of powder at the hem of the robe, causing a wave of nausea

Reward: three dishes for the head of the household's trial.

She suddenly shivered as if she had fallen into a nightmarish memory

Standing behind her, Lin Wuniao shivered all over, for she saw that the face of Eunuch Zhou had changed from red to green, teetering on the edge of an outburst

"Who says I have nothing to my name, who said that!" She sobbed, stood up, and pointed at his chest with her hand, poking him very hard, again and again, causing Miao Manxi to blush deeply.

Ten bundles of firewood, a face thickly coated with powder, twenty towering false hair buns, along with two pure highland reds, complemented by a peach-red skirt and a green feathered jacket

At that time, Chef Miao, who was in charge, and Deputy Chef Lin were both extremely anxious, living in constant fear and dread, worried that they might suddenly lose their heads at any moment

After that meal, the master became reliant on the excellent dishes prepared by Lord Manxi.

When speaking, one still loves to raise a finger in a delicate manner

"Young Master, Young Master, you are bleeding from your nose!" The servants of the Miao family rushed forward, lifting the nosebleed-covered Miao Manxi, who was swaying unsteadily.

The first dish is braised lion's head meatballs ... each one is larger than the mouth of the bowl, with more fatty meat and less lean meat

What is the name? Today, the one in charge is the Emperor's favored official, Lord Zhou. He has always prided himself on his fairy-like demeanor, even walking with a graceful air.

Oh my, Lin Wuniao has truly seen through it. Why are all the concubines around Lin Dazhang so robust? At this rate of eating, it would be strange if they didn't become part of the "three highs" population

The next one is Lin Wuniao

She was completely satisfied and ran off in a flash, completely ignoring the petrified Miao Manxi.

His heartbeat was like thunder, and for the first time, a crack appeared on his cold face.

The sclera is more prominent than the eyeball, and when looking at others, one always uses the corner of the eye.

Miao Manxi's eyes closed and opened repeatedly, his fists clenched and unclenched. Finally, unable to restrain himself, he tugged at the corner of his robe and exclaimed angrily: "Lin Wuniao, you possess nothing of value. I have let you off this time to prevent you from making mistakes in the palace. Why are you so stubborn and unrepentant?"

This is an honor that can only be bestowed upon a favored concubine

The second dish is braised salted pork chunks ... The chunks are astonishingly large, and Aunt Tang Xin took a bite, unable to catch her breath for quite some time

Miao Manxi approached the door with an expressionless face, locking eyes with a certain figure at the entrance for a moment. After trembling hands, he continued to slam the door shut with the same expressionless demeanor, supporting his housekeeper as they both trembled at the knees

"Look, there are no flowers, but those green leaves are actually quite beautiful." As she said this, the leaves on the branches swayed in the wind and instantly fell to the ground.

"Birds, I see that those flowers and grasses are all lacking in spirit." After burying the last lion's head, Tang Xin looked up and saw the quickly wilting flowers, feeling very dejected

Imperial chefs are mostly male, and only families like the Lin family, which are renowned for their imperial chefs, occasionally send one or two female chefs to the palace. Typically, after entering the palace, female chefs do not cook independently; instead, they must follow their seniors for two to three years to learn before they can take on their own responsibilities

The face of the person at the table was a mix of black and green, conveying a slight sense of helplessness

"Sigh, how should I eat?" she lamented

It is said that before the Emperor entered the imperial kitchen with a full banquet, he suffered from a peculiar illness, rendering him unable to enjoy the lavish spread before him, as if he were chewing wax. Even when he was so hungry that he felt faint, he was unwilling to take a single bite of food. The imperial chefs were executed in waves, and nearly all the skilled cooks from across the country were summoned to the palace, yet the results were far from satisfactory

"What do you mean by that?" Lin Wuniao widened her eyes and stared at him, "Brother, are you the one being frivolous with me right now?" She withdrew her hand, and Miao Manxi suddenly came to her senses, feeling extremely awkward.

"Well, without green leaves, the branches are also beautiful." Lin Wuniao insincerely praised, compared to her own "three highs," she could only feel sorry for this row of plants

"I don't care. If you cancel my qualification, then my mother and I will definitely be thrown out. It's just a matter of time anyway, so I won't care! You are responsible, you are responsible!" She suddenly burst into tears, threw away the firewood she was carrying on her back, and in a fit of anger, sat down on the threshold of the Miao family's front door.

The third dish is relatively simple, consisting only of a plate of twice-cooked pork, glistening with oil. Lin Wuniao raised his chopsticks several times but lacked the courage to pick up a piece.

"Sir, look, I have brought ten bundles of firewood as an apology, is that not enough?" In her excitement, she grabbed Miao Manxi's hand and reached behind herself.

Miao Fangfei still gazed at him with one eye slightly askew, her lips pressed together, casting a cold and disdainful glance at him

The carriages for pick-up and drop-off gather outside the palace gates, and only after being registered by the chief eunuch on duty that day can they enter the palace and be assigned accommodations

Lin Wuniao was on the verge of tears as she looked at the three large bowls of dishes on the table, feeling no appetite whatsoever

Is that enough sincerity? If not, I can carry ten more bundles for you! She looked at Miao Manxi with tear-filled eyes

This cohort of female disciples is particularly few, with only Lin Wuniao and another female chef selected from the Miao family.

If she is considered a weak woman, then there surely cannot be another strong woman in the world. It is the first time he has seen a woman carry ten bundles of firewood with such vigor, and it is also the first time he has seen a woman swing her fists so smoothly.

Young master, what is that thing? Could it be a nine-headed monster?

Her makeup was a complete mess, yet her eyes remained as bright and clear as ever. They sparkled and shone, causing Miao Manxi to involuntarily turn his face away. The moment his hand touched her back, a faint blush crept onto his face: "Miss Lin, it is inappropriate for men and women to have physical contact! Please conduct yourself with dignity!"

A gust of wind swept by, faintly carrying the piercing cries of the Miao family's servant through the air

Miao Manxi retorted sharply at her, and his usually cold and aloof face instantly turned a shade of red. He had always been proud and maintained a demeanor of detachment, with an expression that was either icy or frosty. It was indeed the first time for him to show such a flushed face.

Speaking of this, Aunt Tang was most delighted, for a mother’s status is elevated by her daughter. She had already moved from the corner to the courtyard of the Lin family’s head, and her coarse, front-opening floral robe had been replaced with silk and satin, adorned not with large flowers, but with intricate embroidery of various dishes.

"Eh? Isn't it the vegetable and tofu soup?" Lin Wuniao stared in astonishment at the passing servants, each holding a shiny, glistening dish.

"I spit on you, you filthy one. I asked you to touch the firewood, and where did your thoughts wander?" Lin Wuniao said angrily, turning around to show him the firewood on his back.

She is even more manly than he is, yet she shamelessly boasts of being a delicate woman

"Sir, I have come to offer my apologies!" As she spoke, tears began to fall softly.

Miao Fangfei! Standing in front of Lin Wuniao is Miao's distant relative, Miss Fangfei, holding her head high, exuding an air of pride and superiority over the world

Tang Xin blinked her eyes while holding a piece of meat in her mouth, saying, "Bird, you must know that only those who are favored can eat the master's practice dishes. As for me, my dear mother, I haven't had these for a full ten years."

By the time one is able to embark on a journey, and after wielding the ladle for another two or three years, one would have long surpassed the age for marriage, either being released from the palace or remaining as a concubine to some prince or royal son

Tang Xin stared: "How can you not eat? One meal at noon, one meal in the evening, and one late-night snack, I guarantee they will all be finished. If you don't eat it all, the master will keep preparing and sending more. He is the kind of person who will not rest until he achieves the best state. In that case, it will be enough to eat someone to death!"

On the morning of the second day, someone came to pick up Lin Wuniao. The imperial chefs of the Golden Splendor Dynasty were required to reside within the palace, in a separate area known as the Imperial Chef's Quarters, which served as their residence

"Ah, are you going to revoke my qualification?" Lin Wuniao suddenly cried out in great sorrow. If she lost this qualification, she would have to pack up and leave with that Tang Xin Fei Jie, facing the harsh winds of the northwest.

This is undoubtedly an insult to a fairy-like father-in-law, which caused him to be extremely indignant. Shaking his hand, he pinched out an orchid and playfully scolded, "What kind of gaze is that from you?"

The more she spoke, the angrier she became, carrying the unease and grievance that had been pent up since her arrival. Finally, in a fit of rage, she punched him in the eye and exclaimed, "Are you a man? Making a frail woman carry firewood back and forth!"

"It doesn't matter, just bury a little each day, and over time, they will get used to it," Lin Wuniao replied firmly.

Although he swallowed his anger for the sake of Miao Manxi, the fire of rage within him was burning fiercely

He, filled with indignation, released his grip and with a flick of his sleeve said, "Since you are so obstinate, I shall no longer act as a petty person. If you wish to enter the imperial kitchen, then go ahead."

Therefore, one can offend anyone, but not Lord Manxi; even the current Empress must show him deference.

Hurry up, hurry up, your name! At this moment, he was holding a brush dipped in ink, stamping his foot, and playfully urging the assistants who were bowing their heads to register.

Even so, Miao Yuchu, due to impatience and under great pressure, fell seriously ill. The esteemed guests had no choice but to enter the imperial kitchen and take over the duties of the head chef on behalf of their father.

Tang Xin glanced sideways at her daughter, responding to Lin Wuniao with a skeptical attitude

Comrade Lin Wuniao ultimately secured the opportunity to enter the palace as a royal chef with a bag of instant noodles

He simply wrapped his hand around her small hand: "Miss Lin, if you continue like this, I will have to close the door and send you away!"

"Mother, how can I possibly eat this much with three bowls?" she said, feeling troubled

Young master, hold on...

Isn't it enough? She saw that he was just blushing and did not respond, and finally became anxious: "Are you kidding me? Do you think Kang Xfu is San X milk powder, that just eating it will cause kidney stones? Such an amazing thing is not yet widespread. What kind of young master's stomach do you have that you would vomit from drinking a little noodle soup and become dehydrated? Do you think you are drinking weight loss tea?" Do you think Kang Xfu is San X milk powder, that just eating it will cause kidney stones? Such an amazing thing is not yet widespread. What kind of young master's stomach do you have that you would vomit from drinking a little noodle soup and become dehydrated? Do you think you are drinking weight loss tea?

"Zhou Gonggong, Fangfei has had a slight strabismus since childhood. When she looks at people, she always unconsciously glances askance; it is not intentional at all." Miao Manxi, who was originally standing at the end of the line with his hands behind his back in contemplation, leisurely strolled over upon hearing the argument ahead.

Only bare branches remain, gray and black, very unsightly

Her face, adorned with powder, further deepened the wrinkles resembling those of a Persian chrysanthemum.

She opened her mouth wide and cried in pain, a piece of flesh falling onto the table with a plop, thick juice flowing out. Before long, the juice transformed into a white solid.

He is the emperor's most trusted imperial chef. After a sumptuous meal on one occasion, the emperor remarked: "If it were not for Chef Miao, I would not know the taste of food, and there would be no joy in life."

Miao Manxi slightly nodded her head and led Fang Fei to enter first.

Ah! What a good buddy! Lin Wuniao was overjoyed, completely forgetting the context and occasion. He hooked his arm around his neck and swung it a bit, saying, "Then I will head back to prepare, thank you, thank you!"

As soon as the words were spoken, a multitude of flowers fell at a speed visible to the naked eye, while the remaining branches and leaves trembled in the wind, filled with trepidation

Miao Manxi swallowed hard, secretly letting out a sigh of relief, as the cold sweat miraculously ceased: "You don't need to come anymore, just go back." He said coldly, his legs still feeling somewhat unsteady.

Fortunately, Tang Xin had raised more than ten pots of flowers, and the uneaten vegetables were buried beneath the blossoms after the two of them spent an entire afternoon.