NOVEL WEB
Chapter 20
At noon, the Xuanwu Emperor ate very little, causing the Imperial Kitchen to spend half a day investigating whether there were issues with their cuisine and flavors.
It wasn't until the two imperial chefs who went to the Hexi Palace to "learn the craft" returned, that they learned Concubine Zhenji was going to make barbecued meat again that night.
Many veteran chefs who had worked in the palace for decades didn't think much of it, believing the Emperor only indulged Concubine Zhenji's whims. If it were another consort, they doubted he'd be able to swallow such food!
To the few young chefs eagerly discussing how novel and interesting these barbecuing methods were, the older chefs felt the youth didn't take things seriously and simply wanted to take shortcuts.
But cooking has no shortcuts—either the food is delicious or it's not. The noble lords and ladies in the palace all had discerning palates and could taste everything.
To make a name for oneself in the palace, one needed real skill.
Jiang Xinyue also believed this.
To win over the Xuanwu Emperor's heart and conquer his stomach, she needed real culinary skills.
Fortunately, she hailed from a future era renowned for its cuisine. Casually whipping up some barbecue or hotpot would suffice to impress the food-deprived ancients.
Having not eaten his fill at noon, by 3 pm the Xuanwu Emperor couldn't hold out any longer, his stomach growling audibly.
"Wang Dequan, has anyone from the Hexi Palace sent word on when we'll dine?"
Wang Dequan was also hungry and hadn't eaten enough, grimacing as he replied, "Your Majesty, they said it won't be until 7 pm. Perhaps you'd like the evening meal served first, and treat the barbecue as a late-night snack?"
"No!"
The Xuanwu Emperor sternly refused, forcing himself to ignore the emptiness in his belly as he diligently reviewed the memorials.
He had already waited so long, how could he give up now by dining early?
"Wang Dequan, do you smell the aroma of barbecued meat?"
After a moment, the Xuanwu Emperor sniffed the air. "Is Zhenji grilling the meat already?"
Wang Dequan's eyes lit up as he hurriedly said, "This servant will send someone to inquire."
"No need!"
The Xuanwu Emperor felt that asking so persistently made him seem overeager and unrestrained.
He closed the memorials and changed into a deep purple robe. "Since I've finished my official duties, I shall go see for myself how this barbecue is prepared."
Jiang Xinyue had scheduled the barbecue for between 7 pm and 9 pm.
On summer evenings, darkness fell slowly. At 7 pm, the sky was not yet completely dark, so for a bonfire gathering, it would be better to wait until night had fully set in.
The Office of Music and Dance in the palace received orders from Concubine Zhenji to perform instrumental music for the Emperor, Empress Zhu, Consorts Liang and De, and the young princes and princesses that night, requiring rehearsal.
During palace banquets, they usually sent beautiful dancing girls and singing maidens, with the instrumentalists merely accompanying them.
It was rare for Concubine Zhenji of the Hexi Palace to favor instrumental music, so the musicians seized this opportunity to showcase their talents, meticulously rehearsing a piece that combined twelve different instruments.
The Xuanwu Emperor arrived at the Hexi Palace a quarter before 7 pm, but the lively scene before him made him wonder if he had come to the wrong place.
It was Jiang Xinyue who first noticed him, waving him over. "Your Majesty, come over here! We've been waiting for you."
Her relaxed, casual demeanor made the Xuanwu Emperor feel as if he were a wealthy merchant, and she his wife casually welcoming her hardworking husband home to dine.
"This concubine greets Your Majesty."
"Your son greets His Majesty the Father."
The Xuanwu Emperor's thoughts were abruptly pulled back to reality. Zhenji was not his wife, but rather his wife was clad in plain robes, her beauty now faded with age, though the glow of the bonfire hinted at her youthful, unmatched beauty.
Jiang Xinyue held a small brush in her left hand and a skewer of lamb in her right, smoky and charred. "Your Majesty, this concubine is not very graceful today, so please forgive any breach of etiquette at this family gathering."
The Xuanwu Emperor stared at the meat skewer in her hand, but did not forget to help the Empress Zhu to her feet. "Our dear Concubine Zhenji has taken on the role of imperial chef tonight. How could I find fault?"
He patted the third prince's head. "What did you think of Concubine Zhenji's barbecue?"
Caught in the act of sneaking food, the third prince licked his glistening lips, eyes sparkling. "Father, Concubine Zhenji is so amazing. This is the first time I've tasted such delicious 'foreign tubers.'"
"Foreign tubers" referred to potatoes, as they had been brought from abroad by an envoy a century ago.
The child's innocent words drew laughter from the crowd.
Several plates of grilled skewers were already laid on the table. After the Xuanwu Emperor took his seat, the Empress Zhu, Consorts Liang and De also sat down.
Xi Que and Shuang Jiang took over the barbecuing duties from Jiang Xinyue so she could enjoy the meal.
She had to teach the ladies the proper way to eat barbecue.
At first, the Empress Zhu found the manner of eating barbecue rather uncouth, but after trying the pork belly skewers following Zhenji's example, it was as if she had opened the door to a new world.
Seeing the Emperor, though still dignified, devouring the food with gusto, clearly quite familiar with the ritual, Zhenji even personally rolled a skewer of beef into a lettuce leaf with fresh green chili peppers and garlic, stuffing it into the Emperor's mouth.
Far from taking offense, the Emperor reciprocated by wrapping one for Zhenji to eat.
To the onlookers, they resembled an ordinary but affectionate couple from the common folk.
The Empress Zhu suddenly understood—perhaps the Xuanwu Emperor did not see Zhenji as a younger version of the late Noble Consort Li, but rather genuinely liked the girl to some degree.
This young woman possessed a welcoming charm that, when she extended her goodwill, made anyone want to be close to her and befriend her.
Just look at how the usually arrogant eldest princess, the typically aloof second princess, and the mischievous third prince had all fallen under Zhenji's spell, addressing her respectfully as "Concubine Zhenji" with obvious delight.
This barbecue feast was truly enjoyable for both hosts and guests.
After the meal, when all the noble guests were stuffed, Jiang Xinyue had the performers from the Office of Music and Dance come in to play instruments.
The pipa, zheng, xiqin, guqin, xiao, dizi, se, qin, sheng, guan, and ruan.
Each instrument had its own unique range when played solo, yet they blended harmoniously together, sometimes grandiose and powerful, sometimes gentle and soothing...
The children's laughter mingled melodiously with the music as the palace maids and eunuchs joined Jiang Xinyue, hand-in-hand around the bonfire, dancing.
Seated beside the Xuanwu Emperor, the Empress Zhu's perpetual artificial smile faded, revealing some genuine feeling. "It's rather like the grand feasts the Mongol people hold after a winter hunt on the grasslands."
The Xuanwu Emperor turned his head and smiled at her as well: "Mongol roasted meat is a whole cow or sheep cut into pieces, not as refined as Zhenji's method, which is more suitable for us Great Yan people."
At this moment, Jiang Xinyue had already changed into a palace consort's attire. In front of the bonfire, her countenance was like the bright moon in the sky, emitting a soft glow.
Her smile was radiant, as if it could dispel all gloom and darkness, making one want to pursue that beauty.
Empress Zhu looked at her with kind eyes: "No wonder the Emperor favors her. She is so innocent and pure that even we consorts cannot dislike her."