What If a Blind Cat Stumbles Upon a Dead Mouse?

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "Is Noble Consort Ning really that scary?"

After thinking for a moment, Eunuch Hai said, "Noble Consort Ning is no ordinary person. She currently controls the court and wields immense power. Do you think she wouldn't be formidable?"

Zhou Wanwan nodded and said, "That's really impressive! What about Princess Jianing?"

Eunuch Hai looked at her and said:

Princess Jianing was favored from a young age. Not only did the Emperor dote on her, but even Noble Consort Ning loved this child the most.

Everyone knows that the Crown Noble Consort Ning's most beloved son, and Princess Jianing is Noble Consort Ning's most beloved daughter.

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "Then how did Princess Jianing find out about me? I'm actually quite low-key!"

Eunuch Hai's lips twitched. "Low-key? You're far too low-key. Do you still remember Shangguan Wan'er? The General of the Cavalry's most beloved eldest daughter."

Zhou Wanwan thought for a moment and said:

"Oh, I seem to remember that. It was that teacher who lost to me, even the imperial whip he was given to me."

So it was she who was behind it all!

Eunuch Hai looked coldly at Zhou Wanwan and said:

"Do you really have no idea how famous you are in Beijing? You call yourself low-key? Who in Beijing doesn't know you now!"

A lowly bandit leader has now transformed into a scholar.

Princess Jianing invited you into the palace, but not actually to be your companion in your studies."

Zhou Wanwan asked, "So what exactly does she want to do?"

"Figure it out yourself! Don't interrupt my show."

Zhou Wanwan said speechlessly:

"Uncle Hai, you've been watching all day, aren't you tired?"

Can we go back now? I'm starving.

Eunuch Hai then patted his stomach and said, "How about you treat me to something to eat?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "How could you let me treat you to something to eat? I'll take you somewhere; the food there is amazing."

Eunuch Hai scoffed lightly:

"Tch, this is a poor, remote place, what good food could it possibly have? Could it possibly compare to the food served in the palace?"

Let me tell you! When I was in the palace, the food I ate was absolutely divine!

Let me tell you about a few dishes; I bet you've never eaten them before, or you've probably never even heard of them.

Dragon Marrow Cloud Silk Soup, Golden Cup Embracing Jade Cream, Snow-Treading Treasure Hunt, Phoenix Threads Entwined with Jade Pillars, Imperial Garden Jade Pearl Stew—how about it? Don't the names alone make you want to eat them?

"I'm afraid you don't even know what these dishes are made of, do you?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "That's not necessarily true. What if I just happen to be lucky and guess right?"

Eunuch Hai laughed heartily:

"Zhou Wanwan, how about this, tell me what these dishes are made of."

If you guess three out of the four correctly, dinner is on me tonight, how about it?

Zhou Wanwan looked at him, blinked, and said, "Eunuch Hai wouldn't lie to me, would he? I'm naive, but I'm not easily fooled!"

Eunuch Hai burst into laughter again. "It's just dinner, isn't it? I can afford it."

Zhou Wanwan said calmly:

"Let's start with Dragon Marrow Cloud Silk Soup."

The main ingredient is the marrow from the spine of a large deep-sea fish, paired with tender bamboo shoots and silver sprouts that have just sprouted in early spring, and specially stored snow water is used.

When making it, first cut the fish marrow and bamboo shoots into thin strips, and remove the ends of the bean sprouts.

Add snow water and clear broth to the pot and simmer over low heat. Then add shredded bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, and shredded fish marrow, along with a little salt, and thicken with a thin cornstarch slurry.

Then comes the golden cup embracing the jade-like flesh.

A special small copper cup is used, with lotus seed paste that has been marinated in honey for three days in advance laid at the bottom, a whole piece of deer marrow placed in the middle, and then wrapped in a thin layer of egg skin.

After arranging them all, steam them slowly over water until cooked through. Once cooked, drizzle with a little osmanthus honey to enhance the flavor.

After steaming, the lotus seed paste is sweet and fragrant, the deer marrow is soft and tender, and the texture is oily but not greasy.

The third path is to seek treasures in the snow.

The ingredients include icicles that form on trees in winter, the finest white truffles, and tender meat from the breast of a pigeon.

First, slice the pigeon meat thinly and marinate it briefly to let the flavors infuse.

Add water and a small amount of white fungus juice to a pot. Do not boil it. First, blanch the white fungus slices to release their aroma, then slowly simmer the pigeon meat slices until cooked. Finally, cover with ice and let the residual heat bring out the sweet flavor.

The fourth item is phoenix threads entwined around a jade pillar.

Take the tender meat from the breast of the imperial pheasant, carefully shred it into thin strips, then wrap it tightly with soaked dried scallops.

Drizzle with the secret abalone sauce and broth, then steam in a pot over water for a while.

After steaming, the shredded chicken is tender and the dried scallops are chewy, with all the umami flavor permeating the ingredients. The technique of wrapping the shredded chicken is also unique to the palace.

The final dish was the Imperial Garden Jade Pearl Stew.

The beans used are a special type of green bean from the palace. The skins have to be peeled off by hand, leaving only the round beans, and then they are served with pigeon eggs and fresh mushrooms.

Bring clear broth to a boil in a pot, first cook the mushrooms, then add green peas and simmer slowly, finally add the pigeon eggs and simmer together, add a little salt, thicken the sauce with a little cornstarch slurry.

"The more we talk, the hungrier we get. How about we go get dinner now?"

Eunuch Hai stared wide-eyed at Zhou Wanwan and said, "You... you... how did you know?"

Zhou Wanwan was speechless. What was so special about these dishes? She ate them every day, okay?

However, the Imperial Kitchen didn't only offer these few dishes.

Zhou Wanwan does have several imperial chefs under her command, but each of them only knows a few signature dishes.

The Imperial Kitchen was different; there were several hundred imperial chefs alone!

Just think, what does several hundred people mean?

That means there are several thousand dishes.

Zhou Wanwan was particularly curious about what all these thousands of dishes tasted like.

That's why she so desperately wanted to enter the palace.

And you know what? The food made by the imperial chefs really is different from the food made by ordinary people.

Although it takes a lot of effort, it tastes really good.

Zhou Wanwan looked at Eunuch Hai and said:

"Don't get excited! Let's go have dinner first, let's go to the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion!"

This just opened, and the food tastes amazing.

Eunuch Hai snorted coldly and said:

"Alright, let's go check out Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion then."

I refuse to believe that the food at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion can taste better than what's served in the Imperial Palace.

Zhou Wanwan complained softly:

"The food in the palace, especially from the Imperial Kitchen, is the best. How long do you have to wait before the emperor can eat it after leaving the Imperial Kitchen?"

The food's all cold, how can it taste good?

Eunuch Hai rolled his eyes in anger:

"You have such a sharp tongue, you dare to say anything. You'll be in for a world of trouble when you get to the capital."

I've told you everything I needed to say, so if you don't want to listen, that's fine too.

They arrived at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion quickly, and Zhou Wanwan was immediately ushered into a private room.

Looking at the decor of the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, Eunuch Hai exclaimed, "Your Dongshan Prefecture actually has such strength, and such a fine restaurant? Tsk tsk tsk!"

The decor of the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion was indeed quite different from other places.

Upon entering, you're greeted by the feeling of a traditional Chinese house with a small bridge, flowing water, and a traditional courtyard house; the private rooms are even more enchanting.

Upon entering the private room, one immediately sensed that it was quite different from ordinary rooms.

The room was furnished with soft sofas, a rarity in ancient times. Sitting on them was so comfortable and relaxing, much more so than hard wooden chairs.

There was also a stylish low table nearby, unlike the bulky old-fashioned desks.

The table has a clear glass surface, which looks clean and unique.