A merchant from the Xianlu Kingdom asked the minister beside him in a low voice, “Isn’t the new wine and tea, the Marquis of Hengyuan’s business?” The man immediately whispered back, “Of course not.” Looking around, he lowered his voice even more. “The new wine and tea are the business of the Empress. The Marquis of Hengyuan Mansion is…” He then showed a ‘you understand, right?’ expression.

The merchants of the Xianlu Kingdom understood and the merchants from the Mountain People Tribe who were sitting next to the Xianlu Kingdom merchants also understood. But one of the merchants from the Xianlu Kingdom didn’t understand… “But Wei Hongzheng said that the goat’s milk wine and Longjing tea were originally from the Marquis of Hengyuan mansion and they were just taken away by…” He then whispered, “By the Empress, while the person who made this tea and wine is actually from the Hengyuan mansion.”

The man exclaimed and said in a very low voice, “Is that what Wei Hongzheng said?” The merchants from both countries nodded their heads. The man half-covered his mouth. “Wei Hongzheng is really daring. The person who brews the wine and tea is Jiang Kangning’s, the magistrate of Yongxiu County’s sworn brother, Lord Jiang. Lord Jiang is also Lord Weng’s adopted son. Elder Weng is also the Emperor’s teacher, so how could that person be from the Hengyuan Marquis Mansion and not one of the Empress’ people?”

This time the merchants of the two countries were surprised that the person who could brew such a fine wine and make such a refreshing tea had a relationship with the Emperor! Now the merchants from both countries knew what they should do.

Just when the atmosphere at the scene was developing in a strange direction, a high-pitched voice saved the Marquis of Hengyuan, who wanted to bury himself. “His Majesty has arrived… the Empress has arrived…” Everyone immediately stood up and knelt down, as the two brightly dressed people appeared. “Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, greetings to the Empress.”

“Don’t be polite, stand up.”

“Thank you, Emperor. Thank you, Emperor.”

Emperor Yongming held the Empress’ hand and walked toward his seat. Behind them were Elder Weng and Old General Dai. Emperor Yongming had no qualms about telling everyone that these two old men were the people he trusted the most.

Emperor Yongming seemed to be in a good mood. After everyone was seated, he said, “Since I ascended to the throne, due to being busy with state affairs, I have been unable to have time to have fun with all my loved ones. I am very sorry. A few days ago, I heard the Empress mention that some merchants from the Mountain People Tribe and the Xianlu Kingdom wanted to do business with our country and I could not help but remember that around the tenth year of Kangsheng’s reign, people from various countries gathered in the capital and brought prosperity.”

“Today, I am hosting a banquet, firstly, to gather with all of you dear friends, secondly, to hope that all my dear friends can join me to rejuvenate the prosperity of my Great State of Yan, and thirdly, to hope that more merchants from the Mountain People Tribe and the Xianlu Kingdom can come to our Great State of Yan and enhance communication between our countries. I also hope that merchants from our Great State of Yan can go to the Mountain People Tribe and the Xianlu Kingdom and bring back the good things from the Mountain People Tribe and the Xianlu Kingdom to our Great State of Yan!”

“I respectfully comply with Your Majesty’s wish…” All the ministers rose up. The merchants from the Mountain People Tribe and the Xianlu Kingdom also stood up in a flattered manner and shouted, “Your Majesty’s wish is a blessing to us!”

Marquis Hengyuan’s complexion was the  worst among everyone present. The previous episode already almost made him lose face. Now the Emperor’s words seemed to want to have fun with the ministers, encouraging the merchants from the Mountain People Tribe and the Xianlu Kingdom to come to the Great State of Yan to do more business, but in fact, it was also a warning. A warning to whom, everyone in the room who was not a fool, were clear in their hearts.

The Emperor heard the Empress mention it and it made him pay attention to these merchants? The fact that the Marquis of Hengyuan Mansion purchased the new tea and wine at high prices was already well known throughout the court. So from how many people could the Marquis of Hengyuan hide the fact that he wanted to do business with the merchants from the Mountain People Tribe and the Xianlu Kingdom with the new tea and wine? 

With today’s situation, the Marquis of Hengyuan’s lack of success would also be known to everyone. A concubine’s son is a concubine’s son, who did not know how to do things, even though he repeatedly asked him to be low-key and cautious… but as result!

Wei Hongru glanced at his father, picked up a teacup and pretended to drink tea, but in his heart he was laughing coldly at his father’s self-righteousness. He really thought that by having Wei Hongzheng act in a low profile the Emperor and Empress wouldn’t know? 

Ever since his mother died and his father remarried, Wei Hongru has become increasingly cold-hearted towards this father. Thinking about what his brother told him, Wei Hongru lightly raised his eyelids and glanced at the Emperor and Empress who were sitting at the top without moving a muscle, understanding that he should make a choice as soon as possible.

The next words of Emperor Yongming made it even more difficult for Marquis Hengyuanto to calm down his heart. “I heard that the food in the Yunlong Pavilion in the capital is extremely delicious and today I specially ordered Yunlong Pavilion to prepare this palace banquet. I also got a jar of good wine and want to enjoy it together with all my beloved ministers.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty…” Eunuch An, who had returned to the palace today, exclaimed at the side, “The banquet is open…” As Eunuch An’s words fell, a man walked into the main hall. His appearance caused some people present to change their expressions. This person was none other than Jiang Kangchen, the official owner of Yunlong Pavilion.

Jiang Kangchen walked to the center and knelt down. “Jiang Kangchen, the secretary of the inner official, kowtows to the Emperor. Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor. Kowtows to the Empress, long live the Empress, long live the Empress.”

The Empress said, “You can get up.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Jiang Kangchen stood up, ignoring the several unusual gazes focused on him as he spoke with a calm expression. “Your Majesty and Empress, wishing you prosperity for a thousand years, since this palace banquet will be hosted by me. May Your Majesty and the Empress eat to your satisfaction.”

Emperor Yongming and the Empress nodded slightly to Jiang Kangchen at the same time, and after Jiang Kangchen saluted, he turned sideways and clapped three times vigorously in the direction of the main hall’s entrance. As the applause fell, a group of court ladies entered with trays in their hands. Under the curious eyes of everyone, these court ladies placed the small, palm-sized porcelain plates on the tray on the table in front of them. 

There were as many as seven or eight kinds of kimchi in these small porcelain dishes. When these court ladies placed various pickles, eight burly men came in, in groups of two, carrying four whole sheep that had just been slaughtered. The ministers and merchants here were no strangers to this, it should be roast lamb.

After the kimchi was set up, the palace maids left and Jiang Kangchen, who was standing just a little behind Elder Weng, spoke out. “What you have in front of your lordships is ‘kimchi’. This kimchi can be eaten alone, or with rice, or noodles. It can also be stored as a winter dish and is a new dish, soon to be introduced in Yunlong Pavilion. So please have a taste first.”

All the people present were curious, but Emperor Yongming and the Empress needed to pick up their chopsticks before others could do that. Shao Yunan prepared a lot of kimchi, but Emperor Yongming ordered only half of it to be presented, so after today’s palace banquet, the other half would be left.

Immediately after the kimchi entered their mouths, words such as “it tastes good” and “delicious” came out. King Luo Rong’s loud voice sounded. “Your Majesty, this kimchi is really delicious. Maybe you can send some to this King’s mansion?” When he said this, Old Weng, General Dai, and the others who were close to Emperor Yongming all looked at him.

Emperor Yongming smiled and said, “There are still some in there. If the King likes to eat it it’s better to come to the palace to eat with me. You are my uncle and I am your nephew, but we haven’t eaten at the same table for such a long time.” King Luo Rong immediately stood up. “Thank you, Your Majesty.” After that he laughed very happily.

At this time, two groups of palace maids, each still with a tray in their hands, but behind them followed four people, carrying a square table in.

“What’s that?”

“It looks like duck.”

“And pancakes?”

The whispers were full of curiosity. What kind of food is this? A whole duck, should they tear it up with their hands? It would be so insulting. But who knew, a group of palace maids with ducks in their trays brought the tray with the ducks to the square table. Then another group of palace maids came to the small square table in front of each person and placed them one by one. 

Eunuch An and Eunuch Zhuo personally served His Majesty and the Empress, setting up the pancakes served in the small steamer together with sweet noodle sauce, shredded green onion, and hot bean sprouts on their plates. Shao Yunan wanted to use cucumbers, but they were not available in this era, so he had to use bean sprouts instead. Of course, he and Wang Shijing often ate cucumbers in the space and what they ate was also real cucumbers.

Emperor Yongming asked curiously, “Jiang Kangchen, what kind of new dish is this?” Jiang Kangchen saluted and said, “Answering the Emperor. This is roast duck. It is roasted with a crisp skin, but is still tender inside and fatty but not too greasy. After the roast duck is sliced into meat, it should also be added to the pancakes together with sauce, shredded green onions, and bean sprouts. I invite you to try your Majesty.” Emperor Yongming… “Good.”

The first duck had already been sliced by the chef from Yunlong Pavilion, as Jiang Kangchen brought it to the Emperor and Empress’ table. After washing his hands, he picked up a hot pancake, picked up two slices of duck meat, dipped it in sweet bean sauce and put it on the pancake, then added shredded green onion and bean sprouts. 

Everyone straightened their necks and looked around, as many people began to swallow their saliva. Emperor Yongming and the Empress took the pancakes from Jiang Kangchen one after another. Emperor Yongming took a bite first, then widened his eyes and swallowed quickly. “It’s delicious! Very delicious!” He then lowered his voice and said, “Give me two more!”

Jiang Kangchen held back his smile in time and replied while also lowering his voice, “Your Majesty, there are still other good dishes to be served. I am afraid you won’t be able to eat them later.” Hearing that there were also other delicious dishes, Emperor Yongming held himself back. The Empress bowed his head and swallowed his smile.

With Emperor Yongming’s opening, everyone else couldn’t help but look forward to their share coming up. The chef of Yunlong Pavilion with two sous chefs sliced the duck and the audience was full of chewing sounds. Some ministers even flatteringly said, “Your Majesty, Empress, this roast duck is really delicious. I have never eaten such a delicious duck before. I wonder if I want to eat it in the future if I can go to Yunlong Pavilion?”

Jiang Kangchen immediately replied, “If you want to eat it in the future, just go to Yunlong Pavilion. In a few days, Yunlong Pavilion will officially launch this roasted duck.”

Immediately someone said, “I must go there in the future, this roasted duck is just too delicious!” Whether it was sincere or false, many people echoed, “Yes, I must eat it, it’s so delicious!”

Jiang Kangchen said, “The soup left over from the roasted duck and radish is equally delicious. The Emperor and Empress, as well as everyone else, should all taste it later.”

The roasted duck was so delicious, so the duck soup was also probably not bad. People who loved greasy food looked forward to it. Even the patriarchs and sons of several big families who were used to eating delicious food re-evaluated the strength of Yunlong Pavilion. Many people would come up with, ‘Where did the Emperor and the Empress dig the cooks? How can they be so good at cooking?’ in their minds. 

These people knew quality when they ate it. Jiang Kangchen tried his best to ignore all kinds of gazes cast on him, especially certain ones, and went to work on the things that the Empress entrusted to him.

Edited by: Jaisland

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