123 Serve (1/2)

Helian Jing was in Zi Chen Palace accompanying the Emperor in a game of chess as he recounted the interesting events on his way from Ji Nan to Jin Ling. He especially enjoyed telling the Emperor of his experience in digging the soil in order to make beggars' bird.

The Emperor occasionally let out a cheerful chuckle, finding that young chef really clever.

”Checkmate. Little Jing, you lost again,” the Emperor said.

Little Jing pouted. ”Your Majesty, this match does not count. I was distracted.”

The Emperor laughed out loud. Although Little Jing was a chess addict that was terrible at the game, he was candid and delightful. Playing chess with him always interests the Emperor. If it were his other subjects, they would just humbly concede to him. It was only Little Jing that would make excuses.

”Okay, I will give you a cavalry handicap. Let's go again,” the Emperor said generously.

”Can you give me another canon handicap?” Helian Jing wheedled.

His Majesty glared at him. Brat.

Helian Jing said confidently, ”Your humble subject's chess skills are not on par with Your Majesty's, it is only fair to give me another canon handicap.”

The eunuchs and the palace maids standing by the side could not help but secretly laugh at the pair.

The Emperor sneered, ”You're the only person I know that would admit his weakness so proudly.”

”Your Majesty, I am simply aware of my capabilities,” Helian Jing stated with a chortle.

The Emperor laughed in amusement. It was no wonder that this young man was adored by his mother. ”Then I shall give you another handicap. If you lose again, I'll give you a severe punishment.”

Helian Jing asked cautiously, ”Your Majesty, can you tell me what the punishment is first? Otherwise, I would just spend the whole game anxious and I wouldn't be able to play well.”

”Ha! Don't make excuses for your lousy chess skills. Come on, let's play.”

The two royals started another round. However, even with Helian Jing's entire attention focused on the game, he still lost.

”What excuse do you have this time?” the Emperor teased, extremely pleased with his win.

Helian Jing replied discontentedly, ”Your humble subject accepts defeat wholeheartedly.”

”Your face doesn't really say that you accept it wholeheartedly.”

Helian Jing was about to argue when a eunuch reported that the Emperor's wife was arriving.

The Empress has a distinguished air of elegance and coquetry as she stepped into the Zi Chen Palace Hall and greeted the Emperor.

Helian Jing rose immediately to greet her.

The Emperor asked, ”What brings you here?”

The Empress smiled gently and answered, ”Your concubine heard that Your Majesty summoned Heavenly Residence's Li Yao over to prepare your lunch. If it's alright with you, I would also like to join in the meal.”

The Emperor nodded and ordered the palace servants to check on why the meal was taking so long.

”Li Yao is very particular with his cooking. This is his first time to prepare a meal for Your Majesty so he was being more thorough,” Helian Jing explained on behalf of his friend.

”Little Jing is right, Your Majesty. If you're hungry, I can get the imperial kitchen to prepare some snacks,” the Empress suggested.

”There is no need,” the Emperor said. ”I will wait. Empress, why don't you summon the Crown Prince as well? I have not had a meal with him for quite a while.”

The Empress smiled joyously. ”I will get someone to summon him this instant.”

The Crown Prince arrived about the same time as Eunuch Gao came out of the imperial kitchen, a few servants following behind him carrying several plates of food.

Eunuch Gao announced the name of each of the 18 dishes as it was laid on the table.

The Emperor looked at the food set out in front of him, amazed by how extravagant they look. The palace's royal chefs always served him with excellent meals, but what Li Yao made far surpassed their exquisiteness.

The Empress said in wonder, ”These two flying dragons are so life-like! Oh, and these flowers, what are they made of?”

Eunuch Gao was about to reply when Helian Jing interrupted, ”Your Majesty, these are carved from radishes. It is Li Yao's expertise.”

The Crown Prince, who has tasted the dish when he went to Heavenly Residence before, added, ”This Carp Leaping over the Dragon Door is Li Yao's creation and is more delicious than the original method of cooking it.”

”Your Majesty, this hot plate shiitake is also Li Yao's creation. Try it, it tastes very unique,” Helian Jing told the Emperor with an eager smile.

Eunuch Gao used a pair of silver chopsticks to pick up the dish for His Majesty.

Another palace maid did the same for the Empress.

The Emperor took a bite. The pan-fried meat patty was crunchy and fragrant, fusing harmoniously with the soft and smooth shiitake mushroom. Its taste was unique, indeed.

”Not bad, not bad,” the Emperor complimented, nodding satisfactorily.

After trying a few dishes, His Majesty had grown impatient. He does not want to wait for Eunuch Gao to pick up the dishes for him. These foods were all so delicious that he just wanted to devour them all.

”Why is there no soup? Eunuch Gao, didn't you tell Li Yao that His Majesty likes to drink soup?” the Empress asked.