Chapter 111：Breathtaking

Qie was too embarrassed to continue sitting there and watch the show. She has been in Jin Ling for more than 10 years and though she has never been assimilated into the noble circle, her reputation was stellar. She thought that this feast was an opportunity for her to finally get in with the nobles, but then this happened. She wanted to strangle Ye Jinrong.

Ye Jinrong didn't dare to make any sound as she obediently sat next to her aunt. She trembled with fear as she saw people around her murmuring and occasionally throw glances at her.

The upper-class women gave tips to the singer at the stage and Qie followed their example. She got someone to seal some money in an envelope to throw it up as a gesture of goodwill to the Elder Princess. However, no matter how much silver she gives, it would be of no use. The Elder Princess already has made up her plan.

When Wei Liujiang received the news, he instantly paled.

"Cousin, there is trouble," Wei Liujiang told Mu Qinchu when he pulled him out.

"What problem could there be?" Mu Qinchu asked vacantly, his attention still on the acrobats.

Wei Liujiang has no other choice but to tell him the truth about Jinrong. His father made it clear to him that this matter should only be known by his aunt, but this was an emergency.

"What?" Mu Qinchu cried out in alarm. "What have you done?"

"Tone it down! Quick! Help me clean this up or we'll both be in trouble," Wei Liujiang pleaded desperately.

Mu Qinchu thought about it for a while before saying, "I'll look for Zhao Qixuan. He has close ties with Young Royal Highness and he might be willing to help."

"You must not tell him the truth. Just ask to see a servant woman. Once we see her, we can talk things out," Wei Liujiang reminded him.

Upon hearing that Wei Liujiang was requesting to see the servant woman who used to work in the Ye family, Zhao Qixuan replied nonchalantly, "Why do I need to step in for such a small matter? Just order the housekeeper to bring the servant over."

Both of them were unable to speak of their difficulties.

Mu Qinchu said, "I don't think that it's appropriate to take things into our hands since this is the royal mansion."

"Isn't it just a servant? What is the matter?" Zhao Qixuan asked, still riveted with the show.

The two have no other choice but to look for Assistant Minister Mu.

At the theater troupe, Mum Gui returned and whispered something to Princess Yu De. The latter sneered and nodded before instructing, "Keep a close eye on her."

Qie and Ye Jinrong were sitting far away and could not hear what Mum Gui had said so they only continued sitting anxiously.

"Didn't you just return from Yang Zhou? Haven't you seen the servant woman?" Qie asked softly.

Ye Jinrong replied, "I didn't see her, but I didn't know that she has left the Ye household."

Qi warned, "Whatever happens, just insist that you are the oldest daughter of the Ye family. Otherwise, be prepared to be divorced!"

Ye Jinrong held her tears back, not daring to say anything else.

Ye Jiayao has been busy working in the kitchen. The original 36 tables have increased to 39 which meant more work for her. Luckily, there were enough ingredients.

"Brother Yao, the dried fruits, honeyed preserved food, pastries, and appetizers are all plated and arranged," Cui Dongpeng reported.

"Brother Yao, the candy box is also ready," Deng Haichuan said.

"Brother Yao, the antelope penis soup, and the happiness soup are ready," Wang Mingde told her.

The antelope penis soup was going to be served to the male guests while the happiness soup was reserved for the female guests.

"Alright. Wait for Manager Liu to send word." Ye Jiayao was busy decorating a few dishes.

She woke up at three in the morning today to carve various flowers from white radishes because they would lose moisture when exposed for a long time. They have to be carved on the day of the celebration and placed in a basin of ice water.

Zhong Xiang concentrated on making the dragon-whiskers noodles. They have to be hair-thin, long and continuous; the finest strand must be able to pass through a needle.

After a short while, Manager Liu sent word to the kitchen that it was time to start the banquet.

Manager Hu arranged for a group of servant girls to serve the dishes.

Ye Jiayao has trained these servant girls before the banquet on the order of serving the dishes. She also taught them how to announce the names of the dishes, which have to be paid particular attention to.

Just as the guests settle down, the servant girls entered in a line, carrying a silver basin for them to wash their hands. They then passed them warm, white handkerchiefs to wipe their hands dry.

This procedure alone made the guests feel that the birthday banquet today was going to be extraordinary as they have never experienced this before.

After washing their hands clean, they were served some Lu Shan's clouds and mist tea. It was light but the deep and pure aroma of it was evident. The guests' attention was not on the tea but on the food being set on the tables, though.

There were four dishes of dried fruits: milk dates, fragrant peanuts, salt and pepper cashew nuts, and double-colored soft candies.

There were also four dishes of pastries: split yellow pea, walnut biscuit, thousand layered cake, and kidney bean roll.

The dried fruits did not seem special, but the pastries made everyone's eyes light up.

The split yellow pea was not in the common rhombus but in a heart shape. The orange-yellow color was glossy and luster, making it look very appetizing. The walnut biscuit was in a V shape, the thousand layered cake has changed from the regular square to a rhombus, and the kidney bean roll has beautiful white patterns drawn on them. They looked different and very delicious.

Xia Chunyu didn't want to admit it, but he was nervous at how people would think of the food. Their reactions would affect Yaoyao greatly. Before he could even lift his chopsticks up, he heard Zhao Qixuan exclaim from afar, "What is this on the kidney bean roll? It is cool, sweet, smooth, and extremely delicious!"

"Mm… this split yellow pea is too delicious. Is this from Bai Wei Zhai or Ju Xiang Yuan? Wait, no. Even they can't get their pastries to be this delicious," Xia Chunfeng also commented in pretense.

Xia Chunyu rolled his eyes. Those two didn't know what subtlety meant.

Some old people frowned at the scene that the young nobles made, but they too were pleasantly surprised when they took a piece to try. They almost automatically reached for seconds even before they finished.

Since someone got the ball rolling, others started to voice out their praises as well. They were wondering who made the pastries or where they were bought.

Xia Chunyu was happy that they were liking Ye Jiayao's cooking, but he found this a bit exaggerated. They might be delicious, but they were still just plates of dried fruits and pastries. How could they compare to the ones made by the royal kitchen?

He changed his mind as soon as he tried a piece of the split yellow pea, though. He has tried many delicate pastries, but this one was hands down exceptional. These were extremely soft and chewy with just the right amount of sweetness. Everything about it was just right that he could not help but exclaim in admiration.

It looked like all the pastries Yaoyao made him eat weren't in vain. All the research she made, collecting the positive points from different shops and shunning their negative ones, really paid off. Xia Chunyu was wrong. Just these four pastries were enough to compare with those made by the imperial kitchen. At this point, he honestly didn't know why he continues to doubt Yaoyao's skills.

"These pastries cannot be bought elsewhere. They are personally made by the head chef of Heavenly Residence," Zhao Qixuan announced proudly.

"Is that true? Is the head chef of Heavenly Residence really so formidable?"

"You are too slow on the news. Who doesn't know about Heavenly Residence now? Have you heard of the chilled drinks?"

"Oh, that's him? It's no wonder that he can take on the birthday banquet in the Prince's mansion!"

"Leave some space in your stomachs, the good things are yet to be served. They are all so delicious, you would bite your tongue off," Helian Jing said, smiling widely.

Helian Xuan shook his head. He would let his bragging pass because this time, Little Jing really has found the right person for the job.

Meanwhile, on the main table, everyone's eyes were glued to the red-crowned crane carving presented for the event.

"Mother-in-law, take a look at this red-crowned crane, it looks alive," Yu De exclaimed in amazement.

"Oh, yes! Even the eyebrows are so distinct!"

"I wonder what this is carved with? This is so amazing."

Mum Gui answered, "This is carved out of white radish by Head Chef Li Yao. He said that this is specially presented to the Old Ancestress to wish you happiness as immense as the East Sea and live as long as the Zhong Nan mountains."

Everyone's jaw dropped upon hearing that it was carved from some white radishes.

The Old Ancestress was a Buddhist so she was pleased with the carving. She said with a smile, "That head chef is so considerate. Reward him."

Yu De smiled. "Did you hear that? Pass the news to Head Chef Li Yao."

Ye Jiayao was frying vegetables in the kitchen when Manager Liu ran over to tell her what just happened. "Brother Li, the Old Ancestresses has rewarded you! She loves your red-crowned crane."

Ye Jiayao replied with delight, "Is that true? That is great!"

She came up with the idea of a red-crowned crane when Little Jing had told her that the Old Ancestress was a Buddhist.

"What about the other foods?" Ye Jiayao asked. She has spent a lot of time and effort on the dried fruits and pastries.

Manager Liu replied, "The response is enthusiastic. Everyone is trying to find out where the pastries were bought."

Ye Jiayao and Zhong Xiang exchanged pleased looks. It's a success! All their efforts weren't useless!

One after another, the delicacies are served, stimulating everyone's taste buds.

Usually, in this kind of events, people only attend with the motive of getting more connections. In today's banquet, however, the most discussed topic was the food.

"The longevity noodle is served."

A bowl of longevity noodles was presented.

The Old Ancestress has to take the first bite.

Yu De quickly extended her help. No matter how she scooped, she couldn't seem to get to the bottom of it. The noodles were too long and it took a great effort before she finally has the noodles in the bowl.

"This is a good sign, Old Ancestress! You'll live a ripe old age," Xia You said.

The Old Ancestress chuckled merrily. "Good, good. This is the first time I have eaten such long noodles at my age."

"Here, try it." Yu De scooped two spoonfuls of soup into the bowl.

The Old Ancestress took two mouthfuls. "Not bad. The chicken soup is rich and the bamboo shreds are tasty."

Mum Gui smiled. "Old Ancestress, this is not made with chicken soup."

"How is this not chicken soup? This is obviously the taste of a chicken soup. Try it," the Old Ancestress insisted.

"It is the taste of chicken soup, very pure and fragrant, but not greasy," Xia You commented after trying some.

Yu De laughed. "Mum Gui, stop keeping us in suspense. What is this made of?"