NOVGO.NET Chapter 1003 - 1003 103 Testing_1
Chapter 1003: Chapter 103 Testing_1 Chapter 1003: Chapter 103 Testing_1 However, Yao Xian was only satisfied with the Dragon and Phoenix sleigh.
This time Yang Wenxiao returned to the capital, bringing back nothing but unremarkable agricultural products, and even some frozen dumplings!
The situation was very similar to when Yang Hao came back to the capital. Although they were just some bland-tasting items, they were treated like gold nuggets—no, considering the status of Yang Wenxiao and Yang Hao, gold nuggets were nothing to them. The way this grandfather and grandson valued these foods was more like they were Immortal Elixirs.
It was just some dumplings, after all. They were brought back over a great distance and were boiled that very night, as if they were indeed Immortal Elixirs bestowed upon them.
The taste was indeed better than usual, but it couldn’t compare to the culinary skills of the Imperial Kitchen, and they were even filled with pork and chives!
After eating, her mouth was full of the taste of chives, and it took her a long time to suppress that flavor.
The thought of having to eat these bland yet strongly aftertasted dumplings on New Year’s Eve made Yao Xian restless. The next day, she specifically ordered the chefs from the Imperial Kitchen to prepare a table of fine dishes, with ten different fillings for the dumplings alone, planning to show Yang Wenxiao what true delicacy was.
The banquet was set in the Imperial Garden, and she planned to enjoy the snow while savoring the delicious food.
Also attending the banquet was Yang Hao, whose taste buds had been ‘poisoned’ by Qiao Xiaomai. His palate hadn’t reverted to normal just yet, and she had the Imperial Kitchen come up with a variety of delicious dishes for Yang Hao every day, but to little effect.
Yang Wenxiao sat in the pavilion in the Imperial Garden, staring at the plate of dumplings in front of him, and said, “Is each of these fillings different?”
“Indeed! Ten dumplings, ten different fillings. Father, please have a taste. The culinary skills of the Imperial Kitchen have greatly improved,” Yao Xian said with a smile.
Hearing this, Yang Wenxiao nodded, and Gao Lian quickly picked up a piece with chopsticks. Then, with another hand, he took a little pair of scissors, snipped off a piece from the dumpling, and put it into his mouth.
After testing for poison, Yang Wenxiao started to eat.
The one he tasted was shrimp-flavored, with fresh shrimp and delicious soup. However, he had eaten this flavor many times in his life, and it was nothing special.
He swallowed the shrimp dumpling and, seeing Yao Xian’s expectant look, said, “This taste… is there anything different from before?”
“Ah?” Yao Xian’s smile stiffened.
Yang Wenxiao was not like Yang Hao. Being the Retired Emperor, he spoke his mind without reservation, “The skill of the Imperial Kitchen… hasn’t seemed to improve significantly from before, has it?”
He then looked towards Yang Hao, “Haohao, you try one.”
Yang Hao nodded, and after his eunuch tested for poison, he put a dumpling into his mouth. This one was venison-flavored and tasted good as well. However, compared to last night’s pork and chive dumplings, it fell short.
Looking at his mother’s hopeful eyes, he spoke the truth, “My taste is similar to Grandpa Emperor’s.”
By this time, Yao Xian had recovered. The stiffness on her face disappeared, and she said naturally, “It seems that taste preferences really are different.”
“How so? Empress, do you think last night’s dumplings weren’t tasty?” Yang Wenxiao asked.
“Tastes differ, after all. I’m used to the craft of the Imperial Kitchen being in the Palace,” Yao Xian said with composure.
Upon hearing this, Yang Wenxiao nodded, “Different tastes are normal, and we shouldn’t force it.”
However, Qiao Xiaomai’s cooking was not just any ordinary flavor.
Her dishes carried a fragrance similar to that of a certain bowl of rice.
That bowl of rice could even revive the dead, bring flesh back to bones—the fragrance was such that some people didn’t like it?