Chapter 629 - 210: The Banquet (Part 2)

Once everyone in the banquet hall was seated, the clamor gradually subsided, leaving only the soft crackling of candlelight.

Lin Shuhua raised her eyes and briefly assessed the situation in the hall. When she saw that everyone was seated, she rose gracefully to her feet. Silently, she exited the banquet hall and headed for the rear kitchen to check on the preparations for the evening meal. Her every move was a picture of propriety and meticulous care.

It was only a moment before she returned, walking briskly. She moved with a light grace through the rows of tables, weaving around the bustling servants, and went straight to where Lin Weiyuan and his wife sat at the head of the hall. Bowing slightly, she lowered her voice and said, "Father, the kitchen has all the dishes ready. Shall we begin the banquet now?"

Lin Weiyuan raised his eyes and swept his gaze over the hall. Seeing that the guests and clan members were all ready, he nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "Begin the banquet."

Lin Shuhua acknowledged with a "Yes," then turned and left briskly to make the arrangements.

Soon, servants in matching uniforms began to bring out a procession of exquisite dishes. Each was served on a small, white porcelain plate, the colors vibrant and the aroma tantalizing. They were placed on every table with methodical grace.

Yang Jing picked up the bamboo chopsticks from his table and lifted a strip of ruddy-colored meat to his mouth. It was so tender it fell apart, savory and deeply flavorful with a rich, mellow sauce. This was a world apart from the coarse Exotic Beast Meat he usually ate for his cultivation; the flavor was truly exceptional.

However, as he ate, his gaze happened to drift across the hall, where he noticed a peculiar figure.

At a table near the end of the hall, seated next to Lin Ziheng, was a middle-aged man with a goatee. The man wore a simple, plain-colored robe and had an unremarkable face, yet he kept glancing over at Yang Jing.

Unlike the respectful and curious glances from others, this man’s stare was unsettlingly intense. He would occasionally, almost unconsciously, lick his fingers, and he looked toward Yang Jing with abnormal frequency. The inquiry in his eyes held a bizarre, almost creepy quality that was hard to put a finger on.

This sent a prickle of unease through Yang Jing.

It was one thing for the young ladies of the great families to be sneaking glances at him—that was understandable. But to be stared at so persistently by a middle-aged man... it was making him rather uncomfortable.

But he didn’t know the man’s identity. Seeing him seated at a Lin Family banquet, he could only assume the man was one of their Elders or a senior clansman. It wouldn’t be right to confront him without cause, so Yang Jing suppressed his feeling of revulsion and focused back on his meal.

Meanwhile, Lin Ziheng, seated next to the goateed man, was also filled with confusion.

He recognized the man. He was a renowned Grand Painter in Jintai Prefecture City, a master of the brush whose works were astonishingly lifelike. Most prominent families had to present extravagant gifts and invite him repeatedly just for a chance to commission a piece.

He couldn’t understand it. The Grand Painter was known for being a recluse. ’What is he doing at our family’s banquet tonight? Did Father arrange this?’

Though confused, it wasn’t his place to ask questions during the banquet. He could only lower his head and eat, his occasional glances toward the painter beside him filled with puzzlement.

Just then, a servant carefully brought out another course. It, too, was served on a delicate, small white porcelain plate. The food itself was a brilliant golden hue, garnished with vibrant green scallions and bright red goji berries. The presentation was exquisite.

A rich, savory aroma instantly permeated the banquet hall, stirring everyone’s appetite.

At the head of the hall, Lin Weiyuan saw this and smiled at Yang Jing. His voice was warm with enthusiasm. "Young Master Yang, you must try this dish. It’s a creation of a former Imperial Chef. Its flavor is far beyond what any ordinary restaurant could produce."

Yang Jing looked down at the delicacy on his table. Its colors were vibrant and its aroma rich. The sight alone was enough to whet his appetite, and he felt a stir of anticipation.

He had spent his early years just struggling to survive in Yuhe County. Later, after joining the Xuanzhen Sect, he had devoted himself entirely to his cultivation.

His daily diet consisted of beast meat and Exotic Beast Meat, consumed only to absorb their energy and nourish his meridians. He’d never cared about texture or flavor. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten such a refined delicacy, let alone a dish personally prepared by an Imperial Chef.

When Lin Weiyuan saw the look of anticipation on Yang Jing’s face, he added with another smile, "This isn’t a dish an ordinary person could ever eat. Even I rarely have the chance to taste it.

"This Imperial Chef once served in the palace. He is now a Guest Minister for the Hong Family. If not for Shuhua’s close friendship with the young lady of the Hong Family’s main line, our Lin Family would never have been able to secure his services."

As he finished speaking, Lin Weiyuan turned his gaze to Lin Shuhua, who stood waiting nearby. "Shuhua," he said gently, "why don’t you describe this dish in detail for Young Master Yang?"

Lin Shuhua started slightly at her father’s words. She rose to her feet, her gaze gently landing on Yang Jing.

Ever since she’d been in the study and first suspected her father might intend for her and Yang Jing to be wed, her feelings had changed whenever she looked at the young prodigy from the Xuanzhen Sect.

A strange flutter now lingered in her heart whenever she saw him, and she found herself breathing a little more softly without even realizing it.

She took a deep breath to quiet the racing thoughts in her mind. A gentle smile graced her lips as she turned to Yang Jing and began to explain, "Young Master Yang, this dish is called Qiexiang. It is said to be a signature dish of the Imperial Kitchen, and its preparation is incredibly elaborate."

"First, you must select the freshest young eggplants of the season. They are peeled and finely diced. The diced eggplant is then slow-fried in the rendered fat of an exotic Red Crane until golden brown. Then, you take the breast meat of a flying goose, aromatic mushrooms, fresh mushrooms, new bamboo shoots, five-spice pressed tofu, and an assortment of dried fruits and nuts—all of which are also diced to the same size. Everything is then simmered together with the eggplant in a rich chicken broth until the flavors are fully infused.

"Once the broth reduces and thickens, it’s drizzled with a secret-recipe aromatic oil and mixed thoroughly with fermented grain oil. The entire mixture is then sealed in a porcelain jar and aged for half a month.

"To serve, it is taken from the jar and mixed with freshly stir-fried minced flying goose meat. And that is the dish you have before you—Qiexiang."