“As long as you can think of it, I can cook it.” Jiang Mo answered without hesitation, brimming with confidence and not a hint of ambiguity.
Both Chu Ying and Han You were stunned.
Chu Ying’s eyes sparkled, and she squinted with a smile. “My judgment is truly excellent; I have indeed struck treasure.”
If it were anything else, Jiang Mo might not be so confident, but when it came to cooking, she dared to claim the top spot, and no one would dare claim otherwise. In the two months since she had transmigrated, she had already researched nearly all the edible dishes of the Great Yong Dynasty.
Instructing Iris to take good care of the distinguished guests, Jiang Mo returned to the kitchen to deep-fry the sweet and sour carp for Shen Zhengze’s table. She hummed an unknown tune, clearly in an excellent mood.
Outside, Commander Xu’s mood was not nearly as good. The reason was simple: Chu Ying hadn’t even finished her lunch before she started planning her dinner, and she had proposed staying in Jiangzhou overnight.
Commander Xu looked at Chu Ying, who was contentedly stroking her slightly full belly, and couldn’t help but speak up.
“Your Highness, this subordinate already calculated our arrival time in the capital yesterday. The Prince has prepared everything and is just waiting for you. How about we skip dinner? There are even more delicacies in the capital, and the chefs in the Prince’s estate have superb skills; they will certainly be able to prepare dishes that suit your palate.”
Chu Ying let out a satisfied burp and waved her finger.
“You haven’t even tasted the food yet, so how can you understand my feelings?” She glanced at the crispy pork on Commander Xu’s table. “We’ll revisit this topic after you finish eating.”
Commander Xu looked at the crispy pork and the sweet and sour carp, unimpressed. He had never been one to prioritize his appetite. Following the Prince in his duties, what kind of fine food had he not eaten? How could he possibly be taken by the dishes of such a tiny restaurant?
However, since Chu Ying had spoken, he had to eat at least a few bites. He suppressed his impatience and used his chopsticks to pick up a piece of crispy pork.
The golden, crispy pork, coated in pepper salt, was full of crispy fragrance with the first bite—the outside was charred and the inside was tender. The slight numbing sensation of the pepper powder only highlighted the flavor further.
Crunch, crunch.
Commander Xu’s gaze fixed, and his mouth moved with hesitation.
Eh?
The taste… was it actually quite good?
He didn’t know how this pork was marinated, but the more he chewed, the more fragrant it became. It was actually better than the stewed meat he had eaten at the Prince’s estate!
He was shocked, but he didn’t show it on his face. He nodded slightly. “The place you chose is indeed excellent, Your Highness. The taste of the food is first-rate.”
Chu Ying raised an eyebrow faintly.
“That goes without saying.”
She thought for a moment and said intentionally, “Commander Xu has always served in the Prince’s estate, so I assume you have eaten many delicacies. These things must be truly unremarkable to you.”
“Your Highness jests.”
Crunch, crunch.
Crunch, crunch.
The light in Commander Xu’s eyes grew brighter and brighter. He felt the crispy pork was exceptionally suited to his taste; no matter how much he ate, it didn’t feel greasy. Once a plate of crispy pork was finished, he actually felt hungrier.
His gaze shifted to the sweet and sour carp. He had never been fond of sweet flavors, and this fish looked clearly sweet. After some hesitation, he picked up a piece to try.
As the fish entered his mouth, a “holy sh*t” almost slipped out. The tangy, sweet flavor stimulated his senses so much that his eyes nearly narrowed. He didn’t like sweet flavors, but the acidity of the vinegar perfectly balanced the sweetness. It wasn’t just palatable; it was genuinely excellent!
It tasted even more flavorful than the crispy pork from earlier. He couldn’t help but think of his younger sister at home. She had always loved sweet and sour flavors; if she could eat this fish, she would be overjoyed.
Regrettably, it couldn’t be packed for the trip back to the capital.
After finishing the meal, Chu Ying asked slowly, “Commander Xu, are we still in a rush to get on the road today?”
Commander Xu did not change his expression.
“The Emperor issued an edict for your marriage to the Prince; within the entire estate, besides the Prince, you are the highest authority. This subordinate naturally listens to the Princess Consort. If you wish to stay for a few more days, then we shall stay.”
As for the Prince?
He figured that if the Princess Consort wanted to eat fish, the Prince wouldn’t mind a delay of a day or two.
After all, since when is the Prince more fragrant than sweet and sour fish?