Ancient Foodie Survival Guide Chapter 79
Tled by Serena Love
Unedited
Chapter 79: Entering the Palace
If the Lin family wants to continue doing business, they will compete with others for profit. So Jiang Shuyao thinks that things will not just end like this.
When she was thinking about dealing with it, a letter came from the palace. Concubine Lin suddenly wanted to call her into the palace.
Jiang Shuyao was not close to the Lin family, and she would inevitably have some doubts about the Imperial Concubine Lin.
Xie Xun didn't figure out Concubine Lin's meaning, only to comfort her, not to worry.
It was Jiang Shuyao's first time in the palace since she came in ancient times. Although she had also met the crown prince, the crown prince was friendly, and he was in Duke Xie's mansion at the time, so she didn't feel too much pressure. But entering the palace was different.
She was so nervous that she didn't sleep well all night. The next day before dawn, she got up and changed clothes with Xie Xun. She only learned the rules of entering the palace yesterday. At this time, she can only memorize it on the surface and hope that she can barely pass after entering the palace.
Because she also entered the palace today, Xie Xun did not ride a horse but took a carriage with her.
Seeing Jiang Shuyao's nervous expression, he smiled and said, "How can you be scared just by entering the palace?"
Jiang Shuyao put down the carriage curtain, "It's either scared or a little nervous. After all, it's the palace." Whether it's a feudal emperor or a modern leader, people in power always make normal people feel scared.
"It's like you haven't been to the palace banquet in the past." Xie Xun said, holding Jiang Shuyao's hand.
Jiang Shuyao looked at him suspiciously.
Xie Xun said solemnly, "Don't be afraid. I hold you."
Jiang Shuyao was a little speechless.
Since the two exchanged their hearts and started holding hands, Xie Xun suddenly became familiar and wanted to get close to her if he had nothing to do. But this closeness is only a superficial closeness, such as holding hands when sleeping, holding hands when walking together. Each time, he has a serious appearance, for fear that she will refuse, even though it is only holding hands, and there is no further action.
Seeing that Jiang Shuyao did not take away her hand, Xie Xun's mouth was slightly tilted. One hand was holding her hand, and the other hand went to the teapot to pour the tea, "Have a cup of tea."
Jiang Shuyao shook her head.
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"Then eat some cakes. During breakfast, you were busy putting on makeup and combing your hair. You only took a few mouthfuls of porridge. You can't be hungry when you enter the palace."
Jiang Shuyao withdrew her hands.
Xie Xun quickly held it again and looked at her, puzzled.
"I have to use my right hand to eat pastries." Jiang Shuyao said.
Picking up a rock and hitting one's own feet. Hey, caring about your wifey while holding hands is hard to do.
[T/N: "Picking up a rock and hitting one's own feet" is an idiom similar to "shooting yourself in the foot." Meaning your plan backfired, and you hurt yourself.]
Xie Xun reluctantly let go of his hand, opened the low folding table, and served the cakes.
Jiang Shuyao didn't like to eat pastries, but she was afraid of being hungry later. She took a piece of pastry and stuffed it into her mouth. She choked a little, but she didn't dare to drink tea, for fear that she wanted to go to the toilet after entering the palace, that would be too embarrassing.
After she stuffed a small piece, Xie Xun brought the tea over. She shook her head and continued to take another one.
Xie Xun stood up, lowered his waist to maneuver around, and sat on the other side, next to her.
Just when she thought Xie Xun's change of position was something important, Xie Xun silently and quietly covered her left hand with the palm of his hand.
Jiang Shuyao: ...
She stuffed the pastry in her mouth and turned to look at Xie Xun speechlessly.
Xie Xun was secretly amused. Before the corners of his mouth could be put down, he felt her gaze cast over him, and he immediately became guilty. The roots of his ears moved slightly, showing shyness and uneasiness.
He forcibly explained, "You don't need to hold pastries in your left hand."
Jiang Shuyao ignored him and let him go.
When they reached the palace gate avenue, the two got out of the carriage and walked inside. After entering the palace gate, a eunuch was waiting there long ago. Jiang Shuyao remembered the rules and gave him a red envelope, but he refused.
Xie Xun went to the East Palace, separated from Jiang Shuyao by the inner wall. Only the eunuch led Jiang Shuyao on the way. The palace was indeed as she imagined, carved beams and buildings, magnificent and glorious, but there was always a low pressure swirling in the sky. The palace ladies and eunuchs walked silently, and Jiang Shuyao felt depressed and uncomfortable after walking for less than a while.
When they arrived at the Imperial Concubine Lin's Palace, it was another scene.
Concubine Lin had just finished her breakfast. She leaned on the couch lazily and was massaged by a maid. The room's fragrance was very light, and a light curtain swayed, giving her a sense of languidness and laziness.
Concubine Lin's beauty was overwhelming the country as the rumors. Her facial features were bright, and she only applied lipstick, but she could hold down the luxurious pearl hairpin on her bun.
Seeing Jiang Shuyao's salute, she smiled like a spring flower.
"Okay, get up. Come to me." She straightened up, and the maid bowed her head and disappeared on the side.
Jiang Shuyao walked to her side and sat down on a low stool.
Concubine Lin asked her some gossips indifferently, and Jiang Shuyao answered one by one, unable to figure out her purpose.
The two were not familiar with each other, so after a while, they quieted down.
"How is your mother doing?" Concubine Lin said after silent for a while.
This is a bit more relaxing than the chattering before. Jiang Shuyao said, "Mother no longer has morning sickness, and now she is healthy. Busy with business every day and full of energy. She doesn't look like a pregnant woman at all."
Concubine Lin chuckles, "She is really... as always."
Jiang Shuyao said nothing.
Concubine Lin was talking to herself and didn't want her to talk. She seemed to have thought of something and fell into memory.
Her long silence caused Jiang Shuyao to twist around uncomfortably, and the tiny movements made Concubine Lin regain consciousness.
"Speaking of business, you brought up the idea for Lin family's food business?"
Jiang Shuyao felt that she was finally brought up the topic and replied, "Yes."
Concubine Lin tapped on the table with her fingertips, "Why do you think of food business? It is enough for the Lin family to lead the shipping industry. It would be impossible to intervene in other businesses."
Jiang Shuyao heard her objection. Although she didn't understand, she explained, "We are not in the restaurant business, but selling some new food to ordinary people. If we really want to make a clear statement, it is not a fight with the restaurant business."
"You didn't interfere with Prince Kang's eyes?" Concubine Lin's voice was light and fluttering, and no one could hear her emotions.
Jiang Shuyao felt tight and said, "We are doing business on our part, so why are we obtrusive? It's just that the street food market has been booming recently and attracted attention. After a while, when Prince Kang calms down, he will find that Lin's business is not the same with his business at all."
Concubine Lin was noncommittal and knocked on the tabletop, "New food, I have heard of it. Eat some dirty ingredients, heart and lung, is this novelty?"
Jiang Shuyao was not convinced, "Niang-Niang, after cleaning, it is all the ingredients and should not be called dirty."
[T/N: Niang-Niang is one way to respectfully address the queen, imperial concubines, princesses, and other royal, aristocratic women.]
Concubine Lin did not answer, "Your mother is determined to continue this business?"
"Yes." Jiang Shuyao replied decisively, thinking that Concubine Lin and Lin-shi had always been so close as sisters, and she should understand Lin-shi's temperament very well. "Mum, she hasn't had a good time all these years. When she got pregnant a few months ago, she cannot eat or drink. Her body can't stand it. So I thought about finding something to distract my mother. The effect was unexpectedly good. My mother plunged into the business, and her spirits were completely restored. She was busy with business all day and have forgotten everything in my mind. Now that this matter has happened, Mother's temper will never give it up just because it hinders the eyes of others."
After hearing this, Concubine Lin looked down at her, "What else?"
Jiang Shuyao looked up, puzzled.
"How about you?"
Jiang Shuyao replied smoothly, "Naturally, I don't want my mother to give up."
Concubine Lin raised her arm and poked her forehead, "Ghost girl, I think you are the one who don't want to give up."
Jiang Shuyao was caught off guard by being poked on her forehead and was momentarily dumbfounded by this intimate act.
Concubine Lin retracted her hand, "I call you today, just to ask you about the plan of this matter."
Jiang Shuyao blinked, "Plan?"
Concubine Lin squinted at her, "tsk," and said in disgust, "If you just do things randomly, is it still called a business? What do you plan to do next, how to do it, and what to do if it's failed. You don't understand this?"
Jiang Shuyao was a little dazed, "This..."
Concubine Lin frowned. Her facial features were bright and magnificent, and she had lived in the deep palace for a long time.
Jiang Shuyao lowered her head subconsciously.
"You said you want to make new foods. Was it you alone who thinks about these ideas?"
"Yes."
Concubine Lin suddenly felt that this business plan is not achievable and shook her head.
Jiang Shuyao caught this with a glimpse and said hurriedly, "I am more than enough to think about the ideas. What I think of is really not something others can think of."
Concubine Lin Gui was amused by her tone, "Newborn calves are not afraid of tigers. I didn't have such a tone when I was sailing with your mother."
[T/N: "Newborn calves are not afraid of tigers" is an idiom. Meaning that the young calf who was just born is not afraid of tigers because they don't know how powerful tigers are. It is generally described for young people as a metaphor because young people have little ideological concerns and dare to act without restrain.]
Jiang Shuyao opened her mouth to argue but was interrupted by Concubine Lin, "The new food you are talking about, isn't it just the intestines and the internal organs?"
Jiang Shuyao nodded first and then shook her head, "Naturally not, novelty should not be limited to ingredients. Taking noodles as an example, I can also come up with countless tricks. It is just that now I am studying cheap ingredients."
Concubine Lin frowned and said nothing.
"And it's not just the intestines, heart, or liver. Besides these, as long as people can eat it, I can make it delicious."
Concubine Lin's brows suddenly stretched. She looked at her like she is a child playing around and sighed, "Your mother, too. She is such a big person, and she is still messing around with you. I heard that she is finally cheering up now, so I wanted to help... Forget it. I'm happy listening that she regained her energy for a while, as long as everything is without chaos."
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Jiang Shuyao said helplessly, "Niang-Niang, I'm telling the truth. If you don't believe me, just ask me to make something and test me."
Concubine Lin wanted Jiang Shuyao to leave the palace, but at this time, listening to her saying this, she felt that if she just let her go, Jiang Shuyao would still be fooling around with Lin-shi and taking it for granted. She had to suppress her heart and make her sober.
"Okay, then I will test you." Concubine Lin stood up and dragged her golden embroidered skirt on the ground. "You have done all sorts of innards of pigs, sheep, chickens, and ducks, so I won't ask you this."
She really couldn't think of anything for a while until she saw the fish raised in the palace. She suddenly remembered the days on the ship before entering the palace and said, "Before, your mother and I ran around to grab the business in rivers, often resting on the shore. Once we saw children fishing for fish and shrimps by the river, we went to watch the excitement. At that time, they picked up a bunch of black fresh-river creatures, and it was disgusting. I asked your mother and find out that it was called a river snail. You can eat fish, shrimps, and crabs, but not snails. Even people who haven't seen meat for many years will not fish for snails and stew it for soup because although the snails contain meat, they are full of mud and sand and smelly. Let alone putting it in the mouth, just smelling it makes me sick."
Concubine Lin's eyes were a little triumphant, and she expected that Jiang Shuyao would not be able to think about this after her boast, "Can you use snails as food?"
But Jiang Shuyao clapped her hands, "Snails? Of course! I love fried snails!"
Concubine Lin was taken aback, "Do you know what a snail is?"
"Of course." Jiang Shuyao replied smoothly, realizing the flaws, and quickly changed his words, "I once met an old woman when I was playing in Bezhuang in the suburbs of Beijing. Her grandson caught snails and went home. I was curious and took some. After trying it and studying it for a long time, I finally figured out a good way."
She stood up and said enthusiastically, "If Niang-Niang could let someone find some snails into the palace, I promise to make a delicious dish!"
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