The chrysanthemum banquet held this time was set up as a family banquet by the order of the Queen Mother. Emperor Kangxi attached great importance to it, and ordered the palace supervisor to undertake the operation, and the Guanglu Temple selected and supervised. The recipes for the banquet and the list of people attending the banquet have been carefully approved by the emperor.

According to the usual practice, the dishes of the family banquet include two dishes of rice and noodles, one dish of soup, five dishes of high heads, twelve dishes of meals, and four dishes of glutinous bait.

After the great eunuch convened the imperial dining room to negotiate with the second affairs of the Shang Food Bureau, the dishes made by the Shang Food Bureau were: one rice and noodles, one soup, six dishes, and one wine and food.

The six dishes undertaken by the Shangshi Bureau are three hot dishes and three cold dishes.

This time, Han Shanggong invited the two adults of Guanglu Temple to come to the Catering Division to taste the dishes, that is, to ask Guanglu Temple to exercise the selection authority, and among the selections in the Catering Division, from the same tasting dishes made by the candidates of the Catering Division, the one with the best fragrance was selected.

In fact, in these six dishes, because the preparation of cold dishes has always been based on the ancient method, the top priority that really needs to be selected finally falls on the three hot dishes.

Today's three dishes, Min Sishan received the recipes distributed by the palace supervisor, and after a few days of careful consideration, he had secretly assigned them to Xia Qing, Chunhua and Mu Lan in advance. However, in order to fully mobilize the morale of the entire catering department, he did not make a public announcement, and only the day before did he tell the palace maids the truth.

The palace ladies of the catering department asked themselves, and the three candidates for the catering proposed by Min Sishan really convinced everyone.

In the harem, there is no one who does not understand the truth of both prosperity and loss. Therefore, except for a few people who have prejudices about Xia Qing, and a few people who dislike Mu Lan's lack of qualifications, I have not heard any other objections.

Everyone also knows that Min Sishan has never been a person who speaks easily, but as long as she speaks, it is basically like a final word, and no one dares to disobey.

Therefore, instead of being jealous of the wind and jealousy, if you follow the meaning of Min Sishan, each of them will do their own for this election, and one day in the future, it will be a talking point in front of the future successor of the catering department.

In less than an hour of incense, the first dish was divided into two plates, which were held by the palace maid on the tray and placed in front of the table in turn.

Han Shanggong glanced at the list in his hand, and introduced to the two adults beside him with a smile: "Two adults, this first-class dish is stewed with 10,000 characters in chrysanthemum wine, which is one of the dishes of the Queen Mother. This is made by the two palace maids who are the best at making this dish, please taste the two adults to see which one can win. ”

The discipline secretary led by the order bowed slightly, first carefully looked at the color of the two dishes in front of him, and then held his breath slightly and smelled the aroma, and finally picked up the chopsticks in front of him, and in turn from the two plates, each sandwiched a piece of fragrant stew, chewed and tasted it in his mouth, and waited to swallow the meat in his mouth, and couldn't help but praise Han Shanggong again and again: "Not bad!" Not bad! ”

Seeing that the young agent on the side had not yet moved his chopsticks, he hurriedly greeted: "Lord Bai, please learn from it." ”

Bai Cheng nodded slightly, and also took a piece of stew from each of the two plates, and after tasting it carefully in his mouth, he put down his chopsticks, and Lord Chaoji smiled slightly.

Han Shanggong's plump round face always had a smile like a spring breeze, and at this time, he looked at the two adults beside him: "Lord Ji, Lord Bai, do you two think that this chrysanthemum wine stewed 10,000-character meat, which plate can win?" ”

I saw that the discipline department ordered a deep groan, and said slowly: "I thought that this dish on the left hand is bright in color and rich in taste, and the 10,000-character carving on the meat side is delicate and delicate, and the whole is good." The plate on the right hand is bright in color, mellow in taste, and the knife skills are also excellent. Compared with the two, I think that the meat on the right hand is softer and rotten, and the entrance is more sweet, refreshing and non-sticky. In this round, I thought the right hand was the winner. ”

After that, he conceded to Bai Cheng Qian on the side: "That's the opinion at the foot, I don't know what Lord Bai has to say." ”

After hearing this, I don't know if it was because of his youth and humility, or because he was not good at talking, but Sven smiled, and said with the order of the Discipline Bureau: "My subordinates also made such a visualization, thinking that this game of the right hand should be won." ”

Han Shanggong smiled when he heard this, stretched out his hand to take the square inch note pressed at the bottom of the food plate in his right hand, and read aloud: "Chrysanthemum wine stewed 10,000-character meat, the winner, Chunhua." ”

Min Sishan heard Han Shanggong read Chunhua's name, and he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart for the smooth start.

As a pair of plain hands removed the first dish in front of him, the second dish was already hot in front of the adults.

As soon as the dish was put on the table, the head of the discipline office made his eyes light up, and he was slightly surprised and said to Han Shanggong: "Lord Han, is this dish the taro roast duck that is unique to your catering department in the rumor?" ”

Han Shanggong lightly concealed a slightly smug look, and said with a smile like spring breeze and rain: "Exactly, exactly." Two adults, please taste. ”

Discipline has always been fond of duck, in addition to today's good saints, only this dish, presumably eaten all over the capital invincible, at this time it is difficult to hide the greed in the eyes, reached out from the two plates of duck respectively a chopstick, in the mouth carefully smacked and tasted, and obviously did not eat enough, and respectively sandwiched six or seven mouthfuls, only to put down the chopsticks, a long hair hearty said: "It's really delicious!" The whole capital is delicious! It's a pity, it's a pity. ”

Han Shanggong laughed when he heard this, and said empathetically: "Master Ji, this is not difficult. Please Lord Ji choose the winning plate first, and wait a minute, I will ask the palace maid in charge of the meal to make two more immediately, and bring them back to the two adults later, and eat them slowly. ”

The Discipline Inspector smiled when he heard this: "Thank you, thank you." I've always been a good eater of duck, and I deserve to evaluate this kind of food. ”

After a pause, he continued: "According to the following, the plate of duck meat on the left is more delicately cooked, and the taro is fried at a proper temperature, and the taste is more intense than the plate on the right." I thought that the left hand should be able to win, I don't know how the two adults feel? Hahaha....."

Han Shanggong nodded with a smile, and then asked Bai Zhicheng next to him, "Lord Bai, what do you think?" ”

Bai Zhicheng still smiled and said modestly: "The views of the subordinates coincide with the Lord of the Agency. ”

Han Shanggong smiled heavily, stretched out his hand to take the famous paper handed by Min Sishan, and said with a smile: "Taro roast duck, the winner, Xia Qing." ”

This result also coincides with the secret speculation of Min Sishan behind her, she has never looked at the wrong person.

The second dish was slowly withdrawn, and the third dish was calmly served to the adults.

The two well-informed adults of Guanglu Temple were both stunned in the face of this delicious dish Nana rising and bursting with chrysanthemum incense.