The stick of sandalwood in the incense burner was gradually shortening, and the green smoke curled up, overflowing and dissipating above the hall.
A leisurely and tranquil atmosphere filled the entire hall silently.
Although this is the elite of the culinary world accepting the test of the emperor, but at this time, there is no nervousness, no fighting and cheating, only contentment, only smoothness and nature.
Cooking skills, after everyone has experienced a long period of training, can go to the palace hall and accept the emperor's selection, no matter from any angle, it is a kind of success in life, no matter what the final result is!
So, at this moment, even though there were worries and hesitation before, now, there is only a calm and natural expression.
Every chef is focusing on the "truth" in his hands.
What Wen Shouzheng cooks today is not complicated and colorful dishes, but a plate of braised pork that can make everyone in the family happy, and can eat three big bowls of rice.
The simplest and simplest happiness that comes from family relationship is what Wen Shouzheng understands as "true love".
Moreover, this dish was also the first dish that Wen Shouzheng's master taught him to cook!
Today, the master is long gone, but this warm touch is still in every mouthful of braised pork, neutralized by the rice that is as ordinary as life, and is slowly passing on.
When the sandalwood burns out, the game is over.
The five chefs in the hall slowly put down the dishes in their hands and stood quietly aside.
The servant girl in the palace bowed her head and silently shuffled the order of the five dishes and put them on another long table, ready to accept the emperor's personal judgment.
The curtain was gently opened, and an imposing middle-aged man stepped down from the high platform with steady steps.
The expression is calm, not angry and majestic. Neat hair, a crown made of gold tied high, and an exquisite and atmospheric dragon embroidery. Simple and expensive jade pendant, no matter from which angle. People can recognize him at a glance, he is the famous and legendary emperor of the Great Zhou—Liu Heng!
Liu Heng strolled down, at first his eyes glanced at the row of dishes full of "true feelings"; then he raised his eyes and looked carefully at the five chefs standing aside.
Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared in Liu Heng's sight.
Thin, soft, gentle, quiet, firm and beautiful.
Miss Wen!
Liu Heng was taken aback!
He was about to walk quickly to meet him, but stopped again.
Because, this is a game.
The result of the game has not yet been announced, and any pleasantries in the past are welcome at this moment. For this stubborn and assertive girl, it is a kind of blasphemy to her culinary skills!
She has this strength!
Although at the moment, Liu Heng doesn't know which one is from Gentle's hand, but he firmly believes that the dish he chose must be from Miss Wen's hand!
But!
In Liu Heng's eyes full of joy, he was deeply shocked again!
Because, as far as the eye can see, the five chefs lined up in a row have only gentle and thin faces. Full of tears, clear and silent, from those clean and clear eyes. Flowing over the fair skin of Ningxue.
This girl, why is she crying? !
Xingchu can still make himself cry!
Liu Heng was puzzled.
Although he doesn't have much contact with Wenrou, in Liu Heng's impression, whenever he sees Wenrou, he always looks cheerful, optimistic, strong and decisive.
This is the first time Liu Heng has seen such a gaffe as today.
This girl, what happened to her? Alas... really still a child! Crying for no reason, still like a little girl...
Liu Heng shook his head lightly.
Stroll to the five meals.
Taste them one by one.
Wen Shouzheng's share of braised pork, if it wasn't for Eunuch Fu stopping him. If it weren't for the regulations of the ancestors of the royal family, "eat three mouthfuls" of each dish. Liu Heng would eat a bowl full of rice.
A hard-working person who returns home after a day of exhaustion. The happiness of being able to eat a full meal arises spontaneously.
Simple happiness is true love!
Liu Heng felt a burst of praise in his heart.
The "true feelings" made by the other three chefs, whether it is "truthful soup", "truthful fish", or "truthful dim sum", are all cooked with heart, although they are not as simple as Wen Shouzheng's Unpretentious, back to basics, but you can also see the extraordinary craftsmanship.
After tasting the four meals, Liu Heng stopped beside a clean white porcelain bowl.
It was a simple bowl of soup without any gimmicks.
There is no gorgeous decoration, no exquisite knife work.
No matter looking at it from any angle, it is just an ordinary bowl of soup.
Who did this? It's too much fun!
Liu Heng was puzzled.
I wanted to give it up, but I thought that this is the final competition, no matter what, it is the selection of elites, and we can't favor one person over another, and judge people by appearance.
So, Liu Heng took a deep breath, picked up the bowl casually, and gently stirred the soup in the bowl.
Red beans and lotus seeds are simple and clearly visible.
It turned out that this was just a bowl of red bean and lotus seed soup!
Liu Heng breathed a sigh of relief again, it's too simple!
This kind of soup, not to mention a chef, even an ordinary maid in the palace would cook it in a big pot!
However, although this red bean and lotus seed soup is simple, it is not hard to swallow, so let's take a bite!
Liu Heng took a deep breath for the third time, gently turned the porcelain spoon, and slowly put it into his mouth.
A mouthful of red bean and lotus seed soup just entered the mouth...
Liu Heng immediately let out a low cry, a soft sweetness, in the soup that melted in the mouth, after the sweetness passed, the bitterness slowly soaked out, making people suddenly feel a little sad, but amidst the hard work, there was another There was a sudden change, and the faint sweetness revealed, so refreshing, went straight to the heart, and made people feel the plain reluctance and concern.
Although it is a simple bowl of soup, it can make such a difficult emotion...
Liu Heng tasted the bowl of red bean and lotus seed soup slowly, and his eye sockets became moist.
After finishing the last sip and putting down the white porcelain bowl, Liu Heng turned around slowly, and slowly raised his arms, as if he was wiping something.
Everything went on without a sound, until Liu Heng turned around again, his eyes, which were originally bright and piercing, were already full of red.
"Your Majesty, what's the matter with you?" Eunuch Fu asked in a low voice with concern.
Liu Heng raised his arm, indicating that there is no need to ask why.
"Your Majesty, the result of this selection..." Eunuch Fu continued to ask in a low voice.
"This bowl of red bean and lotus seed soup and that braised pork." Liu Heng waved his finger.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Eunuch Fu responded, and immediately opened his mouth to announce loudly: "The Emperor has a decree, this year's imperial chef selection winner in the palace is the chef who cooked this bowl of soup and this braised pork!"
As soon as the words fell, Wen Shouzheng was already beaming with joy.
Unexpectedly, Liu Heng continued with a straight face: "Who made this bowl of red bean and lotus seed soup?"
A vigorous and powerful voice echoed over the hall.