tallest building

Chapter 327 Show off your skills

After Yu Lu left, Zhang Ma rolled up her sleeves and put on an apron.

Two clever girls came over wanting to help in the kitchen, but Zhang Ma said, "Don't rush, let someone who can write listen to me."

Immediately, someone brought over paper and pen.

Aunt Zhang then read out to him what ingredients and seasonings he needed to prepare, and how much of each.

The cooking utensils he brought down from the mountain were also placed separately in the small kitchen. Everyone looked at those strange cooking utensils, and they were all a little puzzled.

"Look at this huge commotion! If you didn't know better, you'd think they were preparing to attack a city." Someone whispered in the distance.

"She's making quite a show of it, I wonder how much real skill she has." These people, not knowing Zhang Ma, couldn't help but be skeptical. "I really don't believe she's more capable than those who usually do it."

"Who knows? We'll see at dinner tonight! I heard that Consort Hui strongly recommended him, so he must have some real skills."

After Zhang Ma finished listing what she wanted, she asked, "I wonder which of you will be my assistants?"

"I wonder how many people you need, Mother?" Of course, someone from the Imperial Kitchen was there to answer Zhang Ma's questions.

"We're a bit short on time today, so we'll need more people. We need six to prepare vegetables, four to cook, three to prepare dry food, and three to prepare hot food." Zhang Ma had already made the arrangements in her mind.

Shortly after he finished speaking, all the people were in place.

"This is the first time we've worked together. I'm a rough person, so please forgive me if I say anything that's not to your liking," Zhang Ma said to the group. "You're all familiar with this place, so you all know what the final dish will look like. It's not just my job. There are specific techniques for picking and washing the vegetables. I'll naturally do the important work, but if I need any help from you, I need to explain the rules first."

If things don't go well, I certainly won't be able to stay in the palace, but that's alright. If the master is pleased with the food, the rewards won't be all for me alone.

Hearing his words that he would share the reward with everyone, the crowd's goodwill towards Zhang Ma increased.

The menus for the palace's evening meals have been drawn up and pinned to the wall for everyone's convenience.

Zhang Ma assigned everyone their duties, ensuring that things didn't get chaotic.

He gave detailed instructions on what to do and how to do it, while also keeping himself busy.

The oven he brought was always burning, used to stew medicinal dishes, and the flavor was truly exquisite.

This is something he can only do himself; he absolutely cannot delegate it to anyone else.

The kitchen was bustling with activity as people fried, stir-fried, and cooked.

Once the dishes were prepared in the palace, the imperial physicians would examine them, and then a special person would deliver them to the palace.

They were busy until dark before they finally finished.

Everyone was covered in sweat, so they all went outside to sit in the shade of the trees to cool off.

They have no shortage of food and drink here. There is a large vat filled with many fruits, all of which are selected for the emperor.

Since the hand is at the top of the arm, naturally they got it first.

"Mama Zhang, have a slice of watermelon." A clever little eunuch brought Mama Zhang a freshly cut slice of watermelon.

"Thank you so much, young man, but I'm too old to eat cold fruits and vegetables." Aunt Zhang waved her hand. "You go ahead and eat."

"Aunt Zhang, those dishes you just made were truly delicious! I've been in the imperial kitchen for years, and I've never seen anything like it," another person chimed in, joining in the conversation. Although they hadn't tasted them themselves, each dish was exquisitely prepared, and the aroma alone was enough to make their mouths water. Coupled with Aunt Zhang's skillful cooking and meticulous use of ingredients, this was something no ordinary old woman could achieve. Therefore, after the meal, these people couldn't help but look at Aunt Zhang with newfound respect.

"Oh, all I know is how to make a living, dealing with pots and pans every day," Zhang Ma said modestly. "I'm really relying on everyone's help."

In the Empress's palace, Yu Lu personally served dinner.

"Your Majesty, it's time for dinner. The Emperor has sent word that he won't be coming over until he finishes reviewing the memorials in the Imperial Study." He carefully reported to the Empress as he walked into the inner room.

"I don't have much of an appetite either." The Empress's mood worsened upon hearing that the Emperor wasn't coming.

"No, Your Majesty, tonight's dinner was prepared by Zhang Ma, who was recommended by Consort Hui. You should at least try some." Yu Lu said, helping the Empress up. "You should at least have a little, otherwise we servants won't be at ease."

"All you do every day is nag me to eat, eat, eat," the Empress said helplessly. "You're even more nagging than an old maid."

“Oh, my Empress. You are the mother of all people. If I, your servant, were to serve you with the utmost care, I would be letting down the people of the world.” Yu Lu said with a smile, “Please do me the honor of having a small taste.”

Dinner was already laid out on the ebony wooden table in the outer room. There weren't many dishes, but they were all small and exquisite.

"It looks quite nice," the Queen said with a smile as she sat down. "I just wonder how it tastes."

"Your Majesty, why don't you try it and see how it tastes?" Yu Lu personally served the Empress the dishes.

"Your Majesty, please have a sip of soup first. It contains fresh dried bamboo shoots and morel mushrooms, and it's a medicinal dish." Yu Lu served the Empress a small bowl of soup.

The soup is milky white with specks of fresh green floating on top.

The Empress took a sip, savored it, and said, "This soup is indeed delicious, refreshing, and not greasy."

"Your Majesty, please try this. This is honey-glazed ricebird, and it takes seven or eight steps to make." Yu Lu was pleased to see that the Empress had a slight appetite and continued to serve the dishes.

Zhang Ma prepared a medicinal soup for the Empress, along with four main dishes and four side dishes.

The side dishes were served in very delicate little dishes, and could be finished in just two or three bites.

There weren't many main dishes either, because the masters in the palace always valued quality over quantity when it came to food.

"How did I end up eating so much without realizing it?" When the Empress felt full, she realized that she had eaten more than half of the food, which was something she would never normally do.

"Oh my, thank goodness, Zhang Mama is truly a goddess sent down from heaven. Your Majesty, if you could eat this much at every meal, it would be a blessing for all the people." Yu Lu was overjoyed.

"Help me go for a walk. Eating so much at once isn't a good thing," the Empress said, worried that she might overeat.

Consort Hui and the eldest princess's dinner was also served. The eldest princess, unaware of the situation, naturally ate with great relish.

But Consort Hui tasted it and felt that Zhang Ma had deliberately changed the flavor, and it didn't taste like the one she had eaten on the mountain before.

Princess Duanmin looked at the food on the table and couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

Zhang Ma still remembered her own tastes. Back when she was still in the palace, she often went to Consort Shen's palace to eat for free. There were a few dishes she liked, and Zhang Ma made them all today.

"Your Highness, please eat quickly, or it will get cold. Although the weather is hot now, it's best to eat the food while it's hot," a maidservant advised.

Princess Duanmin tasted it, and it tasted just like it did back then.

She hadn't eaten this in years, and it felt like a dream.