Shocking! The entire court was drooling with envy because of me.

The Empress Dowager sat in meditation inside the Baoxiang Tower, praying peacefully.

Just then, that strange fragrance wafted in, rushing straight into the Empress Dowager's nostrils and then into her brain.

In an instant, my mind was in turmoil.

His brain was completely unable to think, and he even saliva was secreting from his mouth.

The Empress Dowager couldn't control herself at all and subconsciously stood up.

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, you..." The old nanny serving beside her wiped her drool and asked in confusion.

"Go out, go out and see."

The old nanny quickly helped the Empress Dowager walk out, but she couldn't help feeling worried.

It smells so good, it smells amazing!

Is the Empress Dowager going to drive away Madam Shen's stall?

Good heavens, if that's really the case, she won't even be able to smell it anymore.

With this in mind, the old woman greedily inhaled the scents in the air, just like a fairy who sucks up the essence of heaven and earth.

Since we'll soon be unable to smell it anymore, we should smell as much as we can.

When the Empress Dowager reached Shen Qing's stall, she couldn't help but widen her eyes.

Just then, Shen Qing finished making a plate of grilled cold noodles.

The grilled cold noodles were placed in a small bowl, each piece with a golden-brown tiger-skin pattern from being seared on the hot plate.

The color is darker and shinier after being brushed with two layers of sauce. The enoki mushrooms are welded to the surface of the dough with egg liquid, and the ham sausage is fried until it is crispy and shiny.

Chopped onions and cilantro are nestled between the sauce and the egg crepe, with white sesame seeds scattered around.

With its appealing appearance and enticing aroma, it's impossible for anyone to resist.

"Give me one too!" the Empress Dowager said hastily.

The old nanny sniffed: "??"

The Empress Dowager isn't here to rush things?

Emperor: "? Mother, didn't you say you weren't going to eat? And you told us to keep our voices down..."

"Just now was just now, now is now."

The Empress Dowager didn't see anything wrong with it at all. The aroma was so wonderful that she would regret it for the rest of her life if she didn't try it!

"My dear girl, quickly make one for me. Just name whatever reward you desire." The Empress Dowager looked at Shen Qing, her expression suddenly becoming kind and gentle.

Shen Qing smiled and replied, "No need for any reward, please wait a moment."

She couldn't wait for more people in the palace to enjoy her delicious food.

This way, the task can be completed more quickly.

Shen Qing worked quickly, and before long, a new plate of grilled cold noodles was delivered to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager, her eyes filled with curiosity, picked up a bamboo skewer, stuck a piece in it, and put it in her mouth.

The first thing you notice is the slightly crispy, charred edges of the pastry. With a gentle chew, the charred crust crumbles, revealing the soft, chewy, and springy pastry inside.

The next moment, the taste of enoki mushrooms came through. The mushroom caps were seared on the hot plate with a very thin layer of charred crust, while the insides retained the tenderness and chewiness of the mushrooms.

Especially the enoki mushroom roots embedded in the egg skin are more chewy and have a better texture.

The aroma of eggs, soy sauce, minced onions, and cilantro, along with the sweet and sour flavors of the sauce, create a complex taste experience in your mouth in an instant.

Swallowing it down in one gulp, there's no greasy feeling at all, but the lingering aroma of the soy sauce is long-lasting.

"This...this stuff is so delicious!"

The Empress Dowager's eyes widened in shock.

"I've lived most of my life and eaten countless delicacies, but this is truly the first time I've ever tasted food this delicious!!"

"Did the Empress poison such a delicious dish?" she couldn't help but ask, her tone filled with incomprehension.

How could the Empress possibly eat something so delicious?

I don't understand, I really don't understand.

It seems the Empress's death was truly not unjust.

"A wicked woman has no good fortune. If it weren't for Lady Shen's kind heart, she would never have been able to eat durian mille-feuille before she died," the emperor replied while eating.

His tone was full of admiration for Shen Qing.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's eyes lit up, and she said to Shen Qing, "Girl, what is durian mille-feuille? Could you make some for me to try?"

"And there's also rolled cold noodles, braised pork intestine noodles, and fried rice with eggs," the emperor added, sticking his head out from the side.

There's nothing else to it, mainly because he wanted to eat it too.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, each delicacy has a limited sales period, so we can't make the durian mille-feuille," Shen Qing replied calmly.

The Empress Dowager was taken aback; she had actually been rejected?

How could it not be possible?

The emperor sighed.

As expected of Madam Shen.

"Mother, please don't make things difficult for Lady Shen. Lady Shen's food is quite unique, and she can only make it depending on her mood," the Emperor explained on Shen Qing's behalf.

Upon closer examination, it's clear that Madam Shen's actions were aimed at perfectly replicating the rules for setting up stalls outside the palace.

It has to be said that Madam Shen is really too kind. She went to such lengths to let him fully experience the feeling of the first generation of diners.

Later, I'll have Zhao Gou give Lady Shen some rewards.

A hint of regret flickered in the Empress Dowager's eyes.

Good heavens, why didn't she notice this girl sooner?

After eating such delicious food, she felt hopeful for the future.

"Girl, I'm thinking of hosting a palace banquet. Would you be willing to take charge of the food and drinks at the banquet?" The Empress Dowager instantly had an idea.

One serving of grilled cold noodles is never enough! But if you have a table full of delicious food, you can definitely eat your fill.

Maybe this girl can bring up that durian mille-feuille again.

In this way, she can enjoy a delicious meal.

A palace banquet?

Shen Qing was somewhat tempted.

If one can host the palace banquet, it will be much easier to win over the royal family.

But this system...

[Ding—Keyword 'Palace Banquet' detected. Congratulations, host! You can accelerate the progress of royal missions by hosting a palace banquet.]

[Ding—The system will randomly select ten dishes for the host to successfully host the palace banquet]

Shen Qing's eyes lit up.

Great, great! Mission completion seems likely!

If she were to make another request at this point...

"Your Majesty, I am willing to take charge of the palace banquet, hoping that all the noble ladies in the palace will enjoy their meal."

"But Shen Qing has a request that I cannot make."

"Speak," the Empress Dowager hurriedly said, as if afraid that Shen Qing would change his mind.

"If the noble ladies of the palace enjoy their meal, could you please bestow upon my Zhiwei Restaurant the title of 'Most Famous Restaurant Under Heaven'?"

Once the palace banquet is held, even more people in the palace will be able to enjoy her cuisine.

Now would be a suitable time to ask for the title of "Famous Tower Under Heaven".

"Zhiwei Restaurant?" The Empress Dowager didn't quite understand.

The emperor laughed heartily: "Zhiwei Restaurant is a restaurant opened by Lady Shen outside the palace. It's very popular; I've even queued up there before."

"Madam Shen, it's easy for you to want the title of 'Famous Tower Under Heaven'. I'll just send someone to deliver a plaque to you."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager quickly added, "Yes, yes, the Emperor is right. Your Majesty, you should personally write one for the girl, a calligraphy by Your Majesty!"

"Hahaha, great!!"

The emperor readily agreed, then, as if remembering something, excitedly added, "I will personally write 'Shen Qing is the most beautiful woman in the world' for you, and replace that old plaque."

Shen Qing: "..."

Is that correct?

Also, the emperor doesn't look like someone who writes beautifully at all.

If it's weirdly ugly...