Chapter 1328: Qingdi Making Things Difficult

Editor: Henyee Translations

Auntie Fu exclaimed, “The first dish is a concoction of both chicken and fish, each prepared in a unique way. The second dish offers a delightful contrast of flavors, both cold and hot. Now, the third dish… is a live braised carp.”

Qiao Xuan, who had been quietly shocked all along, couldn’t hide her surprise when she heard about the live braised carp, turning to Auntie Fu instinctively.

Auntie Fu sighed and explained, “It’s not your typical braised carp. It’s a carp that remains alive even after the braising process.”

Qiao Xuan was left speechless.

Who would have thought that Qingdi, often criticized for their perceived lack of manners, could also display such culinary sophistication? It was clear that if they didn’t know what they were doing, they wouldn’t have attempted something so extraordinary.

Princess Consort couldn’t contain her frustration, even though she was already aware of the situation. “Qingdi has gone too far! Their behavior is utterly unreasonable and absurd!”

“I observed that the Crown Prince acted with kindness and patience, deliberately avoiding any conflict,” Auntie Fu added.

Qiao Xuan nodded in agreement. “Exactly. As the Crown Prince, he must exhibit benevolence and tolerance, even in the face of deliberate provocation. He has no choice but to accept it, no matter how challenging it may be. Failure to do so would diminish his stature as the Crown Prince.”

Auntie Fu agreed, “Indeed, it is the Crown Prince’s responsibility to maintain his composure in such situations. The fault lies not with him but with those who seek to test his mettle.”

Princess Consort remained silent, her anger still simmering beneath the surface. Auntie Fu, sensing Qiao Xuan might feel neglected, tried to divert the conversation. “Madame Shao, those Qingdi individuals can be quite troublesome. Do you have any suggestions on how to handle this situation?”

Qiao Xuan pondered for a moment before responding, “Considering that Qingdi’s intention seems to be to find fault rather than truly appreciate our cuisine, our goal should be to present them with dishes they cannot fault. If we succeed in this, the matter should resolve itself.”

Princess Consort sneered, wearing a displeased expression. “Everyone is well aware of that!”

His implication was clear; there was no need for him to state the obvious.

Qiao Xuan’s smile returned as she continued, “I have a plan regarding the ‘thousand chickens and thousand fish’ dishes.”

Auntie Fu was delighted, but Princess Consort’s frown deepened, cautioning, “This is a matter of great diplomatic importance between our two nations. Let us not act impulsively, for we risk becoming a subject of ridicule and diminishing the Crown Prince’s standing.”

“We should not attempt to create a dish with exactly a thousand chickens and fish. Such an endeavor might lead to accusations of deceit, tarnishing Great Qin’s reputation,” Princess Consort added, her words halting before she could fully express herself.

Perhaps she had not intended for Qiao Xuan to provide her insights in the first place. Without the Crown Prince’s involvement, Qiao Xuan might have refrained from speaking further.

“Princess Consort, rest assured, I won’t be careless. For the ‘thousand chickens,’ we will take a single chicken claw from each of the thousand chickens, and for the ‘thousand fish,’ we will use one whisker from each fish. This way, we can create the dish while ensuring transparency. I’ll instruct the chefs to handle the ingredients meticulously, and we will maintain a record of every raw material used. If Prince of Qingdi and his delegation harbor any doubts, they can inspect the ingredients individually to verify our honesty. I guarantee that we won’t cut corners,” Qiao Xuan reassured with confidence.

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