Delicacies Destiny Episode 5 Recap
> Delicacies Destiny Recap
Ling Xiaoxiao was diligently leading others in digging lotus roots by the river, meticulously reminding them to be careful, a gesture of consideration that caught the eye of the Crown Prince. He approached her with a subtle smile, a sign that others around them immediately recognized as affection. Ling Xiaoxiao, however, focused on her ambition to become the top imperial chef, simply asked if he needed anything, assuming his presence was for food.
She then enthusiastically suggested various lotus root dishes, from lotus root powder to stir-fried, cold-mixed, or steamed options, and diced lotus for old duck soup. The Crown Prince, feeling awkward about her constant talk of food, playfully teased her. Ling Xiaoxiao defended herself, stating that as his imperial chef, her primary concern must be ensuring he eats well. He then posed a question: was he or food more important to her?
After a moment of bewilderment, Ling Xiaoxiao cleverly replied that the Crown Prince was, of course, the most important. This answer delighted him; calling her a sycophant, he happily ordered roasted duck lotus root soup and steamed lotus root for dinner. Zheng Li, observing the interaction, gave Ling Xiaoxiao a subtle approving nod for not angering the Crown Prince, which only left her more confused. Meanwhile, the Imperial Concubine, Li Gui Fei, was suffering from immense boredom in the palace.
She attempted to amuse herself by playing dice with a palace maid, who, fearing repercussions, intentionally changed her correct guess. Li Gui Fei was also frustrated by Prince Jin's repeated absence; a eunuch informed her that Prince Jin had been drinking excessively and required several days to recover before he could visit her. Unable to find the Emperor, who was with the Empress, Li Gui Fei decided to go to sleep.
However, the eunuch intervened, advising her to go to the Imperial Garden for exercise. He claimed Prince Jin had specifically ordered servants to encourage her outings due to her recent poor appetite, suggesting that a walk among the flowers might improve her mood, make her more beautiful, and potentially attract the Emperor's attention. Pleased by this prospect, Li Gui Fei headed to the garden. While chasing butterflies, she accidentally plucked a rose that the Empress had personally planted.
The Empress and Emperor discovered her in the act. Believing Li Gui Fei deliberately provoked her, the Empress began to scold her and sarcastically offered her the phoenix hairpin, a symbol of her status. Li Gui Fei, recalling past admonitions about not defying imperial will or the Empress, surprisingly removed the phoenix hairpin, stunning everyone present. Enraged by this blatant defiance, the Empress, convinced of Li Gui Fei's intentional insult, punished her with a month of confinement.
The Emperor, who had been trying to mediate and subtly hint for Li Gui Fei to apologize, collapsed and fainted after seeing Li Gui Fei confidently walk away despite his pleas. Upon seeing the Emperor faint, Li Gui Fei rushed to his side anxiously. The Imperial Physician diagnosed the Emperor's fainting as a result of overwork, an unregulated and overly greasy diet, and excessive drinking.
He prescribed body-strengthening remedies and mandated a light diet for three months, strictly prohibiting meat and oily foods for a full recovery. The Empress decided to join the Emperor in this three-month vegetarian fast and decreed that everyone in the palace must accompany the Emperor in his abstinence. Li Gui Fei, who adored meat, was greatly distressed by the prospect of a three-month vegetarian diet and wailed to the Emperor.
He initially thought she pitied him but became deeply depressed upon realizing her sorrow was for the lack of meat, not his well-being. The Emperor struggled with the bland vegetarian meals, eventually ordering the imperial chefs to eat their own dishes. The Crown Prince, hearing of the Emperor's lack of appetite, instructed Ling Xiaoxiao to prepare a special meal. Ling Xiaoxiao presented her dishes, including spring rolls, which significantly boosted the Emperor's appetite.
Delighted, the Emperor praised the food and immediately assigned Ling Xiaoxiao to work in the Imperial Kitchen. The Crown Prince, though initially reluctant to let her go, could not defy the Emperor. Knowing Ling Xiaoxiao's impulsive nature, he specifically asked the Emperor to be lenient with her should she ever offend.
In the Imperial Kitchen, the Crown Prince further tasked Ling Xiaoxiao with creating unique and delicious vegetarian dishes that were completely free of meat and grease, as the Emperor was tired of the current options. Ling Xiaoxiao expressed concern, as she usually cooked to the Crown Prince's palate and feared the Emperor might not like her food, but he assured her to simply cook, and he would handle the rest.
Meanwhile, Prince Jin visited his mother, Li Gui Fei, who was still longing for meat and futilely trying to satisfy her cravings. He warned her to be cautious with her words and actions, specifically to avoid secretly eating forbidden foods, to prevent others from gaining leverage against her. Despite Prince Jin's warning, Li Gui Fei's craving for meat became unbearable. She secretly arranged for Gui Qi to obtain a pork hock from outside the palace.
She then hid in the back garden to secretly devour it, unable to stop eating despite Gui Qi's attempts to persuade her to stop. Ling Xiaoxiao happened to pass by the back garden. Fearing she had been seen and concerned about exposure, Li Gui Fei hastily threw the pork hock away and returned to the palace with Gui Qi.
Although the Emperor's health had greatly improved from the vegetarian diet and Ling Xiaoxiao's dishes were delicious, he still felt something was missing. Passing through the back garden, the Emperor smelled the discarded pork hock, succumbed to temptation, and ate it. He quickly fell ill again. The Crown Prince, upon learning of the Emperor's relapse due to forbidden food, vowed to uncover the person who secretly ate the pork hock in the garden.
Li Gui Fei, suspecting that Ling Xiaoxiao had seen her in the garden, feared exposure and became determined to get rid of her. She attempted to frame Ling Xiaoxiao by complaining to the Emperor that a soup Ling Xiaoxiao served was too hot, playfully asking the Emperor to banish her. The Crown Prince intervened, emphasizing that Ling Xiaoxiao's cooking was currently the only food the Emperor could eat, and his health was paramount.
When this attempt failed, Li Gui Fei enlisted Gui Qi to devise another plan. Gui Qi then secretly replaced the soybean oil in the Imperial Kitchen with specially processed fish oil, intending to use it against Ling Xiaoxiao when she cooked for the Emperor and Crown Prince the next day, thus obtaining undeniable evidence to frame her.
