Delicacies Destiny Episode 6 Recap
> Delicacies Destiny Recap
Ling Xiaoxiao, a skilled cook, was preparing dishes with effortless grace and fragrant aromas. A palace maid, secretly placed in the Imperial Kitchen by Consort Li, reported to an eunuch near Consort Li that Ling Xiaoxiao had used a specific bowl of fish oil to cook for the Crown Prince. Consort Li, previously asleep, was awakened by an eunuch and, excited by the belief that Ling Xiaoxiao had fallen into her trap, immediately went to find the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince was happily eating Ling Xiaoxiao's food when Consort Li accused him of violating prohibitions by secretly eating meat and fish. Unaware, the Crown Prince insisted his food was vegetarian. Consort Li adamantly claimed his dishes contained fish oil and demanded that an imperial chef from the Imperial Kitchen identify it. The Emperor, seeing his own table set with empty dishes and the Crown Prince deeply engrossed in his meal, was summoned to arbitrate.
Ling Xiaoxiao also arrived, smiling meaningfully as Consort Li accused the Crown Prince to the Emperor, claiming to have "unintentionally learned" about the fish oil. When questioned by the Emperor, Consort Li stated a palace maid had informed her, but she didn't bring the maid for fear of retaliation. The imperial chef from the Imperial Kitchen confirmed the oil was tea oil, not fish oil, stating he could not be mistaken after years of cooking.
Ling Xiaoxiao further explained that the Crown Prince had not eaten any forbidden foods, and the oil used was indeed tea oil. She revealed that the fish oil Consort Li mentioned had been swapped out by her, as she could discern the subtle differences in smell and viscosity after cooking for a long time. The Emperor pressed Consort Li to explain the fish oil.
Consort Li, realizing Ling Xiaoxiao had seen through her plot, confessed that she had secretly eaten a pork hock and feared Ling Xiaoxiao would report her, prompting her desire to get rid of Ling Xiaoxiao. Ling Xiaoxiao, however, was puzzled, stating she had not seen Consort Li eat the pork hock, realizing it was a misunderstanding. Consort Li further admitted she had targeted the Crown Prince because he consistently protected Ling Xiaoxiao. The Emperor was speechless at Consort Li's unreasonableness.
He also pointed out that if Ling Xiaoxiao had genuinely cooked with fish oil for him, it could have been life-threatening, which terrified Consort Li into pleading for mercy. The Emperor initially intended a lighter punishment, confining Consort Li for one month, also considering she was Jin Wang's mother and Jin Wang had rendered service in pacifying Hexi. However, the Empress arrived at this critical moment. Knowing Consort Li's actions, the Empress strongly disagreed with such a lenient sentence.
The Emperor's proposed confinement escalated from one month to three, then six months, but the Empress remained unsatisfied. Finally, the Emperor settled on one year of confinement, making the decision final before the Empress could object further. Consort Li, not understanding this was already a lenient outcome, clung to the Emperor's leg, pleading that a year was too long. The Emperor, concerned that her continued pleas would worsen her situation, had her taken away.
The Emperor praised Ling Xiaoxiao for her timely detection of Consort Li's scheme and for protecting him, rewarding her with one hundred taels of gold. However, the Crown Prince was unhappy, believing Ling Xiaoxiao had cooked for him specifically to lure Consort Li into a trap. Ling Xiaoxiao quickly praised his insight, admitting his guess was accurate, which made the Crown Prince even angrier that she hadn't told him.
He expressed worry that Consort Li, as the Emperor's most favored consort, might not have been believed. Ling Xiaoxiao clarified that she hadn't cooked for the Emperor at all that day, which was why the Emperor's plates were empty; she only cooked for the Crown Prince as part of the setup. While the Crown Prince accused her of only remembering him when she needed him, Ling Xiaoxiao denied any intention to use him.
She explained that she initially prepared food for him because she heard his appetite was poor, and only when she discovered the plot did she decide not to expose it immediately but to swap the food and use the situation to expose Consort Li. The Crown Prince also showed jealousy about Ling Xiaoxiao agreeing to join the Imperial Kitchen.
Ling Xiaoxiao reassured him that her agreement to enter the Imperial Kitchen was to prevent him from arguing with the Emperor and damaging their relationship, as her entry had already been decided. Seeing her concern for him, and understanding she would only be temporarily in the Imperial Kitchen before returning to the Exquisite Delicacy Room, the Crown Prince became happy. After many days of confinement, Consort Li found life boring and regretted her earlier foolish desire to enter the palace.
The Emperor sent her dishes, making her delighted and eager to eat. The Emperor, who appreciated Consort Li's simple-minded nature and believed she hadn't intentionally tried to harm him, was happy to see her enjoy the food. Meanwhile, the Grand Secretariat recommended Chef Lu to work in the Imperial Kitchen. Guan Yidao, the current chef, tested Chef Lu's cooking and noted his excellent knife skills but weak heat control.
However, other Imperial Kitchen staff tried Chef Lu's food and praised it. Chef Lu quickly received several praises from the Emperor, causing Guan Yidao to fear for his position and attempt to suppress him, including placing Chef Lu's dishes furthest from the Emperor. When Chef Lu suggested adding two taels of soybeans to the braised beef recipe, Guan Yidao publicly refused but secretly incorporated the idea, receiving great praise from the Emperor.
Chef Lu, while outwardly compliant, secretly used a young eunuch to lure the Emperor to the Imperial Kitchen to witness an argument between him and Guan Yidao. Unable to resist the allure of delicious food, the Emperor declared that whoever won the Spring Banquet would become the chief of the Imperial Kitchen. Ling Xiaoxiao was ordered by the Emperor to participate, but Guan Yidao only assigned her desserts and vegetarian dishes.
Ultimately, Chef Lu, demonstrating his superior skills, became the new chief of the Imperial Kitchen, a shocking development to everyone in the Exquisite Delicacy Room. Soon after, news arrived that Chef Lu and Guan Yidao were clashing, prompting Ling Xiaoxiao to drop her work and investigate.
