Royal Feast Episode 18 Recap
> Royal Feast Recap
After Yao Zijin's victory in the culinary competition, Su Yuehua cornered her, demanding to know what trick she had used to win, especially since she felt the Empress had tacitly approved her dish. Yao Zijin explained that Wang Wei (Wang Mojie), the artist of the Wangchuan map, was a devotee of Zen and Buddhism, yet his true painting depicted boatmen and travelers but no monks.
She revealed that Emperor Taizu, a former monk from Huangjue Temple, had a deep aversion to any mention of "monks" or "bald" in his presence, a taboo few in the palace now remembered. By including an old monk under a tree in her rendition, Su Yuehua inadvertently ensured her defeat, as the Empress, being aware of the taboo, would never favor her.
Yao Zijin further criticized Su Yuehua's craftsmanship, stating that her elaborate Wangchuan map dish, while visually exquisite, would become hard and inedible in cold weather, prioritizing appearance over taste. Yao Zijin revealed her own original plan to use "the method of carving and preserving flowers in Jingzhou, Huguang" to transform the ingredients into edible candied fruit, but this idea was stolen along with the drawing.
She emphasized that Su Yuehua's focus on technique, neglecting the ultimate purpose of food, showed her lack of true culinary skill, implying her progress in cooking might have reached its limit. You Yifan, overhearing the conversation, acknowledged Yao Zijin's intelligence, noting that the hidden meaning in the painting indicated Yao Zijin had set a clever trap. He mused that the person he sent to retrieve the painting failed to notice this crucial detail.
Despite this, he found the back-and-forth engaging and observed Su Yuehua's uncharacteristic distress over a single loss. Elsewhere, Crown Prince Zhu Zhanji composed a poem with vivid imagery. A servant, upon reading it, recognized an image of a beautiful woman in the lines. Unwilling to reveal his inner thoughts about Yao Zijin, Zhu Zhanji immediately tore up the poem.
Meanwhile, Hu Shang Shi delivered news from Kunning Palace to Su Yuehua: effective immediately, she was no longer a Dian Shan (culinary official) of the Food Bureau due to her loss. Su Yuehua pleaded for a second chance, confidently asserting that she was the only one capable of defeating Yao Zijin, whom she dismissed as insignificant. Hu Shang Shi, after some hesitation, granted her one final opportunity, warning that another loss would mean permanent expulsion from the Food Bureau.
Elsewhere, Guo Bianfei, reflecting on the competition, praised Su Yuehua's superb knife skills and the artistic realism of her Wangchuan map dish, acknowledging her heritage as a descendant of a renowned chef. However, she shrewdly observed that the Empress clearly favored Hu Shang Shi, implying a lack of fair judgment.
She credited Yao Zijin's victory to her precise understanding of the Empress's subtle preferences, specifically the strategic inclusion of the old monk, concluding that the Food Bureau must harbor exceptionally clever individuals. Guo Bianfei then secretly informed Meng Ziyun that the Crown Prince would host imperial ministers for a tour of Taiye Pond, and the second culinary competition would take place in Xiyuan. Walking along a palace path, Yao Zijin found a kite that had drifted to her feet.
On its back, a paper cut-out of a woman's face, strikingly similar to her own, was affixed, with the figure's clothes matching the color of her own attire. This amused Yao Zijin, reminding her of a previous encounter with Zhu Zhanji when they ascended a high place to watch stars, enjoying each other's company in the cool breeze and moonlight. Later, Zhu Zhanji visited the Crown Princess.
Despite the Crown Princess's efforts to engage him, offering him "Golden Jade Soup" prepared according to his taste and gently urging him to attend to his duties given his father's recent ascension, their conversation was strained. Sensing his emotional distance, Zhu Zhanji soon retreated to his study. The Crown Princess lamented to herself that he seemed unable to forget his past affections. Meanwhile, while practicing cooking, Yao Zijin's thoughts drifted to a memory of accompanying Zhu Zhanji while he studied.
She had roasted chestnuts outside his study and accidentally fallen asleep. She recalled Zhu Zhanji approaching her, finding her sleeping face endearing, and almost leaning in to kiss her before the sound of a bursting chestnut interrupted the moment. The memory was now a bittersweet blend of tenderness and melancholy. A guard, acting on Han Wang's orders, presented You Yifan with a fine sword, acknowledging that Han Wang had become more formidable after receiving You Yifan's secret correspondence.
You Yifan instructed the guard to tell Han Wang that he was well-provided for and did not require further gifts, emphasizing the need for caution. Emperor Zhu Gaochi, having largely recovered from an illness, decided to personally lead a grand outing at Taiye Pond with imperial ministers, though initially the Crown Prince was slated to deputize for him.
Zhao Gonggong, under the Empress's instruction, meticulously oversaw the kitchen staff, stressing extreme caution with wild game and raw fruits, recalling a previous instance where the Emperor had fallen ill after consuming cold foods during a visit to Xiyuan. During the banquet, the cooks, including Su Yuehua and Yao Zijin, were determined to prove their skills. Emperor Zhu Gaochi commended the prepared dishes. Crown Prince Zhu Zhanji sampled the food and immediately recognized the distinct flavor of Yao Zijin's cooking.
Despite its quality, he appeared displeased, prompting his younger brother, Wei Wang (Ayan), to playfully tease him about his unusual pickiness towards the chef. Emperor Zhu Gaochi addressed his ministers, emphasizing his concern for the common people and urging them to offer honest counsel without flattery, even presenting them with a "Correcting mistakes" seal as a symbol of candid exchange.
Crown Prince Zhu Zhanji intervened, suggesting that such serious discussions be postponed for a more relaxed setting, but his father noted the lack of genuine advice since he ascended the throne. Crown Prince Zhu Zhanji also expressed concern for Wei Wang (Ayan), urging him to eat less oil, as he had promised to take him eagle-releasing. Ayan, however, found the "crisp and delicious" food quite enjoyable, contrasting with Crown Prince Zhu Zhanji's strange disapproval.
Amidst the banquet, a guard approached Yao Zijin, claiming Meng Shang Shi required her presence. Yao Zijin, however, noticed mud on his boots, a detail inconsistent with someone serving the Emperor. Her suspicion was confirmed when the guard revealed himself as an assassin, drawing a blade to attack her. Fortunately, You Yifan intervened just in time, saving her life and bandaging her wound, telling her how she constantly seemed to draw trouble.
At the banquet, a joyous atmosphere turned to horror when Wei Wang (Ayan), Emperor Zhu Gaochi's beloved youngest son, suddenly collapsed after eating. Emperor Zhu Gaochi was distraught and immediately summoned the Great Doctor. Hu Shang Shi quickly reported that Wei Wang (Ayan) had consumed "antler vegetables," which are poisonous unless properly scalded with mung bean soup during preparation, suggesting negligence on the part of the cooks. Infuriated, Emperor Zhu Gaochi ordered the immediate arrest of all cooks involved.
Having narrowly escaped assassination herself, Yao Zijin, aware that the antler vegetables had indeed been properly processed, rushed to Hu Shang Shi to vouch for Meng Shang Shi and Zi Ping, asserting their innocence. She argued that the fresh antler vegetables had been thoroughly cleansed with mung bean soup.
However, Hu Shang Shi dismissed her, stating that Meng Shang Shi's mismanagement led to this grave error and that her future plan was to restore the Food Bureau's reputation without interference from a junior cook like Yao Zijin. When Yao Zijin pressed for evidence, stating that the Imperial Guards found no issues with the other antler vegetables, Hu Shang Shi countered that residual toxins from snakes or insects could still be present on one particular dish.
Yao Zijin then appealed to Su Yuehua, who was present in the kitchen and would have witnessed the proper cleaning of the vegetables. However, Su Yuehua feigned ignorance, claiming she saw nothing. Hu Shang Shi then warned Yao Zijin not to meddle further, reminding her that without Meng Shang Shi's protection, she was vulnerable. Su Yuehua subtly defended herself to Hu Shang Shi, asserting she would not tamper with food as she could win fairly.
Hu Shang Shi dismissed her, stating that Wei Wang's poisoning was not human intervention but "heaven's will," and they should merely stand by and watch. As news spread of Wei Wang (Ayan)'s critical condition, with a high fever and swollen face, Great Doctors struggled to diagnose his illness, indicating toxicity in his lungs. Emperor Zhu Gaochi, distraught, spent sleepless nights by his son's bedside, praying for his recovery.
Crown Prince Zhu Zhanji was repeatedly turned away from visiting his ailing brother, his concern dismissed by a distraught Emperor Zhu Gaochi. Meanwhile, a palace attendant worried to Emperor Zhu Gaochi that someone with a grudge might have deliberately poisoned Wei Wang (Ayan). Haunted by the sounds of Zi Ping's agonizing cries under torture, Yao Zijin, despite warnings from her friend Chang Qing about the dangers of interference, was determined to seek justice.
She learned that not only Meng Shang Shi and Zi Ping, but all associated with the Imperial Food Bureau were implicated. Defying direct orders, Yao Zijin intercepted the Empress's palanquin, bravely kneeling to plead the Food Bureau's innocence. She passionately argued that the Food Bureau had been wronged, invoking the precedents set by Emperor Taizu and previous Empresses who allowed commoners and palace residents to voice grievances.
She argued that denying her the right to speak would be an act of unkindness from the Empress. Hu Shang Shi intervened, attempting to discredit Yao Zijin as a partisan of Meng Shang Shi and demanding her immediate transfer to Gong Zhengsi for disrupting the Empress's procession.
However, the Empress, considering Yao Zijin's bold invocation of past empresses, allowed her to speak, warning her of severe punishment at Gong Zhengsi should she fail to prove her claims or retract her statements under duress. Undeterred, Yao Zijin reaffirmed her plea, willing to face any consequence to seek justice. Hu Shang Shi, having observed Yao Zijin's defiance, immediately prepared to report her actions to Gong Zhengsi.
