Royal Feast Episode 2 Recap
> Royal Feast Recap
Following the previous incident, the Crown Princess interceded on behalf of her husband, the Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi. Acknowledging his gentle nature, she argued that while he might not be a mighty eagle, he shouldn't be likened to a mere pigeon. The Crown Princess then reminded the Emperor of his late wife, the Empress, who had tearfully expressed deep concern for the Prince on her deathbed. Moved, the Emperor praised his late wife for choosing such an excellent daughter-in-law.
With the crisis averted, the tearful and sweating Zhu Gaochi, who had been kneeling, was helped to his feet by his wife. Later, Meng Ziyun addressed her subordinates, acknowledging their panic during the recent Chongyang Palace and military banquets. They, in turn, praised her strategic planning and orderly management, planning a joint petition to urge her to remain in her post, despite her intention to leave due to palace rules.
Meng Ziyun then announced that Yao Zijin had achieved first place in the re-examination. When asked about her menu, Yao Zijin explained that she had observed the Emperor's usual rich diet of steamed chicken and roasted pork was being replaced with lighter fare like soft noodles and tofu. She deduced that the Emperor might be suffering from a dental issue or stomach discomfort and therefore prepared dishes to invigorate the spleen and aid digestion.
Meng Ziyun commended Yao Zijin for her boldness and meticulousness, declaring her first place well-deserved. However, Wang Sishan, the Head of Cuisine, interrupted and harshly questioned Yao Zijin's unauthorized use of medicated dishes. Despite Meng Ziyun’s approval, Wang Sishan asserted her authority, stating that while she couldn't overrule Meng Ziyun, she could discipline a mere kitchen servant. Yao Zijin defended herself, explaining the recipe came from her grandmother.
Wang Sishan then delivered a stern lecture on the dangers of administering food supplements without proper medical knowledge, emphasizing that improper use, even of precious ingredients, could be harmful or fatal. She stressed that all chefs, regardless of their perceived low status, must possess a sense of reverence and that new recruits must forget their past knowledge and learn anew from the palace's standards.
Overruling the protests of other staff, Wang Sishan ordered Yao Zijin to be sent to the Gongzheng Si for punishment. Yao Zijin was sentenced to "lifting the bell" for a month, requiring her to walk through the palace at night with a heavy copper bell alongside the watchmen eunuchs. Unlike others who were punished, she accepted her sentence calmly, often repeating the phrase, "The world is at peace."
Fang Dianshan, an Attendant of Meals sympathetic to Yao Zijin's plight, would sometimes assign her lighter duties to ease her burden. One late night, while performing her duty, Yao Zijin accidentally stumbled and fell in front of Zhu Zhanji's sedan chair. Instead of punishing her, Zhu Zhanji instructed his attendant, Chen Wu, to pardon her and send her back. A eunuch remarked on her exceptional luck in encountering the Imperial Grandson.
The Emperor, having heard of Zhu Zhanji's return, initially sought him out but was told Zhu Zhanji had delayed his formal visit to cleanse himself after returning from an epidemic area. However, Zhu Zhanji had left a gift: a cricket. Later, while dining, the Emperor was served unusual dishes and a special lotus seed wine sent by Zhu Zhanji. The Emperor immediately understood the symbolism as a subtle plea for the release of a convicted minister, Yang Shiqi.
Though feigning anger at being pressured, the Emperor acknowledged the message and ordered Yang Shiqi's immediate release. Upon learning of Zhu Zhanji's return, the Imperial Grandson's Consort, Hu Shanxiang, instructed her maid to claim she was gravely ill and unable to rise, thereby avoiding the customary welcome. She then dispatched Wu Cairen to Zhu Zhanji’s quarters under the guise of the Crown Princess’s orders, only for Wu Cairen to find him absent.
Indeed, Zhu Zhanji had discreetly left the palace to visit Yang Shiqi, who had just been released from prison. Yang Shiqi, grateful, explained that malicious individuals had used a minor incident to frame him, making the Emperor believe Zhu Zhanji was forming factions. Yang Shiqi assured Zhu Zhanji of his unwavering loyalty. Zhu Zhanji clarified his true purpose was not political; he was concerned for Yang Shiqi’s old illness recurring in the cold prison and had brought an imperial doctor.
Zhu Zhanji then visited his consort, presenting her with early oranges he had specially preserved. She received them indifferently, feigning concern that his effort might cause political trouble for him and the East Palace. Zhu Zhanji dismissed her worries, stating his intention was merely to bring her a smile. She then dismissively noted his preference for dining alone and bid him farewell.
After he left, Hu Sishan, a scribe from the Hu family, urged the consort to cultivate a closer relationship with the Imperial Grandson for the family's honor. The consort expressed bitter resentment, believing her father had sacrificed her happiness. She scornfully recalled that her own talented elder sister had risen to the rank of Daming Shanggong before dying young.
She then accused Hu Sishan, who was taken in by the family but treated poorly, of assuming her deceased sister's name to borrow her luck and acting as a messenger for their ambitious father. When Hu Sishan insisted her selection as consort was destiny, she cynically retorted that she was merely the Hu family's "lucky charm" presented to the imperial family. In the Bureau of Food, rigorous lessons were underway.
An instructor emphasized that mastery required understanding ingredients and meticulous planning, comparing cooking to the cultivation of character. They spoke of the "three realms of eating": for sustenance, desire, and health. While Su Yuehua and others diligently practiced, Yao Zijin, having offended Wang Sishan, was relegated to observing from the sidelines. Sympathizing with her, Fang Dianshan asked Yao Zijin to deliver a meal to Zhu Zhanji's private study. Initially, eunuchs tried to block her, but Zhu Zhanji intervened.
During his meal, Zhu Zhanji noticed the "drunken dates" and was amused by the poetic sentiment of "ink fragrance accompanying wine fragrance." Pleased, he ordered the same snack for the next day and instructed that Yao Zijin herself should deliver it. Yin Ziping confronted Yao Zijin, accusing her of adding the "drunken dates" to Zhu Zhanji's meal without authorization to seek attention. She threatened to report her to Meng Ziyun.
Yao Zijin countered by reminding Yin Ziping that her illiteracy would prevent her from passing the upcoming exam for promotion to female official. Yao Zijin offered to teach her the required texts, such as "Internal Training" and "Rules for Women," in exchange for her silence. Eager to pass, Yin Ziping agreed. Yao Zijin began her lessons, explaining virtues like self-cultivation and concepts such as "thresholds" symbolizing proper boundaries for one's actions and speech.
Su Yuehua discreetly approached Meng Ziyun and asked if she had ever heard the name "Su Huaiyu." Meng Ziyun's composure faltered, revealing this was her daughter's name. Su Yuehua then disclosed that her father had changed her name to distance her from her mother.
Tearfully, Su Yuehua explained she wanted to know the truth behind the long-standing rumors about her mother: that she had an affair with a powerful figure, was discovered, and then conspired with her lover to commit murder, bringing shame upon their family. Overwhelmed, Meng Ziyun quickly regained her composure, sternly warned Su Yuehua against speaking such nonsense, and ordered her to receive ten planks of punishment.
As Meng Ziyun walked away, she reflected that acknowledging their relationship now would cause more harm than good, and it was better for them to remain strangers. Zhao Wang presented a magnificent Ferghana horse to the Emperor. The Emperor then challenged Zhu Gaochi, noting he had previously advised him to focus on his riding skills. To test his progress, the Emperor ordered Zhu Gaochi to ride the spirited horse, despite his evident lack of proficiency.
Zhao Wang feigned concern about the horse's fierce temperament, subtly pressuring the Crown Prince, but the Emperor insisted. As Zhu Gaochi nervously mounted the horse with Zhao Wang's feigned assistance, he was pushed into the saddle and quickly lost control, screaming for help as the horse galloped away.
