Royal Feast Episode 9 Recap
> Royal Feast Recap
In the evening, Yao Zijin, after delivering a meal to Zhu Zhanji, was granted permission to help organize his books. While she worked, the imperial court assigned Lord Song to re-audit the disaster relief funds. Lord Song complained to Zhu Zhanji about the arduous task, hinting at the deeply entrenched corruption.
Understanding his plight but firm in his duty, Zhu Zhanji relayed the Emperor's intolerance for corruption and impatience, giving Lord Song a strict half-year deadline to complete a thorough investigation. Afterward, Yao Zijin inquired about the customs of overseas nations, explaining it was for a Food Bureau assignment. Noting her eagerness, Zhu Zhanji wryly commented she sounded like she wanted to escape overseas and suggested she consult the sailing logs kept with travelogues.
Later, Crown Princess Consort Hu Shanxiang sent a maid to invite Zhu Zhanji to her palace. Annoyed, Zhu Zhanji pulled Yao Zijin aside and asked if he should forgive someone who had greatly disappointed him but now sought repentance. Yao Zijin responded that no one is without fault and correcting one's mistakes is a virtue. She advised that if he harbored doubts, it was better to confront them openly for peace of mind rather than letting them fester.
Zhu Zhanji lamented his awkward marriage, where he and Shanxiang felt distant even sitting together. Yao Zijin assured him that such sincerity would surely be cherished and that clarity would come if he treated her with genuine honesty. When he asked if she would be happy if he went to see Shanxiang, Yao Zijin affirmed that his worries were her own, and his joy would bring her happiness. Moved by her words, Zhu Zhanji decided to go to Hongqing Palace.
Upon his arrival, Zhu Zhanji found Shanxiang's younger sister, Hu Shanyuan, already there. After a brief and awkward encounter, he left. When Shanxiang returned, she was furious to learn that Zhanji had come and gone and that her sister was present. She questioned her maid, Jinshu, who failed to inform her. Shanyuan explained that their mother, concerned about Shanxiang's childlessness, had sent her to visit.
Feeling betrayed by her own family for offering her sister to her husband, Shanxiang angrily ordered Jinshu to be punished with thirty strokes and expelled from the palace, rejecting the maid's pleas that she was acting on orders from Chef Hu, Shanxiang's elder sister. Shanxiang then sternly warned Chef Hu that no member of the Hu family was allowed to enter the palace without her express permission, declaring she would now live according to her own will.
Witnessing this, Chef Hu was not dismayed but pleased, noting that Shanxiang was finally behaving like a true Crown Princess Consort, which was necessary for survival in the palace. Humiliated by his visit to Hongqing Palace, Zhu Zhanji returned to his study in a foul mood. He deliberately scattered books across the floor and summoned Yao Zijin to tidy them, venting his frustration on her.
Kneeling amidst the mess, Yao Zijin calmly asked if he was speaking to a mere servant or to her. When Zhu Zhanji claimed there was no difference, she met his gaze and bravely confessed her feelings: "I am delighted with you." She explained that everything she had done, including encouraging him to see the Crown Princess Consort, was born of her admiration for him. She asserted that by discarding her meticulously organized books, he had discarded her heart.
Yao Zijin then stated that if he treated her as a master treats a servant, she would respond in kind. Reminding him that organizing his study was not her duty as a cook, she accepted any potential punishment and resolutely departed, leaving Zhu Zhanji stunned and filled with regret. Meanwhile, in the Food Bureau, the chefs prepared for an upcoming envoy mission. Meng Ziyun instructed everyone to present their finest creations.
You Yifan of the Royal Guards and Zhu Zhanji arrived to sample the dishes. Tibetan fragrant pork was lauded for its exceptional flavor. A swordfish dish was dismissed as pretentious. A tribute girl from Sumatra presented a dish featuring pepper, which she considered a luxury. Zhu Zhanji corrected her, delivering a speech on China's vast resources and its tradition of sharing knowledge, culture, and aid, not just trading goods, to foster global peace.
Another chef presented a "Splendid God Shrimp Rice" from Quanzhou, which was praised for its fresh, oceanic flavor. Finally, Yao Zijin presented her simple dishes: sliced cucumbers, fennel with broad beans, and taro. You Yifan initially dismissed them as too plain for an imperial feast. Yao Zijin explained the philosophy behind her choices, stating that while foreign guests are welcome, the common people of China are most precious, and the land's produce is their gift.
She proposed that the envoy's menu should include humble yet meaningful dishes alongside grander delicacies. Tasting her rice, Zhu Zhanji noted its soft texture. Yao Zijin revealed it was Jingshan Bridge Rice from a region in Huguang that had suffered a disaster. By serving this rice to the mission, wealthy merchants in the capital would be encouraged to purchase it, thus raising its value and providing relief to the affected populace.
Impressed by her wisdom, Zhu Zhanji offered Yao Zijin precious cat's eye stones from Hormuz as a reward. She politely declined the lavish gift but gratefully accepted a valuable sailing log. Later, Zhu Zhanji instructed his eunuch to tell her that one day their fleet would bring back not just jewels and spices, but many more goods to benefit the people. Later, Yao Zijin brought Zhu Zhanji his meal.
Hearing it was prepared by the Court of Imperial Entertainments, he grew irritable and ordered her to leave. He then accidentally knocked over a bowl of soup, which spilled onto the menu and revealed hidden notes. He discovered that Yao Zijin had secretly adjusted each dish based on his recent health, discreetly replacing unsuitable items. Realizing his grave misunderstanding, Zhu Zhanji immediately ordered Chen Wu to persuade her to return.
Chen Wu found Yao Zijin in the Food Bureau, but Meng Ziyun intervened, politely refusing his request. She stated that as long as Yao Zijin was in the Food Bureau, she was under her protection and would not be forcibly taken away. Back in his study, Zhu Zhanji complained that the food tasted wrong. Chen Wu subtly explained that the same food can taste different depending on the eater's mood, hinting that his dissatisfaction stemmed from Yao Zijin's absence.
