"No Wedding Unless Enemies and Lovers" 《不是冤家不拜堂》Chapter 154

 The last round of the competition, there were even more people watching, the wager board outside the military ground was packed with people, quite a lot of people bet on Deqing restaurant, but quite a lot of people also bet on Wangshan restaurant, Qingfengyashe was the one little people looked at.

The reason was simple, not many people knew Ji Ling Xue was the owner behind Qingfengyashe, and because it has been closed since it had been smashed up by ruffians.

The hustle and bustle floating about of course also entered the prince's residence, Ji Yu Qing heard this and in high spirits made Zi Ye take her dowry and bet on Xiao Yi Chen, wanting to seize the opportunity to earn some money.

After Yi Yun heard this she shook her head: "You either win or lose in gambling, there was an equal balance of risks and profit, it's better to not take the chance." It wasn't that she was a sore loser, but she wanted to have her feet firmly planted on the ground.

Ji Ling Xue woke up early, Mo Xiang and Lian Xin just as usual stood at the door waiting to be summoned by Ji Ling Xue.

Ji Ling Xue who was used to having Xiao Yi Chen sleep with her at night, opened the window, looking towards the study she curled her lips, turning away she asked Mo Xiang and Lian Xin to enter and help her get ready.

Mo Xiang spoke as she helped Ji Ling Xue brush her hair: "Princess, this servant heard something very interesting."

Ji Ling Xue raised an eyebrow, waiting for Mo Xiang to continue.

Mo Xiang made it climatic saying: "This morning this servant went to the main kitchen to pick up ingredients and heard several old servants washing vegetables talk about how prince called imperial concubine Qing and Yun to the hall saying he wants to find them a family to remarry into, imperial concubine Qing immediately cried loudly with snot and tears, and threatened prince to directly give her a divorce, she would then cut off her hair and become a nun."

Ji Ling Xue's lips twitched, last time she had given Ji Yu Qing poison making her lose a chunk of hair, she had cried tears and snot at that time, why didn't she hear her cutting off her hair and become a nun? But did Xiao Yi Chen really want to find a husband for them?

Ji Ling Xue shook her head, no matter what Xiao Yi Chen didn't seem like a matchmaker, if he really intended this, Ji Yu Qing wouldn't still be in the residence, Xiao Yi Chen was already well aware of the things she had been doing.

Ji Ling Xue said: "Then what did Yi Yun say?"

Mo Xiang said: "Imperial concubine Yun was the most calm, she was conferred this marriage by the emperor, she analysed the pros and cons for the prince, then prince said nothing more, telling them to go back, this servant is only concerned if the two imperial concubines would think it's the princess who incited the prince to chase them away?"

Ji Ling Xue smiled, there was a lot of animosity towards her, she didn't care what the two of them thought.

Ji Ling Xue said: "Mo Xiang have you prepared what I asked for?"

Mo Xiang nodded, taking a white small porcelain  bottle from her sleeve she handed it to Ji Ling Xue, "This is the broth this servant spent all night brewing."

Ji Ling Xue tucked it into her bosom, looking at her reflection in the mirror dressed as a scholar she nodded in satisfaction.

Inside the military ground, the atmosphere was somewhat tense, Wangshan restaurant's chef looked full of confidence, Deqing restaurant's chef looked at Ji Ling Xue with provocation from time to time.

Ji Ling Xue ignored him, listening to the old imperial chef standing on the judge's platform giving an emotive speech then said: "The prince got this old chef to decide the topic for today's competition, this old chef thought about it over night, to be an outstanding chef, one must be able to use any ingredients to make something delicious, thus, this old chef brought along a basket of yam beans, I hope the three chefs can create something delicious for this chef and prince."

Cooking with yam beans? Deqing and Wangshan's chefs looked at each other in dismay, this imperial chef actually thought of using such a cheap ingredient as the topic.

Yam beans are from yams that disseminated from Dayan, the people of Dayan used it as their main provision, since the conditions for growing yams were easy to maintain, as it could be dried and eaten, the people ate it as a snack to fill their stomachs, in the capital there was a period where roasting sweet potatoes were very popular.

Ji Ling Xue walked to the basket and picked out two clumps of yam beans which looked good and walked back to her wn table, picking up her knife she began to peel the skin.

Deqing restaurant's chef saw Ji Ling Xue had begun, not wanting to be outdone he also took two yam beans back to his table and began to peel them, Wangshan restaurant's chef looked at Ji Ling Xue then at the basket, taking the remaining two back to his table.

After peeling the skin, Ji Ling Xue cut them into cubes, Deqing restaurant's chef had a burst of inspiration, after heating up the oil in the pan, he deep fried the cut up yams in the pan then he glanced at Ji Ling Xue extremely proud of himself.

Ji Ling Xue continued to ignore him, picking up the pan she poured in water and began boiling strips of yam, after putting  the lid on, Ji Ling Xue raised her hand, immediately a maid came to ask what Ji Ling Xue needed.

Ji Ling Xue told the maid what ingredients she needed, the maid returned to Ji Ling Xue after asking for instructions, carrying over ten eggs for Ji Ling Xue.

After Ji Ling Xue picked some out, she began to cook the eggs, then shelled them, chopping up the egg yolks she placed them in condiments, ready to be used, after the yam was cooked she took everything else out, placing it in starch she then fried it in the pan of oil until golden brown.

The salted egg yolks bubbled as they were sautéed, adding beans and yams to stir fry, letting the egg yolks evenly stick onto the yam, in a flash a stick of incense had been burnt, Ji Ling Xue straightened and looked at Wangshan restaurant's chef, she saw the plate of shiny yam beans in front of him, he had candied flossed the yam beans.

Ji Ling Xue turned to look at Deqing restaurant's chef, he had deep fried yam beans, coriander leaves were placed on the golden yellow yams as decoration.

The three plates of yam beans were placed on the judge's table, Ji Ling Xue calmly waited for the result of  the competition, Deqing restaurant's chef wiped the sweat on his forehead with his sleeve from time to time, Ji Ling Xue smiled saying: "What's wrong, it's not very warm today?"

Deqing restaurant's chef snorted, tilting his head to look elsewhere.

Wangshan restaurant's chef turned to look at Ji Ling Xue, then turned to the judge's table.

Ji Ming Yang picked up his chopsticks to taste Ji Ling Xue's egg yolk cooked with yam beans first, nodding: "Smell, look and taste great, traces of aftertaste."

Xiao Yi Chen picked up his chopsticks and gave it a taste nodding: "Not bad."

The great tutor and imperial chef then discussed the results, choosing Ji Ling Xue's egg yolk with yam beans as the winner, second place was Wangshan restaurant's candied floss yam beans.

After the result of the competition was announced, everyone present was in uproar, at the same time Ji Ling Xue received quite a few jealous looks.

Wangshan restaurant's chef cupped his hands at Ji Ling Xue in congratulations.

Ji Ling Xue smiled and nodded, considering to be polite.

Deqing restaurant's chef loudly protested: "Great tutor and imperial chef, were you bribed, what's so good about her egg yolk and yam beans?"

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Maybe he had spoken too emotionally, he was glaring and clenching his fists, looking like he wanted to pick a fight.

The great tutor's shining white beard stuck up in anger, he sneered: "What rubbish are you saying in prince Chen's presence, this is the unanimous decision from the discussion of me and the imperial chef as well as the prince, if you can't accept it, why don't you come and try all three dishes then speak."

Deqing restaurant's chef pulled up his sleeves in anger: "I'll taste it then, I don't believe, a mere plate of yams have become yam beans, no matter how classy its name is it's only a low grade ingredient, it can't be made into a flower and be better than what I made."

Deqing restaurant's chef walked to the judge's table, directly grabbing a piece of candied yam bean and placing it in his mouth, his eyes shone in a flash, yams were naturally sweet, with malt the sweetness was just perfect, the results would be even better if it had just come out of the pan.

Even though he was shocked, he didn't show it on his face at all, he then took a piece of egg yolk and yam bean placing it in his mouth, salty with hints of sweetness, strongly fragrant, melting in the mouth, even though it was now cold, the taste was just as good, he understood a little why it would be given first place, his fried yam beans definitely seemed rather monotonous and boring.

Deqing restaurant's chef lowered his head in depression and turned to walk back, he suddenly stood in front of Ji Ling Xue, cupping his hands he respectfully said: "Can you take me as a disciple?"

Ji Ling Xue's lips twitched, looking the tall and sturdy man up and down: "No." She then turned and left.

From that moment on the news Qingfengyashe had won the competition spread over the capital, the once again re-opened Qingfengyashe in the west of the city welcomed diners from all over, they all ordered the same food which appeared in the competition. The three dishes Ji Ling Xue made, clear soup with cabbage, carved radish, egg yolk with yam beans.

She had also changed two chefs, Lian Xin and the scholar in green, Lian Xin had been with Mo Xiang and Ji Ling Xue for some time, Ji Ling Xue taught her how to make these three dishes, as for the scholar in green, Ji Ling Xue used his identity to participate in the competition, of course he had to come and go in Qingfengyashe.

Very soon half a month passed since the cooking competition, the people in the capital were still discussing the results enthusiastically, Qingfengyashe's reputation had to be talked about by the people when they gathered, the people who had lost their bets looked down on the chefs of Wangshan restaurant and Deqing restaurant.

For this reason Deqing restaurant's reputation continued to get worse, what's more after people revealed Deqing restaurant's dishes were imitating Qingfengyashe, even less people went, thus after losing half his money imperial uncle decided to sell the store.

Ji Ling Xue had already had her eyes set on Deqing restaurant's location, she intended to open another Qingfengyashe in the city, sadly she was too late, when Mo Xiang went the restaurant had already been sold.

That night, Ji Ling Xue was invited to eat together with Xiao Yi Chen, after the day Xiao Yi Chen confessed, Ji Ling Xue didn't see him for a while, today Xiao Yi Chen was wearing a woven white outfit, his crown sat in the middle of his head, seeing Ji Ling Xue, he raised his head pointing at the seat opposite for Ji Ling Xue to sit down, they ate without speaking.

After eating, Xiao Yi Chen pushed a land deed in front of Ji Ling Xue, Ji Ling Xue picked it up in confusion, it was the deed for Deqing restaurant, she didn't think Xiao Yi Chen had got to it first.

Ji Ling Xue asked: "You want to give me the store?"

Xiao Yi Chen nodded: "Qingfengyashe is doing so well, it's only opened outside the city, a lot of people don't like to make the journey, I'm sure princess has considered opening a branch in the city, when Deqing restaurant was put on sale this prince sent someone to negotiate the price and bought it."

Ji Ling Xue happily held the deed, she was very pleased with Xiao Yi Chen's behaviour to make her happy, she jumped into Xiao Yi Chen's arms holding his neck she smiled: "Thank you prince, I'm very happy with this present."

Xiao Yi Chen held her cheeks: "Then is there a reward from the princess." He looked like a child who wanted candy, where was his awe as a prince.

Ji Ling Xue, "..."

Seeing Ji Ling Xue's lack of response, Xiao Yi Chen cupped Ji Ling Xue's face, stealing a kiss from her red lips.