Chapter 108

Heavenly Court, Imperial Kitchen.

"Palace, how is the preparation of the new dishes I ordered?"

Yaochi, surrounded by the palace attendants, watched the two immortals and one mortal kneeling below and Sun Wukong standing, her voice somewhat ethereal.

"Please, Your Majesty, taste them." Sun Wukong said calmly.

Yaochi nodded: "You all know the importance of the Peach Banquet; if you fail to meet the Palace's standard, you should know the consequences."

The stove god and food god below shuddered, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.

These remaining one hundred forty-eight dishes have yet to be decided upon, and their hearts are chilled.

Even after Great Immortal Wukong returned yesterday, he didn't explain anything, just telling them not to worry.

But can you just not worry by saying you don't worry?

This concerns official positions and heads, after all.

Dish after dish was lifted by the immortal attendants, lined up and presented; Yaochi's slender jade hand picked up chopsticks and took the first dish, braised pork.

Mmm!!

Yaochi's eyes instantly brightened, her face showing surprise and delight.

The sauce is clear and sweet, the meat tender and soft, fatty yet not greasy, truly achieving the state of being unable to put it down.

Supreme.

Yaochi's mind was instantly occupied by these chunks of juicy, delicious braised pork.

One bite after another.

It made the immortal attendants serving the dishes quite embarrassed; the normal procedure is to taste one bite of a dish and then move to the next, but the result is that the Empress ate on and on.

And there are still over three hundred dishes behind.

"Your Majesty!" The immortal attendant finally couldn't bear it anymore, speaking up to remind.

"Huh?" Interrupted in her interest, Yaochi said with displeasure: "What's wrong?"

The attendant jumped in fright, hastily saying: "Your Majesty, there are still over three hundred dishes behind; if this continues, the later ones will get cold."

Yaochi also came to her senses, realizing her earlier performance had been somewhat rushed, which did not at all match her dignified and majestic image as the Queen Mother.

She lightly wiped the oil from the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, reluctantly dismissing the first immortal attendant.

But, Yaochi had no time to reminisce before being drawn again by the second dish, sweet and sour pork tenderloin.

So, three dishes, four dishes...

Each dish was tasted for at least three bites before she slowly waved her hand, unlike the initial tasting attempt by the food god and stove god.

Seeing this, the hearts of the food god and stove god temporarily warmed: the Queen Mother likes to eat this dish!

The rotation of dishes continued, and finally, after an unknown time, the last immortal attendant also retreated with the dish.

Yaochi slightly raised her head, let out a belch, narrowed her eyes, the outer corners of her eyes lifting with a hint of satisfaction, eating so satisfyingly.

How many years has it been since I last tasted such delicious food?

Although it is partly due to the food god and stove god not changing dishes for myriad years, the texture and flavor of today's dishes are indeed much better than before.

But, just after belching, Yaochi also realized her rude behavior, hastily coughing twice to conceal her embarrassment.

Seeing that there were no more immortal attendants with dishes before her, Yaochi froze: have I finished eating?

Although there were many, and I just focused on eating without counting, logically it shouldn't have ended so quickly, should it?

"Just now, how many dishes in total?"

The food god, stove god, and Zhou Kang's faces turned bitter: oh no, we've been found out.

"Replying to Your Majesty, there were a total of two hundred and seventeen dishes just now!" Sun Wukong stepped forward to say.

Yaochi raised her eyebrows: "Oh? Didn't I say it must be three hundred and sixty-five dishes?"

"And what about the other one hundred forty-eight dishes? Where did they go?"

She still wanted to wait and continue eating.

Sun Wukong gave a hehe laugh, saying: "Your Majesty, we only made these two hundred and seventeen dishes in total."

"Then you are deceiving the Palace?!" Yaochi's phoenix eyes flared,

Her voice instantly turning stern.

"Do you know the crime of deceiving the sovereign?"

As the Queen Mother, Mistress of Immortal Maidens, she is no different from a sovereign.

Yaochi's voice sounded like a great hammer, heavily striking those kneeling on the ground, their faces ashen, bodies trembling.

It's over, we've been found out, the Queen Mother does not intend to let this go.

They are doomed!

Yaochi's Prepared Saint aura instantly spread, making them unable to lift their heads, nor dare to, let alone defend themselves.

Only Sun Wukong spoke without humility or arrogance: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger, this old grandson naturally has a way."

"A way?" Yaochi laughed in anger: "What way could you have, to bring out the old dishes to fill the gaps?"

Wouldn't such a patchwork still be losing face for her Yaochi?

It would be better to just change them all back to the old ones!

Sun Wukong clasped his hands solemnly and said: "This old grandson has one dish that can replace countless dishes, and will surely guarantee the Peach Banquet without worry."

Yaochi's expression froze, startled by Sun Wukong's words, though she also found it somewhat amusing—one dish replacing countless?

Truly arrogant.

She withdrew her aura invisibly.

"Then go on, say what dish."

Sun Wukong smiled slightly, firmly saying: "This is no trouble for Your Majesty to worry about; this old grandson naturally has a way."

Yaochi said with a cold expression: "How do you prove it?"

"Just based on the fact that all these dishes were made by me, Old Grandson!"

"What are you saying, your dishes?" Yaochi was stunned.

She had thought it was the result of the Food and Stove Gods' hard work, but she never expected it was actually made by this monkey.

However, upon recalling that plate of extremely delicious Mapo Tofu from the previous competition, Yaochi also came to some understanding.

This monkey truly possesses extraordinary cooking skills.

The Food and Stove Gods below also began to praise him.

"Reporting to Sanniang, Great Immortal Wukong's cooking skills can be described as having reached the peak, while this humble god is far inferior."

There was no other way; in order to make Sanniang believe, they could only say this, and indeed it is true—this is the truth.

"I don't know if Sanniang can believe me, but I will surely give Sanniang a perfect Peach Banquet!"

Looking at Sun Wukong's steadfast gaze, Yaochi inexplicably also began to feel somewhat convinced.

She sighed, her tone slightly softened, and said: "Alright, then the Palace will grant you this favor!"

"However, if tomorrow you fail to satisfy the Palace, it will be an additional crime."

"Good." Sun Wukong showed no fear at all and agreed without hesitation.

Nodding, Yaochi left with the palace attendants.

The few people kneeling on the ground also struggled to rise, especially Zhou Kang, who is a mortal; at this moment, his knees were already numb from pain.

As soon as he stood up, he staggered and was about to fall to the ground, but Sun Wukong, with sharp eyes and quick hands, flashed forward and supported him, bringing him to sit on a stool.

"Great Immortal Wukong, what exactly are the dishes you mentioned? Can you really be sure?" The Food God doubted, carrying some anxiety; if something went wrong, they would have no chance to escape.

"It's hot pot." Sun Wukong smiled mysteriously.

Hot pot?

The two immortals were both completely baffled, their faces full of confusion—what is this thing?

"Wait a moment and you will know; Old Grandson will go out for a while." As soon as Sun Wukong finished speaking, he vanished from the spot.

Soon, a streak of light flashed by, and Sun Wukong appeared at the iron-smithing shop in the Heavenly Court's supply and demand daily operations.

"How are the things I need?" Sun Wukong entered the shop and shouted loudly.