The competition continued, and the presiding eunuch's face had returned to its normal color.
"Other contestants, please don't watch the excitement. There is a note on each of your cases. Open it and take a look. In the end, only one person will be eliminated. You don't have to be so panicked. Let's get started."
After saying that, the eunuch glanced at Chu Qiao, and it seemed that the outcome was already decided. No matter how hard he tried to make things difficult, the servant girl Li Chunxiang stepped through the threshold of the dining room without any suspense.
After sitting down, the presiding eunuch's face finally returned to normal, but his expression was still resentful.
The contestants who had been watching the excitement around them all got busy one after another. They had persisted to the last level of the competition. No one wanted to be the one who finally left the palace.
Chu Qiao, on the other hand, finished cooking a dish and took some time off. She stood far away from the case and could clearly see the operations of all the contestants.
Among these people, Lianyun was the most calm and composed in public. She didn't feel nervous at all and seemed a little out of place with the others.
Occasionally, Lianyun would turn around and smile brightly at Chu Qiao, her little eyes narrowed into a slit.
Seeing this smile, Chu Qiao became more and more confused. For a woman from the countryside who had just entered the palace for the first time, her calmness was a bit abnormal.
Soon, all the dishes were ready, and the aroma filled the dining room.
A man from Suzhou left dejectedly. The remaining time was for the final selection results to be released. Several royal chefs, supervisors, and the eunuch in charge looked at each other, and seemed to have reached an agreement on the results.
But when the presiding eunuch Ya read out the results of the cooking competition, a person walked in leisurely from the door of the dining room, surrounded by flattering little eunuchs.
Father-in-law and Eunuch Lan also left their seats, looking respectful.
Chu Qiao glanced around and found that she knew the person who walked in. He was the prince who was beaten with a broom in the courtyard of the imperial kitchen and wanted to beat Chu Qiao to death. Strangely, he was not the deputy chief eunuch in the palace.
? In such a small competition, the highest-ranking person selected is just a small helper in the royal kitchen, so is there any need to trouble his boss?
Obviously, the prince came with bad intentions.
"Eunuch Wang? The vegetables have just been fried here, and there is oil smoke. Don't choke you."
The presiding eunuch had a flattering look on his face and nodded his head, making Chu Qiao inevitably think of Chu Hui's big yellow dog in the Chu Mansion that was good at pleasing its owner. However, this time the dog was beaten until it howled, but
I'll try my best to flatter you next time, but that's all.
The prince covered his nose, as if he really didn't like the smell, and waved his palms in disgust. Now he was different from other people's swagger.
The presiding eunuch personally brought a chair over and placed it behind the prince. The prince sat down happily, looked at the remaining people one by one with proud eyes, and said in a disdainful voice.
"It's no joke to prepare royal meals for the emperor and his ladies. It's a big deal with just one or two dishes. It's too ridiculous."
"Yes, yes, it's a joke, it's a joke."
The presiding eunuch didn't even listen to the whole sentence, he just nodded his head with a very cautious expression. After he said yes again and again, he listened and asked in a low voice: "What do you mean, Eunuch Wang?"
"My father-in-law is not targeting anyone when he comes this time. Normally, these people cook and study diet, so there is nothing much to say. However, some people who mop the floor and plaster are also on the stove. Even if they are
It's outrageous to prepare meals for the ministers in the court. I don't know who made the decision, but let this mop and duster also participate in this kind of competition. Isn't this a joke?"
After hearing these sarcastic words from Eunuch Wang, Chu Qiao suddenly understood that Eunuch Wang, the deputy chief eunuch, appeared at this time and was the one who really disrupted the situation. Among the remaining fourteen people, Chu Qiao was the only one.
She was just mopping the floor, so he might as well just call her by name and kick her out.
Eunuch Wang's secret hint made Eunuch Ping's face turn pale. Li Chunxiang's participation in the competition was arranged by him in private. Eunuch Wang said this because he wanted to hold him accountable.
Eunuch Ping wiped his sweat and walked to Eunuch Ping's side feeling embarrassed.
"This decision..."
"Okay, you have been staying in the imperial dining room for several years, and this is not the first time you have come out to do things. The imperial hospital in the palace is for treating illnesses and saving people. How can you take care of the imperial dining room?"
Eunuch Wang looked displeased. His words were alluding to the nosy Eunuch Chen of Taiyuan Hospital. As for who else was behind Eunuch Chen, he didn't seem to care. After all, the deputy general manager in the palace was only one step away.
Now that he has climbed to the position of general manager, he even wants to please the queen in the palace. Who can he be afraid of? Usually they just give each other face.
Undoubtedly, the reason that Wang Gonggong appeared this time was to let Chu Qiao know that if you dare to offend him, you will never have a good life.
Chu Qiao pursed her lips and stood there, muttering secretly in her heart that he would not use the power in his hands to drive her, a person who had passed the fifth level, out of the dining room. If that was the case, all her previous efforts would have been wasted.
"But Eunuch Ping, this is not what Eunuch Chen means..."
Eunuch Ping seemed to be helpless, but he couldn't say it in front of so many people, so he had no choice but to lean into Eunuch Wang's ear and say something.
Eunuch Wang frowned and glanced at Chu Qiao.
"Do you think my father-in-law is afraid of him?" he said coldly.
"If Eunuch Wang thinks this is appropriate, I have nothing to say." Eunuch Ping took a step back and stopped reminding him. The matter was over, and he had to protect himself and get out in time.
The prince's face twisted, but his voice was still a little stern.
"My father-in-law also heard a secret report, saying that this competition was unfair. A person who carried water and swept the floor in the royal kitchen actually came to participate in the competition as a cook. If she gets the upper hand and word spreads, my father-in-law will act as
The deputy general manager in the palace also has a bad face, don’t you think so?”
"That's what my father-in-law said."
Eunuch Ping didn't even raise his eyebrows. He had given his face to Taiyuan Hospital. If Eunuch Wang wanted to crush him, it would be a conflict between Eunuch Wang and Taiyuan Hospital. It had nothing to do with him.
He was willing to wait and see, even a little gloating about his misfortune.
"Little Qianzi, who is the water-carrying boy here?" Wang Gonggong squinted his eyes and asked the presiding eunuch pretending not to know.
The presiding eunuch named Xiao Qianzi seized the opportunity and immediately pointed his finger at Chu Qiao.
"Li Chunxiang, a handyman in the imperial dining room."
After saying Li Chunxiang's name, a proud smile appeared on Xiao Qianzi's face. Now someone finally took care of this little palace maid.