Chapter 522: Rebellion
"Boss, how did the culinary showdown go?"
One of Zhao Yangfan's trusted aides rushed forward immediately after hearing that the Bright Court Pavilion group had returned. However, the moment he saw the heavy, dispirited expressions on the four men's faces, his heart skipped a beat.
An unbelievable thought suddenly appeared in his mind.
"We… lost?"
Zhao Yangfan nodded numbly, confirming the aide's guess.
The aide's face filled with shock.
"This…"
Zhao Yangfan gave him a look, stopping him from continuing, then waved a hand.
"The three of you have worked hard today. Go get some rest. You all already did your best this time."
Hearing those words, the expressions of the three chefs improved somewhat. It seemed that Zhao Yangfan did not intend to place responsibility for this defeat on them.
The three chefs took their leave, while Zhao Yangfan slowly returned to his room. The trusted aide hurriedly followed behind him.
"Boss, putting up a recommendation for that restaurant right at Bright Court Pavilion's entrance will deal a huge blow to our reputation. If necessary… shouldn't we think of a way to go back on our word? After all, we're backed by the imperial family. The Culinary Association surely can't do anything to us," the aide said in a low voice after gently closing the door.
"Backed by the imperial family?" Zhao Yangfan could not help sighing bitterly. "Wasn't the Bright Court Pavilion's defeat in this showdown precisely thanks to the imperial family?"
"Thanks to the imperial family?" Confusion appeared on the aide's face.
Zhao Yangfan had always been extremely respectful toward the imperial family. He had often said that everything he had today was thanks to their support.
But now, hidden within his words, there seemed to be traces of resentment toward them.
Zhao Yangfan glanced at the aide and sighed softly, but did not explain further.
Although this aide was the person he trusted most, if word got out that he had already developed rebellious thoughts, the imperial family would never spare him. Therefore, even with his closest confidant, he still needed to remain cautious.
Since this entire matter had been the Emperor's intention, then losing the culinary showdown had never been the Emperor's true objective.
Making Bright Court Pavilion obediently recommend Han Shi for an entire week—using the popularity and reputation accumulated over centuries to elevate Han Shi instead—that was the Emperor's real goal.
Although Zhao Yangfan did not understand why the Emperor had suddenly become so determined to revitalize Mingke Street, Bright Court Pavilion had clearly become nothing more than a stepping stone for achieving that goal.
So go back on their word?
Impossible.
The only thing Zhao Yangfan could do now was follow the Emperor's wishes and obediently allow Bright Court Pavilion to serve as a proper stepping stone.
"Go have someone make a notice board. Tomorrow morning, place it in the most eye-catching spot outside the entrance. Mark Han Shi's exact location and write: 'Bright Court Pavilion willingly admits defeat and hereby recommends this establishment.'"
"Huh?" The aide was stunned. "Boss, we don't need to put it somewhere that noticeable. And the recommendation rules don't require wording like that. We don't even have to specify the exact location…"
Although the losing side in a culinary showdown had to recommend the winner for a week, the exact manner of recommendation could still be adjusted at their own discretion.
By Zhao Yangfan's logic, it was like someone asking you to buy a cup of milk tea, only for you to buy one of every single drink in the store and then head next door to purchase every kind of bread to pair with them.
"Do as I say." Zhao Yangfan's tone grew heavier.
Without destruction, there could be no rebirth.
If the Bright Court Pavilion did not completely shatter the golden signboard bestowed upon it by the imperial family, how could it ever achieve true renewal?
"…Understood." Seeing Zhao Yangfan's unwavering attitude, the aide could only obey.
Only after the aide had also left the room did Zhao Yangfan finally slump weakly into his chair.
Sun Moon Imperial Family…
If you are heartless, then don't blame me for being unjust.
Crack!
The armrest of the chair shattered beneath the force of his grip. Zhao Yangfan closed his eyes painfully.
This could not continue.
The Bright Court Pavilion had to break free from the chains imposed by the imperial family.
Countless times in the past, the advantages brought by the imperial family had elevated the Bright Court Pavilion.
But now, those same ties had become the noose hanging above its head.
He needed to seriously think about how to resolve this problem.
…
"Welcome—ah?"
Meng Yun looked at the customers entering the restaurant and revealed a puzzled expression.
These two looked somewhat familiar…
Then she remembered.
They had been sitting in the front row of the judges' panel during the culinary showdown that afternoon. One of them seemed to be the president of the Culinary Association, while the one beside him was the owner of Heavenly Star Palace, who had apparently visited once yesterday at noon and had also been one of today's judges.
"You're Han Shi's server, right?" Ye Ansheng smiled slightly. "Where should we sit?"
"This way, please." Meng Yun snapped back to her senses and quickly guided the two men to an empty table.
After sitting down, neither man waited for Meng Yun to introduce the menu before eagerly opening it themselves.
Ye Ansheng's curiosity went without saying. Along the way, he had heard Wu Henian describe many of Han Shi's unique qualities. Forget the unfamiliar dishes listed on the menu—even the menu itself fascinated him, making him eager to examine it immediately.
As for Wu Henian…
He mainly wanted to know exactly what the dish Qi Han had presented during the third round of the culinary showdown actually was. He had originally intended to ask Qi Han after the voting ended, but Qi Han had escaped too quickly, leaving him without the chance. So now he could only search for the answer in the menu himself.
After glancing through the table of contents, Wu Henian's brows slowly furrowed.
It wasn't there?
Compared to yesterday at noon, the menu had not changed at all.
Could it be that they simply hadn't had time to update the menu yet?
That was certainly possible. After all, such an exquisite menu could not have been easy to produce.
Thinking this, Wu Henian simply raised his head and directly asked Meng Yun,
"I remember you were also present at the culinary showdown this afternoon. I'd like to ask—what was the name of the dish Boss Qi presented in the third round? Has that dish been officially released yet? And what is its price?"
Faced with Wu Henian's rapid string of questions, Meng Yun smiled slightly.
"That dish is called low-spec Wensi Tofu. The boss said the dish still hasn't been fully perfected, so it hasn't been released for sale yet."
During the staff meal earlier that evening, Meng Yun had been utterly astonished after tasting the dish herself, and she had naturally asked Qi Han those same questions. What she had just said was exactly his original answer, repeated word for word.
The reason Qi Han had said that was because, according to the system rules, the downgraded Wensi Tofu could not officially be sold. At the same time, he did not want to release the true 3 Star Wensi Tofu within the Sun Moon Empire.
After considering things carefully, this excuse had seemed the most appropriate.
"Low-spec Wensi Tofu… low-spec?" This was the first time Wu Henian had learned the dish's name.
Although Qi Han had told Chef Jin earlier, his voice had been too quiet, and the judges' seats had been too far away for Wu Henian to hear clearly. Now that he finally heard the name, his expression instantly became strange.
Beside him, Ye Ansheng also lifted his head from the menu with a face full of astonishment.
From the strange name of the dish and Meng Yun's explanation, the two men quickly grasped the implication.
The dish's final intended name should simply be Wensi Tofu.
However, it had not yet been completely perfected, so the current version still failed to achieve the effect Qi Han truly wanted. Therefore, he had not released it for sale and planned to continue refining it further before doing so.
So…
The dish that had defeated Chef Jin's proud new creation and left all the judges speechless in amazement was merely an unfinished prototype?!