The Female Supporting Role Shows Out

Chapter 33

Translator: NovelMultiverse | Editor: NovelMultiverse

Lin Dan's bold speech had surprised the Emperor. He originally looked down on this plain-looking woman, but there was already a hint of interest in his eyes. He replied, "Of course, I must ensure the fairness of this competition. I will only watch and not comment. Your cooking skills will be judged by these old food connoisseurs and chefs. They will have the final say."

Lin Dan faced the judges and gave them a bow one by one. She said, "Even so, this competition is still unfair to me. Imperial Chef Yan is very much favored by you, Your Majesty. You have provided her with the Fragrant Garden to hold the competition and even came here personally. It is obvious that you're showing favoritism towards her. Being the ruler of the country, I'm sure your people would also not dare to defy your will. Today, as soon as I stepped into the Fragrant Garden, I know I've lost. If this was plain to me, I'm sure the wise and all-knowing Emperor would understand this too."

Everyone was horrified to hear this, as they had never expected Lin Dan to be so candid with her opinions.

But the Emperor gave a hearty laugh, his eyes filled with interest. "In that case, what do you think I should do? Do you want to continue this competition?"

Yan Langqing showed a mixed expression. If possible, she would naturally want to compete with Lin Dan fair and square, but she was unable to refuse the Emperor's kindness. But Yan Shouye felt that there was no need to continue the competition at all and thought Lin Dan had come to be humiliated. "Once my daughter becomes a concubine, I will kill her!" He thought.

However, Lin Dan nodded without hesitation and said, "I will continue, of course. But to ensure fairness, would you allow me to set the rules, Your Majesty? Back then, when I competed with Imperial Chef Yan for the first time, Imperial Chef Yan was also the one who set the rules as I was the head chef of the marquis residence and was favored by the marquis. She had decided the content, rules, and judges of the competition. Now that the situation is reversed, I'm making the same request. I reckon this is not too much to ask for?"

The Emperor glanced at Yan Langqing and nodded, "Indeed, it sounds fair to me. Tell me, how would you like to hold the competition?"

Lin Dan may seem to have the upper hand, but the Emperor still had the final say. Even if she made the most delicious dish, a word from the judges could easily push her down into the abyss. The so-called fairness had never existed in the face of power. Lin Dan was bold, but not brilliant. The Emperor shook his head thinking of this and had lost all interest in her.

Lin Dan steadily replied, "In this competition, we will use the same ingredients to make the same dish, and just one dish."

Yan Langqing asked, "What do you want to make?"

"Since the Dragon Boat Festival is coming, shall we make rice dumplings?" Lin Dan tilted her head and smiled at her.

Yan Langqing was stunned. She took a while to snap out of her thoughts and nodded slowly. From Lin Dan's four signature dishes, Yan Langqing had some understanding of her current level and thought she would want to compete on an extremely difficult dish. Little did she expect that Lin Dan would propose to compete making rice dumplings. However, Yan Langqing was not taken aback at all. The concubines in the palace loved dumplings too and the various kinds of dumplings she made were well received. This was why she was not afraid of competing on this dish. The concubines were extremely picky when it came to food, and she was sure that the judges would be satisfied with her cooking if she was able to even satisfy the concubines.

"Let's make fifty catties of rice dumplings, and only meat dumplings, is that alright?" Lin Dan continued.

"Fifty catties?" Yan Langqing finally showed a surprised expression.