The Female Supporting Role Shows Out

Chapter 36

Translator: NovelMultiverse | Editor: NovelMultiverse

It was precisely because Yan Langqing served the "Fortune Meat" that she stood out at the Longevity Banquet and was hired by the Emperor to be an imperial chef. However, it turned out that this so-called signature dish of hers was actually stolen from someone else. Although Lin Dan had no proof, she could recreate the appearance and fragrance of the dish with only a few pieces of tofu. She could make it even better than Yan Langqing's dish, which was enough to prove the authenticity of her words.

Besides, both of her father's apprentices were working as chefs at Yan's restaurant, and they earned a hefty sum each month. It would not be difficult to find out the truth if they were brought in for an interrogation.

However, the Emperor did not care less about the situation. He was the ruler of the nation and nobody could lay a finger on the person he wanted to protect. Hence, Yan Langqing was taken away without even questioning about the lies she told him and the competition was ended in an unceremonious manner. Fortunately, Lin Dan did not mind these things and left the Fragrant Garden after wrapping the golden knife and the recipe book in a piece of red silk.

Tang Jiu whispered behind her, "No wonder you told me not to worry about it. Have you already thought of a strategy when you came?"

Before Lin Dan could answer, Marquis Weiyuan strode over and jokingly said, "Manager Lin, I am thirty-nine this year and had a wife who has passed away. I have no children nor concubines, but I have status and power. If you don't mind, how about tying the knot with me?"

Lin Dan looked at him in surprise, unable to respond for a long time.

Tang Jiu frowned and yelled, "Marquis, please do not pull a joke on Manager Lin like this and tarnish her chastity!"

"Did I say it's a joke? I'm serious! If I can marry such an intelligent and virtuous woman like Manager Lin, it'd be a great blessing of mine. Young marquis, you seem pretty anxious. Don't tell me you're also interested in Manager Lin?"

"What nonsense!" Tang Jiu hurriedly turned around and looked at Lin Dan, but she was already been pulled away by Prince Cheng and Prince Gong to have a conversation. Not before long, she boarded the carriage and left without any intention of staying. For ordinary people, marrying into a family of status seemed to be a stroke of luck, but for her, it spelled trouble.

Besides cooking, she seemed to have little interest in the things of the world. Her contradicting character of being desireless yet extremely serious in all she does had attracted people towards her. Tang Jiu started at the carriage that was moving away and had a defeated look on his face. Meanwhile, Marquis Weiyuan fiddled the ring on his finger and had a pair of determined eyes.

At the same time, Yan Langqing was kneeling down beside the Emperor in fear, while he slowly opened an Ash Water Dumpling and relished it satisfyingly.

"I didn't expect that the rice dumplings soaked in ash water would be so delicious. Get the chefs in the imperial kitchen to study how to recreate this and make them as they are." Yan Langqing was by his side, but he never mentioned that she would be the one to take up the job. It was obvious that he had a worse impression of Yan Langqing after that competition and the disputes that were uncovered earlier.

Yan Langqing's face turned pale immediately.

When the carriage passed through Qingyun Lane, the Emperor said, "Stop. Send a few people to seal the Yan's restaurant."

Yan Langqing suddenly lifted her head in horror.

The Emperor glanced at her and smiled casually, "Why? You issued an imperial decree on my behalf and monopolized the market. Do you think I would let this off so easily?" As he spoke, the desperate and anxious Yan Shouye shouted from a carriage behind. He repeatedly asked the guards what gave them the right to close his restaurant. The guard pointed to the carriage in front, saying that it was the Emperor's instruction. He kept silent immediately, as though his tongue had been cut away.