As if to confirm their suspicions, sure enough, not long after, a familiar voice came from the room.
"Brother Su has endured ten years of hard study and finally won the top prize in one go. During the palace examination, he answered questions fluently. Truly, there is always a new generation of talented people. In the future, he will surely become a pillar of the nation!"
The speaker was none other than Imperial Envoy Lin. Peering through the crack of the private - room door, one could faintly see that he was sitting in the seat of honor, surrounded by several high - ranking court officials dressed in silk.
Su Buchi looked calm, sitting in the last seat. There was no sign of joy or anger on his face.
"I've heard that Brother Su is the proud disciple of the great Confucian Yan Lianzhi. Now that he has passed the imperial examination with flying colors, it's a matter of great honor for the entire school. Master Yan is really blessed to have such a promising disciple!"
Seeing that Imperial Envoy Lin seemed to highly praise Su Buchi, those civil officials, all good at following the trend, quickly flattered him along with the envoy.
These slippery official phrases made Li Ying frown secretly.
Su Buchi was such a noble and upright person. Even the praise from the fishermen in the village had made him feel over - complimented. Now, hearing these exaggerated and undisguised words of praise, he felt as if sitting on pins and needles and extremely uncomfortable.
"My teacher dislikes the officialdom. My entering the official career has already violated his order. Please don't make such jokes!"
Su Buchi's words were quite blunt. The officials present looked at each other, and a look of embarrassment appeared on their faces.
Imperial Envoy Lin, who had seen many storms, forced out a dry laugh and reached out his hand to serve food for Su Buchi.
"Brother Su, what are you talking about? We are gathered here today just to welcome Brother Su. We will be colleagues in the court in the future. Why make it so unpleasant?"
He wore an impeccable smile, but this hypocritical look really disgusted Su Buchi.
"Brother Su, come and taste this 'Dripping Guanyin'. It's the signature dish of Yunlaixuan. You can't taste it anywhere else."
Su Buchi looked up and saw a rather plump two - headed abalone on the white jade plate. It was stewed to be extremely soft and glistening with thick sauce, giving off a fragrant smell. It was obvious that a great deal of effort had been put into it.
He chewed the food in his mouth slowly, with a thoughtful look on his face. Seeing his expression, those civil officials thought he was inexperienced and their words were tinged with a bit of disdainful mockery.
"What's wrong, Brother Su? Maybe you're not used to these delicacies after staying in the countryside for a long time?"
"Brother Su, don't be so polite. We have no ill intentions. It's just that we capital officials always hold a 'Tail - Burning Banquet' as a rule. This 'Dripping Guanyin' is to remind officials to always abide by their duties and be compassionate towards the common people."
"For the soup of this Dripping Guanyin, it has to be cooked for a full three days. On the first day, a young chicken is tied to the pot lid and steamed for two hours, and only the clear soup is taken. On the second day, an old duck is used instead, and on the third day, a young pigeon. Only by stewing the two - headed abalone with the essence steamed out can we get this extremely delicious taste."
"And that dish of chicken marrow and crispy bamboo shoots is made by taking out the bone marrow of a black - boned chicken and stuffing it into bamboo shoots. It's very labor - intensive and particular."
"This is Imperial Envoy Lin's good intention. Brother Su, do you understand?"
Listening to their chattering and recalling the situation in the fishing village, Su Buchi felt that Imperial Envoy Lin in front of him seemed to be wearing a kind - looking and smiling mask.
He couldn't tear off that hypocritical mask of Imperial Envoy Lin. The abalone meat in his mouth seemed to turn into a lump of maggots that he couldn't chew or swallow, making him feel extremely nauseous.
His face darkened. He put down his chopsticks, stood up, looked around, and asked in a deep voice, "Good intention? Compassion?"
Although Su Buchi had been in the capital for several days and had always been rather cold - shouldered to them, he had never shown his anger before. Now that he suddenly changed his expression, they were all taken aback.
Su Buchi glanced at the two - headed abalone and said coldly, "I've stayed in the fishing village for several months. I naturally know how rare this two - headed abalone is."
"For just a Tail - Burning Banquet, even the plates and bowls are made of white jade. The dishes are made of exquisite ingredients and have complicated procedures. Such a waste of people's efforts and money, and you still dare to say it's a good intention?"
"What compassion, what upright civil officials? You're probably just moths! No wonder my teacher didn't want his disciples to enter the official career. He was afraid that I would be contaminated by you!"
Su Buchi was no longer willing to play along with them. He got up angrily and left the table.
Those civil officials were stunned. They never expected that this seemingly gentle and frail Su Buchi would be such a tough nut to crack. They could only watch him strut away proudly.
After he walked a few steps, Imperial Envoy Lin shouted, "Su Buchi, if you're so arrogant and unruly, you'll surely give others something to talk about!"
Yunlaixuan was the private property of one of the civil officials at the table. Hearing their quarrel, the shopkeeper quickly stood in front of Su Buchi with a embarrassed look on his face.
"Lord Su, our place is too small to accommodate a big shot like you. Please go back. As for your Tail - Burning Banquet, please find another place!"
Imperial Envoy Lin was right. According to the rule, whenever a scholar passed the imperial examination or an official was promoted, he had to hold a Tail - Burning Banquet himself to thank the emperor for his appreciation. Otherwise, it would be improper.
This Tail - Burning Banquet was often made of luxurious ingredients and extremely grand in style. It was really a very profitable business, and most of those who could do this business were the high - ranking noble families in the capital.
The people at the table exchanged a look. Although they didn't say a word, they had already made up their minds.
Since Su Buchi was so arrogant, the restaurants under their families would surely not take on his Tail - Burning Banquet. They wanted to make this newly - crowned champion lose face!
Su Buchi paused slightly but didn't take their threats to heart.
He walked away but saw Li Ying and Lu Xunguang standing at the door.
"Little Uncle - Master, what a coincidence."
Li Ying smiled sweetly. She looked up at Imperial Envoy Lin, curtsied slightly, and said, "Lord Lin, long time no see."
She glanced at the leftovers on the table and said calmly, "It's just a Tail - Burning Banquet. Little Uncle - Master, just leave it to A Ying."
Su Buchi had helped her several times. Now that Imperial Envoy Lin and the others deliberately tried to give him a hard time, how could she stand by and do nothing?
Lu Xunguang also said, "Uncle - Master Su, don't worry. Whether it's flying in the sky, running on the ground, or swimming in the water, as long as you give an order, A Xun will surely find them all!"
Su Buchi naturally trusted Li Ying's cooking skills. He nodded slightly. Seeing that there were many on - lookers outside the private room, he simply said loudly, "Everyone, three days later will be the day of my Tail - Burning Banquet. If anyone is willing to come, you're welcome to come and taste it!"
The people in the capital had never heard that an official's Tail - Burning Banquet would be open to commoners. They all found it very strange.
Li Ying knew that his move was also intended to give her a chance to show her skills. By the name of the Tail - Burning Banquet, she could gain a foothold in the capital. She thanked Su Buchi and couldn't help smiling.