Chapter 89: A Grand Banquet (Part 1)

"Let’s not talk about that for now. Why do you all say I still owe you a meal? Didn’t I treat everyone to dinner in the square that day?” Ye Lang asked with some confusion. “Don’t tell me you want to do it again?”

After that event, the initial plan was for everyone to eat separately and claim their own expenses. But then, someone suddenly proposed that everyone should gather and eat together somewhere. With such a large crowd, an ordinary place simply wouldn’t suffice.

The first choice was the square in front of the palace, as it was the largest space available, but since it was right before the imperial city, it wasn’t a place one could use at will.

The second choice was the city’s central square. Although it wasn’t as spacious as the one before the palace, grand celebrations were often held there, and the people were accustomed to such gatherings.

After some deliberation, everyone chose the central square. However, the emperor and his entourage also attended, which turned what began as a spontaneous event into a legendary gathering, one that would be remembered for generations!

Because of the sheer number of people present, and the diversity of their backgrounds, and since Ye Lang welcomed all comers, those who weren’t in the arena at first soon arrived after hearing the news and joined in as well.

The crowd grew larger and larger until the square was packed to the brim. People spilled into the surrounding areas, with the streets overflowing and rivers of people streaming out from the square in all directions.

But it wasn’t just a matter of people gathering together—everyone contributed to preparing this massive banquet. If only a few had to prepare a feast for tens of thousands, it would have been impossible. But with tens of thousands working together, it took no time at all.

Moving tables and chairs, setting out bowls and plates, transporting ingredients, cooking, serving the dishes—

The entire city was mobilized!

This three-day grand banquet became a citywide celebration. Not even the grandest festivals had ever reached such a scale. The spectacle left the emperor and all who attended marveling in awe!

During the feast, all distinctions of class, wealth, and status were forgotten.

Everyone remembered only one thing: to eat meat heartily and drink wine by the bowlful! To be merry, to be happy!

What a rare and beautiful scene this was. Who could have imagined that such a gathering was possible because of one person? And who would have thought that the one with such influence would be Ye Lang, the infamous wastrel!

And at that moment, Ye Lang was only concerned with one thing:

“Who spiked my tea with wine?! I don’t drink alcohol!”

After just a little alcohol, Ye Lang’s cheeks flushed red, and soon he started acting tipsy. “Sister, I want to sing for you!”

“Really?”

“Pig, your nose has two holes—”

“You scoundrel, how dare you tease your sister! Go to hell!” Ye Lanyu, furious, threw a punch at him. But Ye Lang, surprisingly nimble, dodged it and simply lay down on the ground, falling soundly asleep.

Everyone knew he never drank, and that he’d never touched alcohol before, but no one expected he’d get drunk after just a sip.

After Ye Lang collapsed, Ye Lanyu, the Seventh Princess, and Zhen Xiaoyan—who was serving dishes and had once again taken up her role as Ye Lang’s chef—rushed over. They scrambled to pick him up, and after confirming he was truly passed out, escorted him home together.

Long Anqi felt gratified yet slightly discomfited by this. She hadn’t even had a chance to help before these girls had already taken over caring for Ye Lang.

After that, though the main character was gone, the crowd’s spirits remained high, and the festivities continued long into the night before finally coming to a reluctant end.

Of course, Ye Lang, drunk and unconscious, knew nothing of what transpired afterward, but one thing he was certain of: he had already hosted the feast!

Since he’d already done so, what were these people talking about now? Ye Lang didn’t mind hosting another, but something about their claim seemed off. Why did they say he still owed them a meal?

“Excuse me, but I believe I’ve already hosted you. I don’t owe you anything,” Ye Lang said, as polite and even-tempered as ever.

“Uh, Thirteenth Young Master, you misunderstood! The debt we mentioned isn’t that you owe us,” someone explained after a brief pause.

“Oh, then could you please make way? We’re just out shopping,” Ye Lang replied, preparing to pull his cousin along.

“Wait, Thirteenth Young Master, you may not owe us, but we owe you a meal!” they quickly said.

“You owe me?” Ye Lang was puzzled. He couldn’t recall them owing him anything.

“Don’t you remember? We said if you helped us win money, we’d treat you to a lavish feast!” someone reminded him.

“Oh, right, I suppose you did. So, what are you treating me to?” Though Ye Lang was known for his prodigality, if someone wanted to treat him, he’d never refuse, especially if it had already been agreed upon.

“What would you like to eat?” As hosts, they naturally had to ask the guest’s preference.

“I want Xiaoqin’s dishes!” Ye Lang answered instantly, without even thinking. What he wanted most was always Zhen Xiaoyan’s cooking.

“Fatty? Oh, you mean Zhen Xiaoyan. I know her—she often cooks at Zhen’s Flavors Tavern. But for some reason, her food is rarely served to customers. Still, those who’ve tasted it say her skill is unrivaled, simply out of this world,” one person said expectantly.

It seemed everyone knew that, in Ye Lang’s eyes, Zhen Xiaoyan was forever “Fatty”—even though now, she was lovely and beautiful, admired by all, and hardly matched the nickname.

“That’s because she cooks for herself. And for me,” Ye Lang revealed candidly.

“No way—she’s so dainty now, how could she eat so much?” they wondered aloud, suspecting Ye Lang was the real recipient. Though they’d never heard of Ye Lang having a big appetite, they were willing to believe it.

“What? Fatty has to eat that much now. Otherwise, her health will suffer,” Ye Lang replied offhandedly. “Anyway, if you’re treating, let’s go to Zhen’s Flavors Tavern. It’s good business for her family, and if she’s there, even better.”

“Alright!”

So, the group set off in grand procession for the tavern. Along the way, the crowd grew, with more people joining in as word spread. It looked like another impromptu feast in the making—who knew if the tavern could even accommodate everyone.

“Is Zhen Xiaoyan here?” someone asked as soon as they entered the tavern.

“Yes, she’s here today—she didn’t go to the academy and is in the kitchen now. But she may not be able to cook for you,” the waiter replied deftly, as if he’d fielded this question countless times before.

Indeed, he had. Countless people showed up every day just for her, and the tavern’s business had soared overnight.

Although most guests didn’t get to taste Zhen Xiaoyan’s cooking, once they arrived, they still stayed for a meal. They wouldn’t leave just because they couldn’t have her dishes.

This pattern had begun long ago, but after that legendary banquet, it exploded—especially after Zhen Xiaoyan cooked a table of dishes for the emperor and his court. Though she’d originally made them for Ye Lang, the emperor and the others benefited as well.

In the end, Ye Lang barely ate any—he was already passed out drunk!

It was the emperor and his retinue who truly enjoyed her cooking.

Regardless, Zhen Xiaoyan’s food left the emperor and his circle astonished, confirming her peerless culinary skills and giving the Zhen family’s tavern a massive boost.

“Anyone else, she may not cook for—but for one person, she always will!” someone said with a confident smile.

But—

“I’ve heard that line so many times today, and if you count before today, I’ve lost track. Everyone says it, but the result is always the same!” the waiter replied, still perfectly composed. “I advise you not to get your hopes up too high. Our head chef is among the best and won’t disappoint you.”

Many believed that, given their status, Zhen Xiaoyan would make an exception for them. But they never considered that she didn’t care in the least. She wasn’t there to be a chef for others—she cooked for herself, and the ingredients were conveniently available here.

Her presence always gave her family a headache, as she used up the best ingredients. But no one stopped her—she could take whatever she wanted.

However, most of what she took was rare and hard to find.

“If it weren’t for these rare ingredients, would I even come here? I could get what I need at home!” was her retort. She only came for the ingredients; otherwise, with her family’s kitchen just as well-equipped as the tavern’s, there’d be no need to come here.

The Zhen family tried to hide these rare ingredients, but she always found them with uncanny ease. No matter where they were hidden, she could sniff them out.

Over time, her family grew resigned. They had no other solution!

But recently, things had changed. With Zhen Xiaoyan’s growing fame—whether as an unrivaled talent and beauty or for her culinary prowess praised even by the emperor—the tavern was attracting more guests than ever. Now, her family wished she’d come every day and spend all her time there.

Because of this, they tried to get her to cook for the guests, but Zhen Xiaoyan paid no mind. She only searched for ingredients, cooked her own dishes, and then left with them. The most exasperating thing for her family was that she had only one real goal—

To make delicious food for Ye Lang!