So nervous, so nervous! My heart was pounding like a drum. Everyone present was watching me, including Master Zamuka, who looked utterly unimpressed.

Take deep breaths, Fenglin, deep breaths! You possess the divine sense of taste—you can't falter at a moment like this!


I forced myself to calm down and carefully observed the frostwolf meat and fire carp again. While pondering earlier, I suddenly remembered a principle my grandmother told me when I was a child—sometimes the more seemingly impossible combinations can create miracles.

"Your servant requires an extremely cold silver plate and a sharp thin-bladed knife." I tried to keep my voice as composed as possible.

"Prepare it at once!" the emperor immediately ordered.


Soon, the necessary tools were brought over. The silver plate was icy cold, chilling to the touch like holding a block of ice.

I took a deep breath and began my performance.


First, I handled the fire carp. I carefully sliced the fish into extremely thin pieces, each as delicate as a cicada's wing and almost transparent. This required exceptionally precise knife skills; the slightest mistake could tear the fish apart.

"Such knife skills..." the steward murmured softly beside me, "to be able to slice it so thinly..."

Zha Muhe also furrowed his brow, clearly not expecting me to possess such technique.

After slicing the fish, I immediately arranged the pieces one by one on a chilled silver platter. The fish slices, upon meeting the cold, became even more crystalline and translucent, like semi-transparent petals.

The next step was the crucial one—handling the frost wolf meat.

I roasted the frost wolf meat over the fire, but only until it was half-cooked. This way, it would release its aroma while still retaining the cold essence within. Then, with the utmost speed, I minced the meat into extremely fine particles.

During the roasting process, a unique fragrance filled the entire hall. It was the distinct, refreshing scent of frost wolf meat, mingling with the smoky aroma of charcoal, a wild yet warm combination.

"This aroma..." Jamuka's expression changed subtly, "It manages to maintain the heat without destroying the cold essence of the meat..."

Haha! It seems my judgment was correct!

The minced meat, freshly chopped, was still steaming hot. I picked up the small plate containing the minced meat and, under the rapt attention of everyone, slowly poured the scalding meat over the icy fish slices.

"Sizzle—"

The moment the minced meat touched the fish slices, a crisp sound erupted. At the instant of the clash between hot and cold, the fish immediately curled and turned white, while the heat of the minced meat was instantly neutralized.

Incredible! I witnessed firsthand the magical chemical reaction that occurred when two completely opposing ingredients collided. The fishy smell and the meat's heat completely vanished, replaced by an unprecedented freshness and aroma!

That aroma was hard to describe—it wasn’t the freshness of fish nor the richness of meat, but an entirely new scent! It was like... like spring snow meeting a spring thunderstorm, blossoming into new life at the moment of melting!

"What... what is this smell?" an official couldn’t help but exclaim.

"So fragrant! I’ve never smelled anything like this before!"

"It’s truly incredible!"

Even Jamukha widened his eyes, clearly stunned by the result.

But this wasn’t the end! The most exciting part was yet to come!

I pulled out a small bottle from my chest, containing a special sauce I had secretly prepared over the past few days. This sauce blended the traditional spices of our Flameheart with some spice powder I had "borrowed" from the Northaven envoy—of course, through legitimate means! I would never steal!

"This is..." Jamukha narrowed his eyes.

"This is a special sauce I’ve crafted," I said with a hint of pride, "combining the essence of spices from both nations."

I gently drizzled a few drops of sauce over the dish. The sauce showed a pale golden color, emitting a complex aroma—both the mild richness of our Flameheart spices and the wild intensity of Northaven spices.

The moment the sauce seeped into the ingredients, the entire dish radiated a fresh brilliance. The layers of fragrance became even more intricate, like a complex symphony where every note was perfectly placed.

"Done!" I wiped the sweat from my forehead. "Please, everyone, have a taste!"

The emperor was the first to pick up a bite with his chopsticks. I nervously watched his expression, my heart leaping into my throat.

Chew... chew...

The emperor's expression shifted from confusion to surprise, and then to admiration!

"Marvelous! Absolutely marvelous!" the emperor exclaimed excitedly. "This flavor... I’ve never experienced anything like it! It has the tenderness of fish, the richness of meat, yet it’s completely unlike either!"

The other officials also tasted it one by one, and each of their faces lit up with surprise.

But what I cared about most was Jamukha's reaction. He picked up his chopsticks, his expression serious, and took a small piece into his mouth.

Time seemed to stand still.

Jamukha chewed slowly, the expression in his eyes shifting constantly. From initial doubt to surprise, and then to deep astonishment.

"This... this flavor..." Jamukha's voice trembled, "It reminds me of the snowy mountains of my homeland... that pure and majestic feeling..."

He took another bite, closed his eyes, and savored it carefully: "And... and the great river of my homeland... that unending surge of life..."

At this point, Jamukha even seemed to choke up: "Young lady, this dish of yours... it’s not just food, it’s more like a poem, a painting! You’ve sung a harmonious song of two cultures with your ingredients!"

Wow! Even Master Jamukha said so! My heart was practically soaring!

"Your humble servant does not deserve this..." I replied modestly, though my heart was already blooming with joy.

"No! You deserve it!" Jamukha stood up and bowed deeply to me. "I underestimated the culinary arts of Flameheart, and even more so, the talent of this young lady! This dish perfectly embodies the fusion of our two cultures, and I am utterly convinced!"

The grand hall erupted in enthusiastic applause. The emperor was grinning from ear to ear.

"Excellent! Absolutely splendid!" the emperor stood up. "Fenglin, you have brought honor to me and to the entire Flameheart Empire! Servants! Prepare a generous reward!"

"Reward her with a hundred taels of gold, ten bolts of silk, and a string of pearl bracelets!" the eunuch proclaimed loudly.

Oh heavens! Such lavish rewards! I could hardly believe my ears!

"I thank Your Majesty for your grace!" I quickly knelt down to express my gratitude.

The banquet continued amidst laughter and cheers, and the atmosphere between the envoys of the two nations became exceptionally harmonious. My dish, "Symphony of Ice and Fire"—the name given by the emperor—became the highlight of the entire banquet.

Seeing everyone rejoice in my success warmed my heart. Although the process was nerve-wracking, the result was truly satisfying!

After the banquet, I dragged my exhausted body back to the imperial kitchen. Today had been extremely tiring—I had to endure immense psychological pressure while maintaining intense focus to complete that complex dish.

"Fenglin! You were amazing today!" Jade exclaimed excitedly as she ran over. "You have no idea, everyone in the grand hall was praising you just now!"

"Yes, yes! Even the head steward’s face was beaming with joy!" The other kitchen maids chimed in, all talking at once.

I scratched my head sheepishly, "It was just luck..."

"Luck? More like skill!" Jade retorted.

Just as we were chatting animatedly, the steward rushed in, his face pale and grim.

"Feng Lin! Something terrible has happened!" the steward gasped out.

"What is it?" My heart immediately clenched.

"Someone found the precious spices meant for the state banquet in your locker!" The steward's voice trembled. "Now the censors are accusing you of stealing palace property!"

What?!

I felt the world spinning around me, barely able to stand. How could this be? When did I ever steal spices?

"It's impossible! I didn’t steal anything!" I quickly defended myself.

"I know you wouldn’t steal," the steward said anxiously, "but with both witnesses and evidence, the censors are already on their way!"

Disaster, disaster! Just moments ago, I was on cloud nine, and now I’m about to fall into hell! What on earth is going on?

Just as I was at a loss, a familiar voice came from outside the door: "Wait."

I turned to look—it was Ashen Gonggong! Why would he appear at this moment?

Eunuch Ashen entered, holding a small package in his hand.

"Eunuch! How did you..." I was about to speak but was stopped by his gaze.

"Fenglin is indeed innocent," Eunuch Ashen said calmly. "These spices were deliberately planted to frame him."

"Do you have any evidence?" the chief steward eagerly asked.

Eunuch Ashen opened the package in his hand, which contained some strange tools and a piece of paper.

"This is a surveillance device I installed in a hidden spot in the kitchen," Eunuch Ashen explained. "It recorded the entire process of someone sneaking into the kitchen late at night and secretly placing the spices in Fenglin's storage cabinet."

A surveillance device? When did Eunuch Ashen...

"Moreover," Eunuch Ashen continued, "I also uncovered the identity of this person. They are a trusted aide of Noble Consort Lewis, specifically tasked with handling... certain unsavory matters."

Noble Consort Lewis?!

I recalled the details of the previous Consort Grace case and immediately understood most of it. Noble Consort Lewis was seeking revenge against me!

"Why is the eunuch supervising the kitchen?" the chief steward asked doubtfully.

Eunuch Ashen glanced at me, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "Because I was worried someone might harm Fenglin. As it turns out, my concern was justified."

Just then, the censors arrived. The leading censor said with a serious expression, "I heard a theft occurred here?"

"Sir," Eunuch Ashen stepped forward, "the case has already been resolved. Fenglin was framed—the true mastermind is someone else."

Eunuch Ashen then detailed the ins and outs of the entire incident to the censors and presented relevant evidence.

The censors carefully examined the evidence and ultimately confirmed my innocence.

"In that case, this matter is concluded," the censor said. "Fenglin, you can rest assured."

Watching the backs of the censors as they left, my legs went weak, and I nearly collapsed to the ground.

So terrifying! I was almost accused of theft! If it hadn’t been for Ashen’s timely intervention, the consequences would have been unimaginable!

"Ashen... thank you..." I choked out through sobs.

Ashen patted my shoulder: "Stop crying, it's all over. But remember, tall trees catch the wind—some people aren’t willing to see you rise so quickly."

Yes, I understand. Today's success has brought me honor, but it has also made me a target in the eyes of some.

"I’ll be careful," I nodded earnestly.

"Good," Ashen turned to leave but glanced back at me when he reached the doorway. "By the way, that dish you made today—it was excellent."

With that, he disappeared into the night, leaving only a mysterious silhouette behind.

Ashen... what kind of person is he? Why does he always appear when I need help the most? Moreover, his concern for me seems to go beyond the usual master-servant relationship...

Forget it, I won't overthink it! Although today was full of twists and turns, everything turned out well in the end! And I even received the emperor's commendation and the recognition of the envoy delegation!

"Phoenix Feather, are you okay?" Jade asked worriedly.

"I'm fine now," I wiped away my tears and smiled, "It's all over."

Yes, it's all over. But I know this is just the beginning. In this complex Imperial Palace, more challenges await me.

But it's okay! I have my cooking, my friends, and... that mysterious Ashen protecting me in the shadows.

With this confidence, I walked to my room, ready to welcome tomorrow's sunshine.