Chapter Twenty-Five: Croton
Such a possibility was not out of the question!
Li Lizhi, deeply favored by Li Shimin, had grown into a headstrong child who dared to do anything she pleased—including, it seemed, feeding all the ministers with croton beans!
“Even the Emperor ate it... If we refuse, it wouldn’t look good, would it?”
“Sigh!”
“Let’s just consider it bad luck!”
...
Li Ji took the initiative, holding his breath as he took a bite of the cured pork rice. His expression suggested it was harder to swallow than medicine.
Everyone around him watched intently, hesitant to take their own first bite.
Not until Li Ji’s expression changed—and he took several more large mouthfuls—did the others dare to try.
“Huh?”
The taste was nothing like what they had imagined.
Not only was there no strange flavor or poison, but the aroma was rich and inviting.
It left them wanting more.
“Did Her Highness the Princess really make this?” Li Ji couldn’t believe it.
How could a child of five or six prepare such exquisite food?
“Uncle Li Ji, how do you find it?” Li Lizhi asked, approaching him.
“It’s delicious!”
“Uncle Wei Zheng, what about you?”
“Your Highness’s culinary skill is indeed outstanding! Even the chefs in the imperial kitchens can’t compare. But, there has never been a precedent of a princess working as a cook. According to Confucian tradition, the noble do not enter the kitchen, a principle that has been revered for generations. Our dynasty upholds Confucianism—how can Her Highness go against it?”
Wei Zheng did not let Li Lizhi off lightly just because of her youth. He still stated his position.
Of course, he did not mean to make things difficult for her; rather, he wanted to emphasize that Confucian values must be upheld at all times.
“Wei Zheng... The Princess was kind enough to make this food for us. If you don’t like it, shut your mouth. Why so much nonsense? Are you trying to embarrass Her Highness?” retorted Zhangsun Wuji bluntly.
“Exactly! Even I can’t stand your ingratitude...” Yuchi Jingde, usually an admirer of Wei Zheng, stood firmly by Li Lizhi this time.
“You usually bully us, but now you won’t even spare the Princess? Utterly heartless!”
...
The ministers would not indulge Wei Zheng; they openly scorned his shamelessness.
Li Zhi seized the moment to question Wei Zheng: “All rules are man-made. Why must Confucianism always be right?”
“I’m not denying Confucianism, but some of its rules truly hinder social progress!” he pressed. “Take cooking, for example. It’s clearly beneficial to the country, yet you treat it as a disgrace? If cooking is so dishonorable, then if no one cooks, what will we eat?”
“Can such thinking really stand the test of time?”
“This...”
For once, Wei Zheng was lost for words.
He stood there, speechless.
Such a scene was unheard of...
It was always Wei Zheng refuting others—who would dare challenge him? Even Li Shimin had often been at his wit’s end with him!
But today, the tables had turned. It was Wei Zheng’s turn to be on the receiving end.
The ministers were all secretly delighted!
“Hahaha... Well said, Zhi’er!” Li Shimin was planning to speak on the matter of learning to cook himself, for in his view, there was nothing wrong with it.
For the complete development of Great Tang, it would not be a bad thing to abandon some old ideas.
He hadn’t expected Li Zhi to take the lead, silencing Wei Zheng on the spot!
“My loyal subjects, what do you think of the Princess’s dishes?” Li Shimin asked.
“Delicious, very delicious...”
Given the circumstances, no one dared say otherwise.
And truthfully, the cured pork fried rice really was delicious—the praise was genuine!
Li Shimin beckoned Li Zhi over and, facing the ministers, declared, “I am aware of—and agree with—Zhi’er’s words just now!”
“The essence of Confucianism is to promote social development, not to bind it!”
“Right now, we are shackled... Even entering the kitchen is considered disgraceful. If this continues, how can we expect progress in our culinary culture? If, someday, our cuisine is inferior to that of other nations, would we not be a laughingstock?”
...
“Father, your wisdom is unmatched!” Li Zhi seized the chance to flatter him.
The civil and military officials, not daring to overthink, hurried to voice their agreement as well!
Even the eloquent Wei Zheng had no solid argument to counter Li Shimin.
And none of the other ministers had the boldness to try.
They could only acquiesce.
“I have decided... to host a Grand Culinary Competition, encouraging the people to delve deeper into this culture. The court should establish a selection system, just as we do for officials, providing a path for advancement!”
“This is essential for national development!”
“I hope that Great Tang will not only excel in military and agricultural matters, but also lead the world in other spheres. Only then can we command the respect of foreign states!”
With that, Li Shimin sat down.
The ministers immediately launched into heated discussion.
Cheng Yaojin recalled what Li Zhi had said at his residence a few days ago, and couldn’t help but feel astonished: “That boy had this all planned out, using the Princess and the Emperor to recruit my son Chubi as a pupil!”
“However...”
“If things really turn out as His Majesty says, with chefs no longer looked down upon and instead basking in glory, why shouldn’t I go along with it?”
Cheng Yaojin’s resolve began to waver.
His son, after all, was neither scholarly nor martial—he couldn’t do anything right except eat! If he truly mastered the culinary arts and became the new generation’s Culinary God of Great Tang, that would bring immense honor!
Even the Princess was learning to cook now.
So why couldn’t his son succeed?
Anyone daring to disparage the art of cooking would be as good as insulting the Princess!
“It seems I’d better have a talk with that boy and settle this as soon as possible!” Cheng Yaojin nodded to himself in secret.
The banquet soon ended.
The ministers dispersed.
Cheng Yaojin found Li Zhi, putting on a sycophantic smile: “Your Highness, how are you this evening?”
“Everyone else has gone. Why are you still here? I’m heading back to the palace—Father and Mother are calling, and I’ll be scolded if I don’t hurry!” Li Zhi knew the old fox had taken the bait.
But he didn’t rush; he wanted to toy with him a bit longer.
“I’d like to discuss something with you!”
“What is it?”
“I’d like Chubi to learn cooking from Your Highness. Please use him as you see fit, treat him as an ordinary servant if necessary—just teach him a bit of culinary skill, enough to earn the title of Culinary God. That’s all I ask!”
...
Li Zhi replied, “You’re quite ambitious, aren’t you? You want your son to be Culinary God? I haven’t even earned that title myself!”
The rewards from the system had only just earned him the title of Culinary King!
In the future there would be Culinary God, Culinary Sage...
But that was for later.
“Hehe... Your Highness’s skills are unmatched. If you teach Chubi in earnest, how could he not succeed? I have every faith in Your Highness. It’s settled, then—I’ll go home now and have Chubi prepare lavish gifts to come and formally acknowledge you as his master!”
With that, Cheng Yaojin, afraid Li Zhi might change his mind, hurried off at once.
The banquet concluded, and the courtyard quickly emptied.