Chapter 574: The Wind Rises (1)_1
Chu Heng was indeed skilled at roasting meat, and his craftsmanship was exceptionally fine, learned during idle moments at Jingshan Villa. After removing the innards, the deer head, and other miscellaneous parts, there was still plenty of good meat left on the whole Plum Deer.
He took the two most tender and rich cuts of venison, and with the assistance of two little eunuchs from the Imperial kitchen, Chu Heng roasted them directly on the open ground. It took half an hour, and the juicy and rich venison was ready.
He had people slice the roasted meat into five plates, giving the first plate to Emperor Huian, then took three plates and distributed them to Xiao Ruiyuan, Yan Junyu, and Doctor Gui. The last plate, because of his physical condition, he could not consume deer meat, so he tasted only two thin slices, then gifted the rest to the little eunuchs who had assisted him.
As for the more than ten brothers who were just watching... they were not within his consideration at all. As for those royal family members and civil and military ministers who were waiting to join the hunt, they had even less face to ask the Crown Prince of a country to roast meat for them.
Emperor Huian seemed oblivious to all this, declined the service of the Chief Eunuch, and did not let the poison-testing eunuch try the dish. He directly picked up a piece of fragrant venison with jade chopsticks and put it into his mouth. Before he could savor it properly, a look of joy had already appeared on his face. He looked affectionately at Chu Heng, who was full of expectation to his left, and praised loudly, "Excellent, this is the most delicious roasted venison I have ever tasted, haha!"
Chu Heng seemed very pleased, the smile on his face deepening even further, "I’m glad Father Emperor doesn’t find your humble son’s cooking skills too crude. If Father Emperor likes this venison, your son will... in the future..."
At this point, as if something had occurred to him, he abruptly stopped speaking, and the smile on his face became exceedingly forced.