Chapter 117: Three Signature Dishes

Liu Xie’s few shouts had an effect comparable to a female DJ wearing nothing but two scraps of cloth in the sweltering heat of a modern nightclub, instantly firing up the atmosphere. The dancers on stage let loose, revealing things that perhaps shouldn't have been revealed, and the men below were equally worked up. Although they didn't have lamb skewers in their hands just yet, they grabbed whatever they could reach.

The person regretting it most at this moment was Sun Ce. He wasn't regretting anything else, but rather why he hadn't brought a wife along. While his position for a primary wife remained vacant, he had plenty of concubines; bringing one along to satisfy his cravings would have been nice!

Fortunately, Liu Xie seemed to empathize deeply with Sun Ce’s plight. Before even a stick of incense had burned down, he signaled a halt to the somewhat noisy accompaniment. With a wave of his hand, several maids approached carrying large trays piled high with lamb skewers.

Unlike Sun Ce and Zhang Hong, who were slightly surprised, Zhou Yu had clearly waited too long. When his portion—one skewer per person—arrived, he immediately grabbed his own, expertly slid a piece of meat off with his teeth, and began to chew vigorously.

"Gongjin, why are you doing this? It’s just a skewer of meat; how can you eat it like that?"

Sun Ce clearly couldn't fathom this mysterious behavior. Although the meat was indeed threaded onto a stick, in the eyes of people in this era, one would normally remove it before eating!

While chewing, Zhou Yu mentally slapped himself several times, wondering why he couldn't control his own mouth. He then added a silent, "So delicious!"

But delicious as it was, Zhou Yu felt he was in trouble, as this clearly exposed the fact that he had eaten lamb skewers at the imperial lodge before. Such a delicacy—Sun Ce hadn't even tasted it yet, and here he was, having already enjoyed it. While it wasn't a grave issue, it was certain to annoy Sun Ce.

"Grand Marshal, don't mock Gongjin. Although he was a bit impatient today, his way of eating is actually the correct one. When I invented these lamb skewers, I threaded them specifically so we could eat them just as Gongjin is doing. I even coined a term for it: 'skewer-stripping'! Gongjin’s move was just like a blind old cat stumbling upon a dead mouse while walking—pure luck!"

After this vivid analogy, Liu Xie burst into laughter and took a bite using the standard skewer-stripping technique, clearly setting an example for the others and validating Zhou Yu’s actions. Sure enough, Sun Ce’s attention was immediately drawn back to the lamb skewers, and his earlier annoyance with Zhou Yu faded away.

Soon, led by Liu Xie, Empress Fu Shou, and Qiao Feng, the men and women in the courtyard abandoned all pretense of etiquette and sank their teeth into the meat. Once they took that first bite, no one could stop; they all went straight for the second and third.

"Skewer-stripping is a joy, and once you start, you can't stop"—the saying existed for a reason. Soon, no one in the courtyard was speaking; everyone was wholeheartedly focused on the meat. Since Liu Xie had only prepared one skewer per person for the first round, it wasn't long before only a bamboo stick remained in front of each guest. Although they were still left wanting more, they were, after all, in the Emperor's lodge, and with Sun Ce present, no one dared to speak up.

"Your Majesty, to roast lamb in this manner is truly a culinary delight! But for such a grand setup, did you only prepare one skewer for each of us?" Only Sun Ce dared to speak so directly.

Liu Xie smiled slightly and replied, "A banquet of mine, naturally, cannot consist of just one dish. The main event is yet to come. Once you and the others have tasted these three dishes of mine, you shall have as much of whatever you wish to eat!"

As he spoke, Liu Xie waved his hand again. A team of maids emerged from the kitchen area, each carrying another large tray. This time, it wasn't just a simple skewer, but several neatly portioned lamb chops, also roasted to perfection.

"These lamb chops, too, should be eaten by hand—just tear into them!"

Had they not been initiated by the lamb skewers, the noblewomen would certainly not have eaten in such an unrefined manner. But the flavor of the previous skewers had been so intoxicating that they completely forgot about maintaining their composure. After all, everyone present was eating the same way; even the Empress was doing it. As wives of ministers, what did it matter?

Clearly, no one at that moment would have considered Liu Xie a mere puppet.

For a time, almost everyone picked up a lamb chop and began to tear into it. It was a different flavor than the skewers, but the result was the same: it was absolutely delicious.

This time, Liu Xie did not let the silence linger. He raised his wine cup and said loudly, "Since I arrived in Wu Commandery, the Grand Marshal has taken the utmost care of me. My current situation in Wu compared to my years in Xuchang is truly like heaven and earth. This cup, I toast to the Grand Marshal!" After speaking, Liu Xie downed the wine in one gulp.

To the ladies present, this was merely Liu Xie, the puppet, currying favor with Sun Ce. To Sun Ce, it showed Liu Xie’s genuine nature; he felt that during those years in Xuchang, Liu Xie had indeed been crushed by that dog Cao Cao.

However, to Sun Ce and Zhang Hong, Liu Xie’s behavior wasn't so simple. Yet, they both tacitly chose to ignore it, focusing instead on drinking their wine and eating the lamb.

After the lamb chops were finished, Liu Xie did not disappoint; two more roasted lamb legs were brought out. These offered yet another flavor profile, but having experienced two surprises already, Sun Ce and his companions had built up a bit of resistance.

After they had each sampled the three delicacies, Liu Xie had the dancers resume their performance. He personally inquired about the preferences of Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, and Zhang Hong, and sent the maids off to prepare accordingly. At the same time, he gave Qiao Feng a subtle hint with his eyes. Receiving the signal, Qiao Feng immediately rose from her seat. The person she needed to find was, of course, Sun Shangxiang. Though Sun Shangxiang still held a slight disdain for Liu Xie, these three dishes had left her completely spellbound.