The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty (ENGLISH TRANSLATION)

CH 25

Immortal Guest’s known name was not simply blown air. The restaurant’s fame in the capital had been cawed ever since Yingzong’s time, and that was primarily due to its owner being quite business-minded. He spent a huge amount of money to specially hire two chefs separately learned in northern and Jiangnan cuisine to come and cook, and also bought a private residence behind the restaurant in order to open up another area called Immortal Cloud.

If customers wanted to entertain guests or eat food — and if they didn’t care too much about all the people around — there was Immortal Guest in front at a much more reasonable price. If one was a high official that liked peace and quiet, they would go to Immortal Cloud at the back, as the decor was of superior quality compared to the front.

Even though the two places were right next to each other, each had its respective doors open without mutual interference.

Wang Zhi happened to invite Pan Bin to eat at that Immortal Cloud.

Their meeting was set for a certain shichen, so Pan Bin intentionally came a quarter-hour in advance. However, when the guiding worker brought him and Tang Fan into a private room, he discovered that Chief Eunuch Wang was already seated.

The other’s dark clothes and cap were presently no different than those of the ordinary customers outside, but the face below said hat was soft, pretty, and surprisingly young, even carrying the arrogance of looking down on everyone out of his peripheral. Pan Bin didn’t dare to slight him the least bit, promptly stepping forth with a smile. “You came so early, Eunuch Wang! Sorry for my rudeness!”

Wang Zhi remained sitting where he was, merely raising his hand to beckon to them. “So I did. Please take a seat, Sir Pan.”

His eyes swept over to land on Tang Fan. “This is presumably Sir Qiu’s other brilliant disciple, Sir Tang Fan?”

Tang Fan cupped his hands. “This humble one was born in the countryside and has never witnessed such a grand spectacle before. Upon hearing that you invited my senior for a feast, I wanted to follow him to broaden my horizons, which is why I’ve shown up uninvited. I ask that you forgive me, Eunuch Wang.”

Wang Zhi waved his hand. “It’s no problem. Sit.”

Truthfully speaking, Wang Zhi was younger than both of them — not even twenty yet — but he held a high position. All of his gestures were a bit condescending, yet Pan Bin didn’t dare to give any dissent.

“Since everyone’s arrived, I’ll have them serve the dishes,” Wang Zhi said.

With that, he pulled on the callrope hanging next to the dining table. Not long after, someone pushed the door open from the outside and came in with a tray held in hand, serving them dishes one after the other.

“I didn’t know if you all preferred northern or southern cuisine, so I ordered half of each direction tonight, just enough for one of each.”

“You’ve taken much trouble, Eunuch Wang,” Pan Bin answered. “I’m not sure what—“

He had been wanting to inquire after his intentions here, but, frustratingly, he got cut off by the other waving his hand as soon as he opened his mouth.

Wang Zhi lifted his chopsticks. “Let’s eat, then talk.”

Pan Bin had no choice but to shut his mouth.

For a dinner party at Immortal Cloud, one couldn’t get a meal without having a hundred or more taels. As the Director of the Western Depot, Wang Zhi did not lag behind anyone else.

Almonds with Buddha’s hand, Longjing prawns, feng-tailed shark fins, small birds fried to a golden crisp,[1] silk-ball fried scallops, fish fillets with cream sauce, dragons-playing-with-a-pearl,[2] jadeite lotus-leaf soup…