You're Fat Po's sister-in-law. She's just a servant.
Do you need to be scared of her?
But she was assigned to us by the emperor.
I don't care.
You must do something to declare your sovereignty over the kitchen.
Sovereignty in the kitchen?
Look. How did Sis Jiao get promoted? It's because she cooks well.
That's why Fat Po likes her.
If you can cook better than her, then Fat Po will choose you again.
You're right.
You must cook food that he loves. Cook his favorite dishes.
Satisfy his appetite. Then he'll dance to your tune.
What does he like to eat? Here?
Boss, I'd like two catties of mutton with lots of fat.
600 copper coins please.
What? So expensive?
Last month you sold the mutton at 100 copper coins a catty.
The price has gone up.
It's 300 copper coins for a catty now.
It's gone up that much? You're trying to rip us off.
Right.
Go away if you're not buying. Beat it.
Let's buy somewhere else.
No, he sells the best mutton in the capital.
Hey, I'm buying whatever it costs. Come on.
You're a loser.
To regain my sovereignty, I must spend more.
I don't want this piece. I want that piece.
Wow.
Put it here...
Smells so good. I can tell it's your best dish, mutton pot.
I haven't cooked this in a long time.
Later when Brother Dongpo's home, you guys can try it.
Sure.
What smells so good too? You smell that?
There's food to eat...Bring it over here.
I think it's mutton too.
Exactly.
Wow.
I love the way it looks.
There's so much mutton and yam. It must be really replenishing.
Shall I eat the mutton or the yam?
You have to eat the yam. Let me finish all the mutton.
Miss Damei, Miss Xiaomei, you can eat whatever you like.
There's more in the kitchen.
You guys come over here. I've prepared your portion too.
Thank you, Sis Jiao.
Try it...How is it?
Really good.
So fresh and tender.
Liao Kingdom supplies our mutton. Lately they've been delivering less to us.
The price of mutton in the capital has gone up five folds.
Five folds?
Louder.
Isn't it just three folds?
That was the price this morning. It's five folds now.
Mutton is so expensive now. People...
Louder.
They can't afford to buy mutton. Soon no one will be able to eat mutton.
You guys keep talking so loudly. How can His Majesty hear?
Exactly. I can't hear anything at all. Stop hitting them. Who's talking first?
Liao Kingdom has always supplied our mutton.
Lately they've been delivering less to us.
The price of mutton in the capital has gone up five folds.
If this carries on, no one will be able to afford to eat mutton.
Eat less mutton then. What's the big deal? Prime Minister Wang, what do you think?
Ninety percent of our mutton is imported from Liao.
When they raise the price, we pay more.
If we pay more, there'll be less money in the national treasury.
The mutton supply is the greatest crisis facing Song right now.
We must solve this problem immediately.
I think we can promote sheep farming to solve the problem.
In the long run, this is viable. But it will take too long to get it going.
It won't solve the problem now.
Maybe we can negotiate with the messengers from Liao.
Tell them that we'll pay a higher price and ask them to send us more lamb.
With an increase in supply,
the price will go down.
That's impractical.
Liao might even ask His Majesty to sign a unequal treaty with them.
We'll suffer greater losses.
Officer Su, you've opposed all the suggestions.
What's your idea then? Why don't you tell us?
I do have a plan. But I need some time to prepare.
You're so clever. Why would you need time for preparation?
Just admit that you don't have a solution. His Majesty won't be mad at you.
Everyone knows I'm resourceful.
The person who said I don't have a solution really doesn't have a solution.
I don't want to talk about my plan yet, because it's lunch time now.
I don't want to hold up Your Majesty from having lunch.
Right. It's lunch hour now. Stand down.
Goodbye, Your Majesty.
Officer Su, stay behind.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I heard that you recite poems whenever there's good food.
Now I know why I don't have any inspiration to compose songs.
Because all the food here is bad.
Are you serious?
There are so many imperial chefs in the palace.
There's so much good food on the table. How could it be bad?
You try it yourself.
What?
Go ahead. You think I've poisoned it?
Much obliged, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, the mushroom is hot and spicy. It's delicious.
Try the vegetables.
OK.
Your Majesty, I can't believe the vegetables are hot and spicy too.
It's delicious. It's special.
Try the side dish as well.
OK. Hey, it's hot and spicy too?
Exactly. I told the imperial chefs that I wanted to eat something hot and spicy.
Now every dish they make is hot and spicy.
Last month I mentioned casually that sour food is appetizing.
Then all the food was sour for the whole month.
There wasn't a single plain dish. Do you understand my agony?
Absolutely.
Good. I want a female cook from your home
to come to the palace and show the imperial chefs how to cook.
Only then will I be able to eat something normal.
Do you really miss Miss 28's cooking skills that much?
Yes. I hear the nanny I gave you can cook really well too.
Just send either one of them to the palace for a month.
Don't think you can eat all the good food yourself.
It's decided. You're not allowed to defy my order.
Yes, Your Majesty.
You two can cook well. Even His Majesty thinks so.
He wants to try the food you cook.
So one of you has to go work in the palace as a cook for a month.
What?
Work in the palace?
Let's have a competition on the 15th day of this month.
You'll each make a dish. I'll be the judge.
I will decide who wins. The loser will work in the palace.
That's it. Damei.
OK. You must prepare the dish within a budget of 500 copper coins.
You'll lose if you break this rule.
Do you understand?
Here you go.
Hey.
Brother Dongpo.
Runzhi, why did you throw all my books on the floor?
I wanted to clean the place for you. I saw a silverfish, and wanted to catch it.
A bookworm?
Yes.
Oh, no...Let me see. Don't attack my notes...
Thank God. They're intact.
Runzhi, do you know His Majesty
needs this notebook so he can have good food.
Thank God it's not damaged.
Thank God.
Why did I come in? Oh, I came in to look for a book.
It's so messy here. How will I find the book?
Catch the bug and put the books back.
I'll come later to look for the book, OK?
OK.
Hurry.
OK.
Chen Mansion.
I jotted in this notebook the best dishes I've tried
noting their taste, ingredients and cooking methods.
This notebook will be a good food guide for generations to come.
Today Mom delivered food to the hut herself.
I could smell the food even before she got here.
When I opened it, I found braised pork inside.
Brother Dongpo eats pork? I've never seen him eat pork at home.
I've never eaten such delicious pork before.
It's invigorating. It's the best thing in the world.
I see...What? That's it? There's no recipe?
I can't believe this. The steps for the other dishes are recorded.
But not this one.
Have some lotus seed sweet soup for replenishment.
OK. Thank you.
How's it going?
I found Brother Dongpo's notebook on eating and drinking.
Wow.
It contains his favorite dishes.
I see. No wonder you wanted to come to my place.
Now you can cook what he likes. You'll win for sure.
So he ate pork when he was a little boy.
He even said it's the best thing in the world.
Pork is cheap.
Upper class people like us don't eat that.
This shows Su Dongpo's mom shortchanged his dad
and gave him cheap food.
I don't think so.
I think he loved eating pork when he's a boy.
He loved the pork that his mom made the most.
But after his mom died, he hasn't eaten such delicious pork again.
You can’t cook that then.
That means he'll be particularly demanding about pork. You mustn't cook that...
But I want to cook that. I know he loves his mom deeply.
If I can cook this braised pork for him, he'll be so happy.
Right. Then follow the steps in the notes.
How? There's no recipe.
Oh...It'll be the fifteenth day in a couple of days.
You don't know how to cook it. So how will you win?
I found the notebook on eating and drinking.
I'm sure I can figure this out.
I was about Mai's age when Mom died. I don't think I can help you.
I was even younger. Did Mom cook that before?
How come I don't remember eating pork before?
You don't remember? I have a trick.
What kind of trick?
Foot reﬂexology.
What's that?
I know. Brother Dongpo said before that there's a military officer in Yangzhou.
He discovered that doing foot massage every day
can make a person physically stronger.
He looked ten years younger after getting foot massages.
All his memories came back too.
That amazing? Hey, massage them. Now.
OK.
Ah...I think I remember something.
What do you remember?
Ah...The braised pork is salty.
I remember too. It was sweet.
Ah...It was salty...
It was sweet.
Is it salty or sweet?
Anyway there's definitely ginger.
I think there's scallion too.
Come on. See if this is better.
OK.
How is it?
Really good. Not too sour, not too spicy,
not too bitter, not too salty and not too sweet. Anyway its tasty.
Really?
Tasty? It's the same as the ones before.
The food you cook is always good. It's all good.
No, I have to try again.
What? Why don't you do it tomorrow? I'm really so full.
I can't tell the difference even if you ask me to eat slops now.
You're full. Hong Mei can taste the food.
OK.
Hong Mei, I need pork.
You've cooked all of it already.
OK. I'll go to the market to buy some then.
Boss, two catties of pork belly please.
I know you. You got scared by Officer Su in Lumin Club the other day.
You've mistaken me for someone else.
It's like that on your first day working in such a place.
Don't be shy to admit it.
You work in Lumin Club?
No.
Aren't you too old to work there?
You have money for a place like that? Half a catty of ginger please.
It won't help to take a bath with ginger. It won't cover your filthy odor.
You're Officer Su's relative. But you work in Lumin Club.
That's so immoral. You're so shameless.
What are you doing? I don't work there...Hey...
Runzhi, over here.
OK. We don't need to run anymore. They're not chasing us.
Look at your clothes. They're a mess. Who were those guys?
Why were they chasing you and throwing things at you?
I don't know. I don't know them.
What? They threw things at you even though you don't know them?
You really can’t ask why. Let me see. Are you hurt? You're fine.
Brother Dongpo.
What?
The loser really has to go to the palace?
Of course. I told you that already. What's the matter? Are you nervous?
Don't worry. I'm here for you.
I'll treat you to some good food later to calm you.
We can talk about this. What's the matter? It's really good. Come on.
Thank you.
Why did you spend so much money to hire so many people
to deal with that woman?
I want to win. She's been harassed. She won't be in the mood to cook anymore.
She wants to compete with me? She will only suffer.
Runzhi, let me test you. Do you know the name of this cake?
No. What is it called?
You won't believe it. It's called lucky cake.
Really?
Yes. People say that eating this cake
will make even an unlucky person immediately lucky again.
Try it if you don't believe me.
OK.
How is it? Is it good?
Really good.
Do you feel really lucky now?
Yes. Thank you.
Don't thank me. Thank the lucky cake.
Why?
Because the boss put cinnamon in the cake.
Cinnamon?
Yes.
I get it. Cinnamon warms the stomach and drives away the cold.
It's good for tendons and ligaments too.
People get smarter after they eat it.
Not only smarter.
Cinnamon has character like me. It doesn't go with anything.
You can't put it in everything. Otherwise I'd eat it all the time, right?
That's the main point. It's really lucky...
It's sweet?
What?
Someone put in the wrong seasoning.
I'm sure you messed with the seasoning.
Don't accuse me of that.
Just admit that you're a lousy cook. Don't make excuses.
It smells so nice even before the lid's been lifted.
No rush. But be quick. You're finished too?
Yes.
Good. Since Sis Jiao served the food first, let's try her dish first.
OK.
It smells so nice.
Sir, I call this thick fish soup with mushrooms, Amorous Heart.
Come on. Try it.
OK. Everyone has a bowl. Let's try it.
OK.
So good.
Mushrooms and fish cost less than a hundred copper coins.
The meat of fish has been stuffed in the mushrooms.
It's so smooth. It's not fishy. Basically it's got a pass.
OK. We've tried Sis Jiao's dish. Let's try Runzhi's.
OK.
Miss 28, what's the name of this dish?
It looks ordinary yet special.
This is braised pork.
Pork is sold at 120 copper coins a catty.
There's not much seasoning in it.
That means it's not over-budget. Runzhi, serve the food.
OK.
It's salty and sweet at the same time. I've never had something so nice.
Apart from the good taste, there's also a familiar feeling.
I remember. Back when I was a little boy,
Mom would cook this for me when I had an exam. That's it.
That's the taste of Mom's dish.
Runzhi, how did you learn to cook this dish?
By trial and error.
You said last time that you felt more relaxed after eating cinnamon.
So I put cinnamon in it.
Right. I can tell that you put cinnamon in it.
But I can also tell that you put sugar in it.
How did you know that trick?
At first Miss Wang didn't cook it like that. But someone...
Someone helped me inadvertently.
Brother Dongpo, do you have a decision yet?
Yes. But to be fair,
I want to see something else before I announce the result.
Five, four, three, two, one.
Sir, I found these two buckets by the back door. Please take a look.
Let me see.
It's just rubbish. What is there to see?
What's in the buckets?
Our kitchen waste.
Correct.
I want to find out whether Sis Jiao or Runzhi exceeded the budget.
Gao Gui.
Don't take it. What is there to look at?
Let's see.
Wow.
Sis Jiao, there's fish, shrimps and crabs?
A catty of crab costs a thousand copper coins.
You spent so much.
No wonder the soup tastes so fresh. You broke the rule, Sis Jiao.
That means Miss 28 has won?
Honestly, as soon as I tasted Sis Jiao's thick fish soup,
I knew it wasn't that simple. She must have put in a lot of ingredients.
Now it's been proven that I was right.
To be fair, I told Gao Gui to search the rubbish in the back alley.
I now announce that Runzhi has won.
Great.
Ouch...Sir, my hand got burnt. I can't cook.
She did it on purpose.
Right.
What? Why would I hurt my own hand like this?
Sir, you only have one option.
You have to comply with His Majesty's request, right?
What? You said the loser has to work in the palace. I won.
Right. This is so unfair.
But we must fulfill His Majesty's request.
Brother Dongpo.
Master Su...
Sis Jiao...
I need to look after Mai.
OK. Then, I'll take care of this. What's the big deal?
Worse come to worst, I'll be a eunuch.
What?
Su Dongpo, what are you doing?
It's already so unorthodox for commoners to see His Majesty's face.
Now you've even asked His Majesty to come to such a marketplace for lunch?
Right.
Easy. Mencius said the people are more important than the emperor.
With your Majesty here.
The people are already so happy to see your face.
You have nothing to lose. So why not come?
Right. I'm so handsome.
It's a waste if I don't let them see me.
That's the main point.
Officer Su, what are you going to serve me?
Of course it's something good.
Your Majesty.
Are you coming to work in the palace? That would be great.
Your Majesty, try the food first.
It's sweet but not greasy. It has the taste of wine too.
What kind of meat is it?
It's braised pork.
Pork? Pork is the cheapest. Even officials like us won't eat it.
You cooked that for His Majesty?
It's delicious, right?
Su Dongpo, you asked His Majesty to come here for lunch
because you said you had figured out a way
to solve the problem of the increased price of mutton.
Prime Minister Wang, be patient. I brought His Majesty here to eat pork
because I had hoped His Majesty would say pork is delicious after he tried it.
When the people outside
hear His Majesty saying that he likes eating pork too,
then everyone will eat pork.
Then they'll have another option no matter how expensive mutton is.
Do you understand?
I see. Then they can't raise the price of mutton anymore.
Exactly. They can't. Don't you agree, Prime Minister Wang?
Pork is delicious.
Your Majesty is smart.
Try some?
Anyway we can’t defy His Majesty's order.
After doing so many things,
I still have to work as a cook in the palace
It's just for a month. You're so clever. It'll be over very soon.
There won't be a problem...
What do you mean there won't be a problem?
If I cook well, His Majesty may order me to stay in the palace.
If I fail to cook well, I may get executed.
Who said you'd be executed if you don't cook well?
Then there'd be lots of dead bodies in the palace.
You know how unpredictable His Majesty is.
If you refuse to go to the palace, he might execute me.
Do you want him to do that?
No.
See?
But a month is so long. I don't know what will happen.
You're worried about His Majesty? No way.
If he liked you, he would have summoned you to the palace long ago.
Why would he wait till now, right?
Anyway you don't need to worry. Everything's fine. Think about it this way.
It's fun in the palace. There are so many imperial chefs there.
They'll work together with you. It'll be so much fun.
When you can cook much better later, who will benefit most?
You future husband, right?
That's you.
Whatever. It's decided. Tomorrow I will tell His Majesty that
you will go to the palace at the end of the month. It's decided, OK?
I need to tie up some loose ends in my study
Brother Dongpo.
What is it? Oh, no.
According to the tradition of the Wangs, the hairpin will only be given to my love.
I want to...
Don't even think about it.
You need to focus on thinking about what to cook for His Majesty.
If he executes me, don't ask why, OK?
You insist on rejecting me. What's the point of keeping this?
Stop...Listen to me.
I remember your cousin said to me before
that she wanted to hold my hands and grow old with me.
Too bad she died before we could grow old together.
But after so many years, I still feel like she's here beside me.
She's never left me. In other words she's forever in my heart.
I know that.
I admire you for not chasing the new and forgetting the old.
Your devotion makes me want to marry you all the more.
But you will never replace your cousin in my heart.
I never intended to do that.
She'll forever be the best in your heart.
I don't mind being second best. I'm willing to be second best.
But I have a son.
If we marry, you'll immediately become a stepmother.
And I'm always going to Lumin Club.
Don't worry. I'll treat Mai like my own son.
I don't care if you go to Lumin Club or patronize a prostitute.
I don't mind at all. You don't need to change for me.
I just want to be with you. Let me look after you.
If you still don't believe me, I can make an agreement with you.
After we're married, you're free to do whatever you like.
You can go anywhere you like. This will never change.
I won’t interfere with what you do.
This won't change in 50 years or even 500 years.
Why are you so good to me?
Because I love you. What excuses do you have now?
According to the tradition of the Wangs,
the women from your family have to give this hairpin to their love.
Take it back now.
Put it on for me. What are you waiting for? Come on.
I'll do it then.
Come on.
OK.
Silly girl.
I am.
How's the price of mutton?
It's going down.
That's because Your Majesty ate pork in the presence of the people.
So they all started eating pork. And the price of mutton has come down.
It's because of what Your Majesty did.
I'm of the view that the plan worked because Officer Su's tactics.
I absolutely agree with Prime Minister Wang.
Thank you...I just did my job.
There's nothing else. You may stand down.
Goodbye, Your Majesty.
You stay behind.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, actually there's something I want to discuss with you.
Don't talk about your case yet. Hurry and send Miss 28 to the palace.
I was about to do that.
But now I'm marrying her. So I can't send her to the palace.
You still have Sis Jiao.
Juxiang, you really won't believe this. It so happens that her hand's been injured.
That's why she can't come to the palace either.
So His Majesty has to eat that lousy food every day?
I feel so sorry for him.
Right. Even I feel sorry for myself.
Don't worry, Your Majesty.
Owing to time constraints, I've already prepared a recipe book for you.
While I was assigned to different posts outside the palace,
I tried all the good food in the world. I recorded it all in this book.
Just ask the imperial chefs to cook according to the recipes.
Then you can try all the good food. I promise.
Since you've said that, I'll try it then.
Much obliged, Your Majesty.
Su Mansion.
I told you I'm a lucky woman. Who can set her hair twice for wedding?
By the way, did you really marry Han Yuan last time?
Mrs. Chen, you mustn't say something so unlucky.
We're good friends. There's nothing she can't say. It's fine.
You hear that?
Have a seat. Let's have tea.
You look so happy.
What's so good about that Fat Po
that you insist on being his second wife and a stepmom?
Right. Madam Chen thinks it's so unfair for you.
Why are you here?
I came to apologize to Miss Wang... I mean Mrs. Su.
You're clever in doing so.
You won't have a happy ending fighting my good friend. Go.
Mrs. Su, please forgive me. I beg you please.
Please don't throw me out. I'm begging you.
What are you doing?
Pack your things and get out.
I know there was a minor misunderstanding between us before.
I'm not asking for anything.
I just want to stay here until Su Mai is grown up.
I will be content then. Please don't throw me out.
Su Mai will still grow up even if you don't stay here.
You can come visit him later.
I really don't want to go to the palace. I'm begging you please.
Stop this please.
I'm begging you. Don't throw me out please...
Go...
Mrs. Su...
Get out...
Yue'e, let it go.
What?
Thank you, Mrs. Su. Thank you.
Let's forget our past misunderstanding, OK?
I'm begging you please.
OK.
Thank you...I'm so grateful to you. I'm really so grateful. I'll go out now.
OK.
Runzhi, how could you let her stay? She's dangerous.
Why not? I want her to attend our wedding. Why are you so harsh?
I don't like seeing her cry in front of me.
Dong-can...
Ah...Dong-can...
Runzhi.
You're still calling me Runzhi? You should call me honey.
Honey...Dong-can...
Gao Gui, Gao Xing, get out. I want to dong-can...
Dong-can...
You're taller than me...Dong-can...
Honey...
Dong-can...
Honey, you're asleep already?
Dong-can...
You're not hugging the real person. You're hugging a bamboo wife?
Dong-can...
This is no fun at all. I don't want to play.
Mai, let me teach you. Give it to me.
Here you go.
The trick is to hold it this way. This part up. Hold it. Right. Ready...
One, two, three.
Great.
You're so smart.
You're smart too.
Master Mai really needs Sis Jiao.
Come on. Let's play again.
Try again.
Like this. Pointing up. You remember?
Master Su.
Sir, Miss Wang.
Oh, you addressed her by the wrong title. Don't give her a red packet.
It was just a slip of the tongue. I should call you Mrs. Su.
It's OK. Come on. Red packet for you.
Thank you, Mrs. Su.
Stop playing.
Thank you, Mrs. Su.
Sir, Mrs. Su.
Red packets.
Thank you.
Mai, come over and say hello.
Dad, Auntie Runzhi.
Who taught you to call her that?
I don't need anyone to teach me. I figured it out myself.
I used to call her Auntie Wang. Now that she's married you,
I can call her Auntie Runzhi.
Let me explain this to you. Your Auntie Wang has become my wife now.
From now on, you can call her Mom Runzhi or just Mom, OK?
No. I only have one mother.
Mai.
Master Mai.
You're so naughty. Don't ask me why... OK. I'll teach him.