Chapter 42
- Mala
"...Could that be, mala?"Spicy and Numbing."
Using the characters for 'numbing' and 'spicy', it's a unique sauce from Sichuan province, widely known even in modern Korea.
It's a sauce with a strong addictive quality, thanks to its distinctive flavor and aroma that makes the tongue tingle.
'Wait a minute. Mala sauce... includes chili peppers, doesn't it?'
Spicy and numbing.
Of those two flavors that symbolize mala sauce, the spiciness comes from chili peppers.
But there's no way chili peppers could have been spread to China by this time...
That question seemed to be answered only after Dang Baek-ryong scooped the sauce from the earthenware jar.
'Looking closely, the color isn't very red. It must be mala sauce without chili peppers.'
In reality, there are various versions of mala sauce in Sichuan province, and in some regions, they use ginger or cinnamon to create the spiciness.
This must be an early form of mala sauce that uses ginger and cinnamon for the spicy flavor.
The spiciness probably isn't that strong.
But there's a much more important element in mala sauce than the spiciness.
That is...
'...The taste that makes your tongue tingle as if it's being paralyzed!The identity of that flavor is 'hwa-jao', a specialty of Sichuan province, also known as 'Sichuan pepper' in English.
'...In the first place, the reason mala became a unique sauce of Sichuan province is because of hwa-jao, a local specialty. This sauce must definitely use the highest quality hwa-jao.'
Just from the smell wafting from afar, you could feel that tingling energy.
While Ji-young was thinking that, Dang Baek-ryong placed a chunk of pork loin on the cutting board again.
Then, he laid the Caidao down and skillfully sliced it thinly, before chopping it into thin, long strips like silk.
'That, that technique is... Rou Si!'
The name given because the meat is sliced as thinly as silk. Rou Si.
It refers to shredded pork that goes into various dishes such as Sichuan's Yu Xiang Rou Si and Beijing's Jing Jiang Rou Si.
Dang Baek-ryong tilted the wok, gathering the Twice Cooked Pork oil he had made earlier to one side, and then used that oil to stir-fry the shredded pork again.
Now, two cuts of pork were dancing together in the wok: fatty pork belly and shredded lean pork loin.
After adding various vegetables and secondary ingredients such as bok choy and dried tofu, Dang Baek-ryong's special mala sauce was finally added into the wok, emitting a radiant glow.
- Sizzle
At the same time, he lightly shook the wok a few times, and once again, 'wok hei' rose up, and a huge flame soared.
'This is a special Mala Xiang Guo, made by combining Twice Cooked Pork and Yu Xiang Rou Si, and stir-frying it with mala sauce!'
Before she knew it, the stir-fried dish, glistening with oil, was completed and placed on a fancy Chinese plate before being brought to the center of the banquet.
"Presenting the Sichuan Dang Clan's secret Mala Xiang Guo."
Just from that bold visual and smell, it felt like she could hear a hallucination of a giant Chinese gong.
'It's definitely a taste that's so stimulating it'll paralyze your tongue!'
Ji-young's heart began to pound.
It's the worst match-up for the competition.
After eating that, she definitely wouldn't be able to taste anything from her trump card dish, 'Beef Bourguignon Braised Ribs', braised with the delicate flavor of wine.
Ji-young glanced at Yeonsangun.
Yeonsangun, with his unavoidable gourmet instincts, was already staring blankly at it, half-entranced by its appearance.
'The King's already had his heart stolen by that smell!'
Liu Jin, wearing a satisfied smile at that sight, muttered arrogantly.
"We have prepared a simple Sichuan-style Chinese dish, so I ask that His Majesty try it first."
Along with Sungjae's translation, a plate of Dang Baek-ryong's dish, the special Mala Xiang Guo, was placed before Yeonsangun.
It was so good that he could almost see an illusion of a strange fragrance rising like smoke above the stir-fried dish, glistening with oil.
"Well, let's see... how skilled the mainland chef is."
Yeonsangun, with an effort to maintain a nonchalant expression, picked up a generous helping with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.
And the moment he took a bite.
"Gasp!"
Yeonsangun's eyes widened and his pupils began to contract.
At the same time, he felt a thrilling sensation as if the hairs on his entire body were standing on end.
Dang Baek-ryong's eyes gleamed sharply as he watched that scene, and the corners of his lips began to rise.
'Taste the secrets of the Sichuan Dang Clan. King of Joseon.'
The Dang Clan of Sichuan.
What had been passed down through generations to that clan was the secret to handling various poisonous herbs.
Among them, what Dang Baek-ryong had been particularly engrossed in was 'hwa-jao', a specialty of Sichuan that numbs the sense of taste.
'A special hwa-jao processing method that adds my own research to the family's secret passed down through generations. With this, I was able to maximize the aroma and taste of mala.'
The reason he was called one of the best chefs on the continent might have been thanks to this special mala sauce.
Even Yeonsangun, after eating Dang Baek-ryong's dish, couldn't come to his senses for a while.
'What on earth did I just eat? This strange feeling that sticks to my tongue!'
A tingling sensation as if a million soldiers had swept across his tongue.
The spicy and oily taste of pork washed over that spot like a wave.
'This, this is... to the point where I can't even remember the taste of the food I ate earlier!'
Beef Bourguignon Braised Ribs, which relies on a delicate flavor.
If that dish were eaten together with the special Mala Xiang Guo, which emits an intense taste and aroma, it would inevitably be at a disadvantage due to the match-up.
Even if he were to eat the Beef Bourguignon again, there was no way his tongue, already desensitized by the taste of the Mala Xiang Guo, would be able to taste the flavor he had felt at first.
'N, no way... am I going to lose like this?'
In that instant, Ji-young's heart pounded.
Sungjae's words, whispered into her ear as he secretly approached the King right before entering the banquet, flashed through her mind.
"Ji-young, you absolutely must not lose this competition. Think about it. What will happen if you lose here?"
If she lost this cooking competition at the banquet, the story of the prideful King of Joseon being humiliated by the delegation would spread far and wide, not only in Joseon but also in Ming China.
And that's not all. They might be placed in a diplomatically disadvantageous position in the upcoming talks.
If that happened, all the blame would be concentrated on Ji-young, the Royal Cuisine Master.
It would be a good excuse for the court's enemies, who were already watching for a chance to get rid of Ji-young.
'...I'll definitely be held responsible and executed.'
A harsh conclusion.
But Ji-young also knew that there was no other outcome, no matter how much she thought about it.
'Damn it, why does it always end up like this!'
To have to risk her life for cooking again.
Ji-young's hands and feet trembled involuntarily.
"It was a very enjoyable banquet."
At that moment, the arrogant voice of Liu Jin, the Ming Dynasty envoy, was heard.
It seemed like he was trying to wrap things up.
"The dish prepared by the King of Joseon was truly impressive. In return, I presented the dish of the chef I brought, and I don't know if you liked it."
"...Indeed, it was a great dish."
Hearing Yeonsangun's candid answer, the corners of Liu Jin's lips twisted upward in satisfaction.
"Well then, since both sides have enjoyed the dishes of each country, how about we wrap up today's banquet at this point? And about today's competition..."
It seemed like he was trying to decide the outcome of this bizarre cooking competition that took place at the Taepyeonggwan.
The eyes of the audience were focused on Liu Jin's mouth.
"...Since it is the first day to celebrate the friendship between the two countries, we will not necessarily decide on a winner."
In short, a draw.
'Phew...'
Ji-young, who heard those words through Sungjae's translation, let out a light sigh of relief inside.
At least it wasn't a defeat, so she had at least avoided execution.
But she couldn't rest assured.
'If I had been the one to eat that Mala Xiang Guo first, I would have been utterly defeated. With my sense of taste paralyzed by the mala sauce, I wouldn't have been able to taste the flavor of the Beef Bourguignon at all...'
Ji-young looked at Dang Baek-ryong, who was standing on the opposite side, with a spine-chilling feeling.
Sharp eyes and raised eyebrows.
A lean physique, but the firm, lean muscles visible under his rolled-up sleeves.
He had a strange feeling of looking more like a martial artist than a chef.
He also made eye contact with Ji-young, and as if he had just finished a sparring match with a martial arts master, he lightly greeted her with a fist and palm gesture.
'...That person is no ordinary person. If I don't give it my all, I, a modern person, might lose!'
The opponent was definitely an incredibly skilled person.
But Ji-young had one question regarding today's competition.
Mala Xiang Guo was a hard counter to the Beef Bourguignon she had prepared.
But whether it was Twice Cooked Pork, Yu Xiang Rou Si, or Mala Xiang Guo, these were not luxurious dishes that would be suitable for such a state banquet.
'Why did he choose that menu of all things?'
Did the opponent change the menu on the spot with his quick wit? Or was it just a coincidence?
Or... could it be?
At that moment, Royal Secretary Im Soong-jae's voice was heard, wrapping up the banquet.
"Since the envoys of the Great Ming must be tired from their long journey, we will conclude today's Dismounting banquet here. Thank you all for your hard work."
Yeonsangun and Liu Jin exchanged polite bows with smiles on their faces, but their eyes glared at each other as if they wouldn't be surprised if they devoured each other right away.
* * *
"I, I am sorry, Your Majesty. I tried my best, but I didn't expect the opponent to come out like that..."
Throughout the walk out of the Taepyeonggwan without a word, Ji-young felt like the King's mood was uncomfortable, so she somehow ended up apologizing.
But what flowed from Yeonsangun's mouth was a surprisingly gentle tone.
"...You did well."
She thought he might get angry, but Yeonsangun said that instead.
Moreover, even more unexpected words followed.
"...Frankly, I thought your dish was more delicious."
"Yes?"
"I don't really like pork and spicy food."
"Wh, wh, what..."
What on earth is he suddenly saying...
While she was confused and stammering,
"It's still cold. Go in. You'll have to prepare another banquet tomorrow."
Yeonsangun left those words behind and strode off in the direction of the Gangnyeongjeon with his Dragon Robe fluttering and his accompanying ministers.
'...He doesn't like pork and spicy food?'
But he ate the other side's dish so deliciously, as if he was possessed...
Ji-young chuckled.
Perhaps Yeonsangun also knew.
That Ji-young was risking her life, representing this entire country.
Even if he was a psychopath with zero empathy, he wasn't stupid enough not to know that.
"Royal Cuisine Master, you should go in now?"
"Ah, yes? That's right."
Ji-young snapped out of it at Jang-geum's words and hurried to her residence in the palace, guided by the brightly shining moonlight.
And,
One person was hiding in the darkness, watching this entire situation.
Her face was covered with a black silk cloth below her eyes, but she was dressed as a palace maid with red sleeves.
Soon, that figure ran quickly through the darkness inside the palace with agile movements unlike those of an ordinary palace maid.
The place she arrived at was the Emerald Cloud Garden.
Avoiding the gazes of the Royal Guard who were standing guard with torches in front of it, the palace maid nimbly slipped inside.
A small voice flowed from her mouth as she entered.
"Mama, it is Chu-wol."
Then, there was a cool voice coming from inside the unlit door.
"...Come in."
As Court Lady Chu-wol entered the door, there was someone sitting inside with one knee raised, in her unique haughty posture.
It was Consort Jang Nok-su.
Chu-wol quickly approached Nok-su and whispered into her ear.
She must be explaining the cooking competition that had just taken place.
The corners of Nok-su's lips began to rise strangely as she listened to those words.
"Hmph, it was a close call, was it?"
Before she knew it, Nok-su's eyes were shining cruelly in the darkness.
"...Then tomorrow's banquet, will it be more interesting?"
