Chapter 988: Chapter 988: There’s Something Fishy_1 Chapter 988: Chapter 988: There’s Something Fishy_1 “But in the countryside, there aren’t so many formalities. They eat homemade dishes every day. Aside from radishes and cabbages, the vegetables are the greens she grows in the fire pit. The meat is from livestock raised at home, and the flour is ground from wheat they grow themselves.”

“It’s all home cooking, but the skills are very good. It’s not just Grandpa Emperor who says it’s good; many people say so.”

As soon as Yang Hao finished speaking, Yao Xian didn’t get the chance to reply before Yang Zheng cut in, “But the taste of this Chicken Soup isn’t that great.”

“Hmm…but Dad enjoyed it quite a bit.” Looking at the several people present, Yang Hao started to feel uncertain. Why were the tastes of his family members suddenly so different?

“Then Dad can try the Imperial Kitchen’s skills later. You haven’t been in the Palace for half a year, and now that you’re back, I’ll have them make all their specialties for you!” Yang Zheng said, batting his big eyes.

“Sure,” Yang Hao replied with a light laugh.

“Could it be that Your Highness has stayed in Shuifeng Prefecture for too long, gotten used to simple meals, and so…” Feng Huihui started, but due to her status, she didn’t feel it appropriate to spell it out too clearly.

But her meaning came through.

Yang Hao had previously been aiding disaster relief in Shuifeng Prefecture, eating many carelessly prepared, simple meals, which is why he thought Qiao Xiaomai’s cooking was good.

The taste of this Chicken Soup couldn’t compare to the skills of the Imperial Kitchen, but it was definitely better than what those chefs in Shuifeng Prefecture could manage.

“I think that’s exactly it. After having a lot of plain porridge and simple dishes, tasting something that’s just about average makes it seem like a delicacy only immortals could enjoy,” Yao Xian said with certainty in her voice.

“But Grandpa Emperor has also tasted the Imperial Kitchen’s cooking, and he said Qiao Xiaomai’s skills are good,” Yang Hao remarked, perplexed.

He could explain away his own opinion, but what about Yang Wenxiao?

Yang Wenxiao had always been in the Palace.

Upon hearing this, Yao Xian couldn’t help but retort in her mind, that’s because Yang Wenxiao had been bewitched by Qiao Xiaomai!

She could only think this to herself; on the surface, she smiled and said, “Your Grandpa Emperor has lived for so many years, what hasn’t he tasted? Precisely because he’s so experienced, those subtleties in taste all seem the same to him.”

Yang Hao thought about it and even though he felt the explanation was far-fetched, it wasn’t completely unreasonable.

Considering this, he smiled, “It’s just some food, after all. Yet here we are, seriously discussing it as if it’s a big deal. It looks like we’ve all been influenced by Yeye; we’ve become foodies.”

“Exactly,” Yao Xian laughed too, but inside she felt even more worried.

The one who had been most deeply bewitched was her own Yeye!

Blinded, he heaped excessive praise on Qiao Xiaomai’s skills, a clear sign of being deeply affected!

What should she do?!

After dinner, Yang Zheng kept nagging Yang Hao to play Mahjong again, hoping to win back some of his monthly silver.

Yang Hao hadn’t seen his son for many days and was indulgent of his requests, so he immediately nodded in agreement.

And so, the family played Mahjong together again, and just when the newly made Chicken Soup from the Imperial Kitchen was served, it was just in time for supper.

The soup was stewed in a clay pot, and it was a beautiful amber color. Everyone got a bowl, and all the others couldn’t stop praising it, with Yang Zheng downing three bowls in one go.

Yang Hao held his bowl, looking at the pleasant expressions on the faces of the four family members and couldn’t help feeling doubtful. Although the soup tasted good, it still fell short of Qiao Xiaomai’s cooking.

It wasn’t even as good as the Chicken Soup they had earlier.

Yet looking at his family’s satisfied faces, it seemed as though they were drinking ambrosia.

While it’s true that tastes differ from person to person, his family’s tastes were always quite similar. Now, why had they suddenly become so different…