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Chapter 7
The examiners, who had been watching the candidates’ duels from the second floor of the building with keen interest, began murmuring among themselves after a while.
“What? Why is that candidate just standing there without moving?”
There was a candidate standing still at the counter, not even attempting to gather ingredients. It was Candidate No. 11, the same one the officer had highly praised as flawless.
With a look of anticipation, the master chef approached Seorin and asked,
“The exam has begun, so why are you just standing there, lost in thought?”
Seorin responded politely to the question.
“Before starting to cook, I have something to ask, so I haven’t gone to fetch the ingredients.”
At those words, the master chef’s face brightened with inner delight as he asked,
“Very well. What is it that you wish to know?”
“What time will the meal be served?”
It was a perfectly natural question for someone preparing food. The master chef smiled in satisfaction and replied,
“The meal is scheduled for Yusi (酉時).”
That left about an hour and a half remaining.
“I would also like to ask if all twenty people will be dining, whether I should prepare a standard meal, and if anyone in the group has dietary restrictions or foods that may cause discomfort. Additionally, I would appreciate it if you could confirm whether there are any children among the twenty or if any of the diners are foreigners.”
The master chef answered all of Seorin’s questions.
“All are adults and are from Goryeo. No one has any special conditions.”
“Ah, and…”
“What else remains?”
“Yes.”
After a moment’s thought, Seorin asked a few more questions.
The master chef lowered his voice to answer them quietly and, as he returned to his place, glanced back slightly.
Seorin listened carefully, seemingly deep in thought, staring at the ingredients as she contemplated what meal to prepare.
The master chef began to feel a growing anticipation to see what kind of dish the only candidate who had asked him questions would present.
Humming a tune, the master chef returned to the waiting room where the examiners were.
“So, what was that child asking the master chef?”
“Eek!”
Jun-gyeong, a large former military officer, had approached silently and asked. The master chef jumped.
“My goodness, my heart almost stopped!”
Seeing the master chef trembling under Jun-gyeong’s presence, Wang An-hyeok subtly pulled him aside and teased Jun-gyeong.
“Would it be fun if you already knew?”
“I can’t help my curiosity! Why did the master chef hide the exam questions from us, the other examiners?!”
Jun-gyeong shouted angrily.
“If that were the case, the information would have leaked.”
Having heard the commotion, Eun-cheon sighed and approached the three of them.
“If you continue this disturbance here, even as an examiner, I won’t go easy on you. I doubt you want to be expelled before the candidates, do you?”
“Cheh, who’s making a fuss?”
Muttering, Jun-gyeong sat down at Eun-cheon’s warning.
Wang An-hyeok sat next to him and gently fanned him, which annoyed Jun-gyeong, who grabbed the fan sharply.
“Why the fan in autumn?”
“Because smoke is rising from your head.”
“Ha!”
Wang An-hyeok said with a sly smile, and Jun-gyeong, irritated, ran back toward the railing.
Meanwhile, a group of women serving tea for the examiners were watching the quarrels among the three men in delight.
These women were special court attendants (여관, Yeogwan) sent from the palace for this selection exam, acting as tea attendants (다비, Dabi).
A new recruit whispered to a senior,
“Who are those people with such radiant faces?”
The senior looked at her as if she were seeing a strange creature for the first time.
“Are you telling me you came here without knowing that? Or worse, you don’t know the Four Great Gardeners (사대화원)?”
“I came straight from the countryside. I was only called here under the pretext of rookie training.”
The senior finally nodded in understanding.
“Ah, I see. What a lucky girl.”
Court attendants must stay in the palace for life. Even a one-day outing like this is a rare opportunity. Usually, juniors defer to senior Dabi when such opportunities arise.
But today was different. A fierce competition broke out, with no room for yielding. The reason: the very people on the examiner roster!
“Look carefully. That elegant, plum-blossom-like figure is the Chief Inspector of Hye-eumwon, Maehwa Eun-cheon. The one with a sword on his back is General Jeong Jun-gyeong, who pierces hearts instead of women’s armor. And the beautiful man? That’s Wang An-hyeok, the Palgwan Official. His bright appearance and smiling eyes even earned him the nickname ‘White Fox.’”
Even just one of them would cause a stir; having all three was overwhelming.
Thus, the tea attendants fought fiercely for the right to participate today. Only the victors were present.
The new recruit had been sent without competition, making her extremely lucky.
“Oh, you said three, but shouldn’t there be four for the Four Great Gardeners?”
“No, you already have seen them all! The fourth is the Crown Prince Wang Chan, known for his boyish purity and nicknamed the Daffodil. Today, consider your lifetime luck used up.”
“My goodness!”
“…Huh? She’s moving now. But why that way?”
Peering over the railing, Jun-gyeong murmured, and the examiners crowded toward the railing. As he said, Candidate No. 11, Oh Seorin, was heading in the opposite direction from where the other candidates had gathered.
While other candidates scrambled for valuable meat and seafood, Seorin carefully inspected vegetables and placed them in a large basket, unaware that she was being watched.
Eun-cheon’s gaze followed her.
“…Just vegetables.”
Shiitake mushrooms, radish, green onions, onions, flour, kelp. There was no meat among the ingredients she chose.
“…What on earth is she planning to cook?”
Seorin carried the ingredients back to her workstation. The other candidates had already begun frying and blanching meat.
As Seorin laid out the ingredients, nearby candidates whispered in disbelief, wondering what kind of dish could be made with only greens.
Shin Yi’s voice rang out particularly loud:
“Just vegetables? Must have grown up without ever seeing meat.”
Despite the taunting, Seorin remained focused on her preparations.
Seeing no reaction, Shin Yi glared for a moment, then returned to her own cooking.
Time passed, and at Yusi, Master Chef Go Jang-nam suddenly called a halt to all cooking.
“Time’s up! Everyone, stop cooking!”
“Wha—?!”
“How can you say that so suddenly?”
“But my meat isn’t cooked yet!”
Most candidates’ faces turned pale at his words.
