I'm dressed in ancient times, I have a house, electricity, and a system pet.

Chapter 587: Immersive Viewing and Appreciation of the "Qilu·Huayan" Premiere

Immediately afterwards, a highly infectious drumbeat suddenly rang out, like a summons that transcended time and space, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

Then, on the stage in the center of the banquet, the opening court dance show "The Initial Ceremony of Fengshan" officially began amidst great anticipation.

This dance delicately depicted the solemn and sacred opening ceremony of the emperor's Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai, and also set off a magnificent prelude to this grand banquet.

The central stage inside the venue is slightly higher than the first-floor viewing area. This design ensures that the view from Bai Mengran and her friends' second-floor VIP box is unobstructed and wide-open, making it arguably the best viewing spot in the entire venue!

"Wow, so this is the legendary royal banquet! Enjoying delicious food while watching live performances, how wonderful and enjoyable!"

Kong Nishang was undoubtedly experiencing this breathtaking live performance up close for the first time, and she was filled with surprise and couldn't help but exclaim.

Unexpectedly, her casual remark aroused doubt in the minds of the three court officials present.

Huh? Really?

That's not right. In fact, after watching it, they were just as deeply shocked as everyone else!

And who says that a grand palace banquet has to be such a magnificent scene?

These were all people who had personally experienced grand palace banquets, so why did they seem to be having a strange feeling at this moment...?

Compared to this, it seems as if the banquets that were actually held inside the Forbidden City were just a fake palace banquet.

The scene before me truly lives up to the reputation of being a masterpiece by [Fairyland]. Such perfection is exactly what a palace banquet should look like...

Filled with these questions, Xuan Wanling and Xuan Molin, two members of the royal family, along with a group of friends invited by Bai Mengran to the banquet, arrived.

While enjoying the unparalleled and exquisitely beautiful court show, one can also savor the exquisite and unique court banquet dishes.

After the stunning opening dish, "Drunken Abalone Slices Dewy from Mount Tai," the main course of the grand banquet was served one after another in a continuous stream:

The second appetizer is a cold brew, "Zishui Pearl Glass Jelly"—

Inspired by glassmaking, this dish uses pig's trotter glue and donkey-hide gelatin to create a crystal-clear jelly, which is then inlaid with chopped scallops and diced ham, resembling a dazzling pearl.

The accompanying show, "Zibo Inkstone Glow," cleverly showcases the fusion of Shandong intangible cultural heritage and cuisine through a handmade glass performance, leaving the audience in awe.

The third course, "Lixia Rouge Goose Liver Cup," features goose liver meticulously mashed into a fine paste and placed in a handmade black pottery cup. A layer of hawthorn puree is placed on top to cut through the richness, and the rim is decorated with shredded scallions, creating a unique flavor.

Paired with the stage show "Floating Wine Cups on a Winding Stream," the performance vividly recreates the elegant scene of literati drinking and appreciating the scenery at Lixia Pavilion in Jinan, making the audience feel as if they were there.

After the cold dishes were served, the banquet progressed smoothly, moving into the middle stage of the imperial meal ceremony.

This is the crucial and exciting stage where hot dishes and main courses arrive one after another, and the grand banquet reaches its climax.

Five impressive main dishes were presented, and at the same time, five spectacular royal performances also kicked off, bringing diners a double feast for the eyes and the palate.

【Kongfu Braised Camel Hoof】: Selected top-quality camel hooves are simmered over low heat for twelve hours until tender and flavorful. They are then drizzled with a special sauce made from old chicken and old duck, and served on a lotus leaf pancake.

Accompanying the performance is the "Banquet Ceremony at the Confucius Mansion," which vividly recreates the solemn procedures of the Confucius Mansion when entertaining distinguished guests through exquisite etiquette performances, showcasing the profound cultural heritage of Qilu etiquette to the fullest.

【Yellow River Golden Scale Fried Grouper】: This dish uses fresh grouper from the Yellow River estuary. After being cut into thick slices, it is carefully cooked using the traditional Shandong cooking method of "frying". The outer skin is crispy and the inside is tender. It is then drizzled with a sweet and sour sauce.

The accompanying show, "River God's Delicacies," uses fantastic and dazzling dance to depict the ancient legend of the Yellow River God bestowing delicacies, allowing diners to experience the profoundness of Yellow River culture while enjoying the food.

【Taishan Red-scaled Sea Cucumber Soup】: Taishan red-scaled fish and Jiaodong sea cucumber are simmered together to make a soup, and then Zhangqiu abalone celery is added to enhance the aroma. The soup is milky white and has a rich and delicious taste.

The accompanying show, "Praying for a Good Harvest at Mount Tai," recreates the devout scene of our ancestors praying for a bountiful harvest at Mount Tai through solemn sacrificial dances, conveying the profound agricultural culture of the Qilu region.

【Dongchangfu Stuffed Abalone】: Fresh abalone shells are used as containers. Abalone diced, mixed with minced pork and diced shiitake mushrooms, is stuffed into the shells, steamed, and then drizzled with rich abalone sauce.

Accompanied by the "Grand Canal Transport" show, the performance vividly depicts the prosperity of Dongchangfu as an ancient canal city and the grand occasion of gathering delicacies from all over the country through the Grand Canal.

【Yimeng Snow Ribs Baked Lamb Ribs】: Made with Yimeng black goat ribs, slow-baked over fruitwood charcoal, and brushed with a sauce of honey and cumin. The meat is tender and not gamey.

Accompanied by "Yimeng Pastoral Song," the performance combines folk songs and dance to present the pastoral life in the Yimeng Mountains, highlighting the rich regional characteristics.

Finally, the grand banquet concluded elegantly with three exquisite dishes, including one main course and two desserts, bringing this culinary journey to a close.

【Qi Di Ba Zhen Braised Noodles】: Made with handmade wide noodles as the base, braised together with eight kinds of precious and fresh ingredients such as sea cucumber, abalone, dried scallops, and shrimp. The noodles fully absorb the rich broth, resulting in a mellow and delicious flavor.

The accompanying show, "Qi Palace Banquet Music," unfolded leisurely, with ancient music performances and graceful dances intertwined, vividly recreating the joyous scene of a banquet in the Qi Kingdom's palace, creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere for the finale.

【Langya Crispy Cheese with Pomegranate Blossoms】: Fresh milk is boiled into crispy cheese, which is then served in a bowl imitating Langya porcelain and garnished with fresh pomegranate seeds. It has a sweet and silky taste.

Accompanying the event is the "Langya Elegance" show, featuring performances of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting by literati and scholars, showcasing the cultural elegance of the Langya region and adding a touch of poetry to the entire grand banquet.

【Taishan Cloud and Mist Jelly Cake】: Made with water boiled with Taishan cloud and mist tea, mixed with glutinous rice flour and white sugar, steamed into jelly cake, sliced ​​and coated with white coconut flakes, the tea aroma bursts forth with every bite.

Accompanied by the court show "Fengshan Final Ceremony," the solemn and elegant dance performance depicted the concluding segment of the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai, thus bringing the entire grand banquet to a perfect and solemn close.

This feast for both the taste buds and the eyes captivated every guest present, allowing them to fully enjoy the delicious food and the visual spectacle.

Each dish is paired with a spectacular show, each one a dazzling spectacle!

As the banquet came to a close, thunderous applause erupted in the dining hall, with diners shouting "Bravo!" and cheering in unison.

Cheers and applause mingled throughout the banquet hall, rising and falling, lingering for a long time...