Li Xi Rui stepped to the center of the hall with elegant poised and a smile that can enthrall everyone. Her pair of beautiful eyes shining with mischief as she looks at the heroine. Then, slowly she curtsies and said, "Empress, for this princess performance, I will need the help of my maid. Please your highness empress grants her permission to enter". With the wave of the Empress's hand, a eunuch brought Xiao Xi to the hall.

After instructing Xiao Xi on what to bring, they wait for the materials to be brought. After confirming all what she needed for her performance, Li Xi Rui started to heat up some sugar and water over a low fire. After it is boiled, she removed the foam into the bowl. Then she stirs in some of her homemade syrup into the pot. After she removed the pot and put it into a cold water for a while and then pour out the content into the clean slab on the table. After adding some edible color, she started folding by the wooden spatula until she could touch the sugar.

She folds and pull until it become glossy and smooth. She takes some of the sugar and use it to form some flower petals. She flattens the sugar with her fingers and roll it into a cone. Then she attaches pieces around the cone until a peony could be seen. The peony is so lifelike that one couldn't believe that it was made from sugar. After making several peonies, she makes branches with green sugar and attached it on a base she made from sugar. Then, after making several more pieces of sugar items, she attached them together.

When they thought that it was over, Li Xi Rui started to blow some sugar and make an oval shaped sugar. After attaching the fragile sugar pieces, she stops and look at the Empress. "This princess finished her performance", said Li Xi Rui.

Realizing that Li Xi Rui had finished her performance, Princess Long and the 8th princess clapped their hand together. Never had they ever saw such magnificent sculpture before. What they usually see is sculpture made from stones or clay. This is their first time seeing a sculpture made from sugar. The sculpture looks alive, and dainty. The light that shines through the pulled sugar, made the sculpture looks like it might break if one is tempted to touch them.

But there is one particular item that look out of place. It is the oval shaped blown sugar. The opaqueness of the oval item didn't match the transparency of the other pieces. Mu Jiu Jiu open her mouth to point it out, "What a beautiful sculpture. Xi Rui is really talented but...". As if hesitating, Mu Jiu Jiu clamped her mouth shut.

At this time the empress asked, "What is Jiu-er wanted to say? Just say it. Of course no one would blame you for being honest". The Empress open up a path for Mu Jiu Jiu to continue her earlier words.

"The sculpture is truly beautiful and fragile as if just touching it would make it break. But the oval shape thing, doesn't suit the sculpture at all. Forgive Jie Jie for saying so~", Mu Jiu Jiu showed a remorseful face.

After being pointed out by Mu Jiu Jiu, the oval shaped thing hanging by a sculptured leaf becomes more prominent. All the people in the hall had thought that it was a mistake committed by Li Xi Rui in her eagerness to gain the Empress's favor. Princess Long had wanted to ease Li Xi Rui by praising her. But before she could do that, Li Xi Rui had taken the initiative to talk.

"Is this thing really that offensive? If it is so, let just get rid of it~", said Li Xi Rui nonchalantly.

"Xi Rui didn't need to do all that! All the other pieces are decent enough to cover the mistake. After all, Xi Rui made a mistake because of a moment excitement", said Mu Jiu Jiu. This could be perceived as an effort to ease Li Xi Rui's sadness. But if one could grasp another meaning to it, one could hear the sarcasm laced in those words.

Xiao Xi that has been standing at the side of the hall is fuming! 'What is this woman talking about?! The Miss wouldn't make a mistake like that for just a mere approval!', thought Xiao Xi. The look she threw to Mu Jiu Jiu is hot enough that it could burn the palace.

"It's alright, this princess could get rid of it if it doesn't match the whole design. This princess doesn't have any attachment for something that is not needed", said Li Xi Rui. What Li Xi Rui had said is akin to a statement that she didn't have any attachment towards a certain royal. She could get rid of him whenever she wants. She doesn't hold any particular affection to that person.

Then, Li Xi Rui took a metal rod and lightly knocked on the oval shaped 'unsightly' thing.

Silence overtook the hall.

What emerged from the oval thing astonished them.

"So Beautiful!", the eighth princess exclaimed.

"How could such a thing be possible?"

While Mu Jiu Jiu just stare silently at the sugar sculpture, the Empress couldn't hold herself back and began to praise the brilliance of Li Xi Rui's performance.

When Li Xi Rui knocked on the oval item, the sugar breaks like broken porcelain and reveal a butterfly. The butterfly is hanging by a small sugar piece and is swinging in the air from impact. The swinging movements make the butterfly seems like it is alive.

"Brilliant! Xi Rui, this Empress never saw such a life like sculpture!" the empress praised. A tiny speck of good feeling emerged inside the Empress's heart. "Is this only made by sugar? So wouldn't it be edible?", the Empress asked. She didn't know why but her heart is eager to taste the emerged butterfly.

"Answering the Empress, the sugar sculpture could be eaten in moderation. Naturally, too much of a good thing could be bad for the body", Li Xi Rui take the hanging butterfly and give it to the eunuch. After receiving the butterfly, the Empress break a small piece of the butterfly and put it into her mouth.

"A beautiful sculpture, fragile and dainty. A delicious art enough to be savored~", the empress praised Li Xi Rui. At first she had thought that Li Xi Rui had made a mistake in her eagerness to please herself. But after the butterfly is revealed, she couldn't help but praise Li Xi Rui for her brilliance. In her heart, doubt for the rumor that was going rampant about Li Xi Rui emerged. If the rumors are baseless, then wouldn't that be her son, Long Qing's loss?

Hearing the praise from the Empress mouth, Mu Jiu Jiu couldn't help but look at Li Xi Rui with doubt. Wasn't the technique Li Xi Rui showcased is too advances to this era? 'Is she a transmigrate just like me?', thought Mu Jiu Jiu.

What Mu Jiu Jiu doesn't know is Li Xi Rui had been reincarnated. Along with the reincarnation, her talent in cooking has been heightened as well. It is the same as Rui Sheng. They may have small talent or power in the last lifetime, but in this life, the power has been upgraded.

P/s: I would upload the other chapters by stage. As it turns out, I have a test tomorrow. Wish me luck guys~