19 Contest (3) 5yr

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Han Bing's eyes had never once left Mai's person as she had been cooking. He watched as she cutely asked the man beside her for wood and got a little bit jealous when the man smiled at her. Even more when he could actually offer assistance that Han Bing himself desperately wanted to give. Even if he had tried to help, it would have only inhibited Mai even more. With how much the Emperor enjoyed playing mind games, Han Bing was positive that the best course of action was to do nothing. He saw Mai standing tall and confident when her dish was done and couldn't help but swell with pride for her.
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"I can't wait to try the champion and runner up dishes" the Emperor thought to himself. "Last year they had been so close that it was a tough decision for me to determine who the winner would be".

He walked towards the champions dish first as was tradition. Upon arrival he was disappointed in what looked like he was being fed leaves but couldn't help having some confidence in the man who had made his favorite dish last year. He picked up the packet of bamboo leaves to examine it closer with his eyes. Notices nothing special he was about to take a bite out of it.

"Wait you need t