On this day, a big event happened in the Zhaoyang Princess Residence - the princess actually went into the kitchen!
The chefs stood to one side in trepidation, giving way to the princess at the stove and cookware.
Cong Han and Shen Xue assisted Qin Zhao, Ling Long tended the fire.
The servant who was originally in charge of the fire was drenched in cold sweat as he watched the female attendant sit in his place.
But Ling Long herself was even more nervous than him. The servant was afraid the female attendant would steal his job.
Ling Long, however, was worried for her own life and safety.
Her Highness had never been to the kitchen before, what if she blew up the kitchen?
Such doubts made her apprehensive and uneasy.
She was the closest to the pot, so she'd definitely be the first to die if anything happened!
However, the subsequent developments exceeded everyone's expectations!
After fiddling for a while, Qin Zhao presented everyone with something yellowish, slippery, and unfamiliar.
Although it lacked aroma, at least it looked decent.
And there were no kitchen accidents, which already made everyone very satisfied.
Just as they all felt the color was a bit monotonous, Qin Zhao drizzled prepared caramel over it!
Now everyone felt comfortable in their hearts and eyes.
Qin Zhao made a total of twenty servings. She picked up one plate and introduced it to them, "What you see before you now is the beauty-preserving elixir invented by me - lily caramel pudding.
Not only is it colorful, fragrant and tasty, it also has a heritage flair."
Exaggerated, too exaggerated!
The hearts of the crowd resonated, piercing through their chests and echoing around the kitchen!
Even so, no one dared to brush off the princess's face, and they rushed to praise her.
"Your Highness was able to make such delicious food on your first try in the kitchen, you are undoubtedly a genius!"
Cong Han said, "Your Highness's cooking skills are terrifying, you have the makings of a kitchen god!"
Ling Long shouted the loudest, "Your Highness, the lily caramel pudding you made is truly the most beautiful delicacy I've ever seen!"
Qin Zhao corrected her: "It's pudding."
Ling Long immediately corrected herself: "Yes, yes, yes, lily caramel pudding!"
Qin Zhao was smiling at first, but her expression suddenly turned cold after they finished speaking!
Her indifferent gaze swept over them, sending chills down their spines!
"I forgot to tell you, this stuff is poisonous and will kill you immediately if eaten."
Qin Zhao's words cut like knives, stabbing at their hearts!
"Since you like it so much, I'll reward it to you."
With that said, the kitchen fell silent, the atmosphere colder than the early spring chill outside.
Qin Zhao raised her hand and pointed at the few people standing in front, frightening them into shaking all over!
As her finger turned, it landed on Ling Long. She said, "Ling Long, you try it first."
Tears sprang from Ling Long's eyes as she walked over to Qin Zhao's side, crying as she gave her last words, "Princess, when I'm gone, remember to eat properly and dress yourself.
Don't keep tying your sash wrong, or your pants will keep falling.
Go to the latrine before bed at night, or you'll wet thechua..."
Before she could finish, Qin Zhao cut her off: "Stop wasting words and hurry up!"
Ling Long took a deep look at the princess, accepted the pudding, scooped a spoonful, and resolutely put it in her mouth...
After swallowing it, her complexion changed and she collapsed on the ground!
Seeing this, everyone was filled with grief, thinking of Ling Long's kindness to them in the past.
But they did not dare show it, for fear of offending the princess.
At the same time, they admired Ling Long for her devotion to the princess, not spilling a drop of the pudding even as she fell to the ground!
The scene was very bleak for a while.
Until a female voice rang out: "It's so delicious!!"
Ling Long had pretended to die. She got up with the plate, shouting again: "I've never eaten anything so delicious! Many thanks to Your Highness for the gift!"
Cong Han asked: "Then why did you collapse earlier?"
Ling Long: "I was overwhelmed by the deliciousness Your Highness made!"
Hearing this, everyone revealed looks of contempt. This person would say anything to curry favor with Her Highness.
Although they now understood the princess was bluffing about the pudding being poisonous, it definitely wasn't as delicious as Ling Long claimed!
Qin Zhao accepted Ling Long's praise and distributed some of the pudding, saying to everyone: "Try it, let me know if you have any suggestions for improvement."
Driven by curiosity after Ling Long's performance, everyone rushed forward and snatched up the pudding!
When they tasted the first spoonful, their reactions were even more dramatic than Ling Long's. Tears brimmed their eyes as they shoveled spoonful after spoonful into their mouths.
Even the stoic Shen Xue made sounds of delight.
The kitchen was filled with the women making meowing sounds as they rapidly finished a pudding each, still longing for more after the last mouthful.
Qin Zhao said: "There's no more. I'll make it again when I'm in a good mood."
The women were disappointed for a second, then rekindled their hopes for life. As long as Her Highness didn't say she'd never make it again, there was something to look forward to!
After lunch, Qin Zhao brought the lily caramel pudding she made and took the carriage to the Imperial Palace with Cong Han and Shen Xue.
The essence of this pudding was in the caramel. The pudding itself wasn't much different from what modern people eat.
But the caramel contained the youth-preserving secret recipe taught by Feng Tinghe.
In addition to the lilies having no bitterness, ingredients like white atractylodes rhizome and semen cuscutae were also bitter.
By dissolving their juices into brown sugar, most of the bitterness was absorbed, leaving only a little.
This not only prevented bitterness, but also prevented the brown sugar from becoming too cloying, while enriching the caramel's texture!
This groundbreaking combination was sure to impress the Empress Dowager!
Full of confidence, Qin Zhao arrived at Jingning Palace. She noticed the atmosphere there was unusually oppressive.
The eunuch at the gate announced Princess Zhaoyang's arrival. The matron Zhao Mama led Qin Zhao inside.
Zhao Mama said: "Your Highness, you've come at just the right time. Go see Her Majesty the Empress Dowager quickly!
Her Majesty has not eaten for two days!"
Qin Zhao asked: "What happened to Grandmother?"
"Her Majesty's Tanuki suddenly started fasting, and unwilling to let Tanuki suffer hunger alone, she has accompanied it in abstaining from meals."
The exalted Empress Dowager actually loved a cat so much?
Arriving at Chongming Hall alone with the food container, Qin Zhao went inside.
The hall was dimly lit, but one lamp was on. The Empress Dowager sat by the lamp reading.
The once foremost beauty in the world was aptly named.
Even nearing her seventies, traces of her unmatched grace in youth could still faintly be seen on her face.
Qin Zhao walked up to the Empress Dowager and knelt down, bowing deeply. "Grandchild pays respect to Imperial Grandmother."
The Empress Dowager didn't respond for a long time. Qin Zhao could only remain kneeling until her knees ached. Only then did the Empress Dowager say: "Rise."
"Thank you, Imperial Grandmother."
Qin Zhao stood up and began, "Grandmother, I've brought..."
Before she could finish, the Empress Dowager interrupted: "Leave. I wish to be alone."
"But..."
"Leave. Do I need to take a cane to drive you out?"
Qin Zhao conceded helplessly. "Then take a cane and drive me out, Imperial Grandmother. I quite miss being beaten by you."
The Empress Dowager put her book down and looked up at Qin Zhao. "You've matured considerably these past months, even daring to talk back to me now.
Servants, bring me a cane!"
