Chapter 387 Bobo Chicken

Mingzhu ate to her heart's content, her little mouth continuing to chatter.

"Compared to this place, the cooks in my household are like chefs who can only boil water. Especially this red bean paste filling, it's sweet but not cloying, delicate and soft. I've been dreaming about this!"

She made these casual remarks, but they took them to heart.

Jiang Huan suddenly felt that the little flame of her cooking skills, which had been suppressed for so long, suddenly ignited.

Ever since she became pregnant, she has become the most fragile item in Weiyang Palace.

Huo Lin, on the surface, acts like a cold and aloof emperor, but behind the scenes, he's practically an overly anxious old woman.

The imperial physicians were also infected by him, and they were all on high alert, wishing they could weld her to the soft couch, as if even taking a few extra steps would kill her.

Cooking is out of the question. If this continues, her limbs will degenerate, and the baby she gives birth to will probably be a soft, mushy little dumpling.

No, I have to try my best today, and Mingzhu is the perfect excuse for her.

Jiang Huan's mind raced, and she smiled as she pinched Mingzhu's cheek: "Are you satisfied with just snacks? How about I make you something even more delicious?"

Upon hearing this, Mingzhu's eyes widened instantly, she sat up straight, and excitedly grabbed Jiang Huan's arm.

"Really? Your Highness is going to cook yourself? What delicious food are you making?"

Seeing her excitement, Jiang Huan also became interested: "Let's make Bo Bo Chicken, spicy and fragrant, refreshing and appetizing, a perpetual motion machine of salty and sweet, do you want to help me out?"

"Bo Bo Chicken? What a strange name, but it sounds delicious." Mingzhu cheered and immediately jumped off the bed, full of energy. "Your Majesty, what do you need me to do? I can do everything from washing and picking vegetables."

Infected by her, Jiang Huan smiled and got up, and the two went to the small kitchen together.

The small kitchen quickly became lively as Jiang Huan rolled up her sleeves and personally took charge.

She cooked the chicken breast until it cooled, then shredded it into thin strips. She also washed and chopped various vegetables, and had the palace maids and Mingzhu skewer them with bamboo sticks. She blanched them in boiling water until just cooked through, then took them out and plunged them into ice water to maintain their crisp and tender texture.

Mingzhu kept her word and enthusiastically helped skewer the vegetables. Although she skewered them crookedly and occasionally pricked her hand, uttering a few cries of "ouch," her little face was full of excitement.

"Your Majesty, how many of these wood ear mushrooms would you like to skewer?"

"Should the lotus root slices be cut thinner?"

"Wow, this red chili powder smells so good!"

While patiently answering questions, Jiang Huan prepared the most crucial ingredient: chili oil seasoning.

She slowly sautéed dried chilies and Sichuan peppercorns in oil over low heat until they released a rich and fragrant aroma. She then removed them, crushed them, added various other sautéed seasonings, and finally poured hot oil over them.

Sizzle—

The aroma was instantly released, filling the entire small kitchen and making mouths water.

"Wow!" Mingzhu was so overwhelmed by the aroma that she took a step back, sniffing hard and widening her eyes. "It smells so good, Your Majesty! This aroma is absolutely amazing!"

Jiang Huan herself felt a great sense of accomplishment. She poured the bright red and tempting sauce she had prepared into a large earthenware pot, then soaked the completely cooled shredded chicken and vegetable skewers in it, ensuring that every inch of the ingredients was evenly coated with the sauce.

"Okay, let it soak for a while, it will taste even better if it absorbs the flavor."

Jiang Huan clapped her hands, looking at her work with satisfaction.

Just as Jiang Huan and Mingzhu were busy in the small kitchen, filling the room with delicious aromas, Shen Yi, who should have already left the palace, returned due to a trivial matter.

He had just reached the palace gate when he suddenly remembered that there was a secret letter he had left in his sleeve that he had not yet handed over, so he had no choice but to turn around and enter the palace again.

As he hurried through the palace path and arrived at Weiyang Palace, a domineering and spicy aroma wafted towards him, instantly whetting Shen Yi's appetite.

Shen Yi paused, his eyes suddenly lighting up.

This tastes amazing; it must be the work of the Imperial Noble Consort.

It's true that timing is everything; this round trip was definitely worth it.

He straightened his robes and strode into the hall, where he saw Jiang Huan and Mingzhu gathered around a bowl of delicious food in a rich, red sauce.

As soon as Mingzhu saw Shen Yi, she immediately stood in front of the pottery bowl like a kitten guarding its food, hands on her hips, and said irritably, "What, it's you again? Do you have a dog's nose? You came here just by smelling the aroma? This was made for me by Her Majesty herself, there's no share for you!"

Shen Yi raised an eyebrow, showing no annoyance whatsoever. Instead, he moved closer and gently brushed away Mingzhu's hand, which was trying to stop him, with his fan.

"Your Highness is mistaken. When delicious food is presented, everyone should have a share. Besides, it must be the most delicious food in the world, prepared by Her Majesty herself. If I could have a taste, I would be extremely fortunate."

Although he said this while looking at the pot-boiled chicken, his eyes glanced at Jiang Huan, offering just the right amount of flattery.

Jiang Huan couldn't help but chuckle and was about to speak up to smooth things over when Mingzhu retorted angrily, "Even if I were thrice blessed, I wouldn't give it to you. You sycophant, all you know how to do is say nice things to please the Empress."

“Every word I said came from the bottom of my heart, how could it be flattery?” Shen Yi looked innocent, then turned to Jiang Huan, “Your Majesty, you be the judge, I was sincerely praising your skills.”

Jiang Huan found it amusing to see the two of them bickering again, and deliberately teased, "Looking at you two, one is so protective of her food, and the other has a mouth as sweet as honey, you really are... well, quite a good match."

These words stirred up a hornet's nest.

Just after being teased by Huo Lin, it's Jiang Huan's turn to tease her. Who can stand this?

Mingzhu instantly bristled, her face turning bright red: "Who's a match for him? Your Majesty, don't talk nonsense!"

Shen Yi seemed to have been stepped on, and waved his hands repeatedly: "Your Majesty is joking. I cannot accept the princess's 'favor'."

Jiang Huan suppressed a laugh and quickly instructed the palace servants to prepare a few more refreshing side dishes and rice, which temporarily quelled the "war".

The spicy and savory aroma of the Sichuan-style boiled chicken in chili oil and sauce is even more intense when it's placed on the table.

Mingzhu couldn't wait to pick up a string of bamboo shoots, take a bite, and squint her eyes in satisfaction: "Mmm, it's so numbingly delicious!"

Shen Yi also took a skewer of shredded chicken and savored it carefully, and was immediately amazed.

"The chicken is tender and smooth, spicy and fragrant, with an unforgettable aftertaste. Your Majesty's cooking is superb!"

The two of them, unusually, didn't bicker and were both engrossed in eating, their foreheads covered in fine beads of sweat from the spiciness, yet they couldn't stop eating.

As they ate, Shen Yi seemed to remember something. He took out a small, exquisite white jade wine pot from his sleeve and said with a smile, "Such delicious food cannot be served without wine. I just got a pot of peach blossom wine from Jiangnan. It is sweet and refreshing, just right to relieve the spiciness."

Upon hearing about peach blossom wine, Mingzhu's curiosity was immediately piqued, but she refused to admit defeat.

"Don't get drunk and embarrass yourself in the Empress's palace!"