Chapter Twenty-Six: Making Pastries

Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed into my mind.

Jiang Huan immediately said to Xiao Zhao, "His Majesty is merciful, but we must make amends. Let's go to the Imperial Kitchen and see if we can do anything for His Majesty."

Xiao Zhao nodded vigorously, "Your Highness thinks too much."

After the two left, they went to the imperial kitchen together.

At this time, the chefs in the imperial kitchen were busy at work. In addition to preparing food and drink for the emperor, they also had to prepare food for the people in the harem.

However, just as people are divided into different classes, the imperial kitchen is no exception.

This entire courtyard is called the Imperial Kitchen, but the food prepared in each room is for different people.

The food prepared in the very center room was for the Emperor and Empress Dowager, and the chefs in that room were the true imperial chefs.

The head steward was the most experienced and prestigious among the imperial chefs.

He was shouting at the top of his lungs at that moment.

"Hurry up and get to work! If you neglect His Majesty and the dignitaries, you'll be in deep trouble and have to take your own heads as punishment!"

It was mealtime, and everyone was busy at the stove, so when Jiang Huan and Xiao Zhao came in, they didn't attract anyone's attention.

Jiang Huan looked around and found that only the pastry stove was available.

Fortunately, the ingredients for pastries are not complicated, and compared to cooking, it does not require much effort to prepare a lot of side dishes and seasonings.

But what should we do?

This is her apology gift, her pledge of loyalty; it cannot be taken lightly.

Jiang Huan lowered her head and pondered. She definitely couldn't make steamed buns, twisted rolls, or baozi, because they were too ordinary.

If we're going to do it, we should definitely do something original.

Suddenly, Jiang Huan's eyes lit up. She had an idea!

When you're in a bad mood, eat something sweet to cheer yourself up.

And she can't do too much; she needs to leave herself some options.

Without hesitation, Jiang Huan made up her mind and walked to the pastry stove.

"Go get some eggs, milk, and sugar..."

Jiang Huan listed the ingredients for Xiao Zhao on her fingers, and Xiao Zhao nodded and wrote them down one by one.

At this moment, Chief Steward Gao noticed Jiang Huan and Xiao Zhao.

He walked over and saw that Jiang Huan was wearing palace attire that only nobles would wear, and he was a little puzzled.

The imperial concubines were like insects; very few of them would visit the imperial kitchen throughout the year.

Moreover, most of them were raised in luxury and have never experienced hardship.

Let alone cooking, they're afraid to even touch a fire and run far away.

Occasionally, a concubine would come to the imperial kitchen to make some snacks in order to please the emperor, and in the end, she would make a mess of the imperial kitchen.

The tall steward certainly doesn't want to see this happen again.

This is my territory, and no one is allowed to cause trouble here!

The tall steward had an idea in mind. He walked to Jiang Huan's side with a cold face, and his greeting was still respectful, but he immediately revealed his true intentions.

"Your Majesty, just give the order if you wish to eat something. Why go through all this trouble and waste money by coming all the way here?"

Jiang Huan wasn't stupid, but she didn't pursue the matter, since the other person's dislike was understandable.

"I want to make some snacks to send to the Emperor."

Just as I expected, they've come to cause trouble.

The tall steward thought this to himself, but didn't say it aloud.

"Your Majesty, please forgive my bluntness, but last time Consort Yu made a bowl of sweet and sour pork ribs, which made the Emperor furious. This matter caused quite a stir. Surely Your Majesty is aware of it?"

Jiang Huan pondered to herself, "They're afraid she'll become the next Consort Yu."

But Yu Changzai is just imitating others; she herself is the genuine article!

"Can't you have a little more faith in me, sir?" Jiang Huan smiled meaningfully.

“We all went through rigorous selection to enter this Imperial Kitchen. When it comes to making pastries, Your Majesty is probably no match for us. Besides, this is the Imperial Kitchen, so it’s not Your Majesty’s place to do anything. Whatever His Majesty wants to eat, Your Majesty just tells us, and we’ll make it.”

This time, the tall steward was genuinely disdainful.

Who gave this empress the confidence to actually challenge the imperial chef?

After saying so many sarcastic remarks, anyone with a discerning eye should have nothing more to say.

Moreover, Chief Steward Gao believed he had already given Jiang Huan a great deal of face.

Under normal circumstances, he would have a hundred reasons to kick Jiang Huan out.

Being a "noble person" isn't a very high title; if he wanted to make things difficult for the other party, it would be a piece of cake.

The tall steward glanced at Jiang Huan, his heart filled with disdain.

And looking at that small frame and those hands, she doesn't seem like someone who can cook at all.

Even if someone could do it, they certainly couldn't do it as well as him! He's the head chef of the imperial kitchen! Who can compare to him!

"No need. What I want to make is a local specialty from my hometown, which your imperial kitchen staff may not be able to make."

Jiang Huan's expression remained unchanged, but she didn't move an inch, clearly determined to stay there.

These words immediately attracted the attention of many people.

Someone, rather unconvinced, questioned, "Is there anything our imperial kitchen can't make? Our chefs here are proficient in all eight major cuisines."

Does he not even think before he speaks?

Jiang Huan had never personally tasted the dishes from the Imperial Kitchen, but she thought that if everyone was so proficient, how could the Emperor have lost his appetite because of the Imperial Kitchen?

But this is good, it gives her a chance to shine.

Seeing that the people in the imperial kitchen were unconvinced, Jiang Huan deliberately asked, "Have you ever heard of how to make egg yolk pastries and cream puffs? These are the two things I need to make."

The head steward and the other imperial chefs stared wide-eyed.

The group looked at each other, because they had never heard of either of these two types of pastries.

"How delicious can this kind of pastry, which I've never even heard of, be?"

"Perhaps it's just a different way of calling it!"

While everyone was discussing it, Xiao Zhao had already returned with the ingredients.

When the head steward saw that Jiang Huan was really going to do it herself, he felt disdain.

Hmph, there are always some people who overestimate their abilities. It's just a pity about the ingredients used in the imperial kitchen.

"The Imperial Kitchen has a limited supply of ingredients. If you ask me, Your Majesty, you'd better not waste your energy. Otherwise, if the ingredients run out, even if Your Majesty begs us for help, we will be powerless to do so."