Chapter 13: Making Dumplings Lihua has always been a discerning person,...

Lihua had always been discerning. She certainly wouldn't allow herself to ride in the same carriage with her own princess and the current emperor. That would be incredibly awkward. So, she warmed the fillings and dough in the stove and placed them inside the carriage. After the emperor and princess settled in, Lihua walked over to the other side, sat down, and said to Liang Jiugong, "Eunuch Liang, can I drive with you?"

"Okay." Compared to Lihua, Liang Jiugong certainly understood better how to make the master feel comfortable. He took another closer look at Lihua and felt that Xiaotao was more handsome and more suitable to be a personal servant to Xiu Yugege.

In the carriage, Xuanye rubbed his hands and said, "I was afraid you would be waiting anxiously, so I rode here first. It's quite cold in the first month of the year."

Xiu Yu said, "I left in such a hurry that I forgot to bring my hand warmer." As she said this, she took Xuanye's big hands in her own small hands and said, "Is this better?"

What kind of a fairy is this! Xuanye prides himself on being a master at teasing people. He has always been the one teasing people in his life, but this time he was the one being teased. This feeling is a bit, how should I put it, quite good. The air smells a bit awkward, but more of it is warmth and sweetness. Xuanye quickly calmed down and said, "I think your girl is also quite good. Do you want her to accompany you to the palace? I can grant you a special permission..."

Xiu Yu shook her head. "Lihua and my servant Liuzi are a couple. I had already discussed this with my mother before I came to Beijing. I will arrange a marriage for them when they return."

"You are truly a good master." Xuanye smiled and said, "Of course Xiao Tao is also very good. You said that you and her hit it off right away, so you let her serve you for the rest of her life. That's not bad either."

"Xiao Tao?" Xiu Yu thought of that clever apprentice, and the smile on his face couldn't help but grow wider: "Xiao Tao is really good, I like him very much."

"I'm happy if you like it."

The carriage slowed down and soon stopped in front of the future Changchun Garden. Xiu Yu said sweetly, "Your Majesty, we've arrived."

"We got back so quickly." Xuanye sighed silently. Although he was a little hungry, he hoped that this journey could be longer and longer. It didn't matter if he couldn't taste Xiu Yu's cooking. As long as this girl could stay by his side, it would be fine.

Finally, she got off the carriage. By then, Xiao Tao had prepared everything and was standing at the gate of the garden, bowing to her current master and future master.

Lihua saw a bright-looking girl standing at the door and guessed it was the Xiao Tao that Gege had mentioned to her. She felt a bit uncomfortable, torn between wanting the maid who would serve Gege to be clever and intelligent, and yet also fearing she would be too clever and outsmart herself. Then Gege might never think of her again, and their fate would be over.

Xiu Yu was a thoughtful person. She held Lihua's hand, lowered her voice, and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, you will always be in my heart and will always be my sister." She smiled and looked at Lihua tenderly.

Just hearing these words, Lihua became happy and showed a sunny smile again. She was ready to give Xiao Tao a thorough explanation so that she could serve her princess seriously and not feel lonely in the deep palace.

Xuanye and Xiuyu walked into the garden first. Compared with the last time Xiuyu came, Xuanye had obviously sent someone to clean it up again this time, and there was quite a Spring Festival atmosphere.

Xiu Yu said, "Didn't the Emperor say that we can repair it when we have more money?"

"The renovations I'm talking about are about building some more pavilions and palaces. You can do the daily arrangements and tidying up first." Just as he was saying this, Xuanye had already brought Xiu Yu into the room where they had talked. Xiao Tao had already prepared all the things needed to make dumplings, even the small pot was set up.

Xiu Yu smiled and said, "Your Majesty, as the saying goes, 'A gentleman should stay away from the kitchen'! What are you doing..." She stretched out her right hand and pointed at all the preparations in the room. Although she understood it in her heart, she still wanted to ask for clarification.

Xuanye asked, "What do you mean by 'a gentleman should stay away from the kitchen'? My imperial chefs are all men. Are they not gentlemen? Why does Princess Yu still believe such a thing?"

"Of course I don't believe it, I'm just afraid you'll mind!" Xiu Yu raised her eyebrows slightly and walked to the copper basin to wash her hands. Xiao Tao stood beside Xiu Yu as usual, and after her future master finished washing his hands, she handed him the handkerchief. Xiu Yu then said, "Since the emperor is willing to show off his skills, then Yu'er dares to ask, what can you do?" As she spoke, she looked sideways at Xuanye, her eyes smiling, and then counted on her fingers one by one: "Kneading dough, mixing fillings, rolling out dough, which one can you do?"

This time it was Xuanye's turn to be embarrassed. He could ride a horse, shoot arrows, write articles, and rule the country, but this was not the time to talk about these things. After hesitating for a while, he replied: "I, I have a lot of strength and can pull a ten-force bow."

Xiu Yu suppressed her laughter, deliberately curled her lips, shook her head, and waved her hands: "You really don't need those hands that can pull a ten-strength bow to knead dough. You'd better sit still and watch us do it."

Lihua was a good helper to Xiuyu, and Xiaotao was even more so. However, Xiaotao, with his keen eye, could naturally discern Lihua's complex feelings towards him. Perhaps she wanted him to take good care of her family's princess and her master, but also wanted to avoid being too prominent and outshining her. So, Xiaotao tried to be reserved, pretending that this was only his second meeting with Princess Yu'er and that they weren't that familiar.

The three girls gathered together, kneading dough and forming dough balls, while Xuanye sat nearby, sipping the tea Liang Jiugong had just brought him. Although Xuanye was used to being waited on, this time he was truly prepared to join Xiuyu in rolling out the dough and making dumplings. He remained silent for less than a quarter of an hour before rising to wash his hands and walking over to Xiuyu.

Xiu Yu was mixing the stuffing. Knowing that Xuanye was standing beside her, she simply picked up the porcelain bowl in her hand and placed it in front of Xuanye: "Since you can't sit still, stir it in the porcelain bowl. Whether the dumplings taste good or not depends on your cooking skills." Xiu Yu raised her eyebrows. Of course she was joking. She had already adjusted the proportions of meat, vegetables and various seasonings. How could she mix the stuffing so that it would taste good?

At that time, Xuanye had been observing for a long time and knew how to mix the filling. He picked up the chopsticks and started stirring it clockwise.

Xiu Yu and Xiao Tao looked at each other, and both the master and the disciple were trying hard not to laugh out loud.

"Whether dumplings are delicious or not depends on the filling, the wrapper, and even the appearance." Xiu Yu said as she picked up a round dumpling wrapper and placed it in her palm. "If it looks good, it will make the eater happy, and the dumplings will taste better."

"Well said." Xuanye also picked up a piece of dumpling wrapper and placed it in his palm, imitating Xiu Yu.

Xiu Yu's fingers on her right hand moved back and forth, and in a flash, a dumpling shaped like a small fish was placed in her palm. "How is it?" She smiled and looked at Xuanye.

"Yu Gege is truly capable." Xuanye could easily make the filling, but making beautiful dumplings took more than a day. He lowered his head to look at the 'semi-finished product' in his palm. If it could even be called a 'semi-finished product', he felt a bit embarrassed, somewhat losing the dignity of being an emperor.

Xiu Yu smiled and took the dumpling from Xuan Ye's hand. After some adjustments, a more beautiful fish appeared in Xiu Yu's palm. "Your Majesty, take a look. The foundation you gave me is very good."

Xuanye laughed out loud and thought: This Guo Luoluo Xiuyu really has a heart of crystal. She didn't give him a way out and even helped him clean up the mess he had made.

At that time, Liang Jiugong was just entering with a jar of wine. Xuanye's eyes lit up and he said, "How about this, you three continue to wrap it, and I'll go heat up a pot of wine." He was quite familiar with heating wine.

Xiu Yu nodded. Actually, she had some unusual skills in heating wine, but the emperor didn't want her to be idle today, so he had to let her do some "simple" things.

It was not really Xuanye who was heating the wine. After all, he was used to being served. When Liang Jiugong came to his side, the work fell on Liang Jiugong. He just drank tea on the side until the dumplings were wrapped and Xiu Yu went to cook.

When they went to the kitchen, Xiao Tao finally couldn't help but said, "Gege, you are really good." As she said that, she gave a thumbs up.

Xiu Yu said, "Your Majesty, why not just coax him? I, the princess, may not have any other skills, but I do have some ability to coax people."

Lihua said as she cut vegetables, "Our princess is sometimes a little too modest. You are clearly a master of all the eighteen martial arts. Even if you search all over Manchuria, you would be hard pressed to find another one like you. I'm thinking now that perhaps the master trained you in this way just for this day."

When Lihua mentioned his father, Xiuyu's smile faded a little. Lihua knew she had spoken out of turn. It was New Year's Day, and the emperor had finally come out to cheer the princess up and make her feel less homesick. But she, a servant, actually mentioned her master who was far away outside the Great Wall. She really deserved a beating!

Before Lihua could apologize, Xiao Tao spoke up, "Yu Gege's skills are truly eye-opening for me. I suspect the Emperor will never forget your cooking after he gets a taste of it."

Xiu Yu knew Xiao Tao was intentionally changing the subject. She put the food into the pot and picked up the spoon to stir it. "Can't forget it? What will happen if you can't forget it?"

"You'll know once you enter the palace." Xiao Tao lowered his voice and leaned close to Xiu Yu's ear, saying, "You've captured a man's eyes and his stomach, Princess. You deserve to be favored in the harem." After saying this whisper, which wasn't quite a whisper, Xiao Tao walked over to Lihua and said, "Sister Lihua, what are the Princess's daily habits? Even she herself doesn't know. Can you tell me about them?"