Chapter 195 Selecting Ingredients
Consort Li's smile froze instantly, her face turning pale and then flushed, her chest heaving violently.
How dare they use Buddha to pressure her and even slander her for not sincerely praying for blessings?
This is absolutely outrageous!
Consort Li was so angry she almost gritted her teeth, but she couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.
Jiang Huan's words were all reasonable. Under the guise of praying for the Empress Dowager's well-being, if she insisted that Jiang Huan cook, wouldn't she be confirming the crime of indulging in gluttony?
"What you're saying, Consort Zhuang? I was just thinking about how hard my sisters have worked, how could you have misunderstood me like that?"
She tried to save face, but the exasperation in her tone was unmistakable.
Just then, Aunt Li, who had been standing behind Jiang Huan, stepped forward.
"This old servant is ordered by His Majesty to assist in managing the rules of the inner palace. I must remind Your Highness that when praying for blessings and copying scriptures, one should purify one's mind and desires, and fast and cleanse one's heart. Discussing food at this time, especially designating concubines to cook, is not in accordance with etiquette."
"well……"
Consort Li took a deep breath and squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth, "It was my oversight. My sister is right, praying for blessings is the most important thing."
Jiang Huan remained calm and politely nodded slightly in agreement.
When Buddha and the palace rules intervene, no matter who you are, you have to endure it.
Don't try to outdo modern people in their ability to shift blame.
You'll be furious in no time!
She picked up the scriptures she had already copied from her desk and casually tidied them up.
"I have finished copying the scriptures, so I will not disturb you sisters any longer to continue praying for the Empress Dowager."
With that, he led his men to leave.
Just then, a young eunuch appeared at the palace gate, peeking out cautiously.
Upon seeing Jiang Huan, the young eunuch was overjoyed and ran forward to greet her.
"This servant greets Consort Zhuang."
Seeing this, Jiang Huan asked, "What is it?"
"Your Highness, as the Empress Dowager's birthday approaches, a batch of fresh ingredients has been sent from Jiangnan. His Majesty has specially ordered me to invite Your Highness to select some that suit your taste."
The word "specially" was like a needle, making everyone in the hall tense up.
This is a birthday banquet held for the Empress Dowager, yet the ingredients are being served to Consort Zhuang first?
The concubines in the palace stared at Jiang Huan with eyes that could practically burn a hole in her.
Jiang Huan didn't seem to care much and simply brushed her sleeves aside.
"Alright, please lead the way, sir."
As soon as I stepped outside, the warm afternoon sun shone down on me, dispelling the gloomy atmosphere that had settled inside the hall.
Jiang Huan exhaled and squinted her eyes contentedly.
A group of lotus root people, with dark and cunning hearts.
Even so, copying a hundred scriptures would probably only get you from the eighteenth level of hell to the seventeenth.
With that thought in mind, I passed through several palace gates and finally arrived at the storeroom where tribute ingredients were stored.
The head eunuch had already received the news and was waiting respectfully at the door with a group of junior eunuchs. When they saw Jiang Huan, they immediately knelt down and bowed.
"This servant greets Your Highness Consort Zhuang!"
"Get up." Jiang Huan waved her hand casually, her gaze already eagerly sweeping into the storeroom.
The warehouse was spacious and bright, with rows of neat wooden shelves and bamboo baskets piled high with fresh ingredients.
Delicious lotus roots from the Jiangnan region, plump water chestnuts, succulent mutton transported from the north, and a variety of seafood delivered swiftly from the East China Sea…
The air was filled with the scent of life.
Wow, what a bumper harvest!
These lotus roots are plump and white, perfect for soup. And this fish is great steamed or braised.
Lamb...you can roast lamb chops, the kind that sizzles and drips with oil!
Jiang Huan scanned through the pile of ingredients, her eyes sparkling.
Finally, her gaze settled on several bamboo baskets covered with damp cloths in the corner.
A soft rustling sound came from the bamboo basket, as if something was crawling inside.
What's all this mystery about?
Jiang Huan walked over curiously, lifted the damp cloth, and her eyes widened instantly when she saw what was inside.
The bamboo basket was teeming with insects, their large pincers swarming around them. Their bluish-black shells gleamed with a cold, eerie light, and their two thick, powerful pincers swung majestically, full of vitality.
"Crawfish?" Jiang Huan exclaimed in surprise, her voice rising several decibels.
My goodness, so many and so fat! Look at those pincers, and that plump size!
Spicy? Garlic? Or Thirteen Spices?
Slurp, I have to have a meal today.
Jiang Huan looked at the crayfish in the bamboo basket as if she were seeing a priceless treasure.
"I'll take all of these crayfish!" she said crisply, making the decision immediately.
The head eunuch was stunned for a moment, and looked at the creatures that were bared and clawed and looked no different from insects, his face showing fear.
"Your Majesty, these crayfish have hard shells and little meat; they're usually fed to ducks. This servant is afraid, afraid of defiling Your Majesty's noble body..."
Feeding ducks? What a waste!
These ignorant people don't know what they're talking about! This is an upgraded version of crayfish, a true delicacy.
Jiang Huan waved her hand repeatedly: "It's alright. Just have someone clean these crayfish. Remember, they must be alive. Rinse them several times with clean water, then use a brush to clean the shells, especially the abdomen and claws. Then remove the thread."
She rattled off orders, leaving the head eunuch and the other eunuchs dumbfounded.
"Flashing the shell?"
"Picking threads?"
"This...this insect even has threads?"
The head eunuch looked completely bewildered, as if he were listening to gibberish.
They've handled fish, shrimp, and crabs before, but crayfish are always just thrown to the ducks in the Imperial Garden as a side dish. Who would bother with that?
Jiang Huan looked at their stunned expressions and sighed helplessly.
Forget it, I, the master chef, will have to take matters into my own hands.
She rolled up her sleeves and ordered, "Xiao Zhao, go and bring a few large wooden basins, fill them with clean water, and find a few stiff-bristled brushes."
Although Xiao Zhao was also intimidated, she was absolutely obedient to her mistress's orders and immediately responded.
"yes!"
Soon, several large wooden basins filled with clean water were carried over.
Xiao Zhao, accompanied by several palace maids and under Jiang Huan's personal command, began to deal with the crayfish.
"Grab its back, not its pincers, or it will crush you to death in no time."
"Use a brush, brush hard, especially on your stomach."
"Why are you letting go? Don't be afraid."
"See the thread? Here at the end, in the middle, pinch it, and pull gently... Yes, it's out!"
The warehouse erupted in chaos as the crayfish, unwilling to be captured, struggled fiercely, their large pincers swishing loudly and water splashing everywhere.
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