Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Empress Dowager's Admonition
Jiang Huan simply gave the tall steward another meaningful look, and then thanked him meaningfully.
Reality is too complicated, and palace intrigue is too difficult, so she has always been happy to be a carefree couch potato.
But when it comes to cooking, she has every right to be confident!
The tall steward felt uneasy under that gaze, and snorted coldly. Although he didn't say anything, his disgust was very obvious.
The other imperial chefs also looked down on Jiang Huan, and everyone was whispering among themselves.
"I simply don't believe that an empress could make anything delicious!"
"I'm going to stay here today and see how she embarrasses herself!"
...
Jiang Huan was not affected by the gossip and continued doing her own thing.
"How can anyone eat this egg after it's been ruined like this? Just looking at all that foam is disgusting!"
"Look, there's so much sugar in this egg flakes! It's so sweet it'll make you cough!"
"It's not a sweet steamed egg custard, is it? Just because it has a special name doesn't mean it tastes good!"
Everyone was talking at once, speculating about what exactly was going on.
Various sarcastic and mocking remarks emerged one after another.
But as time went on, everyone felt something was wrong.
The aroma wafting from the pot made them twitch their noses incessantly.
Wow, it smells so good!
"This unique aroma is different from the aroma of other pastries!"
"I didn't see any special flavoring ingredients added in it!"
"I think it's a waste. Didn't you see that pile of egg crumbs and sugar mixed together still lying there?"
Some of the imperial chefs have changed their attitudes, but there are still stubborn ones who refuse to admit it.
When Jiang Huan took the food out of the oven, the aroma instantly filled the entire kitchen.
Jiang Huan taught Xiao Zhao how to stuff the prepared cream into the cream puffs. After making a few, a royal chef shamelessly came over.
"The thing Your Highness made smells very novel, and its appearance is also quite unique!"
"I don't know...I don't know..."
The imperial chef uttered a few words in fits and starts, but what he really wanted was to taste the flavor.
Jiang Huan found it amusing to see these big guys staring at her expectantly.
She didn't blame the imperial chefs for looking down on her; after all, she was essentially dancing on their professional field.
Given that most of the concubines in the imperial harem never lifted a finger, it's normal for the imperial chefs to have some stereotypes.
It's not worth going against them over these things. Besides, she has to cook for the Emperor, so she'll inevitably have to deal with the Imperial Kitchen in the future.
“I made too much. His Majesty certainly can’t eat all of it. You can take these and divide them among yourselves.”
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Upon hearing this, a royal chef quickly took a few more and placed them aside.
He had just taken a bite when his eyes lit up, and he blurted out the answer involuntarily.
"Sweet but not cloying, it melts in your mouth, I've never tasted anything so delicious." He said, then quickly took another bite of the egg yolk pastry.
Crack.
The crispy, delicious taste made him squint his eyes slightly.
He ate half of the egg yolk pastry in one bite, leaving the other imperial chefs dumbfounded.
They had prepared their sarcastic remarks, but they got stuck in their throats and spun around.
"Let me try the taste!"
Wow, crispy and delicious!
"The cream made with raw eggs doesn't have a fishy smell at all, it's really delicious."
The tall steward couldn't resist picking one up as well.
Hmph, they're all country bumpkins who've never seen the world. He'd like to see just how much...
Oh my god!
This taste! This texture! Even the legendary master himself would call her "Grandma"!
"Your Majesty, I was short-sighted before. I wonder if Your Majesty could teach me how to make these two kinds of pastries?"
The tall steward's face was swollen from the beating, but he didn't feel annoyed at all. Instead, he was full of admiration.
"No problem, we're going to bake two more batches anyway."
Jiang Huan laughed even more heartily this time.
Upon hearing Jiang Huan's agreement, Chief Steward Gao quickly expressed his gratitude and volunteered to assist her.
Seeing that he was genuinely eager to learn, Jiang Huan didn't hold back any knowledge.
The two chatted back and forth, creating a harmonious "master-disciple" atmosphere, and everyone in the imperial kitchen also developed a good impression of this empress.
In contrast to the bustling activity here, Huo Lin ate the meal prepared by the imperial kitchen all alone and in a cold and quiet manner.
It's still as bad as ever!
Not long after, they heard Chen Jinxi's announcement.
"Your Majesty, Consort Zhuang has arrived!"
Huo Lin was already in a bad mood, and the thought that Jiang Huan had spilled the food made him even more upset.
He turned his back and waved his brocade robe in the wind: "I am a little tired, I will not see you."
Chen Jinxi did not leave immediately, but lowered his head and said again, "Your Majesty, Consort Zhuang specially made some snacks for you!"
!!
What? A snack!
Huo Lin immediately became interested, but his expression remained as cold as ice, though he changed his words.
"Consort Zhuang has put in a lot of effort, so let's announce it."
Chen Jinxi took his leave, and Jiang Huan, as she wished, entered with the food box.
As soon as he entered, the Emperor's innermost thoughts drifted in like a melancholy barrage of comments.
[You didn't protect my food properly before, and now you're trying to please me with desserts? I have principles, and I won't forgive you!]
Oh, this dessert smells so good!
"How about I just have a tiny sip? Just one sip?"
Jiang Huan smiled slightly. "Little brat, still so arrogant."
You're a foodie, how could I not handle you?
She bowed and opened the food box.
"These are cream puffs and egg yolk pastries that I made, and I have come here to apologize to Your Majesty."
Huo Lin coldly swept his gaze across the servants in the hall.
"All of you, get out."
Upon hearing this, the people in the imperial study all withdrew.
Huo Lin then picked up the pastry and elegantly took a bite of the cream puff.
[Delicious! How can anything in the world taste so good! Sweet but not cloying, it melts in your mouth!]
[Waaaaah, did Heaven take pity on me after all these years of suffering in the palace and send Consort Zhuang to save me?]
Huo Lin ate slowly and leisurely, while Jiang Huan stood beside him, watching the desserts on the plate dwindle.
Um……
Suddenly, Huo Lin paused in his eating of the cream puff.
Speaking of which, when I was eating glutinous rice balls that day, Consort Zhuang seemed to want some too.
[Hmm, well, considering how much Consort Zhuang loves sweets and how well she makes them, let's leave some for her.]
Huo Lin pushed the plate towards Jiang Huan, indicating that she should eat too.
Jiang Huan was somewhat taken aback, but immediately smiled and ate a cream puff.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
This little emperor is something else! No wonder she's been making him snacks all this time!
The two of them were very satisfied with the two plates of snacks.
Because Huo Lin had official business to attend to, Jiang Huan didn't stay long before returning home.
Meanwhile, news of Jiang Huan's second visit to the Imperial Study spread throughout the palace once again.
The wind was so strong this time that it even reached the Empress Dowager's ears.
Such favoritism is unacceptable! It seems we need to give this Consort Zhuang a warning.
The next day, the Empress Dowager sent someone to summon Jiang Huan to her presence.
"I've heard that His Majesty has been frequently keeping you by his side lately?"
His very first words were an attempt to exert pressure with authority.
Jiang Huan could guess the general idea, and her mind was racing with anger.
Is she a celebrity? There's a bunch of obsessive fans digging into her schedule!
She bowed to the Empress Dowager and answered carefully, "I only occasionally prepare some food for Your Majesty. I dare not have any other improper thoughts."
The Empress Dowager carefully examined Jiang Huan. She had seen many beauties in the palace, but Jiang Huan's face was unique and enough to outshine all the others.
However, she had already investigated Jiang Huan and found that besides her face, she had nothing else to offer.
People like this, without any family background, are simply not worthy of the emperor's favor and attention.
Turning her gaze away, the Empress Dowager said calmly, "His Majesty works hard to manage state affairs, so you must not disturb him or distract him."
How could Jiang Huan dare to talk back to the Empress Dowager? She was a woman at the top of the palace intrigue food chain.
No amount of trickery could hide from her.
"Your Majesty, I understand."
It wasn't that she wanted to bother the Emperor. If she could have a comfortable life in the harem, she wouldn't be so foolish as to try to please the Emperor and anger the other concubines!
But what could she do when she had nothing? She had no choice but to find a way to make a living on her own!
She sensed something was off before she arrived.
But she had neither honors nor gold and silver.
Just in case, Jiang Huan, who was dedicated to finding a powerful patron, brought some snacks as usual this time.
After all, this was her only way to save her life.
"Your Majesty, would you like to try my cooking?"
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