Last year, Luoyang was hit by a flood, and the court allocated a large amount of disaster relief funds to strengthen the dikes and rescue the people. Now it is April, and in two months it will be the summer when rain and floods are frequent. Emperor Zhaokang is concerned about the people of Heluo, so he specially sent Pei Yan to Luoyang for an inspection.
The purpose of this inspection was, firstly, to investigate the reinforcement and protection work of the dikes and dams in Luoyang Prefecture and the prefectures and counties, as well as the grain storage situation; secondly, Emperor Zhaokang also wanted to take this opportunity to add more glory to Pei Yan's good reputation.
The business trip was just an inspection tour, and the place was Luoyang, which was not far from Chang'an. Emperor Zhaokang naturally wanted to give such an easy, tireless and good job that could build a good reputation to his most beloved son.
At first, Tao Ti was a little confused. Pei Yan's health was already like this, so why did Emperor Zhaokang still have to suffer so much? Wouldn't it be better to let him recuperate and spend his time in peace?
Later, when she was chatting with Xu Wenchan, Xu Wenchan said, "I have asked my parents about this question before. They said that parents will never give up their children until the last moment. Your Majesty should be the same. You have always held the hope that His Highness will get better, so you let him continue to participate in government affairs and let him go out on business."
Tao Ti was speechless, but suddenly his eyes were opened.
She had a different perspective from Emperor Zhaokang. Emperor Zhaokang hoped that Pei Yan would live, while she, like everyone else, acquiesced to Pei Yan's death.
Realizing this, Tao Ti couldn't help but feel a little guilty.
Seeing that she was slowing down in kneading the dough, Xu Wenchan couldn't help but stretch out five fingers and wave them in front of her, "Ati?"
"Hmm..." Tao Ti came back to her senses.
"You should have kneaded the dough almost done, right? It looks very smooth already." Xu Wenchan pointed at the large ball of dough in her hand. She didn't quite understand why her friend made so much dough. Could she finish it today?
"Well, it's almost done." Tao Ti pinched the dough in her hand, making sure it was smooth and elastic, and then began to stretch the noodles.
Like a magic trick, one becomes two, two becomes four, four becomes eight... one after another, long and thin white noodles fall out in her hands, each strand is distinct and not sticking to each other.
Xu Wenchan and the palace maids watched without blinking: The Crown Princess is really amazing, she can even make ramen, and her posture of making ramen is so cool and beautiful!
Tao Ti stretched the noodles, divided them into several parts and placed them in round bowls, and asked the palace maids to steam them in the steamer.
Xu Wenchan was a little confused, "Aren't noodles boiled? How can they be steamed?"
Tao Ti wiped her hands and chuckled, "I made instant noodles. They are not for eating now, but for taking on the road as dry food."
"Instant noodles? What a weird name."
"Because this noodle is ready, you can carry it with you and eat it anytime and anywhere, so it's called this. I'll make a bowl for you to try later, and you'll know."
"good!!"
The two chatted and laughed as they walked out of the kitchen.
The sun was shining brightly in the courtyard. The people from the East Palace all carried small stools and sat in the courtyard, busy with the tasks assigned to them by the Crown Princess. Some were grinding flour, some were guarding the stove, some were washing vegetables, some were selecting vegetables, and some were drying them.
There were still five days before departure. During these five days, Pei Yan was either discussing the arrangements for the trip to Luoyang with officials from the Eastern Palace in the Zixiao Hall, or studying relevant information submitted by the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel in the Chongwen Hall. He was very diligent, leaving home early and returning late.
Pei Yan was so busy that Tao Ti was not idle either.
She made a big promise in front of Emperor Zhaokang, promising to take good care of Pei Yan's food, clothing and daily life.
As for clothes, Fu Xirui prepared them; as for getting up, there were palace maids to serve; as for housing, officials from Luoyang would also arrange it. The only thing Tao Ti could do was to take care of food.
Tao Ti checked the work progress of the palace servants. Xu Wenchan followed beside her and saw pots of black sesame, soybeans, rice, white sesame, black beans, walnuts, red dates, etc. He asked curiously, "Ati, what are they grinding?"
Tao Ti pointed at the four palace maids and said, "These two are responsible for grinding black sesame paste, and these two are responsible for grinding five-grain soy milk. These are ground into powder and can be taken on the road and brewed for drinking anytime and anywhere. It is very suitable for breakfast."
As they were talking, the two men walked to the bread kiln. Two eunuchs were watching the fire. In a basket nearby were already a dozen golden and fragrant sesame baked naan.
Seeing Tao Ti coming over, the two eunuchs stood up and saluted respectfully, "Crown Princess, this batch will be baked soon."
Tao Ti reached out and pinched off a small piece of toasted naan, brought it to her mouth and tasted it. It was warm, crispy, and the more she chewed it, the more fragrant it became. It was the taste she expected.
She smiled at the eunuch and said softly, "Thank you for your hard work. The grilled food is very good."
The young eunuch was overwhelmed by the favor and said hastily that it was not hard.
After leaving the bakery, Tao Ti took Xu Wenchan to see the other food she had prepared. "This is egg yolk sauce, this bottle is spicy black bean sauce, and there are beef sauce, mushroom sauce, chopped pepper and radish, and sweet and sour garlic. These can be stored in a cool and dry place for about ten days. It is best to eat them with dry grains. I also prepared a bottle of rose sauce, a bottle of dried osmanthus, and a bottle of dried jasmine. I will take them with me and drink them with water on the road..."
"Oh, and here are some more. These are the preserves, beef jerky, and pork jerky I just made. They won't last for ten days, but they will last for five days."
"Tomorrow I will pickle some duck necks, duck wings, duck chops, bean curd skins, and lotus root slices. This is our family's secret recipe for pickling. Only those who have tried it know how good it tastes! Take it with you on your trip to eat. It will help you relieve your boredom and satisfy your craving."
Looking at the dazzling array of bottles and jars in front of him, and hearing what Tao Ti was muttering, Xu Wenchan couldn't help swallowing his saliva, "Ati, please don't say anything more. If you say anything more, I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself and will hide in your carriage and go to Luoyang with you."
With so many delicious foods, what's the point of traveling? !
Not long after, a palace maid came to report that the noodles on the stove were ready.
Tao Ti responded and took Xu Wenchan back to the kitchen.
The steamed noodles are formed into a flat ball, carefully lifted up, and slowly fried in a hot oil pan over low heat. With a "sizzling" sound, the white noodles are fried into a fixed golden pancake, which looks very crispy, not to mention the tempting aroma of carbohydrates and fat.
The more beautiful a woman is, the more likely she is to lie; the more delicious the food is, the more likely it makes people fat.
Tao Ti fried three as a demonstration, and asked the palace servants to fry the rest. The palace servants sent from the kitchen to help all had some cooking skills, so it was no problem for them to do such a simple job.
In order to verify whether this homemade instant noodles is successful, Taoti rolled up her sleeves and prepared to cook two bowls and taste them herself.
Unexpectedly, the fifth prince and the sixth princess arrived just as the water was heating up.
As soon as the two little cats reached the door, they tilted their heads back and kept muttering "What a nice smell!"
So, Tao Ti ended up cooking four bowls of instant noodles.
Four large celadon bowls were filled with noodles, chunks of tender, tender braised beef, a few fresh green vegetables, and a golden fried egg. The colorful look made one very hungry.
Under the milky white soup are golden and slightly curled noodles. In the rising steam, the unique aroma of instant noodles fills the air, making people's gluttonous cravings revived.
The two big foodies and the two small foodies couldn't wait to pick up their chopsticks and put the noodles into their mouths.
The chewy noodles mixed with the salty and delicious soup slide between the lips and teeth. It is rich but not greasy, and very fragrant. People can't stop eating it after eating it.
"It's delicious, so delicious!" said Xu Wenchan.
"It smells so good!" said the fifth prince.
"Yeah!" The Sixth Princess' mouth was full and she could only nod in agreement.
After a while, the four large bowls of noodles were finished.
Xu Wenchan fell back in his chair in enjoyment, looking at Tao Ti with stars in his eyes, "Ati, you are amazing! Really, this bowl of noodles is so delicious. The noodles after frying are fragrant and smooth, completely different from the usual noodles, especially fragrant!"
The fifth prince and the sixth princess also echoed and looked at Tao Ti with eyes full of admiration.
"I added egg white and pepper powder when kneading the dough, so it's very fragrant." Taoti wiped her mouth. Fried food really makes people happy. Judging from their reactions, her homemade instant noodles should be a success this time.
After the three foodies finished their noodles, they played together for a while, and the sun turned dark before they knew it.
Before leaving, Xu Wenchan took out a stack of banknotes and stuffed them into Tao Ti's hand, saying generously, "As the old saying goes, a poor family can become rich on the road. Ah Ti, take these and spend them. Eat and drink as you see fit. Don't let yourself get by."
Taoti, "..."
Is this what it feels like to be supported by a rich best friend? It feels so good.
Of course, she wouldn't take it, as she had saved enough to spend.
She finally returned the banknote to Xu Wenchan, but she never expected that the Fifth Prince would take out a large bag of gold beans and stuff them into her hands.
"These are all what I saved. You...just buy anything you like when you see it in Luoyang..." The boy was still a little awkward, his ears were red and he was embarrassed, not daring to look at Tao Ti.
Taoti, "..."
Well, here comes another rich and powerful person.
Compared to the generosity of Xu Wenchan and the Fifth Prince, the Sixth Princess gave a peace amulet. She said shyly, "Sister-in-law, this is the peace amulet I embroidered. Wear this and you will have a safe journey."
The goose yellow amulet was embroidered with the delicate yet somewhat childish word "peace" and had a beautiful pink tassel hanging below.
Tao Ti did not refuse the gift and accepted it with a smile, "Fei Fei, thank you."
The Sixth Princess' cheeks were red, and her lively eyes like a little deer curved, "Sister-in-law, I will wait for you and the Crown Prince to come back."
Xu Wenchan and the Fifth Prince also quickly echoed, "Yes, we'll wait for you to come back!"
Taoti, "..."
Why are you guys suddenly so sentimental? Woohoo.
At this moment, at the gate of Yaoguang Palace, the Crown Prince, who had finally returned early after finishing his official duties, asked: Why are these people so free? Why are they pestering his Crown Princess every day!
As soon as the prince appeared, Xu Wenchan and the others went back to their homes to find their mothers.
Seeing Pei Yan coming so early, Tao Ti made him a cup of Eight Treasure Tea and happily told him about how she made instant noodles.
Pei Yan drank the sweet and fragrant tea, looked at her profile full of joy, and couldn't help but squint his eyes lazily.
The fatigue from a busy day at work seemed to disappear in an instant.
He suddenly felt that taking her to Luoyang would be a good decision.
………
Two days later, it was time to set off.
After Fu Xirui took inventory, he found two more carriages. As soon as he stepped forward to report, he heard the Crown Princess say, "I added those two carriages."
Fu Xirui, "This...?"
Taoti explained, "The two carriages were loaded with food, such as cakes, naan, instant noodles and the like."
After a pause, she looked at Pei Yan beside her and asked uncertainly, "Your Highness, are two carriages too many? Well, I have tried to bring as few as possible. If it is very troublesome, then I will try to simplify it..."
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, like a child who was afraid of doing something wrong.
Pei Yan lowered his eyes and said in a gentle tone, "It's no trouble."
Having said that, he glanced at Fu Xirui dimly.
Fu Xirui immediately bowed and agreed, "I am just asking as usual. Two carriages are nothing."
Hearing this, Tao Ti heaved a sigh of relief, "That's good."
After the carriages were fully counted, Pei Yan grabbed Tao Ti's hand and said, "Let's go."
“…”
Tao Ti was stunned for a moment, she lowered her eyes to look at the slender and beautiful hand holding hers, and many questions popped up in her mind.
If she remembered correctly, she also had a carriage. How could he just drag her into his carriage?
Was it a show for the accompanying officials and palace maids? Well, this explanation is not impossible.
Before she could figure it out, she was already in Pei Yan's carriage.
Outside the carriage, Zhan Ping stood aside holding a sword, and sighed softly, "It's troublesome to take a woman out."
Linglong was about to get on the carriage behind, and when she heard this, she couldn't help but retort, "Master Zhan, those two carriages are filled with dry food that the Crown Princess and all of us worked so hard to make. If you find it troublesome, you can just not eat on the way."
Flatten a choke.
Linglong was too lazy to even look at him again, so she got into the carriage directly and sat with the other three accompanying maids.
Seeing the convoy gradually leaving the East Palace, most of the eunuchs and maids in the East Palace were in a good mood. After all, their masters were not at home, so they could be a little lazy. However, the eunuchs and maids in Yaoguang Palace were not in a good mood.
"Alas, the Crown Princess is gone now, and I don't know if she will be back in a month..."
"It will take nearly half a month to go back and forth, not to mention that Your Highness has to go on business in Luoyang, so a month may not be enough."
"Alas, now that the Crown Princess is gone, I feel like our Yaoguang Palace has become much more deserted and lonely!"
"Who says it's not true? It was so nice when the Crown Princess was here. She cooked for us and chatted and laughed with Miss Xu, the fifth prince and the sixth princess. It was so lively."
"What should I do? I'm a little reluctant to leave the Crown Princess. Lan'er, Qing'er, and Min'er are so lucky to be able to accompany the Crown Princess and serve her. Why wasn't I chosen?"
Here the palace servants were immersed in reluctance and sighing. On the gate tower of the palace wall, Emperor Zhaokang stood facing the wind, gazing at the convoy that was gradually moving away.
Li Gui handed over a cloak and reminded, "Your Majesty, it's cold up there, please take care of yourself."
Emperor Zhaokang put his hands behind his back and said in a deep voice, "This is Yan'er's first time going away from home. I am always worried about him..."
Li Gui consoled him, "With thirty highly skilled guards and two hundred elite soldiers, the prince will be safe on this journey. Besides, the crown princess is by his side to take care of him, so your majesty can rest assured."
Hearing this, Emperor Zhaokang recalled the day when Tao Ti came to him and begged him earnestly, and couldn't help but chuckle, "She'd better keep her word and take good care of Yan'er."
The convoy finally disappeared from sight. Emperor Zhaokang withdrew his gaze and adjusted his cloak.
After a moment, he said in a low and slow voice, "Yan'er is more fortunate than me."
Li Gui was stunned, lowered his head silently, and did not dare to answer.