Chapter 207 The Return Journey is on the Agenda
“Furthermore,” he added, a hint of coldness in his eyes, “aside from that.”
"The street argument we had today cannot simply fade away quietly. Let our people add fuel to the fire and spread the news as quickly and widely as possible."
"This old servant understands." The steward understood immediately, bowed, and withdrew to make the arrangements.
In the candlelight, Fang Shijie toyed with the mysterious electric baton, his eyes gleaming with a determined light.
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When Jiang Ling woke up, the sun was already setting.
She opened her eyes, paused for a moment, and then remembered that she had escaped from Black Wind Village and returned to the villa arranged by Cheng Fang.
That thrilling and exciting day felt like a dream. It just passed by like that.
She sat up and rubbed her sleepy eyes.
After Fang Shijie met Cheng Fang, the people in his courtyard also came out to look for him. Jiang Ling then parted ways with him, and they each went home.
Meanwhile, Zhou Zhongliang and a group of villagers who had traveled with him were arranged by Cheng Fang to stay in another place.
Although yesterday's harrowing experience gave her quite a fright, she did not feel any physical discomfort.
What really bothered her was the noticeable increase in guards at the villa.
Through the half-open window, one could see that there were more than twice as many guards patrolling the courtyard as usual, each with a solemn expression and a long sword at their waist.
Cheng Fang and the Crown Prince had clearly prioritized her safety to the highest level.
She appreciated the gesture, but the thought of going out with such a large entourage following her, attracting stares and gossip wherever she went, completely dissuaded her from going out.
She came to Beijing to relax and unwind, not to be stared at like a rare animal.
Moreover, this incident really frightened everyone around him.
Needless to say, Xiao Ran and Xiao Yi are both young children, and experiencing something like this will likely leave them with a lasting trauma.
Cheng Jiaojiao, that girl, heard that she had returned safely and immediately stayed at the villa. She must have been extremely worried.
Just then, the door was gently pushed open, and Cheng Jiaojiao peeked in. Seeing that she was awake, she immediately rushed to the bedside, grabbed her hand, and looked her up and down:
"Sister Jiang! You're finally awake! How are you feeling? Is there anything else that's bothering you? You really scared me to death!"
Her eyes were slightly red, clearly still shaken.
A warm feeling washed over Jiang Ling, and she took her hand in return, smiling softly:
"I'm fine, look, I'm perfectly alright. I just slept a little too long. It's you guys who got frightened."
"What do we care about? As long as you're safe!" Cheng Jiaojiao pouted.
Just then, Xiao Ran and Xiao Yi ran in upon hearing the noise. Seeing Jiang Ling sitting safely on the bed, the two children were finally relieved.
Xiao Yi rushed over and hugged her arm, her eyes still red.
Xiao Ran also looked exhausted and still had lingering worries.
Looking at the three people surrounding her, Jiang Ling's frustration from being trapped in the courtyard dissipated.
The maid brought in a bowl of warm red date porridge and several plates of snacks.
Jiang Ling was really hungry. She had only eaten some breakfast yesterday and some dry food that Zhou Zhongliang had brought her in the evening.
I went back to the villa early this morning and fell asleep immediately. Now I feel hungry.
After finishing a bowl of red date porridge and eating several pastries, I finally felt completely alive again.
Seeing a group of people surrounding her, Jiang Ling smiled and stood up.
"Alright, everyone stop crowding around."
"I'm fine. I'm not planning to go out today. Would you like to try some of my desserts?"
Cheng Jiaojiao's eyes lit up instantly. "Snacks? I want some! Of course I want some! I've been craving the snacks from Sister Jiang's shop for ages, but the cooks in the manor just can't make them!"
Xiao Yi immediately cheered.
Xiao Ran immediately said, "Sister Jiang, I'll help you."
The group arrived at the small kitchen in the villa with great interest.
Cheng Jiaojiao had already sent the servants away from the kitchen, leaving them plenty of space to do whatever they wanted.
Although ovens didn't exist in ancient times, the basic ingredients for making egg tarts and bubble tea were still available.
Jiang Ling rolled up her sleeves and first checked the ingredients available in the kitchen. Flour, eggs, milk, sugar, black tea, and glutinous rice flour were all there.
That's enough.
She first directed Xiaoran and Xiaoyi to help beat the eggs and filter the egg liquid, while she busied herself making tart crusts with flour.
Cheng Jiaojiao watched curiously from the side, asking questions from time to time:
"Sister Jiang, what are we going to do with this yellow dough?"
Why do you need to beat the egg mixture so finely?
Jiang Ling skillfully operated the equipment while patiently explaining its operation.
Pour the egg mixture, which consists of milk and sugar, into the shaped tart shells, and the small, delicate egg tarts are complete.
While preparing the oven, she started making the tapioca pearls for bubble tea.
She mixed tapioca starch and brown sugar with hot water to form a dough, then rolled it into small, delicate balls.
The process was quite interesting, and Cheng Jiaojiao and Xiaoyi joined in, laughing and helping to roll the balls. Although they were all different sizes and shapes, it was a lot of fun.
When the small meatballs become translucent after being cooked in the sugar water, the egg tarts are almost ready.
The moment the oven was opened, the rich aroma of milk and caramel instantly filled the entire kitchen, prompting several little gluttons to crane their necks and sniff the air.
"It smells so good!" Cheng Jiaojiao exclaimed.
"Sister, this tastes like the pastries we ate before, but it's even more fragrant!"
Jiang Ling took out the egg tarts and let them cool, then added the cooked tapioca pearls to the prepared milk tea.
Cups of warm bubble tea, skewered with reeds, and plates of tempting egg tarts were placed on the stone table in the courtyard.
The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the courtyard in a warm glow.
The four sat around a stone table in the courtyard, enjoying a modern afternoon tea.
Cheng Jiaojiao couldn't wait to pick up an egg tart and carefully take a bite.
The crispy outer layer and smooth, pudding-like filling melt in your mouth, offering a rich milky aroma and just the right amount of sweetness for a unique taste experience.
"Mmm! It's so delicious! The outside is crispy, and the inside is soft and smooth. It's a hundred times better than the lotus seed paste cake from Yue Lai Tea House!"
Xiao Yi followed her example, eating egg tart crumbs all over his mouth, holding a bubble tea, and slurping up the chewy black pearls inside, finding it all incredibly novel.
"This milk tea is so delicious! The little glutinous rice balls inside are sweet and chewy."
Although Xiao Ran ate politely, the light in his eyes revealed his enjoyment.
Seeing their satisfied expressions, Jiang Ling also picked up an egg tart and slowly savored it.
It's been a long time since I've made this, but thankfully my skills haven't deteriorated.
The oven temperature was just right.
If you're feeling down, a sweet treat will cheer you up.
She prefers a peaceful and leisurely life to a thrilling and exciting experience.
She looked up at the sky; the weather was getting colder and colder.
Her return journey should be put on the agenda now.
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