Clearly, Princess Yan Yue was captivated by the life described by Zhao Qinglin.
The whole family of sisters spends their days in the kitchen, trying out all sorts of pastries and dishes.
Make one, record it, and then taste it. Just thinking about it makes me feel like the scene is beautiful.
The more she listened, the satiated she became. In the end, she insisted that Zhao Qinglin cook her a meal.
Since the princess had made a request, how could Zhao Qinglin refuse? So she prepared to follow the princess's aunt to the kitchen.
Zhao Qingyan, however, detected a different meaning in the princess's longing tone.
"Princess, actually, there is a type of pastry that is most suitable for everyone to make together, and that is dumplings."
Roll the dough into a round disc and wrap the seasoned meat and vegetable filling inside.
Whether steamed or boiled, it can be eaten plain or with seasonings. It tastes delicious.
"Your Highness, would you be willing to watch us sisters make dumplings together?"
Yan Yue became interested upon hearing this. After being a widow for so many years, she had almost become indifferent to worldly affairs.
I can't get interested in anything.
All day long, besides strolling in the garden, listening to musicians play the zither, watching dancers perform, and occasionally reading a few stories written by poor scholars, there seems to be nothing else to do.
As for cooking, she never even considered it. There were more than a dozen cooks in the kitchen, all revolving around her as their master.
What would you like to eat?
This was the first time someone had invited her to cook together, although Zhao Qingyan used the word "watch" instead of "cook together".
Princess Yan Yue was very tempted.
Since Her Highness wanted to observe the entire process, it was impossible for a whole group of people to go directly to the kitchen.
They had someone temporarily set up a stove in the garden.
Zhao Qinglin made a list of vegetables, and soon a palace servant brought them over.
He personally selected, washed, and chopped the ingredients in front of the princess. He even kneaded the flour right in front of her.
The three sisters and the princess's aunts worked together to complete the preparations. Zhao Qingyan was in charge of kneading the dough, as she had a strong hand.
While Zhao Qinglin was preparing the filling, she was instructing her aunt on what ingredients to add to remove the unpleasant taste and enhance the aroma.
With the filling prepared, Zhao Qingyan had already rolled out quite a few dumpling wrappers.
One by one, plump dumpling wrappers flew out from under Zhao Qingyan's hand, much to Princess Yanyue's surprise.
"I never imagined you could design clothes and cook. You're truly multi-talented."
Zhao Qingyan always has a smiling face.
"This humble woman is unworthy of Your Highness's praise. I am probably the worst cook among my sisters now."
Most of the time, it seems like all they can do is talk and nothing else.
For example, all my sisters can make clothes and embroider, but I'm already doing well if I can sew a garment. As for embroidery, forget about it.
"Would the princess like to try out this dough-rolling technique?"
After leaving behind a few trusted confidants, Yan Yue dismissed everyone else.
After washing my hands, I took the dough and started rolling it out little by little, following Professor Zhao Qingyan's method.
The princess just didn't have much strength in her hands, so the dough she rolled out was quite thick.
Zhao Qingyan kept praising her.
"Princess, you are so intelligent and kind-hearted. Look at how well you can roll out this dough into such a round shape. You are truly amazing."
However, the princess had never done this before, so she only needed to try a few; her hands would hurt if she did too many.
Yan Yue asked curiously where it hurt. Zhao Qingyan pointed to her thenar eminence and said...
"This is the place. It was my first time rolling out dough, and I made a lot. My hands ached for more than a day. But I'm thick-skinned, so it got better after kneading it a bit."
"Your Highness, you might want to try making dumplings."
Then, this scene unfolded at the princess's residence: the smaller girl was leading the larger girl, both of them covered in flour.
Yan Yue frowned as she looked at the dumplings she had made.
"I feel like all the dumplings I made are asleep."
Zhao Qinglin is very good at comforting people.
"Hey, Your Highness, why bother about what these dumplings look like? The deliciousness of a dumpling doesn't depend on its pleats. As long as it can be wrapped up, it's a dumpling."
Besides, isn't this just for fun?
Later, we'll boil half of these dumplings and steam the other half.
"I'll prepare another dipping sauce, Your Highness. Please see which one you prefer."
The three Zhao sisters moved incredibly fast.
Yan Yue struggled to make six or seven oddly shaped dumplings, and her aunts also made several dumplings of various shapes. All the fillings were already wrapped.
Zhao Qinglin specially steamed the dumplings that the princess and her aunts had made, while boiling all the other dumplings.
While Zhao Qingyan was looking at the dumpling pot, Zhao Qinglin took the opportunity to prepare the dipping sauce.
Half an hour later, the dumplings were cooked, while the ones in the steamer would have to wait a little longer.
However, this did not prevent the princess from enjoying the dumplings.
Just as the princess began to eat, news spread that Prince Rui had arrived.
Who is Prince Rui? He is the God of War, the dream lover of countless young ladies in the capital.
Upon hearing that the princess had guests, the three Zhao sisters immediately and tactfully took their leave.
Princess Yan Yue was in a good mood today, so she said it was fine.
Princess, it's alright, but we're in your way.
The three Zhao sisters were not ignorant; no matter what Prince Rui's status was, he was still an outsider.
In particular, the Zhao family's daughter had no desire to associate with the royal family, much less marry one of them.
Zhao Qingyan is an exception; besides, Han Xuri is at most a nephew.
Led by their nanny, the three Zhao sisters were led out of the princess's residence.
Because they were not on the same path as Prince Rui, the two groups did not encounter each other.
Prince Rui only saw a few girls leaving from afar.
"Elder sister, I just got some food from Han Xuri and brought it over to you, Your Majesty."
"Oh, you stole it, didn't you? Anything that kid could take home must be something good."
Yan Yue said knowingly.
"Ahem, could you please give me some face, Your Highness?"
That kid is incredibly stingy. If I don't take it from him, how could he possibly give it to me?
They say this thing is called canned food.
When I arrived, the kid was eating it. I tasted it, and it was pretty good, so I brought the jar from his room.
Why is there a stove in my elder sister's courtyard? What's that for?
The room smells wonderful! Is there anything special you'd like my little brother to try?
Yan Yue gestured for the dumplings to be put back on the table.
"I just had someone make this for me, and I'd only taken one bite when you arrived."
Come and have a taste! I watched these dumplings being made from the very beginning, from washing the vegetables to the final cooking.
The taste is quite good.
As she spoke, Yan Yue picked up a dumpling, dipped it in the sauce, and put it in her mouth.
It was the first time Prince Rui had eaten dumplings. He imitated the princess, throwing the dumplings into the sauce bowl, rolling them around, and then eating them.
After tasting it, his eyes widened, "This tastes really good."
The aunt who was watching the steamer outside came in to announce that the dumplings outside were ready and asked if they should be brought up.
The princess gave her approval. Her aunt brought back the steamed dumplings and specially placed the few that the princess had personally made in front of her.
The princess felt a great sense of accomplishment when she saw the dumplings she had made herself being served.
I quickly picked one up and put it in my mouth.
Prince Rui was a little confused. They were all dumplings, just different in how they were boiled versus steamed. Why was there such a big difference in their shapes?
He's the type who needs answers to every question, which earns him a disdainful look from the princess.
The aunt serving nearby said,
"Your Highness may not know, but this plate was personally prepared by our Princess."
"The ones on that plate over there were wrapped by me."
As if he had discovered a new continent, Prince Rui quickly reached out with his chopsticks and picked up a dumpling from the plate in front of Yan Yue and started eating.
"Being able to eat dumplings made by my elder sister in this lifetime is worth it."
Those punches Han Xuri took weren't for nothing, hahaha..."
The princess didn't have many dumplings to begin with, but Prince Rui managed to snatch most of them.
If the princess hadn't been so reluctant to part with them and had put two into her own bowl beforehand, there probably wouldn't have been a single one left.
"You eat over there, they all taste the same. Do you think it's easy for me to cook for the first time in my life?"
Prince Rui nodded.
"It really wasn't easy, so I feel incredibly fortunate."
Is this the new chef hired by the Imperial Family? I've never tasted this delicious food before.
"It's not some newly hired chef, it's..."
Yan Yue gave a general account of the Zhao sisters' visit.
"Your Highness, are you referring to the owner of Huicui Pavilion bringing her sisters here? You mean those maids who just left?"
Yan Yue nodded. "What, you've seen them? That shouldn't be the case; you shouldn't be on the same path."
Prince Rui shook his head.
"I saw it from far away, but didn't come across it. This stuff is delicious, though. I wish my family's cook could learn how to make it."
At least you can eat it whenever you want.
I've been to Huicui Pavilion a few times; they have a lot of food, but I've never tried their dumplings before.
Yan Yue turned to look at her aunt, who had just been learning how to make filling from Zhao Qinglin.
"Ruyi, didn't you just learn how to make fillings from Miss Zhao?"
Write down the prescription and have Prince Rui take it with him.
Tell Ruyi to kneel down and step back.
Logically speaking, a prince should not be so fond of food and drink, but Prince Rui had spent nearly ten years at the border.
He started as a common soldier and never enjoyed any special treatment because he was a prince.
He endured hardship and suffering before finally reaching the position of general.
People who don't get to eat well all year round will naturally have expectations for good food.
Who knows that when he was teetering on the brink of life and death time and time again, he survived by craving all the delicious food he had eaten in the capital.
People always need something to look forward to in life. The reason he was summoned back to the capital was because he was getting old and had not yet been appointed as the principal wife.
Not only was there no principal wife, but there were also no concubines or maids, which led the emperor to believe that Prince Rui had some kind of hidden illness.
Since Prince Rui returned to the capital, he has attended many matchmaking events, both large and small, including the flower-viewing banquet held by Yan Yue.
In the end, none of them were to my liking.
For no other reason than that Prince Rui simply couldn't muster any interest in the affected manner of the noble ladies in the capital.
He started speaking with poems and songs.
Rough men who fight on the border year after year have no time to appreciate romance and beauty.
All he can tell you is, "Strong winds can easily cause you to bite your tongue, and heavy snow can make it extremely cold."
How can two people who are completely unrelated spark a romance?
Having grown accustomed to the everyday lives of ordinary couples, Prince Rui seems to have been assimilated.
I feel that ordinary people are happier than my own father.
The harem was full of women who bore him a multitude of sons. And then all the sons strained against the chair under their father's buttocks.
The way they seem to want to kill each other is just ugly.
He didn't have the time or inclination to watch his brothers cause trouble.
When Prince Rui left, he indeed took the recipe for the filling written by Ruyi with him.
Upon arriving at Prince Rui's residence, he handed the recipe to his attendant.
"Take this to the head chef and let him learn how to make dumplings as soon as possible."
If you really can't learn it, go to Huicui Pavilion for a few meals.
However, the method for preparing the seasoning must not be revealed to outsiders.
The attendant had been by Prince Rui's side since childhood, so his loyalty was beyond question. Of course, he knew where the recipe came from.
The head chef was quite surprised to see Prince Rui's personal attendant in the main kitchen.
I thought the kitchen had done something wrong.
He was very excited when he learned that a recipe for a new food had been brought to him for him to try.
Not only do you get recipes to try, but you also get to have a meal at the Huicui Pavilion on the company's dime. Is there any better mission than this?
I managed to make the dumpling filling following Aunt Ruyi's instructions. But I have no idea what the dumplings will actually look like.
They're great at making steamed buns, but they really can't make dumplings.
The chef went to find the housekeeper, and the two of them swaggered off to the Huicui Pavilion.
With an excited heart and trembling hands, the chef ordered several dishes that he had never heard of before.
Of course, we did order several servings of dumplings with different fillings.
You don't even need to think to know that someone ordering food like this is there to learn the recipe.
So what if you steal? Can you really steal a soul?
The most distinctive feature of the food at Huicui Pavilion is its continuous improvement and updates.
The flavor is constantly being improved, and under these circumstances, even if someone tries to imitate it, they will not be able to surpass it.
Since they were there to learn from the masters, the servants at Huicui Pavilion provided exceptional service.
Instead of getting angry, they recommended different dishes.
Of course, when it came time to pay the bill, the steward of Prince Rui's mansion was trembling.
A meal for two people actually cost more than one hundred taels of silver.
The food boxes that were packed were also charged for, with a deposit of twenty taels of silver.
If they hadn't ordered all the affordable dishes, they would have spent even more.
It's because those two don't know their own limits; they put together a huge amount of food, and naturally, the price went up.
Moreover, the items at Huicui Pavilion are genuinely not cheap.
Having tasted the dumplings at Huicui Pavilion and seen their shapes, I naturally know how to make them when I get home.
The method that Zhao Qinglin taught Aunt Ruyi was actually not a secret recipe; it was a technique that any chef with even a little skill would know.
The chef's greatest strength was his ability to apply knowledge to new situations. Back at Prince Rui's residence, the entire kitchen was bustling with activity.
The chefs and helpers were all delighted to see the packed dishes in several food containers.
"We can finally enjoy a delicious meal today."
"That's what the chef in charge of braised meat said."
The chefs who specialize in making noodles pay close attention to the appearance of the dumplings.
I'm figuring out how to wrap it beautifully.
Of course, he knows all the techniques for kneading dough. He just wonders what the Zhao sisters will think if they find out.
When Zhao Qingyan got home, she immediately went straight to her study.
The Empress Dowager's birthday celebration was in early April, by which time the capital had already warmed up.
You can remove the cotton fabric now. Therefore, you only need to choose a thicker material for your clothes.
For thicker materials, you should approach the design from a stable and conservative angle.
The dress was a light blue silk dress with white auspicious clouds embroidered on the hem. The style did not adopt the traditional cross-collar design of the Divine Dragon Kingdom.
Instead, the buttons are fastened at the back.
Considering that April is neither too hot nor too cold, Princess Zhao Qingyan designed a white blazer-like jacket.
The coat is embroidered with light blue floral patterns.
They also designed a set of sapphire jewelry for this outfit. They even designed the updo hairstyle.
In addition, two traditional dresses were designed.
As for which outfit to make and which style to wear, it's entirely up to Yan Yue's preference.
Zhao Qingyan dared to design it this way thanks in no small part to the clothing shop, Huicui Pavilion.
Many of the clothes in the Huicui Pavilion have abandoned the wide robes and sleeves of traditional clothing, with simplicity and neatness as the main elements.
Whether it was us noble ladies or the young masters of various mansions, everyone felt the convenience after eating and dressing.
Imagine, who would want to wear a full set of clothes and be careful wherever they go, afraid of an accident or scratch?
It's very embarrassing to ruin or dirty your clothes.
Especially when writing or painting, one has to hold the sleeves with their hands while wearing a wide robe, which is quite troublesome.
Ten days later, the results of the imperial examination were released.
Xu Dongsheng unsurprisingly topped the list of candidates in the metropolitan examination.
Two children, Zhao Qingbei and Zhao Qingyang, failed the exam. The reason for their failure was that they were too young.
Although the scores are determined anonymously, the names will still be visible when the names are copied.
With the outspoken copyist spreading the word, the examiners, upon rereading the two brothers' exam papers, felt something was amiss.
The reason is simple: excessive intelligence inevitably leads to harm.
Don't be fooled by the fact that these old guys killed Zhao Qingyang and Zhao Qingyi, those two little guys.
Each of them secretly wanted to take two of the kids as apprentices.
The rest of the Zhao family all passed, though their rankings weren't very good. Zhao Qingluan, in particular, passed in last place.
Three days later, the palace examination will be held.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, all of them should be selected.
At that time, they were the true Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), and even those who were only Jinshi could be appointed to official positions.
There is a huge gap between a Jinshi (进士) and a Juren (举人). If you are a Juren, you can only become a seventh-rank county magistrate at most.
Being a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) is a different story. It allows one to climb the ranks.
On the day the results were announced, Han Xuri, Chang Yi, and the Zhao family sent people early to wait for the imperial edict.
Han Xuri and Chang Yi arrived at the Zhao family's residence early.
Han Xuri and Chang Yi were clearly out of sorts, while the Zhao family, including Han Xuri, were eating and drinking as usual.
Anyway, things are already like this, especially little Zhao Qingbei, who doesn't take it seriously at all.
"What's there to worry about? The results are already out. If you pass, great; if not, you can just wait for the next time. What's there to be afraid of, right, Grandpa?"
Zhao Qianci stroked his beard and said,
"Yes, yes. I'm already a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations), which is much better than being a commoner."
Da Bao followed Zhan Tong around, asking all sorts of joking questions.
Sitting at home for over an hour, the people I had sent out finally came running back one after another.
"They won! They won! The old men won!"
"You've won! You've won! Your Highness has won!"
Three groups of people arrived home one after the other to share the good news.
Although Zhao Qingni, who had never taken it seriously, learned that she had failed the exam,
There was still a slight sense of disappointment, while Zhao Qingyang, who felt hopeful, was quite surprised.
His scholarship was arguably superior to that of his brothers. It's impossible that all his brothers passed the exam while he failed.
Zhao Qingyan noticed her two younger brothers' disappointment and quickly went over to comfort them.
Anyone could fail the exam, but Zhao Qingyan never expected that Qingyang would fail.
She knew very well how outstanding her younger brother was.
So he sought help from Han Xuri.
"Young Master, my Qingyang has always been quite learned, especially after this imperial examination. The answers he came up with silently were also said by Master Zhan to have a very high chance of passing."
Now he's not on the list; I wonder if Your Highness could help investigate?
When Zhao Qingyan changed her form of address, Han Xuri knew that Zhao Qingyan suspected cheating in the imperial examination.
Cheating in the imperial examinations has always been a serious crime that must be investigated, and investigated thoroughly.
After receiving the good news, Han Xuri took the answers that Zhao Qingyang and Zhao Qingyi had silently derived into the palace.
"Today is the day the results are announced, why aren't you at the Zhao family's residence? What are you doing here before me?"
The Emperor was surprised that Han Xuri would come to see him today.
Han Xuri didn't beat around the bush; he directly handed the two answers to the Emperor.
At first, the emperor thought they were two reports, but when he looked, they were examination papers.
I kept praising the meticulous logic and excellent entry point while watching.
"Whose answer is this, and why are you presenting it to me?"
Han Xuri briefly recounted the story of the two Zhao brothers.
"The Zhao family originally did not intend for Zhao Qingyang to take the exam, as he was too young. However, Zhao Qingyang's scholarship has always been excellent, even far surpassing that of the other brothers in the Zhao family."
Currently, all the other members of the Zhao family have passed the imperial examinations, except for these two children.
In your uncle's opinion, is there any hope that these two children will succeed academically?
My sister-in-law asked me to use my connections to find out why I failed the exam.
I figured that no matter who I asked for connections with, nothing was as reliable as my uncle's, so I shamelessly came here to ask him.
The Emperor stared at Han Xuri for half an hour. "Are you suspecting cheating in the imperial examinations?"
Han Xuri immediately jolted awake and sat up straight.
Where could that be?
Those old guys are still trustworthy.
I just wanted to ask my uncle to help me call someone over and ask Qingyang why he didn't pass the exam.
Is it a lack of knowledge, or has he been given a dirty look? Of course, he said he didn't go to the toilet in the middle, and the paper was clean.
If possible, recognizing your shortcomings will help you correct them.
The Emperor couldn't resist Han Xuri's persistent pleading.
In the end, the chief examiner was summoned. He was also ordered to bring the exam papers of the two Zhao brothers.
The group of examiners were terrified.
They might not remember others, but they remembered the two Zhao brothers very clearly.
When they learned the reason why the two brothers failed the exam...
The reason given was the absurd one of being too young, leaving Han Xuri speechless, and even the Emperor was at a loss for words.
You're refusing to admit someone just because they're young? They earned their place through their studies.
The imperial examinations in the Divine Dragon Kingdom did not specify a specific age. Therefore, the examiners this time were clearly unfair.
It's a bit absurd to say that these old scholars' reasons were actually for the sake of the two boys.
Even the Emperor felt he couldn't be too harsh on the chief examiner.
But those two boys are rare talents, and it would be a pity if they were to become discouraged because of this.
To make up for the two little ones, they were given places to study at the Imperial College.
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