Chapter 99 Emperor Xiao's First Experience with His Little Pig Bun
Meng Yanzhi discovered that this person sometimes really seemed like a child, but in fact, he was not a child at all.
She immediately withdrew her hand and took a step back: "Grand Preceptor, dinner preparations have already begun. I shall return to attend to my duties now."
Seeing Meng Yanzhi turn and leave, Ling Xiao frowned slightly. Meng Yanzhi seemed quite gentle, but in fact she was a very difficult person to approach. He had already tried so hard, but Meng Yanzhi was still so wary of him.
Meng Yanzhi planned to make some pastries for Xiao Chenglin to try that evening, so she hid in the kitchen and busied herself, kneading and rolling the dough with great skill.
Although she was the eldest daughter of the Meng family, she grew up in the village. In fact, she was not weak at all, and was even stronger than most men.
Soon, Meng Yanzhi had shaped the dough into all sorts of adorable little animals, and even filled them with red bean paste.
After observing him for a while, Meng Yanzhi discovered that Xiao Xingyuan actually had a lot of contrasts. He seemed cold and indifferent, but in fact he loved sweets and meat.
Meng Yanzhi's forte was making small sweet drinks and desserts, so things were relatively harmonious.
Soon, Meng Yanzhi's piggy buns were ready. The sweet and fragrant aroma wafted from the small kitchen and went straight into the imperial study.
Xiao Xingyuan, who was reading the memorials, was attracted by the aroma. He raised an eyebrow at Wang Huanhai, smiled, and said, "I'm afraid there will be something delicious tonight."
Looking at Xiao Xingyuan's pathetic state, Wang Huanhai found it rather endearing. He had watched Xiao Xingyuan grow up and his feelings for him were quite complex, even containing an indescribable tenderness.
"Your Majesty, are you hungry? Would you like some snacks to tide you over?"
"Miss Meng made you some delicious walnut cookies."
Wang Huanhai brought over the walnut pastries and placed them on the table.
The walnut pastry itself wasn't unusual; what was unusual was that Meng Yanzhi had shaped it exactly like a walnut, and done so remarkably well.
"This little girl always has so many thoughts." Xiao Xingyuan smiled faintly, then took a walnut pastry and stuffed it into his mouth.
The taste of walnuts instantly spread in his mouth, but soon Xiao Xingyuan realized something was wrong; the filling tasted like something he had never tasted before.
He picked up another walnut shortbread, broke it open, and found it was all white inside. He frowned slightly: "What's this?"
Wang Huanhai was also startled, thinking that the pastry had grown mold. He hurriedly came over, but after a careful inspection, he couldn't figure out what it was either.
"Should we ask Miss Meng to come over?" Wang Huanhai glanced at Xiao Xingyuan.
Xiao Xingyuan didn't speak, but Wang Huanhai understood his subtext and immediately called the person over.
Seeing Wang Huanhai's nervous appearance, Meng Yanzhi thought something had happened, so she hurriedly came over and knelt down to pay her respects.
"Your walnut pastry is well made, but what is the filling inside?" Xiao Xingyuan frowned slightly, looking at Meng Yanzhi with a hint of curiosity.
At this moment, Ling Xiao also walked in, leaned forward, looked at it carefully, and said with a smile, "Why do I feel like this thing looks familiar?"
Meng Yanzhi glanced at Xiao Xingyuan and then said, "Two southern specialties were offered as tribute earlier, so I took out the fruit pulp and turned it into this filling. It has a faint fragrance and I added maltose, so it's very sweet."
"Is that thing called a coconut?" Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow, looking at Meng Yanzhi.
Meng Yanzhi nodded: "Yes, it is indeed called coconut. Usually, people drink the coconut water inside, but I felt it would be a waste to throw away the flesh, so... so I turned it into this."
"Your Majesty, do you like it?" Meng Yanzhi looked at Xiao Xingyuan expectantly, waiting for his feedback.
Xiao Xingyuan hadn't expected Meng Yanzhi to be so shrewd and calculating.
He smiled and said, "It is indeed a flavor I have never tasted before! Even I have never had it before!"
"As long as His Majesty is pleased!"
Meng Yanzhi immediately stood up and looked at Xiao Xingyuan with a smile.
Her face is bright and dignified, but when she smiles, there's a contrast; she looks a bit simple and cute.
Looking at Meng Yanzhi like this, Xiao Xingyuan's eyes softened unconsciously: "What do you want to eat tonight?"
"Red bean buns." Meng Yanzhi answered fluently, "This subject also prepared coconut chicken for His Majesty, which is also made with this fruit, making the most of everything."
Meng Yanzhi was originally from a poor family and lived frugally. So she did the same in the palace, unwilling to waste good things, so she tried to find ways to cook them.
"Okay, let's go back and do it." Xiao Xingyuan was starting to look forward to it.
He had never felt this way before. Before, he ate simply to survive, never with any expectation. But now, he even began to look forward to each meal.
"Your Majesty, I would like to stay for dinner tonight. I have never tried coconut chicken before!" Ling Xiao immediately said, wanting to taste the coconut chicken.
"Is your Imperial Preceptor's Mansion so expensive that you can't afford to eat?" Xiao Xingyuan looked at him with displeasure.
Ling Xiao leaned closer and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, don't be so stingy. I won't eat Your Majesty out of house and home!"
Knowing that Ling Xiao was also staying, Meng Yanzhi studied the recipe and made an Eight Treasure Duck. When she heard the imperial study ordering food, she called the eunuch to bring the dishes up.
Meanwhile, I was researching dessert drinks for after meals.
There were quite a few leftovers today, and they were all made into sweet dishes, so Meng Yanzhi simply cleaned them up and put them all in a pot to boil. She also threw in two hawthorns. Since dinner was sweet, she should eat something sweet and sour afterward to balance the flavors and prevent it from becoming too cloying.
"Wow! Your Majesty, you usually live such a good life?"
Ling Xiao's mouth watered as he looked at the Eight Treasure Duck and Coconut Chicken on the table.
The pig-shaped buns that Wang Huanhai served last left the two grown men completely dumbfounded.
The little pig was so adorable that it even reminded Xiao Xingyuan of how Meng Yanzhi looked when she was asleep; it was exactly the same as this little pig.
He couldn't help but smile, picked up a small pig-shaped bun, broke it open, and the red bean paste inside flowed out, filling the air with a sweet and savory aroma.
"It is indeed ingenious."
Xiao Xingyuan took a bite and looked at Ling Xiao.
"Didn't you say you were hungry?"
Ling Xiao then came to his senses and whispered, "Who would believe it if word got out? The emperor, a dignified man, actually smiled at a red bean bun!"
"This red bean bun doesn't look good?" Xiao Xingyuan raised an eyebrow, looking at Ling Xiao: "You don't like it?"
Ling Xiao immediately took one and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, may I take one back with me? I'd like to show it to my younger sister at home."
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