Listening to Chen Nian's detailed instructions, the young scholar memorized them. As a minor steward in the imperial kitchen, he could easily give orders to a few people.
"Okay, now I'm going to start making something. You help me start the fire."
"Princess, are you going to make it yourself?"
Upon hearing Chen Nian's words, the young scholar was startled.
"Princess, do you want to do it yourself?"
Xuan'er, who was standing next to Shen Nian, was also surprised.
"Hmm, is that not allowed?"
Seeing the surprised expressions on Xiao Caizi and Xuan'er's faces, Chen Nian asked with a puzzled look.
"Princess, you are of noble birth. Just tell us what you need us to do. Making things is dangerous, so it's better for you to leave it to us."
Looking at the petite and delicate-looking princess in front of him, he couldn't imagine that her thin arms were using a shovel thicker than her own to make things.
"Yes, Princess, your hand has only just healed. Don't hurt it again. Princess, let the junior craftsmen handle it. You can just direct from the side."
Xuan'er's eyes filled with worry, and she spoke up to stop her.
"Don't worry, it's fine. I can do it myself. I'm a bit particular about this kind of thing."
If the frying time for tea is not controlled properly, it will affect the taste, making it either bitter or losing its fragrance.
She used up countless amounts of sugar and tea leaves when she first started researching tea frying.
If this were just for her own consumption, she wouldn't be too particular about the taste and could just get by. But this was to be presented to the Empress Dowager and the others, so she couldn't be careless.
"Princess—"
The young scholar wanted to dissuade him, but if someone got hurt, burned, or suffered any other mishap, even several of his own lives wouldn't be enough to compensate for it.
"Don't worry, if anything happens, I'll take responsibility and it won't involve you. Don't try to stop me again, or I'll tell Master Zhuang that you're disobeying orders."
And Xuan'er, if you stop me again, next time I'll bring Ying'er instead of you.
The thought of "threat" was threatening the two of them.
"Well, Gege, wait a moment, I'll go find you a lighter shovel."
The young scholar stammered, unable to comprehend the image of the stunningly beautiful princess in front of him stir-frying tea with a large shovel.
Because the imperial kitchen was staffed by men, the spatulas were large and heavy, which were certainly not suitable for the princess in front of her.
"Yes, that's fine."
To be honest, looking at the shovel that was thicker and longer than her own arm, she was a little intimidated. The iron shovel with the wooden handle weighed about a few pounds.
Stir-frying tea requires constant turning, and she was genuinely worried that she wouldn't be able to handle it. After all, this spatula was made of high-quality materials, not the lightweight kind from the 21st century.
"Princess, you can use this."
The young scholar brought over a wooden shovel, which was lightweight and compact.
This princess in front of me can definitely lift it.
Looking at the wooden shovel in front of him, Chen Nian took it, weighed it in his hand, and thought, "Hmm, this weight is just right."
"Okay, now I'll trouble you to start the fire for me. I'm going to get started. Don't make the fire too big, just a small one."
"Yes, Princess."
The young scholar bowed his head and replied.
"Princess, Princess, what should I do?"
Xuan'er, who was standing to the side with nothing to do, asked.
"You need to pour the milk for me right on time. When I tell you to pour, you need to pour it immediately. Pouring it too slowly will affect the taste. Also, be careful not to get too close to the pot or you'll burn yourself."
She carefully reminded him that pouring the milk couldn't be delayed, as it would affect the taste if it was poured too slowly, but she was more concerned about Xuan'er's safety.
Because there are many people drinking, a lot is prepared.
"Yes, Princess, don't worry."
Xuan'er nodded solemnly; she felt this was an important task.
Watching the water in the pot boil away, Chen Nian poured in the sugar and tea that he had prepared beforehand and slowly stirred them.
"Princess Shen, what are you doing?"
The people in the imperial kitchen, seeing Shen Nian's novel way of cooking, asked him questions out of curiosity, and soon a lot of people gathered around Shen Nian's stove.
I've never seen a "meditation" technique before, I'm incredibly curious.
They dared to approach because they saw that Chen Nian was approachable and unpretentious. As members of the imperial kitchen, they maintained a high level of learning spirit when it came to fresh food.
"This is called milk tea. You can try it when I make it. The colorful ones next to it are called taro balls, and the black ones are called pearls."
Chen Nian had no intention of hiding anything from those who asked; he figured frying tea was boring, and chatting with people was a better option.
Looking into those curious eyes, Chen Nian slowly explained the precautions to them, hoping they would learn so she wouldn't have to make it herself next time she wanted to drink it.
Making enough for many people is too tiring; just frying the tea leaves takes a long time.
While chatting with someone, Chen Nian kept an eye on the pot, and time passed exceptionally quickly.
Watching the color in the pot slowly turn golden brown, "Xuan'er, pour it out."
He spoke up in a daze.
Upon hearing this, Xuan'er quickly poured the milk in.
“chi~”
When the milk is poured into the pot, combined with the sweetness of the sugar and the fragrance of the tea, a sweet aroma immediately fills the pot.
"Young talent, you can make the fire bigger."
A quiet thought serves as a reminder.
Looking at the slightly yellow milk in the pot, Chen Nian sniffed the aroma emanating from the air. Hmm, there was no burnt smell, so it shouldn't be ruined and it's safe to drink. It had been a long time since she had made it, and Chen Nian was still a little worried.
After confirming that nothing had been damaged, Chen Nian closed the lid.
"Princess, the Imperial Kitchen is boring and smoky. You can wander around or wait outside. We'll keep an eye on things here for you."
Smelling the sweet aroma in the air, the people who gathered around all had eyes filled with anticipation.
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