Upon hearing this, Consort Cheng, who had also found the food at the banquet disgusting, joined in, saying, "But it's really difficult to keep the food hot forever; it's not good to keep a big pot of hot food on the stove all the time."
Seeing the group struggling with their predicament, Qingyin smiled and said, "If Consort De trusts me, I do have a way to do it."
"Sister Qiongfei actually has an idea." The group looked over curiously.
Qingyin immediately had Helu bring her paper and pen and drew two diagrams. "I'll keep this a riddle for now. Once Consort De has the Imperial Household Department make these two drawings, you'll know the answer."
The group could only suppress their doubts and find out later.
After finishing court, when Emperor Kangxi returned to Heyan Palace, he jokingly said to Qingyin, "I heard that my beloved concubine came up with a way to keep the food warm for Wenxian. May I hear about it?"
"Your Majesty, this is a surprise. It's not good to say it now. We should find out later. Your Majesty must not break the rules."
Emperor Kangxi chuckled, surprised that his beloved concubine could be so quirky. He deliberately feigned an insatiable curiosity, frowning as he looked at Qingyin, and only agreed after enjoying her sweet coquettishness. However, this rare answer did indeed pique his interest in Qingyin's idea even more.
The Imperial Household Department received the blueprints from Consort De and, with Emperor Kangxi's instructions, produced the two items in less than ten days. Looking at these strangely shaped utensils, Lord Li, who made the tools, was full of doubts. He had heard that the blueprints were drawn by Consort Qiong, who was favored in the palace. He wondered what their purpose was, but he would find out later.
Upon learning that the items were ready, Consort De immediately sent someone to fetch the tools and headed towards Heyan Palace. The curious Consorts Hui and the others also hurried over.
Looking at the two familiar simple barbecue grills and hot pots in front of her, Qingyin thought, "So fast! The Imperial Household Department is quite efficient!"
Seeing the curious looks on their faces, Qingyin gave Helu some instructions and then had Helu lead them to the imperial kitchen.
"Sisters, you'll have to sit down for a bit and wait to have lunch with me."
He Lu was efficient and quickly brought the things over. The maids hurriedly placed coal in the grooves of the two pots, lit the kindling, brushed a layer of oil on the flat pot, and poured the splashed red oil soup into one side of the other pot while pouring clear soup into the other side.
Several concubines watched this scene in astonishment. They were not fools and naturally understood the benefits involved.
“Sister Qiongfei, this is great. It’s so small and convenient, and it stays warm all the time.”
Qingyin smiled, picked up a piece of meat with both fat and lean meat and placed it on the frying pan. The sound of the meat being grilled and the aroma filled the entire courtyard. "Sisters can try it themselves. It's quite delicious when mixed with this side dish."
Several people who had been eager to try it joined in, saying, "This is good, it's quite fun."
When Consort Hui tasted the meat slices she had grilled herself, her eyes lit up. She wondered if it was because she had grilled them herself, but they tasted much better. She loved spicy food, so she added a little more garlic. Looking at the fresh vegetable leaves, she had a sudden inspiration and simply wrapped the meat together, learning the delicious way to make lettuce-wrapped meat without any instruction.
Meanwhile, Consort Cheng was enjoying a spicy hot pot, eating until she was sweating profusely, and she didn't stop eating.
Consort De preferred a light diet, which can be seen from her frequent addition of fruits and vegetables to clear soup.
Undoubtedly, Qingyin's barbecue and hot pot meal tantalized the taste buds of the group and won their hearts.
The lunch left everyone with full bellies, and they left only after they were full to help digest their food. Qingyin also walked around for a while, only stopping to rest after the bloating subsided.
During dinner, Emperor Kangxi also saw the two treasures that Qingyin had come up with. Looking at the simple and portable boiler, he immediately thought of the soldiers on the border. It was a pity that it was made of iron. It was too extravagant to make everything out of iron. He sighed.
Qingyin noticed this as well, "Has Your Majesty considered some difficulties?"
"My dear consort, this is a good product. I think it's very convenient and would be great for the soldiers on the border to have some meat. It's just a pity that it's made of iron and can't be used for long."
Qingyin smiled gently, “Your Majesty is very righteous. However, this pot could actually be made of stone. I once saw an old man cooking under a stone while praying with my mother. Stone should work, but it certainly won’t be as good as iron and won’t last long.”
"My beloved consort has truly helped me a great deal. These stones are everywhere, so it doesn't matter if they are used for a short time. It's good that they can have hot food to eat."
Qingyin leaned against Kangxi's chest and said, "Your Majesty is truly concerned with the greater good. It is enough for me to help Your Majesty and the soldiers. I cannot compare to Your Majesty's daily efforts to find solutions for the people."
Looking at Qingyin, who was gazing at him with reliance and admiration, Kangxi felt a surge of pride, which was more satisfying than any praise from his ministers.
As a result, the officials in the court noticed that His Majesty was in a particularly good mood during this period. Even the princes' faction, who were usually so argumentative, were not so angry and were smiling at everyone. The officials from the factions who were not scolded were terrified, wondering if the emperor was planning to settle scores with them later, which was why he was not scolding them. As a result, the court became quiet.
Time passed quickly, and Princess Wenxian's wedding was soon held. Thanks to the barbecue grill and hot pot provided by Qingyin, the food at the banquet was a hit with the guests, much to the shock of Tongjia Wanying, who overheard the news at the Tong residence. "Isn't that a grill for hot pot and barbecue?!" she thought. "Could there be a time traveler here? Isn't she the only female lead?!" Stunned, Tongjia Wanying, who already possessed modern technology, dared not be so arrogant anymore. What if she made it too obvious, and someone else found out and imitated her?
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