Chapter 496 Ice Cream

A mighty team set out from Chang'an and drove into Cuiwei Palace.

Li Chengqian and his queen and concubines got off the carriage and walked into Cuiwei Palace from the main gate.

Since the death of the previous emperor, he once again visited Cuiwei Palace in more than ten years. This was his first time to visit Cuiwei Palace as an emperor.

Including this time, he had visited Cuiwei Palace twice in total. When he first came to Cuiwei Palace, he, Li Chengqian, was still the crown prince. At that time, Li Er was already dying and was about to die. After he arranged his funeral affairs, Li Er died and he inherited the throne.

This was his second visit to Cuiwei Palace. He came as an emperor of a dynasty. When he was the crown prince, he did not have time to see the sights of Cuiwei Palace and hurried back to inherit the throne. This time he came to Cuiwei Palace to have a good tour.

Li Chengqian took Wang Quan to Cuiwei Palace, which was the place where the emperor worked during the summer vacation and also the meeting room where he summoned ministers to discuss political affairs.

Not far from Cuiwei Palace was the emperor's bedroom, Hanfeng Palace. The previous emperor died in Hanfeng Palace, and he, Li Chengqian, succeeded to the throne.

Next to Hanfeng Palace was the prince's annex palace. If the emperor and the crown prince traveled together, the crown prince would live in the annex palace next to it. Its main gate opened to the west and was named Jinhua Gate. The palace was named Anxi Palace.

Li Chengqian walked into Cuiwei Hall and sat on the throne. Wang Quan ordered people to prepare tea. After walking all the way and in such hot weather, he was thirsty. Moreover, at this time, as the emperor, Li Chengqian had the habit of drinking tea.

Tea and cakes were placed in front of Li Chengqian. Li Chengqian looked down at the tea soup in the cup, on which there were still a few tea leaves floating.

Days go by, day after day, and there are so many days. People just grow older. When

a person gets older, he will become sentimental. The older he gets, the easier it is to be nostalgic. Thinking back to when he was still the prince, he thought it was easy to be an emperor, and he was looking forward to sitting on the supreme position as soon as possible.

Only when he really gets to the throne, he will find that governing the world is so easy.

In recent years, there have been wars every year, and natural disasters have occurred continuously. Li Chengqian is now exhausted, so he had to leave the prince in Chang'an to supervise the country, while he himself ran here to take shelter for a while.

Li Chengqian took a sip of tea and said, "Have the empress and the others made arrangements?"

"They have been settled! Do you want to go and take a look?" Wang Quan asked.

"No need! It's a rare opportunity to leave Beijing, so all trivial matters should be put aside first. I'm tired and I need to lie down for a while." Li

Chengqian said. "Then I'll ask someone to clean up the bedroom." Wang Quan said.

"No need! Just rest in Cuiwei Palace." Li Chengqian said.

Wang Quan immediately asked everyone else to leave so as not to disturb Li Chengqian, and he stayed alone to serve.

"It's so hot, go get some ice, freeze some fruits and vegetables, and bring them here. I want to eat them, and send some to the empress and the others." Li Chengqian said.

"I'll go now." Wang Quan accepted the order and left.

In this era, the royal family had a cold palace specially used to store ice cubes, and there was an ice box like a refrigerator.

The ice box was a container used to hold ice and place food in the hot summer in ancient times. The function of the ice box was similar to that of a refrigerator in later generations, and it also had the function of air conditioning.

There were handles on both sides of the ice box, and a cover on the top with two coin holes on it, which served as both a hand-holding and a cool air outlet.

The specific method of use is to put ice cubes in a wooden or bronze box. It has a clear function. It can not only preserve food, but also emit cold air through the double-sided opening to make the room cool.

It has the function of a refrigerator and an air conditioner.

In ancient times, ice was not available at all times of the year. Especially in the hot summer, ice was extremely precious.

Only the noble class had such luxurious treatment. Ordinary people could not even see a piece of ice, let alone eat something icy.

Wang Quan brought people back with an ice cube, and ordered them to close the doors and windows and put the ice cube within two meters of Li Chengqian.

"What's in it?" Li Chengqian asked as he looked at the ice cube that was emitting cold air.

"Reply to everyone! I cut some watermelons and put them in it." Wang Quan said.

As the ice cubes gave off cold air, the temperature of Cuiwei Palace slowly dropped, slowly dispersing the heat in the palace.

"Bring some for me to taste." Li Chengqian said.

Wang Quan immediately ordered someone to open the ice cubes, take out a piece of watermelon, put it on a plate, and send it to Li Chengqian for him to eat.

Li Chengqian picked up the watermelon and started to eat it.

This icy watermelon was sweet and cool, and it was really delicious. It would be even better if there was ice cream to eat. Since he came to this era, he has never eaten ice cream.

Then why don't he make some ice cream to eat? He knows how to make ice cream. He

did it as soon as he thought of it. He couldn't wait to make ice cream.

After finishing the iced watermelon, Li Chengqian threw the rind on the plate and said to Wang Quan, "Go get me some eggs, a few larger bowls, sugar, and milk."

"Everyone! What do you want to eat? I'll ask the people from the Shangshi Bureau to make it for you." Wang Quan asked.

This egg white candy must be used for eating. The Shangshi Bureau is responsible for the food of the emperor and the harem, so it's best to let them do it.

Besides, the emperor is the supreme ruler of the country, how can he do what these chefs should do? As the saying goes, a gentleman stays away from the kitchen.

"Then select a few skilled chefs from the Shangshi Bureau and I will personally teach them how to do it." Li Chengqian said.

As the emperor, if he really made ice cream himself, they would be scared to death. If the ministers knew about it, they would come from Chang'an to advise him, which would delay his work.

Besides, the court hired so many chefs every year to serve the emperor's family. If he wanted to make everything by himself, what was the point of having these chefs?

"I'll go now." Wang Quan took the order and went there in person.

Soon, the accompanying chef appeared in front of Li Chengqian, with eggs, sugar, milk, bowls, etc. all ready.

"I called you here today to teach you how to make ice cream." Li Chengqian said directly without wasting words.

After hearing this, the chefs looked at each other. Ice cream? What the hell? They had never heard of this before, and were confused and puzzled, but they did not dare to ask.

Not only the chefs were puzzled, but also Wang Quan and his friends were puzzled. They had never heard of this term and didn't know what ice cream was.

But one thing was certain: ice cream was edible, otherwise the chefs wouldn't have come over, and it was related to ice.

Wang Quan felt that he was not far from the truth.