Geng Youran nodded:
"Yes, Hongzhou is so impulsive, so naturally I'm very worried about him."
"With Prince Hongli watching over us, nothing should happen."
"I hope so."
Geng Youran then arranged for Qianxue to collect some medicinal herbs from the steward the next day to make soup for Hongshi.
"Princess, if you ask me, you should just send these medicinal herbs over and let them do it themselves. Why bother doing it yourself?"
"No matter what, Hongshi took good care of Hongzhou when he was in the palace, so I naturally have to make this soup myself."
Geng Youran instructed Xiao Anzi to slaughter the black-boned chicken that had been prepared in advance, remove the internal organs and impurities, and chop it into large pieces for later use.
Qianxue washed the ginseng with clean water and then ground it into powder.
Geng Youran was preparing ingredients such as red dates and ginger slices on the other side.
After cleaning the black-boned chicken, cut it into pieces and blanch it in hot water. After removing the blood and impurities, rinse it thoroughly with clean water.
The three of them, master and servants, were busy working in the small kitchen while chatting idly.
"Princess, aren't you angry with Prince Hongshi?"
Why would I be angry?
While preparing the chicken, Geng Youran answered Qianxue's question.
“Princess, you’ve watched Prince Hongshi grow up, but you’ve seen it these past few years. Prince Hongshi has clearly become distant from you. I heard that this time Prince Hongshi got into a fight with Prince Hongwang from the Eighth Prince’s residence because Prince Hongwang mocked him for being an unwanted illegitimate son.”
Geng Youran sighed. Hongshi wasn't stupid; he was just too sensitive. The things that happened in his childhood still affected him.
"As the child grows up, there are some things I can't interfere with because of my status. Hongshi is a sensitive child who is easily swayed. I hope that after this, he will understand the prince's good intentions."
“Princess, I just don’t understand why the three princes, who were so good when they were young, have all changed so much as they grew up. When Prince Hongzhou came back last time, I could tell that he was quite saddened by Prince Hongshi’s indifference.”
Geng Youran paused what she was doing, looked up at the scenery outside the window, and said softly:
“Hongzhou values emotions too much, but in the royal family, true feelings have always been the most luxurious and hardest thing to come by.”
Then she smiled with relief:
"No matter what, there's still Hongli. The two little guys are about the same age and grew up together since they were little. Besides, Hongli was taught by Wanru, so he can't be too bad."
Upon hearing Prince Hongli's name, Qianxue smiled kindly.
"Yes, and Prince Hongli is also here."
Then Geng Youran continued her work, putting the prepared black-boned chicken pieces, Tianqi (Panax notoginseng), red dates, and ginger into a stewing pot or casserole dish, and adding enough water.
First bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for several hours until the chicken is tender.
Geng Youran asked Qianxue to keep an eye on the fire while she picked up the Longjing tea that Yinzhen had given her some time ago and started making other dishes.
"Xiao Anzi, light that grill."
"Yes, sir."
Qianxue, who had been watching the fire beside the stew pot, saw her mistress come out with the tea leaves that the prince had recently bestowed upon her.
"Princess, would you like to use Longjing tea to make your food? You've always been reluctant to drink it."
“Hongli likes Longjing tea. He has been studying very hard in the palace lately. I’ll make some Longjing pastries and ask Your Highness to bring them to Hongli and Hongzhou later.”
Xiao Anzi, who was tending the fire, sighed:
"Princess, you are so kind to the children of our Prince's Mansion."
Geng Youran smiled:
"They're all our own children, so naturally we should love them more."
Despite saying that, she knew in her heart that she would also be biased and had her own calculations, but she just wouldn't say it out loud.
Moreover, her sincerity was never genuine.
Geng Youran first ground the finest Longjing tea into powder, then sifted it multiple times, mixed it evenly with flour, sugar, lard and water, kneaded it into a smooth dough, and then let it rest.
Next, make the water-oil dough by mixing low-gluten flour and lard evenly and kneading it into a smooth dough. Let it rest for later use.
Unlike modern times, where there is readily available low-gluten flour, the low-gluten flour that Geng Youran uses for making pastries is sifted and washed in advance.
Divide the water-oil dough and the oil dough into several small portions. Take a small water-oil dough ball, roll it into a circle or oval, wrap a small oil dough ball inside, and pinch the opening closed.
Roll out the wrapped dough into an oblong shape, then roll it up.
Roll out the rolled-out dough again, wrap in an appropriate amount of red bean paste filling, and pinch the opening closed.
Roll out the wrapped dough into a circle or other shape you like. You can cut out petal shapes on the surface and sprinkle white sesame seeds or other decorations on top.
Place the shaped Longjing pastry into a preheated oven and bake at an appropriate temperature for a period of time until the surface is golden brown and the pastry has layers.
The aroma wafted out after baking for a short while.
At this moment, someone came in and said...
"Princess, Princess Niohuru is here."
"Wanru? Please come in quickly, and make some tea while you're at it."
"yes."
"Qianxue, you stay here and keep an eye on things. After the pastries are baked, take them out and let them cool for a while before packing them into boxes. Add salt to the soup just before it's ready. Remember, not too much."
"Don't worry, Princess."
After washing her hands, Geng Youran went to the main room.
"Wanru, I'm sorry, I was busy in the small kitchen just now."
"It's alright, sister. I came to ask you about Prince Hongshi being punished by the prince."
So Geng Youran told Niohuru Wanru everything he knew.
But Wanru frowned after hearing this.
"What's wrong, Wanru? Why are you frowning?"
"Sister, Hongli secretly sent someone to tell me that Hongshi and Hongwang got into a fight, and there's more to the story."
Geng Youran looked puzzled:
"Wasn't it because Hongwang spoke rudely that Hongshi took action?"
"Yes and no."
So Wanru told Geng Youran everything she knew.
It turns out that the fight between Hongshi and Hongwang was a staged performance in front of everyone, and the mastermind behind it was their father, the elder brother.
"Wanru, where did Hongli hear this news? I heard from the prince that after Hongwang returned to the mansion, the Eighth Prince also punished him by making him face the wall to reflect on his mistakes."
"Sister, the news about Hongli is true. This news was secretly told to him by Eunuch Liang, who is close to the Emperor. Eunuch Liang was ordered to visit Prince Hongwang at the Eighth Prince's residence, but he overheard a conversation between the Eighth Prince and Prince Hongwang, and that's when he told Hongli."
Geng Youran frowned:
"What is this Eighth Prince planning to do?"
"Hongli didn't say anything about this, but if I'm not mistaken, the Eighth Prince is trying to use this relationship to sow discord between Hongshi and the Prince."
With Wanru's explanation, Geng Youran gradually pieced together the whole story.
The Eighth Prince secretly plotted this scheme with Hongwang. On the surface, it was to make Hongshi and Hongwang fight, so that Hongshi would realize his position in Yinzhen's heart. But in reality, he and Hongwang had already discussed it beforehand, and Hongshi was completely manipulated by the two of them.
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