Xiao Anzi is not the same trembling eunuch he was a few years ago.
Now he is not only Geng Youran's right-hand man, but has also learned a lot of kitchen skills.
For example, killing a chicken.
"Xiao Anzi, after you've prepared the chicken, go to Prince Hongshi's place and tell him to come over after he finishes his studies. I'll make him something nice to eat tonight to help him recover."
Geng Youran learned from Yinzhen that Hongshi had been studying very hard recently. She thought that the child was still young and at the age when he was growing, so she wanted to make some chicken soup or something similar to nourish the child.
Since only Geng Youran and a child were eating, she didn't plan to cook too much. The menu only included 'longan sticky rice', 'longan chicken soup', and 'dried scallion with dried shrimp'.
Before making 'longan glutinous rice', first wash the glutinous rice, then put it in a bowl, add an appropriate amount of rice wine and water, and soak it for two hours to allow the glutinous rice to fully absorb water and expand.
During this time, peel the longan pulp into small pieces so that it can be better mixed with the glutinous rice.
Place the soaked glutinous rice and dried longan pulp into a steamer and steam over medium heat until cooked through. Then let it sit in the steamer for a while longer.
Remove the steamed glutinous rice, add an appropriate amount of sugar, and mix well. Then, put the sugar-coated glutinous rice back into the steamer to allow the sugar to fully infuse into the rice.
Because Hongshi had already started losing his baby teeth, Geng Youran only added a tiny bit of sugar.
Next is 'Longan Chicken Soup'. You can prepare the ingredients for this dish while soaking the glutinous rice.
Before making chicken soup, add an appropriate amount of water to a clay pot and bring it to a boil over high heat. Then, add the prepared young chicken and cook until it is about 80% done. Skim off any foam that rises to the surface to make the soup clearer.
When the chicken is about 80% cooked, add the dried longan pulp and season with salt. Then continue to simmer over low heat for a while until the chicken and longan pulp are fully cooked and the aroma of the longan is fully infused into the broth.
Finally, pour the stewed longan chicken soup into a bowl and garnish with some cilantro.
Since Hongshi hadn't arrived yet, the soup was simmering on a low flame in the pot.
"Qianxue, be careful, don't let this clay pot burn dry."
"Don't worry, Princess, I'm watching over you."
Finally, Geng Youran had to make 'dried radish with dried shrimp'.
First, wash the cattail shoots and cut them into appropriate sections. Soak the dried shrimp in advance, then wash them and set aside.
Geng Youran had already reserved the chicken broth needed for this dish.
Blanch the cattail shoots in boiling water to remove impurities and bitterness, then drain them.
Place the prepared cattail shoots and dried shrimp into a clay pot, and add an appropriate amount of chicken broth or stock. Then add salt, scallions, ginger, and other seasonings to enhance the flavor and remove any fishy smell.
Simmer over low heat for a while to allow the cattail shoots and dried shrimp to fully absorb the flavor of the broth.
When the cattail shoots and dried shrimp are stewed until fully cooked and the broth is thick, reduce the sauce and plate.
The dishes were all prepared, but Xiao Anzi still hadn't returned.
"Qianxue, go check on Xiao Anzi. Why hasn't he come back yet?"
"yes."
To everyone's surprise, Qianxue bumped into Xiao Anzi as soon as she stepped out the door.
Ouch!
"Sister Qianxue, are you alright?"
"You brat, where have you been slacking off off to!"
Qianxue raised her hand, ready to twist Xiao Anzi's ear, when she saw the person standing behind Xiao Anzi.
"This servant greets Your Highness, may Your Highness be blessed."
Hongshi pinched himself hard to suppress his laughter.
"Get up."
"Thank you, Brother."
Prince Hongshi stepped into the courtyard, while Qianxue kicked Xiao Anzi hard when no one was watching.
Xiao Anzi ignored Qianxue and hurriedly ran to the small kitchen:
"Princess, Prince Hongshi has arrived!"
"Oh? Quick, let Qianxue in to serve the dishes."
Geng Youran then left the small kitchen and hurried to the main hall.
"May Princess Geng be blessed."
"Brother, get up quickly. You don't need to be so reserved here."
Hongshi grinned, revealing his teeth, which hadn't fully grown in yet.
"I still have to thank Princess Geng for thinking of me. She always remembers to call me when there's something delicious to eat."
Geng Youran looked at Hongshi with loving eyes.
"I only made some food, I don't know if it will suit your taste."
The dishes have all been served by now.
"Come on, Hongshi, have a bowl of chicken soup to warm yourself up first."
Hongshi accepted the chicken soup that Geng Youran had personally served him, took a small sip, and nodded.
He glanced at the dishes on the table, all of which suited his taste, and suddenly hesitated about whether to say what he was going to say next.
"Hongshi, why aren't you eating? Is something on your mind?"
Hongshi gritted his teeth, put down his chopsticks,
"Gege Geng, I need your help!"
“Brother, what are you saying? Just say it.”
"Gege, could you please beg Father to let my mother out?"
Geng Youran didn't dare to reply; she really wasn't confident about this matter.
Li Jingshu has done so many heinous things. If it weren't for Hongshi's sake, she probably wouldn't even be alive now, or what would be the outcome?
“Hongshi, it’s not that I don’t want to agree. It’s just that you know what your mother did, it can’t be resolved with just a few words.”
Hongshi lowered his head in shame; he was well aware of all this.
Every time I went there before, I tried to persuade her, both openly and subtly, but she just wouldn't listen.
In order to save his mother's life, he even offered to give up his inheritance as a condition to plead with his father.
He still remembers the disappointed look on his father's face.
But she was his own mother; he couldn't just watch her die.
Geng Youran couldn't bear to see Hongshi heartbroken, so she relented:
"I can promise you, but I can't guarantee I'll keep my word. I can only say that I'll do my best, and the outcome is up to fate."
Hongshi suddenly raised his head, tears streaming down his face uncontrollably, and knelt on the ground:
"Gege Geng, thank you! Thank you!"
"Young prince, please get up! What are you doing!"
Geng Youran quickly helped Hongshi up:
“You are a filial child, and I am willing to take a risk for your filial piety.”
The two then finished their meal with pleasant conversation.
After seeing Hongshi off, Qianxue said worriedly:
"My lord, are you really going to plead for Consort Li? Have you forgotten what she did to you back then?"
Geng Youran sighed. Although she wasn't a magnanimous person, she was soft-hearted.
Seeing Hongshi so upset because of Consort Li, she really couldn't bear it.
"This matter cannot be rushed. Let me think about it some more and find a good opportunity to bring it up with the Prince again. As for whether the Prince will agree, that is his business."
However, Geng Youran did not expect that this opportunity would come so soon.
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