Zheng Xiu was forced to do something, so she had to bite the bullet and said with a smile: "If you don't mind the crudeness of the food, leave one for us to eat."
The prince bowed and said, "Thank you, auntie."
Zheng Xiu said, "Where." Then she got up and took Minghui and others to the kitchen.
The prince came suddenly and was a private visit, so not many people in the mansion knew about it, and of course the food was not prepared in advance.
The kitchen has all kinds of ingredients. When the chef saw Zheng Xiu coming in person, he took off his apron and walked forward and said with a smile: "Why did you come here in person, Second Madam? If you need anything, just let me know and I will make it and have someone send it to you."
Zheng Xiu said: "Second Master has guests coming and they want to dine in the mansion, so I came to take a look."
The chef said: "I see, we have all kinds of ingredients in the mansion, but I don't know what Second Madam wants to use to entertain the guests."
Zheng Xiu looked in the kitchen and saw that the baby pigeon and pork elbow were fresh, as well as dried goods such as dried scallops and sea cucumbers, so she ordered these things and reminded: "That's it, pick some seasonal vegetables and stir-fry a few side dishes. Make them all delicately and there must be no mistakes." If the prince had not wanted to keep a low profile, she would have pointed out his identity long ago.
The chef naturally agreed with a smile.
As they were talking, the maid from Hao Yetang hurried to the kitchen and said, "Madam, the Third Young Master heard that you are good at fried pork chops, and said that he wants to add this dish to lunch."
It turned out that after Zheng Xiu left, Xue Mian thought that there would be a rich meal at noon, so he generously asked Xue Shao what he wanted to eat and he could add more dishes.
Xue Shao has always been obsessed with fried pork chops, especially when he arrived at the Duke of Qing's Mansion. The meals were prepared by the kitchen. Zheng Xiu hadn't cooked for a long time, let alone cook this for him, so he said that he wanted to eat fried pork chops.
Xue Mian heard that he had never eaten it before, so he let the maid come to ask.
Zheng Xiu couldn't help but feel a headache. Originally, she had absolutely no intention of cooking by herself. After all, facing a superior like the crown prince, she had no idea how to deal with it. She just adhered to the belief that doing less would mean fewer mistakes, and not doing anything would mean better, and thought of letting the chef prepare a table of dishes.
But now that Xue Mian had brought it up, Zheng Xiu couldn't avoid it anymore. She rolled up her sleeves, asked Bai Zhu to bring her an apron, and started working by the stove.
The process of frying pork chops was complicated, and her speed was not as fast as the other chefs. Therefore, after one pork chop was finished, it took her two quarters of an hour to finish the other dishes.
Zheng Xiu was reeking of oil and smoke, which wouldn't have been a problem under normal circumstances, but since she was about to have dinner at the same table with the prince, it was not elegant, so she went back to change her clothes and asked Bai Zhu to watch in the kitchen.
A table of exquisite dishes was soon served, including wide-bellied suckling pigeon, oolong elbow, dried scallops, dried sea cucumber, golden mushrooms and cabbage, roasted bean curd with osmanthus and bamboo shoots, red dates, mountain mushrooms and amaranth soup, and the fried pork chops that Zheng Xiu made herself, which seemed a bit out of place.
Bai Zhu had them put in a multi-layered mahogany food box and sent to Hao Yetang while it was still hot.
Zheng Xiu had already changed her clothes and sat down to talk with Xue Zhi, the prince and others.
Xue Mian seemed particularly excited and was demonstrating to the prince a few sets of boxing he had just learned.
The prince watched very patiently, and occasionally praised them to show his respect.
After the food was served, Minghui and others placed the food on the Eight Immortals round table.
Zheng Xiu was a little worried, and whispered to Xue Zhi: "Your Highness, do you have to test for poison before eating?"
Xue Zhi said: "There is such a process in the palace, but it is simpler outside. It should be OK if the guards taste it."
Zheng Xiu nodded, and soon she saw a guard in black clothes taking the bowl and chopsticks and tasting each dish.
Everyone sat down at the table, and Xue Zhi invited the prince to take the seat of honor.
As soon as they sat down, Xue Mian had already picked up the chopsticks impatiently.
Zheng Xiu glanced at him, but he didn't notice. He picked up a piece of pork chop and put it in his bowl, and didn't forget to call the prince: "Cousin, eat quickly, don't look at me!"
This is also a habit he developed in Haoye Hall. Xue Zhi and Xue Shao usually have good appetites, but they will not deliberately let him eat. They always rush to eat. Although Xue Mian is naughty, he has been taught very well by Princess Guihe. He was not like this before.
Zheng Xiu smiled embarrassedly and said to the prince: "Don't mind, A Mian was also led astray by our A Shao."
The prince smiled indifferently, "It's no problem, it's just a family meal, there are no rules." Then he picked up his chopsticks and ate the fried pork chops made by Zheng Xiu.
Zheng Xiu was also very nervous. She didn't expect that the dish she wanted to make to appease the child would be eaten by the prince.
After eating, the prince praised: "It really tastes unique, no wonder A Shao is obsessed with it."
Xue Shao had been holding the chopsticks and looking at it for a long time. Zheng Xiu nodded to him, and he picked up a piece with his chopsticks and started eating.
No matter where the food is served, it will only taste good if someone is rushing to eat it. Xue Zhi used to not like this kind of thing to appease children, but he also stretched out his chopsticks. However, before the chopsticks reached over, they didn't touch.
With a light "pa" sound, Zheng Xiu had already patted the back of his hand, "You are injured, it's not suitable for eating."
Xue Zhi made a flat mouth movement, retracted his hand pitifully, and asked Zheng Xiu, "Then what should I eat?"
Zheng Xiu looked at it and found that she didn't think of him when preparing the food, but only thought about how to entertain the prince. The baby pigeon and the elbow are a bit greasy, and the dried scallops and sea cucumbers are even more irritating. The vegetarian dishes all looked very refreshing.
"Eat more vegetables." Zheng Xiu said as she served her a bowl of amaranth soup.
Xue Zhi was a meat lover, but he didn't dare to disobey his wife, so he had to say pitifully: "You can't eat rice with vegetables. Can I pour some meat soup on the rice?"
Their interaction was so funny, especially the prince, who had been hanging out with the Duke of Qing since he was a child, and had never seen Xue Zhi like this, so he couldn't help laughing beside him.
Zheng Xiu said embarrassedly: "You eat the vegetables, don't worry about him." Then he said to Xue Zhi with a stern face: "No, the soup is full of oil, you can't eat it. Just eat the vegetables."
Xue Zhi said "oh" in frustration, and resignedly stretched out his chopsticks to a few vegetables.
Xue Shao and Xue Mian both laughed secretly, and then buried their heads and ate meat to their heart's content.
Xue Mian was particularly naughty, smacking his lips and saying to Xue Zhi: "Uncle, it's okay, I'll help you eat more." Then he picked up a big pork elbow and put it in his bowl.
Xue Zhi pretended to be angry and glared at him, but he just ate the pork elbow with a smile.
The prince had lived in the palace for a long time and had eaten alone since he was a child. Even if he occasionally had meals with his father or went out of the palace to eat with Princess Guihe, he always paid attention to "not talking while eating and not talking while sleeping". He had never seen such a lively and noisy meal. He couldn't help but feel a little lighter, and his appetite improved.
Zheng Xiu also knew that wealthy families had rules, so she stopped talking after that. She only helped the two children who were only eating meat to pick up vegetables with chopsticks from time to time, and then stared at Xue Zhi to prevent him from sticking chopsticks into the meat and vegetables.
After the meal, the prince did not leave in a hurry, but drank tea with Zheng Xiu, Xue Zhi and others.
"I heard that your aunt's father is Zheng Juren, who was famous for his talent in those days." The prince was drinking tea and suddenly said, "I read Zheng Juren's beautiful articles when I was a child. They were really critical of current social ills and had unique insights. I can still recite two sentences now."
Hearing the prince praising his father, Zheng Xiu smiled proudly and said, "You are too kind. My father has been teaching in his hometown for many years and has not written for a long time."
The prince couldn't help but said with regret, "That's indeed a pity. With Zheng Juren's talent, if he takes the imperial examination again, he will naturally be able to go further and become a high-ranking official."
These words might be compliments when spoken by others, but when spoken by the prince, they have a different meaning.
Zheng Xiu didn't know how to answer, so she looked at Xue Zhi. Xue Zhi then said, "My father-in-law will go to Beijing in a new year, and he will probably stay for a while."
The prince was delighted, "That's great, I'll come to ask for advice then."
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