4:45 AM (寅时四刻)
Zou Heng got up and opened the door, and as always, he saw Qin Jingmu and Qin Jingtai sitting on the stone bench in his courtyard, eating pastries and drinking tea under the cover of darkness.
"Master"
These past two days, Qin Jingmu has been calling Zou Heng "Master" along with Qin Jingtai.
"Um"
Zou Heng walked to the stone bench, sat down, picked up a piece of pastry that Qin Jingmu and Qin Jingtai had brought, and began to eat it.
The two standing figures then assumed a horse stance opposite Zou Heng.
"Wait a moment"
The two stopped when they heard Zou Heng speaking, and instead of continuing their horse stance, they waited for him to speak.
After Zou Heng finished eating the pastries in his hand, he looked at Qin Jingmu and Qin Jingtai, and then called out to the gate of the courtyard.
"Great benefit"
Dali, who had been summoned, entered and bowed to Zou Heng, saying, "Commander."
Have you prepared what I asked you to prepare?
"I have certainly prepared everything the commander has instructed."
"Then bring it here and give it to His Highnesses."
"yes"
After saying that, Zou Heng continued eating the pastries, while Dali left, leaving the two brothers standing there, bewildered.
"Brother, what do you think Master is going to do?"
"I don't know, let's wait and see."
A moment later, Dali came in carrying four sandbags and walked up to Qin Jingmu and Qin Jingtai.
"Tie them up."
"yes"
Following Zou Heng's orders, Dali placed all the sandbags on the ground, picked up one, and walked up to Qin Jingmu.
He glanced at Qin Jingmu's robes, which reached his feet, and then at Zou Heng. "Commander, this...?"
"Tear it up"
"yes"
Hearing Zou Heng's words, Dali reached out and grabbed Qin Jingmu's clothes, pulling them apart.
"Sizzle—"
Qin Jingmu's robes were torn off from the waist down by Dali, and Qin Jingmu roughly knew what Zou Heng wanted to do.
After Dali finished tearing the torn meat, she looked at Qin Jingmu, who then spread her legs and asked, "Is this okay?"
"Yes, thank you, Your Highness."
Dali watched as Qin Jingmu spread his legs, then squatted down and began to tie sandbags to Qin Jingmu's calves.
After being tied up, he walked up to Qin Jingtai and tore his clothes to make sandbags.
Zou Heng, who was eating pastries, looked at Qin Jingmu and Qin Jingtai. He then looked up at the sky.
"The two princes ran around my courtyard until dawn."
"After daybreak, Your Highnesses, return to your current location and practice horse stance."
"Yes, Master."
After Qin Jingmu and Qin Jingtai finished speaking, they started running around Zou Heng's yard.
After finishing the pastries on his plate, Zou Heng began practicing his boxing.
When it was time for his shift, Dali went back to sleep.
——————
Imperial Kitchen
"Your Highness, what are you doing in the imperial kitchen at this hour? Shouldn't you be retiring at this time?"
"Miss Luo, didn't you get up too?"
"I saw there were still lights on in the kitchen, so I went to see who was on duty."
What are you braising?
Braised meat
Luo Ning fell silent, his mind screaming, 'I know you're braising meat, but what kind of meat are you braising, and what's it for?!'
Luo Ning didn't say it aloud, "Your Highness came to the Imperial Kitchen before dawn just for braised meat?"
"Um!"
Luo Ning waited for Qin Jingyan to continue. But Qin Jingyan remained silent!
So Luo Ning asked again.
"What is Your Highness doing with the braised meat?"
Roujiamo (Chinese hamburger)
"Um...Isn't it too oily for Your Highness to have a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) so early in the morning?"
That's right, Luo Ning now knows completely: Qin Jingyao learned cooking for Xiao Xi'er's sake.
As soon as Luo Ning finished speaking, Qin Jingyi looked at him, startling Luo Ning.
Luo Ning, who was already two feet away from Qin Jingyu (one foot ≈ 33...cm), took another step back.
"Xiao Si said she wanted to eat roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) yesterday, so I made it."
"Oh... so it's the little princess who wants to eat it. That's great!"
After Luo Ning finished speaking, he felt his hair stand on end again and was relieved.
"There will also be porridge, so it won't be too greasy."
"What kind of porridge?"
Corn and lean pork porridge
"Pretty good"
"But where's the pot for cooking porridge? What's this?"
Luo Ning looked at it and pointed to a black pottery jar.
Bone broth
Why are you making bone broth?
Luo Ning picked up a rag, hugged it, opened the lid, looked at the bone broth in the pot, and then looked at Qin Jingyi.
"And it's so bland, with only a little scallion in it, no ginger, garlic, chili, Sichuan peppercorns, not even any foam."
"That's how it should be, so it's easy to cook porridge."
"Cook porridge?"
"Why did Your Highness think of using bone broth to cook porridge?"
"The bone broth has a subtle, pleasant aroma; I think it would be great for making savory congee."
"Besides, bone broth is very nutritious, and it's good for Xiao Si's health to eat it."
"I see. Your Highness's idea is excellent."
"I believe the little princess will love it."
Hopefully.
Qin Jingyi remained silent, leaving Luo Ning feeling quite awkward.
"Your Highness, I'm going to prepare His Majesty's meal."
"Um"
Qin Jingyi started looking at the pot of braised meat and the pot of simmering bones at the same time.
Qin Jingyi went to the workbench, began scooping out flour, and started kneading the dough.
Then put the dough into the pot and cover it with the lid.
He sat down on the bench by the fire and lit some charcoal in the stove.
It's just to make the dough rise better and faster.
After everything was ready, Qin Jingyi began to watch the heat of the braised meat and bone broth while washing and soaking the rice; chopping scallions, carrots, and lean meat; and shelling the corn kernels.
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