"Understanding Cake?"
Xiao Che's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly. A subtle hint of inquiry flashed in his deep phoenix eyes.
He had never heard of this kind of dessert before.
Looking at Lin Wanwan's confident, even slightly cunning, mysterious smile, his heart, which had become somewhat irritated by the complicated political affairs, inexplicably felt a sense of... anticipation.
He didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly, which was considered his agreement.
Having received the "divine instruction," Lin Wanwan immediately curtsied and turned to leave quickly.
Instead of going to the imperial kitchen, she went straight to an inconspicuous corner of the rear hall of Kunning Palace. There, she found a small, separate kitchen.
She had specifically asked Xiao Che for this after recovering from a serious illness, claiming that she needed to personally prepare the medicine to "regulate her health." The kitchen wasn't large, but it was fully equipped, and the ingredients and tools inside were all the freshest and most complete.
This is her secret base where she is about to unleash her "magic".
The moment Lin Wanwan stepped into the small kitchen, her entire aura changed.
She removed the elaborate outer garment that symbolized her status as empress, leaving only a neat ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and tied her long hair up with a simple hairband. In an instant, she transformed from a dignified and gentle empress into a capable and efficient... food blogger.
She's going to make a cake.
In ancient times, without ovens, electric mixers, or whipping cream, making a chiffon cake in the modern sense was nothing short of a fantasy.
But who is Lin Wanwan?
She's a woman who's been through the information explosion of the 21st century! Her mind is full of countless "budget" and "replica" cooking tutorials.
If you don't have an oven, you can use a steamer.
If you don't have an electric mixer, you can use...manual labor.
As for the cream, you'll need to use your imagination even more.
She directed Chun Tao, whom she had temporarily called in to help, to begin a tense but well-organized "culinary experiment".
The first and most crucial step is to whip the egg whites.
This is the foundation for making a fluffy cake.
Lin Wanwan ordered someone to bring the freshest eggs and carefully separated the yolks from the whites. Then, she poured the pure egg whites into a copper basin, found four bamboo chopsticks, tied them into a bundle, and handed them to two burly palace maids beside her.
"Listen to my command," Lin Wan-wan said solemnly, like a general commanding a battle, "Stir and pound in one direction as fast as you can, without stopping!"
The two palace maids looked at each other, not understanding why the Empress wanted to "fuss" over a few eggs, but they still did as she was told.
Then, a series of rhythmic, rapid crackling sounds filled the small kitchen.
Lin Wanwan stood to the side, observing the state of the egg whites while directing them to add the prepared granulated sugar in three batches.
At first, the egg whites only produced some large bubbles. But as the mixture was continuously whipped at high speed, a miracle occurred.
The transparent liquid gradually turned snow-white and expanded several times in volume. In the end, it was whipped into a meringue that was as dense and delicate as a cloud and could be stretched into a firm little peak!
"My God!" Chun Tao exclaimed in astonishment, watching from the side. She had never imagined that ordinary egg whites could undergo such a magical transformation.
Lin Wanwan nodded in satisfaction.
Next, she gently and quickly folded the batter made of egg yolks, milk, and flour into the whipped egg whites until well combined.
Finally, pour the smooth cake batter into a round mold that has been greased on the bottom and sides, tap it a few times to release any large air bubbles, and then place it steadily into a steamer with boiling water.
The moment she put the lid on the pot, Lin Wanwan let out a long sigh of relief.
Success or failure hinges on this one move.
She didn't sit idle while waiting.
She ordered people to bring the freshest, chilled milk, taking only the thickest, top layer, adding honey, and then whipping it to a thick, smooth consistency using the same manual egg-whipping method.
This is her specially made, ancient version of simplified "cream".
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, amidst the curious and expectant gazes of the palace servants, Lin Wanwan lifted the pot lid.
A wave of heat, a blend of rich egg aroma and sweet scent, instantly hits you!
The round cake in the steamer had risen to a pleasing height, its surface golden brown, looking fluffy and soft.
Lin Wanwan inserted a silver needle, and after pulling it out, the needle was clean and dry.
It was a success!
She carefully removed the steamed sponge cake, inverted it to cool, and then used the special "cream" to create simple frosting on the surface. Although it couldn't compare to the sophistication of modern cream, it had a unique, rustic charm.
Finally, she picked a few small, red, agate-like wild berries that had just been picked from the tree and sprinkled them on the cream.
A unique "Royal Special Cupcake" that blends modern wisdom with ancient ingredients has finally been completed!
When Lin Wanwan personally carried the novel-looking and sweet-smelling "Understanding Cake" back to the study, the emperor, who had just been irritated by state affairs, couldn't help but put down his pen.
Xiao Che's gaze fell on the white jade plate in Lin Wanwan's hand.
The plate contained something he had never seen before.
It has a near-perfect circle shape, a golden color, and looks incredibly fluffy. The top is covered with a layer of snow-white, delicate paste that looks like solidified milk, and it is also decorated with a few luscious red fruits.
A rich, sweet aroma, a blend of milky and eggy notes, forcefully entered his nostrils, instantly awakening his taste buds, which had become somewhat dulled due to his agitation.
A clear look of surprise flashed in his eyes.
And the usually quiet emoji above his head popped up at just the right moment.
[What is this? It looks...not bad? .jpg]
Lin Wanwan gently placed the plate and a small silver spoon in front of him, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, please have some. This is a taste of my hometown. Although it is called cake, it is quite different from the cakes in the palace. Perhaps it will bring a smile to your face."
Xiao Che remained silent.
He picked up the silver spoon and, with elegant movements and a touch of imperial restraint, gently scooped out a small piece.
The moment the spoon cut into it, he felt an unusual sensation—not the solidity of traditional pastries, but an indescribable softness and elasticity, as if cutting into clouds.
He put that small piece of cake into his mouth.
The next second, Xiao Che's usually calm and collected phoenix eyes suddenly widened for a moment.
Soft and fluffy!
Extremely soft and fluffy!
The golden cake melts on the tongue almost instantly upon entering the mouth, leaving only a pure and rich egg aroma.
Then, the sweet aroma of the snow-white "cream" and the rich flavor of milk filled my mouth. The sweetness was different from the cloying, monotonous sweetness of palace pastries; it was a light, gentle sweetness, with a milky fragrance.
Finally, the tiny wild fruit bursts between your teeth, bringing a perfectly balanced, refreshing tartness that perfectly neutralizes all the sweetness, instantly elevating the entire taste experience to a whole new level!
tasty!
It's so delicious!
Xiao Che felt as if his taste buds had been thoroughly cleansed by a gentle spring rain. The irritability that had accumulated due to the complicated political affairs was miraculously soothed by this sweet taste.
Almost instinctively, he scooped up another large spoonful and put it in his mouth.
He ate quickly, yet maintained his regal demeanor. Only the constantly moving spoon betrayed his inner urgency.
Lin Wanwan watched him with a smile as he ate the cake clean, leaving not a trace of cream on the plate.
After finishing his meal, Xiao Che seemed to realize his "loss of composure".
He slowly put down the silver spoon, picked up a silk handkerchief, wiped his mouth, and then raised his head, resuming his cold and inscrutable demeanor.
He looked at Lin Wanwan, still in that critical, indifferent tone, and only gave a two-word evaluation.
"It's acceptable."
However, Lin Wanwan smiled.
Because she could see it clearly: the moment he uttered the word "acceptable," the emoji above his head had transformed into a tiny, sparkling golden figure bursting with happiness!
The little person, with countless sparkling stars in their eyes, was spreading their arms wide, happily spinning around and bubbling with joy.
[So delicious it'll make you glow.gif]
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