Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 528: From now on, just ask for whatever ingredients you want

Shen Yu stood in front of a large, bright bronze mirror and almost couldn't recognize himself.

She was wearing a pink short jacket and long skirt, and a neat and energetic cone bun set off her small face the size of a palm. Her eyebrows and eyes were clear, and her face was lightly powdered by Hongyun.

Her originally pretty face now looked lively and bright, completely different from the slightly tired look of yesterday.

Lu Qiao and Hong Yun sincerely praised: "Miss Shen looks really good dressed like this."

Shen Yu blushed slightly, and hurriedly smiled and thanked: "Thank you two ladies for your skillful hands. If it were me, I wouldn't be able to comb such a beautiful bun."

The three were talking and laughing when they heard the young eunuch say, "Miss Shen, Aunt Zhen is here."

Shen Yu hurried out to greet her. Zhen Niang looked Shen Yu up and down and said with a smile, "The girl looks much more energetic after a good sleep."

"I wanted to come over and ask what dish the girl planned to cook for the Queen Mother in the morning."

Shen Yu smiled and said, "Thank you for coming to pick me up, Auntie. I was just about to go to the kitchen after I cleaned up. I wonder what time the Queen Mother will have breakfast."

As the two walked out, Zhenniang said, "It's cold in winter, so the Queen Mother gets up late. These days, she gets up at noon and has breakfast after 2:30 p.m."

Shen Yu also asked about the meal times for lunch and dinner, and what snacks the empress dowager liked to eat.

Zhenniang knew that Shen Yu was not an ordinary cook, so she naturally answered every question.

Shen Yu remembered everything in her mind and asked, "Aunt Zhen, did the Queen Mother sleep well last night?"

When Aunt Zhen heard this, she couldn't help but look grateful: "Speaking of which, I really have to thank Miss Shen."

"The Queen Mother has not been feeling well these days and has not been sleeping well."

"I didn't expect that I was sweating all over after eating the porridge you cooked yesterday."

"After you left, the Queen Mother walked around the palace for a while, then felt that she was sweating and not feeling refreshed, so she took a hot bath before going to bed."

"She slept very well last night. She was still sleeping when I came over."

Shen Yu felt relieved after hearing this.

She guessed that after the Queen Mother ate some hot porridge with ginger and took a hot bath, the coldness in her body should have been mostly dissipated, and the next step was to regulate her appetite.

Gradually add some nutritious and easily digestible food to the Empress Dowager's diet. Within seven or eight days, the Empress Dowager's body will be back to normal.

She smiled and said, "Then I'll make a Chinese yam and egg custard for the Empress Dowager for breakfast today."

"Huai yam, isn't it commonly known as thin yam? I have heard of egg custard, which is commonly eaten by children in the folk. Can these two be put together?"

Zhenniang was somewhat puzzled when she heard this unprecedented combination.

Shen Yu nodded: "This egg custard tastes tender and smooth after steaming, and Chinese yam is a very good ingredient for strengthening the spleen and stomach, and it is easy to digest, especially suitable for children or the elderly."

As they talked, they went into the small kitchen, where several cooks were busy.

Although the Queen Mother didn't like the food they cooked these days, she still had to prepare the dishes according to the prescribed recipes every day.

Who made the royal rules like this?

According to the status of each master, daily dishes must still be served.

Eat, look, and watch; this is the royal scene.

Chef Liu was a little surprised to see Shen Yu coming so early.

He thought that Miss Shen would only come to the small kitchen when the Queen Mother asked her to cook, but he didn't expect that she could get up early and cook with the chefs.

Shen Yu nodded and greeted everyone, and Zhen Niang said to one of the eunuchs in charge of purchasing, "Eunuch Wu, Miss Shen wants to make a Chinese yam and egg custard today, which requires Chinese yam."

"Do we have Chinese yam in the small kitchen? If not, please send someone to the imperial kitchen to check."

"If it really doesn't work, go out of the palace and buy it now. The Queen Mother hasn't gotten up yet, so I guess it's still in time."

This eunuch Wu is a middle-aged man with a smiling face and eyes that show his efficiency.

He thought for a moment and said, "Don't worry, Aunt Zhen. Although we don't have Chinese yam in our kitchen, we do have it in the imperial kitchen."

"I remember that they have a dish called duck stewed with Chinese yam and eight treasures on their menu, so they always have this ingredient on hand. I'll send someone to get it."

Aunt Zhen nodded with satisfaction and said, "Eunuch Wu, Miss Shen will cook for the Queen Mother for a few days in this small kitchen."

"From now on, if she uses any ingredients, you will be responsible for it. Just follow the rules like this morning."

"The small kitchen did not go to the imperial kitchen, and the imperial kitchen did not immediately send someone out of the palace to buy it."

"In a word, you have to give Miss Shen whatever she needs."

"Let's work hard these days and work together to take care of the Queen Mother's health."

"The New Year is coming soon. The Queen Mother is in good health. The Emperor will definitely benefit from our help during the New Year."

"If not, you probably know the consequences."

"Please don't neglect or embarrass Miss Shen just because I'm not here."

"She is not a servant in the palace. The Queen Mother asked her to stay for a while. She will not take away your New Year's rewards. You must think clearly about this."

Aunt Jane talked to me all day, with honey and sticks.

The people in the small kitchen nodded their heads in excitement at what they heard, and they repeatedly promised to help Miss Shen so that she could concentrate on preparing meals for the Queen Mother.

Shen Yu was stunned watching from the side. She didn't expect that Aunt Zhen, who always spoke to her gently and kindly, would show her power and be so imposing.

Seeing that everyone had made promises, she quickly bowed to everyone, thanked them, and promised to do her best to cook the food so that the Queen Mother could get better as soon as possible and everyone could have a good New Year.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the small kitchen was extremely harmonious. Everyone had a smile on their face, as if they saw the big red envelopes for the New Year waving at them.

As they were talking, the young eunuch sent by Eunuch Wu came running back, panting, carrying a small bamboo basket of long and thin yam.

The young eunuch entered the small kitchen, stood still and took a few breaths before saying, "Miss Shen, when the imperial kitchen heard that we were going to cook for the empress dowager, they quickly gave me the whole basket of Chinese yam."

"Those chefs asked me to tell you something, thank you for saving them."

"From now on, just tell me what ingredients you want. Whether it's mountain delicacies or seafood from the seaside, they can get it for you."

When Eunuch Wu heard this, he narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Miss Shen, if the chefs in the imperial kitchen said this, I would be relieved."

"Each of them has his or her own specialty dish and special shopping channels. They can really get whatever you want."

When Zhenniang saw that the food had been brought in, she said, "Okay, I'll go to the Queen Mother to serve her first. When the Queen Mother gets up, I'll send someone to inform you. You guys go about yourselves."