Volume 3 Linglong Dice An Hongdou One Four Six Honggou (1200 votes added)

  "Uncle," Zhang Yan's face showed a hurt expression, "do you think my craftsmanship is no good?"

  "How is this possible?" Liu Xian asked with a forced smile, the glutinous rice tasted strange, so he had to try some dishes, seeing that the dish of bok choy was bright in color, and then used chopsticks to pick up a mouthful.

  "This is the tenderest rape I picked in spring," Zhang Yan explained with a smile, "stir-fry it with artemisia oil until it's half-cooked, then add the drained rape and stir-fry it over high heat. Then add an appropriate amount of salt, and serve when the color is just right. Only then will it be crispy, smooth and delicious."

  Liu Ying had a hard time swallowing the bok choy. Hmm, Ah Yan, what you said makes sense, but how much salt did you actually put in?

  He slightly broke a cold sweat and didn't dare touch that dish of celery again, so he picked up another piece of braised pork instead.

  "This braised lamb dish," Zhang said with a smile, "requires adding maltose first, then adding sliced lamb leg meat, scallions and ginger after caramelization. The key to braising meat is the timing of the heat, when it's just right, add salt and sugar, and star anise for flavoring. I remember my uncle used to love eating this dish."

  The flavor was originally sweet and greasy, but this dish was sweet and greasy to the extreme. Liu Ying really didn't have the courage to continue, so she put down her chopsticks, feeling a slight cramp in her stomach.

  "And there's this dish of bamboo shoots." Zhang Yan said with great enthusiasm, "Last year we picked the tender shoots, boiled them, dried them in the sun, and then added white sugar, salt, fennel, and cinnamon. After that, we simmered it over low heat. It's even better than meat dishes! Uncle, try some, isn't it delicious?" Liu Ying was about to refuse, but looking at Zhang Yan's face with a simple and eager expression, she couldn't say anything, so she took the lacquer dish from her hand. She tasted a mouthful of bamboo shoots.

  Good heavens. At this moment, Liu Yan felt an overwhelming urge to burst into tears of gratitude. After all, after all, this bamboo shoots was barely edible.

  Zhang Yan's mind was elsewhere as she picked at the fish bones, gazing at Liu Ying who looked like he was suffering but didn't dare to complain. Her heart felt a slight sense of relief, yet mixed with a hint of heartache.

  You make me miserable, I won't let you live a good life either.

  But if you're really unhappy, how can I truly be happy? After all, at the beginning, I just wanted to spend my whole life happily with you.

  Bamboo shoots have a fresh and slightly sour taste, but compared to stir-fried bitter melon, braised lamb's sweet greasiness, and the fishy smell of mackerel, Liu Ying thought it was already a delicious dish.

  Anyway, Ah Yan left a portion of bamboo shoots for him to have with his rice.

  Liu Ying was afraid that Zhang Yan would persuade her again, so she quickly ate the bamboo shoots and rice. She heard Zhang Yan's clear voice saying, "Hmm, Mrs. Cen's cooking skills have improved even more. This mackerel is tender and fresh, it melts in your mouth." Liu Ying couldn't help but smile bitterly, feeling that the five flavors of sour, sweet, bitter, pungent, and salty were all mixed together in her mouth.

  It's easy to finish a bowl of millet rice. Seeing Zhang Yan sweetly advising, "Hmm, uncle, do you want another bowl?" He hastily shook his head and said, "I'm already full, no need to add more."

  Zhang Yan deeply understood the principle of "quitting while one is ahead", and with a slight turn of her eyes, she ordered the servants to remove the food.

  In the hall, on the red clay brazier, a small teapot of soup water had not yet boiled.

  In the past, every time Liu Ying finished his dinner in the Pepper Chamber Hall, Zhang Yan would personally brew a cup of tea for him. At this time, he took over the green ant cup and saucer brought by Jie You, and smiled: "Lu Shi got a new tea in Shu, because it was produced in Mengshan, so it's called Mengding Tea. One drink is bitter, three drinks are light, only the second soup is the best..."

  "It's not that troublesome." Liu Ying shook her head and said. "I'll do it myself." She didn't care about those fancy tea-making techniques. She directly put the tea leaves into the cup, poured in water, and drank it all in one gulp.

  "But Your Majesty." Zhang Yan stared with wide eyes and stuttered, "The water hasn't even boiled yet."

  He drank two cups of tea in a row, and only then did he manage to slightly suppress the strange taste in his mouth. He smiled wryly and said, "I'm parched for the moment, let's just take it easy for now."

  After having such a thrilling dinner, the little worries in Liu Ying's stomach were all put aside for the time being, and she just wanted to have a good rest and recover.

  He had always slept well, but this time he couldn't sleep soundly. In the middle of the night, he suddenly felt uncomfortable in his stomach and couldn't help but groan. He startled Ah Yan beside him, who propped herself up on her elbow and mumbled, "What's wrong, Uncle?" Her voice still had a sleepy tone to it.

  "It's nothing." He got up and covered her with the quilt, soothingly saying, "You go to sleep first."

  It wasn't until the second time that Zhang Yan truly came to, and she hastily ordered Tuo Mei to hold up the lamp. Seeing Liu Ying's pale face, her eyes dull, and cold sweat dripping down her forehead, she immediately shouted, "Han Changyu, go to the Imperial Medical Office right now and summon Physician Chunyu."

  He took a moment to catch his breath, and saw Ah Yan standing in front of the bed in her underclothes, her hair still disheveled from sleep. Her small face was pale with fright. He forced a smile and instructed, "You go get dressed."

  Zhang Yan lowered her head, and only then did she see that the collar of her clothes had been slightly pulled open while she was sleeping. Her face turned slightly red as she hastily tied up her hair in a simple bun, threw on another long robe, and rushed out. She asked the imperial physician who had taken the pulse, "What's wrong with Your Majesty?"

  Sun Yu put down his hand, stood up and bowed, "I'll report back to the Empress, Your Majesty seems to have an upset stomach. Has he eaten any irritating food recently or drunk unboiled water?"

  Zhang Yan's face turned red and white in an instant. Liu Ying also withdrew her hand without answering, only instructing, "Since that's the case, go and prepare the medicine."

  "Agreed."

  The Party participated in the Huang Qi supplement to benefit the middle and air, Liu Ying drank it afterwards, and finally felt that the spirit was calm and the heart was at ease. Seeing Zhang Yan standing on one side with a slightly remorseful look, she couldn't help but move her lips and call out to her, "A Yan."

  He took her hand, and with a heavy heart, instructed, "You were born and raised in luxury, your mother entrusted you to me, not for you to suffer. From now on, just order people to do whatever you want to eat, no need to cook personally."

  Zhang Yan couldn't help but let out a soft laugh, and it seemed that this dinner had really made Liu Ying suffer a lot, and only then did she feel relieved.

  She responded softly, "Okay."

  At this time, she really regretted her own willfulness.

  She knows her own cooking skills best herself.

  She has loved food since she was a child. She has a deep understanding of tasting good dishes and guiding others to cook, and can be called an expert. Every time, she can clearly explain the benefits and steps of a dish, but on one condition: she doesn't have to do it herself.

  If she takes matters into her own hands. To put it bluntly, she's a kitchen killer.

  She could never tell the difference between salt and sugar, and always mixed up vinegar and bitter wine. Without even trying, the dishes she made could make a saint spit out their food. Guan Er had once hoped to enjoy her good fortune after she grew up, but after tasting her cooking once, he immediately turned black-faced and issued a decree that she was not allowed to touch any kitchen utensils again, with no pardon until death. After arriving in the Han Dynasty, due to having self-awareness, she always only directed others to do the work, and never personally touched those pots and pans.

  He is the emperor, but she is just his wife. If he doesn't like it, he can simply walk away. Even if he doesn't want to turn against himself, he can speak out that he doesn't like it and order someone to change the food again.

  He forced himself to finish the meal just so he wouldn't be upset.

  Actually, she knew that this time it was her being arbitrary. They used two different sets of standards to deal with the matter. From her standpoint, she could naturally have countless complaints. However, as for him, he didn't do anything wrong.

  Maybe neither of them is wrong, but when they collide, this world goes wrong.

  She knew she was being willful, but she indulged her own willfulness. She thought he would scold her, but instead, he tolerated her and didn't utter a single word of complaint.

  She always thought that only in those girls' made-up stories would there be such fools who, just to avoid letting her show a bit of sadness, would bury their heads and finish eating a meal that couldn't be considered delicious at all. He didn't even know what she was sulking with him about.

  Really?

  Maybe.

  It was precisely because of his innate foolishness that she admired him and was willing to stake so much on him, the reason why she married him under the gaze of the whole world.

  In her long journey of chasing him, she was also wounded and even doubted whether she was worthy when she just heard the news about Wang Leng.

  Worth it.

  As long as that silly and foolish nature of his still exists, then he hasn't changed, he is still the Liu Ying she wholeheartedly loves.

  At this moment, her heart was soft to the extreme and gentle to the extreme.

  "Your Majesty." Hu Die entered and whispered in her ear, "The king's wife of the Qingliang Palace has sent someone to ask you something."

  She was stunned for a moment, and instantly threw away the soft mood she had just now, glaring at Liu Xuan fiercely, gritting her teeth and thinking to herself, why didn't I remember to add mustard greens to the dishes?

  "Let him in."

  "Imperial Concubine." Han Lian was taken aback and asked in confusion.

  "Let him in." Zhang Yan insisted.

  Liu Ying, I also want to see, in your heart, who is more important, me or Wang Kong who is pregnant.

  Qingliangdian's Shi Fang entered respectfully and reported that Wang Bazhi was unwell, fearing that the fetus in her abdomen would be affected, hoping that Your Majesty would go over to comfort her with a few words.

  Liu Ying was taken aback and looked at Zhang Yan. She saw a faint expression on Zhang Yan's face.

  "Your Majesty." Shi Fang waited a bit, then couldn't help but ask again.

  "Have the imperial physician from the Imperial Medical Office go and take a look at Madame Wang." Liu Ying thought for a moment, "I'll just go myself."

  Zhang Yan felt slightly relieved in her heart, and she summoned Hua Ruo to instruct, "From now on, keep an eye out for me. When His Majesty stays overnight at the Pepper Chamber Hall, no one from the Qingliang Hall is allowed to come within fifty zhang of the Pepper Chamber Hall."

  Lotus smiled and replied, "It's getting late. Your Majesty and the Empress should rest early."

  When everything had settled down, she held a candle and got back onto the bed.

  When Liu Ying suddenly lit the candle again, he said thoughtfully, "Speaking of Qingliang Hall, I remembered. Now Wang Bazhi is pregnant again, and Ah Yan, you are young but clever. When I'm not in Weiyang Palace, take care of her for me."

  She was stunned, not daring to believe that it was easy for her to convince herself to be more comfortable, but Liu Ying actually dared to bring up this matter again. She looked up at Liu Ying's eyes and saw only calmness in his gaze.

  She suddenly felt a bit downhearted and asked, "Zhi Yi, do you like children very much?"

  He was taken aback for a moment, and smiled, "I never thought about it before. But as the emperor, I should have an heir." He hesitated for a while, and said softly, "Sometimes I think, if Chen Hu and the child in her womb were still in this world, he should be this tall by now, and could call out 'Father' to me."

  "Ah Yan," he suddenly said, "after that child is born, if it's a boy, let's name him Gong."

  "Oh?" Zhang Yanqi said in surprise.

  Every child's name should be given by their parents together with joy. Why don't you discuss it with Wang Lu, but instead consult me, the Empress, who has nothing to do with him?

  "Uh-huh." Liu Ying nodded, "I hope he will be respectful and filial to his stepmother in the future."

  I hope that a hundred years from now, he can take care of you for me and be as filial to you as he is to his own mother.

  For a moment, Zhang Yan suddenly felt a mix of emotions, her heart was both sour and sweet, but more than that, it was a kind of emptiness.

  She resented Wang Lian for having children with her, and appreciated him for still considering everything for himself after becoming the father of other people's children. And finally understood a fact.

  She got so angry, but he didn't understand why she was mad at all.

  At this moment, she saw the huge gap between two people.

  She always thought that if you and I were in love, we would be a perfect match, growing old together. Our love is so small, how can it accommodate the interference of a third person?

  He thought that the imperial favor he had given her, a lifetime of trust and dependence, and their future burial together were the ultimate things he could do for her.

  A man having three wives and four concubines is a perfectly normal thing. Even if he really loves himself, it doesn't hinder him from going through those concubine palace maids one by one.

  The ideological differences caused by two thousand years of time are so strikingly evident at this moment and in this place.

  Hmm... Look at the time. I'm late.

  Considering how hard I've worked, don't forget to go back to the book page and press the pink voting button under the cover of "Yan Hua".

  Rubbing.

  Stroking my chin, I still believe Liu Zhiyuan is a good classmate, only that he still needs to be disciplined!!!