Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 533: List of Rewards from the Empress and the Imperial Concubine

"Secondly, adding scallion and ginger powder has a unique flavor, but it is not mixed evenly. It is better to add scallion and ginger water to remove the fishy smell and increase the tenderness of the meatballs. This way, it will not feel rough and old when eaten."

"Third, before and after beating, the large bowl of meat is placed in an ice basin to make the meat firmer and keep the temperature low so that the minced meat can absorb more scallion and ginger juice and blend better with the egg white."

The four chefs fell into deep thought as they listened to Shen Yu's slow words.

It can be said that the things that Shen Yu mentioned that require attention have nothing to do with secret recipes or the like, and can be done as long as you are careful.

But among the four of them, the one who had been a cook for the shortest time had been in the business for more than ten years, but had never thought about this.

I just did what my master taught me and never thought about changing the steps or methods he taught me.

Seeing that the chefs had confused and thoughtful expressions on their faces, Shen Yu stopped talking, stood up from the table, and walked around the small kitchen to look around.

She also asked the eunuch for two mutton soup dumplings that had been kept warm in the steamer and ate them as breakfast to fill her stomach.

At this time, several eunuchs who were responsible for preparing side dishes and helping out were busy preparing side dishes and cutting vegetables according to the lunch menu.

When he saw Shen Yu coming, he just nodded respectfully and then went back to the work at hand.

By noon, the dishes that the four chefs were responsible for were almost ready, and they began to prepare to collect the sauce and serve them on plates. After another cup of tea, the eunuchs who served the food would come to get the dishes, and Shen Yu began to make the shredded radish meatball soup.

The shredded radish that I cut in the morning has been soaked in cold water, and the pungent taste of the radish is long gone.

Use a slotted spoon to scoop out the water, wrap it in gauze and squeeze it dry.

Heat the pan with cold oil, add the shredded radish into the pan and stir-fry over low heat. Add appropriate amount of hot water after it is soft.

When it is about to boil, add some cooled chicken meatballs. Bring to a boil again and season with salt and pepper.

After pouring into a large soup bowl, add half a tablespoon of sweet vinegar, a small amount of sesame oil, and sprinkle in some chopped coriander to enhance the flavor and color. A bowl of sour, fresh and refreshing radish meatball soup is ready.

Zhenniang personally brought people to pick up today's lunch.

She told Shen Yu that the Queen Mother and the Imperial Concubine came to visit the Queen Mother today, and the Queen Mother invited the two of them to have lunch together.

Zhen Niang told Shen Yu that she didn't need to go over there now, but just wait in the guard room next to Chunhui Palace. She guessed that the masters would call her in to see them after they finished their meal.

Shen Yu agreed obediently, but thought in his heart, fortunately the radish meatball soup was made into a large bowl today, in case the two ladies wanted to try it, the portion would be enough for three people.

The waiting time felt the longest. Shen Yu felt that the three masters took a long time to eat lunch.

There were many palace maids coming and going, but none of them came to call her.

The longer he sat, the hungrier he felt. Shen Yu, who had only eaten two mutton soup dumplings in the morning, now felt his stomach growling with hunger.

Because he was afraid that he would be called in at any time, Shen Yu did not dare to leave the guard room to go to the small kitchen to eat lunch even though he was hungry. He could only sit there quietly and wait.

She just hoped that the Queen Mother would take a nap after lunch and not summon her directly, so that she could have lunch quickly.

Shen Yu was sitting in the guard room, thinking about random things, when she saw Zhenniang coming over to call her, saying that the two ladies wanted to see her.

Shen Yu did not expect that the empress dowager did not send any message, but instead the two concubines summoned him. He had to quickly tidy up his clothes and followed Zhen Niang to the warm room of Chunhui Palace.

At this time, the Queen Mother was sitting happily on the chaise longue at the top.

On either side of the chaise longue sat an elegant and graceful beauty.

Shen Yu stepped forward, knelt down and bowed: "Greetings, Queen Mother."

She stood up and bowed again: "My daughter Shen Yuzhi greets Her Majesty the Queen and Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine. May both of you be well."

The beauty sitting on the left said gently, "Miss Shen, please don't be polite. Please take a seat."

Shen Yu guessed that the person sitting on the left and speaking should be the queen, so he bowed and thanked her quickly, then carefully sat down on the small round stool brought up by the palace maid.

The Queen Mother said in a gentle voice: "I heard that the Queen Mother's health has improved this time, thanks to Miss Shen's careful preparation of the meals, which is a great contribution."

"When I was dining with my mother just now, I also tasted the radish meatball soup you made. It was light, refreshing, tender, smooth and fragrant. It was really good."

Shen Yu stood up and said, "Thank you for the praise, Queen Mother. Your Highness is blessed by heaven, and I dare not take credit for it."

"My daughter only knows how to cook the common people's home cooking. The Queen Mother is just enjoying the new dishes. Thank you for your praise, Queen."

The queen smiled and nodded: "Yes, she is humble and polite, has excellent cooking skills but is not proud of herself. She is a good girl."

Shen Yu could only act shy and keep his head down, only to hear the Queen continue, "A good horse deserves a good saddle. I heard that the Emperor rewarded you with a set of kitchen utensils from Gulan Country."

"Although I don't have such a wonderful thing to reward you, I will still reward you with some other common things."

As he spoke, he gestured to the palace maid who was following him.

The maid nodded, took out a list of gifts that had been prepared long ago, walked up to Shen Yu and said, "Miss Shen, this is a gift from our queen, please express your gratitude quickly."

Shen Yu originally thought that the Queen's reward would have to be read out on the spot like the Emperor's reward, but she didn't expect that the gift list would be given to her directly.

She quickly took the gift list with both hands and was about to kneel down to express her gratitude, but she saw the imperial concubine on her right side said in a sweet and coquettish voice: "Miss Shen, don't be in a hurry to kneel, I have another gift list here."

"My elder sister has finished her reward, and it's my younger sister's turn now. Miss Shen, do you want my reward?"

The imperial concubine's voice was charming and seductive, and it made people feel itchy and numb, but the words she said were embarrassing.

Shen Yu didn't know how to answer so as not to offend both sides. She only heard the Queen Mother say, "The Imperial Concubine is used to joking. Don't embarrass Miss Shen."

"Give her whatever reward you gave her quickly, and let her thank you at the same time."

When the imperial concubine heard what the empress dowager had said, she reluctantly gave up the idea of ​​using Shen Yu as an excuse to embarrass the empress.

She glanced at the queen who was sitting next to her with an unchanged expression and a smile on her face, then she raised her chin slightly and gestured to the maid beside her.

The palace maid standing beside him handed the gift list that had been prepared long ago to Shen Yu and returned it.

Shen Yu felt relieved, and hurriedly took the gift list given by the imperial concubine with both hands, then knelt down and kowtowed to express his gratitude with full etiquette.

The queen still said gently: "Get up."

After standing up, the Queen Mother smiled and said, "Miss Shen, please go down first. Please change the dinner for me today. Don't eat porridge, but don't make it greasy either."