After the emperor read her mind, the salted fish concubine effortlessly won the title of empress.

Chapter 77 Consort Qiong: A Master in the Catering Industry

When Shen Shixi came out of the Empress Dowager's palace, it was already past noon, so she couldn't take a nap.

"Go sit over there for a while, Bai Ping. Have someone bring over a pot of good wine. I want to enjoy the breeze here for a bit."

She entered the pavilion she had built.

A jar of Autumn Moon White wine and a few side dishes were delivered from the small kitchen. Just as Shen Shixi was about to pour herself a drink, she heard that Consort Qiong had arrived.

Consort Qiong sent people to Zhaoyang Palace several times today, but they couldn't find Shen Shixi, and she was extremely anxious.

"Greetings to Consort Qiong!" Shen Shixi bowed. "This concubine was just about to enjoy a small drink; would Consort Qiong have the pleasure?"

"I cannot refuse Consort Yuan's invitation."

Consort Qiong was still so thin, almost bony. Li Yuanke probably didn't like this type either, afraid that his bones would hurt him when he slept, so he hadn't visited her palace for a long time.

Shen Shixi then instructed Bai Ping to bring over a few dishes, saying, "Bring over one serving of each of the dishes from lunch today, so that Consort Qiong may have a taste."

Consort Qiong's purpose in coming was also this: "His Majesty bestowed upon me a potato, but I do not know how to cook it. I would like to ask Consort Yuan for advice. I hope you will not hesitate to teach me!"

"I will speak frankly and without reservation!"

When the dishes were served, Shen Shixi took a bite of each one first and told her, "This is braised pork with potatoes, this is braised beef brisket with tomatoes, this is..."

She recited the recipes to Consort Qiong one by one. Consort Qiong said, "Wait, Taotie, go back to the palace and bring me the book of recipes I keep."

Shen Shixi choked to death after taking a sip of tea.

That name!

Taotie blushed with embarrassment. She knew that Yuan Jieyu was making fun of her, but she didn't want to be called that name either!

Consort Qiong was definitely a person who knew how to reciprocate. After eating Shen Shixi's meal, she invited Shen Shixi to have dinner at her palace, saying, "I would like you to personally give me some pointers on my cooking skills."

Seeing how respectful and courteous the other woman was to her, Shen Shixi could tell that she was indeed very passionate about this field. Since she was also bored, she went with Consort Qiong.

The cooking methods of this era were very simple, mainly steaming and boiling, and then baking.

It's not that there was no stir-frying process at all, but rather that vegetable oil was a rare commodity at that time.

The reason why vegetable oil is so rare is naturally because the oil extraction technology is not up to standard.

To make stir-fries taste good, you generally use vegetable oil to stir-fry meat dishes and animal oil to stir-fry vegetable dishes.

Furthermore, cooking techniques have continuously advanced in sync with the course of history. Current cooking techniques are quite simple, mostly involving boiling in water, mixing with salt, and steaming.

The ancients said, "One should not be too particular about the fineness of food or the delicacy of its preparation," because food at that time was not refined. Later generations, for the sake of health, advocated eating coarse grains and wild vegetables because the food was too refined.

One taught, the other learned. Consort Qiong's attitude towards learning was very upright. If she were not the emperor's concubine, Shen Shixi suspected that she aspired to become the head chef of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Then, Shen Shixi instructed the chefs in Consort Qiong's palace to prepare several dishes: steamed chicken in a clay pot, braised pork belly, pickled bamboo shoots and pork soup, and shredded pork with garlic sauce. Consort Qiong assisted her and actually did the cooking herself. This experience broadened her horizons.

When eating, Consort Qiong ate with great gusto, and most of it ended up in her stomach.

Shen Shixi also has a large appetite, but it still can't compare to hers.

Shen Shixi even wondered where she ate all that food, she was so thin she looked like she was floating.

"Sister, thank you so much today. I didn't know I actually had a talent for cooking. I used to think I couldn't make anything delicious," Qiongfei said sincerely.

Shen Shixi said, "Your Majesty must have gone in the wrong direction. After Your Majesty has finished cooking these dishes, I will teach Your Majesty how to make braised dishes another day."

She wanted to eat braised dishes, gnawing on duck heads, duck necks, chicken wings, and pig's trotters. Ah, her mouth was watering.

"Alright, alright, write down the ingredients for me, and I'll prepare them. Taotie, quick, get the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone ready!"

Shen Shixi was impressed by her enthusiasm. With this kind of spirit, she would be a master in the culinary world sooner or later!

Making braised dishes involves many medicinal herbs and spices, but Shen Shixi wasn't worried that she wouldn't be able to get them.

Consort Qiong was childless and out of favor, yet she still managed to rise to the rank of consort; this must have been thanks to her family.

Shen Shixi wrote down all the spices she needed and noted the quantities, then left.

Taotie was somewhat worried and reminded her, "Your Majesty, there are many medicinal herbs here. What if Consort Yuan takes this opportunity to...?"

"What's there to be afraid of? I'm not favored, and she has no intention of raising someone else's child. There's no conflict of interest between us, so why would she target me? I'll find a way to collect all of these. Once I've mastered these dishes, I'll start making braised dishes. They should be delicious."

Consort Qiong worked tirelessly until midnight. In the middle of the night, she ate the steamed chicken in a clay pot, braised pork belly, pickled bamboo shoots and pork soup, and shredded pork with garlic sauce that she had made herself. She couldn't help but exclaim, "So I do have talent after all! Hahaha, I can make normal dishes now!"

Taotie also took a few bites and breathed a sigh of relief. From now on, they would no longer have to suffer the torment of their master.

Thank God, thank Earth, and thank Yuan Jieyu, this living Bodhisattva!

Li Yuanke had dinner at Qianyuan Palace and asked where Shen Shixi was. Li Fude said she was preparing food at Consort Qiong's palace. Li Yuanke had no intention of going to Consort Qiong's palace.

After dinner, he went to Zhaoyang Palace, but the gates were closed and he couldn't get in.

Inside the door, Chao En knelt, trembling all over. "Your Majesty, the young mistress said she is already asleep and does not wish to see Your Majesty today. She will pay her respects to Your Majesty another day when she wishes to!"

His voice was choked with sobs, so pitiful that it brought tears to the eyes of all who heard it.

But listen to this, is this even human language?

Li Fude scolded in a low voice, "Hurry up and inform your mistress! How can you lock the Emperor out like that?"

Chao En returned, and even through the palace gates, she could hear a commotion coming from inside. She cried, "Your Majesty, I kowtow to you! My mistress wants to have me beaten to death! Please, Your Majesty, have mercy! My mistress says she's asleep, please go somewhere else!"

Li Fude cautiously looked at the emperor's face, and when he saw that the emperor was actually smiling, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

However, he didn't leave. He wandered around the entrance and sat in the pavilion for a while. The moon was high in the willow branches, and the moonlight and water reflected each other, which was truly beautiful.

"Send someone to bring some wine, and don't let anyone near me. I also want to be alone for a while."

"yes!"

Inside Zhaoyang Palace, Shen Shixi wore a peach-colored nightgown, a short-sleeved, knee-length, loose-fitting straight dress. Her long, thick, black hair cascaded down her back, unable to conceal her slender and supple waist.

The candlelight cast her shadow on the window paper. She was writing down her experiences traveling over the years, intending to do so in the form of a collection of notes, in vernacular Chinese, of course.

She can't write those classical Chinese phrases.

She didn't want to read those Four Books and Five Classics either, and was even more resistant to the nonsense about the Four Books for Women.

"My lady, why are you doing this?" Bai Ping advised. "The Emperor is still outside, he hasn't left. Let me help you with your hair and makeup, then you can go and welcome him in, okay?"

Where in the world is the emperor kept outside?