Princess Yongning's love for the bowl of chicken noodle and West Lake Beef Soup far exceeded Lin Xiao Xiao's expectations.
This little princess with golden branches and jade leaves almost windswept through the second serving, not even the soup left, then touched her round little belly and looked at Lin Xiao with bated eyes: ''Miss Lin, will you still be around tomorrow? What about the day after tomorrow? Will you be staying at your royal brother's residence from now on?"
Lin Xiao Xiao was amused by the princess's "avid fan" attitude, glancing at Xiao Jingheng who was expressionless but obviously acquiesced, smilingly nodded: "Not a big problem, princess, I owe money to the king, so I won't be able to leave for a while."
"Owe money good ah!" Princess Yongning blurted out, then realized that it was wrong, hurriedly covered her mouth, her big eyes dribbled and turned to her own royal brother, seeing that he did not show signs of anger, only then did she breathe a sigh of relief, and then smilingly pulled Lin Xiao Xiao's hand, "I mean ... then you can always make delicious food! Imperial brother, you let her make one for me too, I'll pay you!"
Xiao Jingheng put down the tealight in his hand, his tone was flat, "The people in this king's house, do not lend out."
Princess Yongning's small face collapsed, about to spill her guts, Xiao Jingheng added slowly, "However, if you want to eat, you can come over at any time."
"Really? Imperial brother, you are the best!" Princess Yongning immediately turned from cloudy to sunny, so happy that she almost jumped up.
Lin Xiao Xiao was also secretly happy in her heart, fixing the princess's "royal connections" was definitely a divine assist on her way to pay off her debt!
In the next few days, Lin Xiao Xiao settled down in the small kitchen of the royal residence. Remembering her role as a "cook", she prepared Xiao Jingheng's meals every day in a variety of ways. From the delicate **Crab Roe Soup Buns**, to the stomach-warming **Pepper Pork Belly Chicken**, to the complicated **Boiled Cabbage**, which made Steward Wang stare in disbelief.
Xiao Jingheng still had the same ice-cold look, at most commenting "okay" or "hmmm" after each meal, but the vacancy rate of the plates and bowls, as well as the occasional gaze of anticipation that he occasionally threw in the direction of the kitchen at meal time, which he himself hadn't even noticed, had long since betrayed his true feelings. true feelings.
That afternoon, Princess Yongning slipped over again, with a bit of sullenness on her little face.
"What's wrong princess? Who has upset you?" Lin Xiao Xiao was trying to pound something new with the materials available in the kitchen.
"Ugh, don't mention it." Princess Yongning rested her cheeks on the small stool at the entrance of the small kitchen, "There's a new Western dance girl in the palace, she dances very well, father rewarded her with a lot of new and strange contraptions, even mother praised her. I feel ... like I feel a little compared."
It turned out to be a young girl's subtle little jealousy and loss. Lin Xiao Xiao smiled with understanding, at times like this, it was most appropriate to have something that could enhance happiness.
She looked at the tea, buttermilk and a small jar of precious caramel on hand and had a flash of inspiration.
**There it was! The ancient version - handmade milk tea! **
"Princess, don't be upset, I'll make you something nice to drink, and I guarantee you'll be in a better mood immediately!" Lin Xiao Xiao was full of confidence.
"Really? What is it?" Princess Yongning's curiosity was immediately aroused.
Lin Xiao Xiao's movements were sharp, first slowly frying the tea leaves in a small pot over low heat to produce a burnt aroma, then adding buttermilk and a small amount of water to boil, allowing the tea aroma to fully blend with the milk aroma. After filtering out the tea leaves, then add the right amount of caramel for flavor.
Since there were no pearls, taro balls or other toppings, she had the bright idea of boiling and crushing the red beans available in the kitchen, balling them up into small balls, and cutting up some diced fresh fruit for spare use.
When a cup of warm, exudes a rich milk and tea fragrance, which also floats red bean balls and colorful fruit diced "special blend milk tea" handed to the Yongning Princess in front of her eyes are straight.
"What is this ...? The color is so pretty! Smells good too!" She carefully took it.
"This is called 'Happy Fairy Water', try it." Lin Xiao Xiao smiled and marketed it.
Princess Yongning followed Lin Xiao Xiao's example and scooped up a red bean ball with a spoon before taking a sip of the milk tea. Instantly, the silky and mellow texture, the sweet but not greasy flavor, as well as the Q-bouncy red bean balls and the sweet and refreshing fruits colliding in her mouth made her squint her eyes in happiness.
"Oh my god! It's so good!" She exclaimed, not caring about her princess's manners, and gulped down several mouthfuls, "Tiny! You're so awesome! What a divine flavor this is!"
Looking at her satisfied smiling face, Lin Xiao Xiao was also very accomplished. She made some more and distributed it to the fire-burning maids and little eunuchs who helped out in the small kitchen. A few half-grown children drank the delicacies that they had never tasted before in their lives, and each one of them was so excited that their little faces turned red, looking at Lin Xiao Xiao with gratitude and admiration in their eyes.
"Sister Lin, you're so nice!"
"This is much better than sugar water!"
"I've never tasted anything this good before!"
For a while, the small kitchen was filled with fastidious air.
Princess Yongning held a cup and came over to Lin Xiao Xiao's side, whispering, "Xiao Xiao, from now on, when no one is around, I'll call you Xiao Xiao, and you can call me Yue'er, that's my nickname. You'll be my friend from now on!"
Lin Xiao Xiao's heart warmed. In this strange time and space, being able to harvest such a friendship without utilitarian colors was really an unexpected delight.
"Good, Yue'er."
Right at this moment, Chasing Wind's figure appeared at the entrance of the small kitchen, still in that businesslike tone, "Miss Lin, the king wants you to go over."
Lin Xiao Xiao's heart thumped. The king was looking for her? Was the flavor of the milk tea too strong and disturbing him? Or did he think that she was "not doing her job"?
She hurriedly wiped her hands, gave Princess Yongning a "don't worry" look, and followed Chasing Wind.
When she arrived at the study, Xiao Jingheng was standing by the window with his arms folded. The afterglow of the setting sun gilded his cold and hard side face with a soft golden light.
"Your Highness, you're looking for me?" Lin Xiao Xiao bowed in a regular manner.
Xiao Jingheng turned around, his gaze landing on her, still with the same expression of unreadable emotions.
"Yong Ning likes you a lot." He stated.
Lin Xiao Xiao couldn't figure out what he meant and replied cautiously, "Your Highness is naive, it is an honor for my daughter."
"What did you give her to drink?" Xiao Jingheng asked.
Sure enough! Lin Xiao Xiao wailed in her heart and hurriedly explained, "Back to Your Highness, it's a drink made from cow's milk and tea, with some sugar and red beans, absolutely clean and hygienic, no ingredients were used indiscriminately!"
Xiao Jingheng looked at her in silence, just when Lin Xiao Xiao thought she was going to be lectured, he suddenly spoke:
"Make one for this king ... as well."
**Lin Xiao Xiao: "... Ah?" **
She jerked her head up and met Xiao Jingheng's deep eyes. There was still no expression on his face, but at the base of his ears, there seemed ... to be a very faint, extremely unnatural blush?
**Lin Xiao Xiao inner OS: this master, you are in the end to raise an offense, or ... also want to drink? **