Gluttonous Crown Princess - Chapter 29.4

Tao Ti hadn’t anticipated how much these little children would enjoy her company, but she also understood that a significant part of their frequent visits was due to their hankering for her delicious food.

On this particular day, the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Princess came to Yaoguang Hall once again.

Tao Ti prepared a pot of red bean and taro stewed milk and fried a plate of crispy chicken tenders. These two snacks were easy to make, tasted great, and were loved by both adults and children.

For the red bean and taro stewed milk, she first cooked the soaked red beans until they were soft, and steamed the taro until it was tender before peeling and cutting it into small pieces. Then, she combined the two ingredients with milk and started cooking.

In the absence of condensed milk in ancient times, Tao Ti added some malt sugar and rock sugar to the mixture. The milk bubbled and frothed, releasing a rich aroma of milk and sugar that filled the air with a gentle warmth.

After preparing the dessert, Tao Ti had the palace maids divide it into three bowls and left them to cool slightly.

She turned around and started making the crispy chicken tenders. She selected fresh chicken breast meat, pounded it with the back of a knife to ensure tenderness, and then cut it into small strips along the grain of the meat. She coated the strips with beaten egg and dipped them in breadcrumbs before frying them in a pan until they turned golden brown. Next door, the children… no, all the palace servants in Yaoguang Hall, along with the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Princess, were practically drooling from the enticing aroma!

Compared to the gentle sweetness of the red bean and taro milk pudding, the aroma of the fried chicken tenders was even more enticing, filling the entire little kitchen with its tantalizing scent.

As they watched the golden-brown chicken strips being lifted out of the oil, their surfaces gleaming and crispy, the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Princess couldn’t help but swallow their saliva in anticipation.

“It smells amazing!!”

“Can we eat now, Sister-in-law? I’m hungry!”

“You little greedy kittens, go wash your hands before you eat,” Tao Ti chuckled. She then proceeded to prepare two dipping sauces for the chicken strips—a spicy chili sauce and a sweet and sour sauce.

She had the snacks brought to the hall, then picked up a chicken tender and dipped it into the sweet and sour sauce.

The chicken strips were perfectly fried, golden and crispy. There was a satisfying crunch as she bit into it, and the chicken inside was tender and juicy, with the flavourful juices of the meat dancing on her taste buds. The perfectly-balanced sweet and sour sauce complemented the chicken well, creating a delightful and appetising combination.

As Tao Ti ate, she thought about making tomato sauce in the future, which would also be perfect for serving with fries.

The Fifth Prince and the Sixth Princess quickly returned after washing their hands and eagerly started eating. They devoured the food with great enthusiasm, leaving traces of crumbs around their mouths.

The two children particularly relished the crispy chicken tenders, devouring piece after piece with rapid bites, munching like two hamsters nibbling on sunflower seeds. Before long, the plate of crispy chicken tenders was empty.

With a mouth glistening with oil, the Fifth Prince took a mouthful of the sweet and warm red bean and taro stewed milk. He asked casually, “Sister-in-law, I heard from my mother that in a short while, it will be Fourth Granduncle’s 80th birthday celebration. It seems like Imperial Father is planning to have Brother Crown Prince attend the banquet to offer birthday wishes. Will you be going too?”

Tao Ti was momentarily taken aback. After composing herself, she inquired curiously, “Who is… Fourth Granduncle?”

Upon hearing this, the Fifth Prince immediately gave her a look that clearly said, “You can’t be serious, not knowing who Fourth Granduncle is.”

Tao Ti raised an eyebrow slightly and made a move as if to take away his bowl of red bean and taro stewed milk. The Fifth Prince hastily said, “Don’t, don’t, I’ll tell you, Sister-in-law!”

Seeing the Fifth Prince change swiftly into an eager informant because of food, both Tao Ti and the Sixth Princess couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

The Fifth Prince blushed, cleared his throat theatrically, and began to explain—

The “Fourth Granduncle” that the Fifth Prince spoke of was Emperor Zhaokang’s Fourth Imperial Uncle, the Great Yuan Dynasty’s Prince Yu. Despite having lived through the reigns of three emperors, this elderly figure remained hale and hearty, and was the oldest and most esteemed elder in the imperial family.

In just five days, Prince Yu would be celebrating his 80th birthday, and Emperor Zhao Kang had specially arranged for the Crown Prince to pay his respects, honoring the esteemed elder.

“It’s said that all the high-ranking officials and nobles in Chang’an will attend. It’s bound to be a grand event! Sigh, it’s a pity that both the Sixth Princess and I are still young and can’t leave the palace. We’ll miss out on all the excitement. Sister-in-law, if happen to come across anything interesting there, can you tell us about it when you return?”

Feeling a bit awkward, Tao Ti touched her nose. “But your Brother Crown Prince hasn’t mentioned this to me yet…”

“Don’t worry, Sister-in-law, Brother Crown Prince will surely bring you along. Fourth Granduncle really likes Brother Crown Prince. He has always looked forward to Brother Crown Prince getting married. Now that Brother Crown Prince has married you, he definitely has to bring you to meet Fourth Granduncle,” said the Fifth Prince.

The Sixth Princess also nodded, “That’s right!”

Tao Ti blinked and said, “Well, I’ll ask him about it tonight.”

However, she couldn’t help wondering inwardly whether Pei Yan was planning to tell her about it later or if he had never intended to take her along in the first place.

Considering the nature of such an event, with numerous members of the imperial family, high-ranking officials, noble ladies, and prominent families in attendance, Tao Ti couldn’t help but envision the spectacle of competitive elegance and beauty. She pressed her lips into a flat line.

It was undoubtedly going to be a grand social battleground!

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