The sudden arrival of this large group of people made Tao Ti unable to react for a while.
When she came back to her senses, she was not as elated as she had imagined, and even... a little disappointed when she was interrupted.
Xu Wenhe was still calm, standing there without changing his face and heartbeat, unhurriedly wrapped the last dumpling in his hand, and placed it on the table sprinkled with a layer of dry flour.
Brother Hao is young, he has never seen such a scene, a huge group of people suddenly appeared at the door of the house, looking at them with cold faces, looking like they are not easy to provoke.
He hurriedly hid behind Xu Wenhe, clutching his clothes tightly with his small hands, poking out half of his head, looking at Pei Yan and Zhan Ping for a while, and Tao Ti for a while.
"It's okay, Brother Hao." Tao Ti smiled lightly at him, then looked at the rows of large dumplings with thin skin and thick flesh on the table, with a look of reluctance: Her dumplings!
On the other side, Pei Yan signaled Zhan Ping to stand up, glanced at the guards outside the courtyard indifferently, and said in a low voice, "Just wait outside first."
Zhan Ping was slightly startled, "Your Highness, why don't you leave now?"
Pei Yan turned sideways, glanced out of the corner of his eyes, and saw Tao Ti at the table staring intently at the big dumplings, her thin lips couldn't help but smile faintly, and said in a gentle voice, "It's not too late to start after eating the dumplings." .”
Flatten, "..."
Don't look at Tao Ti lowering her head, but her ears have been pricked up to listen to Pei Yan's movements. Now that she heard him say that she would leave after eating the dumplings, her heart suddenly jumped up.
She raised her face to Pei Yan with a bright smile, and said crisply, "That's great, I'm going to order dumplings now!"
With that said, she carried the dumplings to the kitchen.
Xu Wenhe wanted to start a fire, so he brought Brother Hao along to help.
After a while, white smoke rose from the black chimney of the kitchen.
Pei Yan withdrew his gaze, and calmly looked at Zhan Ping in front of him. Seeing that he had lost a lot of weight, his eye sockets were sunken, and he looked dusty, he knew that he had spent a lot of effort to find them in the past few days.
Pei Yan raised his hand, patted Zhan Ping's shoulder heavily, and said solemnly, "Ah Ping, you have worked hard these few days."
Zhan Ping was a little emotional at first, but now that he heard this, his eye circles turned red all of a sudden. He lowered his head, clasped his fists and said, "Your Highness's words really offended the minister. Your Highness has suffered a lot. Living in this kind of place, wearing this kind of clothes... As the left guard of the Eastern Palace, the guards are not effective this time. It is a dereliction of duty to cause His Highness to fall into danger, and I cannot absolve myself of the responsibility."
"Okay, don't cry, so many brothers are watching." Pei Yan said gently.
Zhan Ping suppressed his emotions, nodded heavily, and let out a nasal "huh".
Pei Yan went to the side and sat down, seeing that Zhanping was still standing, he motioned for him to sit down too, "What's the situation in Luoyang now?"
Zhan Ping was so ashamed that he didn't dare to sit down, it was because Pei Yan gave him a look that he sat down and replied, "Your Highness, on the night you were assassinated, I wrote a secret letter and sent it to Chang'an urgently within 800 li. In the middle of the night before yesterday, Zheng Xuan, the governor of Bianzhou, came to Luoyang with soldiers from the Bianzhou government to help in the search; Zheng Xuan, holding His Majesty's secret decree, surrounded Prince Mu's residence and Fu Yin's residence. Both Prince Mu and Fu Yin were under heavy guard. Zheng Xuan will take care of it for the time being... According to His Majesty's will, Zheng Xuan will also be responsible for the investigation of your assassination, Your Highness."
Zheng Xuan.
Pei Yan casually turned the jade finger on his thumb, and a thin and elegant middle-aged Confucian scholar appeared in his mind.
"If I remember correctly, this Zheng Xuan was transferred to Bianzhou as an official two years ago?"
"Returning to Your Highness, yes, Zheng Xuan has just served in Bianzhou for three years, and he governs well. Under his management, Bianzhou is thriving. The people are rich and prosperous, and the prosperity is not inferior to that of Luoyang." Zhan Ping replied.
Pei Yan didn't know what he was thinking, and after a long while, he commented lightly, "He's a talented person."
The two chatted a little more, and after a while, a tempting fragrance came out.
It was noon, and it was meal time. When I first smelled the fragrance, I tried to maintain an unmoved expression on the plane, but in fact it was difficult to resist the body's instinct, and I swallowed subconsciously.
He wondered in his heart: Isn't it true that dumplings, which are stuffed in the skin, can be cooked so deliciously? This princess is also very capable!
While thinking about it, Xu Wenhe brought out a large plate of steaming big white dumplings, and stretched towards Pei Yan, "Your wife told you to wash your hands and eat."
Zhan Ping frowned, who is this old man? It's fine if he didn't know His Highness's identity before, but now that he knows His Highness's identity, he dares to speak in such an attitude
But in the next second, a gentle voice sounded like the wind, "Okay, let's go."
Pei Yanshi stood up abruptly, took a step, then paused, looking back at Zhanping, "Ah Ping, let's eat together?"
Zhang Ping's heart was tangled, a voice on the left said, you are so dereliction of duty, how dare you have the nerve to eat at the same table with His Highness? You have to show some face.
Another voice came from the right and said, those are the dumplings made by the princess, you have missed too much food before! If I still miss it this time, I am afraid that I will remember this mouthful before entering the coffin, and I will die with regret!
In the end, Zhanping said cheekily, "Okay, okay..."
The four of them made a total of about a hundred dumplings, with half of pork and cabbage filling and half of pork and leek filling; Tao Ti was thinking about making more, and after lunch, she could save them for dinner at night and tomorrow morning.
But the plan couldn't keep up with the changes, and Zhanping and the others came to the door. After eating this dumpling meal, she and Pei Yan were about to leave here.
She left two meals for Xu Wenhe, grandparents and grandchildren. The rest of the dumplings were partially boiled, steamed, and fried—
So, there are appetizing and delicious dumplings in sour soup, steamed dumplings with original taste, and fried dumplings with golden brown and crispy texture. Eat three dumplings with one dumpling!
Zhan Ping was a little cramped at first, but he relaxed a little after seeing Xu Wenhe and his grandson serving the table together.
Tao Ti put the prepared dumpling sauce on the table, took her seat slowly, and said with a smile, "Everyone move your chopsticks, the dumplings won't taste good when they're cold."
Never thought that Pei Yan would pick up the chopsticks, pick up a fried dumpling, and put it directly into Tao Ti's bowl.
Tao Ti was slightly stunned, and looked at him with big black eyes, "...?"
Pei Yan looked natural, squinted and smiled at her, "Miss, you have worked hard, you should be the first one."
Tao Ti's heart skipped a beat twice, which had already exposed her identity, why did he still call her that. Every time he called her with a smile like this, she felt that half of her body was numb.
Just... very teasing!
"Okay, I'll eat, and you can eat too." Tao Ti responded softly, then lowered her head and picked up the fried dumplings in the bowl.
The bottom of the fried dumplings is slightly browned, and the surface is covered with a layer of crystal white and tender skin, sprinkled with a few grains of white sesame seeds and green onion. Just looking at the appearance will make people appetite.
When it is put into the mouth, the teeth touch the crispy bottom, making a "click" sound, and the crispy and soft textures burst between the teeth at the same time. After biting the dumpling skin, the fresh and tender soup in the fried dumpling flowed out at once. It was hot, smooth and delicious. The vegetables and meat fillings were perfectly blended, rich in layers, and delicious.
Compared with the burnt aroma of fried dumplings, the special feature of sour soup dumplings lies in its soup ingredients. The appropriate sour taste and light spicy taste elevate the flavor of dumplings to another level. One bite of warm and sour soup, one bite The silky and tender big dumplings are simply a fairy-like enjoyment and satisfaction.
Steamed dumplings are not as crispy on the outside as fried dumplings and tender on the inside, nor are they better than the unique flavor of dumplings in sour soup. But when you pick one up, the skin is soft and glutinous. During the steaming and heating process, the flavors of the ingredients blend with each other in the airtight dumpling skin, making the soup more delicious. It is a kind of original natural deliciousness. If it is dipped in chili sauce or sesame sauce at this time, it will immediately bring a new and different feeling to the taste buds.
"Delicious, this sour soup dumpling is the best!" Brother Hao said with his mouth full, evaluating the number one in his mind.
Tao Ti swallowed the dumplings in her mouth, and looked at the others curiously, "What about you, which one do you prefer?"
Pei Yan pointed to the steamed dumplings, "The fried dumplings are a bit greasy after eating too much, and the sour soup dumplings are a little bit heavy. This one is neither greasy nor greasy, just right."
Xu Wenhe also pointed to the steamed dumplings, "As you get older, this light and delicious one is even more palatable."
Seeing that no one likes fried dumplings as much as her, Tao Ti was a little puzzled. In the end, she turned her attention to Zhan Ping, who was as quiet as a chicken the whole time and was hardworking. "Master Zhan, what about you?"
Zhan Ping still had half a dumpling in his mouth, and when he was called out suddenly, he lowered his head in embarrassment and said, "Prince Hui, I like it, and the three kinds of dumplings you made are delicious."
Although he... used to look down on the princess, but I have to admit that the princess's cooking skills are really amazing!
What's more, when he learned of the assassination that day, the princess rushed forward to block the assassin for the prince regardless of her own safety, and there was no disrespect for the princess in Zhan Ping's heart—
As long as the Crown Princess treats the Crown Prince so well, the Crown Princess will be like the Crown Prince in the future, and she will be his master whom Zhang Ping will swear allegiance to the death!
At first hearing Zhan Ping's affirmation, Tao Ti raised her eyebrows in surprise, oh, the sun is coming out from the west, Master Zhan would praise her
As if feeling the meaning of Tao Ti's gaze, Zhan Ping felt even more embarrassed, and almost buried his head in the bowl.
After the dumpling feast, Tao Ti and the others had to leave.
When they came, they were embarrassed and their hands were empty, but when they left, they received two pieces of sincere reluctance.
Brother Hao leaned next to Tao Ti, stared at her pitifully, and said, "Big sister, after you leave, will you come back to see us in the future? Woo, I can't bear to miss you..."
Tao Ti was also heartbroken, she bent down and touched his little head, and coaxed softly, "I'll come to visit you when I have a chance... Maybe you can come to Chang'an to play with me too."
As she spoke, she searched her body, trying to find something that could be used as a token.
At this time, Pei Yan came over, took off the jade wrench in his hand, and handed it to Brother Hao, "Here, take it."
Brother Hao was stunned, but he didn't dare to take it, and turned his head to look at Xu Wenhe.
Xu Wenhe said indifferently, "This jade ring finger is precious, His Highness the Crown Prince should take it back. The rescue this time is just a matter of effort, and the Crown Princess has cooked food for so many days, which is enough to make up for this kindness."
Pei Yanwen smiled and said, "Old Mr. Xu, you don't want to repay, but Gu has to repay you. Let Brother Hao hold this jade ring finger. In life, there will always be unsatisfactory things. If you encounter trouble someday , so I took this jade wrench to find the orphan... You don't think about yourself, you have to think about Brother Hao, right?"
These words are affectionate, righteous, and well-founded, and they are completely irresistible.
In the end, Xu Wenhe bowed his hands to Pei Yan, thanked him, and then signaled Brother Hao to take the jade finger.
Parting is always sad.
Although I only lived in Taoyuan Village for a few days, the relaxation and leisure of these days is unforgettable.
Tao Ti sat on the carriage, raised the curtains, and waved towards the small yard, "Old Man Xu, Brother Hao, goodbye, goodbye—"
Brother Hao curled his mouth, and hid behind Xu Wenhe sadly to wipe his tears.
As the carriage drifted away, the two figures at the gate of the small courtyard gradually blurred, and finally disappeared completely.
Tao Ti's long eyelashes drooped slightly, and she lowered the curtains, feeling a little uncomfortable in her heart.
Pei Yan noticed her sadness, raised his hand, rubbed her little head gently, and coaxed, "Okay, think of something happy. For example, after returning to the palace, you can eat whatever you want, take a bath if you want It's also very convenient... "
Speaking of taking a bath, his voice stopped abruptly, and a look of uneasiness flashed across Qing Juan's face.
Tao Ti, "..."
Well, the two of them probably won't be able to get over it in their lifetime.
—
When I returned to the Luoyang Palace again, it was Xu time, and the sky was already completely dark.
Pei Yan first went to Tongming Hall to deal with affairs, while Tao Ti followed the carriage to Jixian Hall.
Linglong had brought a group of palace people to stand at the door and looked around. When they saw the carriage coming, the palace people were all excited.
Tao Ti got out of the car, Linglong hurriedly led the palace people to salute, "Servant/servant welcomes the Crown Princess back to the palace, the Crown Princess is safe and blessed."
It's only been a few days since we last saw each other, but Tao Ti feels as if she's been in a lifetime. Looking at the familiar palace people and the magnificent palace, she smiled and said, "Get up."
Only then did everyone get up, Linglong wanted to go up to her, but after seeing the princess in front of her clearly, she couldn't help but pause—
I saw that the princess was wearing a rough blue cloth dress, her hair was loosely tied up, her whole body was thinner, her chin was pointed, her eyes appeared bigger, and she was leaning on a crude walking stick, looking haggard Down and out, where is the glamorous appearance a few days ago.
Linglong's eye circles couldn't help turning red, the princess must have suffered a lot outside this time, and her leg must have been injured when she fell into the river.
"Crown princess, slave girl deserves to die! I blame this servant girl. If this servant girl hadn't stopped you that day, you wouldn't have suffered these crimes..." Linglong felt extremely guilty, raised her hand to slap herself in the face.
Tao Ti was taken aback, and when she was about to smoke for the second time, she quickly stopped her, "Okay, okay, haven't I come back now? Besides, I don't blame you for this last time, it was my own recklessness." impulsive..."
Linglong still wanted to apologise, but Tao Ti pretended to be unhappy, and said, "I'm already back, why don't you hurry up and help me in to rest, are you planning to let me chat with you at the door? I sat for a while The carriage in the afternoon is exhausting."
Linglong came back to her senses, and hurriedly stepped forward to help Tao Ti, "Crown Princess, the dinner is ready, and the fragrant soup is also ready, you can eat the dinner first, then take a bath, and the servant will squeeze your shoulders and legs later, take care of yourself." Let me loosen your muscles and bones."
Tao Ti blinked her watery eyes and said with a smile, "That's right!"
Luxurious food, fragrant soup and soft bed, I miss you all!