Among the mighty group of people, the emperor sat in the most noble and magnificent chariot in the middle of the team.
There are hollow patterns on the railing of the chariot, and the heads of tiger claws and chilongs on the four pillars, surrounded by cloud dragons. From this formation, we can see the grandeur of the emperor traveling.
Immediately behind his imperial chariot was the princess' chariot. This trip, due to the queen's physical discomfort, she did not go with her.
So the emperor arranged the favorite princess in the closest position to him, and she will be the prince, prince, concubine and civil and military officials in the future.
Because the princess had already asked the emperor to bring me with her earlier, and everyone in the palace thought I was a eunuch, and I often hung around the princess, so the emperor didn't have much to say to the princess. When she had any doubts, she allowed me to go with her chariot.
I reckon that the emperor probably just thinks that the princess's journey is boring and needs someone to accompany her to relieve boredom.
It seems that it is very convenient for me to be treated as a eunuch in the palace, so I don't want to refute, it's fine like this.
I rode a horse and followed the princess's chariot, and I saw her open the side curtain from time to time to have a look. I thought she had some orders, so I went up to her and asked:
"Does Your Royal Highness have any orders?"
"Xi Ran, are you okay outside?"
"Back to the princess, I'm fine, you don't have to worry, the princess~ The princess should stop watching it so often, it's not good to be seen by others."
I whispered back to her.
"My princess, you can look at it however you want, don't you worry that others won't be able to see it!"
I didn't know how to respond immediately, and she was very satisfied when she saw that I was helpless towards her, so she lowered the curtain.
The princess was worried about me, so I said there is nothing to see outside.
However, although this day is pretty good, it is really cold to ride a horse, so I silently wrap my clothes tightly around my body.
I glanced behind the princess' chariot, and heard from the little maid in the palace that Concubine Li Su Yueran is also here, and there are not many concubines accompanying the emperor this time, and she is among them.
Tsk tsk tsk, it seems that being very favored is not just talk.
Due to the large number of people in this hunt, the team walked very slowly. It took most of the day to reach a place with steep mountains and winding rivers.
Northern Suburb, Royal Enclosure.
A few years ago, the emperor ordered people to build a towering and majestic palace here. Every autumn, they will stay here for a few days, and use this as the center to select the hunting range.
There is also a grandstand standing tall in the forest.
It is mainly used by the emperor to observe whether the princes and grandchildren are proficient in riding and shooting during hunting, and whether they are capable of inheriting the throne. You can also examine officials and review military appearances by the way.
When all the people arrived at their destination, the emperor issued a decree saying that the boats and cars were exhausted, and let everyone go back to the palace or camp to rectify themselves, and the hunt will officially start tomorrow.
I followed the princess into the palace, and she arranged for me a clean room for me to live in.
After dinner with her, I told her to take a good rest, and went back to my room to sleep early, waiting for tomorrow's hunting event.
The next day, before dawn.
The Royal Forest Army surrounded the hunting area layer by layer to protect the safety of the emperor and the princes and grandchildren.
Since the princess and all the concubines did not participate in the hunt, the emperor ordered them to watch from the stands with him, and I naturally took this opportunity.
At the emperor's order, the deer sentry soldiers wearing fake deer heads began to imitate the deer's cry of courtship.
After a while, a herd of deer came upon hearing the sound.
The kings and grandsons in the paddock had already made preparations. Seeing the herd of deer coming, they began to chase each other in the forest on horseback to hunt the herd of deer.
The scene was huge and wonderful, and we could see it clearly from the very high stands.
Soon someone hit the prey and started waving in the direction of the stands to invite credit.
After the whole morning, all the princes and grandchildren had harvested a lot, and the emperor looked very satisfied and happy to see the brave and skilled princes.
After the hunting in the afternoon, the emperor shared the prey he got today for everyone, and picked a piece of high-quality venison and sent it to the princess' residence.
"It's so fresh venison, princess, do you know? Venison is the best edible meat. The meat is tender, delicious, and lean. Its nutritional value is much higher than that of cattle, sheep, and pork. It can be used for Cook many kinds of dishes. It can be used for eating, making soup or boiling, and smashing for external use... "
When I saw this piece of high-quality venison, I was so excited that I couldn't close my mouth from ear to ear, and I chattered with the princess about the benefits of venison.
But before I finished speaking, I was mercilessly interrupted by the princess.
"Stop, why are you talking about the curative effect of food? I'm not a cook~ Do you still want to teach me a lesson? Why don't you make it out and I'll know after I taste it."
"Yes, my lord princess, let me prepare it now. However, eating this venison is very particular. You have to roast it yourself. It tastes better when you eat it while roasting. Why don't we roast venison for dinner? I don't know. What do you think the princess wants?"
"Is there another saying? Okay~ I want to see how the venison made by Xi Ran is different."
Seeing that the princess readily agreed, I turned around and said to Yuan'er beside her:
"I'd like to trouble you, Yuan'er, to find a secluded place and bring someone to clean it up. Prepare the iron stove, iron fork, wire grate, etc. for the barbecue. I'll clean up the venison first, and then I'll be there. "
After I said that, she didn't move right away. I thought she didn't hear me and said it again, but she still didn't move. It was too embarrassing for me to be here.
Seeing my embarrassment, the princess suppressed a smile and signaled Yuan'er to follow my instructions, this time she took the order and went out to prepare.
Hey, Yuan'er, this little girl, dare to ignore me! Alas, pity me, a poor person who has no status, the princess bullies me, even Yuaner bullies me~
I followed her out of the princess' residence pitifully, and first found the kitchen in the palace, taking advantage of Yuan'er's free time to find the place first, I was going to deal with this piece of fresh venison first.
I first cut the good piece of venison into thin and even slices and put it in a bowl.
Then add fishy rice wine and salt and spread evenly with the meat slices. Then add cloves, soy sauce, aniseed ingredients, peppercorns, green onions, ginger, and fennel in sequence, and finally add the exclusive secret recipe given to me by the master and mix them evenly.
My exclusive secret recipe is placed in this venison, which makes the venison tender and tender, and does not allow other spices to cover up the flavor of the venison itself, so that the taste of the venison after roasting is more rich and unique.
Now just set it aside and let the venison develop. I heard from the master that the venison needs to be marinated for an hour or two to get the best flavor.
Naturally, eating venison requires a few drinks. The best quality sweet-scented osmanthus stuffing is the best in the solar terms palace. Fortunately, the Imperial Dining Room has brought some. Let's get some together later.
An hour later, Yuan'er sent someone to tell me that she was ready and asked me to go first.
It was only after I went there that I found out that what she was looking for was a pavilion with winding paths in the palace, and a huge maple tree was leaning outside the pavilion.
I brought the marinated venison and sweet-scented osmanthus stuffing to the pavilion, and then sent a few people to invite the princess.
Before the princess came, I used wire tweezers to string all the meat slices in advance.
After washing my hands, I lit charcoal and adjusted the fire. When the charcoal was completely smokeless, he first took part of the dressed venison and roasted it on the stove, sat aside and drank a cup of mellow sweet-scented osmanthus brew, and waited for the princess to share the delicious food.
This is the secret recipe for roasted venison that my master taught me. If it is ranked second in this world, no one would dare to claim the first place!
Hey, wait to be amazed, my princess~