Your fiancee ran away with someone again

The day when Mu Ting and Qi Zhan entered the palace was the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, one day after the New Year's Eve, and the real New Year after the New Year's Eve.

The palace also began to decorate with lanterns and festoons, and the eyes were full of colorful colors, reflecting the red walls and green tiles, and the busy palace people on the palace road added a lot of human touch.

The emperor is a diligent emperor, and he is still reading the memorial in the study after sealing the seal.

Brother Qi led Mu Ting and Qi Zhan to salute the emperor, the emperor looked up at them, "Excuse me, get up."

Putting down the memorial, the emperor cut to the chase, "I heard from Qi Aiqing that the two of you are going to enter the palace to thank me, how do you plan to thank me, and say you plan to kowtow to me?"

But isn't the general process like this? Qi Zhan was a little at a loss.

Although he really wanted Tingting to cook something delicious and bring it to the palace to bribe the emperor, but his father refused to let him say anything, so in the end he had to come empty-handed.

Qi Zhan thought for a while, then tentatively asked, "Then how about knocking three?"

Brother Qi stared at him as soon as the words came out, and at the same time caused the emperor to chuckle, "Qi Qing, your younger brother is quite interesting."

Brother Qi clasped his hands and replied, "The emperor forgives the sin, this younger brother has always been stupid and can't speak, please don't blame the emperor."

The emperor stretched out his hand and nodded Brother Qi twice, "Same as your father, strict, far less interesting than your two younger brothers."

Then he looked at Qi Zhan again, "You don't have to be too restrained today, it's not impossible to kowtow three times, but if you only kowtow, you can't ask me to promise you other things."

Qi Zhan was startled immediately, and thought silently in his heart, could the emperor also be able to tell fortunes like his father?Before he said anything, the emperor knew that he had something else to ask him.

He didn't know that his little thoughts were clearly written on his face. The emperor usually faced the old fox who had become a spirit, so he couldn't see what he was thinking.

Qi Zhan stretched out his hand and quietly tugged on Mu Ting's clothes, asking him what to do, they have more than one thing to ask the emperor today.

But before Mu Ting could speak, the emperor called Mu Ting's name first, "I still remember the radiant look of you on horseback during the autumn hunting, but you have experienced a lot in a year."

Mu Ting replied, "Thank you for the compliment from the emperor. I have experienced some things, but for the grassroots, it is more lucky than unlucky. Now it is very good."

"I know you are a person with real talent and learning. It would be a pity if all your talent and learning were buried. Do you intend to take the imperial examination and then enter the court as an official?"

Mu Ting had never thought about such things as imperial examinations and becoming an official in the court. He couldn't beat so many foxes, and he was too tired of intrigue and calculation all day long.

Mu Ting thanked the emperor again, and then declined the matter. He still prefers being a cook to being an official.

And Qi Zhan seized the opportunity to praise his wife, "That's right, Your Majesty, Ting Ting's cooking is delicious, but it's inconvenient to bring food outside the palace to the palace for you to eat," Qi Zhan said, kneeling suddenly He said, "Your Majesty, the student will kowtow to you three times first, and then ask you for a favor. I think of an exchange."

Qi Zhan kowtowed three times without any hesitation, then raised his head and looked at the emperor with pitiful and pleading eyes, his eyes were extremely sincere.

I have to say that although he is bold, he is not offensive, especially when the emperor is in a good mood.

The emperor asked, "That depends on what terms you use in exchange, you have to know that I don't lack anything."

Qi Zhan boldly said: "Although you don't lack anything, you have to eat, right?"

The emperor's eyes fell on Mu Ting, "I have indeed heard that you made a kind of food called cake before, which amazed many people. Since then, your cooking skills have spread in Beijing."

After Zhu Yun's birthday banquet, Mu Ting made a few more cakes, but after his identity was exposed, no one came to him. Unexpectedly, the emperor knew about it.

"I'm also curious about whether your cooking skills are as good as the rumors, and I'll give you this chance today," he said, turning his gaze to Qi Zhan, "but...if I'm not satisfied, the condition can't be raised ah."

The emperor was relieved, Qi Zhan beamed with joy, and immediately said: "Don't worry, your majesty, Ting Ting's cooking skills are very good." In my heart, he is the best in the world!

But Qi Zhan didn't dare to say that.

He only said that once he borrowed the imperial dining room, he dragged Mu Ting away.

Brother Qi also wanted to follow, but was stopped by the emperor, "I'm afraid I'll have to wait a long time for this meal, so Qi Qing will stay and play chess with me."

Brother Qi naturally dared not refuse.

The emperor's personal servant, Eunuch Duofu, ordered the chessboard to be placed, and the emperor and brother Qi sat on both sides. Before playing chess, brother Qi confessed to the emperor, "Your Majesty, my younger brother is not very good at talking, please ask the emperor..."

The Son of Heaven raised his hand to cut off Big Brother Qi's words, and said: "Qi Qing, you know that there are people in this world who are born to be pleasing, and make my brother pure and kind, and I like you and your father Zhao I much more. Okay, let's play chess."

"Yes," Brother Qi didn't dare to say anything more, and played chess with the emperor.

On the other side, Qi Zhan and Mu Ting were led to the imperial dining room by the servants. On the way, Qi Zhan would call Mu Ting from time to time. Achieved."

Mu Ting also whispered to him, "How do you know that the emperor will definitely agree."

Qi Zhan said: "Because the emperor is a good emperor, because Ting Ting's cooking skills are invincible," he said as a matter of course, without the slightest doubt.

In fact, Qi Zhan has a secret that no one has said. When he rescued the emperor, the emperor said that he would be a good emperor, so that the world can be peaceful and the people can live and work in peace and contentment.

Qi Zhan thought that a good emperor would remember what he said.

Although a good emperor seems to have nothing to do with agreeing to marry him and Mu Ting, Qi Zhan just thinks that the emperor will definitely agree. This is his intuition.

The two soon arrived at the imperial dining room, and the servant who brought them called the head of the imperial dining room to tell the emperor's orders, let Mu Ting cook the dishes, and the others temporarily obeyed his orders and helped him.

The head of the imperial dining room naturally took orders, and he only cooks one meal. In addition, Mu Ting has a special status and there is no competition. There is no need to offend the Qi family for such a small matter.

Qi Zhan also rolled up his sleeves and wanted to help, but he didn't know anything. Mu Ting kicked him away, so he chatted with the cooks and girls in the dining room, and he felt quite at ease.

Shi Yuan, the head of the imperial dining room, followed Mu Ting and asked him what kind of dishes he made.

Mu Ting walked around the huge imperial dining room to look at the ingredients. Unlike the lack of vegetables in the winter outside, the imperial dining room has everything, including shrimp, shells, abalone, ginseng, belly and other seafood. It really deserves to be an imperial dining room.

After reading the ingredients, Mu Ting reported to Shi Yuan the names of the dishes he was going to cook—stove-roasted chicken, squirrel mandarin fish, boiled pork slices, and Xue Mei Niang for dessert.

Shi Yuan had been an imperial cook for many years, but after hearing the names of the dishes, he showed a somewhat dazed expression, "Mr. Mu, I have heard of this baked chicken and boiled meat before, and the squirrel mandarin fish is also good, but what about Xue Mei Niang?" It really doesn’t look like the name of Dim Sum.”

Mu Ting said: "It's dim sum. The manager will know when it's made. During this period, the manager needs to arrange someone to help me."

"Young Master Mu, just send him as you are told."

Because the birthday cakes made by Mu Ting made him famous, Shi Yuan also heard about him, and tried to make cakes by himself, but he didn't know how the cream came from, so it didn't work.

Shi Yuan also had a little thought today, hoping to cooperate well today, so that Mr. Mu can reveal the secret of the cake.

Xue Mei Niang's dessert is the most troublesome, not only to make the dough, but also to send the milk, Mu Ting asked Shi Yuan to ask someone with a lot of strength to do it.

The first thing Mu Ting made was oven-roasted chicken. He took a chicken, boiled it until it was half-cooked, put it in cold water to cool down, and then chopped it into small pieces.

Then set up another oil pan, first put the whole garlic into the pan and sauté until fragrant, then remove the garlic and stir fry the chicken and ginger slices together, fry the chicken until both sides are golden, fry the chicken oil, and then come here The most critical step of the dish, turn down the heat, take a large bowl to hold the chicken, pour the sauce made of vinegar and high-quality Huadiao on the edge, and pour it in again after the sauce is dry, repeat this for three to four times , When the chicken is cooked, take the bowl away, stir fry the chicken to collect the juice, and finally put the previously removed garlic and seasonings and stir fry together to taste, this oven roasted chicken is ready.

While waiting for the oven-roasted chicken to be cooked, Mu Ting has cut pork slices and put them aside to marinate, and prepared the base material for boiled pork slices.

Boiled Pork Slices is also a Sichuan dish with a strong taste. The meat is tender and easy to chew, with a fragrant and numb taste. It is a very typical side dish.

The method of boiled pork slices is simple, the emphasis is on seasoning, put oil in the pot, put dried peppercorns into it and fry it slowly on low heat, take it out after it is fragrant, add soybean paste and dogwood sauce, stir fry, then add bone broth, green onion and ginger , soy sauce and other seasonings, then put the lettuce leaves and pea shoots under the boil and remove, then start to put the marinated pork slices, slowly put them into the pot one by one, and pour the soup into the pot after it is cooked and boiled Vegetables in a large bowl.Sprinkle the sliced ​​meat with crushed Chinese prickly ash and garlic, and finally heat the oil in another pan, pour the hot oil into the bowl, and there will be a sizzling sound, and the smell and sound will spread throughout the imperial dining room.

Originally, there were doubts about Mu Ting's cooking skills, but after the fragrance erupted, the doubts disappeared immediately, and the only thing left in his mind was - those who dare to cook for the emperor, how can they have no real skills.

The next dish that is even more testament to its true skill is the squirrel mandarin fish, also known as the squirrel mandarin fish.

The squirrel mandarin fish is a test of knife skills and techniques. Because of one carelessness, the skin will be separated. If the fry is not good, the osmanthus will not be broken.

Mu Ting went to catch a mandarin fish, first removed the scales and gills, discarded the belly to remove the internal organs, then cut off the flesh, and cut the two sides of the fish to the bone, but could not cut off the tail.After that, cut off the fish bones and remove the thorny meat from the belly of the fish, and it's time to show off your knife skills.

Cut the two pieces of fish with the skin facing down and the meat facing up. Make the knife cut straight on the fish first, then obliquely, until the fish skin forms a diamond-shaped knife pattern, the fish skin is not broken, and the fish meat is not broken.

Mu Ting moved quickly, as if he had done this kind of movement thousands of times, he couldn't be more proficient, it dazzled people's eyes, and also aroused people's amazement.

Put Huadiao wine and salt on the fish head and meat, roll it with dry pea starch, and then fry it in a frying pan.

The oil is about [-]% hot, hold the fish with your hands upside down, and pour the oil in the pot from top to bottom on the fish, and the fish will bloom, like pine cones in the forest, one piece after another, people who were only amazed in their hearts are now shocked Exhaling, even Shi Yuan's eyes showed a little admiration.

The fried fish should be re-fried once in the oil pan to make it better shaped.

The fish head should also be deep-fried, and at the same time, its mouth must be opened to let the chin unfold and shape.

Mu Ting put the fish head and fish meat into the shape of a whole fish, with the head and tail turned up, shining golden.

The dish is not finished yet, and the sauce needs to be adjusted. Mutin replaced the tomato sauce with lemon and carrot juice, and added bone broth, fine sugar, balsamic vinegar, wine, soy sauce, and starch to the pot and boiled until thickened. Then take the pot and pour over the fish body.

For extra color, you can also add some boiled peas and shrimp for decoration.

The sauce-red, flower-like squirrel mandarin fish was placed on the plate, and everyone in the imperial dining room could see it clearly, but they didn't know how to describe it for a while.

In the imperial dining room, they have never seen what kind of dishes they put on the plate. Shi Yuan even carved dragons and made phoenixes. At first glance, it is a big hand, which makes people feel that the chef's knife skills are beyond the reach of ordinary people. The dragons and phoenixes are also lifelike. Sheng Muting's squirrel mandarin fish is exquisite, even the emperor praised it.

But it's not as good as Mu Ting's dish, which makes people want to eat. The hot dish has a sweet and sour aroma, which makes people salivate when they smell it.

A dish is called a dish if people want to eat it, like it, and find it delicious.

However, a dish that only looks exquisite and magnificent, and only feels impressive but does not want to spoil it is a skill, but it is not a real good dish.

Shi Yuan felt that he seemed to have realized something.

And the other one who has more understanding has already come to Mu Ting's side, looking at him with longing dog eyes, "Ting Ting, this fish is so beautiful, it must be delicious, can you cook it for me when you go back?" ?”

Qi Zhan looked at the fish, looked at other dishes, looked at Mu Ting, touched his belly, and really wanted to drool.

Not only Qi Zhan wanted to eat this fish, but Mu Ting himself was greedy too, without any pollution, the plump mandarin fish that grew up happily in the river was paired with sauce and his handicraft, the taste was almost unthinkable.

Mu Ting nodded and said, "When we go back tonight, let's see if there is any mandarin fish for sale, and buy two back."

"Okay!" Qi Zhan agreed quickly, his face full of anticipation, and he even went out of the palace to buy fish if he wanted to.

After the three dishes are ready, put the lid on, and wait for Mu Ting to prepare the dessert before sending it to the emperor together.

It takes some time for Xue Mei Niang to whip the cream and make the skin, but if the preparation is done, you only need to squeeze the cream into the skin, add some dried fruit pieces or fruits in it.

This seemingly simple dessert made people doubt its taste, Mu Ting thought about it, cut one up and gave Shi Yuan a taste, anyway, someone has to test the poison before the emperor eats it. Disrespectful?

But obviously Qi Zhan also wanted to be the one to test the poison, so when Shi Yuan took Xue Mei Niang, he looked at him with resentment, which made Shi Yuan wonder whether he should eat or not.

Mu Ting gave the other half to Qi Zhan, "Your, don't talk."

Qi Zhan stuffed half of Xuemei Niang into his mouth. It was soft and glutinous. The pear in the middle was paired with ice cream, which was cold and smooth. It tasted delicious in his mouth, and even more refreshing after eating.

Qi Zhan's eyes were surprisingly bright, and he really wanted to open his mouth to praise the delicious food. There were still many words he wanted to praise, and he seemed very excited. However, he remembered that Mu Ting told him to stop talking. , Qi Zhan especially wanted to ask him if he had expected such a reaction, so he didn't let himself speak.

But Qi Zhan wanted to talk more and more, and his face turned red.

Mu Ting chuckled, "Go back and tell me, I'll make it for you too."

Qi Zhan nodded heavily, "Yeah!" In order to eat, he can hold back his words for now.

Another taster, Shi Yuan, was also pleasantly surprised. He didn't expect this method to be simple. Looking at the ugly dumplings, the taste is not simple.

He doesn't know whether the emperor likes it or not, but the women in the palace will definitely like it.

When Shi Yuan looked at Mu Ting, he was a little more eager. Apart from the cake, he also wanted to know what Xue Mei Niang did, "Mr. Mu...that..."

Shi Yuan was also not very embarrassed when he spoke, he hesitated for a long time and didn't say anything.

Mu Ting knew what he wanted to say when he saw his reaction, he said: "Mr. Shi, the key to making this Xue Mei Niang is the milk I let people pass before, I call it cream, this cream can make a lot of food, Like the cake I made before."

Mu Ting ordered as soon as he ordered, and as the head chef, Shi Yuan quickly understood what Mu Ting meant. He was overjoyed, but at the same time he did not forget to promise, "Don't worry, Mr. Mu, I will never disclose the key to this. If I violate this oath, I will be kicked out of the imperial dining room, and I will never use a kitchen knife again."

This is a heavy oath for the cook, Mu Ting said: "Director Shi is serious, cream is only the key, and other things need to be considered by Director Shi himself."

After finishing speaking, Mu Ting ordered the food to be delivered, and he and Qi Zhan went back together.

The emperor and Big Brother Qi had just finished two games of chess, and it happened to be time for lunch. In addition to the three dishes and desserts made by Mu Ting, the lunch prepared by the Imperial Dining Room was also delivered.

The Son of Heaven is not extravagant. There are six dishes and one soup, and the portion of each dish is not much.

The plate was put down, the lid was lifted, and the aroma rushed to the face, which was quite different from the dishes that the emperor usually eats.

The usual meal is light, and there is only a slight heat after delivery. The taste is decent, but the fragrance is not strong, and the color matching is different from these dishes made by Mu Ting. These dishes made by Mu Ting are bright red and bright. It makes people very appetizing.

Standing by the side, Mu Ting took the initiative to introduce the three dishes he made. The emperor first ordered the lightest oven-roasted chicken. Duofu tested the poison first, and then tried the dishes. .

The emperor looked at Duofu, "How?"

Duo Fu bowed back with a smile on his face, "It tastes great."

This word "extreme" is used very well. Duofu has been with the emperor for many years, but he has tasted everything the emperor eats first. He has never used such an evaluation of the meals delivered by the imperial dining room before.

The emperor also had a little more expectation for a while, and ate a piece of boneless oven-roasted chicken. The oven-roasted chicken was ruddy in color, and the chicken was tender. A lot of vinegar was added, but it would not feel too sour. Adding wine, it smelled like wine. But it is not very strong, just like seasoning blindly, neither light nor heavy, just right.

The emperor was indeed surprised. After all, he really did not expect that the eldest son of the former Mu Guogong's mansion, who had been carefully raised and raised since childhood, would have such a good cooking skill, and he did not know when he practiced it.

The emperor didn't ask, but looked at the squirrel mandarin fish, and Duofu started to test the poison again, and he was quite busy.

The squirrel mandarin fish has a strong sour taste at first, followed by a sweet taste. After another taste, there is also a salty taste. One dish has many flavors, but it does not conflict.

The skin of the fried fish is a bit crispy, but the meat wrapped inside is extremely tender and fresh. The fresh fish directly salvaged from the river has its own sweetness. This fish attracted the emperor himself to pick up several chopsticks.

Satisfied, he said to Mutin, "Not bad."

The third dish is boiled pork slices, which is different from the boiled pork that Shi Yuan thought at first. He read it in the imperial dining room. Shi Yuan thought it was boiled white meat. It is a very common dish, but it is also very A dish that tests the chef's cooking skills.

And Mu Ting’s boiled pork slices are heavy, spicy and delicious. This kind of dish is a little more exciting than the other dishes. After the taste buds are stimulated, they will have more desire for the dish. The taste will not be bad. .

Of course, just because it’s not bad doesn’t mean it’ll be amazing and full of praise, the rest is the test of the cook.

Mu Ting is a very good cook, it is by no means an exaggeration, the emperor said a few good words in a row, and he didn't need to use more Fubu dishes later on, his chopsticks moved very frequently, and all he ate were the few dishes made by Mu Ting .

The son of heaven has a special status, and I don't know how many people want him to die, and want to tamper with his food, so that he can't reveal his true preferences in this regard, so as not to give opportunities to those who are interested.

But today is really an exception, and the reason is simple, Mu Ting is not the cook of the imperial dining room, the emperor knows that he may only eat Mu Ting's dishes this time, and it doesn't matter.

After eating, rinsed his mouth, wiped his mouth, the emperor said, "It tastes very good, I have had a good meal today, I agreed to this exchange, tell me, what do you want from me?"

"Really?" Qi Zhan grabbed Mu Ting's hand excitedly, and then knelt down to the emperor, "That's great, let me say that the emperor is really a good emperor," he kowtowed several times, full of emotion. With a smile on his face, "Your Majesty, the student wants to ask for a marriage decree for the student and Ting Ting."

Qi Zhan pointed at himself and Mu Ting, and looked at the emperor eagerly after speaking, hoping that he would agree.

It was a little unexpected, but it didn't seem so unexpected. The emperor looked at the two of them and laughed, "You really think about it? With my imperial decree, you will be completely bound together for the rest of your life."

"Think about it," Qi Zhan replied impatiently, "I can't think about it any better."

"What about you?" the emperor asked Mu Ting.

Mu Ting said: "Cao Min is willing to turn himself in and grow old with Qi Zhan, live and die together, and never regret it."

A little stubborn, like the persistence of a young man, but also very firm, like I have thought about it thousands of times, and I am sure that this is the person who will stay together for life.

The emperor said again: "You have to think clearly, even if I give you a marriage, there will be many rumors outside, and others will still have the same opinion of you."

"Your Majesty, we are not afraid. We live our lives by ourselves, and it has nothing to do with outsiders. We don't depend on them to live. The students want to ask for this marriage decree to tell everyone that we are going to get married," the most important thing is the warning. Don't covet Tingting anymore!

Qi Zhan hummed quietly in his heart, Chu Wangba was really annoying.

"I cannibalize people with short mouths. If that's the case, then I agree to give you a marriage."