The empress remain indoor for days. Tang Mei almost cry in gratefulness if only she did not mess the place every hour.
She mean it literally. Every hour. It's that bad.
"And it's done! Look Ah Chen! Look! What do you think of aunt's artistic capacity."
Jiang Chen look away from his own work. He stare blankly for a while and search for a good praise. Comparing it to the one he's holding, he told her, "It's incredible," from his limited vocabulary.
Wei Yi Yi proudly accept the compliment on face value.
"Your majesty," Tang Mei interrupt them. "This servant saw the good weather today. How about a walk outside, empress?"
In a moment of desperation, Tang Mei actually asked the empress to walk outside.
It cannot be helped. Just looking at all the ink marks on the floor, the maid want to faint over. To think that some of them already dried. The effort and time that needed to rub them off require a lot of hands.
Since were talking about Tang Mei here, it was inevitable that the empress got toss out.
From Xian Feng Palace up until the peach blossom garden, Wei Yi Yi walk around blankly while carrying Jiang Chen.
She was lost at what to do now! The life in the acient times is that boring, ah!
Wei Yi Yi wanted to make something. Sadly she does not have any internet connection to search instantly. She could go to the imperial library but searching from a mountain of book that does not have any label or title on their spine is a good prologue to hassle.
"Ah!" Wei Yi Yi suddenly saw some hope. "Ah Chen, why don't we make some candy?"
"Alright." The child obediently complied.
"Xiao Wang, could you go to the main kitchen and ask them how to make a tanghulu?" The empress grab the first person she saw after turning around.
The young eunuch accepts the comman without a word. For Wei Yi Yi, that's something new. Xiao Yuan Xi and the rest would either question her or stop her.
Speaking of Xiao Yuan Xi.... Hey! why are you following him exactly?! Is this some kind of buy one get one?
If she knew this, isn't it better to just send Ah Yuan alone? They are wasting manpower.
"Sister-in-law!"
Everyone unconsciously turn their head to the source of the sound.
It was no other than the sixth prince, Jiang Liu.
This call brought their attention and panic to Jiang Chen. With his emotion in turmoil, he almost struggle out of the empress' hold to give salutations. In that split second, he unknowingly let go of what's proper and further hide in his aunt blossoms instead.
"Oh if isn't my dear sixth brother." The empress did not hide the sarcasm on her tone. Jiang Liu could only smile shamelessly. "Actually, nice timing. Come with this elder sister."
An evil glint accompanied his sister-in-law's smile but he still followed them.
Xian Feng Palace have a side kitchen within it's area. It was rarely use though as most of the dishes serve for the empress came from the imperial kitchen.
Inside, the servants were dismissed. Leaving only the three royalty and the two eunuch.
"So we just need to boil the sugar? And watch out for the fire? That's quite easy than I thought." Wei Yi Yi bend down to check the stove only to realize that it's not as convenient as a simple click.
Ah, having fire is actually a hard task.
"Ehem. As my trustworthy sixth brother-in-law, this empress will bestow you the most important task of operating this 'stove'." Wei Yi Yi flash an expectant smile on Jiang Liu's direction.
"Why me? Why not your servants? Don't show me that fake expression of yours! Anyway, why are we even making it? Can't the imperial chefs just cook them? Or send someone to buy it outside! Anyway, this brother will not----"
"I already finished your 'work'." Wei Yi yi interrupt him.
"Really?!"
"So noisy. Are you doing it or not?"
"If it's for big sister, this brother will do anything!"
But as a prince, what does Jiang Liu know in starting a fire? Must less use it for cooking? In just a few minutes, he's already coughing black smokes. Still, Wei Yi Yi stop Xiao Yuan Xi from helping. Once he go over to assist, Wei Yi Yi could bet that he'll end up doing it all.
After washing the fruits, Wei Yi Yi let Jiang Chen screw them while Xiao Wang Xi look out for him.
"These cherries are soft so it's ok to cut the pointed end of the sticks." Looking at the child who seriously mix and match the colorful fruits, Wei Yi Yi remind him, "Ah Chen, hold the fruit to the side so you don't poke yourself."
Jiang Chen is slow on his hands but Wei Yi Yi let him go on his own pace and avoid mentioning the time it took to finish one.
"Auntie, these two look good together right?" Jiang Chen present his prize work.
"That's amazing Ah Chen. Good work," Since his aunt praise him, Jiang Chen find the task more fun.
"Once we coat them with the syrup, they will shine and be more appetizing," Wei Yi Yi continue.
Well, if there's someone that need some scolding for being slow, it's definitely Jiang Liu.
It was only after his manly face was cover with dirt that fire were finally produced.
Jiang Liu kept on coughing.
He's supposed to blow not to breath in the smoke, of course he'll suffocate.
"Two cups of sugar for a cup of water?" She repeat the instructions given. "I say, why don't we follow our heart and add as many sugar as we like?"
No one was able to stop her.