This matter had reached a temporary conclusion. As they returned, Ye Qingcheng did not forget about her visit here, which was to catch a chicken to bring back.
Upon returning to the manor, Ye Qingcheng headed straight for the kitchen.
She didn't know how to prepare a chicken, so she had to ask the head chef to handle it.
Ye Qingcheng, meanwhile, stood nearby, thinking about the seasoning recipe for Saliva Chicken.
Salt was needed. Ye Qingcheng looked around and, after asking the head chef, found the salt. In ancient times, salt was tightly controlled. Only the wealthy or noble could use fine salt; the rest was coarse salt.
The recipe also called for sugar, but... Ye Qingcheng picked up a large lump of sugar.
There was no granulated sugar here.
Unfortunately, the conditions here were not sufficient for granulated sugar, so Ye Qingcheng had to refine it herself.
At this point, the head chef had also finished preparing the chicken.
Ye Qingcheng looked at other ingredients. Yes! Very good. The manor's kitchen was excellent. There were garlic, peanuts, and spring onions. These ingredients were more than enough.
She didn't remember much of the recipe and could only make some improvements.
It seemed that in this book, the development of ingredients was already quite good.
Since Ye Qingcheng didn't know how to cook, she could only instruct the head chef while directing.
"First, boil water and cook the chicken."
The head chef nodded and followed. Boiling water in a large fire before adding the chicken. Ye Qingcheng, seeing the roaring flames, quickly told them to stop adding more fire.
"Chicken needs to be simmered over low heat so it's tender!"
Then, she found a ginger and a spring onion in a corner, washed the ginger clean, sliced it, and put it in the water with the spring onion.
"This will remove the fishiness."
The head chef nodded in realization.
After simmering over low heat until the chicken broth turned white and the chicken was cooked, Ye Qingcheng quickly asked the head chef to take out the chicken.
Then, she personally fetched a basin of water to cool the chicken.
"We are making Saliva Chicken now. Saliva Chicken tastes best when it's cooled."
While waiting for the chicken to cool, Ye Qingcheng was not idle. She asked the head chef to cut a prepared cucumber into shreds.
The head chef was puzzled, "Your Highness? Why prepare cucumber?"
Ye Qingcheng explained, "Because cucumber is very refreshing! After eating greasy meat, a piece of cucumber makes the taste even more different."
The head chef understood now.
She placed the cucumber at the bottom. Just as the chicken had cooled, Ye Qingcheng asked the head chef to cut it into pieces and place them on top of the cucumber.
Next, she began to make the sauce for the Saliva Chicken.
Xiao Wangye pushed his wheelchair outside the kitchen, watching Ye Qingcheng roll up her sleeves and fuss over the cooking.
Lin Xiao wondered, "Strange? We all know the Consort is the illegitimate daughter of Minister Ye. She can even mess with these food-related things. Is it possible that what we understood before wasn't about the same person?"
Xiao Wangye suddenly spoke, asking, "Has the person investigating Ye Qingcheng returned?"
Lin Xiao reported, "Reporting to His Highness, he has returned. It's estimated he has already reached the study!"
Xiao Wangye nodded, "Hmm! Then let's go back. Let us get to know this Consort properly."
Lin Xiao responded, pushing the Prince towards the study.
The sauce for the Saliva Chicken required salt, sugar, pounded garlic, peanuts, soy sauce, pepper powder, Sichuan peppercorns, sesame oil, half a bowl of chicken broth, and chili, which was essential.
After mixing them, it was done. A bowl of Saliva Chicken was ready.
Ye Qingcheng dared not be the first to taste it. She handed the chopsticks to the head chef, "You try it."
The head chef, accepting the daunting task, could only comply. She picked up a chopstick with difficulty, took a bite, and put it in her mouth.
Suddenly, the head chef's eyes widened. The taste that flooded her taste buds was incredibly delicious.
"It's... it's too delicious."
Ye Qingcheng knew she had succeeded, haha.
"Then go and let Xiao Wangye taste it."
However, when she went out, he was nowhere to be seen. Ye Qingcheng wondered, asking Bixi, "Strange, when did he leave?"
Bixi replied, "While Your Highness was making the sauce, I heard them say they were going to the study."
Ye Qingcheng pouted, "They didn't even wait for me, and I was planning to give it to you after it was made! Never mind, let's go send it to him then! Bixi, let's go to the study."
Bixi smiled and nodded, carrying the Saliva Chicken and following behind the Consort.
At this moment, Xiao Wangye was listening to the investigator's report. "Your Highness, what you asked for is the Consort's history from childhood to adulthood." The investigator handed over a booklet. "This records everything about the Consort from childhood to adulthood."
Xiao Wangye's study was guarded, but Ye Qingcheng was the Consort and His Highness had said she could enter and exit the study. Seeing Ye Qingcheng arrive, they did not sound the alarm.
As Ye Qingcheng reached the door and was about to knock, she heard someone inside say, "The Consort has never consulted a doctor from childhood to adulthood, so I was very curious why the Consort did not consult a doctor yet possessed medical skills. Therefore, I thought I might have made a mistake and re-investigated, which caused some delay. I beg His Highness's forgiveness."
Bixi did not understand why the Consort suddenly stopped. Wasn't she going to knock?
Ye Qingcheng was grateful for the first time that she had learned internal strength, allowing her to hear the conversation clearly from a distance.
Xiao Wangye looked at the records on the parchment and, hearing the investigator say this, asked, "Was the second investigation thorough?"
The investigator nodded, "Yes! It was thorough. The Consort never consulted a doctor, nor did she take a master. Moreover, she was always oppressed by Ye Lanxin since childhood, and her personality was somewhat unusual. However, I never understood why the Consort's temperament suddenly changed, or why she suddenly acquired medical skills."
As soon as the words fell, Ye Qingcheng directly pushed open the door.
Ye Qingcheng was now very angry, completely devoid of the joy she felt after making the dish.
Ye Qingcheng and Xiao Wangye met each other's gaze. Lin Xiao felt awkward. Bixi, holding the dish behind the Consort, neither advanced nor retreated.
It was suddenly very awkward.
Ye Qingcheng sneered, "Since Your Highness is investigating me, why didn't you ask me directly? Why must you be so secretive?"
Lin Xiao didn't know how to explain at that moment.
Xiao Wangye looked at her and sighed.