Su Lele planned to use duck eggs to make salted duck eggs, which could later be used for egg yolk pastries, salted egg yolk rolls, and salted egg yolk cookies.
Chicken eggs would be used to make tea eggs and sesame paste eggs.
At the pork stall, Su Lele quickly made an agreement with the butcher to deliver 100 jin of pork to the prince’s residence the next day. Seeing two baskets of pork offal, she originally intended to buy them, but the butcher was very shrewd and understanding—he directly gave her both baskets for free.
She also browsed a grocery shop and bought some spices, sesame seeds, and flour.
Finally, she went to the Zhu Family blacksmith shop, planning to buy several large iron plates and two flat pans. She originally thought she would have to wait a few days for them to be made, but the shop assistant said the owner had already produced extra items and kept them in stock for immediate sale.
This owner really knew how to do business—no wonder the shop was so popular.
After settling payment and instructing the assistant to deliver the items to the prince’s residence, Su Lele returned home.
Back at the residence, the steward reported: “The farmer who sells eggs has delivered the chicken and duck eggs.”
“Mm. From now on, he will deliver them every two days. You settle the payment on the spot and keep records. At the end of each month, come to my courtyard and I will settle the total amount at once.”
“This… Princess Consort, is that appropriate?” The steward felt uneasy. How could the princess personally pay for household expenses? The prince’s residence had plenty of funds.
Su Lele had her own considerations. It was better to keep finances separate since this was only a contractual marriage. Moreover, she would frequently purchase ingredients for her business in the future—using the prince’s funds would not be appropriate.
“There is nothing inappropriate.”
“Yes…” The steward agreed on the surface but still felt he should report this to the prince.
..
After returning to her courtyard, Su Lele began preparing salted duck eggs.
In the kitchen, she looked around but did not see any rice wine. She had forgotten to buy it. She had no choice but to send servants to fetch a jar of strong liquor from the main kitchen.
Together with the servants, she washed and dried the duck eggs. When the alcohol arrived, she poured salt and alcohol into two wooden trays and instructed:
“First roll the duck eggs in the alcohol, then coat them with salt.”
Each salted egg was placed into large clay jars, which were then sealed and stored in a cool, ventilated area of the kitchen.
There were 102 chicken eggs. Su Lele planned to use half for five-spice tea eggs and the other half for sesame paste eggs.
This time, she did not let the servants observe her entire process. After all, she planned to sell these snacks in the future, and her livelihood skills could not be exposed. After the two-year contract marriage ended, she would have nothing to do with the prince’s residence. It seemed necessary to buy her own servants and train them for future shops.
She instructed Qiu Yu to boil the eggs. Meanwhile, she prepared star anise, bay leaves, cinnamon, and Sichuan peppercorns, and also fetched some tea leaves.
After the eggs were boiled, she gently cracked the shells.
She added water into a large pot along with spices, tea leaves, soy sauce, salt, and a little sugar, then simmered them over low heat for half an hour.
For sesame paste eggs, she used sesame paste and five-spice powder, spending another half hour preparing them.
By then, the tea eggs were almost done. The aroma of tea and spices filled the entire courtyard. The servants outside kept inhaling deeply, unable to resist the fragrance.
The strong aroma even drifted from Yanyu Pavilion to Yijing Pavilion.
“What is that smell? So fragrant—it smells like tea and spices mixed together.”
Leng Yunmo was playing chess with Leng Yichen. A few days ago, during Leng Yichen’s wedding, he had not seen Su Lele and was curious, so he came to visit. But he only found Leng Yichen in Yijing Pavilion and learned that Su Lele lived in another courtyard, so he gave up for the moment.
Leng Yichen paused slightly, holding a black chess piece. The scent was coming from Yanyu Pavilion. It seemed she had been quite busy these past few days. Thinking of the agreement she had signed—continuing her business after marriage—her efficiency was very much like his own.
“Probably the Princess Consort cooking something delicious,” Leng Feng said.
“You’re joking! Isn’t that the chefs from the main kitchen?” Leng Yunmo said in disbelief.
Leng Yichen and Leng Feng both glanced at him but said nothing.
After the tea eggs were done, Su Lele let them sit for several hours so they could fully absorb the flavor.
Together with Qiu Yu, she washed and dried the remaining fresh eggs. Then she mixed sesame paste, five-spice powder, soy sauce, liquor, water, and red clay in a wooden basin, stirred it well, coated each egg, then covered them with salt and placed them into clay jars. They would be ready in twenty days and could then be steamed and eaten.
The pork offal that had been cleaned earlier was now ready. She cooked a large pot of it. Once done, she planned to send some to the Su residence—her grandfather had been asking for it repeatedly. Tonight, he would finally get to enjoy it. She also prepared some tea eggs for her family.
“Steward, send these ten tea eggs to the prince. Remind him not to eat too many—two eggs a day is best, otherwise it may cause indigestion.”
She had thought about it—sending only two eggs would seem too stingy, so sending more would allow him to share with his subordinates. As for the pork offal, she did not plan to send it to him, as it might not suit his noble status.
“Steward, if you don’t mind, you may try this bowl of pork offal as well.” She understood social relations well; building goodwill with the steward would be beneficial since she would be staying here for two years.
“I would not dare to dislike it. It is this servant’s blessing to receive the Princess Consort’s favor,” the steward replied respectfully. Although it was pork offal, the aroma was excellent with no unpleasant smell at all.
..
Yijing Pavilion Dining Hall
That night, Leng Yichen had little appetite and only lightly tasted each dish. Unlike him, Leng Yunmo ate heartily.
At that moment, the steward arrived to report:
“Your Highness, the Princess Consort has prepared tea eggs and instructed this servant to bring them to you. She also said not to eat too many eggs in one day—two per day is best, otherwise it may cause indigestion.”
“Huh? The tea fragrance and spice smell are coming from these eggs?” Leng Yunmo said as he picked one up and peeled it.
“General Leng, these are tea eggs. The Princess Consort cooked them with tea leaves and spices. This old servant has already tried one—it is very delicious. The Princess Consort also gave me a bowl of braised pork offal, which likely tastes just as good.”
The steward had not expected the princess consort’s cooking skills to be so exceptional. No wonder she personally cooked last night—he could hardly wait to try the braised offal.
A low, cold voice sounded:
“Bring that bowl of braised pork offal here. This prince will try it.”
So she had made other dishes as well.