Duoduo patted Lüdou on the arm.
“Lüdou, you can definitely do it!”
“Your pastries are so delicious.”
“After we eat, I’ll help you make them.”
“Tomorrow, Shitou, you’re responsible for delivering the pastries to the shop.”
Duoduo instructed Shitou, and Shitou nodded.
“By the way, about the servant I asked you to hire—have you found a suitable one?”
Shitou shook his head.
“Recently, because the Emperor is celebrating his birthday, not only have the princes outside the capital returned with their families, but many imperial relatives have also come to the capital.”
“Most of the people in the slave market have already been chosen.”
“Even if there are some left, they’re the ones no one wanted.”
“I think if they weren’t chosen, they must be unsuitable.”
“You’re young, Your Highness, so you need to be even more careful when selecting servants.”
“I decided that since we want quality over quantity, we shouldn’t choose from the slave market.”
“Tomorrow, I plan to go to the ruined temples and other places you mentioned, Your Highness.”
Duoduo nodded.
“You’re right. I forgot about that.”
The Emperor’s birthday was a big event.
Duoduo had also noticed recently that the capital had become much livelier.
Even the curfew had been lifted.
“Alright, no rush. Take your time.”
“Oh, and you reminded me of something.”
“Be very careful when you’re out and about these days,” Duoduo said, her tone filled with concern.
Shitou nodded. “I understand, Your Highness. Please rest assured.”
Lüdou checked the time. “Your Highness, it’s time for dinner.”
Duoduo stood up and adjusted her clothes.
“Shitou, you should go home and eat too.”
Duoduo led Lüdou to the dining hall.
“Lüdou, what kind of pastries are you planning to make?” Duoduo asked as they walked along.
Lüdou twisted her handkerchief in her hands.
“The weather has been hot lately, so I thought I’d make some mung bean cakes and white kidney bean cakes. What do you think, Your Highness?”
Duoduo tilted her head and thought for a moment.
“Your pastries will be sold on consignment at the barbecue shop.”
“So first, they need to look good—people should want to eat them at first sight.”
“Second, they should be sweet but not cloying, so people want more after the first bite.”
“Third, they should be refined but not expensive.”
Lüdou began thinking seriously after hearing Duoduo’s words.
“I remember the milk custard I made for you a few days ago—you praised it for looking very pretty.”
Duoduo’s eyes lit up.
“Yes, that was great. The green color made it look cool and refreshing, making people want to eat it.”
Lüdou grew a little excited.
“Well then, I’ll make a milk custard!”
“It’s simple and quick to make.”
“I’ll prepare the ingredients tonight and make it early tomorrow morning.”
Duoduo nodded.
“If we have a green one, let’s pair it with a red one.”
“How about making peach blossom pastries too?”
“Your Highness, since it’s summer, why not make lotus flower pastries? They’ll be seasonally appropriate and beautiful,” Lüdou suggested.
Duoduo nodded.
“That works too.”
“Actually, the milk custard can also be made red.”
“The green one uses vegetable juice; the red one could use watermelon—both are great,” Lüdou thought aloud.
“Watermelon?” Duoduo’s mouth watered at the thought of big, red watermelons.
Lüdou nodded excitedly.
“The steward bought a basket of watermelons today, and he said they’re big and red!”
Duoduo quickened her pace.
“Then I’ll ask Mother later if there are extras, so we can use one to make the watermelon juice Aunt Xu mentioned.”
When it came to food, Lüdou instantly perked up.
“Your Highness, watermelons are at their cheapest right now. At our shop, we could totally do what Madam Li suggested and sell freshly squeezed watermelon juice.”
Duoduo clapped her hands.
“Lüdou, you’re so smart!”
Lüdou blushed with excitement.
“Thank you, Your Highness. Anything I can think of, Madam Li probably already has.”
“Maybe she’s just too busy to remember?” Duoduo said with a smile. She had tried watermelon once before.
Last year, at the Song family’s mansion, during a banquet, Lüdou had gotten her a small piece from the kitchen.
That piece was no bigger than Duoduo’s palm.
But the sweetness of it—Duoduo would never forget.
Duoduo entered the dining hall, where Xiao Yi and Su Xian were talking softly.
Duoduo bowed to her parents.
“Finally done with your work?” Xiao Yi asked with a smile.
Duoduo stuck out her tongue playfully.
“Father, Mother, let’s go eat!” Duoduo took Su Xian’s arm and leaned affectionately against her.
“Your Highness, let me push you,” Su Xian said with a smile, standing up to push Xiao Yi’s wheelchair.
“I’ll help too!” Duoduo walked over.
After dinner, the servants brought out fruit, and it was indeed watermelon.
Duoduo picked up a piece and took a careful bite.
The refreshing sweetness and the grainy texture made Duoduo’s eyes narrow with pleasure.
“Mother, I heard the steward bought a lot of watermelons?” Duoduo finished her piece quickly and asked eagerly.
Su Xian smiled.
“These weren’t bought; they come from our own estate.”
“Our estate is far away, so the watermelons just ripened.”
“When the estate foreman heard we had arrived, he had some ripe ones picked and sent over.”
Duoduo’s eyes sparkled. “Mother, is there a lot of watermelon on the estate?”
Su Xian thought for a moment. “I think there’s about an acre or two. In past years, we couldn’t finish them all, and many were fed to the pigs.”
“The foreman said this year has had less rain, so the watermelons are especially sweet.”
Xiao Yi nodded. “Indeed, they are very sweet.”
Su Xian laughed. “If you like them, Your Highness, eat more. We have several baskets full.”
Duoduo blinked. “Mother, I’ve found a good use for the watermelons.”
Su Xian smiled warmly.
“Watermelon is tasty, but don’t eat too much.”
“Eating too much might make you wet the bed at night.”
“Ahem!” Xiao Yi coughed.
Su Xian realized what she had said and blushed deeply.
She had just been urging Xiao Yi to eat more, but she had forgotten that his legs were inconvenient and he couldn’t get up at night.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I spoke without thinking.”
Xiao Yi coughed again and waved his hand. “Let’s hear where this good use for the watermelons is, Duoduo.”
Duoduo quickly came to her mother’s rescue.
“Mother, didn’t Aunt Xu say that watermelon juice tastes great when squeezed?”
“I thought we could squeeze the watermelons into juice and sell it at the barbecue shop.”
“Barbecue is hot and spicy.”
“What do you think if we pair it with a glass of chilled watermelon juice?”
Xiao Yi and Su Xian were both full of praise after hearing Duoduo’s idea.
“That’s a great idea!”
Su Xian nodded repeatedly.
“Then I’ll send word to the foreman right away to have all the ripe watermelons on the estate shipped over.”
“And I remember we still have ice stored in the cellar?” Xiao Yi asked.
Su Xian nodded. “Yes, I had the steward check. We have enough for the whole household to use all summer.”
“Even if we send some to the shop, it will be sufficient.”
“Then Mother, how about we squeeze some watermelon juice to drink ourselves first?” Duoduo’s eyes gleamed with eagerness.
