Nanny Li insisted on kowtowing to Duoduo.
“This servant thanks the Princess for saving my life!”
After Duoduo mentioned that someone had given Nanny Li a poisonous prescription, Xiao Yi summoned Nanny Li to speak.
It was only then that Nanny Li realized she had nearly brushed past the gates of death.
She had intended to come and kowtow to Duoduo immediately, but Xiao Yi stopped her.
“First, focus on recovering your health. Everything else can wait.”
Nanny Li understood Xiao Yi’s meaning.
A servant who was ill could not attend to the master, especially since Duoduo was still young.
Nanny Li had followed Duoduo’s instructions all along, taking good care of herself.
When Qingliu came to say that the Princess was asking about her, Nanny Li finally came over.
Duoduo helped Nanny Li to her feet.
“Momo, don’t dwell on it.
Someone is targeting the Pingyang Manor. Saving you was the right thing to do.
Come, let me take your pulse and see how you’re recovering.”
Nanny Li curtsied to Duoduo, then bent over and extended her hand.
Duoduo quickly felt Nanny Li’s pulse and withdrew her hand.
“Excellent, Nanny Li. Your body is fully recovered now.”
Nanny Li broke into a smile.
“This servant has followed the Princess’s orders—taking medicine on time every day and resting on schedule.”
Duoduo nodded.
“Then go back and rest for two more days. Return the day after tomorrow.”
Nanny Li shook her head.
“Princess, since you say this servant’s body is fine, I wish to stay by your side.”
Duoduo thought for a moment.
“Alright, if you want to follow, then follow along.”
Duoduo turned to Lüdou. “Come on, let’s go to the small kitchen!”
With that, Duoduo led the way out, and Nanny Li and Qingliu quickly followed.
When they arrived at the small kitchen, the cooks inside hurriedly bowed to Duoduo.
“Go about your business. Don’t mind me!”
Duoduo looked at Lüdou. “I’ll beat the eggs. You handle the flour.”
“Yes,” Lüdou replied.
Nanny Li and Qingliu stepped forward. “Princess, what should we do?”
Duoduo glanced at them. “Nanny Li, go help Lüdou.
Qingliu, you’ll help me in a bit.”
“Yes.”
Qingliu brought over the eggs. “Princess, how should we do this?”
Duoduo recalled the steps Li Jin had described.
“Separate the egg whites from the yolks. Be careful not to break the yolks.”
Qingliu watched as Duoduo cracked an egg, let the whites flow into a bowl, then tipped the yolk into another bowl after a few switches.
“Princess, you’re amazing!” Qingliu had never seen anyone separate eggs like that.
Duoduo smiled. “Let’s start with four eggs for now.”
Qingliu nodded and mimicked Duoduo’s method, separating the eggs.
“Now, watch how I do it, and you’ll do the same later.”
Duoduo picked up a pair of chopsticks and began whisking the egg whites rapidly.
When her hand grew tired, the egg whites started turning into white foam.
Duoduo stopped, and Qingliu quickly took over.
“Wait, add some sugar,” Duoduo said, stopping her.
Qingliu fetched the sugar jar.
“Princess, how much?” Qingliu was baffled.
Duoduo looked at Lüdou.
She didn’t know the exact amount Li Jin had mentioned, either.
Lüdou walked over, scooped out a spoonful, and added it to the egg whites.
“Use this amount each time.”
Qingliu nodded, picked up the chopsticks, and began whisking the egg whites.
“Keep going in one direction,” Duoduo reminded her warily.
Qingliu nodded, while Lüdou took chopsticks to whisk the egg yolks.
Whisking the egg whites was exhausting.
Qingliu barely managed until Duoduo called for a stop again, and Duoduo added the last spoonful of sugar.
“Let me take over.” Duoduo took the bowl from Qingliu’s hands.
Qingliu let go with an apologetic look. She hadn’t expected that such a small task would be beyond her.
As Duoduo whisked, the egg whites grew puffier and more voluminous.
Finally, the egg whites were ready.
They were white, like clouds in the sky.
Duoduo stopped, satisfied. Though her hands were tired, seeing the result gave her a strong sense of accomplishment.
Lüdou divided the whipped egg whites in half and mixed one half into the beaten yolks.
She folded them gently until evenly combined, then poured the mixture back into the remaining half of the egg whites.
After mixing evenly again, Lüdou added the prepared flour and stirred it in.
Duoduo rubbed her wrist while watching Lüdou work.
The cooks in the kitchen craned their necks, trying to sneak a peek at what Duoduo and the others were making.
Once the flour was well mixed, Lüdou placed it into a container that Nanny Li had greased with oil.
Nanny Li found a plate and covered the container.
Meanwhile, Qingliu had already lit the fire.
Lüdou placed the container into a steamer and began steaming.
Everyone stared eagerly at the stove, waiting for the food to be done.
Nanny Li didn’t know what Duoduo was making, but with eggs and flour involved, she guessed it was some kind of pastry.
Duoduo and Lüdou both watched the stove nervously, wondering if it would succeed.
Half an hour later, a strange, sweet aroma drifted out from the steamer.
The women in the kitchen all turned to look at Duoduo’s group.
“What’s that smell? It’s so fragrant!”
“Yeah, I’ve never smelled anything like it.”
“So good—I really want to taste it!”
“I’ve secretly memorized the steps. Later, we can make it ourselves,” said someone with ulterior motives, deliberately spying.
Duoduo didn’t bother hiding her methods from the others, because she wasn’t even sure she’d succeed.
“You dare steal the master’s recipe? Do you have a death wish?” someone immediately objected.
The speaker quickly fell silent.
Another half hour passed, and the aroma from the steamer grew richer.
Even servants passing by outside were drawn in.
Xiao Yi noticed it too. The air was filled with a sweet, tempting scent that made anyone’s mouth water.
“Has the kitchen changed cooks today?”
Yunxiao, who had been deeply inhaling the fragrance, responded when Xiao Yi asked.
“I’ll go check.” Yunxiao hurried out.
Meanwhile, Duoduo ordered Qingliu to extinguish the fire.
“Momo, you’re tall. Lift the lid and take a look.”
Nanny Li acknowledged and walked to the stove, lifting the steamer’s lid.
As the steam dissipated, the sweet fragrance filled the entire kitchen.
Everyone there took deep breaths.
Once the steam cleared, Nanny Li found a cloth to protect her hands and lifted the top plate.
As soon as the plate was removed, she saw a yellow cake in the container below.
But unfortunately, the yellow cake quickly deflated.
Nanny Li brought the container down, looking nervously at Duoduo.
“Princess, it was big just now, but now it’s like this.”
Seeing Nanny Li’s expression, Duoduo’s hopes sank.
She walked over and saw only a thin, flat cake inside the container.
“Princess, did we succeed?” Lüdou was excited.
