Lüdou’s eyes flickered.
“Princess, do you mean that the palace knows we’re trying to replicate their pastries, so they deliberately added something different?”
Duoduo nodded.
“The imperial chefs won’t leave as long as they don’t make any mistakes.”
“So the pastry chef must still be the same person as before.”
“You can tell from the flavor at the base of these pastries.”
“But his pastries taste different from the way they used to.”
“I suspect he did it deliberately so people outside the palace wouldn’t be able to imitate them.”
Duoduo picked up the other pastries in the box and carefully smelled each one.
Sure enough, they all contained the same fragrance.
“Lüdou, smell this!” Duoduo gestured for Lüdou to take a whiff as well.
Lüdou picked up a pastry doubtfully and smelled it.
Then she went on to smell the others.
“Princess, they all have the same aroma. It’s very faint, but it’s there!” Excitement appeared on Lüdou’s face.
“Princess, you were right!”
“The imperial chef added something that gave the pastries an extra fragrance and made them even more delicious.”
Lüdou now understood what had happened.
Duoduo smiled. “It seems the imperial chef was forced to improve his skills because of you.”
Lüdou’s face flushed.
“Princess, I didn’t do anything…”
“Still, he really is worthy of being an imperial chef.”
“He only added one thing, and I can’t recreate the same flavor.”
There was a hint of dejection in Lüdou’s voice.
This was the first time she had truly realized that there was always someone better, and that there were always greater heights to reach.
Duoduo nodded.
“That’s only natural.”
“After all, not just anyone can become an imperial chef!”
“But, Lüdou, I believe in you!”
“You’ll definitely become their equal—and perhaps even surpass them!”
Duoduo encouraged her.
She understood better than anyone how important a person’s spirit and ambition were.
Without that inner drive, one would become like a stagnant pool, accomplishing nothing.
As long as one’s determination remained intact, any difficulty could be overcome.
After hearing Duoduo’s words, Lüdou’s earlier disappointment vanished, replaced by renewed courage.
“Princess, I definitely won’t let you down!”
“I refuse to believe I can’t figure out what the imperial chef added!”
Nearby, Qingliu listened to Duoduo and Lüdou with a face full of curiosity.
She was rather envious of the way Lüdou and the princess got along.
It was just like… well, like bosom friends!
Yes, that was the word!
Qingliu hurriedly shook her head, as if trying to fling the thought away.
She picked up one of the pastries Lüdou had made and took a bite.
Qingliu loved sweet, rich pastries, and Lüdou’s were indeed quite good.
However, after eating several, Qingliu began to find them a little too sweet and heavy.
“Lüdou, these really are a bit cloying if you eat too many.”
“And the filling is too fine.”
Qingliu voiced her opinion.
Lüdou froze and looked at her.
“What did you just say? Say that again!”
Qingliu jumped in fright.
She hurriedly stuffed the rest of the pastry into her mouth and swallowed it down in one gulp.
“Lüdou, your pastries are delicious.”
“Look, I ate the whole thing!”
Qingliu thought Lüdou had taken offense at what she had said.
Lüdou grabbed her hand.
“What did you mean when you said the filling was too fine?”
Qingliu was utterly confused. “Lüdou, I was just talking nonsense.”
“Tell me! What did you mean by ‘too fine’?” Lüdou hadn’t heard Qingliu clearly while speaking with Duoduo.
Now, she was completely obsessed with finding the difference between her pastries and the imperial chef’s.
So, when Qingliu mentioned that there was something wrong with her pastries, naturally she wanted to know exactly what it was.
Qingliu was frightened by Lüdou’s intense expression.
She stammered as she explained, “I didn’t mean to criticize your pastries.”
“I just feel that the filling is a little too fine.”
“Because it’s so fine, it starts to taste overly sweet and cloying after you eat too much…”
Qingliu spoke nervously.
She knew that Lüdou was someone the princess valued greatly.
She was worried the princess might misunderstand and think she was deliberately finding fault with Lüdou.
As soon as Lüdou heard this, she threw her arms around Qingliu and gave her a tight hug.
“Thank you, Qingliu!”
Lüdou picked up one of her own pastries and carefully compared it with the imperial chef’s.
Sure enough, the imperial chef had abandoned the usual finely ground filling and had ground it slightly more coarsely instead.
“Lüdou, look. The pastry’s outer shell carries the fragrance of its filling.”
“Could it be that some of the filling was mixed into the dough as well?” Duoduo noticed another subtle difference.
Lüdou smelled it first. Then she broke off a small piece and placed it in her mouth, savoring it carefully.
Once she swallowed the pastry, her face lit up.
“Princess, I understand now!”
“The imperial chef soaked the flower petals in water, then used that infused water to knead the flour.”
“That way, the flour itself carries the fragrance of the petals.”
“Even if the filling isn’t used in large quantities, the pastries will still have its aroma.”
Lüdou was thrilled. She had finally discovered what made the pastries different.
She still wasn’t sure whether she could perfectly recreate them, but at least she had taken another step closer.
Duoduo was happy for her as well.
“Then let’s try it right away!”
“Those flower petals are still soaking in the water, aren’t they?”
Lüdou nodded excitedly.
“All right! I’ll make another batch!”
The three of them busied themselves again. Lüdou went to deal with the flower-infused water.
Since the length of time the petals soaked affected the water, Lüdou decided to use only a little of it at first and make a few pastries to see whether she was on the right track.
The next day, she could use the remaining water to make another batch.
Soon, the new pastries were ready and came out of the oven.
Lüdou carefully carried them out and placed them on the table.
“Princess, Qingliu, you should taste them first.” Lüdou’s face was full of nervousness.
Duoduo picked one up without hesitation and carefully took a bite.
Qingliu followed suit and took a pastry as well.
Lüdou watched the two of them anxiously, her hands clenched tightly together.
“Hmm, it’s closer.” Duoduo savored the pastry carefully.
Qingliu nodded too. “It’s still missing a little fragrance.”
Lüdou’s heart immediately relaxed.
She picked up a pastry and took a bite herself.
Indeed, it was still missing just a little.
“The petals probably haven’t soaked long enough. It should be ready tomorrow.” Lüdou had identified the difference.
“But it’s so hot. Won’t it spoil by tomorrow?” Qingliu voiced her doubts.
Lüdou froze.
That was true. The palace had an ice cellar.
Although Prince Ping’s residence had one as well, it wasn’t possible for her to use it.
“Don’t worry. We’ll put it in the ice cellar today.”
“Didn’t Aunt Xu have one dug out?”
“Lüdou, you can put it there later!” Duoduo suggested.
“Of course! I completely forgot about that!” Lüdou brightened.
At the mention of Xu Jinxin, Duoduo suddenly felt like going to see her ice-drink shop.
