It is autumn now, and the lotus seeds collected in the summer are not as fresh as before after being dried. So I boiled water in a small casserole made of purple clay and cooked the lotus seeds that would have been cooked through for an hour.

After two hours, it finally tasted crispy and soft.

Put the lotus seeds into a porcelain bowl and let them dry for use. On the other side, help the cook get the rose brine.

When the lid of the bright white porcelain jar is uncovered, the aroma of red and purple rose stew is fragrant, and the sweetness lingers for a long time. Take out two spoons and put them into a clean porcelain bowl for later use.

Wash the small casserole, add water, and put a small piece of agar into the pot.

The fire was slowly heated, and the chef held a silver spoon and concentrated on stirring until the agar-agar melted completely and merged with the hot water in the pot, forming a translucent pot.

The next step is the hardest.

Stir the rose brine and lotus seeds with the melted agar - because the rose brine is cold, the agar will solidify quickly.

If the mixing is slow and uneven, once the agar has cooled down, there is no chance to remedy the situation. You can only watch the finished product being darker in color and lighter in color, or there are lotus seeds on this side and no lotus seeds on that side, and taste it.

Significantly reduced.

Most of the ingredients in the palace are strictly controlled, and there is not much rose brine that they can use at will, so they cannot fail and redo it.

The royal chef held up a thick wet handkerchief in both hands, and the assistant cooks were waiting with rose brine and cooked lotus seeds.

When the imperial chef removed the casserole from the fire, he quickly poured the rose brine and lotus seeds into the pot.

As soon as the pot was placed on the table, the chef took up the silver spoon and started stirring quickly and steadily.

The rose brine was originally cold, but the agar that melted during stirring condensed again and soon became thick.

The head chef breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the sweat on his forehead with the back of his hand, and laughed.

After being put into the glass bowl, a light floral fragrance filled the small crystal clear bowl. The petals were evenly suspended among the crystals, and there were several lotus seeds in it, as if they were held and hidden by the petals, looming.

Just put it in the ice cubes for another hour. After the agar has completely solidified, it will become a bowl of beautifully colored flower jelly with a light and sweet taste. It is suitable for relieving the heat in summer and relieving dryness in autumn.

Another dish is peach gum and white fungus.

Peach gum is the gum juice secreted from peach trees. It is very hard and has an amber-like color.

This thing always needs to be soaked in water for five or six hours before it becomes soft and ready for use. Because I knew that the envoy would be visiting today, I had already soaked it and prepared it.

Help the chef to get an appropriate amount of peach gum. The soaked peach gum is clear in color, crush it between your fingers, and put it aside for later use.

The white fungus was soaked half an hour ago. When the chef saw that it had soaked, he took it out, chopped it into pieces, and simmered it in a pot.

After the white fungus has been stewed for a while, add peach gum and rock sugar, and cook for another minute. Under low heat, the peach gum and the half-melted white fungus form a thick layer. The peach gum that has not yet fully melted is light brown, and the white fungus is translucent.

The small pieces are contained in the pool, trembling slightly as they sway, with a gentle peach fragrance.

Served in a white porcelain bowl with no other decorations, the light brown color is highlighted clearly, making it look crystal clear and attractive.

In Zhenghui Hall.

Because Jingyue liked sweets, Emperor Sheng Tong saw her and gave her his share.

The queen saw it and didn't say anything, but she had some concerns in her heart.

After the meal was over, the food plates were removed and fruits and snacks were placed. Then a group of singers came to the hall.

These singers wear chest-length skirts, either peach red or willow green, with soft waists and deep smiles.

The leader was a pipa girl, and she started with the song "White Snow in Spring". The sound of the twelve pipas was rolling, one after another, and complemented each other perfectly.

(This chapter is not finished, please turn the page)

.

Another song is "Ambush from Flying Daggers". The jade finger twists the ice string, and the sound suddenly fluctuates, and the whole hall is in an uproar. The style of the music is majestic, with gold and iron horses in it, like a sandstorm rolling in, powerful and powerful.

There is no lack of pride among the relatives.

At the end of the song, Yan Yun, the prince of Qi Youguo, said: "The singer in your country is really wonderful!"

After hearing this, the queen said: "I wonder how it compares with the Mirror Moon presented by Prince Qiyou?"

These words were somewhat mocking Jingyue, comparing her to a singer.

Yan Yun didn't know how to answer for a moment.

If it's not comparable, how can Mirror Moon be called a treasure? If it's comparable, how can Mirror Moon be compared to the singer?

He paused, and after a while, he said: "Each flower is in his own eye. However, Jingyue is good at singing and dancing, and he is unique in our country of Qiyou."

"Oh? Can Jingyue give a performance?" The queen looked at Jingyue. It is quite normal to ask a dedicated woman to perform.

Jingyue didn't care much, and responded: "If the Queen doesn't dislike it, Jingyue will show her shame."

Emperor Shengtong also wanted to see what else was extraordinary about Jingyue, and said, "I want to see it too."

Jingyue chose a konghou.

I originally wanted to choose the guzheng, but then I thought about it. Although the guzheng is euphemistic and pleasant, with a lingering sound, it has a bit of a small-mindedness, just like the small family biyu, which often has a sad state.

The harp is shaped like a phoenix, light and airy, yet elegant, which perfectly matches the plain clothes she is wearing today. Burning a column of incense and sitting next to the harp can actually show off her fairy-like jade and ice-clear appearance.

The jade bracelet on the wrist shines with a cool brilliance under the light. The fingertips move slightly, and the sound of the harp is clearer and more ethereal. The entire hall is as silent as a deep valley for an instant. The low place makes people crazy, and when it rises, it makes people crazy.

Ecstatic.

The song played by Jingyue is "Thinking of Chang'e", which vividly expresses Chang'e's longing for the mortal world in the cold moon.

When the song reached its climax, I suddenly heard a low and ethereal melody that seemed both far and near. The sound was sad and full of longing, as if Wu Gang was anxiously looking forward to Chang'e.

Jingyue couldn't help but play the song to a climax, and the longing for Chang'e and the wandering meaning that no one could talk to except the Jade Rabbit overflowed from her fingers. After the song ended, there was a trace of movement in the silence for a long time.

"Good! The lingering sound is so addictive that it's such a harp music! It's indeed a treasure of Qiyou Kingdom, it's really extraordinary!" The emperor clapped his hands and everyone praised it.

While everyone was enjoying the music and drinking, Jingyue looked sideways at Emperor Shengtong. The admiration in his eyes made Jingyue somewhat satisfied.

Unexpectedly, the queen, who wanted to humiliate Jingyue, actually asked Emperor Shengtong to praise her even more, and stopped talking.

"Emperor Shengtong, Miss Jingyue is indeed the treasure of Qiyou Kingdom. Since she is good at singing and dancing, how about letting her show her dance for everyone again?" said Tong Hua, the prince of Fan Yin Kingdom.

Emperor Shengtong nodded in approval.

A group of singing singers walked into the hall.

Jingyue saw it and said, "Your Majesty, there is no need for so many accompaniments."

"Oh? Why is this?" Emperor Sheng Tong became interested.

Jingyue smiled slightly: "Back to the emperor, the dance only needs a touch of vague music. If there are too many, it will appear messy and lose its charm."

"That seems to make sense." Emperor Sheng Tong thought for a moment and nodded slightly, "In that case, just leave one person to accompany you."

Jingyue stood still in the open space. A singer put a jade flute to her lips and blew gently——

(This chapter is not finished, please turn the page)

The faint sound of the clear moon sounded leisurely, hovering over the banquet hall, as green as the cry of a phoenix bird, and as floating as the clouds in the sky.

Jingyue opened her sleeves and danced to the rhythm.

Her dancing posture is like floating and whirling around in the light snow, sending off the dragon with beauty. The willow behind her hands is weak, and the clouds are about to come out when she is dragging her train diagonally. The moths are gathered together in an unstoppable manner, and her wind sleeves are low and affectionate. Shangyuan points the servant girl's move.

The calyx is green, the Queen Mother waves goodbye to Fei Qiong.

The sleeves are lightly relaxed, and they are slowly brushed in front of the body, leaving a faint fragrance lingering on the tip of the nose; the body is turning gracefully, and the slender waist is gently rubbing the fists on the arms, causing a slight tremor; suddenly looking back, smiling, making the melodious music sound.

It messed up the beat.

Her figure is swaying and leaping like the wind, her long skirt creates beautiful waves behind her, and her wide sleeves create complex flowers dancing in the air.

Coupled with the pool of pink lotus blooming on the screen next to it and the endless green lotus leaves, from a distance, it looks like a goddess scattering flowers, and an ethereal and magical artistic conception comes into being.

It's the time when the sleeves are moving and the fragrance is lingering. The red cabbage is curling up in the autumn smoke. The wind is shaking on the Qingyun Mountain, and the tender willows are blowing by the pond.

Less than halfway through the dance, everyone went crazy.

This dance is so charming, alluring and affectionate, and it perfectly complements the singing girl's flute. It works perfectly together, as if it had been rehearsed hundreds of times beforehand!

Snap, snap, snap.

After a while, I heard a round of applause coming from the side. Emperor Sheng Tong stood up, clapped vigorously, and said excitedly: "Okay, that's great! She is indeed the unique beauty of Qi Youguo."

Then, thunderous applause was heard.

From then on, Emperor Sheng Tong fell in love with Jingyue even more.

"Congratulations to Emperor Shengtong for obtaining the treasure. We have heard that the Fenlin Empire has many capable men and superb martial arts. When I came here this time, I brought a few elites from the Qiyou Kingdom to communicate with your country. Your Majesty, what do you think?

"Yan Yun saw Emperor Sheng Tong in a good mood and said.

"Since we are exchanging martial arts, we will set up a martial arts arena outside the city tomorrow. Let's keep our spirits up today." Emperor Sheng Tong said, and the ministers agreed.

outside the city.

Envoys from the three countries have arrived.

There are hundreds of seats on both sides of the competition platform, and they are already filled with dignitaries, civil and military officials.

Ye Xiaoxu heard about this grand event and pestered General Ye to watch the excitement. General Ye couldn't resist, so he brought Ye Xiaoxu here, and Yan Yi followed closely as a personal bodyguard.

Suddenly a long shout came from the distance: "The Emperor has arrived——"

Immediately afterwards, there was the sound of neat footsteps, and thousands of palace guards armed with spears ran out and quickly surrounded the high platform and pavilion.

Finally, Emperor Sheng Tong, who was wearing an apricot yellow robe embroidered with dragons, strode forward and sat down on the dragon chair in the middle of the pavilion.

Prince Gao Yehua sat on the left side of Emperor Shengtong.

At this time, everyone present, whether they were envoys or ministers, all stood up, bowed to Emperor Sheng Tong on the dragon throne and said: "See you, Your Majesty! Long live my emperor! Long live my emperor!"

The emperor's eyes swept across the entire audience, he pondered for a moment, and then a faint voice sounded: "Everyone is excused!"

Then he gave some instructions to the eunuch beside him.

The eunuch nodded in agreement, faced the crowd on both sides of the ring, and shouted loudly: "The emperor has decreed that this time is only for the exchange of martial arts between the two countries. The two sides will compete until the point is reached, and no heavy blows are allowed, so as not to hurt the harmony between the two countries!

"Now, the competition officially begins!"

The first person to appear was Li Yan, a soldier from Qi Youguo. This soldier was tall, broad-shouldered and round-waisted, with a strong physique. He looked so powerful that it made people shudder.
Chapter completed!