Chapter 2: Milk Tea

Chapter 2: Milk Tea

Walking out of the Imperial Study with a dejected expression, Yun Shu’s eyes were lifeless.

Her look of utter despair was so convincing that Ting Xue, who was waiting outside, nearly felt her legs go weak and collapse into a kneel!

"Princess, what is the matter?"

"It's nothing."

Yun Shu waved her hand feebly, looking like a salted fish that had lost its dreams

"It's just that Imperial Father wants me to return to the Upper Study to resume my studies starting tomorrow."

"Didn't you just..."

Hearing this news, Ting Xue was also struck with surprise and instinctively wanted to ask further,

But when her gaze met her mistress's vacant stare, she sheepishly lowered her head

"Then, after I return, I will pack up your brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones again."

"Mm."

Yun Shu gave a perfunctory response.

The Upper Study!

Before she had transmigrated, she had once accidentally seen netizens listing the daily schedules of ancient imperial children online, and she had even complained in the comments section that being an emperor was a job even a dog wouldn't want!

Aside from those mediocre emperors who only knew how to eat, drink, play, and enjoy themselves, all the rest were "involutionary" from childhood all the way until their death.

Their life experiences would make men fall into silence, women weep, and even a dog would bark at the heavens in terror!

And now, here it was: classes at five in the morning, arriving at the Upper Study by four-thirty—if the palace was even slightly far away, she’d have to get up at three o'clock. This overwhelming "blessing"... had finally come to her.

Fortunately, there was the Sixth Prince to share this misfortune with her.

Yun Shu thought numbly.

"..."

Wait a moment.

Yun Shu’s already slow pace suddenly halted—

The Sixth Prince!

Good heavens, isn't he the male lead of the book, the future tyrant? Aside from himself, he only had six brothers in total, and he had slaughtered five of them.

The last one only survived by luck because he had just been born and posed absolutely no threat to him!

Hiss...

The Sixth Prince is already eight years old this year, right?

I wonder if he's already started growing up crooked...

"Princess?"

Seeing her mistress suddenly stop mid-walk with a solemn expression, Ting Xue asked cautiously

"Is there something else urgent?"

"It is indeed quite urgent."

Yun Shu snapped back to her senses and gave orders at a rapid pace

"Go to the Imperial Kitchen and say this Princess needs some milk and caramel. If there is tapioca starch, even better.

Afterward, go to the Internal Affairs Department to fetch some unsteamed tea leaves. This Palace needs to make milk tea!"

Not only was there the Grand Tutor watching her in the Imperial Study, but there was also a massive landmine like the Sixth Prince nearby.

In front of them, Yun Shu had no way to safely "close her eyes to rest" and let her consciousness enter the villa.

She could only find a way to make milk tea appear reasonably to provide some meager comfort to her fragile, suffering soul, which was pained by the fact that she had to start school all over again after transmigrating.

...

Ting Xue's efficiency was quite good.

Not long after Yun Shu leisurely strolled back to Fengyang Palace, Ting Xue returned with the things she wanted.

Milk, caramel, and tea leaves; no tapioca starch.

"The chef at the Imperial Kitchen said he had never heard of such a thing as tapioca starch.

He even asked me what tapioca looks like and what it tastes like, but I didn't know either."

As Ting Xue deftly took out the small jar containing the milk and placed it before Yun Shu, she asked curiously

"Princess, what exactly is tapioca?"

"There isn't any?"

Yun Shu paused, only then remembering that in her original time, tapioca wasn't introduced from abroad until the 19th century.

It was normal for the Tiansheng Dynasty not to have it.

It was just a pity that her pearl milk tea couldn't have pearls.

"Actually, I haven't seen it either."

Yun Shu made an excuse

"I just happened to see it in a book once, saying that things made with tapioca starch taste quite good, so I wanted to try it. If there isn't any, then forget it."

"Oh."

Ting Xue didn't think much of it and quickly forgot the question

"Then, if there is no tapioca starch, can you still make that 'milk tea' you mentioned before?"

"It should be possible."

Yun Shu nodded

"First, boil the milk. Then, put the tea leaves and a little caramel into the pot and stir-fry them over low heat... Forget it, I'll do it myself!"

As she spoke, she stood up briskly and headed toward the small kitchen

"Bring everything!"

"Leave such small matters to me, Princess, you..."

Never having expected her mistress would actually intend to cook personally, Ting Xue hurriedly packed the items on the table back into the food boxes, chasing after her in an attempt to dissuade this little ancestor's sudden whim.

However, as lazy as Yun Shu was, she was not at all half-hearted when it came to eating and drinking.

Especially since there weren't many entertainment options in ancient times; making milk tea herself could serve as a way to pass the time.

She raised her hand to dismiss the two young palace maids guarding the small kitchen, leaving only Ting Xue to help her watch the heat.

She grabbed a small handful of tea leaves and tossed them into the pot with the caramel to dry-fry.

Watching the caramel slowly melt bit by bit, Yun Shu picked up the pre-boiled water from the side and poured some in.

The dissolved syrup and the tea leaves, which had already been fragrant from the frying, suddenly met the heat; bubbles bubbled up amidst the heat waves, and a sweet tea aroma instantly scattered in all directions!

"Princess, the milk is boiled!"

Beside her, Ting Xue, who had brought over the hot milk, sniffed the air, her face full of pleasant surprise

"It smells so good! I didn't know tea leaves could be this fragrant!"

"Tea leaves that have been stir-fried do indeed taste more fragrant and have a better mouthfeel. When you have time in the future, you can try stir-frying some yourself."

The tea-making technology of this world was similar to the early ancient period of Yun Shu's original time.

It mainly relied on using steam to soften the tea leaves, after which they were crushed, dried, and ground, primarily to be chewed and swallowed.

One bite would leave one's mouth full of tea residue.

It was hard to say about others, but Yun Shu certainly couldn't get used to that.

With one hand, she used a small spoon to gently stir the caramel tea in the pot, and with the other, she took the porcelain bowl from Ting Xue, pouring the milk in bit by bit.

The natural richness of the milk blended with the mellow fragrance of the tea.

That sweet, non-greasy aroma drew many of the palace maids and eunuchs waiting outside to steal glances toward the small kitchen.

Yun Shu used a small spoon to scoop up a bit, tasted it, and felt it was alright

"This should be about it. Did you remember the method and the measurements? Tomorrow..."

Just as she was about to give instructions to have breakfast prepared tomorrow morning, while also asking them to prepare a portion of milk tea for her,

She turned around and met Ting Xue's eager expression, and couldn't help but laugh

"When you serve me a portion later, you all can share the leftovers.

And remember to make an extra portion separately tomorrow morning."

"This servant thanks the Princess!"

(End of Chapter)