The Emperor, with more men than women, made me his mistress.

I only smelled a slightly unpleasant milky smell, but there was no rancid smell.

"It's not spoiled yet. It was just taken out of the ice cellar. After it was taken out, it still needs to be kept in an ice basin," Chef Li explained.

"So you're just going to leave this half-bucket of milk unused?"

"Well, it's no longer of any use. The milk delivered from the estate is usually only used by Old Wang to make pastries. We don't have any children in our household, so nobody drinks it, right?"

"Then I can use this milk."

"What does the princess need all this milk for? If it's not handled properly, it'll have a fishy smell," Chef Li asked, puzzled.

"I'd like to try making some drinks, you'll see in a bit, but I'll need Chef Li's help later." Seeing how these people were following her, Yue Li figured they wouldn't let her do anything herself, so she simply asked someone for help.

Although he was puzzled about what the princess wanted to do, Chef Li readily agreed.

At worst, I'll just have to play along with the princess's antics. What's the big deal?

As long as the princess doesn't get hurt, and we go along with her silly antics, maybe if she's happy, the prince will even reward us when he returns.

Having found someone to help, Yue Li turned to You Yun, who was always by her side, and said, "You Yun, go to Chenxi Courtyard. There are two packets of tea on the table in the outer room where your master lives. Bring those two packets of tea over."

She took it out while packing her things; it was on the table, and it should still be there if no one touches it.

Upon hearing the order, You Yun wanted to have the princess wait for him outside the kitchen, but his lips moved, and he ultimately did not say anything that would be so inappropriate.

However, before leaving, he gave Chef Li a wink, signaling him to keep an eye on the princess and make sure she didn't get hurt in the kitchen.

He quickly left the kitchen, hoping nothing unexpected would happen while he was getting the tea leaves.

Having received the signal, Chef Li and Yue Li followed even closer.

Yue Li: ……

She has excellent eyesight; do you think she didn't see them exchanging glances?

Yue Li simply stood still and waited for You Yun to bring the tea leaves over.

Fortunately, Youyun was quick. Before Yue Li could even mutter another complaint in her mind, Youyun, slightly out of breath, carried two packets of tea into the kitchen.

Seeing that You Yun, who is usually mature and composed, was so nervous because of her, Yue Li felt a little embarrassed and clenched her fingers. She thought to herself that she would share some of the delicious food she made with You Yun later.

Then, Yue Li began to instruct Chef Li on how to make milk tea.

Yes, what Yue Li wanted to make was milk tea. Thinking of the many flavors and rich, creamy taste of milk tea in her memories, Yue Li was craving it.

First, Chef Li cleaned a small iron pot and put it on the fire until the water in the pot dried out. Then, he poured in an appropriate amount of white sugar. Next, he had You Yun bring some tea leaves, and Yue Li asked Chef Li to add flower tea.

For the first time making it, Yue Li didn't ask Chef Li to put in too much at once.

When the sugar and tea leaves turn a caramel color, Chef Li is asked to pour some hot water into the pot. Once the water boils, the last milk is poured in.

Then, after simmering it over low heat for about three minutes, Yue Li asked Chef Li to take the pot off the stove. The aroma of milk tea had already filled the kitchen and the area outside the kitchen.

Of course, the place where Yue Li and the others were was also surrounded by people who had smelled the odor.

"What smells so good?"

"What's that smell?"

"I've never smelled anything like this before!"

Those standing on the outside could only smell the aroma, but the chefs standing close to Yue Li and the others saw the milk tea that Chef Li had prepared. However, because the princess was present, no one dared to ask.

As Yue Li smelled the familiar scent, her mouth watered.

She looked at the still steaming hot milk tea, her gaze then falling on the ice basin placed in the corner.

Unable to resist, Yue Li asked Chef Li, who was still standing in front of the stove, "Isn't there any ice in the kitchen that we can eat?"

Yue Li's words startled Chef Li, who was still immersed in the aroma of the pot in front of him. He immediately realized what was happening and said, "Yes, the ice we usually use to make ice bowls is not stored in the same place as the ice in the ice cellar."

Hearing this, Yue Li felt relieved. "Then have someone bring some ice, the kind that's been broken up."

"Okay, sure." Upon hearing the order, one of Chef Li's apprentices immediately agreed and left the kitchen.

A short while later, he came in carrying a large bowl.

As Yue Li got closer, she could see clearly that the large bowl contained many broken ice cubes of varying sizes.

Immediately, Yue Li was delighted. She smiled and said to Chef Li, "Serve a bowl of milk tea first."

Holding the milk tea that Chef Li had specially prepared for her in a beautiful bowl, Yue Li took a spoon, scooped a few ice cubes from the large bowl, poured them into the milk tea, and then stirred it with the spoon. Only after the ice cubes had melted in the milk tea did Yue Li taste the now-cold milk tea in front of everyone.

Yes, it tastes like it's at room temperature.

Tasting the milk tea in her bowl, Yue Li wasn't quite satisfied, so she scooped a few more ice cubes from the ice bowl and poured them into the bowl.

This time, after the ice melted, it finally tasted like iced milk tea.

Seeing that everyone was still looking at her, Yue Li gestured to them, "It tastes great this way too, you can all try it."

With that, she walked out of the crowd.

The moment Yue Li stepped out of the crowd, the chefs, who had been somewhat reserved, rushed forward, some carrying bowls, others serving milk tea. The remaining milk tea in the pot was snatched up, and even the ice cubes in the large bowls were completely gone.

The first thing everyone did upon tasting the milk tea was exclaim, "This is so delicious!"

"Yes, it's so refreshing with ice, it's so nice to drink in this kind of weather."

Yue Li sat on the chair that had been prepared for her, watching everyone savoring their milk tea and sighing with delight, and smiled knowingly.

She was quite happy to have successfully recommended milk tea, a popular drink among modern people. Of course, she was even happier that she could enjoy milk tea again.

Thinking about the various flavors of milk tea she drank in modern times, Yue Li decided to tell Chef Li how to make each flavor later. Then, she could just say what flavor she wanted and it would be ready.

With that thought in mind, Yue Li took another sip of the icy cold milk tea in her bowl.

........................

"Let's not add too much chili yet. We can add it gradually as people get used to it."

While instructing Chef Li's apprentice to marinate the cut beef, Yue Li addressed Chef Li.

Speaking of which, the chefs in the kitchen made delicious food, but people in this dynasty generally preferred milder flavors.

Yue Li also likes to eat light and delicious food, but she can't stand eating it every day. Yue Li is a person who likes spicy food. If she can't eat spicy food for a period of time, she always feels that nothing tastes good.