Before she knew it, midsummer had arrived, bringing with it the sweltering heat.
Dongfang Yi's foot had mostly healed, but she still needed to apply medicine every day. However, Dr. Li said that her foot would probably leave a scar.
Dongfang Yi didn't really care about the scar. After all, it was on the sole of her foot and no one would see it. If it were on her face, she would probably be extremely worried.
As the weather got hotter and hotter, Dongfang Yi discovered another pitiful aspect of being in ancient times: there was no air - conditioning. They could only increase ventilation in various places in the palace and place ice cubes, but it was still unbearably hot.
She was also glad that she hadn't injured her foot in summer, otherwise it might have been infected.
One day, Dongfang Yi was sitting in the pavilion in her own palace to enjoy the cool. Donghua came over with a plate of fruits and said, "Your Majesty, these fruits were just taken out of the ice cellar. They're still cold. Please have a taste quickly."
Looking at the pile of fruits, Dongfang Yi suddenly had an idea. Then she said to Donghua, "Go to the ice cellar and get some more ice. Also, go to the small kitchen and bring me a rolling pin and some salt."
Donghua frowned slightly in confusion but still went to fetch them as requested.
Dongfang Yi was excited inside. She thought that with so many fruits and ice, she could definitely make iced fruit juice!
First, she put the washed, peeled and pitted grapes into a drinking container. Then she picked up the rolling pin and started to crush them vigorously.
At first, Donghua was a bit confused. She wondered why good grapes were being wasted.
Later, she saw that all the grapes had turned into juice. Then she saw Dongfang Yi break off a few pieces of ice and put them into the grape juice, and sprinkle a little salt.
After finishing this series of actions, Dongfang Yi was already sweating profusely, but she still looked at her creation with satisfaction.
"Donghua, come and have a taste." She held up the glass and offered it to Donghua.
Donghua looked at the glass hesitantly, but couldn't resist Dongfang Yi's eager eyes. She took it and, as if making up her mind, tilted her head and drank it all.
The taste of the drink was unexpectedly delicious. It was full of the fragrance of grapes and the cool feeling of the melting ice in her mouth.
"Wow - it's delicious!" Donghua exclaimed with wide - opened eyes. She really didn't expect it to be so delicious and refreshing.
"Hahaha, great!" Seeing her reaction, Dongfang Yi became even more confident. When it came to summer, what could be more refreshing than air - conditioning and fruit juice?
Since she couldn't enjoy the pleasure of air - conditioning here, she would surely make good use of her privilege as the queen and make more fruit juice.
After thinking about it, she made juice from watermelon and oranges following the corresponding steps. Since it was very simple, Donghua soon joined her in the making process.
"Your Majesty, what's the name of this thing we made?" Donghua suddenly asked.
Dongfang Yi answered without hesitation, "Let's call it fruit juice! Iced grape juice, iced watermelon juice, iced orange juice..."
Donghua probably understood the meaning of "fruit juice". It was just the juice of fruits, so it was called "fruit juice" as the name suggested.
"Hey, Donghua, which flavor do you like the most?" Dongfang Yi looked at the woman beside her and asked.
"I think they're all delicious, but the iced watermelon juice is more refreshing, so this servant likes iced watermelon juice the most." Donghua replied.
"Me too! I like to eat watermelon the most in summer!" Dongfang Yi responded like a child. It was just a pity that she couldn't walk. Otherwise, she would have jumped up and down on the ground at this moment.
Sure enough, women were the same at all times. They liked to do things together. It was the same in any era.
Donghua was also infected by her excited mood. For a moment, the palace was filled with a youthful atmosphere.
That afternoon, everyone in the Queen's Palace got to drink the fruit juice made by Dongfang Yi and Donghua. On this extremely hot afternoon, their hearts seemed to be soothed.
Dongfang Yi also got inspired from making fruit juice. She thought that after all, she was a time - traveler and knew many things that people in this era would never understand.
She remembered that when she was outside the palace, it was based on what she had seen and heard in modern times that she had run the Duoyu Inn so successfully and made a fortune.
After her foot was completely healed, she must make good use of the excellent conditions in the palace to create her own career.
Within a few days, the method of making fruit juice that originated from the Queen's Palace spread throughout the harem. Everyone was guessing who had such a wonderful idea to make such a delicious thing in the world.
One day in the Chengqian Palace.
Helian Qi was bending over the desk to approve official documents. After a while, he heard the shrill voice of the eunuch outside the palace announce, "Consort Shun pays her respects!"
Then he saw Consort Shun, wearing a long green silk dress, slowly walking into the palace gate.
When she came to Helian Qi's side, she habitually picked up the fan beside her and gently fanned the man who was approving the palace documents.
But it was still clear to see the sweat on the man's forehead.
"Eunuch Li, go and get some more ice for the Emperor." Consort Shun said to the head eunuch beside her.
Eunuch Li obediently left the palace. In a short while, he came back carrying a tray. First, he handed the ice to Consort Shun who was fanning, and then said, "Your Majesty, please try this new thing. It's extremely refreshing."
Only then did Helian Qi look up at the glazed bowl on the tray. He picked it up, and immediately a cool feeling spread through his body.
"What's this?" Helian Qi asked.
Before the eunuch could answer, Consort Shun beside him rushed to say, "Your Majesty, this is a kind of drink that has been widely spread in the palace recently. It's called 'fruit juice'. I heard it came from the Queen's Palace."
Hearing the words "Queen's Palace", Helian Qi became a bit sensitive. He immediately remembered that night and the angry and crazy Dongfang Yi on that night.
Thinking of this, he stared fixedly at the bowl in his hand, then tilted his head and drank it all in one gulp. He could clearly feel a coolness sliding down his mouth, through his intestines and into his stomach. It brought a refreshing feeling, and the remaining ice in his mouth deepened this cool sensation.
Was this her wonderful idea? Helian Qi thought to himself after drinking. He still remembered the inn where she was when he went out of the palace to look for her. It was known as the most interesting and novel inn in the local area. It should all be her credit.
"Your Majesty?" Consort Shun suddenly called out. She noticed that the man beside her had fallen into deep thought again.
It seemed that as long as it was something related to the Queen, the Emperor would always be in a daze.