Lu Xunguang was already accustomed to Li Ying's lively nature. He followed her into the kitchen and skillfully helped with the preparations.
Su Buchi, however, was quite puzzled. "Miss Li, what are you up to?"
Li Ying deftly tied up her loose sleeves with a sleeve protector and smiled. "I've been so busy these days that I didn't notice. Thanks to Miss Hu's reminder today, I just remembered that there's a batch of high - quality gardenia yellow among the new goods from the spice shop. It's perfect for cooking."
Gardenia was usually ordered by silk shops as a dye for fabrics. Using it in dishes was truly unheard of.
Seeing the look of confusion on Su Buchi's face, Li Ying just smiled and said, "Uncle, just wait patiently for a while."
She took a fresh spring chicken, washed it, cut off the head and tail, removed the sharp toenails one by one, wiped off the water, and cleaned out the internal organs.
The top - grade gardenia was ground into powder and soaked to get a bright golden soup, which was evenly spread on the chicken skin, dyeing it a lovely yellow color.
After the chicken skin was slightly air - dried and the meat tightened a bit, she took the pre - prepared coarse salt, mixed it with freshly ground pepper and ginger powder according to taste, and rubbed it all over the chicken for marinating.
When the whole chicken was fully flavored, she took a piece of caul fat, wrapped the chicken, then covered it with oil paper and tied it tightly with a hemp rope.
By this time, Lu Xunguang had already prepared the big - grained coarse salt as Li Ying had instructed.
What Li Ying was going to make today was an ancient - style salt - baked chicken. Besides the gardenia used to color the chicken skin, the most important thing was this pot of coarse salt for heating.
She first spread a thick layer of coarse salt, put the wrapped chicken in, and then filled all the gaps firmly with the remaining salt.
When the whole chicken was deeply buried in the white salt like winter snow, she covered the pot and baked it over a low fire for half an hour.
The heat from the charcoal evenly penetrated into each salt crystal and was then completely transferred to the tender chicken soaked in the salt aroma.
When the paper wrapping was removed, the caul fat had completely melted. Every drop of the rich grease had seeped into the bright yellow chicken skin, like a transparent armor, locking in every bit of the delicious and scalding juice under the skin.
This salt - baked chicken might seem ordinary at first glance. It was only seasoned with salt and time. The former added flavor, and the latter touched the heart. Complementing each other, it achieved the ultimate deliciousness of crispy skin, rich flavor, and juicy meat, as well as the simple feeling of pursuing the original taste.
The remaining chicken bones were used to make chicken soup with some mushrooms. Su Buchi drank it all up and felt that the faint chill in his body was completely dispelled. He let out a satisfied sigh and sincerely praised, "Miss Li's ingenious ideas are truly amazing."
Li Ying chewed the salt - baked chicken slowly. After swallowing the last piece of tender chicken in her mouth, she said softly, "Uncle, if you like this ancient - style salt - baked dish, besides making it with tender chicken, you can also make salt - baked shrimps and crabs in the same way. The taste is also excellent..."
Su Buchi quickly shook his head.
"The salt - baked chicken tastes wonderful, but making a pot of it would consume a large amount of sea salt. If someone with ill intentions reports this to the emperor, it might cause a lot of trouble. You two are now in a sensitive position, so you'd better be more careful."
Li Ying didn't seem to care. She smiled and explained, "It's okay. The coarse salt used for baking can be reused after being crushed and dried. It can even add a stronger aroma to the roasted meat, so it's not a waste."
Lu Xunguang also looked up, his eyes bright and determined as he stared at Li Ying. He said in a deep voice, "Yes, it's really okay."
"Given the current situation of the Lu family, it's not a problem to bake a chicken with a pot of salt, let alone build a salt house with sea salt. As long as A Ying likes it, just do it boldly."
His expression was calm, and his tone was a bit teasing, but his bright eyes clearly showed that as long as Li Ying said a word, he would pick the stars and the moon for her.
Su Buchi wanted to say something more, but seeing the two of them smiling at each other affectionately, a faint bitterness welled up in his heart. He forced a smile and said no more.
Li Ying's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Uncle's words make sense. Lu Lang, we really should be more low - key. But Lu Lang, you've given me an idea."
The Lu family's salt - making business was quite large and eye - catching.
With the private salt case in the past and the emperor's suspicious nature, it was inevitable that he would become suspicious in the long run.
In that case, instead of being overly cautious and trying to guess the emperor's will, it would be better to be more open and straightforward, which could better show their sincere nature in front of the emperor.
She lowered her voice and whispered to Lu Xunguang for a while, then looked at Su Buchi inquiringly.
Su Buchi nodded and said, "Miss Li, don't worry. Since you've made up your mind, I'll take care of things at the Ministry of Works."
He bowed and left first. As for Lu Xunguang, he listened attentively to Li Ying's instructions. Although there was still a bit of confusion on his face, he agreed without hesitation.
Only then did Li Ying relax and lean back on the beauty couch, letting out a long sigh of relief.
The next move of the salt workshop was settled. Miss Hu had regained Hu Maolin's trust today. They just had to wait for her news.
Everything was ready. Before Hu Maolin took any action, she thought she could finally have a good rest for a few days.
She lazily looked out of the window. Two peach blossoms were in bud, looking so pink and lovely, but half of the sky was overcast. A spring thunder was about to come.
This leisurely time of drinking tea and having snacks lasted for less than seven days when Hu Qinzhu's personal maid sent a letter.
When Li Ying unfolded the letter, she saw clearly written on it that Hu Maolin had entered the palace the other day, and no one knew what slander he had spread.
Anyway, in a few days, there might be some eunuchs and imperial physicians coming from the palace to ask for the Lu family's nine - roasted bamboo salt for inspection. Hu Qinzhu got the news in advance and quickly came to inform them so that they could prepare and deal with it.
"Our salt was inspected by the Honglu Temple before. It's very beneficial to the body, so it was sent to the imperial kitchen. Now they want to inspect it again. I don't know what to do."
"Is Miss Hu's news really reliable? Could there be a trick in it?"
The manager of the salt workshop looked at Li Ying nervously, really unsure.
Li Ying frowned. Before she could speak, a shrill voice of a palace eunuch came from outside the door.
"Where is the salt merchant Lu?"