The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

Chapter 577: Chapter 580: A Taste from Memory

Chicken was a frequent ingredient in the Prince Mansion’s meals, but only the meatiest, most tender cuts were ever used. Parts like the chicken head and feet would never make it to the dining table and were typically thrown away.

Hua Manman wanted to make pickled chili chicken feet, but the few she had weren’t nearly enough.

So, she asked a kitchen helper to go out and buy some fresh ones.

The kitchen helper naturally agreed at once.

He wasn’t gone long before he returned with a large bag of chicken feet.

Hua Manman had someone wash the chicken feet.

By now, the double-skin milk pudding was ready. It looked pale and delicate. With the slightest nudge, its surface would tremble like soft tofu, but it carried the sweet fragrance of milk.

To improve the texture, she had someone bring ice and placed the pudding in an ice bath to chill.

While she waited, Hua Manman got to work. With swift, practiced motions—a flash of her knife—she sliced each of the chicken feet in half.

Anyone could tell she was a seasoned cook.

The kitchen helpers stared, dumbfounded.

They had never imagined that the great Heir of Prince Yu was also an expert in the kitchen.

Hua Manman placed the cut chicken feet in a pot of cold water, added her ingredients, and blanched them to remove any unpleasant odor.

She then rinsed them under clean water to wash off the fat before combining sugar water, salt, and pickled peppers with their brine in a pickling jar.

She added the pale chicken feet, mixing them with the green pickled peppers. The combination of green and white looked quite refreshing.

Li Xun watched his mother without blinking.

Hua Manman asked if he wanted to have a taste.

Li Xun nodded vigorously.

Hua Manman told him to get a pair of chopsticks.

Li Xun had never eaten anything like this before. He reached out with his chopsticks and popped a whole pickled pepper straight into his mouth.

Before Hua Manman could say a word to stop him, the boy had already bitten down eagerly.

A moment later, a loud "WAAAHH" burst from the child.

"Sob, sob, sob... It’s so spicy!"

Hua Manman quickly poured him a glass of cool water.

Li Xun downed it in one gulp, but the spiciness remained.

He stuck out his tongue, panting continuously. His nose and the rims of his eyes were red, making him look utterly pitiful.

It wasn’t very charitable of her, but Hua Manman couldn’t help but laugh.

"Why did you eat the pepper? You’re supposed to eat the chicken feet."

Realizing he’d made a fool of himself, Li Xun was so embarrassed his toes curled. His little face flushed bright red.

Just then, the double-skin milk pudding was perfectly chilled. Hua Manman sprinkled some prepared red beans on top and placed the bowl in front of the boy.

Li Xun eagerly took a spoonful, and his eyes instantly lit up.

He had never liked milk, always finding it had a strange, gamey taste.

But this double-skin milk pudding, made from that same milk, had no trace of that taste.

It melted in his mouth, a rich, sweet, milky flavor that was cool, smooth, and utterly delicious!

Best of all, the pudding was the perfect antidote to the spiciness!

His tongue, which had been numb and throbbing with pain just moments before, was finally soothed.

Seeing him eating so happily, Hua Manman left him to it.

She packed the pickled chili chicken feet into a ceramic jar, sealed it with a lid, and ordered someone to place it in the icehouse.

In the blink of an eye, Li Xun had devoured his entire portion of the pudding.

Seeing the longing look on his face, Hua Manman pushed her own portion toward him.

"Here, you can have this one too."

Although he desperately wanted more, Li Xun shook his head.

"You eat it, Mother. I’m going to take the other one to Feihua Zhenren."

With that, he picked up the other bowl of pudding and ran off toward Feihua Zhenren’s quarters.

Feihua Zhenren was sitting under a covered walkway, listlessly pounding medicinal herbs with an unhurried rhythm.

He saw the young prince approaching but didn’t rise to greet him, merely asking in a listless tone.

"What brings the young prince to my humble abode today?"

Ever since the Heir of Prince Yu had arrived, Li Xun had been attached to his hip. And with Li Xun recently starting classes at the Imperial College, Feihua Zhenren hadn’t seen the boy in quite some time.

Feihua Zhenren sighed to himself.

’I thought the young prince would always cherish the memory of the Princess Consort,’ he thought. ’But he was the first to switch his allegiance to the Heir of Prince Yu.’

’If the Princess Consort were still alive, I can’t imagine how heartbroken she would be to see this.’

Li Xun, however, was oblivious to the complicated thoughts swirling in Feihua Zhenren’s mind.

He placed the porcelain bowl down in front of Feihua Zhenren.

"This is the double-skin milk pudding Mother made. She wanted me to bring you some to try."

Feihua Zhenren looked at him. "Your mother is no longer with us."

It was a cruel thing to say, but Feihua Zhenren said it anyway. He wanted the young prince to face reality and stop calling someone else his mother.

The young prince had only one mother: the late Princess Consort.

Li Xun was not happy.

"My mother is perfectly fine! Don’t you say that about her!"

Feihua Zhenren said, "You need to wake up. That person is not your mother."

Those words struck a nerve, sending Li Xun into a fury.

"I’m wide awake! I know she’s my mother! If you keep spouting nonsense, I’m not going to talk to you anymore!"

With that, he stormed off.

Judging by his demeanor, he was genuinely angry.

Feihua Zhenren let out a long sigh. ’How things have changed.’

Ever since the Heir of Prince Yu had moved in, Feihua Zhenren had to go change her dressings every day. To be fair, there was nothing inherently wrong with the Heir of Prince Yu.

But there was always a matter of precedence.

The Princess Consort had already taken root in his heart, so he was instinctively biased in her favor. He just couldn’t help but find this new Heir of Prince Yu disagreeable.

However, out of respect for the Regent King, Feihua Zhenren couldn’t express his displeasure. Instead, he simply avoided interacting with the Heir of Prince Yu. He would always leave immediately after applying the medicine, never staying to say an extra word to her.

No matter what anyone else thought, in Feihua Zhenren’s heart, no one could ever replace the Princess Consort.

Feihua Zhenren had lost all interest in pounding herbs.

He tossed the pestle aside, intending to get up and leave, but his eyes fell on the porcelain bowl, and he paused.

’I wonder what kind of food that person can even make?’

’Whatever it is, it can’t possibly be as good as what the Princess Consort used to make.’

With this dismissive attitude, Feihua Zhenren lifted the lid and saw the red bean double-skin milk pudding inside.

He froze.

The Princess Consort used to make double-skin milk pudding for him, too.

But ever since her passing, no one in the mansion had made it.

Feihua Zhenren couldn’t understand how the Heir of Prince Yu knew how to make double-skin milk pudding. Could the kitchen staff have taught her?

His mind filled with doubt.

He had been about to order someone to return the pudding, but now he changed his mind.

He picked up the bowl and took a small bite.

The taste was identical to the double-skin milk pudding from his memories. There was no difference at all!

Feihua Zhenren thought he must be imagining it.

He couldn’t resist taking another bite.

It was undeniably the same flavor!

A flood of memories washed over him, and his emotions churned. The hand holding the spoon began to tremble.

One bite followed another until the pudding in the porcelain bowl was all gone.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Feihua Zhenren shot to his feet and strode quickly toward the kitchens.

He had to find out who had taught the Heir of Prince Yu how to make double-skin milk pudding.

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