"The world's most delicious food!"
Raising her spoon, Princess Changle gracefully took a bite. Immediately, she could not stop herself, deeply liking this delicacy.
Ice cream was one of the favorite foods of children and women in later generations. Of course, it was no exception in the Tang dynasty.
Li Chengqian also took a bite and couldn't help but sigh deeply. The ice cream was indeed the best way to relieve the heat in summer. No wonder Meton looked at him in that way. The history of using ice in winter had been long in the imperial palace. They had always eaten ice directly. Compared with the ice cream in front of him, it was extremely rustic.
"Ice cream!"
The two tasted the delicacy. Thinking of the name Meton gave it, they couldn't help nodding. The name was as delicious as the name.
Meton certainly didn't forget to give himself one. After tasting it, a familiar feeling suddenly came to him. Although it was slightly inferior to the ice cream of later generations, it was a surprise to be able to eat such delicious food.
"I want more!"
Li Zhi was the most gluttonous. He had already finished the ice cream cone in his hand and looked at Li Chengqian eagerly.
Li Chengqian thought of Meton's warning and couldn't help looking at Meton. Meton thought for a while and nodded, "One more at most. I'm afraid my stomach can't bear it."
Li Chengqian nodded slightly and said, "Give my ninth brother a small one!"
Chef Zhou immediately gave Li Zhi another ice cream according to Meton's method, but the amount was reduced by half. Even so, Li Zhi was still beaming with joy.
Princess Changle reluctantly finished her ice cream and couldn't help sighing, "Marquis Merton deserves to be the God of Wealth of Chang 'an City. With his ability to turn stone into gold, how can the Mo family not be rich?"
The news that the Mo family's village directly paid taxes of more than ten thousand strings of cash naturally spread throughout the imperial palace. Princess Changle naturally heard about it. She was not convinced until she saw Meton's ability to turn stone into gold.
Ice cubes, honey, and fruits were all common items in the palace. Who would have thought that Mo Jiazi could turn them into such delicacies?
"The Minister has to take care of the food and clothing of five thousand people, so he can only stink of money. The Minister envies Your Highnesses for not having to worry about money and for not having to worry about food and clothing," Meton said enviously.
"Do you think the princes and princesses don't have to worry about money? Princess Changle smiled bitterly as she said, "The monthly salary of each palace is only so much. How can it be enough?"
In fact, Princess Changle still couldn't say it out loud. Usually, it was okay, especially when the elders in the palace celebrated their birthday. Who didn't need to prepare birthday gifts? The Retired Emperor Li Yuan, the Emperor Father, the Queen Mother, and many imperial concubines had to be frugal in their own palace every time to prepare a decent birthday gift. Who didn't want to prepare generous gifts to show filial piety to their parents and elders?
Li Chengqian's face was also full of awkwardness. As the crown prince, he usually needed more money, but he had no other sources of income. Add to that his illustrious status, and there were people watching him at all times, and no one would believe that he wasn't tight on money.
Of course, Li Zhi and Princess Jinyang didn't have such worries at the moment. As long as they offered a piece of calligraphy and copied a book of filial piety, it would be enough. They didn't have to pay much, but they would get a lot of rewards.
"Uh, uh!"
Meton couldn't help but be stunned. He didn't expect that the princes and princesses would be embarrassed. Of course, this was only relatively speaking.
Suddenly, Meton had an idea. He pointed at the ice cream in his hand and said, "Your Highnesses, do you think the ice cream is delicious?"
Princess Changle said in surprise, "Of course. It's more than delicious. It's the best thing to relieve the heat in summer."
Li Chengqian immediately nodded in agreement. He was afraid that from now on, ice cream would be the most popular delicacy in the palace in summer. As for the tasteless ice, no one would eat it anymore.
"If this ice cream is sold in Chang 'an, will it be popular?" Meton continued to ask.
Princess Changle nodded and said, "Of course. This delicacy will definitely be popular in Chang 'an, just like the cake."
Meton said meaningfully, "The ice cream is a delicacy that the Minister offered to the four Highnesses. The recipe naturally belongs to the four Highnesses."
"You mean to let us use this to open a shop in Chang 'an to make money?" Princess Changle was clever and understood immediately.
"That's right! The princess could imagine that once this ice cream appeared in Chang 'an, it would naturally be popular for a while. And the four Highnesses wouldn't have to worry about the expenses in the palace.
Hearing these words, Princess Changle's eyes immediately brightened. She was no longer a young girl who had spent a long time in the palace. After several months of experience in the medical academy, she had already seen the outside world. Naturally, she knew the importance of money.
"No, as the royal family, how can we compete with the people for benefits!" Li Chengqian suddenly shook his head and said.
Princess Changle's face suddenly darkened. The royal family enjoyed the worship of the people and naturally had to abide by the rules. If they competed with the people for benefits, they would probably be opposed by the whole court. At that time, as the princess, she would not be able to get away with it.
"Compete with the people for benefits?" Meton asked, "Is there ice cream among the people? Who are you competing with? "
Li Chengqian was suddenly at a loss for words. Meton was the pioneer of saltpeter ice making, and so was ice cream. This was something that had never been available among the people and no one had ever profited from it. How could they compete with the people for benefits?
Princess Changle was suddenly enlightened and immediately jumped for joy. In this way, the biggest obstacle was gone. As for whether the princess could do business, it was naturally not an obstacle. She could just find someone to manage it. According to Changle's knowledge, many of her aunts had their own businesses and did the same.
"Li Zhi and I won't be involved in this matter. I'll leave it to you and Jinyang!" Li Chengqian said to Princess Changle. The system of the Tang dynasty was more lenient to the princesses but very strict to the princes. Li Chengqian knew that he couldn't get involved in this matter. Moreover, his position as the crown prince was more sensitive, so it was better to avoid arousing suspicion.
"Thank you, Big Brother!" Changle was moved.
Li Chengqian really loved this sister of his. Otherwise, he wouldn't risk offending Li Shimin for Princess Changle's happiness by exposing the dangers of incestuous marriages.
Of the two princesses, the Jinyang Princess was the younger, still at an ignorant age. Naturally, Princess Changle took the lead. In addition, Li Shimin owed Changle due to the previous matter of him being a close relative. Even if this matter were to be exposed in the future, it would not be a problem.
This kind of thing could only be done first and reported later. If it was exposed in advance, it would definitely not work. Li Zhi and Jinyang were young and couldn't keep secrets. Changle also thought of a way to send the two away.
"This thing is extremely delicious and relieves the heat. Why don't we give it to father and mother to taste?"
"Okay!" Li Zhi and Jinyang immediately responded.
When children had something good, they couldn't wait to show it to their parents. Naturally, the two of them were no exception.
Soon, the imperial chefs prepared two servings of ice cream. Li Zhi was responsible for giving it to Empress Zhangsun, and Jinyang was responsible for giving it to Li Shimin. After the two finished their work, they happily led the eunuch away.
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