Shocking! The entire court was drooling with envy because of me.

It's a brand new day again~

Today's dish is braised pork with potatoes.

The ingredients for this dish are very simple: pork belly, potatoes, scallions, ginger, garlic, and seasonings such as star anise and cinnamon.

Yesterday, Zheng Quan and Song Leye brought a lot of fresh ingredients from Pingkou City, including potatoes and meat.

The meat is top-quality three-layered pork belly, with alternating layers of fat and lean meat.

Put the pork belly in a pot of cold water, add some scallion segments and ginger slices, and then pour in cooking wine.

Before long, the water in the pot boiled, and a layer of foam formed on the surface.

Skim off the foam and boil for another 15 minutes. Remove the pork belly and rinse it with warm water.

Then cut the blanched pork belly into small cubes about two fingers square.

The second step is to sauté the meat.

The fire under the stove was burning brightly, and the iron pot was gradually getting hot.

No need to add oil, just pour the pork belly pieces into the pot and stir-fry over medium heat.

A rich, savory aroma rose from the pot, as the fat seeped from the meat chunks and slowly gathered at the bottom.

The pork belly was also fried until it developed golden-brown, slightly charred tiger-skin spots.

When it's almost done, remove the meat from the pan, leaving only the rendered pork fat in the pot.

Add rock sugar to the pot and simmer over low heat. The rock sugar will gradually melt, the bubbles will become smaller, and the color will become darker.

Pour in the previously sautéed pork belly and stir-fry quickly to coat each piece of meat evenly with the caramelized sugar.

Add scallions, ginger, garlic, star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves, etc., and stir-fry until fragrant.

Pour in cooking wine, then add soy sauce and dark soy sauce.

Once the aroma of the soy sauce rises, add boiling water, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer.

An hour later, the meat was stewed until tender and easily pierced with chopsticks. At this point, add the chopped potatoes and continue stewing.

Potatoes will dissolve in the broth if stewed for too long, so they shouldn't be stewed with meat. This is the perfect time to cook them.

Once the potatoes are cooked through, reduce the sauce over high heat, then sprinkle with chopped green onions.

This potato and meat stew is now ready!

"The aroma of meat is so rich..."

"I can't take it anymore, Madam Shen has come up with another new product!"

"The Black Hawk Guards really do eat well! This smells amazing, so delicious!"

"..."

Without a word, the emperor stood at the very front, sniffing and rubbing his hands together.

"Madam Shen, Mr. Zhen would like a serving of stewed potatoes and meat."

Potatoes, potatoes, potatoes are his favorite.

Upon seeing this, Song Anbang quickly moved to stand behind the emperor.

Having failed yesterday, he is determined to take the emperor's life today.

Mealtime is the most relaxing time for everyone, and this is his opportunity.

"Thirty coins for a serving of stewed potatoes and pork," Shen Qing said calmly.

The emperor was used to it, and with a smile, he took out thirty coins from his pocket.

This imperial expedition went very smoothly, almost like a leisurely outing. I even got to set up a stall with Lady Shen while posing as a commoner.

I'm so happy, so incredibly happy.

Song Anbang, standing behind, stared wide-eyed.

No? The emperor had to pay for his meals?

What's going on?

Song Anbang was completely shocked. In the time it took for him to catch his breath, the emperor had already picked up the stewed potatoes and meat.

The dark red broth evenly coats the potatoes and meat chunks. The potato ridges have been stewed until rounded, with slightly sandy edges. The pork belly trembles, steaming hot, oily and glossy.

The sauce dripped down the meat and potato chunks, making one's mouth water.

Bright green scallions were scattered everywhere, creating a striking contrast with the dark brown potatoes and chunks of meat.

Gollum—

Song Anbang couldn't help but swallow.

His eyes were fixed on the plate of stewed potatoes and meat in the emperor's hand, and he couldn't take his eyes off it.

It smells so good, it's so tempting... How can this smell so good...?

Saliva slowly dripped down the side of his mouth.

"You haven't eaten Lady Shen's cooking yet, have you?" The emperor's voice suddenly rang in my ears.

Song Anbang snapped out of his daze and nodded blankly.

"Since you've abandoned darkness for light, this is on you, Mr. Zhen!"

After saying that, he took out another thirty coins and said, "Madam Shen, give him one too."

Shen Qing nodded, then scooped up another serving of stewed potatoes and meat, and at the same time gave Song Anbang a bowl of rice.

Song Anbang couldn't help but take the food. The rich aroma of meat mixed with the fragrance of sauce, carried by the rising heat, was directed at his face.

At that moment, his mind was completely clear of all distractions; all that remained was the desire to eat.

As for the idea of ​​assassinating the emperor, it had long been forgotten.

He first picked up a piece of potato. The potato was stewed until it was very soft and crumbly. The salty and savory flavor of the meat juices blended together with the smooth texture of the potato. The potato itself had a simple, sweet taste, and the sauce on the outside was both salty and sweet, making it more and more addictive with each chew.

Another piece of meat, please.

The pork belly was incredibly tender; the fat melted in your mouth, fragrant and soft, while the lean meat was succulent. With a gentle chew, the juices burst forth, mixing with the sauce. One bite, and your mouth is filled with the aroma of meat.

Song Anbang's eyes widened.

At that moment, he suddenly felt that everything had a reasonable explanation.

No wonder, no wonder.

No wonder those with ill intentions said that Lady Shen had sorcery.

This stuff is so delicious and fragrant, it doesn't seem like something from the human world.

"You don't know how to eat this? Just watch, you have to pour all this potato and meat stew into the rice, then mash the potatoes, mix it all together, take a spoonful, and tsk tsk tsk, it's so delicious!!"

The rice and stewed potatoes in his bowl were already mixed together, the sauce evenly coating the rice grains, and the potatoes were mashed and mixed with the rice grains.

A spoonful contains rice, potatoes, and meat—it has everything.

It smells absolutely amazing.

At this moment, Song Anbang had no other thoughts; mainly, the emperor was eating with great relish.

He followed suit and poured the entire portion of potato stew into the rice.

Take a spoonful.

"That was awesome! So awesome!!"

"Madam Shen is a celestial being!!!"

Upon hearing this, the emperor laughed heartily.

That's right, that's right, he thinks so too.

But one thing is certain: Lady Shen is a fairy sent to him by heaven!

Song Leye, Zheng Quan, Zhou Wentong and others also hurriedly came up to queue up, they had been craving it for a long time.

The smell of stewed potatoes and meat is not something everyone can tolerate.

The whole group ate with great enthusiasm and were extremely happy.

Just then, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar.

Song Anbang looked up and saw that the person on horseback was none other than Wang Wu.

What is Wang Wu doing here at this time? He couldn't have been attracted by the smell of food, could he?

Song Anbang looked puzzled.

At the same time, the other soldiers present also became alert.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Wang Wu knelt down immediately upon dismounting.

"I have come on behalf of the Song family army to surrender to Your Majesty. The commander-in-chief has prepared wine and food to welcome Your Majesty into the city!"

surrender???!!!

Song Anbang was instantly dumbfounded.