Chapter 432: 204. Jade Person Tea Ceremony

204. Jade Person Tea Ceremony

"Grandfather's letter?"

At the entrance of a boudoir in Jingyi Court, Qin Ying, dressed in a tight-fitting Hu-style outfit, was blocked by a sturdy man in black who looked travel-worn.

The man stood meticulously, with a black headband tied around his head, carrying some military temperament, and said in a matter-of-fact way:

"The Marshal said, the letter must be handed to the young lady, and let the young lady decide for herself."

"What is it?"

The sturdy black-clad man shook his head.

Qin Ying looked at this somewhat familiar face, vaguely remembering that he was a personal guard beside her grandfather, and after checking the letter of proof, she took the envelope.

The sturdy black-clad man turned and left.

Qin Ying returned to the study, opened the envelope, and examined it curiously.

The expression on her face gradually disappeared, her brows furrowed, and then relaxed.

After thinking about it, she stood up and went out.

Qin Ying went to Xie Lingjiang's boudoir to find someone.

But after arriving, she didn't see

She didn't know where this Xie Jie had gone. In the courtyard, there was only a hot spring eye with a tinkling sound.

Qin Ying turned and left.

On an open space beside a rockery not far from Xie Lingjiang's boudoir, some large white geese were being kept.

In this era of the Great Zhou Dynasty, geese were still considered elegant creatures, and the noble clans would keep them for amusement.

However, when Qin Ying passed by, she noticed that among them were a few geese whose feathers were sparse; they were about to become bald geese, and their baldness was in a precarious state.

Yesterday, she had curiously asked Xie Jie about it. Xie Jie had a strange look in her eyes and then explained that it seemed to be the work of Young Master Ouyang when he was bored, saying he liked to tease the white geese and pluck their feathers.

No wonder that recently, whenever Young Master Ouyang came to look for Xie Lingjiang, Qin Ying would sometimes pass by and hear the sound of white geese running away with a splash from far away, while at the same time, there were vaguely some strange mutterings about something like the arrival of the Female Immortal of Ink. At the time, she had thought it was just a female book-attendant or someone similar by Young Master Ouyang's side playing around.

She hadn't expected Young Master Ouyang to have a hobby of plucking goose feathers.

Qin Ying smiled, shook her head, and turned back to the study.

Looking at the somewhat thorny letter in her hand, she pondered for a moment, walked to the bookshelf, opened a wooden box, and took out a purple sachet.

She had originally made two; she gave one to Eldest Young Master Li, and the other one was originally meant for someone else, but later she discovered that someone seemed not to be lacking anything at all.

Qin Ying actually didn't have too many lingering thoughts; instead, she felt some blessings in her heart for Xie Jie and Ouyang Lianghan.

Xie Jie truly liked him.

Of course, to say she wasn't envious at all in her heart would be a lie.

As for Eldest Young Master Li... he was quite honest.

Although he was like a wooden block when they went shopping or hunting together, Qin Ying didn't dislike him either.

Trying it out wasn't out of the question.

As for the matter mentioned in the letter her grandfather sent today...

Qin Ying lowered her head and glanced at the envelope.

She turned and went to put the sachet away again.

Hua Xuanji after, she went to change out of the tight-fitting Hu-style outfit she had worn for the autumn hunt, then walked to the desk, sat down, and took out paper, ink, brush, and inkstone.

She bit the brush handle, lowered her head, and silently wrote her reply.

"What did Young Xie Xiao Niangzi Qin say?"

Yunshui Pavilion, third floor.

As soon as Eldest Young Master Li entered the door and sat down, Ouyang Rong asked impatiently.

"Why is Tanlang urging me too..."

Eldest Young Master Li, who had entered with a smiling face, had a somewhat mournful expression.

"Ahem, alright, drink some tea."

Ouyang Rong poured a cup of clear tea for Eldest Young Master Li.

Last time, he had asked Eldest Young Master Li to go to Qin Ying's place to inquire about the attitude of the Qin Jingqin side, and also whether the Wei clan had any movements toward marriage.

Today, Ouyang Rong and Eldest Young Master Li had arranged to meet at Yunshui Pavilion to drink tea and discuss this matter.

It was also fortunate that there was Ouyang Rong as an excuse, so Eldest Young Master Li could generously leave the Wang Fu and temporarily escape the nagging of Li Lixian and Wei Mei.

However, Ouyang Rong came here to clarify the marriage movements between the Qin and Wei families, while Eldest Young Master Li had come excitedly to truly drink tea; in his own words, it was because he had been stifled for too long.

Recently, Ouyang Rong and Yan Liulang had both been busy, and the three of them hadn't had time to make an appointment to come.

Like today, Yan Liulang didn't have time to come either. And if there were only one person, Eldest Young Master Li's excuse for leaving the residence wouldn't be enough...

How could Ouyang Rong not know this little thought of his good friend, especially the little expression Eldest Young Master Li made by twitching his eyebrows just as he entered the private room; he had simply learned all the bad habits of that kid Yan Liulang.

Speaking of which, why couldn't Eldest Young Master Li learn his own uprightness?

After Ouyang Rong finished pouring the tea, he couldn't help but sigh and urged:

"Dala, I know you don't like going on blind dates with Young Xie Xiao Niangzi Qin, but be careful not to get caught. Not only is it disrespectful to her, but it will also make... make the Prince and the Princess disappointed."

"It won't happen. Qin Ying went to the autumn hunt this morning; she goes often these two days. I don't know how to hunt, so going there would just add trouble. She should know that too, and she didn't force it."

Ouyang Rong wanted to say something but stopped; he really wanted to teach him a lesson, but the words reached his lips and he swallowed them back.

Just as Eldest Young Master Li had said before, he didn't like women in a dominant position like Young Xie Xiao Niangzi Qin, the reason being that his mother and sister were of this type, and he had had enough of it.

"As for Father and Mother, Tanlang wouldn't snitch, right?"

Eldest Young Master Li looked at someone with eager eyes.

Ouyang Rong shook his head:

"Just keep a sense of proportion."

Eldest Young Master Li sighed:

"Tanlang, I'm already this old, in my twenties. In a few years, I'll be thirty, and I should have already taken concubines.

"But Father and Mother, because of the blind date matter, don't arrange these for me either; they don't mention it at all, letting me focus on pleasing Qin Ying.

"Now, my status as the Jiangzhou Assistant Prefect and the Xunyang Prince's Heir looks glorious, but it's as if I've done it in vain; nothing is free, and it's not as relaxed as Liulang. At the very least, he doesn't have to be nagged by his family, and he's already a Grade 7 high official more impressive than his elders."

Ouyang Rong pursed his lips:

"This is responsibility, the responsibility of the eldest son, the responsibility of the Xunyang Prince's Heir."

Eldest Young Master Li lowered his head:

"Yes, Tanlang, I realized it very early on. Everything I obtained, including my superior life, comes from the bloodline given by Father and Mother. This bloodline of the Great Ancestor also makes me enjoy honor while also having to bear responsibility and obligations, the responsibility and obligations to the Xunyang Wang Fu."

He muttered a few words to himself, raised his head, and was very serious:

"But I'm still not reconciled. I envy the mutual attraction between Tanlang and Young Xie Xiao Xie Xiao Niangzi.

"I'm not reconciled to listening to Father and Mother and suddenly settling on the person I'll spend the rest of my life with.

"Actually, it's not that I can't be like Father, marrying first and loving later, loving only Mother for a lifetime. I can do that too, treating the legal wife honestly.

"However, Father wasn't like me before either. He was very carefree in Chang'an when he was young, and he also took concubines. He experienced quite a lot, and only after knowing what he wanted did he honestly marry a legal wife.

"Tanlang, I've thought about it these days. If I were to marry Young Xie Xiao Niangzi Qin right now, the life in front of me would be one I could see the end of at a glance, one I could guess.

"Let me state again, it's not that I'm not honest, I'm just somewhat unreconciled. Spending a lifetime with someone I don't like and don't dislike... this feeling is as dry and tasteless as burying my head in books in Longcheng before. Now that I've finally left Longcheng, why can't I pursue something freer?"

Ouyang Rong pulled a straight face: "Don't give me any of your little essays. Just tell me, what do you want to do?"

"What's a little essay?"

Eldest Young Master Li muttered curiously, then explained:

"I don't want to do anything, I just want to slow down a bit, don't get married so quickly...

"Hey, now in the Wang Fu, I can't stay for even a moment. If it weren't for places like Yunshui Pavilion to relax, and you and Liulang to accompany me, I might have run away from home and wandered the world one day."

Seeing Ouyang Rong's expression become serious, he hurriedly waved his hands:

"Just kidding, let's not talk about this.

"By the way, didn't you ask about the Wei clan matter? I asked Qin Ying in a roundabout way. According to what she revealed, the Qin family currently doesn't have a man of suitable age who can marry into the family. On this point, she is very certain.

"In addition, she also denied that the Wei clan had sought out their Qin family, and instead, she earnestly urged me not to overthink it. She probably thought I was suspicious and unconfident when I asked."

"That's good."

Ouyang Rong breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Seeing that the serious business had been discussed, Eldest Young Master Li immediately looked around, then asked excitedly:

"Tanlang, do you know that Yunshui Pavilion recently launched a new health-preserving tea ceremony called 'Jade Person'? Listen, what a short and direct name."

"Are you drinking tea, or are you drinking people?"

"Can't I drink both?"

Ouyang Rong held his forehead and couldn't help but complain:

"The proprietor of this Yunshui Pavilion should stop running a restaurant and go open a brothel instead. A perfectly decent place is becoming more and more outrageous. The decoration of this building is quite good; how nice it would be to just be a tea house. It's also the highest grade in Xunyang City, yet they insist on doing these things."

"Tanlang, ahem, I actually think this is quite good; decent on the surface, indecent on the inside."

Eldest Young Master Li said happily: "The path is really getting wider."

"Doing indecent things inside a decent place, I guess only you would like this style."

Ouyang Rong shook his head speechlessly.

Eldest Young Master Li smiled embarrassedly and suggested considerately:

"Tanlang, why don't you try it too? This 'Jade Person' is the highest-spec tea ceremony in this building. Currently, only two tea artists can perform it... can discuss the Dao, and it's fixed to drink tea in the two best private rooms on this floor. One is the Heaven-grade private room, and one is the Earth-grade private room."

Eldest Young Master Li said with relish:

"Tanlang, do you know how you should address them when drinking tea?

"Haha, you have to use an honorific, which is Young Xie Xiao Niangzi or Teacher, either works. Whatever feels right, just go with it. This style, tsk tsk, speaking of which, how do they understand men so well."

Ouyang Rong was silenced and didn't know what to say.

Eldest Young Master Li lowered his voice and told him secretly:

"Tanlang, I just went upstairs and booked an Earth-grade private room. I wanted to leave the Heaven-grade one for you. Why don't we go together? This is a new thing; I heard it's a trend from the Qinhuai River in Jin Ling. Why don't we experience it?"

How could Ouyang Rong not know what this was? He shook his head:

"You go find Liulang; I don't need it. I'm pure love."

"What is pure love?"

"A person of pure emotion who has locked their heart to love."

Eldest Young Master Li had thick eyebrows and big eyes, and said very seriously:

"Then I'm pure love too."

"No, you're purely base."

Eldest Young Master Li shook his head vigorously:

"I have pure love in my heart; Tanlang doesn't understand. True pure love is to emerge from the mud without being stained. I enter the mud first, then emerge unstained; this is called washing away the leaden splendor."

"Don't use words randomly; you're dirtying my ears." Ouyang Rong warned him seriously.

Eldest Young Master Li coughed twice:

"My room is already opened; I guess the tea artist has arrived. I'll go first..."

"Wait, don't go yet."

Ouyang Rong grabbed his good friend and asked seriously:

"Tell me the reply from Young Xie Xiao Niangzi Qin again, carefully..."

Eldest Young Master Li had no choice but to nod helplessly and continue speaking.

"Clear out the two best private rooms in your Yunshui Pavilion; my master wants to treat an honored guest to tea."

At this moment, in front of the lobby counter downstairs, a cold man wearing a hat slammed a bag of silver on the table.

He raised his hand to press down the brim of his hat, covering his somewhat conspicuous Xianbei appearance.

And at the same time, in the small alley at the back door of Yunshui Pavilion, two ordinary carriages were parked quietly.

The carriages didn't move at all, and no one got off; they seemed to be waiting for something, very low-key.

People passing by probably wouldn't notice either.

Inside the building.

"The two best ones?" The fat proprietor hesitated: "But one has already been booked."

He turned his head to look at the water clock, showing a difficult expression:

"The time for the Earth-grade private room hasn't arrived yet, and the young ladies also need to rest and tidy up. Why don't you wait..."

Boom—!

A heavy bag that seemed to be filled with bricks slammed onto the table.

The fat proprietor was stunned and looked at the calm face under the man's low-key hat brim.

Without another word, he turned and went upstairs.

Arriving at the entrance of the Earth-grade private room, the fat proprietor glanced at the "Do Not Disturb" sign hanging on the door.

This was the rule on the third floor of Yunshui Pavilion; private rooms with guests would have a sign hanging to prevent accidental entry.

He hesitated, then carefully pushed open the door.

"Honored guest, I am truly sorry, truly sorry. Today's expenses are free... eh, where are the people?"

The fat proprietor looked around curiously.

He called over a seductive woman dressed in a cool tea artist outfit who looked like she was very good at sweating:

"Where are the guests in the Earth-grade private room? Qiuyue, isn't this the room you're receiving guests in?"

"I don't know, they haven't come yet; it's been half an hour." The head tea artist named Qiuyue shook her head.

The fat proprietor breathed a long sigh of relief, then took down the "Do Not Disturb" sign at the entrance of the Earth-grade private room with a look of pleasant surprise.

Hua Xuanji after, he ran downstairs happily...

About half an hour later.

"Alright, alright, I know, Tanlang. You drink your tea, and go back by yourself later; I won't see you off. Ahem, I'm busy."

Eldest Young Master Li came out of Ouyang Rong's private room, wiped the sweat from his brow, looking as if he had finally been liberated, rubbed his hands, and walked back to his own private room.

Arriving at the door, he glanced at the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door, then turned to look next door, only to see that the Heaven-grade private room also had its door tightly closed with a "Do Not Disturb" sign hanging.

"This business is really booming, after all, the price is so expensive. Hey, it's a pity Tanlang didn't come; it's cheaper for others."

Eldest Young Master Li shook his head, then pushed the door open and entered with a calm expression.

As if he had returned to his home field, he was familiar with the road, and his posture when walking straightened up.

As soon as he entered, he ordered carelessly:

"Young Xie Xiao Niangzi, hurry and pour tea for this young master; I'm thirsty to death from talking too much...

"Uh, why is Young Xie Xiao Niangzi wearing so many clothes? Oh, I understand, this taste, it's worthy of being a 'Jade Person'."

"Go... good, thank you for the compliment, Young Master."

After the woman in the room was stunned for a moment, her tone was gentle.

(End of chapter)