Chapter 73: Tea Set Gift The teapot has a round and full body, as if...
Liu Yeshu was startled for a moment, then lowered her eyes and replied calmly, "General, I have no complaints. Your Majesty's intention to grant us this marriage is an honor for everyone in the General's Mansion. The princess is of noble status, and she and you are a match made in heaven. I sincerely wish you the best in your future."
Qi Yu's expression changed slightly, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. He sighed slowly, as if he wanted to reach out and hold her, but his hand froze in mid-air, ultimately failing to move.
Qi Yu's brow furrowed slightly, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes, as if he were suppressing something. After a moment, he spoke softly, his tone carrying a subtle heaviness: "Ye Shu, some things aren't as simple as you think."
Liu Yeshu's heart trembled, but he maintained a polite smile on his face. "I have never dared to overstep my bounds. The general has shown me great kindness, so I naturally abide by my duty and dare not overstep the line."
Just then, footsteps were heard outside. A personal guard hurried in, bowed to Qi Yu, and respectfully reported, "General, the Empress will summon the Princess later. Please come to the palace immediately to assist with the arrangements."
Qi Yu frowned slightly, but without hesitation, he turned to Liu Yeshu and said, "I need to go to the palace. You should rest in the mansion for a while. I will discuss this with you in detail when I return." He paused, his eyes full of meaning, and slowly added, "I have submitted your mechanical drawings to the court. If they are proven to be usable, this contribution will be a significant bargaining chip in your family's fight for release from the imperial family."
After Qi Yu left, Liu Yeshu stood alone in the yard. After a long time, he sighed and felt a little regretful for saying those angry words just now.
After much thought, I decided to go for a walk in the streets to divert my attention.
There are shops on both sides of the street, and the vendors and pedestrians coming and going make the place crowded and bustling.
Turning a corner, Liu Yeshu stopped in front of an exquisite tea shop. Wind chimes hung at the entrance, chiming softly in the breeze. She pushed the door open and saw a variety of teapots and cups, softly gleaming in the sunlight. There were bluish-white porcelain, rich, rustic purple clay, and even a small red porcelain tea set, so vibrant it looked as if it could drip with juice.
The shopkeeper greeted her enthusiastically, "What would you like, young lady? We have the latest purple clay teapots and blue and white porcelain cups, all handcrafted by famous Beijing masters. They're perfect for collecting and for everyday tea brewing."
Liu Yeshu surveyed the teapot carefully and suddenly noticed a small celadon tea set in the corner. Its elegant color exuded a gentle texture, and the body, as delicate as jade, had flowing, ancient lines. She walked over and picked it up. It felt warm and delicate, the spout slightly raised, and the lid fitted snugly, clearly a testament to its craftsmanship. She smiled faintly and said to the shopkeeper, "This celadon tea set is quite nice. Is it a local handmade product?"
The shopkeeper nodded hurriedly, "Young lady, you have a good eye. This is made by a local potter in the capital. It's suitable for brewing light teas, especially green tea and scented tea. It really brings out the fragrance of the tea."
I looked at several sets of tea sets but still couldn't find one that satisfied me. Then I accidentally saw several neatly arranged rows of tea cans on the counter.
She picked up a box of Biluochun tea and sniffed its elegant, refreshing aroma. A thought struck her. If this tea could be introduced to the frontier, it might be a business opportunity. The common people and soldiers there mostly drank coarse tea and rarely had the chance to taste the fine teas of the capital. This scarce tea would surely find a market there.
She turned to the shopkeeper and asked, "Shopkeeper, what are the characteristics of each of these teas? When is it best to drink them?"
Seeing her obvious interest in tea, the shopkeeper's smile widened as he enthusiastically introduced her, "You have good taste, young lady! These are all top-quality teas! The Biluochun you hold is a famous Jiangnan green tea. It's fragrant and perfect for cooling off in the summer. In the cold winter, Biluochun is a lighter drink, so why not try this Tieguanyin?"
He pointed to another box of tea and continued, "This Tieguanyin is an oolong tea, somewhere between green tea and black tea, with a unique aroma and a sweet aftertaste. The nobles in the capital are particularly fond of it, and it's considered our treasure. Besides that, we also have Pu'er, which is mild in nature and becomes more fragrant with age. It's especially suitable for cold climates."
Liu Yeshu nodded slightly, pondering the properties of these teas. Bringing tea to the frontier wouldn't just warm the stomach in the cold climate, it could also become a unique business channel. With this in mind, she couldn't help but ask, "Boss, if I want to bring some tea back, would that be convenient?"
The shopkeeper's eyes lit up, thinking she was interested in buying more, and he quickly said enthusiastically, "If that's your intention, young lady, that's fantastic! We not only sell finished tea, but we also offer wholesale channels, with new tea shipped from the south every month. If you need to buy in bulk, the price is negotiable." He smiled again, and with a hint of pride, he said, "The tea here is one of the best in the capital, and many dignitaries often come here to patronize us."
Liu Yeshu continued to inquire calmly, "Tea is so popular, I wonder if it's possible to grow it? If there are suitable tea seeds or tea seedlings, can we try to grow them in the border area?"
The shopkeeper's expression changed slightly when he heard this question, and he hesitated for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure and said with a smile, "That's a fresh idea, young lady. However, growing tea is not easy. The climate in the south of the Yangtze River is moist and mild, suitable for tea trees, while the climate in the border areas is dry and cold, which is probably not conducive to the survival of tea seedlings. As for tea seeds, they are rare on the market. After all, tea leaves require 'local water and soil to produce local tea', so most tea farmers don't sell seeds easily."
"However, if you really want to look for it, you might try your luck at the grocery store in the West Market. Occasionally, there will be southern merchants there who bring some rare seeds. As for whether they can survive in the frontier, that depends on your ability." The shopkeeper said with a joking tone.
Liu Yeshu listened, secretly noting down the information from the West Market Grocery Store. With a faint smile, she said, "The shopkeeper's reminder is correct. Regardless of whether the planting is successful or not, being able to bring some tea back is already a great choice. If I plan to make a large purchase in the future, I will definitely come here to find you."
The shopkeeper nodded repeatedly, his face full of smiles. "Don't worry, young lady. If you're interested in doing long-term business, we'll take care of your needs. We have an endless supply of the capital's finest teas." He added, "You can also try our small packages of tea, which are also great as gifts."
Liu Yeshu nodded slightly, picked up several boxes of different teas, and placed them on the counter, ready to take them home to try. Her interest in the tea business grew stronger. Seeing her satisfaction, the shopkeeper took the opportunity to sell her other tea accessories and even described some popular Beijing tea customs, such as brewing Tieguanyin with hot spring water or using a purple clay teapot specifically for brewing Pu'er. She nodded inwardly, and more ideas came to mind.
Liu Yeshu's gaze was drawn to a blue and white porcelain tea set. The teapot's body was round and plump, like a waxing moon, its spout slightly tilted upward, exuding an elegant charm. The teacup was exquisitely carved, its edges as thin as a cicada's wing, as if it would shatter at the slightest touch. The lotus on the lid was truly lifelike, its intricate carvings making it seem to sway gently in the wind.
She approached the tea set, gently brushing her fingers over the texture of the pot, examining it carefully. Just as she was about to ask the shopkeeper for the price, the owner smiled apologetically and said, "You have good taste, young lady. This tea set has attracted much attention since it was put on the shelf. It's just a pity that a young man has already reserved it."
Although Liu Yeshu was a little disappointed, she still nodded politely: "I see, I'm late, what a pity."
Just as she turned to leave, a clear laugh suddenly came from behind her: "Miss, don't be sad. If you like this tea set, I can give it to you."
Liu Yeshu turned around and saw a young man walking in from the door. He was calm and composed, and his every move revealed the demeanor of a young man from a noble family.
The young man was about twenty years old, with a handsome face. He was dressed in a gorgeous brocade robe, with tassels swaying gently on his shoulders. His eyes were a bit frivolous and scrutinizing, and he was clearly very interested in Liu Yeshu. He nodded slightly to the shopkeeper, indicating that the tea set should be brought over.
"Mr. Han, this..." The shopkeeper hesitated for a moment, but did not dare to disobey, and carefully placed the tea set in front of Liu Yeshu.
The young man looked at Liu Yeshu with a smile, his tone gentle and relaxed: "My surname is Han. May I ask your name, young lady? Since this tea set has caught your eye, why not give it to you?"
Liu Yeshu was slightly startled, having not expected to encounter such a situation. She bowed slightly and said calmly, "Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Han, but I have no title; I'm just an ordinary citizen." Her voice was calm, polite, but also hinted at a refusal to engage in conversation.
However, Master Han remained unmoved. He continued to gaze at her with a smile, seemingly more interested in her indifference. He then asked, "Since you are unwilling to reveal your name, could you please tell me where you live? If there is a chance, I would like to share a cup of tea with you."
Liu Yeshu's heart trembled, sensing a hint of frivolity in his gaze. She remained composed and said slowly, "I live in the General's Mansion. If you need to see me, you can come anytime."
"General's Mansion?" When Master Han heard these three words, his eyes flickered slightly, and he was obviously a little surprised.
"It is General Qi Yu."
He looked at Liu Yeshu, as if trying to discern something from her clothes and demeanor, but then he resumed his frivolous smile: "So the young lady is from General Qi's mansion? That's quite unexpected."
Liu Yeshu smiled slightly, took the tea set box calmly, nodded and said, "In that case, thank you for the gift of the tea set. I have something else to do at home, so I won't stay any longer. Goodbye." After that, she picked up the tea set, nodded politely, turned and left.
Young Master Han watched her departing figure with a playful look in his eyes. He murmured, "Qi Yu's people? That's interesting."
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