As she brought the teacup close to her nose, Jiang Shuwan caught a faint scent of bamboo.
She carefully took a sip, and the tea soup blended in her mouth, full of the fresh and natural aroma of bamboo.
The water used for Li Yuyan's three cups of tea was snow water collected from plum blossoms in winter, dew from lotus leaves in summer, and dew collected from bamboo leaves in the early morning.
All three cups of tea are excellent.
However, using this to make things difficult for her is rather low-level...
"..."
Jiang Shuwan frowned slightly, lost in thought, and remained silent.
Those around her were worried for her.
"What's going on? You've finished all three cups and still can't figure it out?"
Is it difficult?
"But it doesn't seem difficult to me at all. I can smell the plum blossoms even when I'm standing to the side. The first cup must have been made with plum blossom snow water..."
Listening to the hushed conversations around her, Jiang Shuwan glanced at Li Yuyan.
Li Yuyan glanced at her, her face full of confidence, her eyes revealing a hint of contempt.
He looked at it as if it were an ant.
Looking at Consort Gao and Guo Yaqin, they both looked at her with the same arrogant and disdainful gaze.
Jiang Shuwan didn't think she couldn't even guess the meaning of such a simple tea.
So why did Consort Gao, Guo Yaqin, and Li Yuyan all have expressions of waiting to see a good show?
Why do they act like she's already lost before she even opens her mouth?
so,
There is only one truth.
"Tea tasting is just an excuse."
"The result is not important."
"The important thing is the attitude of Consort Gao, Guo Yaqin, and Li Yuyan."
"The three of them are the highest-ranking people at this banquet. Whatever water they say it is, that's what it is."
"True strength doesn't require elaborate tricks; it only requires calling a deer a horse and intimidating others with power."
"Simple, yet very useful."
Jiang Shuwan suddenly realized.
"Li Yuyan is much smarter than last time..."
With a sigh in her heart, Jiang Shuwan gently put down the teacup in her hand.
Li Yuyan stared at her, her eyes full of mockery. "Why aren't you saying anything? Can't you guess?"
“Your Highness is mistaken. How could the princess consort of a noble family be so ignorant about something as simple as tea tasting?”
Upon hearing this, Guo Yaqin immediately teamed up with Li Yuyan, the two of them working together to ridicule Jiang Shuwan.
The other ladies-in-waiting in the hall also started discussing among themselves, "Impossible, right? Although this water is not ordinary water, you can definitely taste the difference if you taste it. Those of us with sensitive noses can smell the plum blossoms in the tea."
hehe.
If you smell the fragrance of plum blossoms now, and Li Yuyan says there isn't, what will you do?
With a cold glance at the woman of high rank who had spoken, Jiang Shuwan looked away the next second.
The girl lowered her head and gently touched the magnolia buds embroidered on her sleeve with her slender, fair fingers.
"Plum blossoms? Where did these plum blossoms come from? These three types of tea are all brewed with ordinary well water, nothing special."
She spoke slowly, word by word, her voice cold, like snow drifting in from outside, devoid of warmth.
However, the corners of her mouth remained turned up in a smile.
He was all smiles.
Isn't the point to call a deer a horse?
Then I'll play along with you.
"Ordinary well water?"
"You actually said it's just ordinary well water?"
"These three cups of tea, the first cup is snow water that I collected from the plum tree yesterday, the second cup is dew from a lotus leaf in summer, and the third cup is rootless water from a bamboo leaf in the early morning."
“I personally served all three cups of water, and I even brewed one for His Majesty today. Even His Majesty praised it, yet you say they are just ordinary well water!”
"Ha ha ha ha……"
Li Yuyan burst into laughter, her laughter echoing throughout the entire palace.
She was indeed deliberately trying to make things difficult for Jiang Shuwan, but she didn't expect Jiang Shuwan to be so ignorant that she couldn't even taste the difference in tea.
While inwardly mocking her mercilessly, Li Yuyan outwardly showed no respect to Jiang Shuwan.
She looked at her with disdain, her eyes filled with contempt.
"Those from inferior families are ignorant and lack knowledge."
As soon as Li Yuyan said this, all the ladies of the outer court covered their mouths and laughed.
"It's so embarrassing that she couldn't even guess the answer to a cup of tea."
"We just reminded her that one of the cups was plum blossom water. If she had listened to us, she would have at least guessed one of the cups correctly."
"As expected, he's ignorant and arrogant, tsk tsk tsk..."
The sarcastic voices of the noblewomen and ladies from aristocratic families surged towards Jiang Shuwan like waves. Jiang Shuwan remained unfazed, but Jiang Yao became anxious.
"What's wrong with you? You've completely disgraced the Jiang family."
After walking a few steps to Jiang Shuwan's side, Jiang Yao's face turned red and white with anger.
How come you couldn't guess even one cup?
She even considered drinking it herself, but Jiang Shuwan suddenly grabbed her hand.
Jiang Yao: "Meow meow meow?"
Jiang Shuwan shook her head at Jiang Yao, then turned her gaze to Consort Gao and Guo Yaqin.
The two of them were laughing so hard they were practically falling over, making no attempt to hide it.
Indeed, there was no need for any cover-up. With the Empress absent, who would dare to speak ill of Consort Gao and Guo Yaqin?
"So lively?"
Just then, an old but dignified voice came from the doorway.
Upon hearing this, Consort Gao immediately stopped laughing. She quickly tidied her appearance, then took a few steps down the stairs and squatted down towards the door.
"Your Majesty, I have come to pay my respects."
The nine heavy doors of Shaohua Palace were suddenly pulled open, and in the biting cold wind, the aged Emperor Jing appeared at the entrance, surrounded by civil and military officials.
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