Chapter 35: Kuding Tea

The room fell silent. Qingdai and Yining quickly lowered their heads, afraid someone would see how hard they were struggling to hold back their laughter.

Lan Ruyue’s whole face twisted from the bitterness. Princess Jiarou, though not quite so ill-mannered, still nearly dropped her teacup in shock. She finally managed to swallow the tiny bit of tea in her mouth with great difficulty, tears almost streaming down her face. Her eyes, glistening and pitiful, looked towards Wei Qingchen, but seeing only a face full of confusion, she had no choice but to glance at Chu Mingxi instead. There, her dignified and beautiful cousin-in-law was holding her teacup, taking a gentle, quiet sip. An eyebrow arched, as if giving her a signal.

Had they just crossed swords? Princess Jiarou felt a bit heartbroken.

Chu Mingxi placed her teacup on the small side table and smiled. “The Heir has been suffering from excess internal heat lately. The kitchen happened to have some Kuding tea prepared. I didn’t expect our two honored guests would find it unpalatable.” As she spoke, she didn’t look at Wei Qingchen but simply lowered her hand and rested it gently on her shoulder.

Wei Qingchen understood immediately. She lifted her teacup and slowly took a sip herself.

Truly! Incredibly! Bitter!

Even with mental preparation, her fine brows nearly furrowed. But remembering she had to back up her wife, she immediately relaxed them. Lifting her head, she flashed a smile at Chu Mingxi. “How thoughtful of you.” She paused, her smile widening a fraction. “It’s only natural for little girls not to be accustomed to it.”

Though she smiled as she spoke, her eyes held a look of slight grievance. Combined with her tilted-up head, she was practically a puppy waiting for a tail wag. Seeing this, Chu Mingxi felt an inexplicable urge to laugh. As Wei Qingchen turned to speak, the hand on her shoulder had slipped to her collar. Chu Mingxi took the opportunity to gently stroke the smooth curve of Wei Qingchen’s neck, offering some comfort.

Wei Qingchen narrowed her eyes, feeling delighted and content. Kuding tea is truly wonderful!

Over on the other side, Princess Jiarou was not pleased. What did he mean by “little girls not accustomed to it”? You’re barely half a year or a year older than me. So what? Just because you’re married, you’re an adult now?

The amusement in Chu Mingxi’s eyes deepened. The guest was a princess, after all; it wouldn’t do to be too neglectful. Turning back, she said, “I wonder what kind of tea Her Highness the Princess prefers? I’ll have them brew a fresh pot.” She glanced at the maids beside her.

Yining and Qingdai curtsied in acknowledgment.

Lan Ruyue was about to blurt out “Yes, please!”, but Jiarou, nursing her pride and adopting some royal haughtiness, lifted her chin and said, “No need. A guest follows the host’s convenience. This tea is excellent.” Saying this, she took a deep breath in secret and drank another sip.

Lan Ruyue’s eyes nearly popped out of her head!

But Wei Qingchen didn’t let her off the hook, her face smiling as she watched that cup of tea.

She didn’t want to drink it!

Resentful and unwilling, as if undergoing torture, she took another minuscule sip. Boo-hoo.

Suppressing a laugh, Chu Mingxi turned and instructed the maids, “Bring the tea snacks.” The two maids curtsied together and swiftly slipped out of the room.

In a short while, several tea snacks were brought in, all presented in small celadon dishes. There were exquisitely delicate Plum Blossom Steamed Cakes, milk-fragrant Golden Milk Pastries, and a plate of fine Two-color Embroidered Balls. Lan Ruyue, being young, found everything to her liking. Jiarou, a child of the imperial family, had access to everything in the world within the palace and wasn’t particularly impressed. However, the Plum Blossom Steamed Cakes were uniquely crafted, each one shaped like a blooming flower on a branch. She took a bite, and the fragrance lingered on her lips and teeth. She even ate two pieces.

Just like that, they finally managed to get through that one cup of tea. The sun had already begun its descent. After sitting a little while longer, Jiarou rose to take her leave. Wei Qingchen and her wife escorted her out. Reaching the courtyard gate, Jiarou said, “Since Cousin is unwell, there’s no need to see me further. Grandmother often speaks of you. When you have time, you should come to the palace and pay your respects to her.”

Wei Qingchen stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Chu Mingxi. Hearing this, she nodded. “I will. I’ll bring your cousin-in-law along with me to pay respects to Grandmother.”

Jiarou stared down at her toes, seemingly not hearing her.

A nearby maid presented a food box. Chu Mingxi took it and personally handed it over. “These are Plum Blossom Steamed Cakes, just made in the small kitchen. Still warm. If you get hungry on the road, it’ll tide you over.”

Jiarou paused, looking at her, then at her beaming cousin the Heir. An involuntary sigh rose in her heart. Ultimately, she took the food box, handed it to a maid at her side, and said softly, “Thank you, Cousin-in-law.”

Chu Mingxi didn’t say more, only returning a smile.

When she returned to the room, Yining and Qingdai were tidying the table. Chu Mingxi swept her gaze over them. She knew these two girls had their backs to her because they didn’t dare raise their heads.

Dismissing the other junior maids, Chu Mingxi strolled to the bookshelf, casually picked up a book, and said nonchalantly, “Speak. What was that all about?”

Yining and Qingdai exchanged glances, momentarily feeling fearful and uneasy.

“Don’t want to talk?” Chu Mingxi nodded. “Then no need to speak. Starting tomorrow… no, starting today, you’ll each drink ten bowls of Kuding tea every day. When you feel like talking, then we’ll talk.”

Yining could manage, but Qingdai was already frightened, her face a giant pictogram of “bitter.” She plopped down, hugging her young mistress’s leg. “Miss, boo-hoo… I don’t want to drink Kuding tea.”

“When you played that prank, why didn’t you think about ‘not wanting to’? That was the current princess! How many heads do you have for causing such trouble?”

“We… we couldn’t stand it! You don’t know, this princess was once engaged to the Heir!”

“Qingdai!” Yining, afraid of her causing more trouble, quickly cut her off, stealing a glance at her miss. Seeing Chu Mingxi didn’t look particularly angry, she shuffled over and slowly knelt beside her. She reported, “They weren’t formally engaged. A sister serving in the Grand Princess’s residence inadvertently mentioned that His Majesty once intended to decree a marriage between Princess Jiarou and the Heir. Naturally, it never came to pass later. However, a few days ago, when the Heir was beaten in the palace, it was Princess Jiarou who sent someone to escort him back. And now… now that Miss is long married to the Heir, she still comes to our manor. This servant and Qingdai truly couldn’t stomach it, so we devised this scheme. This servant knows her mistake and willingly accepts punishment.” Saying this, she knelt properly and kowtowed.

Only then did Qingdai recall she had toyed with the current princess. Cold sweat broke out on her back. She hastily kowtowed properly too. “Miss, I also know I was wrong. Punish me.”

Chu Mingxi stood with her hands behind her back holding a book, thinking. Wei Qingchen had mentioned before that His Majesty once inquired about her marriage prospects. He probably genuinely considered granting a marriage. No wonder today, this princess couldn’t tolerate anyone else in her sight. So that was it.

But she was already married to the Heir, and yet the princess still chased her to their home to give attitude. What was this? A belated show of power?

“What’s going on here?” Wei Qingchen had stopped outside to relieve herself and wash her hands, arriving back a bit late. As soon as she entered, she saw the two maids kneeling in the Flower Hall. Qingdai’s face was pale and trembling, as though frightened.

“What happened?” she asked as she walked in.

Chu Mingxi replied with an “Oh” and casually said, “They both want to drink Kuding tea and were begging me to buy them two catties.”

“Two catties?!”

“Two catties??”

Wei Qingchen and Yining exclaimed in unison. Wei Qingchen was astonished, Yining was horrified. Beside them, Qingdai let out a “Wah” and started crying outright.

Chu Mingxi turned her back to them. Once she suppressed her laughter, she said in a stern voice, “Yes. Since they want to drink it, let them.”

“Boo-hoo.” Now not just Qingdai, even Yining felt like crying.

Wei Qingchen took a step back, looking incredulously at the maids on the floor, then at the teacups still on the table. She swallowed hard.

“What? Do you want some too?” Chu Mingxi glanced back at her with a smile.

Wei Qingchen immediately shook her head like a rattle-drum. “No no no!”

Setting her book down on the table, Chu Mingxi nodded and addressed the maids, “Did you hear that? Prepare two catties of Kuding tea for the Heir as well, one dose daily. Drink it slowly.” After that, she ignored them completely and walked back into the inner room.

Wei Qingchen: ???

Wei Qingchen looked at the thin curtain gently swaying in the doorway, then at the two maids on the floor nearly embracing each other in tears. After pondering a long while, she belatedly asked, “Did I somehow offend your miss?”

The two maids dared not show anger or speak, sniffling as they cleaned up the food boxes and teacups. Sigh, it was all this tea’s fault!

Ultimately, they still had to drink Kuding tea for two days. On the third day, the Chu Family Eldest Miss showed mercy and let them off. The three, mistress and servants, were profoundly grateful, so much so that word even reached the Grand Princess. She inquired a little and guessed the whole story. Turning back, she joked with Aunt Qi, “I never would have guessed Qingchen’s wife was the jealous type.”

Aunt Qi also laughed. “The Young Mistress only gets jealous because she cares.”

The Grand Princess chuckled heartily.

The plants and trees in the courtyard withered and flourished with the seasons. December slipped away just like that.

During the first month of the new year, the palace held a grand banquet. The Empress Dowager was gracious, and the Emperor permitted all titled ladies of the third rank and above to attend the banquet by Imperial Edict. Wei Qingchen accompanied her princess mother, leading her wife into the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.

Chu Mingxi had been to Longevity Palace a few times before, mostly to report when following her father into the Imperial Academy of Medicine. She had also come once after the wedding to kowtow and give thanks to the Empress Dowager alongside Wei Qingchen. This was the second time she met Empress Dowager Liu since their marriage.

The palace floors were all covered with carpets, and earth dragons were lit for warmth. The moment they entered the room, the ladies shed their heavy outer garments. Chu Mingxi, as a new bride, wore a peach-pink thin jacket with a circle of snow-white fur at the collar and cuffs. It softened her usual cool detachment, making her pretty face appear even more charming and lovely.

Empress Dowager Liu was overjoyed. After she and Wei Qingchen kowtowed together, she took one in each hand and had them sit by her side. She asked about daily life, whether Chu Mingxi was accustomed to living in the General’s Mansion, and whether Qingchen bullied her.

Chu Mingxi answered with graceful composure, lacking any of the artifice common to ordinary official’s daughters. At the end, with a smile, she said, “I heard from Mother that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has been feeling weary lately. I suspect it’s due to the winter drowsiness, coupled with poor sleep. I’ve made a few sachets. You needn’t carry them on your person, just place them in your bedchamber. If you sleep well at night, you’ll naturally be energetic during the day.”

As she spoke, she presented two small pouches. Aunt Fang, standing nearby, received them on behalf of the Empress Dowager. However, the Empress Dowager took one to examine in her hand. The fabric was soft and cottony, one embroidered with “Longevity,” the other with “Auspiciousness.” The embroidery work, however, was merely average.

Empress Dowager Liu looked at it for a long time, then asked with a beaming smile, “Did you embroider these yourself?”

Chu Mingxi’s face flushed slightly. “Yes. They are poorly made. I hope Her Majesty will forgive my lack of skill.”

“The sentiment is wonderful. I like them very much. Besides,” she added, pulling Wei Qingchen’s hand over and placing Chu Mingxi’s soft palm onto Wei Qingchen’s, “a child of our family isn’t meant to be an embroiderer. What need is there for such perfect embroidery skill? This wife of yours… is very good. You must cherish her.”