Chapter 108: Most likely suspect (1/2)
Chapter 108: Most likely suspect Original and most updated translations are from volare. If read elsewhere, this chapter has been stolen. Please stop supporting theft.
Next morning, Steward Xia delivered a pile of tea before Mu Qingwu arrived, including plenty of spring tea and some autumn and winter teas. They were all the freshest picks. Who said the ancients lacked food preservation skills? Gazing at the spread before her, Han Yunxi sighed with emotion. From the past to present, silver had always helped people accomplish things.
Looking over the tins of fragrant tea, she didn’t even both with breakfast before diving into the study for experiments. Like before, she divided the tea into categories and isolated the tea leaves in water. She even did multiple experiments just with green tea, but unfortunately, had pitiful results.
Once again, each sample had failed to successfully conceal the poison. There was no pleasant surprise at all. She grouped them into categories based on drying times, then growing season, but that didn’t work either. Han Yunxi walked out of the study with her head hanging, feeling somewhat unlucky. Did she suspect the wrong thing, or overlook some other detail?
Places of production?
Could that be it?
Besides different curing methods, and harvest times, the only difference between teas would be their place of production. A renewed Han Yunxi suddenly grew alert. Perhaps they’d get results from the Celestial Fragrance Teashop today!
“Esteemed wangfei, it’s time to take your meal,” Zhao mama reminded her. Only then did Han Yunxi come back to reality. She had just sat down when Zhao mama said, “His Highness woke up a long time ago, he’s steeping tea in the courtyard.”
The hand holding her chopsticks quivered, but only for a second. Han Yunxi had no other reaction. Zhao mama gave her a long look before saying faintly, “His Highness’s favorite tea is Red South Peak from the Celestial Fragrance Teashop.”
Han Yunxi still kept silent as she minded her own business and ate as if she didn’t hear a thing. When she was full and saw that Zhao mama had left, she walked out to the courtyard and looked around. Unfortunately, there was no sign of her servant until Zhao mama suddenly appeared behind her back with a smile.
“Esteemed wangfei…”
Scared out of her wits like a thief caught in the act, Han Yunxi spun around with a huff. “What are you doing?!”
Zhao mama was quite maligned as she spoke timidly. “One of the outside attendants came to report that the young general’s waiting for you at the back door.”
Only then did Han Yunxi’s temper quell as she hurriedly hopped away…
—
Mu Qingwu discovered that Han Yunxi’s foot was injured when he saw her limping over. “Esteemed wangfei, what happened to your foot?”
Actually, Han Yunxi was perfectly capable of walking normally now, but she was wary of the aftermath of her sprain and didn’t dare add weight to her foot, thus the limping. She hopped onto the carriage. “Just a sprain, it’s fine.”
“Esteemed wangfei, we can change a date to go. Your foot…” Though ‘delicate and frail’ weren’t words used to describe this woman, Mu Qingwu was still hesitant.
“It’s fine. Let’s hurry on our way, there’s not many days left. I don’t want to lose,” Han Yunxi reminded with a smile. Counting today, there were only 12 days left in her bet with Mu Liuyue.
Mu Qingwu didn’t know how to reply. He could only climb onto the carriage, though he sat on the bench outside next to the driver instead of inside with Han Yunxi. She was about to invite him in when she remembered Long Feiye’s warning from yesterday and gave up on the idea. Long Feiye might be a traditionalist, but in this world both unmarried girls and attached wives had to examine their self-conduct. If they didn’t hold themselves in check and someone latched onto their shortcomings, it’d be another whole mess of troubles.
—
It was still early when they arrived at Celestial Fragrance Plantation, so there weren’t many customers. This teashop was surrounded on three sides by mountains that cultivated tea leaves. In front of the building was a small brook, and the overall surroundings made for a fine and exquisite landscape. The teashop occupied an extremely large area that included over 30 courtyards. They even had their own hot springs in the southwest corner.
Leaving aside the cost it took to construct this plantation, just the price of the land on the outskirts of the capital had to be worth several cities. Rumors had it that the owner of the Celestial Fragrance Teashop was an extremely low-profile person who moved in mysterious ways. That person had wealth equivalent to that of an entire nation, but up until now, none of the customers had ever seen him or knew who he was.
Mu Qingwu had made a reservation ahead of time, so when the young servants saw the general’s carriage approach, they neither dared to obstruct or slight them, but immediately led the carriage to a private courtyard. This courtyard was called the Spring Rain Courtyard[1], which Mu Liuyue frequently reserved for herself. As it just so happened, she hadn’t come by today.
When Han Yunxi alighted, she was immediately enthralled by her surroundings. This standalone courtyard was enclosed and very private, surrounded by four high walls and full-blown flowers. A tea table and chairs had been set up amidst the flowers, and the scent of incense smoke trailed up into the air as it reached their noses.
“Esteemed wangfei, take care.” Mu Qingwu signaled with a glance, and two female servants came forward to support her by the arm, though Han Yunxi said there was no need.
She limped and hobbled along the stone path until she reached the flowers, crossing her legs to sit by the tea stall. If she didn’t have business to attend to, how nice it’d be to stay here a few days and thoroughly relax! If this place existed in the present, then it’d be the highest of high-ranked conference halls, suitable for holding meetings, confidential talks, or even lovers’ trysts.
“It looks like esteemed wangfei really likes it here,” Mu Qingwu said as he sat down.
“If we had a pot of good tea, it’d be even better,” Han Yunxi said playfully.
They’d come today for two reasons: 1) to examine this teashop and 2) to inquire into Mu Liuyue’s tea drinking habits and her meetings with friends. Han Yunxi absolutely believed that Mu Liuyue wouldn’t hurt her big brother. If someone was using her to put Ten-Thousand Snake Poison in the tea leaves, then the tea either had to come from the Celestial Fragrance Teashop or one of her companions.