I See the Noble Consort's Charm - Chapter 33:
Chapter 33:
At this moment, Su Qingyao remained completely unaware of the events unfolding at Qian Yuan Palace.
With her birthday approaching, she contemplated hosting a lively celebration to strengthen bonds with her sisters.
Of course, her only sisters in the palace were Consort Sun and Xie Cai Ren.
Su Qingyao was born on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, coinciding with the Qixi Festival. Many remarked that her birthdate was auspicious, naturally blessed with clever fortune, sounding particularly joyous.
Recently, due to her consecutive Imperial bedchamber services, both the Imperial Kitchen and Bureau of Palace Affairs had shown her considerable favor. Hosting a banquet in her quarters for a few close friends was entirely feasible.
In her earlier years in the palace, life had been less satisfactory, and she had rarely celebrated her birthday. Reflecting on this, Su Qingyao became even more determined. She instructed Liuqin, “Later, withdraw ten taels of silver to prepare two fine dishes. We must have a plate each of chicken, duck, fish, and pork—it must not appear shabby.”
Liuqin nodded promptly. “Junior Mistress, rest assured. Recently, when Taohong went to the Imperial Kitchen to fetch meals, she discovered Chef Lin is actually from her hometown. Now she addresses him as ‘uncle’ at every turn. This banquet is guaranteed to be conducted with propriety.”
Su Qingyao nodded in satisfaction. “The sisters Taohong and Liulv are indeed clever and sensible. We are truly fortunate.”
For the servants in her palace quarters, Su Qingyao did not demand absolute loyalty. As long as they were sensible and performed their duties competently, that was sufficient.
Yet Taohong and Liulv continually surprised her with their resourcefulness.
Su Qingyao said, “If I am promoted in rank later, both of them shall be elevated to senior palace maids. You will need to mentor them diligently—they are both sensible good girls.”
Liuqin also held them in high regard and responded, “This servant understands.”
Su Qingyao further instructed, “Coincidentally, His Majesty previously bestowed a piece of Dragon Phoenix Reunion tea. We can bring it out to enjoy then, allowing our sisters to taste this rarity.”
Currently, there were two types of imperial tribute tea. One was plain tea that could be brewed directly, typically including Pre-Rain Longjing, Tieguanyin, Huangshan Mist Peak, Zhengshan Xiaozhong, Lushan Cloud Mist, Keemun Black Tea, and Yunzhou Pu’er. Although Pu’er was also compressed into tea cakes, it was brewed using the infusion method and categorized as plain tea.
The other type was tea cakes, which were more prevalent in previous dynasties.
In earlier times, tea cakes came in numerous varieties with rich diversity. However, as plain tea gained popularity, tea cakes gradually faded into obscurity. Nevertheless, imperial tributes in the palace never ceased. In recent years, Chu Shaoyuan had developed a preference for the flavor and aroma of teas like Dragon Phoenix Reunion and Little Dragon Ball, so imperial tributes mainly consisted of these two types.
When bestowing rewards, he only gave tea cakes to those he esteemed. Thus, serving tea cakes at a palace banquet not only demonstrated sincere hospitality but also highlighted one’s favor with the Emperor.
However, Su Qingyao’s intention in presenting the tea cake was genuinely to share the experience with her sisters. After all, she had frequently enjoyed such teas in her previous life, possessing excellent tea-frying techniques and skills that would surely delight everyone.
Liuqin was unaware that her Junior Mistress was skilled at frying tea and had not studied it carefully herself. She expressed concern, “His Majesty only bestowed one tael—will it be enough?”
Su Qingyao replied with confidence, “It will certainly suffice.”
It was a summer afternoon. Since rain had fallen in the morning, the room was pleasantly cool. Gentle breezes wafted in, refreshing the spirit and dispelling the summer heat’s irritability, leaving nothing but heartfelt joy.
Su Qingyao was just thinking of taking advantage of the cool weather to bathe and change clothes, washing her hair clean, when a familiar voice came from outside: “Junior Mistress Su, His Majesty summons you for Imperial bedchamber service today. Congratulations.”
It had been several days since her last Imperial bedchamber service. Su Qingyao had thought His Majesty would claim illness again, but unexpectedly, he summoned her today. She wondered what the reason could be.
Regardless of the reason, going to Pomegranate Hall to bathe and change would be more convenient, sparing her young maid the trouble of carrying water back and forth, which was quite exhausting.
Liuqin went out to reward Luo Zhongjian and exchanged a few casual words as usual. Su Qingyao selected the clothes she would wear that night and asked Liulv to iron them.
When Liuqin returned, Su Qingyao was about to instruct her to fetch the vanity case for makeup when Liuqin leaned close to her ear and said, “Junior Mistress, His Majesty asks you to go over now.”
Su Qingyao was slightly taken aback. The first two times she had gone early as well, and the messengers had been quite ostentatious, making it known to everyone. This time, however, there was no fanfare, but once the sedan chair arrived, it would surely cause quite a commotion.
“They’ll still see it,” she said, pointing toward the rear hall, specifically referring to Consort Hui.
Liuqin said, “Luo Zhongjian mentioned that a daytime summons is always unseemly, so His Majesty specifically ordered the sedan chair to wait at the alley entrance. We can walk there and board it without delay.”
Su Qingyao: “…”
So why go through all this trouble? Since she didn’t actually have to perform Imperial bedchamber service, couldn’t she just go and speak with him in the evening? No matter how low-key they tried to be, everyone in Azure Cloud Palace would surely notice. Why engage in such self-deception, making it seem even more suspicious?
However, the order came from His Majesty, and no one could disobey. Su Qingyao had no choice but to change her clothes, redo her hair and makeup, and walk to the entrance under the blazing sun.
Luo Zhongjian noticed her squinting from the sun and had an idea. Walking beside her, he said, “His Majesty has been quite approachable lately. It would be good for the Junior Mistress to chat with him more.”
He couldn’t have thought of these words himself—they were either taught by Lou Duzhou or instructed by Tingqin. In any case, it was a matter from above. Su Qingyao took it to heart and nodded, “I understand.”
Luo Zhongjian was somewhat acquainted with her, having known her for two months. He knew she was very intelligent and could grasp half-spoken words, so he directly changed the subject: “Recently, a batch of oil-paper umbrellas from the south was presented as tribute. His Majesty dislikes the patterns, but they would suit the Junior Mistress very well.”
“Items for imperial use are not something we Junior Mistresses can use,” Su Qingyao said with a light laugh.
Luo Zhongjian understood her meaning and said nothing more.
The sedan chair swayed gently and soon arrived in front of Qian Yuan Palace.
As Su Qingyao had expected, the sedan chair did not go to Pomegranate Hall but instead detoured to Moxi Pavilion, where Lou Duzhou was waiting personally at the entrance as usual.
Liuqin helped Su Qingyao alight from the sedan chair, then obediently stood by the door, head bowed and eyes downcast, silent and well-behaved.
Lou Duzhou gave her an approving glance and said to Su Qingyao with a smile, “Thank you for making the trip this afternoon, Junior Mistress. His Majesty is reading and has been waiting for some time.”
Lou Duzhou’s words were polite, but everyone knew the underlying reality. Su Qingyao did not contradict him and nodded courteously, “Thank you for waiting, Lou Duzhou. Let’s go in.”
Su Qingyao took out a handkerchief and lightly wiped the sweat from her forehead, tidied her appearance slightly, and followed behind Lou Duzhou, holding her breath and focusing as she walked into the study.
As soon as she entered, she caught a faint, elegant fragrance—the scent of roasted tea cakes.
Su Qingyao focused her gaze and saw Chu Shaoyuan sitting at the tea table, intently roasting a tea cake. A complete set of tea utensils was placed beside him, which differed greatly from what Lou Duzhou had described as him reading.
Lou Duzhou’s expression remained unchanged as he bowed and said, “Your Majesty, Junior Mistress Su has arrived.”
Chu Shaoyuan paused his movements, set down the bamboo tongs, and looked up at Su Qingyao’s face.
After several days apart, Su Qingyao seemed no different from their last meeting, but upon closer inspection, there were subtle changes. Yet no matter how hard he tried, Chu Shaoyuan couldn’t pinpoint exactly what had changed, so he decided not to bother pondering it further.
“Come, sit down.”
Chu Shaoyuan was sparing with his words.
Though Su Qingyao inwardly grumbled about him, she wore a radiant smile on her face as she approached and obediently sat beside Chu Shaoyuan.
They were separated by a small side table, not particularly close, yet Su Qingyao could still catch the distant, lingering scent of ambergris from him—a fragrance exceptionally intoxicating, unmatched by any other aroma in the world.
Naturally, it was a privilege reserved solely for His Majesty.
Chu Shaoyuan pushed the already ground tea powder toward her and gestured to the water utensils on the table. “Do you know how to brew tea?”
Su Qingyao glanced down and recognized that he was using Little Dragon Ball today, a tea cake known for its rich aroma. Unlike steeping loose tea leaves, brewing tea from compressed cakes required considerable skill. Without practice, the resulting foam would not only look unappealing but also fail to form patterns, leaving the tea’s flavor underdeveloped—a true waste.
In her previous life, during her leisure time, Su Qingyao had specifically learned from a tea master and had become quite skilled.
Thinking she should make a good impression in front of Chu Shaoyuan, she immediately replied, “This humble one learned it while at home. Your Majesty need not worry.”
Chu Shaoyuan lowered his gaze to observe her. Seeing her earnest expression and flushed cheeks, he felt an inexplicable urge to laugh. “Good, then you shall prepare it. If it doesn’t taste well…”
Before he could finish, Su Qingyao interjected, “If it doesn’t taste well, Your Majesty may punish me as you see fit.”
Chu Shaoyuan suddenly leaned close to her, his eyes locking directly with hers. “What do you think I would do to punish you?”
He had never been this close to her before. Su Qingyao’s face grew even redder, almost burning with heat.
Her mind felt utterly chaotic. Chu Shaoyuan’s extraordinarily handsome features etched themselves into her heart, rendering her speechless.
Chu Shaoyuan let out a soft chuckle. “You’d better perform well.”
Having said that, he paid no further attention to the thoroughly flustered Su Qingyao, rising to return to his desk where he picked up memorials to continue reviewing.
Su Qingyao remained dazed for a long while, only snapping out of it when the sound of him turning pages reached her ears. Blushing, she began brewing the tea.
Spring water was already prepared in the water utensils. Su Qingyao placed silver-thread charcoal into the stove, lit it, and started boiling the water. Then she took two hare’s-fur teacups and arranged them properly on the tea tray.
After completing these tasks, the water had yet to boil. Su Qingyao took the tea powder and fine salt that Chu Shaoyuan had ground earlier, waiting for the water to reach the right temperature.
Her movements flowed smoothly and confidently, without a hint of hesitation—clear evidence of genuine practice.
Though Chu Shaoyuan claimed to be reviewing memorials, he kept stealing glances at her. Noting how precisely she measured the tea powder, he slightly raised an eyebrow.
Some time ago, he had specifically ordered the Ceremonial Guard to investigate Su Qingyao’s early years. According to their report, she had studied under the Grand Unity Scholar but had never learned the art of brewing tea.
As soon as she opened her mouth, she spoke of what she had learned at home—though no one knew where this home was. Chu Shaoyuan’s eyes swept lightly over Su Qingyao, and a flicker of curiosity rose in his heart once more: Was there anything she didn’t know how to do?
Just then, the water boiled.
Su Qingyao used a ladle to add a small scoop of cold water and a pinch of salt, then began whisking the tea with a chasen.
When the water reached a rolling boil for the second time, Su Qingyao first scooped out a small portion and set it aside. Then, using the chasen, she swiftly stirred the water until a vortex formed, and slowly poured in the matcha powder.
As foam began to appear on the surface of the tea, Su Qingyao slowed her whisking. Before long, the water was about to boil for the third time, and she quickly poured in the reserved water to stop the boiling.
Her wrist was strong, and her movements were swift and precise as she whisked the tea. Soon, a delicate fragrance of tea wafted through the air, drifting into Chu Shaoyuan’s nostrils.
Chu Shaoyuan looked up and saw that she had also raised her head to glance at him, a faint dimple appearing at the corner of her lips as if she were quite pleased.
Your Majesty, the tea is ready. You may drink it,” Su Qingyao said softly.
Chu Shaoyuan felt his heart skip a beat.
Author’s note: Talented Lady Su: Come on, come punish me severely!
His Majesty: ………I’m out of here!