Chapter 112: The Tea House—Buxian Tower
“Many thanks, my lord. I have tea gardens in my hands, and the tea house I opened will also begin business tomorrow. I will certainly manage it well and spread the name of Buxian Tower far and wide. Perhaps in a few years, when my tea house has grown large enough, I may even be able to open one in the Capital. At that time, I will be able to kneel outside the imperial palace and give thanks for His Majesty’s grace.”
Su Qingwu had been studying Mu Yunyao all along, the light in his eyes shifting.
“Buxian Tower? A tea house named Buxian Tower. Does this name have some particular meaning?”
“I opened the tea house within a garden. In that garden stands a six-story tower. I wish for that place to become somewhere where true connoisseurs and lovers of tea may gather and exchange their thoughts. The Tea Sage once wrote: I envy not golden wine vessels; I envy not white jade cups. I envy not entering the Secretariat at dawn, nor ascending the Terrace at dusk. A thousand envies, ten thousand envies, all for the waters of the Western River, which once flowed down beneath Jingling City. Therefore, this tower is called Buxian Tower. Tasting tea inside will require no silver.”
Eunuch Xu nodded slightly.
Mu Yunyao’s words had stirred his interest. It was not that he believed her tea could be exceptionally fine. After all, he had even been rewarded with tribute tea from the palace before. Rather, he himself was also a lover of tea, and the Buxian Tower she described was far too beautiful. Inevitably, he wished to go and have a look.
“Buxian Tower. It is indeed a fine name. This name alone makes it worth seeing. Just now, I heard Miss say that your tea house opens tomorrow. May we also come sit for a while?”
“If the lords are willing to come, Buxian Tower will naturally be honored by your presence. I will personally brew tea to receive you.”
Mu Yunyao’s face was filled with delight, and the sight of it made others feel at ease.
“Good. Then it is settled.”
“Yes. Tomorrow morning, at the hour of Si, I will respectfully await the lords’ arrival.”
Mu Yunyao left the front hall in high spirits and went to the rear courtyard. She curtsied to Madam Jin in thanks.
“Many thanks to Madam for reminding me in advance.”
Seeing her expression, Madam Jin knew everything had gone smoothly and could not help feeling happy for her as well.
“So long as everything went smoothly.”
If Mu Yunyao’s Niyun Pavilion could obtain calligraphy personally bestowed by His Majesty, then it would be equivalent to a gold-lettered signboard. As long as the Niyun Pavilion did not fall, this merit of educating the people would continue to be praised. In the end, she and Cao Yunnian would still benefit from it.
“Madam, my tea house will open tomorrow at the hour of Si. I hope Madam will honor me with your presence.”
“After waiting so long, it is finally opening. Naturally, I must go and support you. When the time comes, I shall also taste your tea-brewing skill. Only, the injury on your hand…”
“It is nothing serious. By now, it has already scabbed over and mostly healed.”
With Heaven helping her to this degree, even if her hand was broken, she would still persist to the end.
“That is good.”
After leaving the Cao family’s Residence, Mu Yunyao went directly to Jinxiu Garden.
Seeing her arrive in such haste, Steward Qin thought something had happened. After hearing her explain, he could not help staring blankly in astonishment.
“Miss is saying that a eunuch will come here to drink tea?”
“Yes. I saw that the lord’s face was pale and beardless, his voice slightly sharp, and the air about him especially distinct. Thinking on it carefully, he should be a palace eunuch from the Capital.”
Mu Yunyao knew Steward Qin was one of Yue Wang’s people. She was afraid his identity might be recognized by that eunuch, so she had come ahead of time to give him notice. If it was inconvenient for him, he could avoid the occasion early.
Steward Qin returned to himself and looked at Mu Yunyao in surprise.
“Miss has chosen this timing with remarkable precision. If this is handled well, perhaps our Buxian Tower may become famous in a single stroke.”
When he heard that the tea house was to be called Buxian Tower, he could not help sighing inwardly in admiration.
I envy not golden wine vessels; I envy not white jade cups. I envy not entering the Secretariat at dawn, nor ascending the Terrace at dusk. A thousand envies, ten thousand envies, all for the waters of the Western River, which once flowed down beneath Jingling City.
On this poem alone, he felt that he would have to come here and drink a cup of tea.
Hearing his approval and sensing no intention in his words to avoid the matter, Mu Yunyao knew Steward Qin was confident in concealing his identity. Thinking about it, that was only natural. If he could be recognized so easily, he would not dare move about Jingling City so openly.
“I hope it truly will be as Steward Qin says, and that Buxian Tower will become renowned throughout Jingling City.”
“It is only that those fifty people are still somewhat lacking in their tea-brewing. Tomorrow, if many guests come…”
Steward Qin felt a little regret in his heart. Had he known earlier, he should have advised His Highness to choose some especially intelligent people. Perhaps by now, they would already have understood the essence of tea brewing that Miss Mu spoke of.
Mu Yunyao considered the matter briefly.
“Tomorrow, with several lords coming to support us, Madam Jin will likely invite other madams as well. We need not receive ordinary guests. Wei Yi, Yun Chun, and the others may still be somewhat lacking, but when they brew tea together, the scene is extremely impressive. Why not, at the opening, have them brew tea together once as a display? After that, choose the few with the best skills to attend to the guests.”
Steward Qin thought for a moment, then nodded slightly.
“That is the only way. In a while, I will call them over to practice again.”
“Good. I will also walk around the garden and see which places should be displayed tomorrow.”
“By the way, Miss, since our tea house now has a name, should we have a signboard made overnight and hung up?”
Mu Yunyao shook her head. A faint smile appeared on her lips.
“What meaning is there in having one made ourselves? I want to see whether I can find someone to bestow one instead.”
At first, Steward Qin did not understand what she meant. Only after Mu Yunyao left did he abruptly stand, his face full of wild joy.
If they could truly obtain such a bestowed signboard, then His Highness’s great plan would certainly succeed.
Previously, he had thought that His Highness lending the garden to Mu Yunyao to open a tea house was somewhat delaying important matters. Now, looking at it, this was simply digging up a great treasure.
He would go write a letter to His Highness at once. This treasure, no matter what, had to be invited into the prince’s residence.
Mu Yunyao busied herself for more than half the night, continuously thinking through tomorrow’s matters in her mind. It was only in the latter half of the night that she finally fell asleep. Yet after two hours, she woke again. She did not feel the slightest bit tired. Instead, she was bright-eyed and full of spirit.
Su Qing brought in pastries and bird’s nest porridge. Her face carried a nervous look.
“Yao’er, you will still have much to do later. Hurry and eat something now.”
“Many thanks, Mother.”
Mu Yunyao cheerfully finished the food. When she looked up and noticed that Su Qing seemed to want to speak but hesitated, she could not help asking, “Mother, what is it? Is there something you wish to remind me of?”
“This…” Su Qing hesitated. “Yao’er, if you obtain it, it is your fortune; if you lose it, it is your fate. Just keep an ordinary heart. You must not be too nervous, or it will be easier to make mistakes.”
Yesterday, Mu Yunyao had already told Su Qing the full sequence of events, explaining all the plans in her heart one by one. After hearing it, Su Qing had actually become even more nervous than Mu Yunyao. Before the matter had even begun, she was already somewhat anxious over gains and losses.
Mu Yunyao could not help laughing. She stepped forward and hugged Su Qing, rubbing lightly against the hollow of her neck.
“With Mother’s support, I feel that this matter will certainly succeed. Just wait here for my good news.”
“Good.”
Looking at Mu Yunyao’s appearance, Su Qing’s nervous heart gradually settled. She helped her change clothes and combed her hair, then studied her carefully through the bronze mirror.
“Yao’er is truly growing more and more beautiful.”
Mu Yunyao smiled until her eyes curved.
“That is because I take after Mother. Mother is beautiful, so naturally I am beautiful as well.”
Su Qing could not help tapping her lightly on the head.
“This thick skin of yours certainly does not take after Mother.”
Mu Yunyao refused to let that pass. She clung to Su Qing until Su Qing admitted that she had spoken wrongly. Seeing that less than half an hour remained before the hour of Si, she finally brought Jin Lan and Jin Qiao with her to Jinxiu Garden.
Edited by Little Kitty on 17/06/20
