Chapter 190: Please Have Some Tea
The next morning, Mei Jie was the first to go out, using the excuse of buying groceries to see if President Shi had left.
Mei Jie rushed back after buying a piece of tofu at the street corner.
President Shi’s car was still parked next to the framing shop!
Li Jinzhu regretted it a little.
The house that Eldest Sister-in-law mentioned was suitable in every way, but she just felt it was too good, too expensive, and she hesitated to make a decision. If she had decided earlier and moved in, even a day earlier, she wouldn’t be in this situation now, being blocked by someone’s car and unable to leave the house.
“Xuedong and I will walk there. The car will stay at home,” Li Jinzhu sighed.
“No need, I’m going to the villa today. You can ask A Wu to tell the tea house later to have Wan Jing pick me up,” Li Xiaonan said with a smile.
“That’s a solution,” Li Yuzhu said, looking at Li Jinzhu with a smile.
The Prince’s Estate’s carriage, that president would definitely not dare to approach.
Li Jinzhu looked at Li Xiaonan, and after a moment, sighed softly.
She knew less and less about A Nan’s affairs. A Nan didn’t mention a word. In the beginning, when she asked, A Nan could still say something, but now, when she asked, A Nan wouldn’t say anything. She didn’t even know where to start worrying.
Li Jinzhu and Li Xuedong ate a hasty breakfast and then went out to buy the house. Mei Jie secured the courtyard gate, and Li Yuzhu stayed home to pack. Li Xiaonan sat in the courtyard, engrossed in a book.
In just an hour, Wan Jing knocked on the courtyard gate.
At the alley entrance, Li Xiaonan glanced at President Shi, who was hunched and shrinking his neck, standing next to the framing shop, and got into the carriage.
President Shi was fine now, but she didn’t know if he would be a problem tomorrow or the day after. This was not her concern.
“You know, right! Yesterday’s imperial banquet was a Hongmen banquet!”
Wan Jing followed Li Xiaonan into the carriage, slammed the door shut, and whispered, “They started arresting people as soon as we passed the second gate! It was Fifth Master Yang who led the arrests. Fifth Master Yang looked so menacing with his killing intent, it was terrifying!”
“I didn’t have any tasks that day, and they all went to see the Crown Prince. I thought I had seen him three times, so I didn’t go. Later, a little girl who ran errands and passed messages in our courtyard rushed in and said they were arresting people outside the second gate. I was startled. I thought outsiders were coming to our estate to arrest people.”
Upon hearing this, Li Xiaonan gave Wan Jing a sideways glance.
The Crown Prince was at their estate. Who in Pingjiang City dared to come to their estate to arrest people?
“I was in a hurry, and when I’m in a hurry, I tend to panic,” Wan Jing explained, meeting Li Xiaonan’s eye roll.
“By the time I ran to the second gate, most of the arrests had already been made. Fifth Master Yang was holding a horse whip in one hand and a list in the other, just like this.”
Wan Jing poked Li Xiaonan’s shoulder with her finger, causing Li Xiaonan to lean back.
“They were checking people against the list one by one! Inside the second gate of the Chaoxin Gate, half were men and half were women. The women over there were crying and shouting… alas, it was quite tragic.”
Wan Jing let out a long sigh.
“How many people were arrested?” Li Xiaonan asked.
“Quite a few, a dozen or twenty? Anyway, a lot,” Wan Jing shivered. “It was really scary! Later, the steward nannies came, scolding people with stern faces, forbidding them from watching the commotion, so I quickly went back. I didn’t dare to go out again. I originally planned to ask Shi Gun when he got back.”
Wan Jing leaned forward, her head close to Li Xiaonan’s ear.
“Shi Gun didn’t go back yesterday! That means the Young Lord didn’t go back either, right?”
Wan Jing sat back, a meaningful smile on her face.
“Did you bring any pastries then?” Li Xiaonan asked.
“I did!” Wan Jing sighed. She had actually forgotten about the tea and pastries.
“Look!” Wan Jing opened the small food box and laid out plates piled high with pastries, “This is how we entertain guests at our estate!”
Since Shi Gun wasn’t there, Li Xiaonan didn’t dare to mention visiting Niu Cheqian. Upon arriving at the villa, she went straight to the library.
In these extraordinary times, spending time in the villa’s library was safer.
After reading for a short while, Wan Jing was called out by the on-duty servant. Soon after, Wan Jing returned with a troubled expression and nudged Li Xiaonan, whispering, “It’s our cousin girl, Fourth Mistress, asking if you’re busy and saying she has some new tea and wants you to try it.”
“It’s up to you whether you go or not, no need to force yourself. If you don’t want to go, just say you’re very busy.”
“Our cousin girl definitely isn’t asking me to taste some new tea, is she? What do you think she wants to see me about?” Li Xiaonan asked, putting down her book.
“How would I know! With the Crown Prince here lately, I don’t dare to go out unless it’s necessary,” Wan Jing shook her head.
“How about we go try the new tea?” Li Xiaonan thought for a moment and said with a smile.
“Our cousin girl is very nice. I’ll go give her an answer,” Wan Jing turned and left.
Li Xiaonan followed Wan Jing into a warm pavilion not far from the library.
Only Fourth Mistress Wei was in the warm pavilion, sitting by the tea table, having just washed her hands and preparing to brew tea.
Li Xiaonan sat opposite Fourth Mistress Wei and watched her take out the tea leaves, place them on a delicate incense burner, and slowly roast them.
“Does Miss Li prefer it roasted deeper or lighter?” Fourth Mistress Wei asked.
“What’s the difference between deeper and lighter?” Li Xiaonan asked.
Fourth Mistress Wei chuckled, “I’m not laughing at you, I just mean, it’s hard to say. Let’s both try it.”
Li Xiaonan smiled in agreement, resting her chin on her hand as she watched Fourth Mistress Wei roast the tea, heat the cups and teapot, and brew the tea.
Fourth Mistress Wei brewed two pots of tea, one deep and one light, poured a cup from each, and pushed them towards Li Xiaonan.
The cups were deep-colored kiln-glazed bowls. Li Xiaonan couldn’t tell the difference between the two cups of tea soup. She picked one up, smelled it, and took a sip from each.
“How is it?” Fourth Mistress Wei asked Li Xiaonan with a smile.
“There seems to be a slight difference, and both are very delicious,” Li Xiaonan said with a smile.
“A few days ago, Fifth Master Yang and Master Wen came to pay respects to Mother. I served the tea, and Fifth Master Yang specifically instructed me to roast it deeper and to add some cypress branches to the charcoal fire,” Fourth Mistress Wei said, her eyelids slightly lowered, her demeanor graceful yet with a hint of unease.
“The smell of burning cypress branches is quite pleasant,” Li Xiaonan said after a moment’s pause, smiling. This was a difficult topic to respond to, and she didn’t want to engage.
“Mmm, has Miss Li met Fifth Master Yang?” Fourth Mistress Wei looked at Li Xiaonan.
“No!” Li Xiaonan immediately shook her head.
She had a vague idea why Fourth Mistress Wei had asked her for tea. After a moment’s hesitation, Li Xiaonan asked, “Are you interested in him?”
“I don’t like the smell of cypress branches,” Fourth Mistress Wei said after a pause, her eyes downcast. “He makes noise when he eats.”
“What kind of noise? Smacking his lips? Gulping?” Li Xiaonan was somewhat curious.
Logically speaking, a prominent family like theirs shouldn’t have such issues.
“He just makes noise, chewing makes noise, his chopsticks often hit the bowl, and he smacks his lips after drinking tea. He didn’t used to be like this!” Fourth Mistress Wei said with great annoyance.
“Then perhaps he snores when he sleeps,” Li Xiaonan added.
Fourth Mistress Wei glared at Li Xiaonan.
“Haven’t you encountered someone who snores?”
Fourth Mistress Wei shook her head.
“Then find someone who snores and listen to them, it’s quite annoying. And those with smelly feet, when they take off their shoes, the smell can make you want to vomit. It’s fine for people like you, but it’s quite bothersome for people like us.”
“Why roast this good tea? How about we try brewing it directly without roasting?”
Li Xiaonan started to change the subject.
She would stay far away from the matter of matchmaking for ancient people.
“Why is it fine for people like us?” Fourth Mistress Wei ignored Li Xiaonan’s later remarks and asked with a frown.
“Miss, Eldest Madam is coming,” Yin Xing, who was standing by the entrance of the warm pavilion, suddenly reported.
