Chapter 2131: Su Mo Qingxi’s Master

After the military council, You Huan was still preoccupied when a voice from behind called out, "Big brother!" He hadn't even left the palace gates yet, when his younger brother, You Su, hurried to catch up.

"You're at the palace too?" You Su wiped a thin layer of sweat from his forehead. "I'm here to discuss the transport of front-line supplies; several transport commissioners are already here. It's so stuffy today. How about we go to a teahouse for some hot tea to work up a sweat?"

"If you want to sweat, shouldn't you go to a perfumery for a hot bath?" You Huan instantly saw through his brother's intention. "Oh, come on, let's go!" You Su grabbed his brother's arm. "These few cups of tea are my treat!" "Fine, then let's go to Red River Teahouse. Since you're paying."

"Red River is such an old teahouse; the paint is peeling off the tables, and people used to see them secretly mixing tea leaves in the back," You Su said with a grin. "We need to go somewhere new, good, and reputable." You Huan rolled his eyes. Half an hour later, they were seated in the Sùsù Qīngxī Teahouse.

Sùsù Qīngxī Teahouse had only opened ten days prior; if guests sat too close to the wood, they could still detect the scent of fresh lumber mixed with paint. It was more like a private estate than just a teahouse. The front section featured a three-story tea hall, where storytellers, opera performances, or acrobatic shows were held regularly, creating a lively atmosphere as guests drank and watched together. Behind it lay a small lake fed by a sweet, clear spring. Elegant pavilions, kiosks, and secluded houses dotted the serene landscape, adorned with strategically placed flowers and trees. This tranquil setting was perfect for intimate gatherings, quiet discussions, and refined artistic pursuits.

The You brothers headed straight for the teahouse's third floor today. Though it wasn't evening yet, the ground-floor hall was already seventy percent full. As soon as they entered, the aroma of tea and the sound of laughter enveloped them.

The second floor, known as the "Circular Hall," featured widely spaced tea tables to ensure greater privacy for conversations, though seating here was naturally more expensive than on the ground floor. The third floor comprised elegant, private rooms, each with a window view and positioned far from others, offering excellent privacy.

As the You brothers ascended to the third floor, one behind the other, a waiter quickly approached, bowing slightly. "Mr. You, you're here? Will you be taking your usual table?" The waiter's eager smile was directed at You Huan, which made You Su murmur to himself.

You Huan grunted in affirmation. The waiter then led them to a private room and seated them. "Mr. You, will you be ordering the Wanyu Xianggui again, or would you like to try something different?" You Su chuckled. "Of course, we'll try something new."

The waiter presented seven bamboo slips, each inscribed with the name of a scented tea. You Su pointed casually. "This one, then: 'Golden Toad Holding Patchouli'."

"This is a blended tea our proprietor recently developed," the waiter explained. "It contains toad extract, so it might not suit everyone's taste." He clarified that "blended tea," unlike plain tea, incorporates various ingredients to create a richer flavor profile. "Enough talk!" You Su interjected, pointing at his brother. "In the entire Imperial Secretariat, no one appreciates strange, unconventional flavors more than him. Now, hurry up and prepare the tea!"

The moment the words "Imperial Secretariat" were uttered, the waiter was startled, bowing almost ninety degrees. "Oh dear, an esteemed official from the Imperial Secretariat! I apologize for my disrespect." After speaking, he bowed respectfully and quickly withdrew.

"How many times have you been here, Big Brother?" "Just two days ago," You Huan replied earnestly. "It's close to the royal palace, convenient for colleagues to chat after court."

"The waiter here didn't even know who you were?" You Su stroked his chin, glancing discreetly downstairs. He usually had seven guards, but his brother had only brought two today—a truly "simple escort." Currently, most of the guards were seated on the ground floor, with only his brother's two attendants having come up to stand nearby. "Hmm, why is Big Brother suddenly so low-key?"

The last time You Huan took office as Assistant Grand Secretariat, he had hosted a continuous banquet at his residence, celebrating for three days and three nights. Although some criticized his extravagance, neither the court nor You Huan himself paid any mind. Why had he suddenly become so restrained? "Who has the mind for extravagance these days?"

"Your brows are practically tied in knots," You Su said with concern. "What happened?" "In today's meeting, my view diverged from Grand Secretariat Guo's." That was military classified information, so You Huan couldn't elaborate. "Ultimately, Grand Secretariat Guo insisted on his own judgment, and the Emperor allowed it. But I..." He shook his head.

"I've carefully studied Emperor Jiuyou," You Huan continued. "While 'all is fair in war,' his life and past actions show he values trustworthiness, keeps his promises, and follows through on his words. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so beloved by the people and army of Cangyan." He let out a long sigh. "With Grand Secretariat Guo's decision, I genuinely fear it will backfire."

You Su tried to reassure him. "You've already said what needed to be said; you've fulfilled your duty as a court official. Grand Secretariat Guo and the Emperor's decisions are beyond your influence, Big Brother, so don't fret over it." As a court official, You Huan held the power of remonstrance but not the authority to make decisions.

"What if—" You Huan began, then stopped himself. "Hmm?" You Su prompted. "Nothing," You Huan said, glancing out the window.

Downstairs, the storytelling session had already begun. The storyteller's voice rose and fell rhythmically, punctuated by pauses that allowed for hearty laughter, quickly warming up the entire hall. Just then, the waiter arrived with the tea set, carefully placed it on the table, and stepped back.

You Su pointed his folding fan at the table. "Are we supposed to prepare it ourselves?" The waiter bowed again, about to speak, when a plain curtain was lifted, and a woman in a green dress entered.

Her green dress featured golden lotus-patterned embroidery along the hem. A red-centered golden flower adorned her high bun, secured by a golden butterfly hairpin whose antennae quivered delicately as she walked. Yet, despite the exquisite detail of the golden butterfly, the You brothers didn't notice it immediately, their gazes utterly captivated by the woman's face.

You Huan recognized her at once: this was Madam Mei, who had been injured by Miss Sun's startled mount in the bustling market just a few days prior. The animal had rampaged, trampling many innocent pedestrians, and Madam Mei's carriage had been overturned. That day, as she crawled from the wreckage, her face, despite being covered in blood, could not hide her breathtaking beauty. Now, with light makeup and subtly drawn brows, the moment she entered, the private room seemed to brighten for the You brothers, and You Su instinctively softened his breathing.

"Greetings, Lords You," Madam Mei said with a smiling countenance. "My surname is Mei, and I am the proprietor of Sùsù Qīngxī Teahouse. How could I neglect such distinguished guests? Allow me to personally prepare your tea." Evidently, the waiter who had just left had a big mouth; upon hearing that a dignitary from the Imperial Secretariat had arrived, the teahouse proprietor quickly came to pay her respects. After all, running a successful business in Moutu required knowing influential figures.

Naturally, she hooked the curtain back with one hand and instructed the two maids standing outside, "Burn incense." "Which kind?" the round-faced maid asked. "Lingyun Incense, of course," Madam Mei replied, then turned to the You brothers. "This incense uses spring plum blossoms as its main ingredient, specifically those few blossoms picked from the highest branches after a snowfall. Their fragrance is exceptionally distinct." As the maid entered with an incense burner and began to lay out charcoal and incense cakes, You Su automatically piped up, "How is it different?"