Chapter 2133: Doubt

"A low price always has a catch," Mei Wuniang said, pursing her lips with a touch of helplessness. "But this price really moves me. For such a large teahouse in the capital, with such a prime location and excellent environment, the normal price would have to be at least three times higher, wouldn't it? I simply couldn't afford that."

When one is poor, there's no luxury of disliking a 'haunted' property.

You Su smiled, "It would probably be five times more, if not more."

The location is simply too good, being so close to the royal palace. It's a natural draw for customers.

Mei Wuniang brewed tea and chatted with them, encouraging them to sample all the different blends. The charcoal in the censer had also been replaced once.

The Lingyun incense was not in stick form; it was an incense cake that required constant burning with silver-thread charcoal. Because of this, maids and servants had to wait outside the private room, regularly coming in to replenish the charcoal.

This arrangement meant that neither the host nor the guests could engage in overly private conversations.

After instructing a maid to fetch another pot of spring water, Mei Wuniang parted her lips slightly.

She hadn't spoken yet, but You Huan somehow knew she was about to excuse herself.

Just then, a young servant rushed in, called out "Boss," and whispered a few words into her ear.

Though the sound was faint, You Huan's sharp hearing allowed him to clearly make out:

"Boss, Young Master Zhai, the second son of the East Third Route Transport Commissioner, is here again. He's at the Streamside Fragrant Pavilion, and this time he's brought four friends, specifically asking for you to come and greet them."

Mei Wuniang lowered her gaze slightly, her long, curled eyelashes fluttering like tiny fans.

"Understood. You may go."

Although she showed no overt expression, You Huan recalled her reluctance to board Zhai Qiushan's carriage in the bustling market, leading him to believe she was somewhat annoyed.

But when running a business, how could one casually offend a customer, especially one with such a powerful background?

Mei Wuniang then addressed the two men, "Please take your time, gentlemen. Wuniang will not disturb you further."

You Su, however, interjected, "Zhai Qiushan has a lot of nerve! Just stay put. I'd like to see if he has the audacity to come here and demand you!"

Mei Wuniang looked surprised, then couldn't help but smile faintly. "Lord You is formidable! However, I actually need to go home now; I won't be heading to the stream."

You Su blurted out, "Truly?"

"Naturally," Mei Wuniang replied, her smile perfectly natural.

"If you walk out from the teahouse and they spot you, you won't have peace later."

"I'm prepared," Mei Wuniang said. She motioned, and a maid behind her immediately handed her a gray cloak.

Mei Wuniang draped it over herself, covering half her face, leaving only a pair of moist eyes blinking.

The unwitting charm she revealed was exceptionally endearing.

"Wuniang will take her leave now. You two are always welcome to visit." She gave them a slight bow, then turned and departed, seemingly intending to slip out through the back door.

The two watched her silhouette vanish. Only then did You Su exhale, a sense of melancholy washing over him.

You Huan instructed the servant beside him, "Please remove the incense."

With the incense removed, the curtains lowered, and the servants gone, the private room regained its intimacy.

You Su then urgently asked his elder brother, "So, what do you think?"

You Huan feigned ignorance, "What do you mean, 'what do I think'?"

"Big brother, there's no need to pretend to be so composed," You Su said, gesturing outward. "Such a beauty, if you're even a step late, someone else will snatch her up. Look at Zhai Qiushan; didn't he just arrive, drawn by her presence?"

You Huan took a sip of his tea.

This tea, brewed personally by Mei Wuniang, was indeed distinct from what they usually prepared themselves.

"To be able to open such a large teahouse right in front of the royal palace, do you truly believe she achieved it simply by finding a bargain? That's quite naive," You Huan stated decisively. "She definitely has someone backing her."

"So what if she has someone? They're not royalty," You Su said nonchalantly. "In the Emperor's capital, who doesn't have some connections?"

At this, You Huan responded, "You've investigated, then?"

"Mm-hmm, I have," You Su affirmed, reeling off the details as if they were precious possessions. "Fan Shengmao, the second son of Principal Fan of Tongwen Academy, traveled abroad for a long time. He suffered a severe illness and only recovered thanks to the care of the Tao couple. Afterward, he went into business with Tao Ying — Mei Wuniang's late husband, that is — and they still maintain business ties. When Mei Wuniang came to Moudu this time, the Fan family provided her with full support. I heard that she and Fan Shengmao's wife get along very well, like sisters. She even stayed at the Fan family's residence when she first arrived in Moudu, only moving out a few days ago."

"Like sisters?" You Huan scoffed, finding it amusing. With such a beauty living in their home, wouldn't the 'sister' be concerned?

You Su took a sip of tea. "Principal Fan is a man of high virtue and extensive connections. Just two months ago, he was even summoned by the Emperor. While none of his own sons have entered official service, three or four of his disciples hold positions in the royal court. However, none of them wield significant power."

You Huan nodded. "So, Tongwen Academy's influence has indeed been waning in recent years, while its rivals have seen their reputations grow considerably."

The academies in Moudu are, in fact, predominantly affiliated with Taoist sects, teaching civil governance, martial arts, and methods of cultivation.

You Su cast a knowing glance at his brother. "Hey, Big Brother, you don't actually hold any real power either, so there's no need to be quite so cautious."

The Auxiliary Pavilion Scholars, to put it simply, serve as Emperor Mou's think tank. They hold official ranks and draw salaries but, unlike other civil and military officials, do not possess executive power or practical duties. This isn't to say You Huan lacked prior experience or only knew how to speak; rather, upon selection as a Pavilion Scholar, one must resign their former official posts to dedicate themselves entirely to advising Emperor Mou.

One's position often dictates their perspective. Once a person develops a vested interest, they become biased and lose objectivity. Removing their official position is a way to remove that vested interest.

You Huan simply smiled.

Yes, he was still a Pavilion Scholar. While he harbored ambitions, it depended entirely on whether the Emperor would grant him the opportunity. For now, considering all factors, most people believed that Tang Heyuan had a greater likelihood of being named the next Chief Grand Advisor.

Tang Heyuan himself likely shared this belief, which explained his particularly high spirits lately.

Anyone who placed their bets on him, You Huan, right now would truly be insightful.

Seeing his brother practically rubbing his hands together, You Huan said with a sigh, "Don't let beauty cloud your judgment. If you genuinely intend to pursue her, you first need to thoroughly investigate her background. In my opinion, Mei Wuniang's visit and tea today were merely a businesswoman performing pleasantries. Her behavior was far more authentic on the day her carriage was overturned."

Mei Wuniang's demeanor today was flawless, but the more impeccable it seemed, the more artificial it felt. You Huan consistently sensed she was wearing a mask, concealing her true emotions.

This woman appeared unwilling to let anyone truly close to her.

You Su was taken aback. "Well, what else? Who would bare their heart to us the moment we meet?"

You Huan was, unusually, left speechless by his brother's question.

Indeed, why should she be genuinely sincere with them? This was a teahouse, and she was providing a service.

"Alright, let's discuss the State of Cangyan."

Only then did the two brothers focus their attention on discussing the political situation.

Their discussion lasted for most of the day, and by the time it grew dark, they decided to simply have dinner at the teahouse before departing.

Yes, teahouses in Moudu typically offered simple meals and light refreshments.

However, the cuisine at Sumao Qingxi was far from simple: lotus leaf eight-treasure rice, water caltrop braised pork, lotus seed soup, and fried water cicadas. These were all seasonal pond dishes, echoing the "Mao" character in the teahouse's name, making them highly distinctive.