Volume One, Chapter 6: The Empress Grew Anxious!
Knock, knock, knock!
Su Zhongwen downed three bowls in quick succession.
Wu Zetian was taken aback when she saw Su Zhongwen gulp down three bowls straight away. She assumed the tea brewed by Su Chen would be bland and hard to swallow, yet Su Zhongwen drank it so heartily.
Suddenly, Wu Zetian's body trembled slightly, as if she was beginning to grasp what was truly happening.
“It must be that Su Qing can’t bear to crush Su Chen’s confidence, so he’s putting on this desperate show,” she comforted herself. After all, she could think of no other explanation.
Why would he refuse the tea brewed by Shangguan Wan’er, the greatest tea master in the entire Great Qian, and instead gulp down three bowls of this extremely crude brew?
Su Qing wasn’t just drinking tea—he was drinking all the love he had for his brother, Su Chen!
“Empress, why don’t you try it? This tea has a unique flavor, quite different from the one brewed by Lady Shangguan. Each has its own merits!” Su Zhongwen wiped his mouth after finishing three more bowls.
Today, he finally got to taste it!
After all, his younger brother was exceptionally lazy, doing nothing but sleeping all day. Even if Su Zhongwen wanted to drink tea personally brewed by Su Chen, it was a rare occurrence.
Although Su Chen’s tea-making skills seemed ordinary—just pouring hot water over leaves—no one else in the household could replicate the unique taste Su Chen produced.
Wu Zetian was momentarily stunned. She looked at the amber-colored tea in the bowl before her and then at the eager expression on Su Zhongwen’s face. The Empress felt caught between a rock and a hard place; refusing was hardly an option.
“Very well, today I shall taste the tea made by Your Younger Brother,” she nodded slightly, though inwardly reluctant. After all, having tasted the exquisite tea brewed by Shangguan Wan’er, the thought of drinking Su Chen’s bland concoction was unappealing.
Especially since Su Chen had used such a crude method to brew it, Wu Zetian initially disliked it.
However, Su Chen’s inner voice sarcastically echoed in her mind:
[If you don’t want to drink it, fine! Don’t get all haughty on me—I never forced you!]
[Missing out on my chrysanthemum tea is your loss, and you’re still unwilling!]
...
The Empress furrowed her brows.
Su Chen might have a clever mind, but his character left much to be desired—truly the kind of person whose face you can read, but not their heart.
As Wu Zetian pondered this, she took a sip of the amber-colored tea.
“Hmm?”
The subtle expression on her face shifted ever so slightly.
Originally, Wu Zetian’s brows were lightly knitted, partly because she didn’t want to drink such coarse tea, and partly because Su Chen’s inner voice annoyed her.
Yet, to her astonishment, as the tea touched her lips, a delightful chrysanthemum fragrance suddenly filled her entire mouth.
As she swallowed, the scent of chrysanthemum mingled with the fresh aroma of herbs and trees, spreading from her stomach through every limb and sinew.
What an exquisite sensation!
What a miraculous tea-making skill!
No wonder Su Zhongwen praised his brother’s tea art so highly. It turned out Su Chen really possessed a talent rivaling Shangguan Wan’er’s.
And, most importantly, Wu Zetian was shocked to find that after drinking this chrysanthemum tea, even the tea Shangguan Wan’er had brewed seemed less fragrant.
“Su Qing, this tea…” Wu Zetian found herself at a loss for words.
She hadn’t expected that tea brewed with such crude skill could be so profoundly memorable.
“Worse still, this scoundrel only served me his worst teas—he never intended to let me taste the best ones!” she swore bitterly. From childhood till now, she had never despised anyone quite so much.
And the most frustrating part was that she could never find a flaw to hold against him.
Moreover, this rogue always managed to surprise people!
...
“Your Majesty, this tea was made by my younger brother Su Chen. It has the effect of refreshing the mind. I wonder if it suits Your Majesty’s taste?” Su Zhongwen asked eagerly. Though Su Chen’s tea had won his approval, he wasn’t sure if the Empress would like it.
If she did, perhaps she might forgive Su Chen’s earlier insolence.
“This tea is indeed excellent, with a unique charm. It complements the tea brewed by Wan’er, each with its own merits. Wan’er, you should try it too!” The Empress took another sip of the chrysanthemum tea, appreciating its distinct flavor.
Despite its crude appearance and rough brewing method, the taste was truly exceptional.
“Yes, Your Majesty!” Shangguan Wan’er responded, though inwardly she was disdainful. She thought the Empress was simply humoring Su Zhongwen.
But when she raised the cup and sipped the chrysanthemum tea, she froze instantly.
An unparalleled flavor blossomed in her mouth; the exquisite sensation on her tongue seemed to reach deep into her soul.
In that moment, Shangguan Wan’er was utterly enchanted!
Enchanted by this cup of chrysanthemum tea,
Enchanted by its mysterious fragrance!
If Shangguan Wan’er’s tea skill was the pinnacle of craftsmanship, with intricate blends like a beautifully adorned maiden,
Then Su Chen’s brewing was pure and natural, like a lotus blooming in clear water—an unadorned beauty, a celestial fairy dancing lightly.
A few tea leaves, a pot of hot water,
And the tea’s fragrance was fully awakened—a true natural beauty, flawless yet breathtaking.
One was the ultimate mortal, the other a heavenly immortal descended.
Which was superior was obvious at a glance.
“This fellow’s tea is unexpectedly unique…” Shangguan Wan’er felt a pang of envy. After all her hard work perfecting her tea craft, she had thought she’d reached perfection.
Yet she could not surpass Su Chen’s casual brew.
She was truly envious... truly jealous...
...
[I say, enough already! It’s just a cup of tea, isn’t it? No need to make such a fuss. Good thing I didn’t serve my treasured Da Hong Pao or Longjing; otherwise…]
Su Chen’s inner voice grumbled as he turned around, somewhat impatiently addressing Su Zhongwen:
“Brother, I brewed this tea myself. If there’s nothing else, I’m going to go lie down... uh, I mean, I’m going to leave now!”
“Su Chen, what nonsense are you talking?” Su Zhongwen was frightened out of his wits. Su Chen was utterly unreliable this time. The Empress was here, and he was just telling him off?
But Su Chen was his own brother, and this was just his laid-back nature.
Su Zhongwen knew the most likely thing Su Chen would do was go back to sleep, but he still had to cover for him.
“Your Majesty, earlier I was discussing the formulation and implementation of these laws with Your Majesty. Although Su Chen is honest, this is not an appropriate occasion for him. I beg Your Majesty to allow Su Chen to withdraw.”
...