Chapter Forty-Three: Yue'er Brews Tea

  The east wing and the outer courtyard are separated by a high wall with a height of 7 meters, which is decorated with carved bricks. There is only one hexagonal moon gate on the high wall.

  Arriving at the east wing, Chu Hao first looked around outside the moon gate in the courtyard. Coincidentally, several servants who were passing by were about to bow and greet him. Chu Hao hastily placed his finger on his lips and made a "shh" gesture.

  Then waved goodbye, and they left.

  Chu Hao stood stealthily outside the courtyard gate, gazing inside, and saw Lin Yue'er sitting alone on the stone bench in the center of the courtyard, but didn't see any sign of Xiao Die.

  She was quietly sizing him up, her hands supporting her chin, those pale hands with slender fingers and transparent nails like beautiful jade. Today's Lin Yue'er wore a three-bun hairstyle that Chu Hao had never seen before, with plain shoes and socks, wearing a pink gauze scarf, a light blue cross-necked jacket, and a green dress with a small cluster of flowers, exuding a quiet and elegant atmosphere, exceptionally beautiful.

  However, there was no focus between her eyes, staring at the desktop, as if in a daze. The beauty concentrated, naturally pleasing to the eye, Chu Hao suddenly swept away his depressed mood, smiled secretly in his heart, and quietly approached Lin Yue'er with a lowered footstep.

  As she approached her from behind, Lin Yue'er had not yet discovered his arrival. Chu Hao's heart was filled with surprise as he looked at the stone table, and suddenly felt great joy. On the table were placed a pen holder, several sheets of rice paper, and a vermilion brush lying on its side. And on that sheet of rice paper, what was written was none other than Chu Hao's own composition "A Beauty in the North", although it wasn't the original version - it seemed to be Lin Yue'er's copy, with her pen poised as if she were about to critique it. Only, somehow or other, she had become lost in thought while reviewing it.

  Seeing this situation, Chu Hao couldn't help but let his imagination run wild.

  Was it that day when my bold and elegant demeanor, the wild and delicate poetic charm, made Miss Lin fall in love with me? Ah, no wonder on that day at Tao Ran's residence, I felt like she was looking at me differently. It seems I need to use poetry as a medium, write a few more poems, until Lin Yue'er climbs onto my bed.

  Lin Yue'er had no idea that behind her back, there was a shameless scoundrel with a mind full of despicable thoughts.

  Chu Hao stood behind her for a while, just about to lean in and scare her, but Lin Yue'er let out a soft sigh, suddenly feeling the warmth behind her, turned around and said: "Xiao Die, why so early..." The words had just been spoken halfway when she let out a startled cry, finding that Chu Hao was now only an inch or two away from her. Flustered, her foot slipped, almost falling onto the table.

  Chu Hao was also startled by the cry, but he quickly saw that Lin Yue'er was about to fall and hastily stretched out his hand to hold her waist, pulling her into his arms. Lin Yue'er lay in Chu Hao's embrace, her beautiful eyes wide with fear, her arms empty and unsure of where to grab, still unable to react for a moment.

  Chu Hao let out a sigh of relief, but when he lowered his head to look at Lin Yue'er, he couldn't help but feel a flutter in his heart. He saw that Lin Yue'er was leaning against him with an extremely ambiguous posture, her full chest tightly wrapped in her dress, outlining a curve that seemed about to burst out, dazzling his eyes. Chu Hao supported Lin Yue'er's waist, his hands filled with smoothness and warmth, feeling as if Lin Yue'er's entire slender body was boneless, the fragrance wafting up, and his lower body had an automatic reaction.

  Chu Hao's face turned red with excitement, and he unconsciously adjusted his lower body, starting to rub himself.

  "Ah!" It was only after a few seconds that Lin Yue'er felt something was off and came back to her senses. She then let out a loud cry, hastily pushed Chu Hao away, ran to the other side of the table, her chest heaving, before stuttering: "Y-you... you scoundrel, what are you trying to do?!"

  Heaven and earth are witness to my conscience, I haven't even started doing anything yet, but you've already discovered me.

  Chu Hao sighed inwardly, "What a pity." Then, facing Lin Yue'er's questioning, his face didn't show any embarrassment. He stared at Lin Yue'er's blushing face and said seriously, "Yue'er, what are you thinking about? If it wasn't for Xiao Wang supporting you just now, who knows where you'd be right now? I don't need you to thank me or repay me with your body, but please don't speak to the person who helped you in such a tone."

  Lin Yue'er was so angry that she didn't know what to say, and after panting for a while, she simply opened her mouth and repeated: "Scoundrel, lecher, bastard..."

  Chu Hao smiled and let her vent there, looking at the towering chest rising and falling, feeling that the scenery in front of him was great.

  After scolding a few sentences, Lin Yue'er finally vented her anger and glared at Chu Hao fiercely, saying: "You came over without making a sound, getting so close, and...and...you're such an evil wolf with ulterior motives!"

  "Mei, you're wrong, I'm concerned about you. You don't know that sitting for a long time is bad for your waist, so Xiao Wang was just going to give you a shoulder massage to help you relax. Look at you, what were you thinking?!" He paused and continued with an air of righteousness: "Besides, have you ever seen such a pure and innocent wolf like me?"

  Lin Yue'er hummed and then reached out to grab the rice paper on the stone table, hiding them behind her back. She stared at Chu Hao coldly and said, "Indeed, I haven't seen it before!"

  Chu Hao followed Lin Yue'er's gaze and saw that his little brother was still holding his head high, and he couldn't help but smile wryly: "Unexpected, unexpected."

  Lin Yue'er, however, no longer paid attention to him, furrowed her delicate eyebrows, and turned around to walk into the house.

  Chu Hao warned his little brother a few words, and then followed behind him with a smile, pretending to say casually: "Yue Er, I didn't expect you to be so interested in my poetry. Why don't I compose a few more poems one day and recite them to you before you sleep to help you fall asleep?"

  Lin Yue'er's face turned red with anger, and she hid the rice paper in her sleeve, cursing: "Shameless!" But as for Chu Hao, she really had no choice but to watch him follow her into the room.

  This elegant room seemed to have been redecorated by Lin Yue'er, with bright windows and a simple yet refined layout. On the wooden cabinet against the west wall were displayed delicate vases, jars, bowls, and cups in various colors, crystal clear and translucent. Two black purple sandalwood low tables stood on either side of the room. In the inner and outer halls, a yellow screen with intricate patterns of flowers and birds separated the space. Chu Hao's eyes lit up as he gazed at the screen, catching glimpses of the interior of the boudoir. Clearing his throat, he stared at the tea sets and said, "Yue'er, I didn't know you were also skilled in the art of tea-making. Let's brew some for Little Wang to taste later."

  Lin Yue'er was thoroughly impressed by Chu Hao's audacity, seeing him walking freely in her room as if he were the master. Lin Yue'er smoothed out her hair and gazed at Chu Hao with beautiful eyes: "Your Highness, may I ask what brings you here?"

  Chu Hao looked around and asked: "Where's Little Butterfly? Why can't I see her?"

  Lin Yue'er hesitated for a moment, then squatted beside the tea table, lit the stove, picked up a handful of tea leaves and crushed them with a wooden pestle. She said faintly: "Xiao Die has gone out to buy clothes, if Young Master Wang wants to see her, he can come back after an hour."

  When he heard that the foolishly loyal little loli was not there, Chu Hao's heart felt a thrill of excitement, and he thought to himself whether he should take advantage of this opportunity to fulfill his obligations to the beauty. However, just then, he saw Lin Yue'er's movements, and a wisp of hot air rose from the spout of the teapot on the small table.

  "Xiao Wang naturally came to find you, Moon. They say beauty is a feast for the eyes. I just casually mentioned it earlier, and you didn't have to be so polite, actually brewing tea for me, as if we're strangers." Chu Hao smiled with his eyes open, saying this while picking up a black ceramic cup from beside him and placing it next to Lin Moon. Lin Moon shot him an annoyed glance, but soon she was pouring tea into the cup. The fresh green tea leaves slowly unfolded in the clear water, releasing a light, refreshing fragrance that filled the entire room.

  "Good tea art!" Chu Hao praised, it was only at this time that Lin Yue'er, the third miss of the jewelry store, showed her extraordinary talent. Few women have the patience to learn tea, and even fewer can reach such a level of mastery. Looking at Lin Yue'er's fire timing, she has already mastered the way of filtering water and boiling tea.

  Lin Yue'er put down her cup and looked at Chu Hao in surprise, saying: "Does the young master also understand tea art?"

  Chu Haoqian humbly said, "I roughly understand a thing or two." In fact, he had originally been at the Foundry Gate, but under his master's seat, he had served as a tea servant and laborer for forging tooling molds for three years.

  Of course, this matter does not match his wise and brave character, and he would not say it out loud.

  Lin Yue'er looked at him with a smile that was not quite a smile, then picked up the tea and said: "If Young Master Wang is not afraid that I have put poison in the tea, he can try drinking it."

  Chu Hao said with a big laugh: "I still believe in you, Yue Er, and besides, I've already fallen into your trap."

  Lin Yue'er was taken aback and asked: "What poison?"

  "Love poison." Chu Hao winked at her, then picked up the teacup and stroked her slender fingers with his right hand. Lin Yue'er's face turned red, and she quickly withdrew her hand, muttering: "A dog's mouth can't spit out ivory!"

  He took a sip, but felt the fragrance filled his mouth, and the aftertaste was endless. Chu Hao's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but let out a soft sigh. He raised his head to see Lin Yue'er's bright eyes with a hint of a smile, her red lips slightly parted, saying: "Young Master Wang isn't familiar with tea ceremonies? Please, Young Master Wang, evaluate the tea brewed by this humble woman."

  Chu Hao was just a tea boy, and not even a good one at that. Where would he have the leisure to study the art of tea like these young ladies from wealthy families? What he said earlier about knowing a little bit was not humility, but fact. Otherwise, given his personality, why would he give up an opportunity to gain favor?

  But if he really had to say something, apart from "delicious", "not bad" and "good tea", he couldn't think of any other words.

  If I say that, wouldn't it make me look very lacking in taste in front of Lin Yue'er? Having just conquered her heart with poetry, now I'm afraid I'll have to greatly discount myself.

  Suddenly, Chu Hao couldn't help but think of a past anecdote and said, "Yue'er, your tea art is extraordinary, it makes Xiao Wang think of a story."

  Lin Yue'er's eyes fluttered, and she looked at Chu Hao with a hint of curiosity, saying: "Oh? I don't know what story Your Highness wants to tell?" She also wanted to hear it, this young master, was he really a spoiled brat or just pretending to be one.

  Ballad ballad, why can only hear your voice but can't see you, in front of a field of chrysanthemum, where are you...