"Your Majesty, Concubine Liu says that if you have time, she invites you to her chambers. The Little Princess is preparing fresh tea snacks for everyone," Wei Zheng reported jubilantly to Xiao Yunzhou.
This was the first time Concubine Liu had invited the Emperor over. And it was about the Little Princess too. This news was cause for great joy, and Wei Zheng wouldn't let anyone else steal the honor of delivering it.
Sure enough, as soon as Xiao Yunzhou heard this, he decisively put down the memorial he was holding.
His exhausted face lit up with happiness and excitement, tinged with pleasant surprise. "Snacks prepared by the Little Princess?"
"Indeed!" Wei Zheng smiled, as if he were a bird delivering good tidings.
"While you were talking to Minister Jiang from the Ministry of Revenue earlier, this servant inquired about the details. It turns out Consort Min was feeding the Little Princess some goat's milk, and in her playfulness, the Little Princess pushed the milk spoon into Concubine Liu's teacup."
"As a result, they all found it delicious."
Xiao Yunzhou stood up abruptly, a sudden realization dawning on him. "Could this be... milk tea?"
"Huh?" Wei Zheng was momentarily stunned.
Xiao Yunzhou was elated. "Come, Wei Zheng. You're in for a treat today. When we get to Concubine Liu's place, I'll reward you with a taste as well."
"Oh! This servant eagerly awaits!" Wei Zheng's face immediately lit up with joy. "No wonder I heard magpies singing when I woke up this morning."
"So it turns out this servant will have the fortune of tasting the Little Princess's handiwork today~ Our Little Princess is truly more clever than a fairy, able to prepare tea snacks at just a few months old."
Wei Zheng's flattery hit the mark, going straight to Xiao Yunzhou's heart.
Wasn't that exactly right?
Xiao Yunzhou took long strides, heading towards Concubine Liu's quarters without looking back.
Concubine Liu's newly assigned Changchun Palace was situated in a location that the Imperial Astronomical Bureau had determined to be most beneficial for women.
Changchun Palace not only suited Concubine Liu's birth chart but was also advantageous for the Little Princess.
Although it was quite a distance for Xiao Yunzhou to walk, he was more than willing to go on foot.
This was called devotion.
To taste the tea snacks 'prepared' by the Little Princess, who was the reincarnation of a celestial maiden, one must approach with utmost sincerity!
By the time Xiao Yunzhou reached Changchun Palace, he was drenched in sweat, but he felt invigorated and so hungry he could eat a feast right away.
"Where's my Chu Chu?"
"My Little Princess can already prepare tea snacks?"
As soon as Xiao Yunzhou entered Changchun Palace, he asked these questions, feigning ignorance, his eyes sparkling.
But when he stepped into the main hall's inner chamber, he paused.
He saw Consort Min holding Chu Chu, who was dressed in a red jacket, looking like a celestial child from a Guanyin painting. They were standing in front of a large eight-immortals pear blossom wood table.
The others – Concubine Liu, Cheng Qian, and Cheng Shan – were all gathered around the table, their eyes fixed on it.
On this eight-immortals table were arrayed various blue and white porcelain bowls, plates, ladles, and cups.
As Xiao Yunzhou approached, he discovered that some contained milky white goat's milk, some red beans, small glutinous rice balls, and various fruits cut into cubes and chunks.
On the other side of the table were various tribute teas, along with ice that had been dug out from some ice cellar.
"How reckless! The weather hasn't warmed up yet, and you're messing around with ice indoors. If someone catches a cold and falls ill, it would be disastrous!" Xiao Yunzhou was startled.
Fortunately, the quick-witted Qiu Li had placed the ice bowl in the farthest corner of the table. Hearing this, she quickly hugged the bowl and retreated a few steps.
"It's fine, Father. Don't be such a worrywart~" the Sixth Prince, Cheng Shan, who was always talkative and bold, spoke up. "We have warm kang beds and braziers burning. It's so hot we're almost sweating."
"Even if you're sweating, you're not allowed to eat ice," Xiao Yunzhou decreed as he sat down.
But soon, the Sixth Prince Cheng Shan snorted, "Whether you eat it or not depends on little sister. If she doesn't give you any, you won't get to eat it anyway."
Xiao Yunzhou was taken aback.
[Hmm, Emperor Dad is quite health-conscious, not wanting to eat cold things.]
Xiao Chuchu, held in Consort Min's arms, transmitted her thoughts the next moment.
[Alright then, I'll make you a hot cup of red bean Four Seasons Spring milk tea.]
Four Seasons Spring milk tea?
Xiao Yunzhou smiled upon hearing this. What a good name! The Little Princess, reincarnation of a celestial maiden, also felt that the mortal realm of Jing Country was like spring in all four seasons? That her imperial father could enjoy eternal spring and live for ten thousand years?
Xiao Yunzhou beamed with joy as he watched Xiao Chuchu struggle in Consort Min's arms, reaching out her adorable little hand to point at items on the table.
First, she pointed to a blue and white porcelain lotus bowl containing light black tea.
Xiao Yunzhou chuckled when he saw it. Was this Four Seasons Spring?
Wasn't this Beiyuan tea? Originating from Phoenix Mountain, it wasn't something he usually enjoyed drinking.
[Aww, after the Four Seasons Spring tea base, we add milk!]
Xiao Chuchu extended her little fist towards a bowl of cow's milk.
Qiu Li quickly followed with a teacup, scooping two spoonfuls of Four Seasons Spring tea, followed by a spoonful of milk.
Then, when Xiao Chuchu pointed to the sweet red bean soup, Qiu Li hurriedly added a spoonful of this red bean broth to the teacup.
After stirring it well with a small spoon, she carefully brought it to Xiao Yunzhou.
Xiao Yunzhou's mouth twitched.
It wasn't that he doubted the celestial realm, but... was this really... drinkable?
Although Beiyuan tea was relatively mild compared to other teas, it still had the strong backbone of tea.
This tea flavor, combined with the gamey milk, and then mixed with the cloyingly sweet red bean soup...
What kind of concoction was this?
If Xiao Yunzhou couldn't hear her thoughts, he would have suspected that his daughter was just pointing randomly.
"Father, try it quickly," the Sixth Prince Cheng Qian urged excitedly.
Concubine Liu, Consort Min, and Cheng Qian all looked on expectantly.
Xiao Yunzhou's hand felt as heavy as a thousand catties, but seeing his daughter Chu Chu watching him with her big, bright eyes, he hesitated no longer.
[If Emperor Dad likes it sweet, I can add a small rice ball to it~] Xiao Chuchu wasn't quite sure of her old man's taste preferences yet.
This sentence scared Xiao Yunzhou into quickly raising the teacup to his lips.
Joking aside, adding rice balls to the tea... how could the Little Princess come up with such an idea!
Was this still tea, or was it soup, or a dessert?
Xiao Yunzhou's face was about to turn green.
Eating tangyuan soaked in tea... the tastes of the celestial realm were indeed different from the mortal world, unique and peculiar.
Mortals probably couldn't easily appreciate it...
But just as he was thinking this, the red bean mixed with the silky milk tea rolled down his throat, and he froze for a moment.
A rich, creamy flavor, neither rank nor gamey, gently caressed Xiao Yunzhou's teeth. Before he could swallow, the fragrant and refreshing Beiyuan tea base began to seep through the milky flavor, thread by thread.
He thought this would be the end, but unexpectedly, a honey-like sweetness, along with the soft red beans cooked to perfection, blossomed in his mouth, leaving a lingering sweetness and a clear, pleasant aftertaste.
The fragrance, smoothness, sweetness, richness, freshness, and mellow taste in his mouth... they rose and fell like waves, one after another.
After swallowing, a gentle sweetness and fragrance lingered in his mouth, refusing to dissipate for a long time.
It was actually delicious!
Xiao Yunzhou held the teacup in a daze, not realizing he had already drained the entire cup of red bean milk tea.
He had just walked all the way from the imperial study and was feeling somewhat tired, but now he suddenly felt refreshed, all his fatigue gone!
[What a pity the Emperor Father doesn't eat ice, otherwise iced drinks would taste even better.]
"!"
Xiao Yunzhou coughed lightly and wiped his forehead. "As We drink, We seem to be feeling a bit overheated."
"Cheng Shan, it's all your fault. You mentioned lighting the kang bed-stove and braziers, which has drawn out all the heat in Our body."
Sixth Prince Cheng Shan: "???"
[In that case, let's prepare an ice-cold fruit drink bucket for Emperor Father!]
So thought Xiao Chuchu.
Xiao Yunzhou immediately leaned forward in anticipation.
Drink... bucket?
It sounded like a rice bucket...
Xiao Yunzhou felt both worried and expectant.
But after Xiao Chuchu pointed at five or six fruit platters, she thought to herself,
[As expected of modern wisdom's milk tea and fruit tea~ Even the Emperor finds it delicious. Could we open a milk tea shop in Jing Country now?]
[How come I'm so business-savvy~]
Xiao Yunzhou slapped his thigh!