Chapter 310

310 Pour your heart

Liu Jin Yu looked at herself in the mirror after she got ready. Today, her dress was much heavier than the previous day. Court Lady Hong gave her a nice lecture about the qualities of a lady from the royal family. She had realized that she was on the most difficult journey of her life.

She rose to her feet, and the first thing she did was make tea for Lady Hu. It would have been good if she had come late in the evening. Now, her entire day would go into stress.

The previous night, Court Lady Hong informed her that Li Hua’s tea skills were good enough and she might help her in a better way. But she didn’t even come to see her. She half-heartedly brewed the chemomile tea for Lady Hu and passed it to her through a maidservant.

Again, she was scolded. She had put less powder and, because of that, the tea didn’t taste well.

“Did your mother never teach you how to make tea? Rather than learning the things which males learn, you should have learned all those things in which women must excel.” Lady Hu was harsh while speaking to Liu Jin Yu.

“My mother died early. I was very young at that time,” Jin Yu answered, glaring into the eyes of Lady Hu. “I had to protect myself from the world, so I learned how to use a sword. Tea making isn’t important when you encounter an enemy,” she proclaimed.

Court Lady Hong smiled to hear her. Lady Hu got tongue-tied to hear the explanation of Liu Jin Yu. She again didn’t like the way Jin Yu talked. No matter how much she told her to be polite, Jin Yu would forget about it.

“Be focused,” Lady Hu told Jin Yu, who lowered her eyes. She sat straight and again made the same chamomile tea for Lady Hu. However, it was only the beginning for her to get thousands of scoldings from Lady Hu.

It had been over an hour. She didn’t like any of the tea that Jin Yu made for her.

.....

“Pardon me for intruding into the training of Miss Liu. Princess Consort is here,” the maidservant informed them. Liu Jin Yu was delighted to hear about it. She wanted to get up, but seeing Lady Hu staring at her, she remained seated.

Li Hua entered the room, and everyone bowed in her respect. Liu Jin Yu waved at Li Hua and smiled widely when she heard Lady Hu.

“Miss Liu, please be respectful.”

Liu Jin Yu understood, and she bowed to Li Hua. That was the proper way to greet a lady from the royal family. Li Hua came to Court Lady Hong and asked her how she was doing.

“I am well, Your Highness,” Court Lady Hong answered. Li Hua then asked Lady Hu if she could teach Liu Jin Yu the art of brewing tea.

“Her Highness does not need to ask for permission. Surely, she can. But I must warn Her Highness that Miss Liu isn’t a good learner and her concentration isn’t up to the mark.” Lady Hu didn’t restrain herself from humiliating Liu Jin Yu.

Li Hua glanced at Jin Yu and smiled. “She knows warfare well, which we women cannot learn even after a year. Prince Lóng Wei told me that it takes many years to become a good swordsman and even more years to become a good archer. In that sense, Miss Liu’s concentration is far better than all of us,” Li Hua asserted. Liu Jin Yu lifted her head and looked at her. She was giddy to hear those words from Li Hua.

Lady Hu apologized for her statements towards Jin Yu. Li Hua told her that she should take some rest as she would teach Liu Jin Yu.

Lady Hu bowed and left the room. As soon as she left, Liu Jin Yu got up and found her feet were numb again. She went to Li Hua and hugged her tightly. “I am happy you rescued me, Li Hua. I thought you forgot about me,” Jin Yu said, and pulled away quickly.

“Li Hua, I heard from Court Lady Hong that you were appointed to make tea for the royals in the morning in the greeting hall,” Liu Jin said.

“I was appointed as the tea server,” Li Hua accepted it and told Jin Yu that they should not waste time. She asked her to take her seat and asked Court Lady Hong if she could bring another cushion for her.

In a few seconds, one more cushion was brought, and Li Hua sat on it. Li Hua started to teach Jin Yu the basics of brewing tea. She told her the benefits of the flower teas that were popular among the royals.

“I never asked the Crown Prince what kind of tea he preferred,” Liu Jin Yu admitted to Li Hua.

“Then, you should ask His Royal Highness once,” Li Hua said, and asked her to focus as she prepared a chamomile tea for her.

Liu Jin Yu found out that Li Hua was of a calm nature. Was that the reason that Xiaoming fell for her? Li Hua was graceful while working on the tea. Even her hand movements were sophisticated and beautiful. Liu Jin Yu realised what Lady Hu was trying to tell her.

Liu Jin Yu keenly listened to the proportions that Li Hua told her about, and there was a specific way to pour the hot water into the teacup, which astonished Liu Jin Yu.

Li Hua lifted her eyelids and peered at Jin Yu. “Drink it and tell me how it tastes.” Li Hua placed the teacup before Jin Yu. She nodded and extended her hand when Li Hua showed her the way to hold the tea cup.

“You need to rest the base of the teacup over your knuckles and tilt your head slightly,” Li Hua said. “Make sure when you sip the tea, the person before you does not see your mouth,” she explained her further.

Liu Jin Yu followed the steps that Li Hua told her to. “You must keep your posture straight,” Li Hua said.

“How?” Liu Jin Yu was confused.

Li Hua leaned forward and slightly raised her body on her knees. She angled her hands rightly and even asked her to lean a little back. “This is the right posture,” Li Hua stated. Liu Jin Yu looked at herself and at her hands. She then sipped the tea, bringing her hands close to her mouth and sipping the tea.

She had never tasted such a tea in her life. Jin Yu now realized why Lady Hu scolded her because, indeed, the tea that she made was bad before the tea that Li Hua brewed.

“Pour your heart while brewing the tea. A work done with half-heart never gives a result,” Li Hua said with a tiny smile.