The last time Jingshi received news from Wang Jinghong and Chen Xuan, it was still in the early spring when the cold weather had not yet been harvested; And this time, when the eunuch Meng Ji and others returned to Beijing to report the news, the weather was getting hotter and hotter. In the territory of the Ming Dynasty, which is tens of thousands of miles away, things have not been a year and a half, and there will be almost no progress.

Zhu Gaoxu remembered that the last time he dealt with the southern maritime affairs, he had a Teochew tea with the ministers. He could remember this detail because the eunuch Cao Fu had recently brought over a small jar of Yunnan tea; Only then did Zhu Gaoxu remember what he said at that time, and he was still used to the taste of tea in Yunnan.

Of course, Zhu Gaoxu just said it casually, and even forgot about himself. The tea produced in the southern provinces has its own taste, and he is not very picky about this thing. It is only because Zhu Gaoxu has been a vassal king in Yunnan for several years, and the transportation there is inconvenient, and the most common is locally produced tea, so he has a deep impression; At that time, I was a little nostalgic and mentioned it.

Unexpectedly, because of Zhu Gaoxu's words, Cao Fu, the eunuch in charge of Shangshan Prison, took a lot of trouble for this.

Cao Fu went to the Qianguo Mansion and asked the housekeeper of the Mu Mansion about the good tea in Yunnan. Then Mu Fu sent someone to Yunnan to send a small pot of tea that Mu Ying treasured in the villa of Lijiang Mansion many years ago and sent it to Jingshi, which only arrived recently.

It is said that this tea has been sealed for many years. During the Hongwu period, Mu Ying led the troops to the west to pacify Lijiang Mansion and other places, and once the local Tusi sent people to the deep mountains to pick wild tea leaves; The raw materials come from the mountains at the junction of Yunnan and the West Tibet Plateau, and after the refining of Mu Ying's tea master, a large basket of tea leaves is only a small can. Since then, this pot of tea has been hidden in the Mu family villa in Lijiang Prefecture.

Zhu Gaoxu had nothing to say about Cao Fu's toss. He really likes Cao Fu, a eunuch, because this person can always satisfy his selfish desires. Only a eunuch can do such a thing; Most of the local officials did not dare to greet them openly and openly, and they had to consider the name of Shilin in the officialdom. Jinyi Wei Wufu is not reliable to do this kind of thing, just like the chronology, he intercepted good things by himself.

But with acquiescence, Cao Fu sometimes doesn't know the extent clearly, and there is no way......

Today, Concubine Yao Ji is serving in the Rouyi Palace. In the summer, Zhu Gaoxu had the habit of taking a nap, but not only did he not rest well this afternoon, but he couldn't help but sweat. Then he packed up and came to the main hall, otherwise he would probably have to stay in the wing room for the whole afternoon.

After a while, Yao Ji also walked in through the back door, and when she saw Zhu Gaoxu, she pretended to be angry and said, "I'll run away without waiting." ”

Zhu Gaoxu turned his head to look at her neatly dressed, and felt that Concubine Xian was really charming. Think about it, she is also a woman who is nearly thirty years old, but her skin is white and delicate like satin, quite shiny, and the shape of her body is natural and wonderful, and her overall appearance is the best in the harem. Yao Ji's way of coming is a little wrong, but her temperament is different from the average lady.

He couldn't help blurting out: "Good tea is resistant to brewing, and it won't get tired no matter how you brew it." ”

Yao Ji lightly covered her lips with her jade-white slender hands, and laughed "sneering", her smiling eyes seemed to have endless style.

After Zhu Gaoxu finished what he just said, he followed the topic and remembered the pot of tea that Cao Fu brought in. The sunny afternoon was sweltering, and his mouth was a little dry, so he got up and walked to the northwest corner and beckoned Concubine Xian to come and make tea.

After Zhu Gaoxu's guidance, Yao Ji found a wooden box on the shelf. She opened the box and saw a whole box of tea, but she picked up a handful

After only a sniff, he immediately gave up the tea leaves in the box and found the small clay pot in the tea pile.

Maybe it's because Yao Ji was forced to leave home and be a nun for a while, so she maintained some of the living habits of a nun and loved to make tea. After Buddhism was introduced to Middle-earth, it had already merged with the customs of the Central Plains, including the tea ceremony.

Sometimes Zhu Gaoxu also feels that Yao Ji's breath is a little weird, and the combination of beauty and lightness can become one.

Boiling water, making tea, and making soup, Zhu Gaoxu sat on the chair a little tiredly, waiting for tea.

Yao Ji divided two lamps and handed a small porcelain cup to Zhu Gaoxu. Zhu Gaoxu sniffed it, and as soon as he took a sip, he was immediately stunned, and drank all the tea in the cup in one gulp. Yao Ji then put her lips to her mouth and took a sip, and her reaction was similar to that of Zhu Gaoxu, and her expression changed.

The two glanced at each other and silently finished the first brew of tea. Then Zhu Gaoxu sat on the chair and reminisced for a long time.

Yao Ji's voice said: "This tea is absolutely extraordinary. ”

Zhu Gaoxu nodded and said, "Yes, it's a pity that it can't be mass-produced." ”

The implication of his words is what if you can't drink it in the future? Compared with fine wine, tea always gives people the impression of elegance and indifference, but Zhu Gaoxu knows today that good tea will give people desire. After all, it always has to satisfy the appetite of the mouth.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at Yao Ji and couldn't help but say: "This tea is fragrant, so whoever gets it can only hide it privately and can't expose it." When you enter it, it is as smooth and thick as rice soup, but it is immediately sweet, and there is another kind of crispness and fragrance, which arouses people's greedy minds and wants to drink more. ”

Yao Ji glanced at Zhu Gaoxu, and her face gradually turned a little red. Yao Ji didn't speak, just listened silently, as if she was also reminiscing about the previous taste.

Zhu Gaoxu didn't really have much love for tea, and he didn't put much thought into it, but the taste was very direct and wonderful, so he said it with great interest.

He continued: "When I was in Yunnan, I knew that most of the tea trees in Yunnan are trees, and it is inevitable that there is a little green feeling; And this tea is rare for the taste to be pure and mellow. Appreciating its bright colors is already refreshing and pleasing to the eye, and once the entrance is full, every feeling is progressing layer by layer; The flavor that has been hidden for many years is awakened and indulged in the hot water. First it is gentle and delicate, and then it is so exalted that it makes people forget everything. The tea soup seems to be mild and smooth, and it seems to be tightly wound around the tongue, and it is a hundred times that it seems to be bitter and sweet. I've never been particular about tea, and I think it's really good tea. ”

The sweltering heat made Yao Ji feel weak when she spoke, and she responded: "There is such a high praise from the Holy Lord, if there are civil officials present today, I am afraid that it will become a famous product recorded in the book." ”

Zhu Gaoxu shook his head and said: "It makes no sense for this kind of thing to be famous, because there is no one in the world. is like a virtuous concubine, why should she be famous? ”

Yao Ji whispered in a very soft voice again: "Today, the Holy Lord will come to the Xianfei Palace, why do you need to feel sorry for me at this time?" If you don't have to follow the rules and talk to me often, it's not impossible. ”

Zhu Gaoxu nodded lightly. However, he felt the sweltering heat in the palace, and he was quite satisfied with the tranquility of the afternoon.

The two of them soaked the tea leaves in the pot many times, and they still smelled good. Sure enough, Zhu Gaoxu's previous sentence with the taste was crooked, that is, good tea is resistant to brewing.

pass

After a while, Yao Ji got up and said: "The weather is too hot, and the concubine is sweaty and uncomfortable, so go back to the palace to bathe and change clothes first, and wait for the return of the saint." ”

Zhu Gaoxu gave permission and asked her to go back to the harem first.

As soon as Concubine Xian left the Rouyi Palace, the eunuch Cao Fu walked in and bowed down.

Zhu Gaoxu immediately greeted him, pointed to the pot of tea and said, "Take it to the harem, and the queen, concubines, and concubines will all share a little." ”

Cao Fu asked cautiously: "The tea is not in line with the emperor's mouth, and the slave maid will go to inspect again." ”

Zhu Gaoxu shook his head and said, "It's just too good, so I don't want to drink more." After drinking it a few times, you will have an impression of the specific flavor of the tea, so where can you find the same thing? People can't be too addicted to one thing, otherwise they will suffer. ”

Cao Fu suddenly said: "The slave obeys the order." ”

Only then did Zhu Gaoxu ask, "What's the matter with you?" ”

Cao Fu bowed and said, "When Meng Ji returned to Beijing, he brought back a woman......

Zhu Gaoxu suddenly understood what he meant, so he didn't say a word and waited for him to continue playing.

Cao Fu said in a deep voice: "The queen of the Zhenla Kingdom, but because the king fled from Angkor Thom a few months ago, she was deposed. ”

Zhu Gaoxu was suddenly very surprised: "How could such a person come to Daming?" ”

Cao Fu said: "Back to the emperor, it's a long story. It was probably the enemy of the Zhenla Kingdom who wanted to calculate her, and after several twists and turns, she met Meng Ji. Only then did Meng Ji bring her to Jingshi to avoid trouble. ”

Then Cao Fu briefly recounted the domestic affairs of Zhenla. After recounting it, he added: "This woman has a complicated experience, and she came secretly, so it is not easy for the government to receive her. For the time being, the slave maid can only ask her to settle in the old mansion (the Han Palace) of Jingshi, and the slave maid will first see if she is reliable, and then let her meet the emperor...... But this woman is really beautiful. ”

Speaking of the last sentence, Cao Fu looked up at Zhu Gaoxu, and the two of them immediately had a feeling of understanding.

The Old Mansion is just west of the Imperial City, not far away. After Zhu Gaoxu ascended the throne, the name of the Han Wangfu was canceled, because there was no Han Wang. Nowadays, the many halls and corridors in front of the palace are mainly the stations of the North Department of the Imperial Division; The garden at the back is indeed quite spacious.

Zhu Gaoxu said: "It's okay to let her stay in Beijing." If the imperial court wants to understand the local situation, the abolition of the Zhenla Kingdom is also a clue. ”

Cao Fu hurriedly said: "The emperor is right, the emperor is really far-sighted. ”

Talking about beauties, Zhu Gaoxu remembered the can of tea that he got back from thousands of miles away, and couldn't help but remind Cao Fudao: "Some things are not as rare as possible, there is no need to toss too much, it is too troublesome." ”

Cao Fu said: "Slaves and maids are not too troublesome. As long as the emperor is happy, the slave maid is beautiful in his heart. ”

Zhu Gaoxu said casually: "When you observe her, find out what she wants." ”

Cao Fu was stunned for a moment, and said, "The slave obeys the order." ”

After Cao Fu left the Rouyi Palace, Zhu Gaoxu came back to his senses, and it was a bit strange for him to say that sentence at the end. He didn't know why whenever someone sent it to the door, he felt that the other person wanted something from him. Perhaps because he is getting older, his temperament has changed a lot.