XH 138
By the time the trio arrived at where the Empress was waiting, the remains of the destroyed table were swept away and a new table had replaced its predecessor with no hint of the previous event could be seen.
Xin San announced their arrival respectfully. "Your Highness, Sister Xiao Hua is here."
Seeing Duke Heng sitting there, Xiao Hua shoots a surprised look at the Eighth Prince, who mouthed 'I'm sorry' when they made eye contact.
Opposite of his expectation, Xiao Hua just gave him a small smile filled with nervousness, which implied to him that she was not angry! before shifting her attention to the Empress.
Xiao Hua shifted her gaze to the Empress, pushing her nervousness away before fixing a happy smile on her face. "Greeting to Empress!" Xiao Hua greeted cheerfully with an exaggerated curtsy. "Xiao Hua is very happy to receive your gift! I love it!"
Xiao Hua had lifted her sleeves to show off when she said those cringy words, so Duke Heng knew what the gift was that his childhood friend had given to the maid. He stared at the 'gift' with a barely concealed amusement.
"May I suggest a way to thank the Empress for her lovely gift?" Duke Heng flashed a charming smile and without waiting for a reply, he continues on, "This duke knew that Xiao Hua has a great talent in tea brewing. Your sincerity in making a delicious tea for the Empress to enjoy would be enough to repay her kindness."
Xiao Hua's smile became strained. "Duke Heng is flattering this servant. This servant has more confidence in my massage skills than tea brewing. Surely the Empress would enjoy a massage than drinking my poor attempt of tea brewing?"
Instead of what she expected, Duke Heng looked interested in her revelation. "You are good at massage too? The third prince indeed found a good maid. Perhaps he would not mind if I borrow his maid's skillful hands for a few days."
The Empress' elegantly arched eyebrows were lifted high, giving the illusion of nearly touching her hairline. To her knowledge, Heng Zhen Gan hardly interact with people unless necessary. No one knows he was a hermit that loved books with how often he attended banquets that were held in the palace. He was also one that would not be overly friendly or kind to a servant. Perhaps Xiao Hua's tea was much more valuable than she had originally thought.
Duan XiYing answered on behalf of the Third Prince and Xiao Hua with a friendly smile. "Third Prince would refuse Duke Heng's request. But of course, the Third Prince will not refuse Xiao Hua from giving the Empress a massage."
Letting out a small snort, the Empress said, "It would be unnecessary for Xiao Hua to give me a massage to repay me when she owes me a massage originally. We shall follow what Duke Heng suggests."
The Eighth Prince was struggling to think up of ideas to save Xiao Hua, but every idea he thought of would end up revealing he was not insane.
"This servant is unable to follow Duke Heng's suggestion without the permission from the Third Prince," Xiao Hua solemnly said. "If I disobey his Highness' direct order, this servant will be punished. This humble servant does not wish to be punished. Please have mercy, Your Highness."
With how fearful and pitiful looking her face was, one would think the Third Prince would give her a very painful punishment.
The Eighth Prince and Duan XiYing that knew the truth remained silent and shifted their gaze away before they accidentally laughed out loud. The Third Prince would never punish Xiao Hua in a painful manner, but more to giving him a chance to eat Xiao Hua's tofu.
The Empress was about to let it go when Xiao Hua continued on. "But Xiao Hua believes the Third prince would not mind the Empress to taste this servant's tea, because the Empress dotes on His Highness."
It took a while for the Empress to understand because Xiao Hua's words could be quite confusing to catch the hidden meaning. For forcing a servant to need his permission before brewing tea means there must be something special added in it that would be too dangerous for others to discover!
"Duke Heng, the Eighth prince would feel neglected if you do not pay attention to him. What would you do if he no longer wants to play with you? Xin Mei, escort them back to the Eighth prince's courtyard and make sure the prince eats his afternoon meal."
Duke Heng looked offended. "Empress, you would have wounded me if I am a lesser man. I am a good uncle and made sure he had eaten before coming for a visit. Eighth Prince, did you not say you wish to meet Xiao Hua?" Duke Heng asked pleasantly, shamelessly using his own nephew to get a chance to drink Xiao Hua's tea.
The Eighth Prince: '...' Cheap uncle, you are a terrible person! Is this my karma for eating your tofu?! (｡•́︿•̀｡)
"This servant had angered the Eighth Prince and he has sworn he won't see me anymore," Xiao Hua quickly said. "Look, His Highness does not wish to look at me."
Playing along, the Eighth Prince quickly averted his eyes elsewhere with an exaggerated pout, enhancing his chubby white cheeks that made one wish to pinch it.
"Really? I heard that he wishes to meet Xiao Hua and it was only then I've brought the Eighth Prince here."
The Empress sighed, gently rubbing her temple due to the rising headache. Xin Lin quickly helped to rub her temple. "Xiao Hua, Duke Heng is a tenacious man. He would not stop until he gets what he wants."
Duke Heng went stiff when Xiao Hua openly stared at him up and down as if doubting the Empress' claim of his tenaciousness. He had experienced countless stares from females that wished to be his wife, but Xiao Hua's stare was one that judged him and found him lacking.
Xiao Hua: Tenacious? This young lady doesn't believe it. The evidence is the Empress still being the Empress! (￣ヘ￣)
As if making a difficult choice, Xiao Hua reluctantly agreed. "This servant could give Duke Heng to drink a cup of my tea if Duke Heng agrees to sign a letter of promise."
With a raised eyebrow, he asked curiously, "To drink your tea, I have to sign a letter of promise?"
Xiao Hua nodded seriously. "I can only think of this way to lessen the Third Prince's anger once he found out. The matter of my tea should not be leaked out. But of course, the Third Prince knew that if it was leaked, it's either Duke Heng or the King of Muzhu that's responsible for the leak."
Duke Heng nodded after thinking about it for a second. He knew that her tea was not ordinary, with how delicious and energizing it felt. It was no wonder that the Third Prince was wary of the brewing knowledge to fall onto his enemies' hand.
"I will have certain conditions."
Xiao Hua smiled shrewdly. "Of course. We will discuss until both of us come into an agreement.'
Xiao Hua: I will make you cry blood for forcing me! (°ㅂ°╬)
Duke Heng: A commoner girl will not be a match for me. (⁀ᗢ⁀)
Heise and Duan XiYing silently lits a candle for Duke Heng. ( o˘◡˘o) ┌iii┐
As Xiao Hua has the advantage of withholding the tea from Duke Heng, naturally the contract was more beneficial towards her. The gist of it was Duke Heng will have to return the title 'Duke' back to the Emperor if he leaked out Xiao Hua's tea brewing skill.
She thought that it was a scary enough threat, which the Eighth Prince approved, but the others thought it was rather cruel. Duke Heng had to work hard to earn the title, which was a great achievement for a commoner with no backing that only relying on pure talent and hard work.
To force him to give up his title and years of hard work for a slip of tongue was rather too much. Xiao Hua honestly just wanted him to think ten times before he dared to spread her tea brewing skill to other people again.
"You want me to brew tea for you whenever you visit me? Without any payment? I won't brew tea for free. The agreement of you keeping your silence is just to reassure me that you won't harm me."
...
"Silver coins? My tea is the best you had ever tasted; surely you would agree it should be more expensive than the best tea you had paid to drink? I'm positive you paid tons of gold coins to taste good tea judging from your excellent taste, so it will be understood that my tea would be more expensive than the tiny amount of silver and gold coins?"
...
"My master does not give me money but beautiful clothes and accessories. Look at my bracelets; these are specially made which was gifted by the third prince. I'm not an overly demanding person, but it would be more sincere if you give me a beautiful and useful reward for brewing tea for you instead of cold, gold coins."
Heise: RIP uncle. This is getting difficult to watch. (⌐■_■)
Duan XiYing: That's good. Dig further~ (b ᵔ▽ᵔ)b
Empress: '...' How shameless! (눈_눈)
Duke Heng's desire to drink her tea was more than his desire to keep his riches, so he was willing to give her most of it. He has enough treasures that he had no use for so he does not mind exchanging it for a pot of tea.
Wonder what his future wife, if there's any, would think if he spends all his treasures on tea~
"Hmm... XiYing, if I don't like the treasure do you want it?" Xiao Hua asked in mid-discussion.
"If Xiao Hua doesn't like the treasure, Xiao Hua can ask Duke Heng to change it," Duan XiYing answered flexibly, not at all being embarrassed at their tyrannical behaviour.
Duke Heng was all smiles as he offered generously, "I will bring three treasures with me to let you choose per exchange."
Empress: This was the first time I just witness such an amicable Heng Zhen Gan! Σ(°ロ°)