PDLP Chapter 2197 First Visit to the Teahouse
Chapter 2197 First Visit to the Teahouse
Yan Ruyu stopped and looked back at Liu Zian.
"If you don't want to die, stay put. Take your medicine on time, cooperate with Dr. Cao's treatment, and stop causing trouble, and stop being mean to others."
Her gaze swept across the doorway, and her voice was clear: "The maids, guards, and even Doctor Cao here—every single one of them is working tirelessly for your life; they are all your saviors."
If I hear you utter another disrespectful word, you'll face the consequences.
Liu Zian's face instantly flushed with deep shame. He quickly lowered his head, clutching the quilt tightly in his hands, and whispered, "Yes, I understand."
Your Highness, please rest assured, I will cooperate fully from now on and will never speak or lose my temper again.
Seeing his sincere expression, Yan Ruyu didn't say anything more, turned around and pushed open the door to leave.
Liu Zian lay on the soft couch, listening to the footsteps fading away outside the door, his heart filled with mixed feelings.
He raised his hand and touched his still somewhat stuffy chest. Yan Ruyu's words and Huo Changxu's cold expression echoed in his mind, and a deep sense of shame welled up in his heart.
Perhaps he was wrong, wrong in being blinded by prejudice, wrong in mistaking other people's kindness for malice.
As soon as Yan Ruyu stepped out of the side courtyard, she saw Huo Changhe standing beside the green bamboo in the courtyard.
"Is everything arranged?" Huo Changhe turned around, his gaze falling on her, his tone gentle.
Yan Ruyu stepped forward, brushed away the petals that had fallen on her sleeve with her fingertips, and said in a deep voice, "Liu Zian has calmed down and we have also obtained some useful clues."
She paused for a moment, then spoke her thoughts one by one: "We must not let Baixing Teahouse and Yishengtang's medicinal cuisine restaurant slip by easily; there must be some intricate connection between the two."
Liu Zi'an developed drowsiness after drinking tea at a teahouse, and several previous patients also had similar experiences linked to these two places.
“And alcohol.” Her eyes sharpened. “Liu Zian drank alcohol before his illness, and the student who was previously in a coma also had a history of drinking. Alcohol is probably not accidental, but rather the key to triggering the onset of the illness, allowing the latent symptoms to appear quickly.”
Mentioning the First Madam, Yan Ruyu frowned slightly, her tone tinged with confusion: "But Mother, she clearly took medicinal food and drank wine, yet she remains unharmed. It's really strange."
It seems I'll have to get a blood test done on my mother to figure out what happened.
Huo Changhe listened quietly, his fingertips gently stroking the jade pendant at his waist, his eyes deep: "Your analysis makes sense. These two places must be thoroughly investigated."
He looked up at Yan Ruyu, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Change your makeup, and we'll disguise ourselves and head to Baixing Teahouse to investigate the situation ourselves."
Yan Ruyu nodded: "Okay, I'll go prepare right away."
Before long, the two had changed their appearance.
Yan Ruyu shed her royal attire, donning a light blue cloth robe and a simple hairstyle, transforming into a refined young gentleman.
Huo Changhe changed into a dark blue short-sleeved shirt with a coarse cloth belt around his waist. His face was made up, giving him a more down-to-earth look, making him look like an ordinary merchant coming and going.
The two walked out of the palace side by side and headed west of the city.
Baixing Teahouse is located on a street corner, with green tiles and white walls, and a gold-plated plaque with strong and vigorous characters hanging above the door.
Outside the teahouse, merchants came and went in an endless stream, and the waiters stood at the door, greeting customers warmly, creating a lively scene.
As they approached the teahouse, Huo Changhe raised his chin and gestured to a man carrying tea bags not far away: "See that guy carrying tea bags? He's one of my hidden guards."
Yan Ruyu followed his gaze and saw that the man was tall and dressed in coarse cloth. He was bending over and carrying a heavy tea bag on his shoulder with nimble movements.
A faint smile appeared on her lips, her tone tinged with admiration: "Your Highness is wise; the arrangements were made so promptly, saving us a lot of trouble."
The two walked into the teahouse without making a sound. The guards happened to be carrying tea bags and passed by them. In the instant they brushed past each other, there was no eye contact, and they didn't even stop walking, as if they were just strangers.
The waiter hurried forward with a warm smile: "Please come in, gentlemen. We have private rooms upstairs, which are very quiet."
He then led the two up the stairs. The private room on the second floor was elegantly furnished. The window seats offered a view of the street, and clean tea sets were laid out on the table. A faint incense burner was burning in the corner.
After the waiter left, Huo Changhe opened his palm, revealing three small paper packets lying quietly in his hand. These were the packets that the guard had handed to him without him noticing when they brushed past each other earlier.
"These are some types of tea that the secret guards just collected, commonly used in teahouses."
As he spoke, he handed the paper package to Yan Ruyu.
Yan Ruyu took the paper package, her fingertips pinching the thin paper, feeling the shape of the tea leaves inside. She carefully put it away and tucked it into her sleeve, a thoughtful look flashing in her eyes: "Keep it safe for now, and take it back to the Prince's Mansion for a thorough inspection later."
As soon as he finished speaking, the waiter came in with a tea set and asked with a smile, "What kind of tea would you two like to drink? We have a full range of teas, all of them are the best new teas."
Yan Ruyu raised her eyes and said in a calm tone, "We are new here and don't know much about good tea. Waiter, please recommend one."
The waiter's eyes lit up, and he quickly and enthusiastically introduced, "Since you trust me, why not try our Biluochun tea?"
This tea is this year's new tea; the liquor is clear and bright, and the taste is fresh and mellow. Many regular tea drinkers order this when they come.
He paused, then added, "Pair it with a piece of our homemade osmanthus cake, which is sweet but not cloying, with a subtle osmanthus fragrance. Drink it with Biluochun tea, and I guarantee you two will be satisfied."
Upon hearing this, Yan Ruyu's heart stirred slightly, and she subconsciously exchanged a glance with Huo Changhe.
Biluochun tea, osmanthus cake.
When Madam Cao and Madam Cao mentioned their small gathering at Baixing Teahouse, they were referring to these two things.
It seems this is no coincidence; the Biluochun tea and osmanthus cake are most likely the key to the problem.
She suppressed the turmoil in her heart, her face remaining calm, and nodded gently: "Alright, then as you say, bring a pot of Biluochun tea and a plate of osmanthus cake."
"Alright, all right away!" the waiter replied, his smile widening as he quickly turned and went to prepare. "Please wait a moment, sir, it'll be here soon!"
The private room quieted down, while the bustling street scene outside the window allowed the faint sounds of laughter and conversation from the tea drinkers downstairs.
Huo Changhe tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, his eyes deep: "It seems the problem with this teahouse lies in the tea and pastries."
Yan Ruyu nodded, clutching the tea packet in her sleeve even tighter: "Once we get the tea and pastries, we'll take a closer look; perhaps we can find some clues."
These tea leaves handed over by the secret guards should also be examined later; perhaps we can discover something amiss.
The two said nothing more, simply waiting quietly for the waiter to serve tea, their eyes occasionally glancing out the window, keeping an eye on the activity inside the teahouse.