Chapter 58: An Invitation Brewed with Intentions
The morning air in the village buzzed with gossip, but for once, it wasn't about the triplets' pranks.
A well-dressed messenger on a horse had arrived—riding all the way from Qinghe Town—holding a lacquered envelope sealed with a delicate emblem of a plum blossom in gold leaf.
Su Yanyue accepted it with a raised brow as villagers peeked over fences and children trailed behind, whispering dramatically.
"What is it?"
"Maybe it's from a secret admirer!"
"Or a summons from the emperor!"
Ignoring the whispers, Yanyue opened the letter with a slender finger.
Inside was a folded invitation on scented parchment:
> You are cordially invited to the Annual Qinghe Spring Tea-Tasting Festival
Hosted by the Lady of the Plum Courtyard
For artisans, tea masters, and noble connoisseurs across the region
— With special mention to: Su Yanyue of Su's Garden Teas
Her name had been written in a flowing calligraphy, unmistakably elegant.
Yu Shiming stood beside her, his arms crossed loosely. "Seems you've caught the attention of more than just idle townsfolk."
Yanyue read through the invitation again, calm despite the subtle stir in her heart. "I didn't know this festival even existed."
"It's usually for noble houses and old merchants," Shiming replied. "But if you were personally named, someone must've recommended you."
From behind them, the triplets popped up like mushrooms after rain.
"A tea competition?" Su Rui's eyes sparkled.
"Will there be judging?" Su Lin grinned.
"Can we go sabotage the competition—I mean support mother?" Su Zhi asked with suspicious innocence.
Yanyue sighed. "You three are staying home."
Their shoulders slumped simultaneously in perfect, tragic unison.
That evening, she worked in her small tea workshop, carefully choosing her finest blends. Blossoms of Spring. Moonlit Harmony. A new batch of Chrysanthemum Mist.
She measured leaves with practiced precision and watched the steam rise from her test pots. She knew her flavors were good, but competing in front of nobles and seasoned tea masters? That was another world.
Just as she was pouring a cup for a second tasting, Yu Shiming walked in, quiet but firm.
"You doubt yourself."
She didn't look up immediately. "A little."
"You shouldn't." His voice was steady, low, and comforting. "I've drunk tea across border towns and royal camps. Nothing has ever tasted like yours."
Yanyue looked at him then, startled by the sincerity in his tone—and by how close he'd suddenly come.
He met her eyes, gaze intense but not forceful. "They're lucky to taste it. Don't let them make you forget why you started."
For a moment, her heart skipped—and not from nerves.
The silence hung tenderly before the sound of crashing wooden bowls shattered it.
"Mother!! We made a sign for you!" the triplets yelled as they burst in, dragging a crooked wooden board behind them that read:
"GO, TEA QUEEN, GO!"
The board promptly fell on Su Rui's foot, prompting dramatic wailing.
Yanyue couldn't help it. She laughed.
Maybe she wasn't ready for the nobles of Qinghe, but she had her own little army—and their chaotic brand of support was oddly enough.
The tea-tasting festival was a few days away. And whether she won or not, Su Yanyue knew she would walk in proudly—representing herself, her village, and the life she was slowly building with her own hands.