Speaking of this Dew Tea, after the Emperor had seized it, he had it brewed immediately as Little Concubine had praised it so highly.
As expected, and just as she had described, it was sweet upon entry and endlessly refreshing upon swallowing, and it even cooled the body and cleared the mind. After drinking it for several days, even the clarity of his thoughts when reviewing memorials had greatly improved.
Unfortunately, there were only two taels of it. It didn't take long before it was all gone, and try as he might, he couldn't find any more. None of the provincial capitals offered it, nor could the folks acquire it.
He thought about finding the girl who had presented it that day, but alas, he knew neither her name nor her rank, nor even which palace or hall she belonged to. And it was not seemly to make a fuss over such a trivial matter by launching a search, so he let it be. Yet now, drinking any other tea just felt tasteless in comparison.
So seeing Little Concubine willingly and even gleefully offering the tea to Noble Consort, ingratiating herself to her, was naturally irksome for the Emperor.
His face betrayed nothing as he nonchalantly asked, "Is this Dew Tea truly made by you?"
The room fell silent, everyone surprised by the Emperor's sudden question—after all, he had never before commented on anyone's celebration gift.
Upon hearing the Emperor's question, Lian Hua felt a bad premonition and cautiously answered, "Indeed, it was made by your servant."
"How is this tea made?"
Lian Hua's mind was in turmoil. Why would His Majesty care about how to make tea? Was he trying to seize the secret recipe? Not content with what's in the pot, was he now trying to take the pot itself?
Lian Hua couldn't help but think too much; His Majesty had precedents in such matters!
After a moment's silence, Lian Hua mustered her courage and replied, "Your Majesty, the Dew Tea is a secret family recipe handed down through generations, not to be shared with outsiders. It cannot be taught to anyone outside the family line. Please forgive this servant's transgression."
As Lian Hua spoke, her voice grew softer and her confidence waned, trembling slightly as she debated whether or not to kneel since she believed she was not in the wrong.
The hall went completely silent. Some drew in a sharp breath, astonished that this low-ranking concubine dared to affront His Majesty so blatantly. Under heaven, all land belongs to the Emperor, and for the Emperor to be denied knowledge of something seemed an outrageous rebuff.
These words completely ignited the Emperor's fury. This Little Concubine's audacity was indeed immense!
The Emperor chuckled coldly, barely containing his anger, "Very well. I find your Dew Tea passable, and I'll accept it. As for Noble Consort, I shall compensate her in another way."
Lian Hua panicked, His Majesty, as initially suspected, was indeed coveting the secret of the tea. Failing to obtain the secret recipe, he now wanted the tea for himself. She quickly protested, "Your Majesty, this tea is a birthday gift I presented to the Consort. How could it be offered to you as well?"
The hall erupted with gasps; the low-ranking concubine had truly lost her mind, denying His Majesty twice in a row. When the Emperor set his eyes on something, people were eager to offer it, yet she repeatedly refused.
Noble Consort, upon hearing Lian Hua's words, grew agitated. Why was this idiot not getting it? When the Emperor wanted something, why not just give it? Instead, she was stubbornly refusing under the pretext of offering it to Noble Consort. What if His Majesty thought she was behind this?
She hurriedly intervened, "Daying Lian, for His Majesty to fancy your tea is a stroke of luck you have cultivated. Offer it to His Majesty without delay."
"But this is painstakingly made by this servant as a birthday gift for you, Consort..." Lian Hua felt a twinge of sadness. The tea was genuinely excellent, and she had made it with great care. Why would the Consort ask her to give it to His Majesty?
The Emperor's expression darkened even more. This Little Concubine was indeed very obstinate!
Noble Consort, sensing urgency, had a spark of inspiration and said, "Since you've already offered it to me, it is mine to own. If I wish to offer it to His Majesty, do you have any objections?"
"This servant dares not. Once offered to the Consort, it becomes hers to dispose of as she wishes," Lian Hua said, downtrodden as she handed the tea leaf box to the Ceremonial Eunuch.
It wasn't that she didn't know how to behave; to her, gifting the tea to Noble Consort was far more beneficial than offering it to His Majesty. Giving it to His Majesty was like throwing a meat bun to a dog—it would be gone without a trace or a sound.
But offering it to the Consort, who would appreciate the benefits of the tea and might request more, would surely lead to gratitude and recognition. This importance couldn't be overstated for someone in her position in the Harem.
Little did she expect, after standing her ground so firmly, that His Majesty's skin would be so thick. He didn't graciously step down, and most importantly, the Consort didn't appreciate the gesture and turned right around, offering the tea to the Emperor. The situation left her feeling utterly dismayed.
"In that case, I thank the Beloved Consort," said the Emperor.
"If Your Majesty is pleased, it brings joy to this Consort," Noble Consort replied.
Lian Hua withdrew, and the banquet continued. It was just a minor episode and for others, once passed, it was forgotten.
After the feast was over, Lian Hua walked out of Huaqing Palace in a daze, bewildered at how the tea she had worked so hard to prepare was now regarded as Noble Consort's gift and a token of her gratitude.
Following this incident, the other concubines, who had previously intended to befriend her, now avoided her as if she were the plague, passing by her as if they had never seen her before and quickly moving away in small groups.
All effort for no appreciation, like trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice; everything was lost, which precisely described her current plight. Thinking of this, Lian Hua felt dispirited for several more days.
The more the Emperor thought about it after returning, the more indignant he felt. Being publicly contradicted by a low-ranking concubine was a humiliation hard to swallow.
Upon inquiry, he learned it was the same Little Palace Maid who had been sent to a distant quarter for climbing into bed. No wonder she was so ungrateful and of poor character. He regretted that his punishment had been too lenient in the past.
Then he pondered, why would a mighty Emperor bother with a foolish girl's insolence? Forget it, then.