Prince Yanjun took the teacup, thanked him warmly, and sipped lightly.
In this scorching summer heat, drinking a cup of hot tea warmed his heart and cooled his chest, bringing tranquility to his restless mind.
Yun Jinnian smiled and poured another cup for Chu Yu, who happily accepted it.
After a sip, "Good tea!"
Yun Jinnian poured and handed a cup to Yuwen Ya, "Seventh Brother!"
"Thank you!" Yuwen Ya wasn’t particularly fond of tea; he preferred alcohol at the moment.
Yun Jinnian poured another cup for Han Tianci, who held it and took a sip with a whoosh, "So fragrant, but a bit bitter!"
Yun Jinnian smiled without a word and poured himself a cup, taking small sips.
Life is tea, bitter or sweet upon the first taste, one must truly savor it to appreciate its profound flavors.
He passed the teapot to Shi Jiayu, "Take this to Elder Mu, Elder Tu, and the Venerable One."
Shi Jiayu nodded and left the carriage with the teapot.
After drinking the tea, everyone returned to their carriages. Han Tianci lingered with Yun Jinnian, who let him be.
As for the person they had rescued, no one bothered to inquire about his origins.
The group entered Yangxi City in a leisurely procession, staying at its most luxurious inn. Chu Yu, with a grand gesture, booked the entire inn. The shopkeeper was so delighted he couldn’t stop smiling.
"Gentlemen, please come inside. Hot water and dishes will be served shortly. However, I’m not sure if you’d like to dine in your rooms or the hall?"
The inn’s other guests had already been politely directed to other establishments by the shopkeeper.
Faced with someone as financially powerful as Chu Yu, not only the shopkeeper was helpless, but the other guests also did not dare to provoke him.
It was simpler for them to quietly switch inns and stay out of trouble.
Yun Jinnian took a hot bath and then lounged by the window, watching the bustling streets below.
The people looked very agitated.
"Is something going on here?" Yun Jinnian murmured softly.
"Shall I ask the shopkeeper?" Hemei asked tentatively.
Hemei went out and soon returned, "Miss, it is said that a large household in the city was wiped out overnight, including maids, old women, servants, amounting to over three hundred people. Shockingly, the mastermind was the household’s eldest son in collusion with bandits. After the bandits broke in, they killed on sight and looted everything!"
"Has the case been solved?"
Hemei nodded, "Yes, the magistrate solved the case on the third day. Initially, the eldest son and the bandits vehemently denied involvement, but later for some reason, they confessed. The magistrate has ordered their execution at the market square tomorrow at noon."
Yun Jinnian listened but didn’t pay it much mind.
Good deeds are rewarded, evil deeds punished; it’s not that they go unnoticed, just that their time hasn’t come yet.
Having committed such evil, any death would be well deserved.
The inn’s servant brought over iced tea, and Yun Jinnian took a gentle sip; it was refreshingly cold and tasted very good.
"Delicious!" Shi Jiayu drank a bowlful.
"Indeed delicious, Miss, can you replicate it?" Hemei asked cautiously.
"It’s not difficult; I can taste the herbs used, though I’m not sure about the exact proportions. If you can get some of the residue for me, I could make it. Then we just need to boil it and store it in the ice cellar to get this iced tea!"
As Yun Jinnian was speaking, she added, "Never mind, let’s not bother getting the residue. We should try to concoct it ourselves. After all, this is someone else’s hard-earned creation!"