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After the Emperor helped her gently pat her face dry, her face and the tips of her ears were still blushing, showing no signs of fading. She looked away, not daring to look at the Emperor.

The Emperor chuckled softly a few times, extremely fond of the way she looked, which made her even more embarrassed. Had he not been supporting her chin, she would have hung her head low enough to touch the ground.

By the time they began to prepare the Dew Tea, Lian Hua’s face was still flushed. She softly asked Xiao Jizi to bring her the empty winnowing basket, still not daring to look at the Emperor.

"How is it done?" the Emperor took the winnowing basket from her hands and asked.

"Place it on the stone slab," said Lian Hua in a low and unnatural voice.

Thinking back to the scene just now made her face turn hot and her heart race; how could His Majesty do such a thing under the broad daylight...

"Hmm?" the Emperor’s voice rose slightly at the end, looking at her.

"Just, just place it on the stone slab, and let your servant do the rest," Lian Hua quickly raised her head to glance at His Majesty, then dropped her gaze elsewhere.

Seeing His Majesty holding the winnowing basket with his fair, slender hands, distinct and well-defined, she thought to herself how everything about His Majesty was so perfect, and irreverently imagined, if he weren’t the Emperor but a Scholar, he would certainly be snatched away for marriage.

The Emperor did as she instructed, putting the winnowing basket on the stone slab.

Lian Hua, holding a bamboo pair of tongs, stepped forward as the empty winnowing basket warmed up, with Xiao Qing already waiting on the side with another basket covered in thick black cloth for the tea.

Lian Hua lifted a corner of the black cloth, and a strong, moist tea fragrance hit her nose, carrying a hint of astringency.

The Emperor sniffed and felt that the tea still lacked something, surmising that the final step of roasting was extremely crucial.

Lian Hua quickly spread the tea buds out onto the winnowing basket on the stone slab, working at a swift pace, her gaze focused and serious, ignoring the sweat dribbling down her nose.

Soon a winnowing basket was filled, and Lian Hua began flipping the tea buds from the beginning, while saying, "Xiao Jizi."

The day’s fire was just right, and the basket heated up perfectly. In no time, the tea leaves on top began to change, turning a verdant green, emanating a pleasant and refreshing aroma.

Xiao Jizi, holding another prepared empty winnowing basket for the finished product, hurried over to Lian Hua’s side, but before he got there, the Emperor stopped him, took the basket, and took his place.

Lian Hua, unaware of the change beside her, continued to flip the tea buds while gauging the perfect roasting temperature.

The Emperor had always known that Lian Hua was very diligent in her work. He loved watching her like this, feeling there was a special charm to her earnest and focused demeanor, something indescribable and unlike anyone else in the Harem.

She seemed like a budding lotus in a pond, vigorous and aspiring, striving to grow, pushing through the mud and water layers, poking her head out to bask in the sunlight and rain, never demanding anything more.

"It’s ready, take it away, next one," Lian Hua said without stopping her hands or looking back.

Hearing Lian Hua’s voice, the Emperor snapped back to reality. The basket in his hands was already filled with the roasted tea leaves, which were emitting a strong and pure fragrance.

The Emperor handed the basket to the attendant beside him, took the next basket, and used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Lian Hua’s face.

By the time all the tea was prepared, it was the start of You Hour. Lian Hua put down the bamboo tongs, wiped her face with her sleeve, and let out a sigh of relief, feeling sticky all over and both tired and thirsty.

A cup of tea was promptly placed in front of her to which she happily didn’t even look at the person serving, taking and gulping it down directly.

After drinking, she smacked her lips a couple of times, tasting the flavor within: "Eh, this is made with new tea? The roasting temperature is just right, not bad at all, quite delicious, haha."

The Emperor’s brow twitched, watching her gulp down the tea without tasting it, feeling that this Little Concubine truly had a knack for spoiling good things as always, but then he remembered she had made the tea herself and thus he let it go.

When she asked, he replied, "Yes, it was freshly brewed by my command just now."

"Ah, His Majesty?" Lian Hua turned her head, surprised, as if asking why he was there.

The Emperor’s forehead vein pulsed, and he looked at her with a speechless expression, as if, throughout the afternoon, she had forgotten him completely.

Truly an ungrateful wretch, he thought, after he had assisted her all afternoon. Who else in the world besides her could enjoy such treatment?

His mood fluctuated, oscillating daily between scolding her and showering her with affection, which was truly thrilling.

...

As for Beauty Li on the other side, after returning from the flower-viewing banquet, she was upset, aggrieved, and furious, sweeping the ’Magpie on Plum Branch’ tea set from the table to the ground, shattering it into pieces.

Although His Majesty had not named anyone in his rebuke, it was clear to discerning eyes that he was scolding her for not considering the common people and being unaware of the folks’ hardships.

All she did was comment that Little Daying’s poetry was vulgar; didn’t every concubine think so in their hearts? How did it come to involve the common people?

By now, she knew how others must see her, certainly with contempt and disdain. What sisterhood there was, it was utterly hypocritical.

All because of that Little Daying. Was it so hard to read more books instead, writing about ’steamed bun animals’? Ever since she’d met her, nothing had gone smoothly, including this time.

Thinking of her, Beauty Li’s face contorted with resentment. Turning to her personal palace maid standing behind her, she asked, "Dong Mei, did this Consort say something wrong?"

Dong Mei trembled with fear, knowing her master had a terrible temper. If she misspoke, the wrath could very well be directed at her, and so she hurriedly said, "This servant believes, Consort, you said nothing wrong."

"Then why did His Majesty scold me publicly?"

"My lady, this..." Speaking ill of the sovereign, she dared not.

"Useless, like a block of wood, what use are you?" Beauty Li glared fiercely at Dong Mei.

Dong Mei immediately knelt down: "Please, my lady, calm your anger, calm your anger."

At that moment, an old nanny dressed in a deep-colored jacket came in, glanced at the broken porcelain on the ground, and, understanding the situation, approached Beauty Li with a bowed body and a smile, saying, "My lady, what happened?"

Beauty Li looked at her coldly, remaining silent.

The old nanny kicked aside some of the porcelain fragments and said cheerfully, "My lady, don’t be angry.

I heard about what happened at the flower-viewing banquet.

All these people in the palace are scheming; it’s just that you’re too forthright, saying whatever comes to mind and suffering because of it, used as a target. "

Upon hearing this, Beauty Li stood up abruptly, furiously saying, "You think so too, don’t you? These people, always going on about sisterhood, but when it comes down to it, they use me as a shield, especially that Changzai Zhou and that Zhao woman, posing as good people!"

The old nanny followed her lead: "My lady, those two are but irrelevant jesters. The main concern is how the Noble Consort regards you."

Beauty Li sat back down, troubled by the thought of the Noble Consort. She wondered what the Noble Consort would think of today’s incident; she had already been reprimanded recently.

In this palace, she feared only a few people—His Majesty, the Noble Consort, and Xu Zhaoyi. She didn’t really care about the rest, and to boast a bit, she wasn’t afraid even of those ranked above her.

"Nanny Sun, Consort also seemed to be reprimanded by His Majesty today, do you think she will blame me?" she said apprehensively.