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Chapter 41: Noble Guests and Naughty Schemes
The news that Lady Yun might visit any day now had the entire household on edge—except for the triplets.
They were thriving in the anticipation.
"Auntie's going to be famous!" Su Lin declared, standing atop a barrel like a street crier. "We have to protect her reputation!"
Su Rui nodded solemnly. "We should demonstrate our loyalty."
Su Zhi, with a makeshift scroll and charcoal stick, added, "Let's prepare a 'grand welcome event.' Like in the operas!"
Yu Shiming overheard this and raised an eyebrow. "No."
"Too late!" Su Zhi grinned, already drawing stick figures of flower petals and fireworks.
Su Yanyue was in the middle of carefully packaging new tea orders when Su Lin marched up in a self-stitched red sash that read: Official Host.
"I've prepared a speech to greet the noble lady."
"Oh?" Yanyue didn't look up.
"'Welcome, Honorable Beauty of the Capital!'" he said proudly. "Then I'll offer her our most expensive tea—"
"We don't have an expensive tea," Yanyue cut in.
"We do now!" Su Rui chimed from behind, holding up a jar of random leaves and rose petals. "I call it: 'Royal Petal Storm.'"
Yanyue turned and squinted at it. "That's seasoning and dried plum peels."
"Artisan blend!" Su Zhi defended.
"I swear if you try to serve a noble lady a cup of soup-tea—"
"Relax, Auntie," Su Rui said, patting her hand like a wise old man. "We've got this."
Yu Shiming looked to the sky. "Heaven help us."
—
The next morning, the household was buzzing.
A fancy carriage was spotted near the village entrance. It bore the Su family crest.
Lady Yun had arrived.
Su Yanyue took a deep breath, hair neatly tied with a pale blue ribbon, and stepped toward the courtyard entrance with her most dignified composure.
The triplets were already waiting, standing in a perfectly choreographed line like mini butlers. Each held a sign:
"WELCOME TO PHOENIX NEST TEA!"
"FLAVOR, ELEGANCE, DESTINY."
"AUNTIE IS BEST!"
Yanyue choked on her own breath. "Who wrote that one?"
Su Zhi beamed. "Me!"
As the gate opened and a graceful woman in an embroidered veil stepped in, flanked by her attendants, Su Lin stepped forward with a practiced bow.
"Esteemed Lady Yun, welcome to our humble estate. We offer you not only tea—but a journey of the soul!"
There was a stunned pause.
Lady Yun… giggled.
Behind her veil, her eyes sparkled with amusement. "What a charming reception."
Yanyue, flustered but composed, quickly stepped forward. "Please forgive them, my lady. They're… eager."
"I find it refreshing," Lady Yun replied. "Too many people in the capital have forgotten how to laugh."
Yu Shiming handed Yanyue a steaming tray of proper tea. Thankfully, actual Chrysanthemum Red Date, not Royal Petal Soup.
Lady Yun sipped and sighed. "Exquisite. Just as I remembered."
She turned to Su Yanyue, her tone softening. "Your tea carries a warmth I haven't felt in years. It reminds me of home."
Yanyue blinked. "Home?"
Lady Yun gazed at her for a long moment, then smiled. "We'll talk more. For now… I would like to sit beneath your plum tree. With no formalities."
The triplets scurried to lay down cushions like overly eager footmen.
Yanyue glanced at Yu Shiming, who gave her a reassuring nod.
And just like that, what should have been a stiff noble visit began instead with laughter, plum blossoms, and a trail of glitter that Su Zhi had somehow "borrowed" from Yanyue's soap supplies.
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