strictlysupreme Chapter 558 Xie Jue's Storyline: Jiang Huaiyu
Chapter 558 Xie Jue's Storyline: Jiang Huaiyu
Floating Jade Pavilion.
Gao Wanzhi climbed the steps, her bright eyes unconsciously gazing at the tightly closed door.
As soon as she stood still, Changqing, who was guarding outside the door, immediately stepped forward, bowed, and greeted her, "Princess."
"He's in there?"
"Yes, young master is discussing matters and has instructed his subordinates to guard the area and not allow anyone to disturb him."
A few words of conversation could be faintly heard from inside the room, and the tone was serious.
Gao Wanzhi nodded, turned around and sat on the couch on the other side of the corridor, her tone light and cheerful.
"It's okay, I'll wait, no rush."
An hour passed in the blink of an eye, but the conversation inside the room never stopped.
Gao Wanzhi touched her belly.
hungry.
She had rushed out without even having breakfast, and now she felt completely drained.
Gao Wanzhi stood up and walked back to Changqing.
"I'm not waiting any longer, I'm going back first. When he comes out, please tell him for me."
"Just tell them I've been here, and also, the thing he gave me was really delicious."
“That’s called milk tea,” Changqing replied.
"Milk tea?" she murmured, a slight smile playing on her lips. "It's quite an interesting name."
in the house.
Several cups of freshly made milk tea still remained on the table, and the air was filled with a faint aroma of milk and tea.
After listening to the shopkeeper's concerns, Xie Jue raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is milk expensive?"
The shopkeeper rubbed his hands together, looking somewhat troubled, and said, "Yes, young master, the production from those pastures in the outskirts of the capital is currently limited. A jar of milk costs several tens of silver coins. If we have to supply it every day, I'm afraid even our Fuyu Pavilion can't afford it."
Lu Xinghe couldn't help but interject, "But this milk tea is really special; once you've tried it, you'll want to drink it again. How about... we go for the high-end market and stop hoping for low profit margins and high sales volume?"
Xie Jue nodded slightly, "She makes a good point. If we can't offer affordable options, then we'll offer expensive ones."
“But milk tea alone isn’t enough.” He turned to look at Lu Xinghe. “Do you have any novel foods that can be paired with milk tea?”
Lu Xinghe blurted out almost immediately, "Yes!"
She leaned forward excitedly, speaking rapidly, "Milk tea can be paired with so many things, like fried chicken, and desserts, cookies, mousse, cheesecake... oh yes, and tapioca pearls, pudding..."
The shopkeeper and Xie Jue were completely confused.
The shopkeeper couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "What chicken? What pearl? Miss, you mean something to eat, right?"
Lu Xinghe wasn't angry at being interrupted. "I can try to make it. Even if I don't have those materials, I can find substitutes."
Xie Jue listened attentively and didn't think she was being delusional. He turned to the shopkeeper and instructed, "Let her do it. Use whatever ingredients and manpower she wants. Don't try to save money, but make sure the accounts are clear."
The shopkeeper quickly replied, "Yes, sir!"
Outside Fuyu Tower, the streets were now bustling with activity, a stark contrast to the quietness when they first arrived.
As soon as Gao Wanzhi stepped out the door, she bumped into an acquaintance.
"Princess." The newcomer bowed respectfully, his voice gentle.
Jiang Huaiyu was dressed in a moon-white straight robe, exuding a scholarly air.
He was last year's top scholar in the imperial examination and comes from a prominent family in the court.
"Young Master Jiang?" Gao Wanzhi nodded with a smile.
Jiang Huaiyu's mother was on good terms with her mother.
She had seen Jiang Huaiyu quite often since she was a child.
Jiang Huaiyu was focused on her studies, so they didn't spend much time together, and she preferred to play with Xie Jue.
Jiang Huaiyu's gaze fell on her. "Is the princess here at Fuyu Tower for breakfast?"
"Mmm," Gao Wanzhi responded, but before she could say anything, her stomach rumbled.
Her expression froze, and her ears turned red.
Jiang Huaiyu smiled gently, "It just so happens that I haven't eaten yet, and I've already booked a private room upstairs. If the princess doesn't mind, why don't we go together?"
Gao Wanzhi hesitated for a moment, then glanced back at the top of Fuyu Tower. She had originally come to find Xie Jue, but Xie Jue was still busy and she hadn't seen him. Now that she was very hungry, she could only nod and say, "Then I'll have to bother you."
The two went upstairs together, with Jiang Huaiyu walking beside her, always maintaining a proper distance.
Gao Wanzhi was led into the private room by him.
On the table were steaming hot crab roe shumai, crystal shrimp dumplings, shredded chicken rolls, and a small bowl of red date and white fungus soup.
Jiang Huaiyu sat to the side and said gently, "These are all things that I remember the princess used to like. Try them and see if they suit your taste."
Gao Wanzhi picked up her chopsticks, took a bite of a chicken roll, and her eyes lit up.
"Yeah, delicious!"
Jiang Huaiyu smiled and poured her tea, saying, "I'm glad the princess likes it."
She ate with genuine enjoyment, chatting with Jiang Huaiyu as she ate.
Xie Jue finished his business and was about to leave when he heard a familiar, clear female voice say, "This is even better than the one I had last time..."
He suddenly stopped, looked up, and saw Jiang Huaiyu pouring tea at the table by the window, while Gao Wanzhi sat opposite him, eating happily.
A strange feeling suddenly welled up in Xie Jue's heart, neither painful nor itchy, but as if someone had gently poked him.
But not knowing where this discomfort came from, he darkened his eyes and suppressed the inexplicable emotion.
At this moment, Gao Wanzhi also noticed him and immediately called out, "Xie Jue? You're here too? Would you like to have breakfast together?"
Xie Jue glanced down at the dishes on the table, her tone nonchalant, "I've already eaten."
Just then, the shopkeeper hurriedly came up and whispered a few words in his ear.
Xie Jue nodded, "I'll go take a look."
Then he looked up at Gao Wanzhi and said, "I have something to do, so I'll be leaving now."
As Gao Wanzhi watched his retreating figure, her smile slowly faded, her gaze following his departing silhouette, a sense of loss rising in her heart.
Jiang Huaiyu watched silently from the side without saying a word.
After finishing his breakfast, he put down his teacup and looked at Gao Wanzhi. "It's getting late. If the princess doesn't mind, shall I escort you back to your residence?"
"Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Jiang, but I have a maid with me, so I won't trouble you."
Jiang Huaiyu immediately smiled and nodded, "That's right, I was presumptuous."
Gao Wanzhi stood up. "Thank you for today's breakfast, Young Master Jiang."
The Prince's Mansion, evening.
The room was warmly lit, and the family sat around a round table with several exquisite porcelain cups on it.
The cup is white with a hint of brown, and the aroma of milk blends with the fragrance of tea, creating a rich and pleasant flavor.
Xie Jue stood aside and said, "This is a new drink launched by Fuyulou, called milk tea. The tea leaves are newly harvested Biluochun tea from before the rain, and it is mixed with boiled milk and syrup, so the flavor is completely different from ordinary tea."
Xie Jing raised an eyebrow, picked up a cup, and took a slight sniff of its aroma.
"It seems that the Mongols also have a kind of drink, which is made by boiling milk and tea together."
Xie Jue nodded, "Yes, but their tea is on the saltier side, often with added salt and ghee, used to keep warm. This milk tea, on the other hand, is sweet, which is more suitable for the taste of Beijing."
Upon hearing this, Xie Jing took a sip and said, "Hmm, it's smooth and has a subtle sweetness; it's truly unique."