Royal Gold Magistrate

The next day, inside the public office.

Early in the morning, Liu Er sent over the hard-won tea leaves.

The cabinet elders gathered around the can of tea on the table, clicking their tongues in wonder.

“Fifty taels of silver is indeed very expensive, but look how exquisite this little can is! Clearly it contains something special!”

“Yes, I can already smell the fragrant tea aroma before it’s even brewed.”

“It may be good, but the quantity is too little. It won’t last more than a few days!”

Liu Er hesitated outside the group. Seeing that they had finished chatting, he hurriedly approached Li Yansong and said cautiously, “Minister Li…this tea didn’t cost fifty taels, but seventy taels. Hehe, I borrowed another twenty taels from someone to buy it.”

“When I went early this morning, there was already a long line outside and it was sold out. I still had to buy this from someone else…you see…”

Li Yansong raised his eyebrows in surprise and exclaimed, “Seventy taels! My heavens! The tea leaves in our tea room only cost three taels of silver per catty, right?”

“Hurry and brew it. Today I invite you all to taste the tea together!”

Liu Er’s face seemed to redden a bit as he stood there.

Li Yansong slapped his forehead and laughed, “Oh I almost forgot, here’s the other twenty-one taels of silver. Take it and go brew the tea. Remember, just use clear water, don’t add anything else!”

Seeing the silver returned, Liu Er’s mouth curled into a smile and he ran off happily to brew the tea.

Shortly after, Liu Er returned carrying a pot of tea.

Everyone hurried to gather around.

Zhang Dongxiang asked curiously, “Hmm? Why is there no aroma? Liu Er! Did you buy a fake product?”

He then directly lifted the lid of the pot. Inside, three pitiful leaves floated.

“What are you trying to pull here! Brewing tea with just three leaves!”

Liu Er smiled foolishly, “Ah, Minister Zhang, this tea is too expensive. I was afraid of brewing it poorly and wasting it!”

Zhang Dongxiang shook his head in exasperation. He took the tea can and scooped a spoonful of leaves into the water.

The cabinet elders all put down their work and focused intently on the teapot.

As the steeping time increased, the fragrance of tea began to waft continuously from the pot.

Everyone was already impatient. Zhang Dongxiang picked up the teapot and poured a cup for each person.

With spirit, he said, “Gentlemen! Please, this Celestial Immortal Tea has been long awaited!”

Li Yansong picked up his teacup and carefully smelled the aroma. The rising steam continuously warmed his face. Even before drinking, a psychological effect made him feel comfortable.

“Mm..this is the fragrance. Yesterday His Majesty drank this very tea!”

“The scent is pure and elegant, the aroma long-lasting!”

After blowing on it twice, Li Yansong carefully took a sip.

The tea fragrance slowly permeated from his nostrils down to his throat, and then a warmth descended into his stomach.

Li Yansong exhaled contentedly.

Ordinary tea soups always add all sorts of ingredients, with strong and complex flavors that Li Yansong disliked.

Whereas fried tea leaves brought out the tea’s original aroma, providing a unique experience!

Completely different from tea soup! And a hundred times better than drinking water!

Marvelous! Truly marvelous!

Li Yansong drank the tea water sip by sip, sighing inwardly.

It was indeed good, but really a bit too expensive. One tael of tea leaves likely wouldn’t even last him seven days.

Seeing the others all carefully tasting the tea, Li Yansong couldn’t help but ask Zhang Dongxiang, “Minister Zhang, how is it?”

Zhang Dongxiang smacked his lips, puzzled. “Not bad, just a bit bland. Adding some jujube, green onions, and ginger should make it richer! I don’t feel it’s that amazing!”

“……”

Li Yansong was momentarily speechless.

Zheng Qiao had a solemn expression as he took small sips of the tea.

Seeing this, Li Yansong said, “Minister Zheng, what do you think?”

Zheng Qiao closed his eyes again to carefully savor another sip, then sighed in admiration, “Marvelous! Truly marvelous! To think there would be such a wondrous tea in this world!”

Li Yansong smiled, “Oh? Do tell us more!”

“The tea flavor goes without saying, you should all be able to taste it. But scrutinizing it, there is also a slight medicinal aroma!”

“Mm~ It has the fresh scent of licorice and mint, as well as the aroma of night-blooming cereus. Observing further, there is also a hint of grass aroma!”

“Don’t believe me? Everyone, taste it carefully again!”

Hearing his explanation, the others hurriedly drank another mouthful.

Li Yansong asked curiously, “Minister Zheng is also versed in the art of medicine?”

Zheng Qiao stroked his beard proudly. “Hehe, it’s nothing. I studied a bit when I was young. It’s been many years since I last read about it, so I’m rusty.”

“This mint and licorice can induce sweating and reduce fever, strengthen the spleen and augment qi, clear heat and detoxify, expel phlegm and relieve cough, relax tension and stop pain, harmonize various medicinal ingredients, etc.”

“And night-blooming cereus can nourish the heart and calm the spirit, dispel wind and unblock collaterals, supplement blood and qi.”

“There’s also this grass aroma, indicating that this tea is an extremely vigorous plant!”

“For this tea to be able to combine three flavors while brimming with vitality, it shows how wondrous its medicinal properties are. It is worthy of being called ‘Celestial Immortal Tea’. Fifty taels is not expensive!”

Hearing his explanation, realization suddenly dawned on everyone!

So there were so many intricacies within! Fortunately there was an expert present!

Since Minister Zheng gave such high praise, the Celestial Immortal Tea clearly lived up to its name!

Afterwards, everyone looked at the teacups in their hands with increased eagerness.

Then they lowered their heads and began to carefully savor it again.

“Not simple, not simple at all!”

“Indeed! I also detected the grass aroma and mint flavor.”

“Mm…drinking this tea actually inspires an urge to recite poetry!”

In an instant, the sounds of recitation rose within the office. In this joyous atmosphere, everyone expressed that they felt rejuvenated after drinking and vowed to purchase another batch!

Liu Er stood dumbfounded by the door, watching the rarely seen lively scene in the office. Drool uncontrollably flowed from the corner of his mouth…

………………………………

Taoyuan County, tea-making workshop.

Fang Zheng led Zhang Biao on their regular inspection of the county’s various industries.

At this time, the bare-chested tea roasting masters in the workshop were diligently frying the tea leaves in large iron woks.

Previously, these tea leaves were basically all consumed within Taoyuan County. Fang Zheng planned to expand production capacity a bit, estimating that Li Long could sell off those tea leaves in a month or two.

For now, he would stockpile a batch of goods first. In any case, there was no need to worry about the tea leaves spoiling in the short term.

He wasn’t afraid of not being able to sell it. The whole of Jing still drank that kind of flavored tea soup.

And fried tea leaves had long been historically proven to be a major trend! How quickly the goods moved depended entirely on Li Long’s ability.

Watching the workers bustle with energy, Fang Zheng nodded in satisfaction.

When his gaze swept to the corner of the wall, his brows suddenly furrowed and he cursed, “Who the hell put the tea leaves with the grass clippings? Do you have any sense of craftsmanship?!”

“If the flavors mix I’ll string you all up on the city walls! This is the county’s new export business. If anything goes wrong, I’m holding you accountable!”

“Also! Pay attention when roasting the tea! Control the proportions of those medicinal ingredients well!”

“After roasting, pick out all the impurities until it’s spotlessly clean!”

“This isn’t for our own use. Quality control must be consistent! No matter which batch, the flavor has to be the same! Do you all understand?”

The tea roasting masters straightened their backs and shouted in unison, “Understood, Master!!!”