The Three Spirit Stones

Five days later, Cheng Yu met Du Hui again. Du Hui handed Cheng Yu a piece of paper and said, "My Lord, this is the information I found."

Cheng Yu took it and opened it. It said,

[Princess Zhigu, Aogu of Khitan, was a shaman goddess. She was born to Empress Shulü Ping. Her father was Liao Taizu Yelü Abaoji. In the seventh year of Baoning, her husband Sushilu rebelled but failed. Liao Taizu ordered Sushilu to be executed. Princess Zhigu died in the eighth year of Baoning.]

Du Hui said, "My Lord, I have searched the entire Yanjing Imperial Family, but there is no such girl as Su Yuan. Su Yuan was only two years old when her parents died one after another, and her father was a defeated general. If no one protected her, it is unknown whether she would survive."

Hearing this, Cheng Yu's heart sank.

"However, she is the granddaughter of Emperor Taizu of Liao after all, and she is still young. Yelu Abaoji should also take care of her out of consideration for his daughter!"

Cheng Yu sighed and said, "I hope so."

Du Hui continued, "We have to get into the Liao royal family circle now. Only in this way can we find out the whereabouts of Su Yuan. Otherwise, it is useless to just stay on the periphery."

"You need someone to lead you into this circle, and you must not reveal your identity, Lord."

"Um,"

Cheng Yu nodded.

"I have a good friend who runs a teahouse in Yanjing. His teahouse is very large and luxuriously decorated. Many high-ranking officials and nobles of the Liao Kingdom go there to socialize, so it is easiest to get information there."

"I apologize for the injustice. I hope to introduce you to him as my friend. You can often go to his place to drink tea or something, and then he will introduce you to the royal family, so that you can enter the circle step by step."

"It's the only way to get close to these people without exposing your identity,"

After hearing Du Hui's plan, Cheng Yu couldn't help but praise it in his heart.

As expected, he was chosen by Li Yunze. He seemed careless, but in fact, he was cautious and meticulous, taking every step carefully.

……

……

In the largest [Suqiu Teahouse] in Yanjing City, waves of pleasant guqin sounds came out slowly. In an elegantly decorated compartment, a tea artist was brewing tea for several distinguished guests in front of him.

With his well-defined fingers, he expertly dried the tea leaves, crushed them, sifted them, made foam, brewed the tea, and then drew patterns of flowers, birds, fish and insects on the tea soup.

The guests took the tea and were all amazed.

This is the most popular tea maker in Yanjing City. If you want to drink the tea he makes, you need to make an appointment in advance. The price is several times higher than other tea makers, because in addition to his high tea making skills, he is also very handsome.

He has a slender figure, cold and deep facial features, and is dressed in white, as gentle as jade. His otherworldly temperament seems to be untainted by the worldly air. He does not need to speak, he is very pleasing to the eye just by looking at him.

Before, Du Hui just wanted to introduce Cheng Yu to his friend who ran a teahouse. Unexpectedly, Cheng Yu said that he knew how to make tea and could work as a tea chef there. This would be more helpful in gathering information.

Du Hui was very frightened.

Lord Cheng was one of the most influential figures in the Song Dynasty. If he stomped his feet, the entire city of Bianjing would tremble. But now he had to do the job of a servant. He was afraid that if Governor Li found out, he would tear him to pieces.

But Cheng Yu comforted him and said that he didn't need to worry too much. He had done a lot of waiting work. A real man can bend and stretch.

After hearing this, Du Hui was full of admiration for Cheng Yu. He then took him to meet his good friend Mr. Yu, saying that he had invited a tea master from the Song Dynasty for him.

During this period in the Liao Dynasty, drinking tea was a very popular and fashionable activity. In order to attract consumers, many teahouses recruited tea-making masters from the Central Plains to teach in the north. Activities such as tea-fighting, tea-themed performances, and teacup appreciation were also very popular.

The nobles of Liao Dynasty were very knowledgeable about tea. As the saying goes, "Tea is not accepted unless it is in a round shape, and it is not expensive unless it is in a small round shape." If there were guests coming to visit, they would "serve tea first and then tea."

Therefore, if they wanted to get information, the quickest and most convenient way was to start from the teahouse.

Mr. Yu was struck by Cheng Yu's beauty the first time he saw him. Such a handsome man is rare in the world.

Moreover, he was tactful and polite. After seeing his superb tea-making skills, Mr. Yu decided to make him a celebrity in the tea art world.

Cheng Yu mastered the art of making tea shortly after returning to the Song Dynasty.

For a while, Ah Cai became obsessed with tea art. She liked a tea artist in Bian Jing very much and often went to watch him make tea.

But Cheng Yu was unhappy.

Seeing the woman you love looking at another man with admiring eyes, you can't tell how alienated you feel.

So, he took some time to learn how to make tea, which was a piece of cake for him.

Making tea is like painting, and it tests the concentration of both hands. He has a foundation in painting and a strong inner strength, so his skills soon became perfect.

When Ah Cai saw that Cheng Yu could actually order tea, the tea artist no longer seemed so popular.

So the old saying is true,

It’s always better to have a skill than to learn one!

Inside the compartment, a middle-aged lady in gorgeous clothes smiled and said to Cheng Yu, "Mr. Jiu's skills are really superb! Looking at this cup of tea, I really can't bear to drink it."

Cheng Yu now goes by the alias Cheng Jiu. His courtesy name is Xuzhi, which is formed by splitting the character Xu into two separate characters, Jiu.

"Since Madam is reluctant to drink it, then take it home and keep it for later review."

Cheng Yu said expressionlessly,

“Ah?! Hahaha!”

The lady was stunned for a moment, then she covered her mouth and burst into laughter, and then she said, "Mr. Jiu is really good at joking. This lady just likes your arrogant character."

"But Mr. Jiu, your arrogance also depends on who the target is. If you meet someone who doesn't buy it, then... you will die an ugly death, hahahaha."

"Madam, are you warning me?"

"No, no, no, sir, you misunderstood. I want to show you a way to wealth and glory, but you have to change your temper first, otherwise you will offend the real nobleman, which will harm you instead."

"Then please tell me, Madam, what is the way to become rich and powerful?"

The noble lady looked at Cheng Yu, smiled meaningfully, waved her hand, and the maid behind her immediately left the compartment.

She went on to say, "Princess Abuli loves Han culture the most. She is proficient in poetry, songs, tea art, and painting. She often holds poetry gatherings in her mansion, inviting some literati and wealthy guests to feast and write poetry. During the banquet, in addition to singing girls and actors, she also needs tea-making masters like Mr. Jiu..."

"If the princess takes a fancy to Mr. Jiu... then Mr. Jiu's wealth and glory will be within easy reach, right?"

Yelu Abuli,

The younger sister of Emperor Shizong of Liao and the granddaughter of Emperor Taizu of Liao, Yelü Abaoji.

This is the homework Du Hui has done for Cheng Yu during this period.

very good!

Just when I didn't know how to approach the royal family, the opportunity came to me.

He changed his usual cold face and smiled at the lady, revealing a row of white teeth. His face was as beautiful as the breeze and the moon, and the lady couldn't take her eyes off him.

"Thank you for your guidance and teachings, Madam. Cheng Jiu will definitely live up to your kindness."

"Ah! Good, good, good,"

"Hahaha!"

"Ha ha!"