If he hadn’t tasted this tea, he would have considered the Ye family’s loose tea to be the finest in the world, with its clear fragrance and fresh, sweet richness. He had believed there couldn’t be any tea with a better flavor.

But without comparison, there is no hurt. After this cup of tea touched his lips, he knew he had been wrong. It turned out there could be even better tea in the world. And much, much better at that.

It’s worth noting that pan-fired green tea already had an advantage over steamed green tea, and what he was drinking now was Longjing tea, renowned throughout the world for its “emerald color, beautiful shape, rich aroma, and mellow taste” among pan-fired green teas—the foremost famous tea of future China. How could the still immature and flawed steamed green tea production techniques of the Great Jin compare?

“Yes, Master Zhineng,” Luo’nu respectfully replied.

“And it used fresh leaves from your family’s tea garden?” Master Zhineng asked again.

“Yes.”

Master Zhineng thought for a moment, then asked, “Did your young miss mention whether part of this tea’s excellent flavor is due to it being first-picked?”

Having worked alongside Ye Hongsheng in tea production for years, Luo’nu understood that Master Zhineng’s reference to “first-picked” wasn’t the common understanding of the term, but rather referred to harvesting at an earlier time than usual.

He shook his head. “My young miss said that tea with this flavor can be mass-produced. Not only Pre-Qingming tea, but even Pre-Rain tea would not be inferior to this.”

Master Zhineng drew in a sharp breath.

He had a tea garden behind his temple, and as a tea connoisseur, he only drank Pre-Qingming tea, never Pre-Rain tea.

After all, Pre-Qingming tea had been nurtured through autumn and winter, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth, with buds emerging at the first breath of spring breeze—these were the most nutritious and flavorful. Their scarcity made them all the more precious.

After the first picking, as the weather warmed and the Grain Rain season approached, leaf buds sprouted in abundance. In the eyes of tea connoisseurs, such Pre-Rain tea, harvested and produced in large quantities, was inferior to Pre-Qingming tea in both taste and value.

But now, Luo’nu claimed that her pan-fired Longjing Pre-Rain tea could rival Pre-Qingming tea, which was truly remarkable.

So the exceptional flavor of this tea wasn’t due to the quality of the fresh leaves, but to the tea-making technique, and more importantly, to the tea maker.

Remembering how Ye Yaming had received divine instruction from her ancestors, he couldn’t help taking another sip. After savoring it carefully, he sighed, “This tea must have come from heaven. For us mortals to taste it is truly a gift from above.”

Hearing Master Zhineng’s exceptionally high praise, the three visitors immediately forgot everything else and hastily lowered their heads to taste the tea in their hands.

After one sip, the three remained speechless for a long while.

Due to their recent obsession with the Way of Tea, they not only arranged tea ceremonies but also thoroughly studied the art of brewing tea. Each had copied The Classic of Tea, read it meticulously, and could even recite it in its entirety.

Therefore, they were very familiar with the taste of loose tea, especially the Ye family’s premium loose tea.

This tea had a fresh, ethereal, and high aroma, with a fresh, sweet, and rich flavor that contrasted starkly with the original loose tea. Even though their tongues weren’t as sensitive as Master Zhineng’s or the young monk Jinchen’s, they could still clearly discern the difference in quality.

Fan Yu asked in disbelief, “What did you just say? This is a new tea your Third Young Miss just created?”

He emphasized the word “created” heavily, fearing Luo’nu might miss his meaning.

“Indeed, it was created by our Third Young Miss,” Luo’nu also emphasized the word “created.”

“Prince Consort would know that it’s not yet time to make Pre-Qingming tea, and fresh tea leaves on the mountain are extremely scarce. Since this tea didn’t appear in the Great Jin last year, it must be newly created. Because it was produced today, it still has some ‘fire energy.’ My young miss said that after a few days, when the ‘fire energy’ dissipates, the flavor will be even better.”

Upon hearing this, Master Zhineng quickly beckoned to Jinchen, “Bring it here.”

Jinchen immediately picked up the tea jar from the table and handed it to Master Zhineng.

Master Zhineng treasured it, placing it in the cabinet by his armrest, and instructed Jinchen, “Don’t let anyone touch my tea. I’m saving it to drink in a few days.”

Master Zhineng had always maintained the image of a high monk—rarely seeing visitors, rarely speaking when he did see them, and even when he spoke, he was solemn. His current childlike behavior left Fan Yu and the others with their jaws dropped.

Seeing that Master Zhineng had safely stored the tea and resumed his usual aloof demeanor, Fan Yu cleared his throat lightly and said to Luo’nu, “Go back and ask your master if he still remembers our promise in Lin’an. If he does, tell him I’ve arrived.”

Now that he had arrived, how could he miss out on the Ye family’s fine tea?

Luo’nu smiled, “How could my master dare to forget? He often says that he received such care from you, noble guests in the Capital, and has no way to repay you except by inviting you all to Lin’an to see the tea garden and learn how tea is made. Knowing you’ve arrived, my master will be overjoyed.”

“Haha, you certainly know how to talk,” Fan Yu said.

Master Zhineng could tell what this fellow was up to from his words.

But he wasn’t worried, knowing the Ye family would never forget him when it came to their fine tea.

Seeing that it was getting late, he said to Luo’nu, “Alright, you may go now.”

Luo’nu respectfully bowed to everyone and withdrew.

As soon as he left, Princess Yuning could no longer contain her curiosity and asked Master Zhineng, “How old is that Third Miss Ye this year? How is she so formidable?”

Since Fan Yu and his party had come to Lin’an to see the tea, Master Zhineng wanted to tell them about Ye Yaming.

An awl in a bag must eventually poke through.

Ye Yaming’s talent for tea-making was outstanding throughout the Great Jin and couldn’t be hidden. Master Zhineng wanted her to go further and more smoothly, so he wanted her to gain more protection.

Now that Princess Yuning had asked, it suited his intentions perfectly.

He told them about how Ye Yaming had received divine inspiration in a dream.

“This old monk is approaching seventy and has seen countless people in his lifetime. But a child as divinely gifted as Young Friend Ye, this old monk is seeing for the first time. Her intelligence is secondary; what this old monk most appreciates is her character.”

He smiled as he spoke, “However, for a child beloved by heaven and earth, who received the tea classic in a dream, it’s natural that she excels in all aspects, so it’s not surprising.”

Hearing that Ye Yaming had been guided by immortals in her dreams, the three were shocked.

“No wonder, no wonder,” Fan Yu clapped his hands and said, “At such a young age, to be able to make such tea and write books like The Tea Ceremony—I always felt a sense of incongruity, feeling it shouldn’t be possible. Now that you’ve explained it, I understand.”

“Such wonders in the world—I’ve always heard people speak of them but never encountered any, so I thought they were just rumors. Now I’m fortunate enough to be about to see with my own eyes,” Princess Yuning said.

Ye Chongming always said Ye Yaming was “blessed by the Ye family ancestors,” but in Master Zhineng’s view, the Ye family ancestors weren’t that powerful. How could Ye Yaming’s gifts be explained by the blessing of the Ye family ancestors? She must have received enlightenment from divine beings.

That’s why he had just said Ye Yaming had “received divine instruction” in her dream.