The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 433 Uninvited Guest

The next few days passed uneventfully, and soon it was time for a day off.

Zhao Ti spent the morning studying, and after tidying up a bit at noon, he changed his clothes and went out towards the east of the city.

He knew the tea pavilion that Mochou mentioned. It was a famous tea garden in Yuzhou City. Because of its extravagance, it was frequented by high-ranking officials and nobles, and there were no ordinary people there.

He walked along the river, enjoying the scenery as he went. After a while, he arrived at the East City, which was the most prosperous area in Yuzhou City. Several main streets were commercial markets, bustling with people coming and going, shoulder to shoulder, noisy and lively.

After passing this bustling area, continuing eastward, the area becomes slightly quieter. After passing two more streets, the area widens and the scenery gradually becomes more beautiful.

Not far away, there was a gate that looked like a mansion, built in a luxurious and extravagant manner, surrounded by green trees and fragrant flowers on both sides, with the four characters "Tea Fragrance Pavilion" written in clerical script on the gate.

Two maids dressed in fresh-looking dresses stood on either side of the gate, and four servants in blue robes and small hats stood in front of them.

Maids were responsible for leading guests into the tea garden, while servants greeted them respectfully, led the horses, and managed the carriages.

Seeing Zhao Ti walking in this direction, two of his servants hurriedly went up to him, bowed and asked if he had any appointments.

Zhao Ti gave his surname, and a servant bowed and scraped, saying that a distinguished guest had been waiting inside for a long time. Another servant quietly ran to the door to inform the maid.

Then, upon arriving at the gate, a maid led the way into the tea garden.

As Zhao Ti walked, he looked around at the scene inside. It was not like an ordinary teahouse, but rather like a large garden with winding paths and secluded spots, and the scenery was quiet and beautiful.

After walking a short distance, a sizable lake appeared amidst rippling water.

Although the lake was excavated by man, with various embellishments and decorations, and lotus flowers planted and spreading out, the lotus leaves sway gently in the breeze, making it look no different from a naturally formed lake.

There are more than a dozen pavilions and houses on the lake, some open-air and some not, all exquisitely decorated. There are railings and corridors along the shore that meander into the lake and lead to various waterside pavilions.

Zhao Ti couldn't help but nod. It seemed that this was the origin of the Tea and Fragrance Pavilion. Drinking tea on the lake and appreciating the water scenery and lotus flowers was indeed a refined and elegant affair.

At this moment, the maid leading the way said in a gentle voice, "Young Master Zhao, please come this way."

Zhao Ti followed the maid to a spot on the water's edge and onto the railing. The maid introduced, "Miss Mo is waiting for you at Tingbo Pavilion, which is in the very center of the lake. It's a bit of a walk, so please bear with us."

Zhao Ti asked curiously, "Do these waterside pavilions and elegant residences all have different names? What are the differences between them?"

The maid said, "Reporting to the young master, it is true that each of them has its own name. As for the difference, the interior and exterior decorations are in accordance with the scenery of that place. Moreover, the more you go to the center of the lake, the more expensive the pavilions are. Going to the pavilions for tea and gatherings will cost much more silver than going to the pavilions near the shore."

"The further you go into the lake, the more expensive it gets..." Zhao Ti thought for a moment and said, "Does that mean the waterside pavilion costs money for the waterside pavilion itself, and the tea costs money for the tea itself? Choose the waterside pavilion first, then order the tea?"

The maid said, "That's right. Miss Mo's Tingbo Pavilion, where she waits for the young master, is the most central spot on the lake and the best place in my Tea Fragrance Pavilion to drink tea and enjoy the scenery."

Zhao Ti smiled but didn't say anything. He followed the maid along the railing and walked for a while until they reached the center of the lake, where they could see the Listening to the Waves Pavilion up close.

Here, there are both open-air pavilions and elegant waterside residences. The design is not only exquisite and gorgeous, but also grand and magnificent. Surrounded by lotus flowers, the fragrance is intoxicating. It is not only pleasing to the eye, but also refreshing to the mind.

Then you see a person standing in the magnificent water pavilion, wearing a light silk shirt, with his hands behind his back and an unhappy expression. Who else could it be but Mo Xun?
Upon seeing Zhao Ti approaching, Mo Xun's face twitched. He walked to the pavilion's railing and said loudly, "I, Mo Xun, respectfully welcome Brother Zhao. My elder sister asked me to wait for you here. I know you've had a long and tiring journey."

Zhao Ti glanced at him: "Brother Mo, are you still angry with me?"

"How could I dare to be angry with Brother Zhao? Brother Zhao is a gentleman, while I am a petty person. Brother Zhao is upright and honest in his conduct. I was just judging a gentleman by my own petty standards before," Mo Xun said with a hint of resentment.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ti raised the corners of his mouth: "Brother Mo, why do you act like a child? Where have you been studying? How come you are knowledgeable but unreasonable?"

"I've never been good at studying. I forget everything I read. What kind of knowledge do I have?" Mo Xun said. "Brother Zhao, please don't flatter me. My sister is eager to see you, and I'm sure you're eager to see her too."

"Brother Mo is spouting nonsense again." Zhao Ti shook his head: "Where is Miss Mo Chou?"

Mo Xun said with a dark face, "Brother Zhao, please come with me."

As they spoke, they walked toward the pavilion, where the railings were only a few feet long, connecting to the elegant residence on the water.

Upon approaching, Zhao Ti saw the words "Tingbo Xiaoxuan" written above the study.

Upon entering, one sees an elegantly furnished room with eight windows on all four sides, allowing a gentle breeze to blow in and causing the gauze curtains to sway softly, creating a scene reminiscent of a painting.

The house contains various items such as tea tables and zither stands. The tea tables come in different sizes and heights, and are round with four corners and eight sides, each accommodating different numbers of people for drinking tea and conversation.

Then you see a square table with openwork design, and a young girl in a light green dress is brewing tea.

The girl had bright, sparkling eyes, a face like jade, and a pointed chin. She was very charming and looked extremely serious, as if brewing tea was a very important matter.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Ti couldn't help but feel puzzled. The girl was none other than Mo Chou, but why was Mo Chou personally brewing tea?
Just then, a melodious voice, like pearls falling on a jade plate, rang out: "Young Master Zhao, it is an honor to have you here. I, your humble daughter, have been busy preparing tea for you and have not dared to leave for even a moment. Please forgive me for not being able to greet you properly."

Mo Chou put down her tea set and other items, gave a graceful curtsy, and looked at Zhao Ti.

Zhao Ti hurriedly returned the greeting, saying, "I am truly ashamed to have Miss Mochou personally brew tea for me."

Mo Xun snorted softly from the side, "My elder sister's tea ceremony is the best in Luozhou, and she can rank among the best in the whole world. Others who want to drink the tea brewed by my elder sister can't even get a sip. Even some of the elders in the clan can't get a sip."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ti said, "It would be unacceptable to receive such a reward without having done so much. How could I let Miss go to such trouble?"

Mo Chou smiled and said, "Young Master Zhao is too kind. Although this Tea Fragrance Pavilion has many famous teas and its tea-brewing skills are first-class, I always feel that it is somewhat inferior to my own. Besides, to entertain such an honored guest as Young Master Zhao, I have personally stepped forward to make a fool of myself. I hope Young Master Zhao will not find it offensive."

Zhao Ti shook his head and said, "How could I find it offensive? I feel flattered and uneasy." Mo Chou said, "Young Master Zhao, please sit down. I will pour you some tea."

Zhao Ti nodded, lifted his robe and sat down at the table. Mo Chou arranged the teacups one by one, and surprisingly placed three cups in front of him.

Knowing this was the proper etiquette of tea, Zhao Ti began from the left, gently rotating the first cup three times. After letting the steam dissipate slightly, he slowly lifted it to savor the aroma. A few breaths later, he brought the teacup to his lips and drank it all at once.

The teacup was actually very small, and there wasn't much tea in it. He took a small sip, and his eyes gradually widened. The tea tasted sweet, followed by a slight bitterness that was even more intense than the sweetness. But the bitterness was fleeting, and then a rich aroma wafted up and lingered in his mouth, making him feel refreshed and incredibly comfortable.

"Excellent tea!" he exclaimed. "Miss Mochou has a fine way of appreciating tea!"

Hearing this, Mo Xun curled his lips and said, "Both are good. Then Brother Zhao, tell me, which is better, the tea or my sister's tea ceremony?"

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "Of course, Miss Mochou's tea ceremony is better."

Mo Xun said, "Brother Zhao is becoming less and less sincere every day. Now he has learned to be glib and smooth-talking, but he is no longer genuine. Let me explain why the art of tea is more important than the quality of the tea itself."

Mo Chou looked over at this moment, her eyes filled with eager anticipation. Zhao Ti pondered and said, "Although I don't drink tea often, I understand a principle: a person who doesn't know how to brew tea will ruin a good tea; a person who knows a little about brewing tea can bring out its normal taste; but a person who is skilled in the art of tea can brew the tea to a color, aroma, and flavor that surpasses its original taste. Similarly, a person who doesn't know how to brew tea will make a bad tea taste even worse; a person who knows a little about brewing tea will make it taste normal; but a person who is skilled in the art of tea can turn something rotten into something magical. Tea is an inanimate object, but people's skills make it come alive. In this light, even the best tea leaves cannot compare to the art of brewing tea."

Mo Xun was stunned by what he heard, while Mo Chou said with sparkling eyes, "Young master's words make me very proud, and I am even more proud of my tea ceremony."

Mo Xun then realized what was happening and said sullenly, "Brother Zhao, did you memorize this poem at home beforehand?"

Zhao Ti ignored him and drank the remaining two cups of tea according to the previous rules. Then Mo Chou replaced them with normal-sized teacups and refilled them.

Zhao Ti gazed at the amber-colored tea and pondered, "Miss Mochou, since you have invited me here to discuss poetry and literature, it would be impolite to keep me busy. Otherwise, it would make me seem like some kind of distinguished guest. Brother Mo and I are classmates and friends, so Miss Mochou, you don't need to be so polite. Once the tea is brewed, I will do it myself."

Mo Xun blinked beside him and said, "Brother Zhao, you have quite the way of speaking. I wonder if you would be so eloquent with Miss Luofu, saying things like 'no need to be so polite'?"

Zhao Ti glanced at him: "Brother Mo, please be careful with your words. Do not bring up Miss Luofu at every turn. Miss Luofu and I are just ordinary friends, so it is not appropriate for me to mention her so often."

"Ordinary friends?" Mo Xun rolled his eyes, looking indignant.

Upon hearing this, Mo Chou smiled and said, "Fill this cup full, and then have the people in the tea garden serve it. Young Master Zhao doesn't need to do it himself."

She then looked outside the room, and immediately two young girls came in and began to serve at the table.

Zhao Ti said, "It's alright. I'm used to doing things at home. I just hope it won't trouble Miss Mochou. Since you invited me here to talk about poetry and literature, please feel free to offer any advice."

Mo Chou's eyes welled up with tears as she smiled and said, "I heard that you, sir, composed two Yuefu poems, 'The Song of Luo Fu' and 'The Song of Green Green,' and I was amazed by their unparalleled beauty. I also heard the five-character quatrain, 'The sky threatens snow tonight; shall we drink a cup together?' and I found its meaning to be boundless. I wonder if you, sir, have any other poems that have been passed down through the ages? Could you please let me appreciate your fine verses and classic works again, so that I may fulfill my wish?"

Zhao Ti shook his head and said, "That's all. Of all my works, only these three can be called poems and have been circulated outside. Moreover, I don't think they are any amazing works. Miss Mochou is too kind."

Mo Chou shook her head and said meaningfully, "Young Master Zhao is too modest. I don't know about other places, but after these three poems were sent to Luoyang, they have caused a sensation in the literary circles of Luoyang. Scholars are spreading the word, and many literary masters are inquiring about your identity and background. Many female students are even singing the poems about Luo Fu and Qing Qing, saying that you are a man of outstanding talent and a peerless talent in this era."

"This..." Although Zhao Ti knew that these three poems would surely be praised, he did not expect them to cause such a sensation in Luoyang. If it was like this in Luozhou, what about other prefectures? He was afraid that they would also experience similar phenomena.

Mo Xun suddenly said from the side, "Sister, don't listen to Brother Zhao's modesty. He is full of poetry and has a deep understanding of literature. It's just that he is stingy and lazy, and doesn't practice writing. He just doesn't want to write it down."

Upon hearing this, Mo Chou raised her delicate eyebrows and smiled, "Why doesn't Young Master Zhao write it? You should know that it's not just me; I'm afraid everyone in the world who has read your three poems is waiting for your next masterpiece."

Zhao Ti shook his head and said, "Miss Mochou, you are too kind. Don't listen to your brother's jokes. I have only accumulated knowledge and thought for a long time before I came up with those three poems. How could I have a belly full of knowledge or a heart full of classics?"

Mo Chou glanced around, smiled without saying a word, and looked at Mo Xun.

Mo Xun immediately retorted angrily, "Brother Zhao has become increasingly hypocritical lately. Didn't you tell me the line 'Heaven has endowed me with talents that must be put to use' just a few days ago? Why is it gone now? You told me the first two lines, and now you're asking where those lines of poetry came from?"

"Everyone has their own unique talents?" Upon hearing this, Mo Chou's expression changed, revealing a look of shock: "What a fine line! Brother Zhao, have you already turned such a fine line into a poem?"

Zhao Ti hurriedly shook his head: "No, no, it's not easy to compose a poem like this. I'm afraid it will take quite some time..."

"Brother Zhao, you?" Mo Xun gasped, "Brother Zhao, you're showing favoritism."

Zhao Ti asked in bewilderment, "Brother Mo, what makes you say that?"

Mo Xun glanced at Mo Chou and said in a low voice, "Brother Zhao can write poems for Miss Luo Fu and Zhuge Qingqing and even use their names, yet he claims to have a deep friendship with me. My sister just wanted to hear Brother Zhao's new poems, but he refused. Isn't that favoring one over the other?"

“This…” Zhao Ti said with a wry smile, “Brother Mo, you are mistaken. One of those poems was written at a poetry gathering, on a topic assigned by Miss Luofu, with everyone participating. The other was coerced by Miss Qingqing. How can they be compared?”

"Brother Zhao, you're being unreasonable. Miss Luofu set the topic, and Zhuge Qingqing coerced you, yet you still wrote a poem for her. My sister and I invited you several times, and my sister even personally brewed tea to treat you with the utmost courtesy, but you kept making excuses. You clearly have that poem, 'Heaven has endowed me with talents, which must be put to use,' but you won't say it," Mo Xun said angrily.

“Everyone has their own unique talents… This poem isn’t suitable for the current situation, and besides, it’s not even fully finished,” Zhao Ti said. “As for the other poems…”

He really didn't want to write poetry. On the one hand, he felt that he was being too forward with Mo Chou, whom he didn't know much about, and on the other hand, he didn't know what Luo Fu was thinking about her two poems, whether she had any ulterior motives. Writing poetry would be of no benefit to him.

“Brother Zhao, the saying ‘Everyone has their own talents’ is not suitable for the current situation. Why don’t you write a poem just for my sister? You’ve already written poems for Miss Luofu and Zhuge Qingqing. How about writing one just for my sister?” Mo Xun glanced at Mo Chou, his expression still displeased, but his voice revealed a hint of earnestness as he spoke.

“This…” Zhao Ti sighed softly, “I’m finding myself somewhat lacking in talent at this moment…”

At this point, he suddenly frowned and turned to look towards the dormitory gate.

Just then, a slightly mocking voice came from outside the house, growing louder as it approached: "In my opinion... he has indeed run out of ideas!"

(End of this chapter)