I never would have imagined that I would interact with someone from ancient times.
And, of all people, a princess of Emperor Ai of the Western Han.
I listened to Qing Dai's somewhat sorrowful voice.
Though my heart was greatly shaken,
I could also sense her desolation from her tone.
For a moment, I didn't know what to say.
Qing Dai, however, smiled:
"Alright, let's go to the pavilion!
You brought me offerings to eat last time, this time I'll brew you a pot of tea."
She said this as if smiling.
I nodded:
"Okay!"
To have a Western Han princess brew tea for you was not something just anyone could experience.
I arrived at the pavilion.
Inside the pavilion was a small stone table with tea utensils on it.
The Dragon Grandma, who had been following us, stood outside the pavilion at this moment.
She just stood there quietly without moving.
Qing Dai gestured for me to sit down first, and she began to arrange the tea utensils herself.
There was also a stove-like iron rack.
Before long, a paper figurine holding a box of tea walked over.
Dragon Grandma took the tea box and handed it to Qing Dai:
"Miss!"
Qing Dai nodded.
Taking the tea box, she said to me:
"This is all wild tea from the mountains.
While it's not a famous tea, the taste is quite good."
After saying that, she placed a porcelain bowl and vessel on the stove-like iron rack.
Then, with a flick of her hand,
A cluster of dark green flames, resembling ghost fire, ignited directly beneath the stove.
Qing Dai then picked up another wooden spoon and began to stir-fry the tea leaves in the ceramic vessel.
I watched, somewhat bewildered.
Was this making tea, or stir-frying a dish?
Seeing my confusion, Qing Dai suddenly smiled:
"This is how people drank tea in my era; it's called pan-frying tea."
Hearing Qing Dai say this,
I finally understood.
So, this was the way Han Dynasty people drank tea.
It was called "pan-frying tea," different from how we brew tea now.
I have learned something new.
"Oh! I'm seeing this for the first time."
I said with a smile.
After all, our Chinese civilization has a long and continuous history, and the methods of drinking tea have been passed down for thousands of years.
As generations have passed, many ancient methods have naturally faded from public view.
Qing Dai, while pan-frying the tea, told me about the steaming and boiling methods of tea drinking in the Han Dynasty.
As she spoke, Qing Dai suddenly looked at me.
And said to me:
"In the past, that person really liked the tea I fried."
Hearing "that person," my heart skipped a beat.
"That person" Qing Dai mentioned was likely the man she was waiting for!
That man was truly fortunate.
To be waited for by a devoted woman for two thousand years.
I smiled:
"That person is indeed very lucky to have you wait for him for so long.
But I believe he will appear very soon."
Although I said this with a smile, I felt a slight sense of strangeness in my heart.
Qing Dai continued to look at me, her eyes unblinking, and replied softly:
"I think so."
After saying that, she picked up the kettle beside her.
In an instant, I noticed wisps of steam rising from within the kettle.
The water was boiling.
This cultivation, this ability, was truly beyond my reach at present.
Then, Qing Dai poured the boiling water into the steaming ceramic vessel.
Through stirring,
Thus, the tea was considered brewed...
She poured me a small bowl and handed it to me:
"You try some too!"
I don't usually drink tea; if I do, it's iced black tea bought from the supermarket.
Now, being asked to try tea, I felt a little nervous.
Holding it in my hands, I took a sniff, blew on it, and took a sip.
I found the aroma of the tea to be very strong.
It felt better than any tea I had ever tasted before.
"This tea is very good!"
I didn't know how else to describe it, so I just said that.
Qing Dai, however, smiled:
"You like it too?"
"Mm, I don't usually drink tea.
But this tea you fried is really excellent.
The aroma is very strong, and the taste is not bitter.
It's just very smooth to drink..."
I spoke honestly, sharing my feelings about the tea.
However, if asked to identify the tea, I wouldn't have the slightest clue.
After hearing my words, Qing Dai seemed very pleased:
"This is wild tea from the mountains; if it were a famous tea, the taste would likely be even better.
If you like it, drink more.
These tea leaves are all specially prepared by me.
And the tea water is collected mountain dew.
For those who drink it, it can bring peace of mind and help with sleep."
I looked intently at the tea water in my hands. This tea was brewed with dew.
No wonder it tasted so smooth.
As for whether it could bring peace of mind and help with sleep, that was secondary.
I wasn't suffering from insomnia anyway.
After drinking the tea, I set down the bowl.
And spoke to Qing Dai again:
"Qing Dai, after you passed away, have you been with Dragon Grandma all these years?"
As I said this, I glanced at Dragon Grandma standing outside the pavilion.
Dragon Grandma stood still, a smile on her face.
Qing Dai, however, shook her head:
"No, Dragon Grandma was originally a wronged soul from underwater.
Three hundred years ago, I saved her.
She has been with me ever since, serving me and unwilling to reincarnate."
Hearing this, I nodded slightly.
I didn't expect Dragon Grandma to have such a history.
And after saying this, Qing Dai spoke to me again:
"All these years, Dragon Grandma has accompanied and taken care of me.
Otherwise, I might have been killed by them many times..."