For Lu Jiayi, going to the Northern Song Dynasty was a piece of cake.
She prepared clothes and daily necessities in advance, and even went to the pawnshop to exchange some money for backup. Before leaving, she looked at Wang Anshi's portrait thousands of times, thinking that everything was ready, except for the east wind.
With her experience as a maid in the Sixteen Kingdoms, and the "detective" skills she developed from spying on Cai Jing every day, Lu Jiayi has enough patience to understand a person.
After arriving in the Northern Song Dynasty, she first found a place to stay, and then found her target among the students who came to Beijing to take the imperial examination, but she did not approach him immediately. After many days of observation, she gradually mastered Wang Anshi's daily routine and travel patterns, so that she could meet him naturally.
On this day, she changed into men's clothes and bumped into someone as soon as she went out, and the tea leaves in her hands spilled out.
"How dare you, you blind man, to offend our Master Shi!" The man was followed by a servant boy, who immediately pointed at Lu Jiayi's nose and cursed at him.
Lu Jiayi was startled. She really didn't notice anyone passing by here, because her original intention was to bump into Wang Anshi! However, she squinted her eyes and saw that Wang Anshi walked a little slower and fell right behind Mr. Shi.
"Sir, I'm really sorry, I didn't mean it." Lu Jiayi quickly apologized.
Before Mr. Shi expressed his opinion, the servant boy became excited again: "Our Mr. Shi is going to be the first this year. If you get hurt, you can't pay for it with your life!"
Why are you holding on to me like this?
Lu Jiayi felt a little uncomfortable. At this moment, a rather casual voice rang out: "You said that your family has a stone master, so it will definitely not be damaged! If it is a tile master, then you may not know !"
Lu Jiayi looked over in the direction of the voice and saw Wang Anshi walking towards her in a nonchalant manner.
Just as the rumors said, he let his long hair down and went out wearing a pair of straw sandals. The wide robe on him gave him a hint of the air of a hermit who was not bound by restraint.
Upon hearing this, Master Shi couldn't help but laugh and said, "Oh, Wang Anshi, you were having fun again yesterday, weren't you? Look at you, your clothes are disheveled, and your face is unwashed. You really bring shame to us scholars!"
After hearing this, Wang Anshi was not angry, but bowed respectfully and replied: "Mr. Shi, you don't know me, I won't blame you."
Mr. Shi snorted, looking very disgusted with Wang Anshi's arrogance. He waved his hand and said to the servant, "Let's go! I was bumped into by someone when I went out today, and I met Mr. Wang who dared to talk about poetry and books with his disheveled hair and dirty face. It's really bad luck!"
The servant boy snorted and followed his master away in a swagger.
Lu Jiayi breathed a sigh of relief, took a step forward and said, "Thank you, Mr. Wang!"
Wang Anshi didn't look at her, but squatted down to smell the tea leaves spilled on the ground, and exclaimed : "Good tea! Good tea!"
"This is the Sichuan fairy tea 'Mengding', which tastes sweet and clear, and has the effect of calming the mind and prolonging life." Lu Jiayi said, feeling a little nervous. Mengding tea was a tribute tea in ancient times, and if people knew that she spilled the tribute tea on the street, it would be fatal.
"You are indeed an expert in the tea ceremony!" Wang Anshi laughed and stood up.
The moment he saw Lu Jiayi, his expression suddenly changed. The smile on his face disappeared instantly, replaced by shock and suspicion.
Lu Jiayi became even more nervous. Wang Anshi's nickname was "Stubborn Minister", which meant that he was very stubborn. His expression...was he going to take me to the government?
"It's you?" Wang Anshi suddenly spoke, his tone full of doubt, "You actually exist? But how did you become..."
Lu Jiayi was stunned.
Wang Anshi's reaction was beyond her expectations.
Regardless of whether the next plot is to meet the official or not, Lu Jiayi is confident that she can leave a deep impression on Wang Anshi. But what is the situation now? Wang Anshi... knows her?
"Have you... seen me?" Lu Jiayi asked cautiously.
Wang Anshi looked at her carefully, his eyes were quite amused, but he finally shook his head and said with a smile: "I don't know her. However, our chance meeting is also a fate. I am here to pay a visit to Lord Ouyang on my father's orders. This... young master, are you willing to come with me?"
Lu Jiayi was pleasantly surprised and immediately replied, "Great! I have admired Mr. Ouyang for a long time! I would like to ask you to introduce me to him!"
Ouyang Gong is Ouyang Xiu, one of the great writers of the Northern Song Dynasty. Wang Anshi is willing to take Lu Jiayi to meet him, which makes her very happy!
It seems that things are moving in an increasingly interesting direction.
Ouyang Xiu loved tea and wrote many tea poems. He also discussed the key points of water for brewing tea in his articles. Lu Jiayi did not dare to neglect it. She packed up the tea leaves and followed Wang Anshi to Ouyang's house.
Ouyang Xiu was also a great writer in his time, respected by many younger generations in the literary world. Today was a gathering of literati and scholars. Lu Jiayi followed Wang Anshi and met Mei Yaochen, Sima Guang and other great men in literary history, feeling a little excited.
Ouyang Xiu smiled and helped Wang Anshi and Lu Jiayi up, and asked someone to serve them tea, which turned out to be the best Pu'er. Pu'er is also a tribute tea, which shows the royal family's appreciation for Ouyang Xiu.
"I have long heard that Mr. Wang is a remarkable man of the time. Seeing him today, I find that he is indeed extraordinary." Apparently, some people had different opinions on Wang Anshi's unruly dressing style and mentioned this point intentionally or unintentionally.
"Who is this young man?" Next to Ouyang Xiu was a young man in casual clothes, with bright eyes and a kind face. He was Sima Guang, who passed the imperial examination two years ago. He was highly respected by everyone and sat below Ouyang Xiu. When he saw Lu Jiayi, he couldn't help but change the subject.
"This is a little brother I just met. Don't be fooled by his young age. Like Mr. Ouyang, he is also a tea lover!" Wang Anshi introduced Lu Jiayi.
"Really?" Ouyang Xiu immediately showed great interest when he heard the word "tea".
"If Lord Ouyang doesn't mind, let me serve tea to our distinguished guests." Lu Jiayi smiled.
"Okay!" Ouyang Xiu agreed immediately.
Lu Jiayi bowed in a formal manner, and then had the tea set served. Grinding the tea cakes, making tea, adding soup, whisking... every movement was so precise that it seemed like an art.
In the past several time travels, years of practice have accumulated a solid foundation for her achievements in the tea ceremony. After showing this , Lu Jiayi almost attracted all the guests present today.
"Good!" Ouyang Xiu took the first cup of tea handed to him by Lu Jiayi and exclaimed in praise.
"It's true that you can't judge a book by its cover!" People in the hall were whispering to each other, and they all showed great interest in Lu Jiayi.
Wang Anshi stood in the crowd of people who were either excited or envious, carefully observing Lu Jiayi's every move, and finally couldn't help but say, "It's her!"
"Who is he?" Someone beside him suddenly laughed, "It seems that you are also full of curiosity about this little brother..."
Wang Anshi turned around and saw Sima Guang had walked up to him at some point. He was holding a folding fan in his hand and fanning himself gently, but his eyes were on Lu Jiayi.
Wang Anshi couldn't help but laugh, pointed at Lu Jiayi and said, "She... is such a wonderful person."
After leaving Ouyang's house, Wang Anshi took the initiative to tell Lu Jiayi the time of the next party and asked her to go with him. Lu Jiayi was even more confused and thought, "Could it be that the famous 'stubborn husband' was attracted by my unique temperament?"
Even she herself couldn't believe this answer...
No matter what, the friendship with Wang Anshi must be cultivated. The second gathering was at the home of the great poet Mei Yaochen, and Lu Jiayi went there in men's clothing as usual.
Unexpectedly, in addition to Wang Anshi, Sima Guang also came.
It was not until today that Lu Jiayi learned that Wang Anshi and Sima Guang had known each other for some time. They were impressed by each other's literary talent and naturally became friends who appreciated each other. However, Sima Guang already had an official position, while Wang Anshi had not yet passed the imperial examination, so he studied harder than usual, which led to others' evaluation of him as "unkempt".
When scholars gather together, poetry and songs are inevitable to liven up the atmosphere. Lu Jiayi is not good at writing, so she served as the guest of honor to perform the tea ceremony.
After the excitement, Wang Anshi started to paint. The three were all great scholars, but their painting skills were not as good as those of professional painters, so they could only cherish their own works. However, Wang Anshi highly respected Ouyang Xiu and even learned how to paint bamboo birds from him.
"It seems that we are in for a treat today!" Sima Guang said with a smile, "Mr. Wang's bamboo and bird paintings are so lifelike that he can be called Mr. Ouyang's favorite disciple!"
"I will not paint bamboo or birds today..." Wang Anshi stood up, glanced at the people around him, and finally set his sights on Lu Jiayi. "Mr. Lu, how about you being the subject of my painting today?"
Mei Yaochen and Sima Guang looked at Lu Jiayi at the same time. Lu Jiayi was also startled and subconsciously asked, "You want to draw me?"
Wang Anshi nodded.
"Well...you draw it!" Lu Jiayi pondered for a long time, but always felt something was strange, but couldn't put it into words, so she had to let Wang Anshi draw it.
After a stick of incense had passed, a handsome young man appeared on the paper.
Lu Jiayi looked at herself in the painting and suddenly felt shy. She remembered that a long time ago, someone had also painted herself. The bright sunlight shone through the window of the Mei family, casting a layer of soft light on the person in the painting. Lu Jiayi looked at it carefully and gradually fell in love with herself .
"How is it?" Wang Anshi shook his long hair and asked confidently and casually.
"Great! I'm so handsome!" Lu Jiayi couldn't help clapping her hands and asked, "Can you give me this painting?"
"Oh! That won't work." When Wang Anshi heard that Lu Jiayi wanted this painting, he waved his hand and looked as if he didn't want to talk to her.
"Mr. Wang, why is this? Since Mr. Lu likes it, just give it to him!" Sima Guang was also curious and couldn't help but stand up to plead for Lu Jiayi.
"I'm not very satisfied with this painting, how can I give it as a gift to someone else?" Wang Anshi said proudly, "When I become a great painter, I will paint another one for you!"
Sima Guang shook his head and sighed, "You are still so stubborn."
Wang Anshi glanced at him and seemed very satisfied with this evaluation. He even nodded and smiled.
Lu Jiayi pouted, but there was nothing she could do. She couldn't be too rude. However, she really wanted this painting. On the way back, she couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Wang, you said you would wait until your painting skills are perfect before you would give me the painting. So when will your painting skills be perfect?"
Wang Anshi seemed to have not expected that she would be so obsessed with a painting. He rolled his eyes, pointed to the sky, and said, "Now Brother Sima is already the emperor's literary attendant. When I graduate from high school and have the same achievements as him, I will give this painting to you. How about that?"
Lu Jiayi immediately clapped her hands and nodded heavily: "Okay!"
Because she knew that Wang Anshi passed the imperial examination very quickly, only two years later than Sima Guang. Thinking of this, she was full of confidence.
However, this would mean that her days in the Northern Song Dynasty would be extended indefinitely.
After returning, Lu Jiayi took out the three-legged golden toad and discussed the direction of things with Lu Yu. In the end, she decided quit her current job at the tea house and open a tea house in Bianjing City!
Just like Chen Yuanzhu, who used a teahouse to make friends all over the world, Lu Jiayi believed that with her own abilities, she could run the teahouse well.
You know, she is now a famous tea ceremony master in the capital!
A month later, Lu Jiayi's Lu's Teahouse opened.
Amid the crackling sound of firecrackers, she changed back into her female form and enthusiastically received all the guests. The etiquette of the Song Dynasty was very strict, and almost no women would show up in public like this. Lu Jiayi did the opposite, and it actually became a big news .
Wang Anshi and Sima Guang both went to Lu's Teahouse to congratulate Lu Jiayi on the opening of her business. When Sima Guang saw Lu Jiayi in person, he was stunned for a long time.
"This...you are Mr. Lu?" He couldn't believe it for a moment and almost dropped the fan in his hand.
Wang Anshi was not as surprised as he was. Instead, he teased Sima Guang: "How is it?"
Sima Guang nodded sincerely: "He is indeed a wonderful person."
Lu Jiayi felt a little embarrassed and quickly invited them to rest in the elegant seats. Although Ouyang Xiu, Mei Yaochen and others did not come in person, they knew that Lu Jiayi was going to open a teahouse and sent people to present gifts. It must be said that the support and support of these literary masters was an important reason for Lu Jiayi to establish her own brand in Bianjing City.
Many scholars came to the teahouse every day, and over time, Lu Jiayi actually gained confidence that he could make back his investment. In this way, Lu's Teahouse stood firm amid praise and condemnation.
The most important event that happened afterwards was that Wang Anshi passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, and together with Sima Guang, he served as the emperor's literary attendant.
The name "Stubborn Minister" finally spread throughout the world.
Sima Guang was very happy and specially brought the Pu'er tea he had drunk at Ouyang Xiu's place that day to Lu's Teahouse to celebrate for Wang Anshi.
Lu Jiayi sat beside the two men, watching them toasting to each other, and couldn't help but laugh, "You two are such good friends, and you are both literary attendants to the emperor. In my opinion, Mr. Wang, you might as well move your family to our place. The place I live in was introduced by Lord Sima, and it's right next to his house. Now the other end is still empty, you can move in, and you'll have company when you go to court in the future."
"Good idea!" Wang Anshi took a sip of tea and laughed, "But you can't hide from me now! Have you finished reading the paper I asked you to review last time?"
"Today the sky is clear and the wind is gentle, the tea is fragrant and the company of beautiful women is intoxicating. Why bother talking about those arguing topics?" Sima Guang opened his fan and shook it in a serious manner.
"This means that you haven't seen it yet..." Wang Anshi's face suddenly turned ugly.
"Oh my!" Sima Guang suddenly changed the subject. "Speaking of which, what happened to Mr. Shi who got angry with you on the street that day? He was the one who claimed to take first place this year!"
Wang Anshi said nothing, his face still looked so ugly, and it seemed that he was really angry.
"That Mr. Shi may be arrogant, but he has no ability. I've heard from neighbors that he went back to his hometown with his book boy in disgrace on the day the results were announced!" Lu Jiayi tried to smooth things over. "If he dares to stay any longer, does he want to be slapped in the face by Mr. Wang?"
Wang Anshi snorted coldly and said unhappily: "Today's work should be done today. If you keep dragging your feet like this, how can you be a good official in the future?"
"Mr. Wang, I admire your literary talent very much, but the ideas for reform mentioned in your article are very new to me, and it is difficult for me to answer them immediately." Sima Guang sighed.
"Of course it is novel, otherwise why would I specially invite you to come and evaluate it?" Wang Anshi said, and he couldn't help writing and drawing on the table with his fingers, "Tell me, the idea I came up with..."
"Stop! Stop!" Lu Jiayi interrupted him, "Since Lord Sima hasn't made up his mind yet, don't be so anxious! I remembered something and I want to talk to you about it."
"What's the matter?" Wang Anshi raised his eyebrows.
Lu Jiayi stretched out her right hand and said proudly, "A few months ago, didn't you say that you would give me the portrait when you passed the imperial examination? Now that you are the emperor's literary attendant, isn't it time to fulfill your promise?"
Lu Jiayi rarely has a portrait of a man in men's clothing, so of course she can't let it go. If she has the chance, she even wants to bring this painting back to modern times, because it is an authentic work of Wang Anshi!
"Uh..." Unexpectedly, Wang Anshi's expression became a little subtle. He deliberately avoided Lu Jiayi's gaze and began to speak incoherently. "Of course you can... I will remember to bring it next time."
"It's too troublesome. I'll just go with you to get it at your house!" Lu Jiayi was very enthusiastic.
“No, no need…” Wang Anshi waved his hand quickly, “I’ll have someone send it to you in a few days.”
He was a little flustered, which attracted the thoughtful gaze of the person sitting opposite him. Although he didn't know what he was hiding, Sima Guang always felt that his attitude towards Lu Jiayi was a little strange.
This feeling doesn't seem like falling in love...
Lu Jiayi also found it a little strange, but she didn't care too much. She just pouted and told him to remember to bring it over early.
It was the second year of the Qingli period, and Wang Anshi had just passed the imperial examination. Sima Guang and he were just two young men full of vigor and vitality, and their friendship was strong. There was no sign of them becoming incompatible in the future.
That night, Lu Jiayi sent away two friends who had been awkward in the teahouse for the whole afternoon and began to count the accounts. She had collected some money through some "cheating" means, but being a boss does not necessarily mean that you can make money. Just like now, although the sky gradually darkened and the teahouse gradually became deserted, Lu Jiayi still carefully inspected the kitchen to confirm that there were no problems with the firewood, water, and tea utensils. Then, she returned to the store and sorted out the tea cakes and tea leaves for sale.
Time slipped away quietly, and the hired workers left work one after another. After the hour of Xu, Lu Jiayi prepared to close the shop.
It was at this time that he appeared.
Lu Jiayi was idly cleaning the dust on the tea table, swinging the feather duster back and forth. Suddenly there was a noise at the door, as if a guest had come in. Lu Jiayi immediately turned around, greeted the guest with a smile, and asked enthusiastically: "Thank you for coming from afar! Would you like to buy tea or drink some?"
The man stood under the moonlight, wearing a long green gown and looking exhausted. He had a pair of bright eyes, brighter than the moon in the sky, and was staring at Lu Jiayi closely. The expression on his face startled Lu Jiayi.
He just looked at her with an incredible expression on his face, but his eyes expressed more emotions, including surprise, suspicion, confusion, and even loss.
For a moment, the complex emotions emanating from him infected Lu Jiayi. She quietly put down the feather duster and took two steps forward.
"This young man..." Lu Jiayi considered her words, not knowing how to start.
This guy is pretty, but he gives people an inexplicable sense of oppression. If Lu Jiayi hadn't come from another time and space, she would have even thought that he was her ex-boyfriend who had been abandoned by her...
You're overthinking it. Maybe he's just a sad person passing by.
"Sir, how can I help you?" Lu Jiayi's thoughts wandered for only a moment, and she smiled again in the next moment.
"You..." The man finally spoke, his voice so low that it seemed to come from the deepest darkness of the night, "Your name is... Lu Jiayi?"
When he read the three words "Lu Jiayi", he paused for each word, as if he was afraid of missing any details.
Lu Jiayi nodded and asked in confusion, "Are you a friend of some lord? I haven't been to your houses much lately, so please forgive me if I'm not considerate enough."
The man's eyes changed, becoming extremely determined. He didn't wait for Lu Jiayi to finish speaking, and strode towards her. Lu Jiayi was startled, and before she could react, she was grabbed by a strong hand by the shoulder, and then -
She ran into a cold embrace!
This stranger who came from afar only asked her one question and then hugged her tightly!
Lu Jiayi's head suddenly buzzed and her first reaction was to escape!
"What's going on..." She struggled and pushed the stranger away, but the man was much stronger than her and she couldn't change the embarrassing situation in a short time!
"Let go!" Lu Jiayi was furious and shouted harshly.
The man finally let go, and Lu Jiayi took the opportunity to distance herself from him. The guys had all gone off work, and there was no third person in the teahouse. Lu Jiayi keenly sensed that something was wrong and immediately decided to leave.
However, the moment she turned around, the man called out her name: "Lu Jiayi!"
Lu Jiayi stopped and turned around slowly, feeling a little nervous and a little scared.
The man looked at her with those bright eyes, and his expression became painful.
"Don't you recognize me?" he asked with some heartache.
Of course I don't know him! Lu Jiayi yelled in her heart, but she tried her best to stay calm, but her voice was still trembling: "Who are you?" She half-jokingly comforted herself, "It's impossible for me to have done such a wicked thing as abandoning my husband and children in this era..."
"I am Cai Jing." The man answered indifferently.
After pausing for three seconds, Lu Jiayi turned around again, ready to slip away.
"Lu Jiayi!" The man almost roared.
Lu Jiayi could only turn back dejectedly and smiled awkwardly: "Is it really Master Jing?"
The man who called himself Cai Jing was already in his early twenties. His appearance inherited three-tenths of Cai Xiang's handsomeness, while retaining seven-tenths of his own pride. Only his eyes, which were brighter than those of ordinary people, were still as clear as before.
Seeing Lu Jiayi calm down, Cai Jing also slowly calmed down. He threw his hands, took out two paintings from somewhere, and threw them on the tea table in front of Lu Jiayi.
"When Mr. Wang wrote to me for the first time, I couldn't believe that he had met you, until he sent me your portrait..." Cai Jing closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "I rushed back from Fujian Road without stopping, just to see with my own eyes, whether you... really came back..."
Lu Jiayi took a deep breath. There were two scrolls on the tea table in front of her. She knew what they were without even looking at them. The first painting was of a smiling girl in green clothes and black hair leaning against a pavilion and looking into the distance; the second painting was of a handsome, fair-skinned, and slender young man - the people in the paintings were all herself.
Lu Jiayi never imagined that Wang Anshi actually knew Cai Jing.
This is the end! Lu Jiayi's heart was beating fast. This was the first time she met the same person in different time and space, and many of her secrets would be revealed.
Like, why don’t we age?
For example, why tea again?
Thinking of this, Lu Jiayi became more and more nervous. She was worried that these questions would jump out of Cai Jing's mouth at any time. And by chance, Cai Jing was looking at her carefully. Then, he walked over.
He walked in front of Lu Jiayi, slowly raised his head, and gently placed it on Lu Jiayi's shoulder. In an instant, he knew that Lu Jiayi was afraid. He looked down at her, sighed, and whispered, "Don't be afraid of me."
Yes, he was very curious. He wanted to know where Lu Jiayi had been all these years and why her appearance hadn't changed. However, none of these things were as important as seeing her in person.
He saw her, and that was more important than anything else.
Lu Jiayi was still a little nervous, but seeing her nervousness, Cai Jing, who was a head taller than her, gradually began to feel better.
"No matter what, don't think you can suppress me like before." Cai Jing smiled with an ambiguous smile, "We still have a long way to go."