Chapter 64 Is this tea delicious or not?
In a large and spacious rectangular Japanese-style room, the screens around it were painted with white divine birds spreading their wings as if ready to fly, and yellow silk ribbons were hung on the black beams.
Sitting at the top was a noble lady wearing a light blue kimono.
If you know that Kujo Mihime is the descendant of Empress Teimei Kujo Setsuko, and if you feel that the two look similar, then you only need to look at the appearance of this noble lady in front of you to know that she must be related to Kujo Setsuko.
Behind the lady is a huge nine-stripe family emblem - the nine-stripe vine.
"Meiji, doesn't this trip abroad last a month? Why are you back today?"
Sitting upright, Kujo Miki replied, "I heard that my mother was going to hold a tea party today, so I rushed back specially."
Kujo's mother smiled and looked at her daughter without saying a word.
Kujo Miki pretended to be confused and lowered her head to take a look at her attire: "What's wrong, mother?"
Kujo's mother smiled and asked, "Is the child's last name Watanabe?"
"You can have the last name Kujo, but of course my mother has to agree." Kujo Miki wasn't shy either.
"That child is the only son in the family. From the photos I've seen he looks very good and has excellent grades. His parents may not be willing for him to change his surname and marry into our family." Kujo's mother spoke in a gentle tone as she spoke a long speech slowly and steadily.
Kujo Miki did not refute and said, "When he comes later, mother, please ask him if he is willing."
Kujo's mother laughed and said, "If you are a man, you need to maintain your dignity and discipline appropriately."
After saying this, she didn't mention it any more. She asked about Kujo Miki's experiences abroad, and then talked about who the guests were at today's tea party, which ancient celebrity used the tea set, and where the tea was produced.
Kujo Miki listened calmly.
She had no interest in tea parties and would not even use those popular tea sets.
She doesn't like others touching her things, nor does she like using things that have been used by others.
The tea set she used at this time was brand new, but she chose a retro style to match the environment.
The two chatted for a while, and Kujo Miki looked towards the door ten meters away.
Mother Kujo noticed her daughter's behavior and put down her teacup: "What's wrong?"
Kujo Miki did not answer her mother's words, but ordered Jingliu who was guarding the door: "Go and see if he has drowned. If not, help him."
"yes."
Mother Kujo smiled as Jingliu retreated and teased, "It seems he is not tamed yet."
"There's still a lot of time left, so it's more interesting this way."
Jiujo's mother shook her head helplessly: "Just hope nothing happens."
After a while, Jingliu led the reluctant Watanabe Toru here.
Kujo's mother looked up.
At this time, Toru Watanabe had already changed into a hakama kimono with a patterned feather woven on top. Only the collar was visible from the white lining, and the black feather woven on the outside flowed like a robe.
He had the laziness of someone who had just woken up, a hint of reluctance on his handsome face, and his whole body exuded the charm of a beautiful young man.
Miki Kujo observed her mother's expression and saw a hint of satisfaction in her eyes, and she smiled smugly.
But when she turned her head and looked at Watanabe Toru, her expression had changed to a gloomy one.
Watanabe Toru, who was sleeping soundly, was awakened by Shizuru's words "The lady asked me to ask you: 'Did you drown?'" He was still in shock when someone helped him change into a kimono.
The Japanese-style room in front of him was so big that he didn't know where to sit.
Helpless, Watanabe Toru simply sat down next to Kujo Miki and sat upright like her.
Kujo Miki glanced at him, stretched out her hand and introduced, "This is my mother."
"Nice to meet you. I 'm Toru Watanabe, Miki's boyfriend." Toru Watanabe bowed his head.
"Hello, Watanabe-kun." Kujo's mother responded gently.
Kujo Miki suddenly stood up: "Mother, you talk to him, I'll go change my clothes."
"Um."
After Kujo Miki left, Kujo's mother looked at the uncomfortable Watanabe Toru and said with a smile: "Miki has caused you trouble."
"No, no, it's nothing. Meiji is fine."
"I know that child's temper. You must have suffered a lot." Kujo's mother looked at Watanabe Toru with the kind eyes she gave to a child.
"Meiji is just a little spoiled, she has a good nature, I like that about her."
Jiujo's mother smiled happily: "That's good. I'll take more care of you in the future. If she loses her temper, you can always come to me and I will help you teach her a lesson."
"That's my side."
What a good mother she is. It seems that Kujo Miki's mood swings are her own problem, not due to the Kujo family's upbringing.
Afterwards, Toru Watanabe talked about some interesting things in the countryside and recounted the midterm exam.
Kujo's mother asked two detailed questions from time to time, and the two of them had a very pleasant conversation.
After a while, a servant came in and said that a guest for today's tea party had arrived.
Then, noble ladies in kimonos came into the room one after another, some of them brought their female relatives with them, and all of them were also wearing expensive kimonos.
After greeting everyone, Kujo's mother solemnly introduced Watanabe Toru to everyone, and Watanabe Toru had no choice but to bow to everyone one by one.
Among them is even Kiyono Rin's mother. The two look very similar, a beautiful woman with a hint of worry always between her brows.
When almost everyone had arrived, Kujo Miki, who had changed her clothes, appeared like the final princess.
She also changed into a kimono.
The bright red kimono dragging on the ground showed a beautiful color. There was an orange-red embroidered belt tied around the waist, nine vines embroidered with black thread on the cuffs, and citrus flowers blooming at the hem of the skirt.
Even such a gorgeous kimono cannot overshadow the beauty of Kujo Miki, but instead highlights her beauty even more.
She tied her hair up behind her head with a hairpin, and her delicate and bright face looked forward.
This Japanese-style room was filled with people wearing gorgeous kimonos. Watanabe Toru was dazzled and could hardly tell who was who.
But as soon as Kujo Miki came in, the colors that were so bright just now seemed to suddenly become only hers.
Although she was usually the center of attention and spoke in a completely commanding tone, this was the first time she had displayed her elegant and noble side so clearly.
Miki Kujo walked to Toru Watanabe and slowly sat down.
When the two got closer, Toru Watanabe discovered that there was a small chrysanthemum painted on her chest.
As he was looking at her, Kujo's mother whispered something to Kujo Miki, and then Kujo Miki gave him a satisfied smile, which scared him.
That devilish smile seemed to say that his death was approaching.
Just when Toru Watanabe was wondering what he had done wrong, the tea party began.
Servants filed in, bringing snacks and a tea box.
Mother Kujo smiled and said, "Meiji, please have some tea."
"Yes." Kujo Miki responded, stood up and walked to the fire in the middle of the room and started to boil tea in the teapot.
Toru Watanabe looked at it carefully out of curiosity.
She made the tea neither hurried nor slow, and rearranged the kettle, small tea spoon, handle spoon and other tea utensils in an orderly manner after use. It was obvious that she knew every step by heart and had already mastered it.
Although Toru Watanabe couldn't understand it, he could still appreciate her elegance from the posture from her chest to her knees.
It was already dark outside, and the dim lights were on in the Japanese-style room. Everything about Kujo Miki, from her hair to her gorgeous kimono to her little hands, reflected soft light.
Around her, it seemed as if flowers were blooming and butterflies were dancing.
It was difficult for Toru Watanabe to connect the current Kujo Miki with the girl who ordered the killing with a smile.
After the tea was brewed, Watanabe Toru drank it.
He didn't understand these things and felt that it was not as delicious as barley tea.
"Watanabe-kun , how about the tea that Miki made?" asked Kujo's mother.
"Well...like early summer." Because it is early June, which is the beginning of summer.
If this tea party was held in spring, in Watanabe Toru's mouth it would be the fragrance of young leaves.
In short, it fits the occasion.
Toru Watanabe glanced at Kiyono Rin's mother who was drinking tea across from him, worried that she also had the ability to expose lies.
"Watanabe-kun also practiced the tea ceremony?" Kujo's mother continued to ask.
“No, but it tastes delicious.”
Kujo's mother nodded gently and called on others.
By the time the second person started ordering tea, Toru Watanabe couldn't stand it anymore.
He said to Kujo Miki's little ear: "My feet are numb, can you change your position?"
Sitting upright is too torturous, like being punished by kneeling.
The fact that Watanabe Toru has been able to hold on until now is the result of his training, strong willpower, and his fear of displeasing Kujo Miki.
Now he just wanted to sit cross-legged or stand up and take a few steps.
Miki Kujo looked at him closely, and then she smiled at Toru Watanabe's painful face.
She stood up and motioned for Toru Watanabe to follow.
Watanabe Toru breathed a sigh of relief, supported himself on the tatami, slowly stood up , and followed her out of the Japanese-style room and into the corridor.
He stamped his feet: "I'm so tired, when will the tea party end?"
Kujo Miki walked slowly without saying a word.
Toru Watanabe had no choice but to follow behind, and had to be careful not to step on the kimono she was mopping on the ground.
"What did my mother say to you?" Kujo Miki suddenly spoke.
"Ah? Ah, this, you said you like to lose your temper and asked me to take care of you. I said I just like your little temper."
"What else?"
"She also said that if you bully me, you can come to her anytime and she will help me teach you a lesson. Of course, I won't do such a thing."
"What did you say to my mother?" Kujo Miki seemed to ask a repetitive question.
“Dig potatoes in the countryside, go fishing, and soak watermelons in the river.”
"besides?"
"I took the midterm exam..."
Kujo Miki stopped, turned around, sneered and said, "You have to make me angry before you tell the truth, right?"
“…”
Well, it turns out I was tipped off!
"I admit it, I confess," Watanabe Toru raised his hand, "I mean you are more spoiled, but..."
Watanabe Toru couldn't continue because Kujo Miki's face looked very, very ugly at this moment.
If she wasn't wearing a kimono, Watanabe Toru believed that she would have kicked her.
"I'll have someone take you back." After saying this, Kujo Miki turned around and walked back to the Japanese-style room.
Watanabe Toru, who thought he was going to be punished again, stood there with an expression of disbelief on his face.
Surprisingly, everything is fine?
But he came back to his senses immediately.
Never mind, as long as I can leave.
He walked quickly towards Kujo Miki's bedroom, ready to change his clothes back.
When he reached the bedroom, a servant told him that the clothes had been disposed of.
"Dealt with it?"
"Yes." The servant nodded, "The young lady gave me this instruction while she was taking a bath just now."
Taking a shower? Oh, by the way, she just came back to change into her kimono.
It’s over. So letting him go back means letting him go back naked?
"Thank you for your help."
"You're welcome, young master."
Watanabe Toru walked towards the tea room with a gloomy face.
He is not going back!
On the other side, after returning to the tea room, Miki Kujo looked unhappy.
When Kujo's mother noticed it, she asked, "What happened? Did you have a fight with Watanabe-kun?"
"Mother," Kujo Miki raised her head, "Why didn't you tell me what he said about me?"
"This child is too honest. He tells you everything." Kujo's mother laughed like a girl.
Kujo Miki sneered: "Is he honest?"
"Where is he? You're not going to chase him away, are you?"
"He said his legs were numb and he couldn't stand it, so I asked someone to send him back first."
"Numb legs? How rude. Next time you call him over, I'll help you train him. He can't even sit upright for long, how come... huh?"
"What is it, mother?"
"Didn't you say he couldn't stand it?" Kujo's mother looked at Watanabe Toru who came back in.
Different from the slightly lazy look he had the first time, this time he had a determined look on his face, as if this Japanese-style room was a sea of fire and swords.
There was a hint of satisfaction in Kujo's mother's eyes.
It is normal for someone who was born in the countryside to not be able to stand sitting upright and other rules at first, but if he chooses to back off, how can he be the son-in-law of the Kujo family?
Watanabe Toru chose to go back even though he could, which made her feel that this boy did not need to be specially trained.
Of course it would be best if you could learn it by yourself.
Miki Kujo looked at Toru Watanabe who had returned and felt a little confused.
When Toru Watanabe sat down next to her, she asked, "Why don't you go back?"
"No clothes."
Miki Kujo was stunned for a moment, and suddenly remembered the clothes she had someone throw away when she was taking a shower, and she burst into laughter.
In Toru Watanabe's eyes, it was a smile full of mischief.
He sighed hard through his nose.
"Are you angry?" asked Kujo Miki with a smile.
“…”
"Come, my Watanabe-kun, have some tea." Kujo Miki raised her cup and handed it to him.
Watanabe Toru took it and drank it in one gulp.
"How about it?"
“It tastes terrible.”
"Hmm." The mother of Kujo at the top coughed lightly, and nodded apologetically to the mother of Kiyono Rin with an expression as if her child had made a mistake.
Um?
Toru Watanabe looked in disbelief at Kiyono Rin's mother, who was sitting opposite him and indicating that everything was fine, and then turned to look at Kujo Miki.
Kujo Miki, wearing a bright kimono, leaned on Watanabe Toru as if she had no strength to laugh.
She said in a light and teasing voice, "Watanabe-kun, how rude! How can you say that about the tea made by Seino-san's mother?"
"I……"
Kujo Miki tapped Watanabe Toru's nose with her hand: "Be careful that Kiyono-san gets angry. She has a very good relationship with her mother."
"……I don't."
After the tea party, the servants had already bought new clothes for Watanabe Toru.
"By the way," Kujo Miki, who had changed her clothes in advance, pointed at the kimono he had changed out of, "Take this with you too. This was specially made for you by me, so take good care of it like a pair of socks I gave you."
"Then couldn't I just wear this and go home?"
"yes."
"Why didn't you say so earlier!"
"Are you ordering me around?"
"No. What I mean is that we need to communicate well with each other."
