That afternoon, Wu Ling held the invitation Rose had given him and arrived before a teahouse that looked expensive at first glance. According to Rose, the invitation had been delivered by one of the teahouse's maids.
Wu Ling knew that the current Xue Qinghe was already Aurelia Cross in disguise, but pretending not to know what was going on was still necessary. Before leaving, he had asked Ghost Sage about it and received only three words in reply.
"Go without worry."
But because Xue Qinghe was the first prince, Ghost was not suited to come along. As a result, Wu Ling had come to the appointment alone.
The teahouse was called Hundred Blossoms Garden. Wu Ling had heard that it specialized in floral teas.
He walked alone to the front of the teahouse. The wooden door did not give Wu Ling much sense of age or weight. Instead, the moment he approached, a fresh fragrance entered his nose. With one gentle push, the door slowly opened.
"Welcome." Four voices rang out together.
As soon as Wu Ling entered, the four maids standing on both sides greeted him softly, yet clearly enough for every word to be heard.
Wu Ling looked closely and found that the four maids were actually two pairs of twins. Their looks could not be called peerless, but they were certainly fine. Standing together in matched pairs, their impact was no weaker than that of a single exceptional beauty. Even Wu Ling inwardly sighed at the extravagance.
Then one maid stepped forward and said, "Young master, welcome. We sincerely apologize for delaying your enjoyment of tea. The entire teahouse has already been reserved. The reservation period is three hours. If possible, you may return in two and a half hours, or you may come tomorrow.
"On behalf of Hundred Blossoms Garden, I again offer our apologies. This is a flower we cultivated ourselves. Before it withers, you may use this flower to enjoy a free cup of our signature tea. Please continue supporting Hundred Blossoms Garden in the future."
Seeing such thoughtful service, Wu Ling sighed inwardly.
As expected of a major business. This attitude and service are excellent. Nothing like those novels where people look down on others like dogs staring at strangers. Although it might also be because I am handsome. Still, has Xue Qinghe already been here for half an hour?
Only after the maid finished speaking did Wu Ling take out his invitation.
"Hello. My invitation says I should come here at this time. Could you take a look?"
The maid froze at first. Hundred Blossoms Garden was a famous teahouse throughout the capital. Even the current emperor enjoyed drinking tea here, so reserving the entire place cost an astronomical amount.
A three-hour reservation in the Polaris capital was beyond the means of even the young masters of several merchant groups. Only their fathers, the heads of those merchant groups, or members of the imperial family could afford such a thing.
The person before her was indeed extremely handsome, but he was also very unfamiliar. His manners did not quite resemble those of a great household either, so she felt some suspicion.
Suspicion was suspicion, but good training still made her accept the invitation respectfully.
"Very well, young master. Please wait a moment."
Ever since people had pretended to hold invitations and tried to scam food and drink at other reserved restaurants, major establishments had developed special methods for making and verifying their invitations.
The maid took off the flower pinned to her chest and gently rubbed it across the invitation.
As the invitation released a strange fragrance, the expressions of the four maids around them gradually became respectful.
After returning the invitation to Wu Ling, the maid holding it bowed deeply again. From Wu Ling's position, the angle of that bow happened to offer a clear view of a deep neckline.
Wu Ling's expression did not change. Only after the maid apologized and welcomed him again did she lead him deeper inside.
They passed through a long corridor and walked by several private rooms before Wu Ling was finally led to the door of the deepest room.
The maid knocked softly outside. Only after a reply came from within did she open the door and gesture for Wu Ling to enter.
After Wu Ling entered, the maid did not follow. Instead, she closed the door and stood outside to wait.
As Wu Ling stepped into the room, the interior came into view.
The private room was large, because plants grew everywhere around it, even along the walls and ceiling. There were small trees, little flowers, and a few rare herbs planted separately. Wu Ling only swept his eyes over them and roughly estimated more than thirty varieties.
The room was also small, because in the entire space, there was only one little table at the center. When Wu Ling entered, the only people inside were a man seated beside the table and a maid standing behind him.
When the seated man saw Wu Ling enter, he closed the book in his hand and set down his teacup.
"This extraordinary young gentleman must be Wu Ling. Come, sit." As he spoke, the refined man gave Wu Ling a smile.
Since the man invited him, Wu Ling walked over and sat down. As he approached, the man observed him, and Wu Ling carefully studied the man before him as well.
So this is Xue Qinghe. Or rather, Aurelia Cross.
Xue Qinghe merely waved his hand. The maid behind him understood at once.
She stepped forward, took away Xue Qinghe's unfinished cup of tea, brought it to the door, and knocked.
The people outside seemed to receive a signal. The four maids who had greeted Wu Ling at the entrance entered one after another. The first two each carried a fresh cup of tea and placed them before Wu Ling and Xue Qinghe. The next two each carried two plates of tea snacks and placed them in the center of the table.
After setting down the tea and snacks, all five maids, including the one originally inside the room, left together.
Once every maid had gone, Wu Ling and Xue Qinghe drank tea in silence. Neither spoke first, because whoever opened his mouth first would lose a small measure of initiative.
At first glance, the situation seemed like an equal contest between two people. In reality, they were not on the same level at all. Xue Qinghe knew very little about Wu Ling, while Wu Ling knew most of Xue Qinghe's secrets. In terms of information, Wu Ling had already placed himself beyond defeat.
Finally, compared to Wu Ling's ease and calm, Xue Qinghe could not hold out. He had spent a great deal of money to reserve Hundred Blossoms Garden for three hours, and it certainly was not just to drink tea with Wu Ling.
Xue Qinghe was the first to set down his cup. Wu Ling followed and placed his own cup on the table as well.
Seeing Wu Ling's movement, Xue Qinghe smiled faintly and said, "Brother Wu Ling, this is our first meeting. I am a few years older than you, so you may call me Big Brother Xue."