Fengxian took her seat at the center of the tea service area and examined the tea powder previously used by the fourth and fifth young ladies. Finding it not as fine as she had hoped, she retrieved a whole tea cake from the tea caddy, its outer layer still sealed with a coating of oil. After checking the label for the year of production and confirming it was from the previous year, she poured boiling water into a water basin, gently placed the tea cake inside, and waited for the hot water to dissolve the oily shell. Once removed, she dabbed the tea cake dry with clean paper, scraped off the remaining oil, and clamped it with tea tongs. She then roasted it over a low flame on the tea stove until thoroughly dried, wrapped it in paper, and pounded it into fragments. Taking a portion, she placed it into a boat-shaped, single-wheeled silver tea grinder, turning the wheel to grind the tea into a fine powder. Next, she sifted the ground tea through a tea sieve covered with a layer of silk gauze as thin as a cicada’s wing, sieving it until the powder was extremely fine. Only when the green tea powder became as light as dust did she lift the hot water kettle to rinse a Jianzhan teacup with its hare’s fur glaze. She then scooped the tea powder into the cup for later use.
Fengxian did not use a tea whisk but instead selected a silver spoon to mix the tea paste. With her left hand, she lifted the hot water kettle to pour water, while her right wrist rotated, blending the tea powder and water into a gelatinous consistency. She then continued pouring water along the inner edge of the Jianzhan cup, using the silver spoon to stir and whisk the tea in circular motions. Her movements started gently but gradually quickened as the liquid rose, causing a white, milky froth to surge within the tea, forming pearl-like bubbles that clung to the cup’s surface.
This series of actions was executed seamlessly, without any disturbance from bees or insects. The froth clung to the cup like a bowl of spring snow, creating a visually pleasing effect. Ling Tao secretly breathed a sigh of relief and was about to instruct Fengxian to serve the tea to Zhao Ai when she took the silver spoon again, dipping it into the cup to stir. As her wrist moved up and down, the froth gradually dissipated, revealing the vibrant green tea beneath.
Ling Tao was surprised and puzzled by her actions. Noticing his furrowed brow, Fengxian smiled slightly, stopped what she was doing, set down the silver spoon, and tilted her head to signal the maid beside her to serve the tea to Zhao Ai.
The maid brought the tea to Zhao Ai, raising the tray above her eyebrows as she presented it for him to taste. Zhao Ai looked and saw the tea as green as a deep pool, with only a small amount of the previously risen white froth floating on the surface. Fengxian had used the silver spoon to sketch a delicate and elegant apricot blossom on it, as if painted with a skilled brush.
This technique was known as "tea play" or "water painting," a skill mastered by only a few even in the capital. Shangguan Chen, who was observing from the side, exclaimed in admiration and praised Fengxian’s tea artistry to Ling Tao. Ling Tao waved his hand modestly, saying, "My daughter’s trivial skill is hardly worth mentioning." Yet his face was beaming with joy.
Zhao Ai gazed at the pure white apricot blossom and smiled faintly, instructing the maid to serve the cup of tea to Shangguan Chen. He then rose and walked toward the tea service area where Fengxian was seated. Startled, Fengxian realized he likely intended to prepare tea himself and immediately stepped aside, yielding the space to Zhao Ai.
Zhao Ai took his seat, poured out the remaining water from the hot water kettle, and fetched a small pot to boil fresh water. When the water in the tea stove sounded like wind through pine trees and rain on cypress leaves, he lifted it and poured it into the hot water kettle. After rinsing the cup, he scooped in the tea powder Fengxian had ground and waited briefly until the kettle fell silent. He then lifted it again, pouring water along the inner edge of the Jianzhan cup. Surveying the tea utensils on the table, he also chose to use a silver spoon to mix and whisk the tea paste, though not with the spoon’s bowl. Instead, he turned it around and used the smooth, dagger-like handle of the silver spoon to strike the tea paste and liquid.After the tea paste had fully dissolved, Zhao Ai steadily poured water with one hand while rotating his wrist with the other, the silver handle shimmering and dancing like a silver serpent. He lowered his gaze slightly, leisurely observing the tea soup, while his hands continued their distinct, methodical movements. In the bowl, foam as fine as powdered snow gradually rose on the surface of the green tea soup, smooth and delicate, without the turbulent, overflowing force seen earlier when Fengxian had whisked it.
Seeing that the foam had reached the right amount, Zhao Ai stopped whisking and began to grip the silver handle like a brush, using its side to swiftly trace patterns on the surface of the tea soup, guiding the flow of the liquid. An intricate scene, as delicate as a fine brush painting of landscapes, gradually emerged on the tea soup.
Once the drawing was complete, he set down the silver whisk and smiled at Ling Tao and Shangguan Chen, saying, "The brushstrokes are fine, and the scene is fleeting. I invite both of you to come closer to the tea seat for a better view."
The two promptly moved to the tea seat and sat opposite Zhao Ai. In his tea bowl, they saw fine white foam forming lines of varying thickness, as if painted with a brush, depicting a scene of a thousand mountains blanketed in evening snow on the emerald-green tea soup. Layer upon layer of peaks, covered in pristine snow, cast shadows onto a cold river below, where a small boat drifted. At the bow of the boat, surprisingly, sat a fisherman wearing a bamboo hat and a straw raincoat.
Ling Tao and Shangguan Chen expressed their admiration in turn. Fengxian, who had been watching from the side, was both astonished and genuinely impressed.
Fengxian’s water painting technique had been taught to her by Qiu Niang. In Pujiang County, distinguished guests were few, and ordinary tea whisking was sufficient for entertaining them. Qiu Niang never demonstrated water painting publicly, only occasionally sketching flowers or trees on the surface of the tea soup for her own amusement during private tea sessions. When Fengxian saw this, she persistently begged her teacher’s wife to teach her. Though it was just a branch or two of flowers or trees, Fengxian practiced for many years before she could claim to have a preliminary grasp of the technique, managing to convey some artistic charm. Yet Zhao Ai had managed to paint such a complete landscape scene in such a short time. To achieve such skill in tea whisking, one likely needed a combination of innate talent, cultivation, and considerable time and effort.
The foam in the bowl soon dispersed, and the scene gradually dissolved into the tea soup. The onlookers, as if awakening from a dream, applauded enthusiastically. Zhao Ai smiled slightly and said, "This is a family tradition. I’ve only learned the basics."
His gaze drifted intentionally or unintentionally toward Fengxian, who dared not meet his eyes and silently stepped back, lowering her head. The sense of superiority she had felt earlier due to her sisters’ mistakes vanished entirely. Her face burned with embarrassment, and she felt she had clearly been showing off in front of a master.
After the tea gathering that day, Ling Tao privately asked Shangguan Chen about the fortunes of his daughters based on their appearances. Shangguan Chen smiled and said, "In this humble Daoist’s view, the most noble among them is undoubtedly the second young lady. With dragon-like eyes and a phoenix-like neck, she possesses a beauty that could topple cities. Moreover, the second young lady has lofty ambitions, and her future is boundless."
When Ling Tao inquired about the fortunes of his other daughters, Shangguan Chen merely said, "Relax and let fate take its course, let fate take its course."
Ling Tao tactfully asked about the Second Great King’s impression of his daughters. Shangguan Chen laughed heartily and said, "That is for the Second Great King alone to know. How could this humble Daoist dare to speculate?"
Nevertheless, when Shangguan Chen was alone with Zhao Ai, he mentioned Fengxian, saying that she was dignified in demeanor and exceptionally intelligent. Since the Second Great King had reached the age for marriage, he might consider including Fengxian as a candidate. Zhao Ai smiled and said, "The second young lady of the Ling family is excellent, but she is too clever for me."
"Oh? How is she too clever?" Shangguan Chen asked.Zhao Ai said, "The reason her two sisters made mistakes in whisking tea was due to bee interference. These bees were clearly attracted by the flowers in their hair and the fragrance they wore. However, Second Miss Ling wore no flowers in her hair, and the only scent on her clothes was borneol... Borneol is clear and cool, slightly pungent. The only person I’ve ever heard of using borneol alone as a clothing fragrance is my great-uncle, Prince Rongxian of Chu. He disliked the overwhelming fragrances worn by those around him, which gave him headaches, so he used borneol to counteract the myriad scents. Borneol also repels insects and moths. Second Miss Ling is at the age where she should adore all kinds of rich fragrances, yet today she used only borneol. Considering the circumstances, it seems she understood that floral scents could attract bees, so she deliberately wore borneol to repel insects and ensure her tea whisking proceeded flawlessly."
Shangguan Chen understood and smiled, saying, "This young lady likely eagerly anticipated showcasing her tea skills to gain Your Highness’s attention, so she planned meticulously. If she were fortunate enough to serve Your Highness, she might well become a virtuous helpmate, assisting Your Highness in achieving great accomplishments."
Zhao Ai shook his head and chuckled, "But if she were to turn the scheming she used against her sisters toward me, that would hardly be a pleasant prospect."
The two shared a laugh. Zhao Ai continued, "Now that my elder brother has been established as Crown Prince by Father, the foundation of the state is settled. I am content to live leisurely as a wealthy idler. I sought the Empress Dowager’s permission to travel under her decree to find you, Master. I must also thank you for wandering far and wide, making yourself hard to find, so I could follow the decree and roam freely through mountains and rivers. It is not easy for me to leave the capital. On this return journey, I hope you will slow your pace and accompany me back later."
Shangguan Chen smiled and replied, "As long as the Empress Dowager does not urge us, the pace of our journey, whether fast or slow, is naturally entirely at Your Highness’s discretion."
The next day, Zhao Ai and Shangguan Chen bid farewell to Ling Tao and headed toward Liangzhe.
Lady Zhu Wu reflected on the tea gathering and realized she had been outmaneuvered by Fengxian. Yan Qiao was originally her own spy placed beside Fengxian, but she had instead been used to relay messages, harming her own daughter. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Lady Zhu Wu decided to drop the pretense and asked Ling Tao to announce to Fengxian the decision to replace Third Miss with her in marrying Yin Qi.
Fengxian straightforwardly told Ling Tao that she planned to return to Pujiang to participate in the selection for palace attendant in the Bureau of Palace Provisions. If she failed, she would come to Jingnan, and her marriage would be entirely at her father’s discretion.
Ling Tao said, "Although a palace attendant in the Bureau of Palace Provisions serves in the palace, she is ultimately a maid who waits on others. How could that compare to the wealth and status of being the wife of the eldest grandson of the Prince of Yanping?"
"What’s wrong with being a maid?" Fengxian retorted. "The current Empress Dowager and Consort Li both entered the palace as maids who served others."
Ling Tao was momentarily speechless. Fengxian continued, "Father wishes to marry into the Prince of Yanping’s family solely to borrow their influence to bring glory to our household and to have someone in the capital who can speak for Father. If I enter the palace and gain the favor of a noble in the future, achieving these two goals for Father would be effortless. The Prince of Yanping is a member of the imperial family, but he is still a step removed. If I become a palace attendant in the Bureau of Palace Provisions, I would interact daily with true members of the imperial family. When the time comes to speak on Father’s behalf, what difficulty would there be?"
Ling Tao pondered this, seeming moved. Fengxian added, "Father has more than one daughter. Anyone can marry into the Prince of Yanping’s household. But the tea gathering shows that among your daughters, I am likely the only one capable of acting on your behalf. Since there is an opportunity to enter the palace, why not let me try? If I fail, I will return immediately, and my future will be entirely at your discretion."Ling Tao gazed intently at this unfamiliar daughter, feeling for the first time her dazzling beauty. Unlike the delicate charm of his concubines, her beauty held no trace of fragility or timidity, faintly revealing an unyielding pride. Standing tall and graceful in the hall, her posture erect and her gaze cool, Ling Tao suddenly realized how fitting the phrase "dragon's eyes and phoenix's neck" mentioned by Shangguan Chen truly was. Perhaps, just perhaps, she might have the fortune to be selected, and as the Daoist priest had said, her future could be boundless.
Finally, he relented: "Very well, I will arrange for you to be sent to Pujiang to participate in the selection."
Having obtained her father's consent, Fengxian immediately went to find Lady Zhu Wu and informed her of her decision. Then she added, "After I leave, I entrust my mother to your care. Please be diligent and ensure nothing goes amiss."
Lady Zhu Wu could hardly believe her ears. This bold, once-abandoned daughter was actually speaking to her in a commanding tone.
Fengxian met her widened eyes directly and continued, "I am aware of your past actions, but for now, I will not hold them against you. If I fail the selection in Pujiang, I will return and marry Yin Qi in place of Third Miss. If I am chosen, I will send letters every ten days or so to inquire about my mother's well-being. In the future, if Father advances in his career and takes up a post in the capital, we will have plenty of opportunities to meet. Then we can have a proper conversation, and I will thank you in person for taking care of my mother."
Lady Zhu Wu couldn't help but sneer, "Thank you for your trust, entrusting me with such an important responsibility."
"You are, of course, the most suitable candidate," Fengxian said, stepping closer to her with a cold smile. "You have managed the household affairs for many years, so attending to the lady's daily needs should not be difficult. You must take good care of her because she is the legitimate wife. If anything were to happen to her and she were to pass away before Father, he would surely seek another noble lady to marry as his successor. Tell me, would you prefer to care for the current frail lady, or would you rather brace yourself to serve a young and beautiful new mistress?"
Lady Zhu Wu's smile faded.
Fengxian added, "If you harbor hopes of being elevated to the position of wife after the lady's passing, you should wake up now. In our dynasty, if an official takes a concubine as his wife, he will inevitably face impeachment by the censors. Do you think Father would abandon his career to elevate you?"
Knowing her words held truth, Lady Zhu Wu remained silent.
Fengxian smiled faintly and leaned closer to whisper in Lady Zhu Wu's ear, "Even if Father dared to defy convention and decided to take a concubine as his wife, do you think he would choose you?"
Lady Zhu Wu's face turned as pale as paper, her clenched jaw trembling slightly. Recently, Lady Xue Jiu had recovered from her illness, and Ling Tao had begun visiting her chambers again. Lady Jiu showed signs of regaining favor. Even if Ling Tao no longer favored her, he would likely take on younger concubines. As for herself, aged and faded in beauty, the prospect of being elevated to wife was something she could hardly hope for.
"So, please take good care of the lady. Her well-being is in the best interest of both you and me," Fengxian said. Watching coldly as a drop of sweat slid down Lady Zhu Wu's temple, she emphasized, "If the lady remains safe and healthy, I will not treat you unfairly in the future. But if anything happens to her, regardless of who is responsible, I will hold you accountable."
(To be continued)
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