Feng Xian sat down in the center of the tea table and examined the tea powder that Fourth and Fifth Misses had used earlier, feeling it wasn’t as fine as she would have liked. She took a complete tea cake from the tea box, its outer layer still sealed with paste oil. Looking at the year marked on the label and seeing it was from last year, she poured boiling water into a water basin and gently placed the tea cake in it. After the hot water dissolved the oil shell, she removed the tea cake, absorbed the water droplets with clean paper, scraped off the remaining paste oil, clamped the tea cake with tea tongs, and roasted it over the gentle fire of the tea stove until thoroughly dry. She then wrapped the tea cake in paper and crushed it, transferring part of it into a boat-shaped single-wheel silver tea grinder. Turning the wheel, she ground the tea into fine powder, then used a tea sieve covered with cicada-wing-thin white silk gauze to sift the ground tea powder to extreme fineness. Seeing the green tea powder light as dust, she then lifted the tea pitcher to pour boiling water to warm the rabbit-hair glazed Jian bowl, and transferred the tea powder into the bowl for preparation.
Feng Xian didn’t use a tea whisk, choosing instead a silver spoon to mix the tea paste. With her left hand lifting the tea pitcher to pour water and her right wrist rotating, she mixed the tea powder and water into a gel-like consistency. Then she continued pouring water along the inner edge of the Jian bowl, holding the silver spoon to stir the tea in circles. Her movements started gentle but became increasingly rapid as the tea surface rose, while white milky mist surged up in the tea, droplets falling like pearls, showing a “biting bowl” effect.
This series of movements flowed seamlessly without any bee or insect interference. The biting bowl foam was like a bowl of spring snow, quite beautiful. Ling Tao secretly breathed a sigh of relief and was about to have Feng Xian present the tea to Zhao Ai when Feng Xian again took the silver spoon and dipped it into the bowl to draw patterns. As her wrist moved up and down, the foam in the bowl gradually dispersed, revealing the jade-green tea underneath.
Ling Tao was surprised, not understanding why she would do this. Feng Xian glanced at his furrowed brow, smiled slightly, stopped her movements, put down the silver spoon, and gestured for a nearby maid to present the tea to Zhao Ai.
The maid brought the tea before Zhao Ai, raising the tray above her eyebrows and requesting him to taste it. Zhao Ai looked and saw the tea was green as a deep pool, while the white foam that had risen earlier remained as small amounts floating on the tea surface, drawn by Feng Xian’s silver spoon into an apricot blossom, delicate and beautiful as if painted by a masterful brush.
This technique was called tea games, also known as water ink painting. Even in the capital, only a few people knew how to do this. Seeing it from the side, Shangguan Chen exclaimed in admiration and greatly praised Feng Xian’s tea skills to Ling Tao. Ling Tao waved his hand modestly saying, “My daughter’s trivial skills are not worth mentioning.” However, his face was full of smiles, very pleased.
Zhao Ai gazed at that white apricot blossom, smiled faintly, ordered the maid to present this cup of tea to Shangguan Chen, then stood up and walked toward the tea table where Feng Xian was. Feng Xian was startled, realizing he might want to make tea himself, so she immediately stepped aside, yielding the tea table to Zhao Ai.
Zhao Ai took his seat, poured out the remaining water from the tea pitcher, took the kettle himself to boil water. When the water sound in the tea stove was like pine wind and cypress rain, he lifted it and poured it into the tea pitcher, warmed the bowl, added the tea powder Feng Xian had ground, waited a moment until there was complete silence in the tea pitcher, then lifted it again to pour water along the inner side of the Jian bowl. He looked at the tea implements on the table and also chose to use a silver spoon to mix paste and whisk, but instead of using the spoon head, he turned it around and used the smooth, dagger-like silver handle to beat the tea paste and tea liquid.
After the tea paste was well blended, Zhao Ai poured water at an even speed with one hand while his other hand’s fingers rotated around his wrist. The silver handle’s flowing light leaped like a dancing silver snake. He lowered his eyelids slightly, leisurely watching the tea with a relaxed expression, while his hands’ different movements continued methodically. Foam fine as powder snow gradually rose on the green tea surface, smooth and delicate, unlike the surging, bowl-overflowing momentum that Feng Xian had created earlier.
Seeing the foam was adequate, Zhao Ai stopped whisking and began holding the silver handle like a brush, using the side edge to quickly trace on the tea surface, manipulating the tea patterns and water veins. A delicate scene like fine brush landscape painting gradually appeared on the tea surface.
After finishing his drawing, he put down the silver spoon and smiled to Ling Tao and Shangguan Chen, “The brushstrokes are fine and the scene fleeting. Please move to this tea table to observe.”
The two immediately came to the tea table and sat down opposite Zhao Ai. They saw that in Zhao Ai’s tea bowl, white fine foam had created lines of varying thickness, just like brush painting, showing a scene of mountains covered in evening snow on the jade-green tea surface – layered peaks and ridges, snow-white everywhere, with reflections falling on the cold river below. On the river surface floated a small boat, and at the bow actually crouched a fisherman wearing a bamboo hat and raincoat.
Ling Tao and Shangguan Chen exclaimed in amazement one after another. Feng Xian had already glimpsed it from the side and felt sincere admiration beyond her surprise.
Feng Xian’s water ink painting was taught by Qiuniang. There were limited distinguished guests in Pujiang county town, and ordinary tea whisking was sufficient for entertaining guests. Qiuniang didn’t display water ink painting publicly, only occasionally drawing some flowers and trees on the tea surface for her own amusement when drinking tea privately. Feng Xian saw this and pestered her teacher to teach her. Although it was just one or two flowers and trees, Feng Xian had practiced for several years before she could be said to have initially mastered the technique and roughly drawn some charm. Yet Zhao Ai could draw such a complete landscape painting in such a short time. To possess such skill, for a tea whisker, probably required talent, cultivation, and time invested – none could be lacking.
The foam in the bowl soon dispersed, and the picture gradually merged into the tea liquid. Only then did the onlookers wake up as if from a dream, clapping and praising endlessly. Zhao Ai smiled slightly and said, “Family-inherited skills – I’ve only learned the superficial aspects.”
His gaze intentionally or unintentionally swept past Feng Xian. Feng Xian didn’t dare meet his eyes, lowering her head and silently stepping back. The sense of superiority she had gained from her sisters’ mistakes was now completely gone, her face burning, feeling she had obviously been showing off her meager skills before an expert.
After this day’s tea gathering, Ling Tao privately asked Shangguan Chen about his daughters’ physiognomy. Shangguan Chen smiled, “In this poor Taoist’s view, the most noble is none other than Second Miss. With dragon eyes and phoenix neck, she has the beauty to topple cities. Second Miss also has lofty ambitions – her future is limitless.”
Ling Tao asked about his other daughters’ fortunes. Shangguan Chen only said, “Put your mind at ease, let fate take its course.”
Ling Tao tactfully inquired about the Second Prince’s impression of his daughters. Shangguan Chen laughed heartily, “Only the Second Great Prince knows this – how dare this poor Taoist speculate!”
Despite this, when Shangguan Chen was alone with Zhao Ai, he still mentioned Feng Xian, saying this woman had proper bearing and exceptional intelligence. The Second Great Prince was also at the age to marry, so he might consider including Feng Xian among the candidates. Zhao Ai smiled, “Miss Ling is not bad, but too clever – not suitable for me.”
“Oh, how can you tell she’s overly clever?” Shangguan Chen asked.
Zhao Ai said, “Her two sisters’ tea whisking mistakes were both caused by bee interference. These bees were obviously attracted by the flowers they wore in their hair and the fragrances they had applied. But Miss Ling wore no flowers in her hair and had only applied borneol incense to her body… Borneol is crisp and cool, slightly pungent. I’ve only heard of one person who used only borneol incense for clothing fragrance – my great-uncle, Prince Chu Rongxian. He disliked the complex fragrances of those around him because they gave him headaches, so he used borneol to neutralize the poison of all fragrances. Borneol can also repel insects and moths. Miss Ling is in her prime, naturally the time to love various rich fragrances, but today she only used borneol. Looking at the cause and effect, she understood that floral fragrances could attract bees, so she deliberately applied borneol to repel bees and insects, ensuring her tea whisking would be foolproof.”
Shangguan Chen smiled with understanding, “This girl probably very much looked forward to displaying her tea skills to gain the Great Prince’s attention, so her planning was very thorough. If she were fortunate enough to serve the Great Prince, she might not be unable to become the Great Prince’s wise helpmate, assisting the Great Prince in achieving great deeds.”
Zhao Ai shook his head with a sneer, “But if she later turns the scheming she used against her sisters on me, that would definitely not be a good thing.”
The two looked at each other and laughed heartily. Zhao Ai continued, “Now that elder brother has been established as crown prince by father, with the succession settled, I’m happy to be at leisure, being a wealthy idle person. I asked the Empress Dowager to allow me to carry her edict on this journey to seek the Taoist master. I must thank the master for traveling everywhere, making his whereabouts hard to find, so I could pursue him under imperial orders, traveling freely through mountains and waters. It’s not easy for me to leave the capital, so on this return journey, I hope the master will slow his pace and return later with me.”
Shangguan Chen smiled and agreed, “As long as the Empress Dowager doesn’t press us, whether the journey is fast or slow naturally depends entirely on the Great Prince’s decision.”
The next day, Zhao Ai and Shangguan Chen bid farewell to Ling Tao and headed toward Liangzhe.
Lady Zhuwu, reflecting on the tea gathering, knew she had been outmaneuvered by Feng Xian. Yan Qiao was originally her planted spy beside Feng Xian, but unexpectedly was used by her to transmit information, harming her own daughters. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Lady Zhuwu no longer intended to continue the charade and asked Ling Tao to announce to Feng Xian the decision for her to replace Third Miss in marrying Yin Qi.
Feng Xian frankly told Ling Tao that she planned to return to Pujiang to participate in the Royal Kitchen selection. If unsuccessful, she would return to Jingnan and leave the marriage entirely to her father’s disposal.
Ling Tao said, “Although Royal Kitchen personnel serve in the palace, they are ultimately maids serving others. How could that compare to the wealth and honor of being the wife of Prince Yanping’s eldest grandson!”
“What’s wrong with being a maid?” Feng Xian retorted. “The current Empress Dowager and Consort Li both entered the palace as maids serving others.”
Ling Tao was momentarily speechless. Feng Xian continued, “Father wants to marry into Prince Yanping’s family simply to borrow their influence to bring glory to our family name and to place someone in the capital who can speak for father. If I enter the palace and am promoted by noble personages in the future, achieving these two wishes of father’s would be effortless. Prince Yanping is imperial relative, but ultimately removed by a degree. If I become Royal Kitchen personnel, I would daily contact true imperial nobility. When the time comes to speak for father, what difficulty would there be?”
Ling Tao pondered, seeming moved. Feng Xian continued, “Father has more than one daughter. Anyone could marry into Prince Yanping’s residence. But as the tea gathering showed, the daughter who can do things for father is probably only me. Since there’s an opportunity to enter the palace, why doesn’t father let me try? If unsuccessful, I’ll return immediately. From then on, everything will be at father’s disposal.”
Ling Tao gazed intently at this unfamiliar daughter, feeling her striking beauty for the first time. Unlike the coquettish charm of his concubines, her beauty was not at all weak or timid, faintly revealing a streak of pride. Standing gracefully in the hall with upright posture and cold, focused eyes, remembering Shangguan Chen’s words about “dragon eyes and phoenix neck,” Ling Tao suddenly deeply realized how apt this description was. Perhaps there was some possibility she would be fortunate enough to be selected and, as the Taoist master said, have an unlimited future.
Finally, he relented: “Very well, I’ll have someone escort you to Pujiang for the selection.”
Having gained her father’s consent, Feng Xian immediately went to find Lady Zhuwu, told her of her decision, then said, “After I leave, I entrust my mother’s care to you. Please be sure to be diligent and allow no mistakes.”
Lady Zhuwu suspected she had misheard. This bold former abandoned daughter was actually speaking to her in a commanding tone.
Feng Xian looked directly into her widened eyes and continued, “I know all about your past actions, but I won’t settle accounts with you for now. Going to Pujiang, if I’m not selected, I’ll naturally return to replace Third Miss in marrying Yin Qi. If selected, I’ll send letters back every ten days or half month to inquire about mother’s condition. If father advances in the future and takes a post in the capital, we won’t lack opportunities to meet. Then we can have a good talk and I can personally thank Lady Wu for caring for my mother on my behalf.”
Lady Zhuwu couldn’t help but sneer, “I’m grateful for Miss’s trust in entrusting such an important task to me.”
“You are naturally the most suitable person.” Feng Xian walked up to her and showed her a cold smile. “You’ve managed the household’s internal affairs for many years – taking good care of Madam’s daily life isn’t difficult. You must take good care of Madam because she’s the legitimate wife. If something happens to her and she dies before father, father would certainly choose another well-born lady as his new wife. Tell me, would you rather care for the current weak Madam, or prepare to serve a young and beautiful new wife?”
Lady Zhuwu’s smile faded.
Feng Xian continued, “If you’re harboring thoughts of having father elevate you to legitimate wife status after Madam dies, you should wake up from that dream early. If court officials take concubines as wives, they’ll certainly face impeachment from censoring officials. Tell me, would father give up his career prospects to elevate you?”
Lady Zhuwu knew her words made sense and remained silent.
Feng Xian smiled slightly and whispered in Lady Zhuwu’s ear, “Even if father dared defy universal condemnation and was determined to take a concubine as wife, do you think the person he would elevate would be you?”
Lady Zhuwu’s face turned white as paper, her clenched jaw trembling slightly. Recently Lady Xuejiu had recovered, and Ling Tao had begun visiting her quarters again. Lady Jiu showed great signs of returning to favor. Even if Ling Tao no longer favored her, he would most likely take new young concubines. She herself was old and faded – such a good thing as elevation would probably never fall to her no matter what.
“So please diligently care for Madam. Her living well is good for both you and me,” Feng Xian said. Watching coldly as a drop of sweat slid down Lady Zhuwu’s temple, she deliberately emphasized, “If Madam remains safe and healthy, I naturally won’t treat you poorly in the future. If something happens to Madam, no matter who caused it, I’ll place this account on your head.”