“Fourth Young Master has such a remarkable palate, even knowing about Qishan Snow Buds. There are only a few tea trees, producing barely half a jin of tea leaves annually. It was discovered by chance when the young master visited Qishan years ago,” Nishang remarked with a smile.
Ji Cheng sighed in relief, realizing it wasn’t her ignorance – Qishan Snow Buds was simply a rare variety known only to a select few.
“I once had a cup from my second brother. The lingering fragrance remains, so I’ve always remembered it,” Shen Jing explained.
“The young master only enjoys teas he has personally discovered,” Nishang added.
Ji Cheng took another sip, indeed finding the aftertaste lingering. While perhaps not unforgettable for a lifetime, the flavor would certainly be remembered for at least a decade. She marveled inwardly – while she was still striving to taste renowned teas money could buy, the Shen family’s Second Young Master was already exclusively enjoying these exquisite, extremely limited teas.
“Fourth Brother, you haven’t mentioned what water was used,” Shen Cui interjected, tired of the mutual praise between Shen Jing and Nishang. She hoped to embarrass Shen Jing, resentful of his constant disapproval.
This query stumped Shen Jing, who hesitated to answer. Shen Cui couldn’t help but smile smugly.
Shen Jing’s ears reddened slightly as he inadvertently glanced at Ji Cheng. While discerning the water source wasn’t a crucial skill, he felt somewhat embarrassed at this moment.
Ji Cheng, aware that Shen Jing’s earlier words were for Shen Cui’s benefit and seeing Shen Cui’s ingratitude, felt inclined to help Shen Jing. Moreover, foreseeing that the third branch would likely rely on Shen Jing in the future, Ji Cheng naturally wanted to maintain a good relationship with this cousin. Unable to show her support openly, she merely glanced towards the Yongquan Pool at the foot of Hegangshan whenever Shen Jing looked her way.
After catching Ji Cheng’s gaze directed at the Yongquan Pool three times, Shen Jing had an epiphany. He turned to Nishang and said, “The water is from the spring at the foot of Hegang in our mansion, isn’t it?”
Nishang clapped her hands in delight, “Fourth Young Master’s palate is indeed extraordinary.”
Shen Jing, knowing he didn’t deserve the praise, merely smiled faintly. Shen Cui scoffed again, while Ji Cheng continued admiring the frost flower stone cup in her hand.
Nishang lowered her eyelids, covertly observing this young lady from Jin. She hadn’t expected her to possess such refined skills.
The tea’s flavor was subtle, yet far more pronounced than the water. The differences in water tastes were minute. Even Nishang, with her decade of immersion in the tea ceremony, wouldn’t dare claim 100% accuracy in discerning water sources – at least half of it was guesswork.
However, Ji Cheng wasn’t guessing. She too enjoyed brewing tea, and since coming to the Shen mansion, she couldn’t freely fetch spring water from the mountains as she did in Jin. Fortunately, the water from Yongquan Pool was just as good for brewing tea. Having enjoyed it for days, if she couldn’t recognize this taste, all her sacrifices in abstaining from other delicacies would have been in vain.
Shen Jing couldn’t help but glance at Ji Cheng, though he dared not look too long. He only remembered her long, curled eyelashes, reminiscent of a tiger swallowtail butterfly’s fluttering wings gathering pollen in the spring light. The scattered light on her lashes resembled the shimmering spots on the butterfly’s wings – stunningly beautiful.
Bored with sitting, Shen Cui demanded Ji Cheng accompany her down the mountain. Ji Cheng eagerly stood up, grateful for the excuse. Although Shen Jing was very proper, barely glancing sideways, Ji Cheng had keenly sensed something different. She had no desire to entangle herself with Shen Jing beyond their cousin relationship, fearing her aunt might tear her apart if she did.
Watching Ji Cheng’s retreating figure, Shen Jing smiled wryly. His cousin seemed excessively shy, a stark contrast to his brazen sister.
Shen Jing recalled his initial amazement upon seeing the grown-up Ji Cheng. Today, spotting her on Hegangshan from afar, he had been inexplicably drawn to approach, though he knew it wasn’t entirely appropriate. His mother had been planning; since the day he first saw Ji Cheng in the main hall, he hadn’t encountered this cousin again during his daily visits to his mother’s bedside. Instead, his mother had begun constantly mentioning his marriage prospects. Shen Jing understood these obvious hints.
Yet, understanding was one thing; controlling oneself was another. Shen Jing sighed softly. With such a cousin, even a daily glimpse would be a pleasure to the eyes.
Gazing at Ji Cheng’s silhouette at the foot of the mountain, Shen Jing murmured, “The mountain’s misty hues are exquisite, even in the rain.”
Meanwhile, after the third branch member left, Nishang quickly packed up the tea set and headed down the mountain with her bamboo box. Upon entering the courtyard, she heard Yuyi complaining, “Where have you been? The young master has returned and is waiting for tea, yet you’ve been dawdling until now.”
Nishang set down the tea set and turned to enter the tea room to brew tea for Shen Che. Yuyi followed her in, forcing Nishang to explain, “Just as I was about to pack up, the Fifth Young Lady arrived and asked me to brew tea. I couldn’t refuse.”
“Why couldn’t you refuse? You’re the young master’s maid, not the third branch’s servant,” Yuyi retorted indignantly. “If you keep accommodating everyone like this, you’ll end up being bullied to death.”
Nishang remained unfazed, “They are the masters, and we are servants. It wasn’t a big deal, so why argue?”
“Oh, you!” Yuyi looked exasperated, forcefully taking the teacup from Nishang’s hand. “I’ll take the tea to the young master. You clean up here properly. Wash those teacups several times – they’re the young master’s favorite set, hard to come by. If it were any other set, we could just throw them away after use.”
Nishang sighed helplessly, thinking Yuyi’s temperament would only cause trouble for their master.
Yuyi, heedless of such concerns, left with the tray. However, upon reaching the study, she immediately became cautious, softly calling out, “Young Master,” from the corridor. Only after receiving permission did she enter.
“Young Master, Nishang has just returned,” Yuyi said softly as she set down the teacup. “The Fifth Young Lady had her brewing tea earlier, which is why she’s late.”
Hearing no response from her master, Yuyi stole a glance and, seeing his serene expression, continued, “The Fifth Young Lady was a bit excessive, but Nishang is too easily taken advantage of.”
The figure on the couch put down his book and simply said, “You may go.”
Yuyi hesitated, stealing another glance at the person seated by the south window, but dared not say more and retreated. She felt slightly uneasy but quickly reassured herself that she had done nothing wrong.
However, less than half an hour later, Madam Kong arrived with others, wordlessly instructing Yuyi to pack her belongings and follow her.
Yuyi’s face turned pale instantly. Before her, several maids named Yuyi had occupied her room, and she had thought she would be the last. Yet, in just half a year, she was being forced to leave, not even knowing why.
“Madam, why is this happening?” Yuyi mumbled tearfully.
Madam Kong showed no sympathy, watching Yuyi kneel before her, crying, “Madam, why? I want to see the young master. I want to see the young master.” In her memory, the Second Young Master had always smiled kindly at her.
“Are you sure you want to ask?” Madam Kong said coldly, stepping aside, showing no intention of stopping Yuyi.
Yuyi stood up shakily, wanting to leave, but couldn’t lift her feet. Finally, she helplessly lowered her head and began packing. Madam Kong’s lips curved into a slight smile – at least she was sensible.
Being sensible was good; sensible people usually don’t end up too badly.
Nishang watched Yuyi leave from the doorway, sighing softly, wondering why these people couldn’t understand.
While there had been many maids named Yuyi by Shen Che’s side, Nishang had always been the only one with her name.
Soon after, on the second day following Yuyi’s departure, another plain-looking girl of fifteen or sixteen, also named Yuyi, moved into the room of the previous Yuyi.
With the replacement of the maid Yuyi, the stream of guests for the Old Madam’s birthday celebration also came to an end, bringing relief to everyone.
The school hall set up in the “West Lake Paradise” of Qing Garden finally began classes. Although Qing Garden was the Duke’s garden, both the second and third branches had small doors connecting to it. Usually guarded by elderly women during the day and locked at night, these doors were left open during the day for the young ladies’ convenience in attending classes.
Ji Cheng followed Shen Cui from the third branch’s garden, passing through an apricot grove and a moon gate to enter Qing Garden.
West Lake Paradise was on the western side of Qing Garden, boasting the largest water surface among Beijing’s gardens. The nearby Broken Bridge’s inner side was a lotus pond, mimicking the style of Qu Yuan Feng He, though, in this third month, the lotus pond remained quiet.
The school hall was set in a pavilion extending into the lake. The window panels had been removed, and the bamboo blinds rolled up, allowing the cool lake breeze carrying spring’s floral fragrance to enter, refreshing and invigorating the mind.
Lian Puhui was already seated. The female students bowed together and sat down quietly. Lian Puhui’s gaze swept over Ji Cheng, lingering for a moment with a slight smile, before opening “The Spring and Autumn Annals” to begin the lecture.
Teacher Lian’s history lessons were intriguing and insightful. Not only could men learn from history books to understand the present through the past, but women too could extrapolate many principles.
The morning usually consisted of two classes: history and classics. The afternoon classes were more diverse, including needlework, zither skills, and even culinary arts.
For needlework, an aunt from the palace’s needlework bureau was invited as the instructor, along with a master from a southern embroidery workshop.
The zither teacher was Miss Hanbi, whose music had once shaken Jiangnan. With a troubled past, sold by unscrupulous relatives and fallen into prostitution, she had caught the eye of the Duke’s mansion’s Second Young Master, Shen Che, during a courtesan selection in Hangzhou with her rendition of “Three Variations on the Plum Blossom.” He had redeemed her and invited her to the mansion as an instructor.
Ji Cheng found it surprising that despite Miss Hanbi’s past in the pleasure quarters, though she had maintained her integrity, she was now teaching zither to Shen Yuan and the others, which seemed quite unexpected given her tarnished reputation.
As for culinary arts, a cook from the south was brought in. It was said that all the kitchen utensils were ones she had brought herself, many of which Ji Cheng had never seen before, only having read their names in ancient texts. However, the cost of Cook Liu’s teachings was considerable. When making lamb skewers, she only used meat from the lamb’s face, discarding the rest. For scallions, only the hearts were used. For a single meal, a whole basket of scallions would be consumed. Fortunately, the young ladies only occasionally showcased their culinary skills, otherwise, there might be concerns about depleting the family fortune.
Shen Yuan explained to Ji Cheng, “The instructors in our household are chosen based on individual preferences. Fifth Sister enjoys needlework, so Third Aunt specially invited Aunt Fu for her.”
Ji Cheng smiled, thinking it would be strange if Shen Cui liked needlework. Shen Yuan shared a knowing smile, aware that Madam Ji had only arranged needlework lessons to restrain Shen Cui’s temperament.
“Qian Sister wanted to learn the zither, so Second Brother invited Miss Hanbi for her,” Shen Yuan continued. Although Hanbi wasn’t very old, just in her twenties, she was addressed as “aunt” in the Shen mansion due to her role as an instructor.
Ji Cheng was curious about Hanbi, but it was a topic she could choose to inquire about or not. To continue the conversation with Shen Yuan, she asked, “How did the Second Young Master come to invite Miss Hanbi as Qian Sister’s teacher?”