For matters that had yet to unfold, Xin An chose silence. She merely listened quietly as the ladies conversed—about jewelry, fabrics, powders and rouge, or which young madam was expecting, which lady had recently given birth, and what congratulatory gifts were appropriate.
As always, curious Qiu Wenyuan couldn’t help but bring the topic back to Tang Mo. The matter of Tang Gang’s memorial accusing the Northern Command had made the rounds in many circles. Idle gossip abounded—some said he was showing favoritism to his eldest son, others that he believed the marquis household could suppress Liao Zhi and was being arrogant and reckless.
“How is your Second Young Master faring in the Northern Command?”
“He’s doing well.”
Xin An set down her chopsticks. “He’s all fired up.”
She hadn’t come today to blend into this social circle, much less to seek sympathy or assistance. Her goal was simply to become a familiar face—someone they could recognize at future banquets and exchange pleasantries with. A way to widen her social net, nothing more.
Some things couldn’t be forced. Pushing too hard might only backfire.
“I’ve heard the men in the Northern Command are easy to get along with. They offer him advice and guidance, the food is good—and he’s in high spirits.”
She had no qualms speaking ill of Tang Rong or Tao Yiran, but she would never utter a single negative word about the Northern Command.
Still, the others clearly didn’t believe the entire camp had turned into paragons of virtue. They guessed Tang Mo must be sending only good news home, not wanting Xin An to worry.
And if that was the case—Tang Mo truly was a good man.
After the meal, the group stayed for tea. Xin An presented each of the three ladies with a small gift from her hometown in Huai Jiang. “This is our local Silver Blossom Tea. It’s not as well-known as other varieties, but the aroma and flavor are both quite fine. I brought some for my elder sisters to try.”
“Sister Xin, you’re being too modest. My husband once said that Huai Jiang’s Silver Blossom Tea is considered a local treasure. Its sweetness lingers, and the fragrance is long-lasting. With just one sip, your breath carries the scent of tea. Most importantly—it holds up to multiple infusions, each steeping with its own flavor.”
That struck a chord with Li Yuyan. Her father had once received a small batch of Silver Blossom Tea as a gift from a subordinate and had praised it repeatedly. Her father-in-law, the Prince of Cheng, was also fond of the tea, and had once been given a jar by the emperor himself.
“I heard it grows high in the misty mountains, and must be roasted locally to retain its fragrance. Quite rare.”
Hearing her hometown’s tea so praised, Xin An felt quietly proud. “Everything the Princess Consort says is true. The tea grows on mist-shrouded mountain peaks, among blooming honeysuckle. The floral scent seeps into the leaves, giving it a flavor unlike any other.”
“My father loves this tea. He even purchased a mountainside just to cultivate and care for the tea trees properly.”
Owning a mountain? That startled Qiu Wenyuan. “Then the yield must be quite high?”
“Not really.”
Xin An shook her head. “The trees are rare. Older ones, especially, are expensive and slow to propagate.”
“Every year, only a small selection of the best leaves is chosen for tribute to the palace. The rest is… passable, I’d say.”
Li Yuyan looked thoughtful. “So the annual Silver Blossom tribute tea sent to the palace—was it from your family?”
“Yes and no.”
Xin Kuan, Xin An’s father, was the vice president of the Huai Jiang Merchants’ Guild. The president was the Yao family—wealthiest merchants in Huai Jiang and registered imperial suppliers.
“The Yao family are court-appointed merchants. Since we belong to the same guild, every year we send our best tea to them. They submit it to the palace under their name.”
Then, as if a little embarrassed, she added, “What I brought today isn’t of that quality. Those finest leaves have already gone to the palace. These are slightly lower grade—but the taste is the same. The difference is just in how the leaves unfurl when steeped. Not as elegant in appearance.”
“If you don’t look closely, you’d never notice.”
Neither Yan Wenhui nor Qiu Wenyuan had ever tried this tea before, and their interest was piqued. Yan Wenhui smiled as she handed the tea tin to her maid. “I can’t wait until I get home. Brew a pot now—we’ll try it immediately.”
Originally, Li Yuyan hadn’t thought much of Xin An. Their banter and laughter earlier had been out of courtesy to Yan Wenhui. But now, seeing a potential benefit in Xin An—specifically more access to Silver Blossom Tea—her attitude warmed considerably.
After all, no matter how noble one’s station, there are always people worth pleasing.
She also thought—perhaps in the future, there would be more to gain from Xin An. The power of the marquis household held no particular weight in her eyes, but the Xin family’s financial resources remained an enigma.
Huai Jiang was rich in salt, and salt merchants were many. But to become the vice president of the merchants’ guild—such a position meant wealth that could not be underestimated.
The freshly brewed tea was soon brought in. Its fragrance filled the room. Yan Wenhui gently blew on the cup, took a light sip, and savored it slowly. “It truly is unique.”
“It’s delicious. Mm, so sweet on the tongue. Rich and mellow,” Qiu Wenyuan added, sipping delicately. Inwardly, she was already planning to let her husband taste it later. It really was something special.
It wasn’t until afternoon that the group prepared to part ways. At the door, they bid farewell one by one, promising to meet again for tea and opera whenever time allowed.
Once Xin An boarded the carriage, her smile faded. She let out a long breath, closed her eyes, and began quietly reflecting on the entire day—wondering if there had been any missteps, and carefully reviewing what she had learned about the others.
Yan Wenhui and Li Yuyan shared a carriage home. Not long after they set off, Yan Wenhui asked, “Sister Yan, what do you think of our Sister Xin?”
Li Yuyan smiled. “Far better than I expected. I had assumed that, being from a merchant family, her manners and speech would be lacking. But after today, I see she’s no different from a proper capital-born lady. The Xin family must’ve hired skilled tutors to train her well.”
“You’ve always had a sharp eye.”
Yan Wenhui laughed as well. “My younger brother is close with Second Brother Tang, and personally came to beg me to look after her. At first, I was reluctant. But after meeting her… I found myself willing. She’s likable. And the way she quickly accepted the bride swap and even gained so much from it—well, she’s clearly no fool.”
And in what kind of situation could one gain so many benefits?
Naturally, only if one had endured great grievance. The marquis household must have gone to great lengths to keep her quiet and compliant. Which likely meant Tang Rong and Tao Yiran had already been colluding long before.
“I saw the way her eyes lit up when she spoke of Tang Mo. It seems she truly does like him. Perhaps this really is a good match.”
Li Yuyan didn’t mention the allure of the Xin family’s wealth. Some things—even among close friends—were best left unspoken. “If there’s ever another gathering, invite her along.”
Yan Wenhui breathed a quiet sigh of relief. She had vouched for Xin An, and Xin An had not disappointed.
Not even half an hour after returning home, Steward Zhang of the marquis household arrived at the Liu residence, accompanied by Nanny Wang. “Our Second Young Madam noticed that Madam Liu enjoyed the Huai Jiang Silver Blossom Tea, and so she asked us to deliver more to her. She also sends a few local items from Huai Jiang, as a token of gratitude for Madam Liu’s kindness.”
In addition to the Silver Blossom Tea, the gift box contained a carved ivory fan, a porcelain figurine of a flying celestial maiden, and—most striking of all—a handwritten copy of Treatise on Waterside Formations (Lin Shui Fang) by the esteemed Huai Jiang scholar Master Yuan. Yan Wenhui’s eyes lit up. Master Yuan’s calligraphy was extremely rare—and Lin Shui Fang happened to be Liu Mingyuan’s most cherished treasure.
“Sister Xin is far too considerate.”
There was no denying it—Xin An’s attention to etiquette was truly impeccable. It left a favorable impression.
“Please extend my sincere thanks to her.”
After Nanny Wang respectfully took her leave, she and Steward Zhang departed together. On the way back, Steward Zhang hesitated several times, wanting to speak. Every item the Second Young Madam had gifted today was rare and precious. The tea and that scholar’s manuscript—those were treasures the Marquis himself was especially fond of.
“Just the other day, His Lordship was served a cup of tea at the Marchioness’s and remarked how different and delightful it tasted. So it was Huai Jiang Silver Blossom Tea… A tribute-grade tea, incredibly rare.”
And the Xin family had never once gifted it to the Marquis.
If His Lordship found out, who knew how furious he would be?