Chapter 3 Tea Ceremony  

Nian Jiao sulked for a while before looking up to see Fourth Master standing with his hands behind his back, slowly turning his prayer beads.  

Fine, she reluctantly consoled herself. If she didn’t leave now, she’d miss the appointed time. Who asked her to be nothing but a delicate, helpless, and pitiful Peach Blossom Sprite?  

Noticing the slight twitch at the corner of the prince’s lips, Su Peisheng had already grown numb.  

The procession made its way toward the main courtyard. Viewed from above, they moved as slowly as a crawling turtle—Fourth Master walked at a leisurely pace, and those behind him dared not quicken their steps, following quietly in his wake.  

……  

Main Courtyard.  

By the time First Wife Ulanara emerged, the women of the Royal Residence had already gathered in full attendance, each dressed distinctively. A faint, restless tension lingered in the hall. The wife swept her gaze over them before taking her seat with a gentle smile.  

She wore an indigo-blue robe, adorned simply with a few jade ornaments. Her oval face and crescent-moon brows were framed by meticulously styled hair.  

The wife valued propriety, treating those beneath her with fairness and leniency, never one to make things difficult. The Royal Residence’s morning greetings were held every five days, and arriving by the hour of Chen was sufficient—far more considerate compared to other noble households.  

Today, however, was a special occasion. After the greetings, Consort Li was the first to speak: “I wonder what kind of temperament Consort Nian has?”  

Before Nian Jiao entered the residence, Li had been the sole consort in the Royal Residence, mother to the prince’s only daughter, the Eldest Princess, and the de facto eldest son, Third Prince Hongshi. Li held her head high, confident that aside from the wife, she was the one most valued by their lord.  

But now, out of nowhere, came this Nian Shi!  

Just what kind of enchantress was she, to make the prince rename her courtyard the very day after she entered the residence? Li twisted her handkerchief restlessly, hoping to pry some information from the wife.  

Seated below her, Niuhulu, mother of the Fourth Prince, kept her eyes demurely lowered, while Geng, mother of the Fifth Prince, subtly pricked up her ears alongside her.  

The wife replied gently, “Her Grace in the palace once mentioned to me that Nian Shi had a faint reputation for talent even in her maiden days. She must be a gentle soul—you ought to be accommodating.”  

Talent? A talented woman?  

Her Grace referred to De Consort. At this, not only Consort Li but the others present felt their hearts sink.  

Song, seated below Li, remained silent, prayer beads in hand. A veteran of over a decade in the residence, she had at least a fifty percent grasp of Yong Prince’s preferences. She sighed inwardly—this was sure to please him.  

Consort Li gave a light scoff, her tone pointed. “I suspect it’s more ‘delicate’ and ‘aloof’ than ‘gentle.’”  

The wife, long accustomed to her remarks, smiled faintly and steered the conversation toward the children’s daily routines. Just as the room simmered with mixed emotions, an announcement came from outside: the prince and Consort Nian had arrived.  

Li immediately tensed, sharpening her focus.  

Though she knew the prince valued the newcomer and would likely accompany her for the tea ceremony, seeing it firsthand was another matter entirely.  

The man strode into the hall, his expression as unreadable as ever. Yet, for some reason, the wife sensed a subtle buoyancy in Fourth Master’s mood today.  

Behind him stood Consort Nian, radiantly poised—  

Despite her exceedingly simple attire, her breathtaking beauty could not be subdued. She called to mind the peach blossoms of Jiangnan in March, pure pink-white, tender and dewy.  

Consort Li’s hands trembled slightly. The outfit she had deliberately chosen now felt glaringly ostentatious, her efforts at dressing up reduced to a joke.  

A hush fell over the room. Meanwhile, Fourth Master motioned for the wife to rise. “No need for formalities.”

It was well-known in the capital that Yong Prince deeply respected his First Wife. The First Wife smiled and said, “If there are no further instructions, let us begin the tea ceremony and allow Sister Nian to acquaint herself with everyone.”

Fourth Master nodded, glanced at Nian Jiao, subtly observed her waistline, then took his seat beside the First Wife.

Nian Jiao remained oblivious to her master’s gaze.

Nor did she notice the piercing stares around her.

After silently repeating “Stay humble, stay low-key” for the fiftieth time, Nian Jiao properly held the teacup, knelt on the cushion with perfect posture and utmost reverence: “Please accept this tea, First Wife.”

Her forehead nearly touched the cushion—visibly indistinguishable from full prostration—

The crowd: “…”

Fourth Master raised an eyebrow.

The entire room fell silent.

Surprise flickered in the First Wife’s eyes as she accepted the tea and took a sip: “From now on, consider the Royal Residence your home. If you lack anything, send word to the main courtyard. Should the servants prove unsatisfactory, come to me directly.”

Nian Jiao listened wide-eyed, as if the First Wife’s words were divine commandments.

The First Wife almost felt she was instructing her own Eldest Princess rather than the dazzling newcomer.

The princesses and concubines exchanged uneasy glances. Consort Li momentarily forgot her jealousy, astonished by Nian Shi’s excessive… excessive deference toward the First Wife!

What did the First Wife truly possess beyond her Ulanara lineage and the prince’s respect, having borne no sons?

Consort Li couldn’t help glancing at the prince. Fourth Master sat relaxed yet upright, his deep gaze fixed on the extraordinarily docile Nian Jiao.

Consort Li’s lips twitched. Niuhulu stole a quick look at Fourth Master before lowering her head.

After the tea ceremony, the First Wife presented Nian Jiao with a Mutton Fat Jade Bracelet, then introduced everyone: “This is Consort Li, mother of Eldest Princess and Third Prince Hongshi, residing in the eastern courtyard.”

“This is Niuhulu, mother of Fourth Prince Hongli, while Fifth Prince Hongzhou’s mother Geng lives in the eastern side courtyard.”

“This is Wu, who shares the western side courtyard with Song.”

Lower-ranking concubines received brief mentions. Nian Jiao listened intently, memorizing each introduction. Approaching Consort Li, she sweetly smiled: “Sister Li.”

Li froze. This was unexpected—after all, an imperial-appointed consort naturally outranked one promoted later.

Some of Consort Li’s resentment dissipated as she replied with mixed feelings: “…Sister Nian.”

Nian Jiao missed the nuance. Among all present, Niuhulu left the deepest impression—her dignified features, round face, and honest demeanor didn’t match Nian Jiao’s expectations.

Nian Jiao stared intently at this future life champion until Niuhulu grew visibly uncomfortable, fingers twisting nervously, before finally addressing her politely: “Sister.”

While the women exchanged greetings, Fourth Master absently rubbed his thumb ring, lost in thought. After introductions, Nian Jiao promptly presented gifts for Third Prince and others, eliciting repeated thanks from Niuhulu and a slightly more genuine smile from Consort Li.

The consort finally said to Nian Jiao, “After such a long round, you must be exhausted. Go rest first. There’s no hurry to familiarize yourself with the Royal Residence. In a few days, accompany me to the palace to pay respects, and let Her Highness meet you as well.”

Nian Jiao listened attentively, instinctively wanting to nod eagerly but held back: “…Yes, this concubine understands.”

She felt somewhat moved—the consort was so considerate, unlike her boss, whose behavior had a hint of mischief.

Yet she was also nervous. Although she had met De Consort during the selection process, their exchange had been limited to just a few sentences before she was dismissed. What if De Consort asked deeper questions she couldn’t answer?

Fourth Master, whose mischievous behavior Nian Jiao had noted, remained oblivious to her worries.

He stood up and said to the consort in his usual tone, “Let’s end the greetings here. I’ll head to the study in the front courtyard.”

Everyone promptly bowed to see him off.

As he passed Nian Jiao, Fourth Master didn’t pause or even glance at her. Yet Consort Li distinctly remembered everything that had happened during the tea ceremony earlier.

Her smile faded momentarily, and she felt unsettled on the way back, twisting her handkerchief in frustration. To think she had even shown Nian Shi a friendly face—what a waste!

.

As soon as Nian Jiao returned to the Dwelling of Peach Blossoms, she began whimpering about the pain again.

Mama Qiu grew anxious at once—had something happened while walking earlier? But she had clearly noticed that the prince’s pace wasn’t fast at all.

Lifting Nian Jiao’s sleeve, she saw that the once deep crimson marks had faded, leaving only faint traces.

Knowing her young mistress’s unusually quick recovery, Mama Qiu gave her a helpless look. “Would the Princess like to take a nap?”

Nian Jiao continued to whimper.

Mama Qiu signaled to Wen Chun with her eyes, and Wen Chun, accustomed to this, began coaxing: “The Princess might not know yet, but the West Courtyard has been renamed the Dwelling of Peach Blossoms by His Highness. Such a beautiful name! Doesn’t the Princess love peach blossoms the most?”

Wen Xia chimed in: “By custom, His Highness must stay in the Dwelling of Peach Blossoms for three consecutive nights.” She added with a sly smile, “If the Princess doesn’t rest now, when else will she?”

Nian Jiao’s previously bright expression instantly fell.

Th-three nights?

Touching her cheeks, Nian Jiao shivered. She knew clinging to a powerful figure wouldn’t be easy, but she hadn’t expected it to be this hard—would her face even survive??

Mama Qiu shot Wen Xia a glare—you were supposed to comfort her, not make things worse. Turning back, she saw Nian Jiao had already kicked off her shoes and socks, burrowed under the blankets, and pulled them up to her eyes, cocooning herself like a silkworm.

Mama Qiu: “…”

She said approvingly, “This old servant will draw the curtains for the Princess.”

What was supposed to be a short nap lasted until noon.

Nian Jiao dreamed of braised pork trotters—tender, flavorful, and aromatic. Wiping her mouth in the dream, she woke just as the kitchen delivered a food box.

Staring blankly at the dishes, she noted their exquisite presentation and decent taste, but they were all strictly light and bland—no different from vegetarian fare in her eyes.

Not a single pork trotter or even a slice of braised meat in sight.

The night before, the kitchen had sent someone to inquire about Consort Nian’s dietary preferences. Wen Chun had cheerfully handed over a list, and the kitchen was surprised to find her tastes aligned closely with Fourth Master’s—preferring light flavors.

Of course they aligned!

Nian Jiao reminded herself—this was a necessary sacrifice on her path to securing patronage. Her own preferences didn’t matter; what mattered was what Fourth Master liked.

She had also heard that the boss was a devout Buddhist. If not for Second Brother’s desperate attempts to stop her, she could have performed an impromptu act of renouncing worldly desires on the spot or, after entering the mansion, played the role of the “Domineering Prince and the Charming Nun” from the storybooks.

…Cravings aside, one must still eat.

Before she knew it, she was eighty percent full. Mama Qiu gave a light cough. Nian Jiao reluctantly glanced at the dishes, pushed her bowl away, and decided out of sight was out of mind.

With her hunger satisfied, it was time to start writing her diary. She asked Mama Qiu, “When will His Highness arrive?”

Mama Qiu was taken aback—this was truly a red rain falling from the heavens.

Originally, she should have been delighted that her Princess was showing ambition to compete for favor. Yet, deep down, an unshakable worry lingered. After wrestling with herself for a moment, she decided not to alert Nian Jiao about her improper behavior toward His Highness that morning.

Setting too many rules would only make Mama Qiu’s heart ache. She smiled warmly and said, “While the Princess was resting, Steward Su sent word that His Highness would come to the Dwelling of Peach Blossoms for dinner.”

Nian Jiao’s eyes lit up—that meant there was still plenty of time. “Quickly, Mama Qiu, Wen Chun, and Wen Xia, help me guard the door…”

Mama Qiu: “…”

Early March, though the days were gradually lengthening, darkness still fell swiftly.

Outside the study, Su Peisheng whispered, “Your Highness, it’s already half past the Hour of the Rooster. Shall we proceed to the Dwelling of Peach Blossoms?”

Fourth Master set down his brush and glanced at his pocket watch.

“Mm.” He stood, rubbing his temples with his fingertips.

He had promised to join her for dinner but was running late. He wondered how Nian Shi would react… At this thought, the word “peculiar” surfaced in his mind, now inextricably linked to Consort Nian.

He suddenly recalled Nian Jiao’s various antics during the tea ceremony and reached a conclusion.

She was not what she seemed.

The Dwelling of Peach Blossoms was brightly lit, lanterns hanging high, casting a soft glow. When Fourth Master arrived, the dining table was set with six dishes—simple, light, and still steaming hot.

With a quick scan, Fourth Master raised an eyebrow. Could it really be such a coincidence that Nian Shi’s tastes aligned perfectly with his?

His lean, refined face was half-shadowed, half-bathed in candlelight, the interplay of light and dark lending his stern demeanor an icy sharpness.

Though it was just an illusion, Wen Xia couldn’t help but shiver—an uncontrollable instinct!

Nian Jiao’s heart trembled again and again.

His Highness’s aura was overwhelming.

Pursing her lips, she slowly approached. When only a step separated them, she swiftly wrapped her arms around his waist, clinging tightly, her cheek unconsciously nuzzling against him.

Su Peisheng’s eyes widened, teetering on the edge of losing his composure.

“…” Fourth Master stared in astonishment at Nian Jiao, who clung to him like an octopus, and managed to rasp out, “We’re here for dinner. What is this about?”

The beautiful beauty buried her face and mumbled, “You took so long to come. I missed you!”