On the eve of Lord Xiao Wang’s departure for Wu County, having received the imperial edict to oversee the relocation of the ancestral imperial mausoleum, the eastern courtyard of the Wang residence was bustling with activity. Servants busied themselves with preparations for the long journey while also managing the handover of household affairs.
The only place that remained tranquil was Wang Cang Hai’s study, Ji Yue Hall (“Hall of the Moon’s Reflection”). At this moment, Lord Xiao Wang was seated at his desk, meticulously writing a memorandum.
Xia Xia entered, carrying a tray of refreshments and a brass kettle. Without a word, she performed a respectful bow before heading to replace the wicks in a pair of golden goose-necked, phoenix-tailed lamps on the carved stand. Though the lamps were still bright, Xia Xia carefully extinguished the wicks with a brass snuffer, covered the goose-neck chimneys with the snuffer cap, and gave the lamps a gentle shake. The smoke dissipated into the water stored in the phoenix-tail base. She then emptied the soiled water, refilled it with fresh water, and relit the new wicks. The room immediately became brighter.
After wiping her hands with a clean silk handkerchief, Xia Xia picked up the tray of refreshments and walked towards the desk where Wang Cang Hai was writing.
Without lifting his head, Wang Cang Hai said, “I’m not hungry. Take it back to the small kitchen and share it with Pipa.”
Kneeling at the corner of the desk, Xia Xia opened the tray’s lid and replied, “Tonight, Master hosted a farewell banquet for you, and the dishes were mostly heavy with meat. You’ve never been fond of such food—I was worried it might have been too rich for you. So, I made Tao Yao Oolong Spring Jelly, something light and refreshing to cleanse your palate.”
Spring Jelly was, in truth, a type of tea-infused fruit jelly. It had a translucent, gelatin-like texture, both visually appealing and sweet, with a filling made from peach pulp.
Wang Cang Hai set down his brush, wiped his hands with a damp cloth beside the tray, and picked up a spoon. He scooped up a small bite and tasted it.
It wasn’t overly sweet, but the fragrance of peach and oolong tea was rich and distinct.
“Young Master Wan San loved this dessert,” Xia Xia murmured. “Every time he visited, he would specifically ask me to make Tao Yao Oolong Spring Jelly.”
“Xia Xia,” Wang Cang Hai said, “is there something you wish to ask me?”
Xia Xia hesitated before speaking. “Why, when traveling to Wu County, are you taking the land route instead of the waterways?”
“I have some matters to attend to along the way,” Wang Cang Hai replied, taking another bite of the jelly. Then, after a brief pause, he added, “Xia Xia, I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you what those matters are.”
Xia Xia shook her head. “There’s no need for apologies, gratitude, or pleasantries with me, my lord. If you choose not to say, it must be for my own good. I just… I just wanted to…”
Wang Cang Hai put down his spoon and looked at her. The shimmering tears in her eyes made him sigh softly.
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