Wang Yue had, of course, noticed Chai An's presence. He had Zhao Jian have the Five Rats and Cao Danshu each practice their own music, then went with Shouhua to meet Kang Ning and Chai An.
They didn't go far, though. They passed through a few corridors and sat down beside a stone table in a nearby pavilion.
After Shouhua waited for the servants to bring tea, she poured a cup for everyone. Then, frowning, she asked, "Little Sister, did you and this young master come here for something?"
Kang Ning had tried this tea here before and found it especially fragrant, though it wasn't commonly available elsewhere. Wang Yue hadn't arranged to sell it, and she knew how precious it was.
So she couldn't help taking a big sip before saying seriously, "Eldest Sister, Eldest Brother-in-law, I found the portrait I lost."
Hearing this, Shouhua glanced at Chai An, then asked happily, "That's wonderful! Was it this young master who found it?"
It was Chai An's first time drinking tea like this. At first, he'd thought it was just water for rinsing his mouth, but once it reached his lips, its fragrance filled his senses, and it tasted wonderfully smooth. Without thinking, he swallowed it, then drank the whole cup.
Hearing Shouhua's question, he hurriedly set down his cup and explained, "Madam Wang, my surname is Chai, and my given name is An. Just call me Chai An. The portrait isn't with me. It's with Yang Xian, Beauty Yang's younger brother, in the palace."
Shouhua had noticed that Chai An's cup was empty, so she stood to pour him another. But as she poured, she suddenly heard his words, and her hand paused. Tea spilled over the rim of the cup.
She hadn't expected this man to be Chai