"Old Jiao, come, try my flower tea."
"Ah, hot! Young Master, your flower tea smells wonderful! In all my life, I've never tasted flower tea this good! This is osmanthus, isn't it? How does it taste completely different from the osmanthus tea sold in the markets? Even Tea Appreciation House wouldn't have tea this good!"
Jiao Zheng sucked in air at the heat, but kept drinking to show how much he liked it.
Wang Yang said:
"It's osmanthus. You take the half-open blossoms, remove the stems, and blend them with Jinling tea, one layer of flowers, one layer of tea..."
Jiao Zheng had no interest in listening to a young nobleman talk about tea, but he put on an interested face, exclaiming in admiration and envy.
"I'll have a couple of packets packed for you when you leave..."
Jiao Zheng immediately looked overwhelmed by the favor and thanked him profusely. Then he took the opportunity to produce a carved, red-lacquered box and lift its lid. Plain silk lined the inside, with a pair of small, exquisite jade pixiu resting on it:
"Young Master, you've bestowed such kindness on me, and I have nothing to repay you with. I acquired this pair of jade pixiu a few days ago. They're said to be ancient jade from the Wei-Jin Period, and their quality is passable. Leaving such things in my hands would be a complete waste. I offer them to you today, Young Master, and wish you peace, success, and lasting good fortune!"
Celadon jade pixiu from the Wei-Jin Period, now housed in the Palace Museum
Excavated from the temple ruins at Emperor Yuan of Han's Weiling Mausoleum
Jiao Zheng had sought out this pair of pixiu in the market specifically, spending sixty-three thousand coins. Though the jade was not top quality,