At Wei Zi's words, Xie Lin's competitive spirit stirred. He lifted the hem of his robe again and returned to his seat.
"Since Zi'an has invited me to a game, how could I offer nothing in return?"
With that, Xie Lin clapped his hands.
A servant entered at the sound, bearing fresh tea.
The liquor was clear, its fragrance filling the room.
Wei Nisheng lifted his cup without drinking, sniffed it, then set it back on the table.
"Dragon Garden Snow." Xie Lin held the pot, poured himself a cup, and took a small sip.
"The buds are coaxed out in the twelfth lunar month, ready to drink by the winter solstice.
Before the New Year, His Majesty wrote in vermilion: 'Drink spring tea in winter, and sip winter tea in spring.'"
"Such fine tea." Xie Lin raised his eyes toward Wei Nisheng.
"Zi'an, won't you taste it?"
Wei Nisheng did not answer. Instead, he picked up the cup and took a sip.
"Bitterness gives way to sweetness, and the sweet aftertaste returns swiftly-unnaturally swiftly.
A pity it falls a little short of the Little Dragon Cake bestowed by His Majesty."
"As for His Majesty's vermilion comment that Dao'an mentioned..." Wei Nisheng chuckled.
"To drink spring tea in winter is to act against the season.
To sip winter tea in spring is also to act against the season.
To move against the season is to depart from the ordinary order.
Just as I have come south as an Imperial Envoy to undertake extraordinary matters."
At this, Xie Lin spoke again with a smile.
"Zi'an truly knows how to taste tea!"
This was no contest over which tea was finer; the tea was a metaphor for the situation.
Precious though Dragon Garden Snow was, it was still an offering from a