[ALSO ON WATTPAD
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#4POWERSTRUGGLES]
CHAPTER 7 — THE TEA RITUAL
The vision was still behind my eyes — MěiLíng, a tea cup, a shadow falling, a gasp — when there was a knock on my door.
I opened it to find Zhào YìChén and Zhào MíngYuǎn standing in the hallway. They looked slightly out of place in the east wing, too big for the corridor, too loud for the quiet.
"Grandmother sent us," YìChén said, rubbing the back of his neck. He looked uncomfortable, like he'd been ordered to do something he didn't want to do. "She wants all of you downstairs. All the Han family children. In the main hall. Now."
MíngYuǎn grinned at me, but it didn't reach his eyes. He was nervous too. "Family thing. She said it's important."
I nodded. My heart was already beating faster. Tea. The tea cup. That's it. It's starting.
"Alright," I said. "I'll get my brothers."
They waited while I knocked on Chén's door, then Lì's, then Míng's. Míng opened his door looking scared, and I took his hand. MěiLíng was already in the hallway, waiting, her expression perfectly calm and curious. She smiled at me. "Jiejie. Do you know what this is about?"
"No," I lied.
We followed the two princes downstairs, my mind racing. MěiLíng was going to do something with the tea. Trip. Make it look like I pushed her. I had seen it.
I would be ready.
---
The main hall had been rearranged. Five small tables were set in a row, each with a tea set, hot water, leaves, cups. The Grand Consort sat on her platform, Lord Zhào YùXuān beside her. My mother, Sū RuìXī, stood near the platform, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. I could see the worry in the line of her shoulders. She was proud we were here, but she was afraid for us too. Afraid we would be judged and found wanting.
We all bowed to the Grand Consort.
She looked at us, her sharp eyes taking us in, and then she smiled. The smile softened her whole face.
"Children," she said, her voice warm and a little rough, "come closer. I have something to tell you, since you do not know our ways yet."
We approached the platform, uncertain.
"In the Zhao family," the Grand Consort began, "when a new mother comes into the house, when there is a remarriage, we have a ritual. It is old. Older than this manor." She gestured to the tables. "All the new children — you five — will make tea. Individually. With your own hands. And you will serve it to the elders. To me, to my son, and to my grandsons."
Chén frowned slightly, the scholar in him needing to understand. "A test, Grand Consort?"
The Grand Consort chuckled, a dry sound. "No, child. Not a test. There is no right or wrong way to make tea. There is only your way. It is a sign of respect. Of willingness. Of saying, with your hands, 'I am willing to be part of this family.' That is all."
She looked at each of us, her gaze lingering on Míng's scared face, on MěiLíng's perfect composure, on me. "Do you understand?"
We nodded. "Yes, Grand Consort."
"Good," she said. "Then begin."
We moved to the tables.
I moved carefully, deliberately. I had made tea a thousand times. I knew the steps. But I was also watching MěiLíng from the corner of my eye. Watching her hands. Her feet. My mother was watching me too, I could feel it. Be careful, JiāYì, her eyes said. Please be careful.
MěiLíng finished before me. Of course she did. She picked up her cup, delicate and perfect, and started to walk toward the Grand Consort's platform.
She had to pass me to get there.
I saw it coming a second before it happened — her foot, angling just slightly toward my ankle. Her body, already starting to tilt. The cup, held out, ready to fly.
She was going to trip. And she was going to make it look like I tripped her.
I shifted my weight, ready to step back, to let her fall without touching me—
But my own foot caught on the edge of the rug.
I gasped, losing my balance, my arms windmilling—
And I didn't fall.
A hand, strong and hard, caught my upper arm. Another hand steadied my back. I was pulled upright, pressed for one second against a solid chest that smelled faintly of steel and pine.
I looked up.
Regent Prince Zhào Chányán.
He had come back from the palace. He was standing behind me, his black armor still on, his golden eyes cold and unreadable as he looked down at me.
"How long," he said, his voice low and ruthless, "do you plan to stay in this position?"
My face burned. I jerked away from him, mortified. "I-I'm sorry, Regent Prince. Thank you."
He released me and stepped back, but his gaze moved to MěiLíng, who was standing frozen a few feet away, her tea cup still intact in her hands, her face pale. She hadn't fallen. Her plan had failed because I almost fell instead, and he caught me.
Chányán looked at her, and his voice was ice. "Your balance is improper, Hán MěiLíng. Watch your feet."
MěiLíng flinched. It was tiny, but I saw it. Her perfect mask cracked for just a second, and underneath was fury. He saw. He knows I did it on purpose. She curtsied low, her voice small. "Yes, Regent Prince. Forgive me."
He said nothing more to her. Just turned away as if she was no longer worth his attention.
The Grand Consort chuckled, breaking the terrible tension. "Chányán. You're back early. Good timing."
Chányán bowed to his grandmother. "Grandmother."
"Come, sit," the Grand Consort said. "You can help taste. And since you are here, let me introduce you all properly."
She gestured to her grandsons. "Children, these are my grandsons. My eldest, Zhào Chányán, the Regent Prince. My second, Zhào YìChén. My youngest, Zhào MíngYuǎn. They will be your brothers now, if you choose to accept them."
We bowed to them again. "Regent Prince. Second Prince. Third Prince."
MěiLíng recovered quickly. She walked to the platform, her steps light, and presented her cup to the Grand Consort with a perfect curtsy. "Grand Consort, please."
The Grand Consort took a sip. Nodded. "Good. Very good. Sweet. You have a gentle hand, child."
MěiLíng smiled, pleased. "Thank you, Grand Consort." Inside, she was thinking, Good. She likes me. That's one.
One by one, my brothers served their tea. The Grand Consort tasted each, gave a comment. "Chén, too strong. You think too much." Chén bowed, thinking, I knew it. I over-steeped. "Lì, too weak. You rush." Lì grinned sheepishly, thinking, She's right, I wanted to finish first. "Míng… well, you tried, child. That's what matters." Míng looked like he might cry with relief, thinking, She didn't hate it. Thank the heavens.
Then it was my turn.
I walked to the platform, my hands steady now, and presented my cup. "Grand Consort."
She took it. Took a sip. And was quiet for a moment.
Then she looked at me, and her sharp eyes were warm. "Hán JiāYì's tea is good," she said, clear enough for the whole hall to hear. "Balanced. Not too strong, not too weak. Just right. You have a steady hand, child. And a steady heart."
I bowed, my throat tight. "Thank you, Grand Consort." She sees me. She really sees me.
She looked at all of us then. "All of you did well. All of you. You should be proud. Chén, your strength shows your determination. Lì, your lightness shows your spirit. Míng, your effort shows your heart. MěiLíng, your sweetness shows your grace." Then she looked at me again. "But JiāYì's tea was a little bit better. Just a little. It has… balance."
I saw MěiLíng's smile freeze from the corner of my eye. I saw Mother's eyes shine with pride and relief. My daughter. My good, strong daughter.
"Now," the Grand Consort said, "serve the men. All of you, to all of them."
---
THE SERVING
Hán Chén went first. He served Lord Zhào YùXuān and bowed low, telling him, "Lord Zhao." YùXuān smiled at him and said, "Thank you, Chén. Scholar's hands, I see." Chén's lips twitched and he thought, He notices everything. Then he served YìChén, telling him, "Second Prince," and YìChén took the cup and told him, "Thanks. You look like you'd rather be reading." Chén replied dryly, "I would," and YìChén laughed. He served MíngYuǎn next, calling him "Third Prince," and MíngYuǎn grinned and called him "bookworm" as he took the cup. Finally he served Chányán, saying, "Regent Prince," and Chányán took the cup, said nothing, just nodded. Chén bowed and stepped back, thinking, He's terrifying. But fair.
Hán Lì went next, practically bouncing. He told Lord Zhao, "Lord Zhao," and YùXuān smiled and told him, "Thank you, Lì. You have a swordsman's grip." Lì brightened and thought, He noticed! He told YìChén, "Second Prince," and YìChén told him, "Thanks. You look like trouble," and Lì grinned and said, "I try." He told MíngYuǎn, "Third Prince," and MíngYuǎn asked him, "Wanna spar later?" and Lì said "Yes!" so fast everyone laughed. He told Chányán, "Regent Prince," and Chányán took the cup, his eyes on Lì's hands, and asked him, "You hold a sword?" Lì said, surprised, "Yes, Regent Prince," and Chányán just said, "Good," and nothing more. Lì bowed, confused but pleased, thinking, Did I pass some test?
Hán Míng went next, his hands shaking. He told Lord Zhao, "L-Lord Zhao," and YùXuān took the cup gently and told him, "Thank you, Míng. Good boy." Míng almost cried with relief, thinking, He's nice. He's nice. He told YìChén, "Second Prince," and almost spilled the tea, but YìChén took it quickly and told him kindly, "Thanks, little one. You're alright." Míng thought, He's nice too. He told MíngYuǎn, "Third Prince," and MíngYuǎn ruffled his hair and said, "Thanks, kid," and Míng smiled, small and real. He told Chányán, "R-Regent Prince," and Chányán looked down at him, and his expression softened, just a fraction, and he told him, "Thank you, Míng." Míng bowed so low he almost fell over, thinking, He's scary but he's not mean to me.
Hán MěiLíng went next, graceful as water. She told Lord Zhao, "Lord Zhao," with a perfect curtsy, and YùXuān told her, "Thank you, MěiLíng. Very graceful." She smiled and thought, Good. The father likes me. She told YìChén, "Second Prince," and YìChén's eyes lingered on her face as he told her, "Thank you. You're very pretty." She lowered her eyes modestly and told him, "Thank you, Second Prince," and thought, Easy. She told MíngYuǎn, "Third Prince," and MíngYuǎn told her, "Thanks. You move like water," and she smiled and told him, "Thank you, Third Prince," thinking, They're both looking at me. She told Chányán, "Regent Prince," her voice soft, her eyes downcast, and Chányán took the cup and told her, "Thank you." His voice gave nothing away. She curtsied and stepped back, her heart beating fast, thinking, He looked at me. He noticed me. Even after he scolded me, he noticed me.
Then it was my turn.
I served Lord Zhao first, telling him, "Lord Zhao," and he smiled at me kindly and told me, "Thank you, JiāYì." I bowed, thinking, He's a good man. Mother chose well.
I served YìChén next, telling him, "Second Prince," and he winked at me and told me, "Thanks. You're the one Grandmother likes, huh?" I smiled slightly and told him, "I just made tea, Second Prince," and he laughed, thinking, She's got spine.
I served MíngYuǎn, telling him, "Third Prince," and he grinned and told me, "Not bad. You don't look scared of us." I met his eyes and asked him, "Should I be?" He laughed and said, "Maybe," and I thought, He's testing me. I won't fail.
Then Chányán.
He was the last. He was watching me approach, his face that same cold mask.
I held out the cup. "Regent Prince."
He took it. Our fingers brushed, just for a second. His were calloused. Warm.
He drank. Said nothing. Just looked at me over the rim of the cup, those golden eyes searching my face like he was trying to solve me.
"Your tea is balanced," he said finally, his voice low. "Like you. Or like you want to appear."
I didn't know what to say to that. "Thank you, Regent Prince."
He held my gaze. "Come to my study. At 6:00 pm sharp today."
My breath caught. "Regent Prince?"
"6:00 pm sharp," he repeated. Not a request. An order. His eyes were cold. "Do not be late."
Then he turned away.
I stood there, cup in hand, my heart hammering. What does he want? Does he know? About my power? About what I saw? What will he do to me?
I looked at Mother. She was watching me, her expression worried now. She had heard. She knew what his summons meant. Her hands were clenched. My baby. What does he want with my baby?
I lowered my eyes and stepped back.
As I walked away, I felt his eyes on my back all the way.
And I knew, with a certainty that had nothing to do with my power, that the Regent Prince, Zhào Chányán, was going to be a problem.
A very big, very dangerous, very interesting problem.
And at 6:00 pm sharp, I would have to face him alone.
---
END OF CHAPTER 7