When Tang Xiaotong was brewing tea, his sleeves were rolled up halfway, revealing a faint scar on his wrist.
Princess Yujia glanced at the scar and noticed his unique way of pouring tea, with the thumb pressing against the lid and the other four fingers supporting the body of the teapot, creating a graceful arc with the stream of tea.
"I learned this from noble people during the 'Mandarin Duck Hairpin' ceremony," Tang Xiaotong explained with a smile, aware of Princess Yujia's gaze, "They say this way the steam won't damage the nails."
He suddenly imitated the noblewomen, raising his 'orchid fingers' and admiring the look of new manicures, a gesture so humorous it made Princess Yujia giggle.
At that moment, she was not a princess waiting to be wed, and he was not a merchant eager to please. They were just two young individuals stealing half a day's leisure under the crabapple tree.
