Liu Chang walked over with a clear and refreshing air, and from afar, he saw Peony and Jade standing under the corridor, tall and short, slender and plump, each with their own unique charm, indeed a feast for the eyes, and his mood greatly improved, a smile also appeared on his face.

  Yuer was the first to see Liu Chong, and she saw that he was wearing a jade crown today, with a crimson-colored round-collared silk robe, green silk cloud shoes, and a silver incense bag with a jade pendant and silk sash at his waist. He looked elegant and handsome, and Yuer couldnt help but feel admiration for him. She knelt down and greeted him: "Your servant has seen the young master." Seeing that Pidan was still in a daze, she quickly pulled her sleeve lightly, and Pidan woke up as if from a dream, stiffly greeting Liu Chong with a bow: "Husband, may you have good fortune."

  Liu Changs mind was elsewhere as he waved his hand at Yuer, and said to Peony in a light tone, "Todays situation doesnt even count as losing face for me."

  The peony tree stared blankly at the brick floor with a look of disdain. Trash! Trash!

  Yuers gaze swept back and forth between the two of them, seemingly deep in thought. She took Jiangniang over and smiled, saying: "Jiangniang, quickly pay your respects to Father."

  The girl spoke unclearly, with sleepy eyes and a scowl on her face, looking at Liu Chang with a look of grievance, but not calling out to anyone.

  Liu Chang was displeased in his heart, walked over to the scene and poked Dan Niangs face: "This crying appearance, I dont know who you learned it from. Early in the morning, looking at it is unlucky." While speaking, he glanced at Peony, but Peony pretended not to see him.

  Yuer was so grief-stricken she seemed like she was going to die, and hugged Jiangniang tightly.

  A voice came from behind the curtain: "Come in, all of you."

  Madam Qi saw Peonys attire and was delighted, smiling: "This is it, this is what my Liu family daughter-in-law should look like!" Turning her head to look at Liu Shu, she said: "Zi Shu, I just told Dan Niang yesterday that after a few days, well invite Dr. Zhu to take a look at her and prescribe some medicine to regulate her body, so she can hurry up and give birth to a legitimate grandson for me."

  Liu Chang responded with a faint "uh-huh", neither agreeing nor disagreeing. But Qi Furen knew that his attitude was equivalent to consent, and she couldnt help but feel elated. "When husband and wife are of one mind, their benefits can cut through gold. This is Dan Niangs first time hosting such a banquet, so you must take care of her, Zixu. If theres anything she doesnt understand, you should teach her well, dont make her angry again."

  Liu Chuan murmured another "uh-huh" and absent-mindedly patted Qiers head, which was leaning against his knee.

  Bi Yu listened for a while under the curtain, then lifted it and walked in with a smile, putting the food box on the table and greeting everyone, saying: "Is the lady having her meal now?"

  Madam Qi coldly swept her with a glance: "Why didnt you follow what I said yesterday?"

  Bi Yu was startled, thinking that Peony had told on her. She glared at Peony with resentment and knelt down to apologize: "I went to see Young Madam first, but it was late and she hadnt finished washing up yet. I was afraid of not being able to attend to the mistress properly, so I reported to Young Madam and hurried over to attend to the mistress."

  She spoke with a tone of reason, but it was already late and Peony had not yet washed up. She wasnt afraid of not being able to attend to Madame Qi, she was clearly intentionally dawdling. Madame Qi coldly laughed: "Youre so glib! According to the rules, you should be attending to your Young Mistresss washing up, I have people here to attend to me, why do you need to interfere? You cant even handle your own duties properly, how dare you overstep your bounds? I think youre taking advantage of Young Mistresss kindness and not putting her in your eyes!"

  Bi Yu wanted to cry but didnt dare to, while glancing at Liu Cheng with her eyes, she said: "I know I was wrong, and I wont dare again."

  Liu Chang simply looked at the tea bowl in his hand and did not speak up for her as he usually would.

  "Peony coughed softly and smiled: Mother, dont get angry and hurt your body, its not a big deal, the daughter-in-law indeed agreed to let Biyu go first."

  "Alright, since your young mistress has pleaded for you, I must give her face. But you dont understand the rules that have been in place for a long time, so today Ill punish you by not allowing you to attend the banquet and instead follow me to learn the rules!"

  "Ah?" Biyu couldnt have imagined that the ending would be like this. Thinking about how she had gotten up before dawn to carefully dress herself in order to impress Peony, and now ended up with such a outcome, for a moment she felt like crying. Looking at Peonys eyes made her even more resentful. This cunning and vicious woman was afraid that she would steal the spotlight at the banquet, yet still deliberately set this trap for her, knowing full well that Madame Qi had said no to it. She hated herself for being so foolish and blinded by infatuation back then, how could she have fallen into this trap!

  Yuers mouth corners were all curled up, with a face full of schadenfreude. Biyu was wronged to death and hated Peony through and through in an instant.

  Peony received Biyus vicious gaze, somewhat inexplicably. Shouldnt she have been considerate enough already? She had never beaten or scolded anyone, nor had she schemed against anyone; all she sought was stability. If she didnt want to serve herself and instead tried to curry favor with Madame Qi, then let her go; it wasnt her fault if Biyu wasnt clever and took out her frustrations on herself? What kind of logic was that? At this point, Peony glared back at her without hesitation.

  Liu Chang happened to see it, hummed coldly, and thought that Peonys calmness was all pretence, still jealous and meddling in her heart. This move is called "desiring to capture by pretending to release". Since she likes to pretend, let her pretend then, wait till the end when shell still have to come begging to me!

  Madam Qi finished with Biyu and then kept Mudan to have breakfast with Liu Cheng, Mudan was thinking about the people and things she would see later, and couldnt eat much, while Liu Cheng also seemed absent-minded. Madam Qi saw this and impatiently drove them away: "Go, go, go and attend to your business."

  Peony didnt want to stay here for a moment and immediately got up to bid farewell. Madame Qi called out to Liu Chuan, "Zi Shu, I have something to say to you."

  Peony didnt care about him, warmly holding Jades hand and walking out: "I havent attended such a banquet for a long time, Im a bit afraid of being awkward, just want to watch the excitement from the side, you have to work harder."

  In the past, Biyu always took center stage, but now she has her own chance. Yuer saw Biyu crying under the curtain with a sad face and was secretly delighted. She thought about Qi Furen and Liu Quans attitude towards Peony, and it seemed that the young mistress was going to turn things around. The banquet was a success, and the young mistress was happy, so Gongzi Ye would also be happy. Yuer had to seize this opportunity well, not letting the young mistress and Gongzi Ye down. So she put in extra effort and carefully explained the arrangements for todays banquet to Peony: "The guests will arrive around noon, and its just a matter of appreciating flowers, composing poetry, watching songs and dances, acrobatics, touring the garden, and having a feast. Afterwards, there will be flower, grass, and chicken competitions, playing Liubo, and doing whatever one pleases - nothing out of the ordinary."

  "Who were those people who came?"

  Yuer smiled and said, "This is simple. Let someone go ask Xi Xia for a list to come over and it will be known." She raised her hand and called over her personal maid, Green Waist: "You go ask Xi Xia for a list of todays guests to bring over and say that the Young Mistress wants to see it."

  Green waistline left, Jade said: "Its still early, does the young lady want to go back to her room and rest? I saw that you didnt eat much breakfast earlier, its just right to go back and have some."

  "Alright," Peony smiled. The two of them, one in front and the other behind, returned to Peonys courtyard with smiles on their faces. Lin Mama saw that they had become so intimate in just half a day and was slightly surprised, but didnt show it on her face. She welcomed them with a smile and asked, "Young Mistress, would you like some breakfast?"

  "Put it up," said Peony Way. She also invited Jade to join her for breakfast: "Theres no outsider here, you and I can eat together, so you wont have to go back to your room later and waste time."

  Yuer declined and stood up to eat.

  The bowls and plates had just been removed, and Green Waist brought over the list. With both hands, she presented it to Peony. At a glance, Peony saw two names on the list: one was Liu Chuans old flame, Qinghua Junzhu, who had recently become a widow; the other was He Mudans cousin, Li Yi.

  Others were not interested in Peony, and they casually threw the list on the table and went to the corridor to tease each other. Lins mother then brought over Lis mother and Lan Zhi, who had been assigned by Qis wife, to kowtow to Peony.

  Yuer saw this and tactfully excused herself, saying she would come over later to attend to Peony on her way to the garden.

  "Peony grunted, glanced casually at Li Mama and Lan Zhi, and said: Theres no particular rules here, just be careful not to touch these few pots of flowers."

  Mrs. Li and Orchid both smiled: "Dont worry, young mistress."

  Peony nodded and stopped paying attention to them. She went back to her room, took a few paper bags she had made herself, and while the sun was still not too big, walked to several peonies that were about to bloom. She carefully selected the largest and most robust flower buds, gently removed the petals, leaving only the stamens and pistils for self-pollination, then tightly covered the paper bag and instructed Kuanger and Shuer to pay extra attention.

  Her behavior was nothing new to Lins mother and the others, but Lis mother and Lan Zhi found it heartbreaking and unbelievable. They thought that such a beautiful peony, if sold outside after blooming, would be worth hundreds of dollars, but the young mistress was destroying them with her reckless hands, killing several at once, truly wasting heavens gift.

  They didnt think so, but they thought this was a warning from Peony to them, wasnt it? A warning to be careful, or else they would end up like this peony flower? Before they came, they had all been instructed by the mistress, so they werent afraid of this sickly, weak and unpleasant young mistress. So as soon as these two met, they felt a sense of resistance towards Peony.

  The peonies didnt know what was on her mind, she just focused on doing her own thing. After a thorough inspection, she thought to herself that although the colors and shapes of these few peony varieties were not top-notch, if she could successfully breed them in the next two years, it would be enough to cover expenses. As for other hybrid varieties, they couldnt be rushed, and there was no need to worry about them.

  After touring the small garden, Peony beckoned to Yuhe: "Later, Mr. Li will also come, you go and tell him that I have something to discuss with him, ask him to find an opportunity to see me. At that time, you think of a way to distract Lins mother."

  Yu Hes eyes rolled a few times and he smiled: "Hmmm, Young Master Biao is a good candidate."

  Peony pinched her cheek and said with a grin: "What nonsense are you talking about? I have something important to discuss."

  ——*——*——*——

  Monday, begging for recommendation votes to rush the list