Madam Bai saw Peony with a beaming smile and an expectant look on her face, and couldnt help but ask: "You like this banquet very much?"

  The peony hastily wiped the joyful expression off her face and explained, "Ive been in poor health since I was a child, lingering on my sickbed, missing out on many wonderful things. Last autumn, I had a severe illness that nearly took my life, and from then on, I came to realize that one should enjoy lifes pleasures to the fullest while they can, after all, weve got to live on, so why bother being gloomy every day? Not to mention how annoying it is for others to see, even looking at myself in the mirror isnt pleasant."

  Madam Bai said: "One should enjoy life to the fullest when things are going well, thats the principle. I underestimated you earlier."

  The peony smiled and cast its gaze upwards.

  Pan Rong and Jiang Changyang stood side by side, Pan Rong was wearing a beautiful silk apron tied around her waist by a maid, while Jiang Changyang simply rolled up his sleeves.

  Liu Chuans chopsticks knocked against the wine glass, and the two of them immediately got into position, focusing intently as they began to work. They scaled and deboned with swift efficiency, their movements clean and precise, a strong rhythmic sense to every gesture. It was less like they were cutting fish than performing an elaborate knife dance, the flashing blades weaving in and out as the shredded fish piled up into a small mountain on the plate.

  The maidens continually took half of the fish silk cut out by the two and placed it in a small ceramic dish lined with fresh shiso leaves, accompanied by a small dish of eight-flavor sauce made from garlic, ginger, citrus, white plum, roasted chestnut, glutinous rice, salt, and soy sauce, topped with a cup of genmaicha tea brewed with toasted rice and green tea, and served to the guests.

  Mrs. Bai explained in a low voice to Peony, "The number of fish slices on each persons cutting board is fixed, they are competing with each other to see who can cut the thinnest and most delicate fish slices faster." She used her chopsticks to stir the fish slices in the plate for Peony to see. At first glance, it was hard to tell the difference, but after she picked up the chopsticks, Peony discovered that the thickness and fineness of the slices were completely different.

  Jiang Changyangs slices were thin and delicate, and when Madame Bai blew on them gently, they floated up. Pan Rongs slices, however, were not so light and thin, obviously twice as thick as Jiang Changyangs.

  Madam Bai pushed Pan Rongs dish to one side, slightly disdainfully saying: "His culinary skills are about the same as our familys cook, and he has the nerve to show it off in public." She picked up a pair of chopsticks, dipped them in the sauce, and put them on Peonys plate, sighing: "This dish is cold and cooling, you have a weak body, eat less of it."

  It was as if to verify what Madam Bai had said, with a soft "whoosh" sound, Jiang Changyang finished cutting the last fish on his chopping board, put down his knife, and smiled faintly at everyone before turning around to wash his hands with ginger soup brought by the maid, then sat back down at the table. Meanwhile, there were still two or three fish left on Pan Rongs chopping board.

  Liu Chang burst out laughing: "A Rong, you lost! Are you still cutting?"

  Pan Xiang also felt uninterested, "pa" sound of the knife was put down, stretched out two hands to let the maid come over to help him wash his hands and tidy up his robes, lazily saying: "Cheng Feng, Ive been practicing hard for two years, but still cant surpass you. Forget it, what I said will definitely count."

  Liu Chang smiled and said: "You cant compare with his years of holding a knife, you should be convinced and obedient."

  The Tsinghua county master smiled and said: "What kind of bet are you guys making?"

  Pan Xiang smiled slyly: "Its a secret." As she spoke, she glanced at Peony and saw that she was looking away, so she turned to throw a flirtatious glance at Madame Bai.

  Madam Bai seemed to be ignoring him, only asking Peony: "Have you ever seen this flower today? What do you think of it? Ive been circling around it for half a day, but I still cant figure out what variety it is."

  "Ah, this flower has the same surname as you, madam," Peony smiled. "Its charm is quite good, and compared to those few pots of flowers I have, its each with its own unique beauty."

  White jade, white in color like jade, hard petals, stamens occasionally have petalization, lotus-shaped, flowers straight up, the advantage is that the flowering quantity is high and the flowering period is early. Liu Chuans this plant, its just that it delayed the flowering period, on the same plant there were several flowers with a high degree of stamen petalization, which was not among his own peony varieties, so he regarded it as a rare treasure, and deliberately took it out to show off.

  Actually, Peony secretly thought that according to the aesthetic vision of the crowd at this time, Yu Baitai and other white series Yu Lou Dian Cui and Yao Tai Yu Lu would be considered more beautiful and precious than Yu Baitai. However, the relationship between the two is subtle, and she doesnt dare to comment in front of Mrs. Bai.

  Madam Bai smiled and pointed at Pan Rong who was chatting with Jiang Changyang, saying in a soft voice: "Someone wants to take advantage of you, be careful."

  Peony was taken aback, realizing that Pan Rong had helped her earlier for this very purpose. Was he also afraid that the Wei Zi would be taken away by the Qinghua County Master? She looked up at Madam Bai with a serious expression and said in a low voice: "No matter whether youre motivated by sympathy or something else, Im extremely grateful for your reminder. Those few pots of flowers, no matter what, I wont give to anyone, nor will I sell them."

  That is her future capital for a stable life, unless absolutely necessary, she would never give them up.

  "In that case, Ill try my best to persuade him to give up on this idea." Madam Bai gazed steadily at Peony for a moment, shook the embroidered lily-patterned fan in her hand, and let out an almost imperceptible sigh.

  Peony suddenly lost her good mood. She uncomfortably adjusted her numb legs, which had become stiff from sitting on the floor, and gazed down at the exquisite tableware and delicate food in front of her, thinking to herself that although she might not be living as luxuriously as this in the future, she would definitely not be living with such anxiety.

  Before long, everyone had enough wine and food, and entered the flower appreciation session. Liu Chong smiled and said: "Everyone present knows that my humble abode has planted a few flowers, which are barely able to enter your eyes. Every year at the end of spring and beginning of summer, they can add a bit of fun for you in your leisure time. This year is different from previous years, I recently acquired a new Yu Banbai, which was born with a unique characteristic, not only does it bloom later than ordinary Yu Banbai, but also has the phenomenon of one tree blooming two types of flowers."

  After finishing speaking, he didnt rush to lift the veil immediately. Instead, he smiled and looked at everyone, listening to their congratulatory words. Only then did he stand up to personally lift the veil. However, just as he stood up, Qinghua Countys mistress used her fan to block him, smiling coyly: "Zi Shu, let me take a look first, okay?"

  This is what she meant to do, the unveiling. Peony thought that it was just like modern people cutting ribbons, liking to invite a leader or celebrity to cut the ribbon, and with Qinghuas arrogant personality, this behavior didnt count for much. Since Lius child wanted to support her, he should just go along with it.

  Who would have thought that Liu Chang would laugh and push it away: "All comers are guests, if I let the county master see it first, wouldnt it be intentional to slow down other guests? Next time there wont be anyone coming to play." He actually went ahead and lifted the green silk.

  Tsinghua Countys young mistress smiled and said, "Youre such a person, so arrogant, with no one in your heart or eyes." As she spoke, she turned around and glared fiercely at Peony, who was left bewildered, thinking that she had gone mad.

  Everyone got up to admire the white jade board, and then went to see the few pots of flowers brought out from the Peony Courtyard. The peonies also followed behind Madame Bai to come forward and appreciate the flowers, taking advantage of the opportunity to give Yu He a wink, Yu He understood, got up and left.

  Before long, the crowd began to comment on poetry. Peony couldnt and didnt want to plagiarize anyones poem to make a name for herself as a talented woman. Seeing that Li Yi had already walked out of the banquet venue alone, she took advantage of the fact that everyone was concentrating on thinking and no one noticed her, so she followed out with Lin Mama and Yuhe.

  Tsinghua County Master never gave up paying attention to peonies, seeing the situation, she quietly raised her chin towards one of her maids, who nodded and retreated silently.

  Pan Xiang pulled Jiang Changyang along, gesturing for him to follow her out. Jiang Changyang glanced indifferently at the crowd deep in thought and turned to follow Pan Xiang out of the banquet hall.

  ——*——*——*——

  Thank you for the reward, thank you for the evaluation vote, thank you for the long review, thank you for everyones recommendation vote. Continue to ask for recommendation votes, rush to the new book list, and hope that everyone will lift their jade finger and click on it...