Pan Xiang glared at Jiang Changyang and said, "If it werent for you, how would I end up doing something so shameless? I thickened my skin to beg someone, but instead got spat in the face!"

  Was it really to please Jiang Changyang? Peony heard this and carefully examined Jiang Changyang. She saw that he was wearing a plain blue robe with no fancy patterns, a pair of ordinary six-stitched boots on his feet, and at his waist, unlike the other male guests at the banquet, there were no perfume sachets or jade pendants hanging from his belt. Only a two-foot-long horizontal knife hung from his waist, with no decorations on the handle, and the scabbard was plain black lacquer. His appearance was very masculine, but his expression was too stiff and wooden, as if his eyes and eyebrows were immobile, without any vitality.

  Jiang Changyang saw Peony sizing him up, slightly embarrassed, and gave her a faint smile, revealing a row of snow-white neat teeth. He turned his head to look at Pan Rong: "I dont want it! The original bet doesnt count."

  "Are you saying that just because you say so, its not going to happen? Jiang Dalang, why is it always you telling me what to do from when we were young till now? Today Im going to make good on my promise! What about it, little sister, are you selling or not? Ive already told you everything that needs to be said, think for yourself!"

  Li Yi sneered: "Just now you said you wouldnt bully people with your power, but now you want to bully a weak woman?"

  Pan Xiang glared at Li Wei with a sideways glance: "What can you do to me even if I bully you? Its just two flowers, I didnt make things difficult for her, why did she want to make things difficult for me? Isnt this her own fault?"

  What kind of world is this! What kind of people are these! Anyone can come and bully her? Peonys anger was stirred up, and she couldnt help but sneer coldly: "So I refused to sell my dowry, and its actually causing trouble for the young master! Today, I wont sell it even more! Since keeping it is a disaster, Ill go and chop it down in public today! Chop down the tree and the old crow will stop calling!" After speaking, she pushed away Lin Mama, bent down to pull out Li Hus waist knife, and was about to do something, but what can be done when one is barefoot and afraid of wearing shoes?!

  "Huh! This soft-shelled shrimp actually dares to sing a different tune with me! Is it because I look too easy to bully? Pan Rong pressed down on the knife and angrily said, You dare! You still dare to scold me as an old owl!"

  "Peony glared at him coldly and sneered: What am I afraid of? This is my own home, Im cutting my own flowers, what business is it of yours, Young Master Shi?! Even if its reported to the emperor himself, Ill still be in the right! Whos an old crow, I didnt mention anyone by name, whoever wants to rush over and take offense can do so themselves!"

  Jiang Changyang looked at Pan Rong with a serious tone and said, "If you really consider me as a friend, then dont be unreasonable and make things difficult for people. If I were to get these two pots of flowers, I would be ashamed to show my face!"

  "Jiang Dalang! You dont know whats good for you!"

  Jiang Changyang glanced at him and bowed to Peony, saying seriously: "My mother loves flowers. I once made a bet with the young master that whoever loses will do something for the other. The young master lost, so he has to find two good peonies for me, otherwise he would be untrustworthy. So today is all my fault, please dont blame the young master, madam. You dont have to cut the flowers either, if the young master wants to buy them, you can sell them to him. After you receive the money, I will immediately return home. You can earn up to one million dollars."

  The peony has not yet opened its mouth, and Pan Rong is already pointing at Jiang Changyang, gritting his teeth and saying: "Jiang Dalang! Youre so poisonous!"

  Li Wei burst out laughing and snatched her dagger back from the two men, saying: "Ill act as a mediator. Since Young Master has already spoken up, Dan Niang, you shouldnt be so inconsiderate. How about this? This autumn, pick some good varieties and send a few peony plants to Young Master and Jiang Gongzi. What do you think?"

  "Peony had previously relied on her temper, but now that there was a way down, she naturally went along with it and smiled: But Ill follow Eldest Brothers orders."

  Jiang Changyang politely said: "Im sorry to trouble you, madam. When the time comes, Ill pay according to market price, so it wont be a waste of your effort."

  Although Pan Xiang was extremely unwilling, she also didnt want to stir up more trouble, so she heavily hummed a sentence: "You have to send me away before I can dispel the anger in my heart!"

  "Lets just say its a thank you gift for the young master who helped the little woman out in front of the princess earlier." She refused to admit that she was wrong and wouldnt apologize.

  Li Wei smiled and said: "Since its like this, lets go back then?"

  Several people turned around, and suddenly saw a green-clad maid hurrying over to the side of Qinghua Countys mistress. Seeing everyone, she bowed and asked how they were doing, then smiled and said: "My lady invites Madame He to have a chat with her in the Crystal Pavilion just ahead."

  Lins mother nervously grasped Peonys sleeve, "Isnt there some kind of conspiracy?"

  Even if I knew that the Qinghua County Master was not good at heart, it would be impossible not to go, and even more impossible to refuse. But since the Qinghua County Master dared to invite me in front of these people with such confidence, its likely that there wont be any major moves, perhaps just to intimidate me a bit? Or maybe, there might be some unexpected gains too. Mu Dan thought this way, and seeing Li You wink at her, she smiled and said: "Obedience is better than courtesy."

  As Peony walked away, Li Yi grasped Pan Rongs shoulder and whispered a few words in his ear. Pan Rong simply shook his head. Li Yi then extended one finger, and after hesitating for a moment, Pan Rong still shook his head. Li Yi sneered and turned to leave, but Pan Rong immediately grabbed his sleeve and raised his hand to slap palms with him: "Deal!"

  The so-called Crystal Pavilion of the Liu family is just a small wooden pavilion built in the middle of the lake. Liu Chengcai liked to stay here to enjoy the cool and read books, so he built a waterwheel, which drew water from the lake and poured it down from the eaves of the pavilion, forming a curtain of rain. In the summer, staying inside is especially refreshing and has a special charm. Every time at sunrise, whether looking from the inside or outside, the rain curtain is as dazzling as crystal, hence the name Crystal Pavilion.

  As they approached the entrance of Qu Bridge, the maid stopped Lin Mama and Yuhe, smiling: "The young lady has a few private words to say to the madam alone, please wait here for a moment."

  Lin Mama and Yu He looked at Peony with unease: "Young Madam..."

  The peony raised its eyes and looked around, but it was not yet midsummer, the waterwheel had not yet started to irrigate, and the Crystal Pavilion looked ordinary from a distance. From the winding corridor to the railing surrounding it, everything could be seen clearly, and it didnt seem like a place where someone would come to harm others. Moreover, there was no one outside the Crystal Pavilion, nor were any of the other attendants of the Qinghua County Master visible. He said, "You wait here, Ill go and come back."

  Lins mothers eyes were slightly red, but she didnt dare say anything out of line in front of the maid. She just looked at Peony and said softly: "Young Madam, you should be careful."

  The maid in blue clothes smiled and said: "Dont worry, our young mistress doesnt have any malicious intentions. If theres no one to receive you when you arrive at the outer room, just go in yourself."

  Peony nodded, took the umbrella and put it on her head, and walked steadily towards the Crystal Pavilion. The sunlight shone on the water surface, and the reflected light was strong and intense, making Peonys eyes narrow into a thin slit. Looking at the nine-curve eighteen-bend green stone bridge in front of her, she felt dizzy.

  The further they walked, the louder the pipa sound from the Crystal Pavilion became. When they were about one zhang away, it was already ringing in their ears, and there was also a faint scent of expensive incense made from Hainan sandalwood wafting around their noses. Peony stopped in her tracks and said loudly, "He Shi Wei Fang has arrived at the invitation of the Princess, to pay her respects."

  She called out three times, but the pipa sound continued to echo without anyone responding. Peony thought of the reminder from the green-clad maid earlier and decided to take a step forward.

  As they approached, the pipa music stopped abruptly, and a soft laugh mixed with several ambiguous gasps floated out from the half-closed window.

  The peony lifted her eyes and saw that inside the Water Crystal Pavilion, on a soft couch, a twelve-leaf silver screen with flowers and birds was half-opened and half-closed. The green gauze canopy above the bed frame fluttered in the wind. Inside, a semi-naked couple were entwined together, their movements intense and reluctant to part. Outside the canopy, beside a floor screen, a maid in a blue dress held a pipa and lowered her head motionless, as if an old monk had entered meditation.

  ——*——*——*——*——

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