Jiang Changyang was slightly taken aback by Jiang Gong's sudden anger, but he soon smiled and said, "You say I'm looking for trouble with the Zhu Guo Gong Fu flag? Who am I looking for trouble with?"

  Jiang Gong's face turned red: "Isn't that the case? Of course, it's to cause trouble for my family! If not for relying on Zhu Guo Gong Fu, do you think those imperial relatives would easily let you go? What heroes and good men? This is not Anxi Du Hu Fu, where you can hold a knife, ride a horse, and rush around!" By this time, he had completely forgotten the original purpose of his trip.

  Jiang Changyang fell silent for a moment, then spoke slowly and deliberately: "Listen up, first, I have no way to change the fact that I am his son, so no matter what, people will always associate me with the Zhu Guogong Mansion. This is something I can't control, nor do I want to. I won't stop doing things just because I'm afraid of being associated with the Zhu Guogong Mansion; second, as you said, that's your family business, so what does it have to do with me? Third, up until now, everything I've done is something I think should be done and isn't wrong. I absolutely won't stop just because of this; fourth, if someone comes looking for trouble with me because of what I've done, you just tell them that I have no relationship with the Zhu Guogong Mansion. Don't use the name of the Zhu Guogong Mansion to get involved. Fifth, I'm risking my life, and if I happen to lose it, then there won't be anyone left to trouble you in the future, so you should be happy about that. Now can you leave?"

  Jiang Gong was speechless, and after a while, he stood up and stared at him, saying: "You are simply unreasonable! I came to you with good intentions, asking you to take care of yourself and not drag down the family, willing to give everything to you. You deliberately put on this high-minded appearance for whom? If you don't have this intention, then why stay here? Why didn't you just stay in the Anxi Duhu Fu?"

  "Who are you to ask?" Jiang Changyang looked at him with a mixture of pity and disdain: "Do you think that if we wanted all this, who could take it away? Remember, what you're desperately protecting now was something my mother and I didn't even want, and gave to you out of charity. So you don't have the qualifications to shout in front of me, let alone tell me where I can or cannot go. Do you understand? From now on, I don't want to see you again. You'd best avoid me whenever possible, and don't even think about saying that we know each other. You're not worthy."

  Jiang Gong's face turned from red to white, and then to green with rage as he glared at Jiang Changyang. Seeing that the other party was unmoved, his eyes were filled with humiliation and tears welled up in his eyes. Just when he couldn't hold back his tears any longer, he stomped his foot fiercely and quickly turned around to leave.

  Fuyuan monk shouted out Buddha's name and said: "You're really bad, bullying a child who doesn't understand things."

  "I'm not a monk, I don't need to be compassionate." Jiang Changyang put the chess piece on the board: "Play chess? I always lose to you, and I really can't bear it."

  Fuyuan smiled and picked up a chess piece, then put it down. Ruman came in from outside, still holding a big bowl of rice and dishes, eating while talking excitedly: "That official cried too! When asked what's wrong, he whipped people! I said he's already 17 or 18 years old, why is he still crying? Did you hit him, Mr. Jiang?"

  Jiang Changyang said with a straight face: "The Buddha is merciful and compassionate. How could I hit someone? He probably got sand in his eyes."

  Fuyuan monk finally couldn't bear it and threw a chess piece to hit him, sighing: "Zhu Guogong has such a son, really ruining his reputation for life."

  Jiang Changyang said lightly: "Defending the family and inheriting the title, it's better to be a little cowardly. I think he's just right, maybe he's secretly happy."

  Fuyuan monk raised an eyebrow and said: "Do you really think so?"

  Jiang Changyang smiled: "Make your move, a monk shouldn't be so curious."

  Fu Yuan and the monk really caught his curiosity, as the chess pieces fell several times, his face showed that stupid expression again. Jiang Changyang furrowed his brow in deep thought, and after a long time, he finally made a move. Rong Man poured a large bowl of rice into his belly, feeling satisfied, let out a contented belch, and sat down at the chessboard to watch the two play chess. As night fell, the two became more and more engrossed in their game, he quietly got up to light the lamp, and sat aside dozing off.

  But unfortunately, after leaving the Fahsou Temple, she saw that it was still early and went to another nearby temple to try her luck again, but still got nothing. She couldn't help but smile bitterly - such a big garden would need so many peonies to fill it up! After resolving the matter with the Zhuang family this time, she would have to make time to visit various flower farmers' homes again; otherwise, next spring, her own garden's peony flowers would be pitifully few.

  Feng Danni saw her letting the horse wander aimlessly on the street, so she advised: "Dan Niang, why not go back home first? It's the same to come early tomorrow and invite Master Fu Yuan."

  "Never mind, let's not invite him. Let's go home first." Since Fuyuan and Chiang Chang-yang were acquainted, if she mentioned herself, he would probably know about it too. If she brought it up again, it would be unnecessary.

  A group of people walked to the vicinity of Xuanpingfang Gate, and Peony saw a young servant named Luoshan hiding under the shade of a tree, looking around cautiously. She called out to Yuhe to go forward and greet him: "Go ask him what he's doing here? Is he waiting for someone?"

  Yu He is now nervous whenever she sees anything related to the Li family, and with her mother-in-law's eyes on her, she becomes even more tense. She glanced at Feng Dama nervously, who sighed and scolded Yu He: "Fool! Are we not going to be relatives anymore?" Even if Luo Shan really was sent by Li Yi to find Mudan, there are so many people here, would he dare to pull Mudan aside to whisper something? What is she afraid of?

  Yu He let out a gentle "oh" and lightly patted the horse's belly, beaming with smiles as he approached Luoshan and greeted him: "Luoshan, what are you doing here?"

  "Yuhe sister!" Luoshan's eyes lit up when he saw Yuhe, and he almost jumped up in excitement. He glanced in the direction she came from and also saw Feng Dangiang, which made him shrink back in fear. His voice immediately became softer, and his eyelids twitched as he signaled to Yuhe: "I have something important to report to Dan Niang!"

  Yu He calmly said: "What's going on? Since you've already arrived here, why don't you go home and wait? Go, go to your house."

  Luoshan saw that she was not on the right path, and anxiously cried out, "Ah——!" He said, "Yuhe sister, I really have something important to attend to." As he spoke, Fang Dainiang had already accompanied Mudan in walking over, and Fang Dainiang smiled and called out, "Luoshan, little rabbit, it's been a long time since we've seen you!"

  Luoshan had no choice but to force himself to go forward and greet Peony and Madame Feng, complaining: "These days, I've been busy following Master Gong, there are many things."

  Peony knew that Li Wei had been busy with the funeral of Princess Ning these days, so she smiled and said: "Although it's busy, I'm sure you've gained a lot of experience?"

  Luoshan smiled and said, "That's right."

  The peony pulled the horse's head under the shade of a tree: "It's terribly hot, and my home is nearby. Do you want to go in and rest for a while?"

  "He said he wasn't going and had something important to tell you. After finishing speaking, he wanted to leave."

  Peony heard this, glanced at Luoshan, saw him standing there with his hands down, hesitating and not speaking clearly. She knew it must be related to Liyi, but she really couldn't meet Liyi secretly again. So she said: "What's the matter? Speak."

  Luoshan looked at Feng Dainiang, who was tightly attached to Peony, without any intention of avoiding suspicion. He knew that today's matter could not be completed perfectly according to his master's instructions, so he had to force himself to say: "My master told me to tell you that he already knows about the affairs in the village and asked you not to worry. At most two days from now, he will settle everything. There are also some things that need attention, I'd like to remind you of a couple of things."

  "Peony fell silent for a moment, then smiled and said: 'Thank him for me. But this matter won't bother him for now, I've already spoken to my uncle and he has his own arrangements. On my end, everything that can be prepared is almost ready, there shouldn't be any major unexpected events, even if there are, we should be able to handle them properly. He's so busy, don't distract him, take your time to rest when you're free.'"

  Luoshan saw Peony and immediately refused, she couldn't believe her ears. Obviously a good intention, but she insisted on refusing. Didn't she know that he wanted to hand over some matters to her? In fact, it's been a long time since they met, and he just wanted to chat with her. Was she stupid or heartless? Probably the latter, but it was really unworthy of Luoshan's affection for her. Luoshan looked up at Peony and felt that she wasn't as lovely as before.

  Peony saw the discontent and unhappiness on Luoshan's face, sighed silently, and forced a smile: "You see, I'm just going to take care of this today, it's really nothing serious. If I encounter something that can't be solved, I'll definitely go find my uncle for help. Let him rest assured." She paused, "Or, why don't you come home with me to eat and then we'll talk again?"

  Luoshan took a glance at Feng Dainiang and Yuhe, thinking that even if he followed them, he wouldn't be able to speak with Mudan alone, so he said: "Thank you, but I still have some business to attend to."

  Peony didn't force him either. Ming Yu He handed him a few dozen coins: "It's terribly hot, wait until the meeting is over, go buy some cold noodles to eat."

  Luoshan took the money, bowed to Peony and ran away quickly. He didn't go home either, but directly rushed to Anyi Fang, where he found Li Wei among a crowd of people and looked at her with sympathy.

  Li Youzheng was busy to the point of having a dry mouth and tongue, with a small fire burning in his heart. Seeing Luoshan looking at him with a sympathetic expression but not saying anything, he couldn't help but say angrily: "If you have something to say, say it quickly! What are you pretending to be stupid for?"

  Luoshan jumped in fright and said with a sense of grievance: "I'm not heartless, am I?"

  Li Wei was so angry that he laughed, wiped the sweat and poked his forehead: "You're showing off in front of me, come on, I don't have time to waste with you!"

  Luoshan Fang said with a pout, "She doesn't want your help, she says she can handle it herself. If she really can't, there's still her cousin. Fang Dainiang stared at me tightly, I just wanted to say a few good words but couldn't, and was sent back like this."

  Li Hui was silent for a moment, then forced a smile: "If she can solve it herself, that would be the best." He immediately turned around and plunged back into the crowd.

  Luoshan muttered to himself, staring at Li You's busy back, feeling somewhat regretful that he shouldn't have said what he did earlier just to vent his anger. Cangshan walked over and slapped him on the head with a loud crack: "You numbskull! As soon as I'm not around for a moment, you go and do something stupid again!"

  Cangshan was originally bigger than Luoshan, and his strength was much greater. With one slap, he knocked Luoshan to the ground, and the money in his sleeve rolled out onto the floor. Cangshan grabbed Luoshan's collar and pushed him into a corner, sneering: "Well done! You can't even do your job properly, but you still dare to come and ruin our business after taking the reward? You little rabbit, you've got some nerve!"

  Luoshan covered his head and face, muttering: "I didn't say anything wrong, she really said that. I think she doesn't care about her husband, and her husband is worried about her for nothing."

  Before he had finished speaking, he was slapped again by Cangshan. He couldn't bear the pain and shouted: "What did I say wrong this time? Why are you hitting me again?"

  Cangshan shouted, "Are these words also nonsense you're spouting? You've ruined public affairs!" He raised his palm to slap again, but was caught by Li Yi from behind, who grasped his arm and said in a low voice, "Did you come just to humiliate me?" His gaze fell on the scattered copper coins on the ground, and a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes: "Was it she who rewarded you?"

  Luoshan pitifully blinked: "Master, I didn't speak nonsense just now. Dan Niang said so herself, and she also thanked you, saying don't worry about it, just do your job well, and take a rest when you have time. I hadn't finished speaking yet, but you left." After finishing, he secretly glanced at Li Wei, looking at his expression to see if he would be happier than before.

  Li Wei glared at him and said expressionlessly: "You can't even pass on a message properly, I think you shouldn't come out with me in the future." After finishing speaking, he turned around and left.

  Luoshan rubbed his head, wondering why the old master looked even more unhappy. Cangshan slapped him on the head again, saying in frustration, "You fool! If Madam asks again, do you know what to say?"

  Luoshan said dejectedly: "Don't hit me, of course I know!"

  Cangshan gave him a white eye and quickly followed Li Wei, smiling apologetically: "Sir, the old master is willing to help, it's actually a good thing."

  Li Wei said lightly, "You go and find out what she's been doing these days?" Peony had something to ask, but it wasn't him, it was Li Yuan. How could he not see that Peony was deliberately avoiding him? She said she could handle it herself, but what could she do? Although her temperament had changed after the divorce, she was originally a soft-hearted person and might not be able to do much. If she didn't want his help, he would still do it secretly.

  Cangshan responded with a sound and immediately ran to handle the matter. He was much smarter than Luoshan, openly going to the He family, claiming that he had been instructed by Mrs. Cui to inform them of this matter, thus smoothly inquiring about the process. Li Yin heard about Mudan's actions and couldn't help but smile bitterly, thinking that indeed, there wasn't much he could do to help with this matter. Dan Niang was becoming more and more different from before.