Having looked at the few dishes left in the kitchen, I felt that none of them could be served on the table, so I had to ask someone to invite Zhou Baniang to come up with a solution.

  Zhou Banniang heard that there was no food, so she caught a chicken from the backyard and pulled out some vegetables from the ground. She quickly slaughtered half of the chicken and stir-fried it with half stewed, soon making several fresh and delicious home-cooked dishes. She added a jar of rich wine from Yuezhou and called Mudan to have someone bring it to the table. After receiving the money for the chicken and vegetables from Yuhe, she put it in her pocket and walked away with a clap of her hands.

  Peony saw Li Wei and Jiang Changyang eating and drinking from a distance, one speaking and the other listening, both seemingly very focused, so she didn't disturb them and quietly sat aside to think about things that would happen in the next few days.

  The moon is in the middle of the sky, and finally dispersed over there. At'ao came to invite Peony: "Mother, it's all right now, the little servant by Tabo's side asked me to come and invite you over."

  The peony had passed, the table was already clean and tidy, Jiang Changyang and Li Wei sat facing each other, one holding a cup of tea, talking about this garden, and saying that it's not easy for a woman.

  Li Yi saw Peony and smiled, "Peony, come here. I've already discussed things with Mr. Jiang. It's getting late, and since he has something to discuss with you, it's better to talk about it sooner rather than later." After saying that, she didn't move away and just sat there without moving.

  Jiang Changyang didn't avoid him, looking at Peony and saying: "Yesterday I told you that today I would take you to my friend's house to see the stone, but now things have changed, I want to measure it with you first."

  "Never mind," said Peony with a smile, "but please speak your mind. If we can't buy it, that's all right."

  Jiang Changyang said, "The purchase is definitely going to be successful. It's just that I learned this morning that my friend's family situation has changed again and they need more money. We all want to help him out, but he's too proud to accept it. So I was thinking of asking you to buy those stones from him at a high price, and I'll make up the difference for you. What do you think?"

  "Ha! This is easier than anything, don't worry, I'll take care of it perfectly."

  Jiang Changyang smiled and said, "But it's just that he has a serious illness, I won't be able to accompany you there, you'll have to go ask yourself. I can take you nearby, then you go to the gatehouse and ask, and things will be settled."

  "Peony nodded, and Li suddenly asked: 'May I ask where this friend of Brother Jiang lives? What's his surname and name? What kind of business does he do at home?' Dan Niang was always very foolish, with a good heart, but easily taken advantage of by others."

  Jiang Changyang glanced at him and said quietly, "Yuan Shi Jiu lives in Lanling Fang, has no occupation, but only serves as a Qing Ke for others. I've known him for nearly ten years, he's still doing alright."

  Li Wei's face didn't look good, and he said: "So it was him. I remember that he was a highly valued person in the Min Wang Fu, and just two days ago, the emperor praised him. How could they not take care of him? Moreover, isn't he quite skilled at identifying treasures? How could he be short on money?" He turned his head to look at Peony: "Dan Niang, do you still remember Yuan Shi Jiu? We met him once before. Tall and thin, the one who followed Liu Chuan and Pan Rong together."

  As soon as he said that, Peony suddenly remembered. She recalled Yuan Shi Jiu's thin and frail appearance, and how Ming Ming had appeared with Liu Cheng and others, but always maintained a deep-seated attitude of disdain towards those pampered young masters. To be honest, her impression of that person wasn't bad at all. However, as for the King of Min himself, she wasn't quite clear about him. Nevertheless, she was able to discern some meaning from Li Wei's tone and expression, roughly guessing that the King of Min would be a rival to the King of Ning, and Li Wei didn't want her to get involved with anything related to the King of Min.

  From the perspective of Li's family relatives, she can understand why Li Wei doesn't want to have any dealings with Ning Wang's enemies; but she owes Jiang Changyang so much, and this is just a small request for him, it's as easy as lifting her hand. This favor, no matter what, she must help.

  Besides, she's just a small and insignificant old lady, what does it have to do with her buying stones and the competition between the princes? The Ning King wouldn't be angry with the Li family just because she bought the stone from the Minister of War's estate. If that were true, then all businessmen would have to ask about their customers' identities before making a sale. How could business be done like that? Would she not sell peonies to someone from the Minister of War's estate if they came to buy them one day? What would happen if she didn't sell? Was she waiting for trouble? Therefore, Peony was silent for a moment before saying: "I remember him, he's quite good at identifying treasures and isn't a bad person either."

  Jiang Changyang, being among them, naturally found it easier to understand Li Wei's meaning. He smiled lightly and said: "Everyone has difficulties at times, regardless of who they used to work for and how much power that person had; he urgently needs money, and it has nothing to do with his ability. Having a lot of money and being worry-free doesn't necessarily mean one is a dragon or phoenix among people, and being a woodcutter in the mountains doesn't necessarily mean one is an uneducated rustic. Of course, if He Niang finds it inconvenient, I can find someone else."

  Peony grasped the word "once" he used, meaning that Yuan Shijiu was no longer serving King Min, and had nothing to do with Ning Wangfu. She was just a businesswoman, a businesswoman who owed favors and needed to return them. She said seriously: "I'm convenient. Very convenient."

  Jiang Changyang smiled happily and said, "Don't worry, I absolutely won't cause you any trouble."

  Jiang Changyang looked at Peony with a smile, while Peony refused to listen to her own words and insisted on doing things according to Jiang Changyang's meaning. Suddenly, a surge of evil fire rose in Li Wei's heart, he looked at Peony unhappily and blurted out: "Since that's the case, next time I'll find someone else to help you buy it, you just do what you should do."

  Peony glanced at Li Wei quickly and said quietly, "Brother-in-law, thank you for your concern. But this is just a small matter, I can handle it myself." Even if one were to say that Li Wei's behavior at this time was not quite right, her wish to be able to live well in this world without relying on anyone would not allow her to go ask people for help no matter how big or small the matter was.

  The tone of Peony was very gentle, but the meaning of not being able to refuse was very strong. Li Wei had never heard her speak to him in such a tone before, and he was both startled by his own loss of composure and unable to accept it. He pursed his lips tightly, looking at Peony, who gazed back at him quietly, her eyes black as coal, with an emotion inside that he found very unfamiliar. This Peony, increasingly strange to him, was also becoming more and more distant. Yes, she would only become more and more distant from him, the emotions accumulated over many days suddenly surging up to his chest, he looked at Peony with a mix of grievance and resentment, not saying a word.

  Jiang Changyang stood up and said: "It's getting late, I'll take my leave first. Tomorrow at noon, I'll wait for you at the entrance."

  Peony exclaimed and stood up to see them off. Jiang Changyang glanced at Li Wei and said, "No need to be polite, He Niang, you're busy."

  Peony didn't hesitate, and had Yuhe send the two of them away. She turned around and poured a cup of tea for Li Yinzhen, handing it to him with both hands. Li Yinzhen refused to take it, still pursing his lips tightly and staring at her intensely.

  "Is Brother-in-law worried that I and Yuan 19 will get into trouble by buying stones? I don't know what the situation is like with the Min and Ning royal families now, but I just think of myself as a businessman. Buying stones is just a small matter, and besides, I still owe Mr. Jiang a favor that must be repaid. But if it would cause you trouble, please tell me clearly, and I'll think of another way to handle it, and you can also get involved."

  She had considered everyone's feelings, Li Wei turned her face away in anger and said after a while: "I won't add trouble, I just worry that you will be deceived. In this world, there are many bad people, often being cheated without knowing what happened." He was jealous, jealous of everything unmarried and unattached, who could approach her with justification.

  If it's not because of her worries, then she can put her mind at ease. This matter is even more unavoidable. Peony fell silent for a moment before saying: "There are many bad people, but there are also many good people. I won't stop moving forward just because I know that there are bad people in this world. No matter what's ahead, whether it's good or bad, I have to keep moving forward. Nobody can replace me. Just like you, brother, your life is under your feet, and you still need to walk the path that you should take."

  "You actually believe he's a good person and would never harm you, but you don't trust me, deliberately avoiding my kindness."

  "Peony gritted her teeth and said stiffly, 'I really do believe he's a good person, and it's true that he deliberately avoided your kindness! I heard you're getting engaged soon, and I don't want to let any misunderstandings arise, making everyone feel uncomfortable. Your parents aren't happy, my family isn't happy, and I'm not happy either!' It's better to rip off the band-aid early on, one swift cut is more comfortable than this sticky and suffocating feeling."

  The night breeze gently swept by, the willow branches danced under the moonlight, Li Wei remained silent for a long time, looking down at the dancing shadows of the willow branches on the ground. After a while, he said: "I just can't let go, I came to see you on purpose. Since it's like this, then forget it." He had wanted to ask if she was willing to wait for him, but he probably already knew the answer, so he didn't dare ask. Thinking about it, it was also laughable - he was about to get engaged, what right did he have to be jealous and interfere with her relationships with others?

  Peony didn't dare look at him and said softly: "Nineteen is a good person."

  Li Wei smiled lightly: "Who knows?" He adjusted his sleeves and said, "I've been in a bad mood lately, and I drank a bit too much wine. Plus, my conversation with Jiang Changyang didn't go well, so I was a bit out of line. If you see him tomorrow, please apologize to him on my behalf and ask him not to mind."

  "Peony had previously seen the two of them seemingly discussing something with great pleasure, and thought they had already settled the matter. But now it seems that they haven't come to an agreement after all. She couldn't help but feel a bit worried: 'Is it something important? If he doesn't agree, what will you do?'"

  As soon as she finished speaking, Li Wei had already smiled lightly and gently stroked her face, turned around and left: "You don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine."

  His fingertips were icy cold, and the feeling of brushing against his face was like being brushed by a willow branch at dawn. Peony stood quietly under the moonlight, watching him walk further and further away.