The crowd of women fell silent, and Cheng Meiniang fanned herself lightly and smiled: "Sister He's wish may be just to let people all over the world see flowers, but it's really a big deal. However, I think that from birth, people are divided into six or nine classes, and these flowers are also divided into six or nine classes. Whether one can afford to raise them or not is already decided. Nevertheless, I am willing to visit your garden at the right time, and when the time comes, please let me know. If it's really beautiful, a garden tour and banquet are also possible. Even if you don't want to charge too much, it will definitely not let you lose out."

  Xue Niang shouted: "Mei Niang sister, don't you forget what you said today!"

  Cheng Wan's daughter smiled and said, "I've always been a person who keeps my word, and I don't like to bully people for no reason. Those who know me will understand that I am fair. As long as this garden is built well, I'm willing to be the first guest to hold a spring banquet there. Whether you're doing it to make a living or to fulfill your wishes, not being willing to swallow your pride and ask others for help is having backbone." She glanced at Qi Yuzhu faintly as she said this.

  Qī Yùzhū saw that no matter what she said, even people who looked down on Mǔdān's identity didn't help or agree with her, but instead all made veiled criticisms of her from other directions, which made her feel indignant. Unable to understand where she had gone wrong, her expression became even more gloomy.

  Wu Shi Jiu Niang watched with a calm smile, her head lowered as she gazed left and right at the ivory silk fan in her hand, as if there was a flower on it.

  Xue Niang blinked her eyes and said, "Then wouldn't I be useless?"

  "Ah, no, you're very useful, at least looking at you can make people happy, instead of making them want to cry."

  Qī Yùzhū realized that Chéng Mèiniáng's words were sarcastic about her makeup, and her face became even more sullen. She almost got up and turned to leave immediately. It was a kind-hearted woman next to her who pulled her back and whispered a few words to her, and only then did her expression slightly improve.

  Peony didn't know what kind of person Cheng Mei Niang was, and why she hadn't even seen her own villa yet, but still said such things. She also didn't know why Cheng Mei Niang always targeted Qi Yu Zhu. But she wouldn't hold onto great hope just because of what Cheng Mei Niang said, thinking that people would really go to Bao's family garden when the time came. Still, she tentatively invited everyone: "If so, after the garden is built, if you all have free time, I'll invite you again to come and play."

  This time everyone did not express opposition, and they all said: "You don't know where we live, let Xue Niang inform us when the time comes. If there is free time, we will definitely come."

  Xue Niang suddenly remembered why she brought these people to find Peony, and pulled Peony's sleeve: "He sister, talk about the fragrance of Fuhua clothes, you quickly say, how is it done? Didn't you say there are a few other methods? Tell us all at once." She whispered in Peony's ear: "After you gave me that fragrance last time, no one dared to laugh at me again. Today, you must let them open their eyes! Ah, the fragrance on your body today is plum blossom scent, it smells so good. You tell them this formula, just tell me alone, and I'll show off to them."

  Peony heard her say lovely things, smiled and responded, leaned in close to her ear and whispered a few words.

  Qī Yùzhū coughed softly and said, "Xiǎo Niáng, you're so unreasonable. He sister's family runs a spice shop, these incense recipes are probably secret and meant to be sold for money, how could they easily share them with us? Don't make things difficult for others."

  Using a common hobby to bring each other closer, this is a tried-and-true method. Mudan said: "Yu Zhu sister doesn't have to worry, our family may run a spice shop, but we've never sold incense. The reason I know how to make incense is because my second brother likes it. What I know isn't much, but it's enough for us to exchange with each other. If you all think what I say is good, when you go to our family's shop, you can ask my second brother, he knows more and better."

  Wu Shi Jiu Niang spoke first: "I have a fragrance recipe that has been passed down from the palace, I can also share it with everyone."

  "Take two liang of cloves, two liang of sandalwood, two liang of licorice root, half a liang of zerumbet, and half a liang of peony bark; add two fen of fennel, lightly stir-fried. Grind all into powder, then mix in a small amount of musk, grind until even, apply with thin paper, and wrap in a new cloth to wear on the body. Can also add a bit of borneol, but absolutely cannot be dried over fire. The more you sweat, the more fragrant it becomes, most suitable for use on hot days."

  "My method was taught to me by the late Princess Ning. Take two liang of agarwood, cut it into small pieces and put them in a cloth bag. Suspend the bag in a pot, add honey water to soak, and simmer over low heat for one day. Then take two liang of sandalwood, soak it in clear tea overnight, dry it until the sandalwood smell is gone; Take two qian of dragon's brain, two qian of musk, one qian of agarwood, and one qian of sal ammoniac, grind them into a fine powder, mix with refined honey, and store it for over a month. Take it out, add dragon's brain and musk to shape into pills, and burn incense as usual."

  "The Snow Girl cleared her throat and proudly told everyone about the plum blossom fragrance she had just obtained from Peony: 'Two mace of cloves, one mace each of zerumbet and sandalwood, five fen of fennel slightly roasted, five fen of aloeswood, one and a half mace each of galbanum and angelica, a small amount of musk and dragon's blood. All chopped up. Choose a sunny day without wind or snow when the plum blossoms are in bud but not yet open, tie them up with silk thread in the evening so they can't open, and pick them together with the stem before sunrise the next day. Mix with the above spices, dry in the shade, and carry with you. It's lovely and charming!'"

  Several other women also said a few recipes, but because they were ordinary, no one paid much attention. Qi Yuzhu saw that the situation was not good and the limelight had been taken away by the two of them, so she hurriedly brought out a recipe for a beauty cream made from deer antler paste that Madame Pei had secretly kept: "Use two liang of deer antler paste, one liang each of angelica, asarum, white peony, white atractylodes, white paeonia, and heartless heavenly gate winter, and almond, grind them into a powder, mix with milk, put in a silver pot, simmer over low heat until it becomes a gel, apply a layer before sleep at night, wash clean the next morning, can whiten and refine the skin, the effect is very good."

  Cui Niang smiled and said: "It's all elegant words, but I can't remember them. Why don't we wait for me to ask someone to lend us a pen and ink to write it down? Later, everyone will have a copy, isn't that better?" Without asking anyone else's opinion, she directly ordered the maid beside her to go ask Li Maniang's steward for pen and ink, and then spread out the Shu paper in public, writing fluently.

  The peony saw her words and couldn't help but smile slightly, it turned out that this Cheng Mei Niang was indirectly showing off her good handwriting to everyone. Qi Yu Zhu, who had a crush on Li Wei in her heart, regarded all women as enemies, appropriately triggering others' desire to show off; Xue Niang was innocent and lovely, her father's official position was high, and she could adjust the atmosphere well; Wu Shi Jiu Niang, with an extraordinary background, lightly showed off her elegance and friendship with the Yuan Fei of Ning Wang Fu, which couldn't be easily shaken. Cheng Mei Niang dared to speak and act, and had other talents as well. The candidates chosen by Cui Fu Ren for Li Wei were indeed each with their own strengths and advantages, really not to be underestimated. However, in her opinion, Cui Fu Ren should have been more inclined towards Wu Shi Jiu Niang.

  So, the noble ladies were competing to show off their talents in order to stand out and win a good marriage; but she was just purely taking advantage of the situation, trying to get familiar with people's faces, so that it would be easier to do business in the future. Thinking about it this way, it's simply a win-win situation! Therefore, Peony sincerely appreciated everyone's strengths and advantages, and praised them highly. As a result, although everyone's attitude towards her couldn't be described as extremely warm, it wasn't bad either. They all expressed that when they had time, they would go to the He family's spice shop to take a look, and even directly said that once Peony's new garden was completed, they would definitely invite them over for a visit.

  Only Qi Yuzhu, who knew Li Wei's intentions for Peony, felt a wave of resentment and thought that Peony was really overbearing, from then on she had a 120% distrust of Peony.

  When Mrs. Cui heard the news, she knew that Peony was selling He's family spices and her own Peony Garden with these people, she couldn't help but say: "This child, doesn't let go of any opportunity to make money, doesn't think about it, if others go back and tell their families, our relatives will only know how to do business, how can that be good." After finishing, she ordered someone to invite everyone out to sit down and end this awkward scene.

  The seating arrangement of the two parties was separate, and they did not disturb each other. Only Xue Niang had obtained Madame Du's permission, stuck to Peony like an octopus, sat with Peony, and whispered in her ear: "Do you know what these people are doing here today?"

  The peony shook its head.

  Xue Niang said in a low voice, "I'll tell you, they actually heard that the Emperor intends to let Ning Wang become the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Works, and your family's cousin may get a good position, so they came. Do you understand?"

  This is equivalent to a signal that the future of King Ning is boundless, and the Li family will also rise to prominence. That's why the daughter of Wu from Qinghe appeared. Peony nodded slightly, smiling at Xue Niang, could it be that Madame Dou also had this intention?

  Xue Niang saw her smiling at herself, and couldn't help but become flustered: "Don't be allowed to laugh like that! I didn't come for this. I came because my mother and Mrs. Li are friends, so I came. If I had that kind of intention, wouldn't I go to please the master's family? And accompany you here to chat idly?"

  The peony saw her face turn red and hurriedly admitted his mistake: "Yes, yes, I laughed wrongly, I won't laugh anymore." After finishing speaking, he indeed straightened up his face.

  The Snow Girl couldn't help but laugh again, reaching out to pull her cheek: "You look terrible!"

  The two of them laughed for a while, and Snow gently leaned on Peony's shoulder, saying in a low voice: "He sister, you don't know me. Unless it's that person, I would have the heart to fawn over people like they do. Otherwise, I'm not patient."

  "Since you don't like it, naturally you won't be willing to do anything." Similarly, if others don't like her, no matter what she does, it's wrong, even breathing is wrong.

  "But there are some people, even if you're willing to do something for them with all your heart, or just want to take a closer look, you still don't have the chance."

  "Peony pinched her face: 'Speaking so heavily, little girl has something on her mind?'"

  Xue Niang didn't say a word, raised her hand and drank the Rain Dew Spring wine in front of her in one gulp. She turned around and looked at Peony with a smile: "He sister, tomorrow I'll go to your villa with you, okay?"

  "Tomorrow I won't go to the villa," said Peony Way, "after a while I'll be planting flowers and will stay there for a period of time. At that time, I'll call you, okay?"