"Look, that girl is smiling at you." Xiaochen Kang'er curiously shouted to Lü Fang, "Do you know her?"

  Lü Fang stared blankly at the person in front of him, who was smiling brightly. Unbeknownst to him, a thin layer of sweat had formed on his palms. He certainly recognized who it was and had been thinking of ways to sneak into her garden, but he hadn't expected her to be so enthusiastic when she saw him. He was stunned for only a moment before quickly breaking out into a bright smile.

  Kang Er said: "Huh, she stopped." Then he said: "She must have mistaken the person. Look, look at her embarrassment."

  It doesn't matter if she recognizes him or not, this is a good opportunity to chat with her anyway, since it was she who smiled at him first. Lü Fangma walked up, smiling and bowing to Peony, saying: "Isn't this He Niang? Are you well?"

  "Peony hastily returned the courtesy: 'Mr. Lü Shi, you are well.'"

  Lü Fang was delighted to hear her accurately recite his ranking: "Since arriving in the capital, I've often heard your name. That day at Qujiang Pool, I was overjoyed. Unfortunately, it was all too sudden, and we didn't have time for a proper conversation. I've been thinking that if only I could visit you and ask for your guidance, it would be great. But then again, I feared you might find me too presumptuous. How fortunate to run into you today."

  "I dare not discuss teaching, we just learn from each other." Peony glanced at the azure round-necked robe on Lü Fang's body and couldn't help but think, how could this clothing be so similar? It was the same color, the same style. Nor did she know whether Jiang Changyang's clothes were made by a tailor who came to his door or by the needlework room inside.

  Lü Fang saw Peony quietly sizing up her clothes, and became even more certain that she had mistaken her for someone else. However, she pretended not to know and said: "To be honest, I've heard that you have grafted several peonies and am very interested in going to your garden to take a look."

  "Your information is quite up-to-date," Peony said, raising an eyebrow and gazing at him calmly.

  Lv Fang smiled and said without evasion: "I heard it from Mr. Cao."

  "Then you must also know that he's the one who wants to see more, right? You saw how he was when he met me that day. He made it so hard for me to buy flowers in this city that my Fragrant Garden almost didn't open. So I don't want him to know about my affairs either. As someone in your line of work, you should be able to understand my feelings and difficulties. Sorry."

  Lü Fang calmly said: "Hei Nang, don't worry. I...". He smiled and continued: "You can rest assured, I won't be participating in the Peony Flower Gathering this time."

  It's indeed related to the Peony Flower Assembly, it seems like it's inevitable now. Peony smiled slightly: "You won't just be here to observe, will you? You're a renowned figure, not participating would be a waste."

  Lü Fang fell silent for a moment, and a hint of pride appeared on his handsome face: "The participant is my father, I'm just an observer."

  "Then I definitely can't let you see it! You can evaluate it later. I still have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave first." With a slight bow and a gentle tap on the horse's abdomen, he walked past Lü Fang's side, leaving behind only a faint scent of cold plum blossoms.

  It was the first time he had been treated so coldly. Lü Fang smiled wryly and returned a courtesy: "You go slowly."

  Kang Er also felt unfair for her master and said resentfully, "Master, this woman is too arrogant. She doesn't even want to show you her flowers. But she doesn't know that in Luoyang, in the capital, there are many people who want to ask you to take a look at their flowers and give them some advice. You voluntarily want to see her flowers, but she treasures them like precious things and hides them deeply. It's really not knowing how to appreciate favors. At the peony flower meeting, Master, when you evaluate, you must be ruthless and make her lose face! Let's see if she can still be arrogant."

  Lü Fang said calmly, "Am I that kind of person? If I were that kind of person, who would have let me be the flower judge this time? Good is good, bad is bad, don't say anything else. Even if it's a flower sent from my own home, I won't show favoritism!" He said this out loud, but in his heart he thought, "This woman not only has an arrogant attitude, but also has a lot of confidence." Unlike those who planted flowers and begged him to give them some pointers, what she pursued was certainly the ultimate goal. A young woman like her understood how to plant such beautiful flowers, which was truly rare. The more she didn't let him look, the more he wanted to see, and he couldn't wait any longer. He had to think of a way to sneak into the flower garden.

  "Mother, he actually knows what flowers we planted! How did Cao Wanrong find out? It's clear that there is a traitor in our Fragrant Garden! We must investigate thoroughly and catch the person..."

  "Even if we find out, what can we do? Drive him away and invite another one? Under this sky, there's no wall that doesn't leak wind. Someone will always know, maybe unintentionally or maybe someone is deliberately inquiring. But so what? Even if he knows, what can he do? He won't go either! Besides, you think I'm the only one with a secret? Wait and see, most of the people attending the Peony Conference have secrets too!" At most, it's just a matter of good or bad. She didn't dare say she was absolutely number one, but she dared to say she was definitely in the top three. Of course, if it were really fair.

  Jiang Changyang's voice suddenly came from behind: "Then do you know that he is one of the main judges of this Peony Flower Meeting?"

  "Huh?!" Peony turned around in surprise, but saw Jiang Changyang wearing a bamboo-leaf-green round-necked narrow-sleeved robe, with a soft-soled green gauze hat on his head, and the black horizontal knife hanging from his waist. Although he was smiling warmly and spiritedly, both cheeks and chin, as well as around his mouth, had an extra layer of stubble - it seemed like he hadn't shaved for several days. She felt there were many things she wanted to say to him, but at that moment didn't know where to start, so simply gazed at him smiling, unable to utter a single word.

  Xu Er and others saw this, automatically slowed down, went to the back and told jokes with Wu, letting the two of them speak freely in front.

  Jiang Changyang saw Peony's surprised and delighted expression, his heart softened and warmed up. He urged the horse to hurry up and walked alongside her, saying in a low voice: "How come? Didn't expect to see me? You were taken aback and didn't speak, but you're so happy that you're silly?"

  "You're the foolish one. I knew you were coming, that's why I pretended not to recognize you! It's all your fault, luckily it was someone I slightly know, otherwise I would have died from embarrassment." Peony gave him a white eye, but then couldn't help but laugh, poking his arm lightly with the horse whip handle, and said softly: "How did you come here? I don't believe you just happened to run into me."

  Jiang Changyang smiled slyly: "Didn't you know I was coming? Of course, I should be here." He lowered his tone and said seriously: "You recognized the wrong person and still dare to blame me? Not only did you not admit your mistake, but you also dared to shirk responsibility? It's simply unreasonable! I would never recognize you wrongly. I can recognize you from 20 zhang away."

  "Twenty feet away? What a load of nonsense! I don't believe it!" Peony wasn't afraid of his fake stern face, and shouted: "Who told you to make a dress exactly the same as someone else's? And with that look in your eyes, it would be strange if I didn't get angry."

  Jiang Changyang stroked his chin, suddenly turned around and whispered with a smile: "Actually, you missed me. Seeing the familiar clothes made you think it was me, so you mistakenly recognized the person, right?"

  He leaned in a bit too close, and Peony felt his hot breath on her face, making her heart beat irregularly. She leaned back slightly and said softly, "Pfft! Who's thinking of you?"

  Jiang Changyang looked at her white jade-like earlobe gradually turning red, and chuckled. Before Peony became embarrassed, he stopped the car in time and said in a low voice: "Believe it or not, I can really recognize you from afar, no matter how many people are around. Dan Niang, I miss you."

  The peony puckered up her lips tightly, but somehow couldn't control the spread of smile on her face: "You must have been very busy these days?"

  "It's okay. I've just received a new task, and it'll probably take me about a day to complete." Jiang Changyang paused for a moment before saying, "In a few days, I might not be in the capital anymore, so you should be more careful yourself."

  "Is it dangerous?"

  Jiang Changyang said lightly, "It's nothing. I'm not afraid." How many of the things he did were not dangerous? They were all things that the emperor had to do with his own hands, but couldn't avoid doing. They were also things that couldn't be made public, and if done well, would bring merit, but if done poorly, would bring blame. However, risk and reward are proportional, and he wanted to achieve his goals, so he had to dare to seize opportunities and strive hard.

  That's what I mean, it's actually dangerous, and being an emperor isn't that easy. Peony felt a pang in her heart: "Then how long will you be gone?"

  Jiang Changyang smiled at her: "Still saying you don't miss me? I'm reluctant to go out and do something. Now it's like this, what will happen in the future?"

  "You say I'm fat and you're in trouble!" Peony raised her whip and lightly lashed him.

  Jiang Changyang dodged slightly and said, "Seriously speaking, I told you earlier that Lü Fang is one of the main judges for this Peony Flower Meet, it's not a joke."

  "Peony Way: "I know. I had someone investigate earlier, and the Lyu family is the most famous in Luoyang for cultivating peonies. He surpassed his father's skills at a young age, and his reputation has already exceeded that of the head of the Lyu household. At 16 years old, he cultivated a thousand-petaled yellow flower, known as 'Lyu Huang', which is currently planted in the palace of the Empress Dowager. Isn't that right?" Zhang Wulang's investigation was quite thorough."

  Jiang Changyang raised an eyebrow and said, "Since you know, why did you deliberately provoke him?"

  "His own father is participating, and Cao Wenyong also wants to participate. Countless people are flattering him. I'd rather not flatter him like those people do, accompanying him to Pingkangfang to sing and dance with courtesans. Anyway, the relationship won't work out, no matter how close we get. He should be aware that he shouldn't ask me to preview the flowers in advance. Besides, you said it yourself, he's just one of the main judges, there are others besides him. I'd rather take care of my own flowers and make them stunning, so when the time comes, they'll shock everyone. Even if he wants to suppress me, he'll have to find a suitable reason and explanation to convince people, otherwise his reputation will be ruined in the future. Anyway, I just won't give him the satisfaction."

  As soon as she mentioned the peony, her whole demeanor changed to one of pride and confidence. Jiang Changyang smiled slightly: "Of course it's not just him, fairness still exists. You can do whatever you want, I'm just afraid that when others say your flowers are not well-grown, you'll get angry."

  "Many mouths are hard to adjust, no matter what, there will always be people who say it's not good. I think openly. Don't mention this anymore, I just came from the other courtyard of the Chu State Marquis' residence and saw Madame Bai, her situation is very bad, I'm worried. I asked you, what exactly happened between her and Pan Rong? Is it convenient for you to tell me?"