Meanwhile, Jiang Yihuan was all smiles after picking a peony. Holding the flower high, she beamed.
“Zhu Xian! I’m going to give this to Wei Zhao!”
Zhu Xian was a little disappointed.
What? It’s not for me?
Jiang Yihuan held the blossom in front of her face. For a moment, it was impossible to tell whether the flower or the girl was more beautiful.
Not far away stood Cui Jingzhi. The man beside him exclaimed in admiration,
“Brother Cui, that young lady is truly stunning. Aren’t you going to recite poetry with her? If you keep exchanging poems, before long you’ll…”
“…slip away somewhere secluded and do something that shouldn’t be done in public.”
Cui Jingzhi replied unhurriedly,
“She’s Jiang Qianli’s sister. Instead of thinking about avenging her brother, she willingly became Wei Zhao’s kept woman—a canary in his gilded cage. I have no respect for a woman like that. If you’re interested, why don’t you go?”
Luo Changfeng’s curiosity was immediately piqued.
Jiang Qianli’s sister? Jiang Qianli is so arrogant, but his sister seems to know how to adapt.
He picked a snow-white peony, walked over, and gracefully offered it to Jiang Yihuan.
“Miss Jiang, my surname is Luo. I’m the son of the Minister of Revenue. Please accept this flower.”
He considered himself handsome and refined—more approachable than Cui Jingzhi and gentler than Wei Zhao. Which young lady could resist someone like him?
Jiang Yihuan jumped in fright and snapped,
“I don’t want your flower! Do you even know who I am? I belong to Wei Zhao!”
“I know,” Luo Changfeng said with a smile. “But General Wei often leaves the capital on inspection tours. During those long, lonely nights, who will keep you company? I’d be more than happy to fill the vacancy. When General Wei returns, you can go back to accompanying him.”
Jiang Yihuan was dumbfounded.
This man wants to put a green hat on Wei Zhao? Would Wei Zhao ever agree to that?
While she stood frozen in disbelief, Luo Changfeng snatched the peony from her hand.
Zhu Xian barked,
“Young Master Luo, do you have a death wish? She’s General Wei’s woman!”
“Don’t be angry,” Luo Changfeng replied casually. “General Wei and I are friends. I’ll simply give him two beauties in exchange for Miss Jiang’s company.”
Jiang Yihuan became anxious.
“Wei Zhao would never let me stay with you! He likes me the most! Keep dreaming!”
Luo Changfeng laughed heartily. Just as he was about to tease her some more, Pei Nianfang suddenly cried out in alarm,
“General Wei! Why is he here?”
Everyone immediately turned to look.
Wei Zhao was dressed in the attire of an ordinary noble young master, his usual overbearing aura carefully concealed.
He extended a hand toward Jiang Yihuan.
“Little fool, what are you standing there for? Come here.”
She hurried over.
“Wei Zhao! Wei Zhao! The flower I picked for you was stolen by him! What should we do?”
She pointed accusingly at Luo Changfeng.
The smile vanished from Wei Zhao’s face.
“…Let me think.”
Luo Changfeng tucked the flower into his sleeve and greeted him cheerfully.
“Brother Wei, it’s been a long time. Back when we studied at the Imperial Academy, I even copied your homework.”
Wei Zhao sneered.
“I let you copy my homework, and this is how you repay me? By stealing her flower?”
Luo Changfeng rubbed his nose awkwardly.
“…Ahem. I’ll be honest. I quite like the little beauty beside you.”
Wei Zhao froze.
“…What did you say?”
“Why don’t you give Miss Jiang to me? I won’t take her for free. I’ll trade you two beautiful women in return.”
Everyone knew Wei Zhao was obsessed with power, not women.
He had probably taken Jiang Qianli’s sister merely to vent his anger. How precious could she possibly be to him?
Jiang Yihuan was nearly in tears. Tugging desperately on Wei Zhao’s sleeve, she pleaded,
“No, Wei Zhao! I don’t like him! I only want to stay with you!”
Without another word, Wei Zhao grabbed Luo Changfeng by the collar and hurled him straight into the flowerbeds.
The crowd’s legs nearly gave out from fright.
People always said Wei Zhao was arrogant, but today they witnessed it with their own eyes.
Even Cui Jingzhi remained silent.
He disliked Wei Zhao, but that didn’t mean he was foolish enough to provoke an enraged Wei Zhao.
After quite a while, Luo Changfeng finally crawled out of the flowerbed.
The soft mud had stained his robes from head to toe.
“Wei Zhao! You’re attacking me over a woman?”
Wei Zhao kicked him squarely in the chest.
“Who gave you permission to call me by my name? Even your father doesn’t dare.”
Luo Changfeng gasped in pain, clutching his chest.
“Wei Zhao! You’re becoming completely lawless! Do you really think you’ll one day receive the Nine Bestowments? Your father—and the entire Wei family—would never allow it!”
Wei Zhao wrapped an arm around Jiang Yihuan.
“That’s none of your concern. Just remember this—she’s your ancestor. If you ever disrespect her again, I’ll twist your head off.”
Jiang Yihuan frowned in dissatisfaction.
“Wei Zhao, if you want children, we’ll have them ourselves. He’s too stupid. I don’t want to be his ancestor.”
Wei Zhao: “…”
Luo Changfeng: “…”
Hearing that guests had caused a disturbance, the Grand Princess hurried over with the support of her palace maids.
Seeing a savior, Luo Changfeng immediately complained,
“Your Highness, General Wei threw me into your flowerbeds. He clearly has no respect for you!”
The Grand Princess looked heartbroken and shouted at Wei Zhao,
“You little rascal! Can’t you be a little more careful? Couldn’t you at least choose a better place?”
Luo Changfeng nodded vigorously.
“Exactly!”
“If you insist on throwing people,” the Grand Princess continued, “throw them onto the stone pavement! Why throw them into my flowerbeds? What if you damaged my precious flowers?”
Luo Changfeng: “…”
Your Highness…?
Wei Zhao cupped his fists apologetically.
“Your Highness is absolutely right.”
Then he added,
“I’ve heard you have Jade Terrace peonies. Would you be willing to give me a single bloom?”
The Grand Princess’s carefully painted brows shot upward.
“You little rascal! Don’t push your luck!”
Those Jade Terrace peonies had been lovingly cultivated by her late husband.
Only a handful had bloomed.
How could she bear to part with even one?
Wei Zhao smiled.
“In that case, we won’t force you to give up something you treasure. We’ll take our leave.”
He took Jiang Yihuan’s hand and left.
The Grand Princess couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry.
Wei Zhao had become this outrageously bold, but the late emperor bore part of the blame.
Years ago, the late emperor had forced Crown Prince Zhangde to death through the Witchcraft Affair. For many years he refused to appoint another crown prince, only finally naming the current emperor when he was already nearing death.
After the current emperor ascended the throne, rebellions repeatedly erupted across the empire.
To stabilize the realm, he heavily promoted a new generation of officials and generals, and Wei Zhao was among them.
Wei Zhao possessed extraordinary military talent.
Whenever any province rebelled, he personally led the campaign to suppress it, gradually bringing military authority into his own hands.
If not for his father restraining him, the young man might already have been granted the unprecedented honor of the Nine Bestowments.
On the carriage ride back to the residence, Jiang Yihuan sighed regretfully.
“Wei Zhao, peonies are so beautiful. I picked one especially for you, but it was stolen.”
Wei Zhao’s brows twitched.
“You picked a flower… for me?”
“Mhm. The sweetest cherries and the prettiest flowers—I always want to save them for you. You’re the person I like the most.”
Her brother and Zhu Xian were also among the people she liked most.
To Jiang Yihuan, there were many kinds of “favorite.”
Wei Zhao barely managed to suppress the corners of his lips from rising.
“…Ahem. I don’t actually care much for flowers. Do you like them?”
“I do! Back in the countryside, no one played with me. I could only pick flowers and grass and pretend they were my friends. I even gave them names.”
For some reason, Wei Zhao’s heart ached.
Jiang Qianli is useless. Why didn’t he bring his sister to the capital to raise her?
Thinking of it, he asked aloud.
Jiang Yihuan fiddled with her fingers.
“Things are expensive in the capital. My brother couldn’t afford to support me. At least in the countryside I could eat wild vegetables. If I’d really come to the capital, I might have starved to death one day.”
“Your brother’s salary isn’t small. Where did all his money go?”
“He has to pay rent, buy food, buy clothes, pay for horses and carriages, and entertain his friends. How could that little salary possibly be enough?”
Wei Zhao looked puzzled.
“Aren’t those all minor expenses?”
Jiang Yihuan blinked.
“…Mi… minor expenses?”
She suddenly realized there was no way someone born into the wealth and privilege of the aristocracy like Wei Zhao could ever understand such things.