18
Tang Xin’s sudden intrusion left Tang Cheng displeased. Peony Garden was her territory, and Tang Xin barging in so casually was nothing short of blatant disrespect.
Her beautiful face was clouded with frustration—she was furious.
“Tang Xin, what are you doing here? You’re not welcome!”
Tang Xin had arrived in high spirits, but she hadn’t expected her fourth sister to outright dismiss her in front of Young Lord Wen. Embarrassed and indignant, her face flushed red.
But Tang Xin wasn’t one to back down easily. She had carefully dressed up for this occasion, her goal crystal clear—she was here for her beloved Young Lord Wen. There was no way she would leave so easily.
“Fourth Sister, didn’t you say you wanted the tricolor peony I cultivated? I’ve brought it for you.”
Tang Xin took a deep breath and lifted her lips into a gentle smile. Her voice was soft and composed as she stated her purpose. After speaking, she gestured for Jinshu to present the potted tricolor peony from the basket.
Displaying her exceptional gardening skills in front of Wen Huai’an was another of her objectives.
She had deliberately emphasized that this rare tricolor peony was her own creation.
Peonies symbolized wealth and prosperity, making them highly favored among noble ladies.
If she showcased this unique talent, she would surely gain admiration from many.
Wen Huai’an was a refined nobleman—surely, he too appreciated rare and exquisite flora.
As expected, she caught a glimpse of astonishment flickering in his eyes, a mix of admiration and surprise.
A hint of pride welled up within Tang Xin.
The tricolor peony was indeed stunning. Shades of pink, yellow, and blue blended harmoniously, its layered petals rich in color and vibrancy, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.
Wen Huai’an was no exception.
Except for Tang Cheng.
She had seen countless rare and exquisite flowers—this so-called tricolor peony was nothing special in her eyes.
After a quick glance, she lost interest and instead searched through the original host’s memories. Finally, she unearthed the details from the recesses of her mind.
Tang Xin hadn’t lied.
The original host had indeed asked for a tricolor peony. It happened on the very morning Tang Cheng first arrived in this world. The original host had a deep fondness for peonies, and upon hearing that Tang Xin had cultivated a never-before-seen tricolor variety, she had eagerly sent someone to request it.
After taking over this body, Tang Cheng had completely forgotten about it. She hadn’t expected that three days later, Tang Xin would take the initiative to deliver the flower.
Interesting.
Her gaze shifted to Wen Huai’an’s unparalleled handsome face. Then, she glanced at Tang Xin, whose shy yet delighted eyes kept sneaking toward him.
In an instant, Tang Cheng understood her true intentions.
Tang Xin had set her sights on her child’s father.
She was blatantly using this as an excuse to get close to Wen Huai’an, using Tang Cheng as a stepping stone.
What a well-played scheme.
Did Tang Xin really think she was so easy to exploit?
Tang Cheng let out a displeased snort and unceremoniously issued an order to leave.
“The flowers have been received. You can go now.”
Tang Xin’s smile froze for a moment, caught off guard by the abrupt dismissal. Instinctively, she glanced toward Wen Huai’an.
Unfortunately for her, his gaze remained fixed on the tricolor peony, completely ignoring her presence.
A wave of frustration surged through Tang Xin.
“Why are you looking at Wen Huai’an?” Tang Cheng sneered. “He’s just a guest, he doesn’t get to make decisions here. Stop wasting your effort. I am the master of this peony garden.”
She lifted her chin and mercilessly exposed Tang Xin’s little schemes.
“Isn’t that right, Wen Huai’an?”
Hearing her question, Wen Huai’an finally shifted his attention from the tricolor peony to Tang Cheng. A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“Mm, you’re the master here. It’s your call,” he agreed readily. Then, as if suddenly realizing something, he added with amusement, “But I just noticed that your so-called peony garden doesn’t actually have a single peony in sight. Why don’t I send some over?”
Tang Cheng glanced at Wen Huai’an with satisfaction. As expected, her child’s father hadn’t let her down. Even better, his well-intended suggestion had conveniently paved the way for her to trap someone else.
Seizing the opportunity, Tang Cheng graciously turned down Wen Huai’an’s offer—only to shamelessly throw the burden onto Tang Xin instead.
“No need. Didn’t Tang Xin say she cultivated this tricolor peony herself? If she can grow such a rare variety, she must be quite skilled in horticulture. I’ll just ask her for more peonies. Once the whole courtyard is filled with them, this place will finally live up to its name as the Peony Garden.”
With that, Tang Cheng openly and unapologetically demanded peonies from Tang Xin.
For a split second, Tang Xin’s delicate face twisted in frustration.
So she’s gotten addicted to taking advantage of her?!
Before she could protest, Wen Huai’an delivered the final blow.
“That’s a great idea,” he said smoothly. “Tang Xin, you and Tang Cheng are such close sisters. You were generous enough to gift her a tricolor peony, so I’m sure you’d be more than happy to cultivate an entire garden’s worth for her.”
Then, he turned his gaze toward Tang Xin, the corners of his thin lips curving ever so slightly.
“Wouldn’t you agree, Third Miss Tang?”
Wen Huai’an had long noticed the admiration in Tang Xin’s eyes. Without hesitation, he decisively cut off any lingering hopes she might have had.
Dealing with Tang Cheng alone was already exhausting. He had to stay on high alert at all times, lest she carelessly go and find his child a stepfather. There was no way he had the time or energy to entertain another woman’s affections.
Jinshu stood frozen in shock.
Everyone in the grand Nanyang Marquis Manor knew that the Fourth Miss had a habit of openly snatching things from the Third Miss.
And yet, the esteemed Young Lord Wen had the audacity to talk about sisterly affection? Had he not just witnessed the Fourth Miss drive her sister out in front of everyone? How could he spout such blatant lies with a straight face?
Jinshu didn’t dare glance at her mistress. The Third Miss was surely seething by now.
Indeed, Tang Xin was livid. The budding affection she had only just begun to nurture shattered into pieces. She could no longer maintain a pleasant expression. She had always known her fourth sister was shameless, but today she had truly seen the depths of her audacity.
And Wen Huai’an whom she had once admired for his noble grace turned out to be nothing more than an enabler. The two of them weren’t even engaged anymore, yet he still sided with Tang Cheng? She had completely misjudged him.
With her fantasy utterly crushed, any lingering fondness she had for Wen Huai’an disappeared in an instant.
Tang Xin no longer cared to uphold the facade of a gentle and virtuous lady.
She must have been out of her mind to step foot into the Peony Garden. Tang Cheng was nothing but a greedy fool who didn’t know when to stop.
If she thought she could keep taking advantage of her, she had another thing coming!
From now on, she would make sure to steer clear of this place.
As for her precious tricolor peony—well, now that it was in Tang Cheng’s hands, there was no hope of getting it back.
Might as well consider it fed to the dogs!
Tang Xin swallowed the pain of losing her precious tricolor peony and let out a cold laugh.
“Young Lord Wen, you must be joking. Tang Cheng and I have always been like water and fire, we despise each other. Our relationship is terrible. This tricolor peony? She had her people threaten me into handing it over. Now that the flower has been delivered, I’ll take my leave.”
“Jinshu, we’re going!”
With that, Tang Xin stormed off with Jinshu in tow, her hurried steps making it look as if she were fleeing in defeat. She was so consumed by anger that she never even noticed the cracked table on her way out.
Tang Cheng grinned and gave Wen Huai’an a thumbs-up. “Nicely done!”
Wen Huai’an smiled humbly. “Not at all, this was all thanks to you.”
The four maids: “…”
Wen Huai’an raised an eyebrow. “Need me to send over some peonies?”
Tang Cheng rejected the offer without hesitation. “No need. The flowers in my courtyard are just fine. I’m not looking to replace them.”
“They’re just ordinary flowers—what does it matter what’s planted? As long as they’re neatly trimmed and look nice, that’s all that matters.”
“Not worried about the name being misleading?” Wen Huai’an chuckled.
After Tang Xin’s interruption, Wen Huai’an had gained some new perspective. This girl, Tang Cheng, didn’t think like others—she couldn’t be judged by conventional standards. He needed to take his time with her.
“It’s just a name for a courtyard. If I ever get tired of it, I can change it. Things don’t always live up to their names, so why fuss over it?”
Tang Cheng was completely unconcerned.
The four maids: “……”
Wasn’t their mistress always the one making a fuss over everything?
“That makes sense!” Wen Huai’an agreed. “Everyone says Fourth Miss Tang is just a pretty airhead, but I’d say that’s misleading too.”
Tang Cheng beamed.
“You have great taste!”
The “brainless beauty” was the original owner of this body—she certainly wasn’t.
“Anyone with a brain can see that!”
Wen Huai’an smirked, secretly amused. So Tang Cheng liked hearing compliments? That was a useful thing to remember.
The four maids: “……”
Wen Huai’an took a sip of tea, then, with great interest, teased, “Tang Cheng, I just helped you out. Don’t I deserve a reward?”
Tang Cheng was a generous person. With great magnanimity, she pointed at the extravagant three-colored peony. “Here, this pot of peonies is yours.”
Wen Huai’an: “……”
He fell silent for a moment, then met Tang Cheng’s gaze. “Can I exchange it for something else?”
Tang Cheng gave him a puzzled look. He had clearly been fascinated by the peony earlier—was he now hoping for a strengthening elixir instead?
She frowned.
“You want a strengthening elixir?”
Wen Huai’an froze for a moment, then simply laid it out. “No. Can we get engaged again?”
Dream on!
Tang Cheng turned her head and flatly rejected him. “That’s not happening. Just take the three-colored peony.”
It wasn’t like she cared—Tang Xin had given it to her anyway.
The four maids, however, felt their hearts ache.
That peony could sell for an astronomical price!
Wen Huai’an: “……”
As expected, still a no.
Not that he was disappointed. He hadn’t actually expected a reward in the first place.
“No need, it was just a small favor,” Wen Huai’an said casually before shifting the topic with a serious tone. “Apologies, I left in a hurry today. I’ll have the payment for the strengthening elixir delivered to you later.”
Hearing that he neither wanted anything nor forgot about the payment, Tang Cheng’s brief displeasure faded. She waved a hand generously. “No need. I already took a thousand taels of gold from your mother. A person should keep their word and not be too greedy.”
Could she stop bringing up those thousand taels of gold?
Wen Huai’an’s lips twitched.
Seeing that it was nearly noon and with the engagement already called off, making a new one impossible, he knew it wasn’t appropriate to linger any longer. He rose to take his leave.
The Peony Garden fell silent again.
“Miss, the three-colored peony is an entirely new variety, never seen before. It’s rare and incredibly valuable worth a fortune,” Zhenzhu hurriedly reminded Tang Cheng, fearing she might give it away again.
The other three maids nodded in agreement.
Tang Cheng was startled. She studied the peony more closely, baffled.
“It’s just three colors mixed together. Other than being decorative, does it really have any special value?”
To Tang Cheng, a flower was only truly valuable if it had uses beyond just looking pretty.
The four maids nodded in unison.
“The moment news of this three-colored peony spreads, it will take the entire capital by storm.”
Tang Cheng looked incredulous. Was a mere peony really that precious?
Still, she wasn’t particularly fond of it but her marquis father might be.
Now that her engagement with the Duke’s Manor was annulled, her father would surely feel guilty and distressed when he returned.
She might as well give it to him.
Satisfied with her decision, Tang Cheng happily determined the peony’s new owner.
…
Leaving the Marquis of Nanyang’s estate, Wen Huai’an glanced back at its grand vermilion gates, then up at the cloudless sky. Without another thought, he mounted his horse and rode away.
The future was long.
Wen Huai’an rode his horse through the bustling streets of the capital, unfazed by the curious gazes cast his way. Midway, he ran into two of his close friends— the heir of the Marquis of Dingbei and the eldest Young Lord of the Duke of Qiguo’s household.
The two, brimming with excitement, dragged him off to a teahouse.
Inside a private room, the heir of the Marquis of Dingbei raised his teacup with a broad grin.
“Come, come! Let’s toast with tea instead of wine—to celebrate Huai’an’s escape from misery and freedom from that so-called ‘brainless beauty’!”
“Congratulations, congratulations!”
The eldest Young Lord of the Duke of Qiguo’s household chimed in cheerfully, joining in the celebration.
Laughter echoed through the room.
Wen Huai’an, watching his two overly enthusiastic friends, felt his handsome face darken instantly.
“I never wanted to break off the engagement!”
“Do you two have any ideas on how I can get engaged to Fourth Miss Tang again?”
The laughter came to an abrupt halt.
The heir of the Marquis of Dingbei and the eldest Young Lord of the Duke of Qi’s household stared at Wen Huai’an in shock. Had he lost his mind?
What was there to miss about Fourth Miss Tang—the arrogant, vain, and brainless so-called beauty?
Their eyes darted toward each other, and in an instant, a plan was already forming.
**