Flourished Peony – Yang Zi, Li Xian

In Luoyang, Liu's household hosted an extravagant wedding for their son. The procession was grand, and it was heard that the bride was the daughter of a merchant, named He Weifang, with the courtesy name Mudan. The Tang dynasty traditionally looked down upon merchants, but no one expected that Liu’s household would arrange for the bridal procession to enter through the back courtyard.

Inside the house, there were no guests to be seen, nor did the groom come out to greet the bride. The servants of Liu’s household didn’t even bother to welcome the bride, and instead, the first order of business was to tally up the gold and silver valuables. Mrs. Liu explained the reason for not having a grand ceremony, and the bride didn’t mind it, proceeding to the main hall at the appointed time to conduct the wedding rites.

At dusk, the auspicious time had arrived. The groom, drunk, was supported by two attendants as they helped him to the hall to perform the wedding rites. The groom, Liu Chang, styled Zishu, was normally well-educated and composed, but he greatly despised merchants. He was dissatisfied with this marriage and looked down upon his bride, He Weifang, who came from a merchant family. The wedding was a farce and would go down in history as a complete fiasco.

He Weifang was the legitimate wife of Liu Chang, but according to the customs, she should have been arranged in the main chamber. However, Liu’s family placed her in a remote corner of the house. As the night deepened, and the hour grew late, Liu Chang had not yet arrived. His maid, Yu Lu, was about to go and find him when suddenly the door slammed open.

Liu Chang stormed in and immediately began insulting He Weifang, speaking with disdain and contempt, as though the He family had climbed above their station in this marriage. Fortunately, He Weifang was not particularly upset. Her mother had taken Liu’s family’s medicinal tribute, and her health had greatly improved, so there was little left for her to worry about. Yu Lu was concerned that the future might be difficult, but who could say for sure?

In the spring of the following year, the main lady of the household noticed a jade pendant on Yu Lu, which was quite valuable, and ordered a servant to take it, claiming it was for safekeeping. She also implied that He Weifang should use money to help Liu Chang with his preparations for the provincial exams.

She presented it as a way to strengthen the bond between He Weifang and Liu Chang, but in truth, she was envious of the wealth of the He family and wished to seize it for herself, hoping to use money to smooth her son’s career path. He Weifang didn’t object, and when Liu Chang arrived, she followed the main lady’s advice and offered money to help Liu Chang.

He immediately rejected her offer, which only made him more resentful of her. The main lady, in turn, defended Liu Chang and shifted all the blame onto He Weifang. After Liu Chang left, the main lady again suggested that He Weifang secretly manage things behind his back, keeping him in the dark. He Weifang had no choice but to agree. That day, she was planning to go to Fuyun Temple to pray for blessings.

The main lady instructed her not to wear new clothes and not to eat any meat or fish. Yu Lu noticed He Weifang’s discontent, but He Weifang, who could endure such cold treatment and disdain, was no fragile woman. The main lady, believing in the powers of a local sorcerer, insisted that He Weifang kneel for five full hours, without food or drink, and assigned Xiangfu to watch over her.

When Xiangfu fell asleep, He Weifang quietly sneaked out with money. Uncle Lin, a former senior worker at He Weifang’s father’s shop, was working at Fuyun Temple. He was greatly indebted to the He family, and he took good care of He Weifang, providing her with water and snacks. He Weifang, being kind-hearted, gave money to Uncle Lin and asked him to take Jiuer to see a doctor and get some medicine.

Uncle Lin accidentally hurt his back, and He Weifang, ever helpful, volunteered to move the flowers to the Zutianshi Hall. This hall, dedicated to the deity who dispenses justice, was the place where He Weifang made a wish. While there, she caught a man inside the hall performing a sham, and immediately scolded and struck him. Unbeknownst to her, this man was Jiang Zhangyang, known as the most corrupt official in the land, the Director of Flowers and Birds.

He had come on the orders of King Ning to accompany County Princess Li Youzhen to meet an old lover at the Liu residence. Hearing about He Weifang’s prayer against Liu Chang, he found the Liu household increasingly interesting. Liu Chang ordered his servants to dig up the precious peonies from He Weifang’s courtyard overnight for a flower feast the next day. This indirectly caused the flowers to wither and die, leaving He Weifang to personally tend to them in order to save them.

These peonies were a cherished legacy left to He Weifang by her mother. She had poured her heart and soul into caring for these flowers, not for the upcoming flower banquet, but for the memory of her mother. Liu Chang saw her efforts, and a small part of his cold demeanor began to thaw. The beloved daughter of Ning Wang, Princess Ji’an (Li Youzhen), and Liu Chang had mutual affections for each other.

Liu Shen, Liu Chang's father, believed that the Liu family would soon be allied with Ning Wang through marriage, aiming to climb the social ladder by associating with Duke Chen. However, Duke Chen thought differently. He felt that Ning Wang’s decision to send Jiang Zhangyang, the Director of Flowers and Birds, and a minor official in the Ministry of Rites, to accompany Princess Ji’an on a leisure trip to the Liu residence clearly indicated who Ning Wang’s favored son-in-law was.

Soon, Princess Ji’an arrived, and everyone at the Liu household was mobilized to greet her. Jiang Zhangyang, however, was so drunk that he remained unconscious in his sedan chair. Only after Princess Ji’an and Liu Chang exchanged pleasantries did Jiang Zhangyang finally get out of the carriage. When He Weifang saw Jiang Zhangyang’s face, she immediately remembered him as the man she had scolded and struck in the Zutianshi Hall. She couldn’t help but give a self-mocking smile.

Liu Shen and Mrs. Liu were all smiles, clearly eager to please, as they led the princess and the Director of Flowers and Birds to see the peonies. When Princess Ji’an tried to pick a peony to wear on her head, He Weifang quickly stopped her, explaining that these peonies were part of her dowry and had been passed down from her mother, so they should not be casually picked.

Liu Chang also tried to dissuade Princess Ji’an, but she was immediately displeased, mocking He Weifang for treating these flowers as treasures. He Weifang, unfazed by the sarcasm, pretended to be greedy for wealth. Liu Chang hurriedly apologized to the princess on He Weifang’s behalf. Jiang Zhangyang stepped in, and through his charm, he managed to convince Princess Ji’an to stop insisting on picking the peonies.

These court officials looked down upon common people who guarded their small plots of land, and He Weifang shared their disdain for corrupt officials like Jiang Zhangyang who accepted bribes. She pretended to be greedy, drawing laughter and some contempt from others. So what if she faced some ridicule? As long as she could protect these flowers, that was all that mattered.

During the banquet, Princess Ji’an, disregarding etiquette, sat in the seat that was originally meant for the Liu family’s daughter-in-law. He Weifang wasn’t particularly bothered by it and moved to an empty seat on the other side. A self-proclaimed assassin from the "Clear Justice Society" had infiltrated the banquet and attempted to assassinate Jiang Zhangyang while the musicians played their instruments. However, Jiang Zhangyang was prepared, and not a single injury was inflicted on him.

His subordinates quickly subdued the would-be assassins. As the assassins were captured, Liu Chang escorted Princess Ji’an to a secluded area to admire the flowers. Duke Chen, after expressing his goodwill to Liu Shen, asked to take his leave. Unexpectedly, Jiang Zhangyang ordered his men to clean up the mess and continue drinking and making merry. After eating and drinking to their fill, the group played archery in the Liu household’s courtyard.

Liu Chang was excellent with a bow and hit the target dead center with his arrow, but Jiang Zhangyang missed completely. Despite this, there were still those who praised him, as if they were pretending the situation was the opposite. He Weifang, who was responsible for preparing the tea and snacks, noticed that Jiang Zhangyang was deliberately restraining his skill. He wasn’t aiming for the target at all.

Instead, he was shooting the strings that held the coins for luck, causing them to fall. Just as He Weifang was about to ask Mrs. Liu if she could move the peonies back to her own courtyard, she overheard a shocking secret. The purple rhinoceros pill that the Liu family had given them as a royal gift was actually counterfeit.

The He family had provided a large sum of money and a precious daughter as part of the dowry, only to receive fake medicine in return. No wonder He Weifang’s mother had died after taking the medicine. He Weifang felt immense guilt and sorrow. After Yu Lu’s comforting words, she suddenly understood everything. She resolved to leave this dangerous place and plot her revenge in due course.

She instructed Yu Lu to pass on a message to Liu Chang, asking him to come and discuss a divorce. When He Weifang finally brought up the idea of divorce, Liu Chang’s pride was severely wounded, and he flatly refused. This left He Weifang feeling utterly despairing.

Li Youzhen was not satisfied with the guest room prepared for her by the Liu family, and used it as an opportunity to criticize He Weifang, saying that the household was poorly managed under her leadership, which had led to the failure of the assassination attempt at the banquet. Mrs.

Liu quickly explained that Liu Zishu did not care for He Weifang, and that the room He Weifang was staying in was isolated and out of the way, so it wouldn’t be a bother. Li Youzhen continued to make trouble, insisting that everyone who served at the flower banquet should be punished with eighty strikes of the rod, and that He Weifang, for her negligence, should receive forty strikes.

Liu Zishu, who had just arrived, was shocked upon hearing the princess’s words. Mrs. Liu thought the punishment of eighty strikes was too harsh and immediately tried to plead for leniency, which only made Li Youzhen more displeased. At this point, Liu Zishu stepped forward and said that he too had made a mistake, and should also be punished along with He Weifang.

Punishing Liu Zishu was not Li Youzhen’s intention, but seeing that Liu Zishu was unhappy with her interfering in the Liu family’s matters, Li Youzhen decided to let it go. Mrs. Liu stood up and left with her servants. Once they were alone, Li Youzhen placed her hand on Liu Zishu’s brow without any regard for propriety.

In the past, when Liu Shen was still serving in the capital, Liu Zishu and Li Youzhen had mutual affections, but King Ning, disapproving of the Liu family’s low status, had no good feelings for Liu Zishu, who was of the same status as his daughter. He had forcibly separated the couple. After Liu Shen’s demotion to Luoyang, Li Youzhen married someone else, and Liu Zishu wed a merchant’s daughter.

Three years later, though Li Youzhen claimed she had done it for Liu Zishu’s sake, he felt she had become a stranger. In addition, Princess Ji’an knew that Liu Zishu kept a portrait of her hanging in his room, and despite having married He Weifang for three years, he had never once been close to her. He was still a solitary figure. Liu Zishu was shocked, because these were private matters of the Liu household.

Since Princess Ji’an knew about them, she must have had people spying or inquiring. Liu Zishu said nothing more and got up to leave. At the evening banquet, countless sons of officials approached Jiang Zhangyang, offering land, property deeds, and valuable items, openly bribing the Director of Flowers and Birds. Jiang Zhangyang accepted everything without hesitation, putting it all into his own possession.

Liu Shen, upon hearing that He Weifang had gone to the shop, feared that it would disrupt his plans to sell the shop, so he immediately rushed over to stop her. Yu Lu tried to block Liu Shen’s servants to buy time for He Weifang to go to the shop, but unexpectedly, she was pushed hard into the water and hit a submerged rock. He Weifang tried to get help from others but to no avail.

In a panic, she tried to jump in to rescue Yu Lu, but Liu Chang arrived just in time to stop her and ordered his servants to rescue Yu Lu. By the time they pulled her out of the water, she had already passed away. He Weifang knelt down and desperately begged both Liu Shen and Liu Chang, but they could only tell her that Yu Lu was dead.

Liu Shen condoned the housekeeper's actions and refused to show any remorse, instead blaming He Weifang for not properly managing her servant. Liu Chang also advised He Weifang not to be overly concerned about a mere servant's death. He Weifang was so enraged that her eyes turned red, and she snapped back at him. Yu Lu’s death completely awakened He Weifang, and she decided she would no longer let anyone control her.

He Weifang began to go over her dowry and demanded that the items she had provided for Princess Ji’an’s guest room be returned. Liu Chang, who prided himself on his integrity, did not refuse. Jiang Zhangyang’s servant, Chuan Yu, was wearing the jade pendant that originally belonged to Yu Lu. After some negotiation, Jiang Zhangyang agreed to return the jade the following day. He Weifang knew he was just watching her, as if he were anticipating some drama.

Out of sympathy for He Weifang’s loss, Liu Chang had a rabbit sent to her by Qiushi, but on the way, Princess Ji’an saw it and ordered Qiushi to kill the rabbit. Upon hearing about this, Liu Chang was shocked and did not accompany Princess Ji’an on the evening boat ride.

The next day, in front of everyone, He Weifang deliberately pointed out that the jade pendant worn by Chuan Yu originally belonged to Yu Lu. Moreover, this jade pendant had been given to Jiang Zhangyang by Chen Zhang, who had then gifted it to Chuan Yu. Chen Zhang quickly distanced himself from the matter, claiming that the pendant was delivered to the Liu household by the butler.

The butler was forced to take the blame, and the culprit, Liu Shen, pretended to punish the butler, giving him a few strikes of the rod before expelling him from the Liu family. While this left Liu Shen disgraced, He Weifang didn’t feel satisfied, as her actions couldn’t really be considered revenge.

At the banquet, Jiang Zhangyang made a point of declaring his loyalty to Princess Ji’an, and even offered to help her meet Liu Chang in secret at the Shuiyu Pavilion. Chuan Yu worried that Madam He Weifang might take offense, but Jiang Zhangyang had already figured out that He Weifang’s attention was no longer on Liu Chang and was certain she wouldn’t mind.

Princess Ji’an used the opportunity at Shuiyu Pavilion to rekindle her old relationship with Liu Chang, urging him to divorce He Weifang and return to Chang’an with her. In Princess Ji’an’s eyes, He Weifang had no power or influence and would only hold Liu Chang back. Liu Chang, feeling increasingly distant from Li Youzhen, saw her as a domineering figure and refused her request. He also decided to sever any feelings between them.

Li Youzhen, unwilling to accept this, resorted to a dramatic act, using both self-inflicted wounds and seductive gestures to try and soften Liu Chang’s heart. He Weifang, witnessing all of this, deliberately led others to the Shuiyu Pavilion to admire the flowers. Inside the pavilion, Liu Chang and Li Youzhen were unable to control their emotions, engaging in an intimate kiss. He Weifang drew the curtains, and their disheveled state was immediately visible to everyone outside.

The crowd gasped, and Liu Chang quickly wrapped a cloak around the princess to cover her. He Weifang pretended to be heartbroken and tearful. Since the Liu family had wronged her, people began to sympathize with her even more. Jiang Zhangyang offered his support to He Weifang, suggesting that Liu Chang and Princess Ji’an should be allowed to be together. Taking advantage of the moment, He Weifang requested Liu Shen’s permission to divorce Liu Chang.

Given the situation, Liu Shen could hardly refuse. Unknown to the others, not long before this, He Weifang had approached Princess Ji’an, offering to divorce Liu Chang in order to make way for her as the rightful wife of the Liu family. At first, Princess Ji’an thought He Weifang was merely using her, but He Weifang explained that their goals were aligned and that she wasn’t manipulating her.

He Weifang then explained her reasons for wanting a divorce, and Princess Ji’an, who had once married a man she didn’t love, sympathized with her. Eventually, Princess Ji’an agreed, and they both ignored propriety to stage the scene at Shuiyu Pavilion, leading Liu Chang into their scheme. Liu Shen, relying on advice from a traveling sorcerer, went to consult him about the matter.

The sorcerer, having been instructed by Princess Ji’an, deliberately told him that He Weifang was in conflict with the Liu family and should be removed. He claimed that Princess Ji’an and Liu Chang were a perfect match, and that their union would bring the Liu family great success. Liu Shen believed this without question and, along with Mrs. Liu, went to visit Princess Ji’an.

He stated that they would send three official letters proposing marriage for Liu Chang to wed the princess, and as for He Weifang, Liu Shen would make other arrangements. Liu Chang was once again coerced into agreeing to divorce He Weifang and marry another. Clearly displeased with this arrangement, Liu Chang, however, did not voice his objections, as Liu Shen paid no heed to his feelings. Li Youzhen, determined to marry Liu Chang, was willing to go to any lengths.

However, if Liu Chang later discovered that everything had been a scheme orchestrated by Li Youzhen, he might not know how to feel. Liu Shen had a maid sent to attend to He Weifang. She asked what Liu Shen and Mrs. Liu were doing at that moment, but the maid didn’t tell the truth. He Weifang, however, knew that the couple was likely counting their assets, and it was clear that they were preparing to dispose of her.

Liu Chang, mistakenly thinking that He Weifang was merely jealous, felt a sense of responsibility as her husband. He figured that no matter how angry the “grumpy rabbit” might get, it still needed to be soothed. So, he decided to go and comfort He Weifang.

Liu Chang had drunk too much and went to He Weifang’s room, causing a commotion. He tried to force himself on her, hoping to make her unable to leave the Liu family by having their relationship consummated. He Weifang resisted with all her might, but Liu Chang grew furious, and in his rage, he physically attacked her. He Weifang fought desperately, but Liu Chang pushed her aside, causing her to crash into the tea table. Her forehead began bleeding.

Only then did Liu Chang regain his senses and attempt to help her up. He Weifang refused to comply, and Liu Chang threatened that he would never let her leave the Liu family. In anger, he stormed out of the room. Once Liu Chang left, He Weifang looked at her disheveled reflection in the mirror, tears streaming down her face.

In order to make her act more convincingly, He Weifang took a pair of scissors and stabbed herself in the shoulder, then went to knock on Jiang Zhangyang’s door. Chuan Yu had discovered that the true headquarters of the Qing Zheng Society wasn’t in Luoyang but in Chang’an. Under the guise of “cleaning up the court,” they carried out their assassinations in places outside Chang’an, making it difficult to raise suspicion.

He shared his findings with Jiang Zhangyang, and when the door was knocked on, Jiang Zhangyang and Chuan Yu acted in perfect coordination—one hiding and the other opening the door. He Weifang appeared in front of Jiang Zhangyang, her body covered in injuries. Jiang Zhangyang immediately saw that the wound on her shoulder was self-inflicted with scissors. Although it was a good plan, the method lacked finesse, and the bloodstains on her sleeve were a flaw.

He Weifang said nothing but snatched the fan from Jiang Zhangyang’s hand and used the handle to stab her own wound even harder. Jiang Zhangyang was impressed and agreed to help her escape the Liu family and Liu Chang. In the courtroom, despite the crowd of commoners outside cheering, it seemed that the magistrate and Liu Shen wanted to handle the matter behind closed doors, playing the usual game of official protection.

He Weifang refused to accept this, but the common people had no power or influence, and public opinion could not help her. The magistrate even turned the tables and accused He Weifang of being without children in her first year of marriage to Liu Chang, claiming it was a moral failure, and he avoided addressing the fact that Liu Chang had mistreated her.

At a crucial moment, Jiang Zhangyang spoke up, and the magistrate became extremely nervous, agreeing to handle the matter according to the law. However, He Weifang had no other request except for a divorce from Liu Chang and a clear accounting of her dowry. She wanted the Liu family to return the land and shop they had sold without her consent.

Liu Shen tried to delay the process, citing bureaucratic procedures, but little did he know that He Weifang had already prepared everything and was only waiting for the magistrate’s seal. Liu Shen knew that he couldn’t come up with the dowry that had already been squandered and wanted to delay until next month under the pretext of needing time to account for the dowry. Jiang Zhangyang then asked He Weifang how many days she would need to complete the accounting.

He Weifang replied three days. Jiang Zhangyang decided that after three days, they would go to the government office to finalize the process, and the official seal would be applied to end the divorce matter. The next day, Jiang Zhangyang left Luoyang, and before he left, He Weifang gave him a warm pancake to eat.

Since the Liu family had not returned her dowry yet, she could only promise to pay Jiang Zhangyang the money and silk later, leaving it unpaid for now. As soon as Jiang Zhangyang left, Liu Shen sent people to deal with He Weifang. She resisted and hid behind a water barrel. Liu Chang, unwilling to repeat past mistakes, went to Liu Shen’s study to steal the divorce papers but accidentally discovered that the imperial purple rhinoceros pill was still there.

It seemed that his parents had deceived He Weifang. Liu Chang then went to a remote courtyard to find He Weifang. By chance, he found her hiding behind the water barrel, and Liu Shen’s servant hurriedly ran out to ask about her whereabouts. Liu Chang lied and saved her life, telling her that the carriage was waiting at the back gate. He Weifang, desperate to save her life, fled without taking her dowry or the divorce papers.

However, she did take with her a piece of precious jade, Yu Lu. One of the servants made a mistake, and Liu Shen came up with another plan. He sent people to He Weifang’s family to create trouble, preventing them from helping her.

He Weifang rode swiftly towards her home, recalling the kindness her father had shown her before her marriage. She felt a glimmer of hope, but little did she know, Liu Shen’s people had already arrived at the He family’s household before her. They reprimanded her for disrespecting her mother-in-law, not serving her husband, and causing a scene in the public court demanding a divorce, without once mentioning how the Liu family had mistreated her or wrongfully disposed of her dowry.

He Weifang’s father, not understanding the full truth, mistakenly believed that it was due to the incident where Mudan had left home in the middle of the night. He agreed to search for her together with the Liu family. He Weifang knew she no longer had a home to return to. When the opportunity arose, with no one around, she left behind some money and silk, and, without telling Mudan, she rode a horse to the edge of a cliff.

Soon after, Liu Shen’s men found a hairpin belonging to He Weifang at the cliff’s edge, and they assumed she had fallen to her death. Liu Chang didn’t believe it, suspecting that his father, Liu Shen, had driven He Weifang to suicide. Liu Chang had never gone against his father. From childhood, whether it was about food, clothing, living arrangements, friendships, or even major life events like marriage, he always obeyed his father’s arrangements.

However, this time, he was determined not to be his father’s puppet. He vowed that he would never marry the county princess. Liu Shen, furious, struck Liu Chang with a cane, but Liu Chang endured it without backing down. Liu Chang’s mother, heartbroken, cried and tried to persuade him to marry the county princess.

Liu Shen, overcome with anger, collapsed on the ground and, panting, accused Liu Chang of angering King Ning years ago, which had caused the Liu family’s exile to Luoyang. He argued that this marriage with the county princess was the only chance to restore the Liu family’s position. Mentioning this, Liu Chang’s heart wavered. Liu Shen immediately sent people to Chang’an to propose, and Liu Chang, no longer rejecting it with harsh words, reluctantly agreed to the arrangement.

Meanwhile, He Weifang had not fallen off the cliff. The hairpin at the cliffside was a deliberate distraction to mislead the searchers and throw off the Liu family’s pursuit of her. She found a humble household in the mountains and changed into coarse clothes. She then paid someone to secretly bring her into Chang’an. He Weifang’s mother had left her a property in Chang’an called Fangyuan.

However, when she went to knock on the door, she was told there was no manager named Gao, and the servants did not recognize her as the owner. To establish herself in Chang’an, He Weifang sought work in various shops, but most were unwilling to hire someone without a household registration. One day, He Weifang noticed a woman busy working in a large tavern and asked if they needed extra help.

The woman firmly refused, but the tavern owner, out of kindness, offered to let her work there. He also said that if He Weifang was willing to pawn her jade abacus, he could help her obtain a household registration through the government. He Weifang was not naive and demanded that the tavern owner sign a written agreement. Five Niang, the tavern owner’s wife, harbored hostility towards He Weifang.

She purposely bumped into her, causing a bowl to fall and break, and then falsely accused He Weifang of stealing money. He Weifang defended herself logically, and the tavern owner, Wang Qing, chose to believe her. At night, He Weifang began to feel that Wang Qing and his wife were scheming something, but for now, she decided to focus on earning money and watch them carefully.

Jiang Zhangyang captured Chu Dalang, the leader of the Qingzheng Society hiding in Chang’an, and gave him a letter from Dabei to read. The next day, he arranged for Chu Dalang to meet Dabei at Kaiyuan Temple. After some persuasion, Chu Dalang agreed to join Jiang Zhangyang’s side. With these like-minded individuals, Jiang Zhangyang now had ears and eyes in the Western Market, making his operations much more efficient.

Half a month passed, and there was still no progress on the household registration promised by Wang Qing. He even attempted to make advances towards He Weifang, suggesting he could divorce Five Niang and make He Weifang his legitimate wife, after which the family business would be theirs. He Weifang firmly rejected him, but Wang Qing beat her mercilessly. Forced by the brutality of his fists, He Weifang reluctantly agreed to his terms.

He Weifang, a defenseless woman, was unable to resist Wang Qing’s brutal beating and had no choice but to agree to be his concubine, hoping to buy herself some time. Wang Qing confined her to the tavern and prepared for a banquet the following day. The next morning, Five Niang was tasked with helping He Weifang freshen up.

It was only then that He Weifang realized why Five Niang had always tried to drive her away—she didn’t want He Weifang to fall into Wang Qing’s clutches. Now that Wang Qing intended to force himself on her, Five Niang feared that He Weifang might never get another chance to escape. However, He Weifang refused to resign herself to fate. She was determined to climb over the back courtyard wall to flee.

Seeing this, Five Niang, unable to bear it, decided to help He Weifang escape Wang Qing’s grasp. Just as He Weifang was about to climb the wall, Wang Qing appeared in the courtyard and stopped her. Five Niang risked her life to hold Wang Qing back, giving He Weifang a chance to escape through the front door. Wang Qing kicked and injured Five Niang before chasing after He Weifang, accusing her of stealing money from the tavern.

He Weifang fell to the ground, and just as she despaired, her savior appeared. Jiang Zhangyang, who had just left the Fugui Tower, heard the cries for help. The voice sounded familiar to him, but he dismissed it, thinking it unlikely that He Weifang would be in Chang’an. The person who saved He Weifang was her cousin Wen Qing, now a registrar at the Imperial Academy.

Wen Qing wanted to report Wang Qing to the authorities, but both He Weifang and Wang Qing tacitly refused. Since He Weifang didn’t have a household registration, she couldn’t involve the authorities, and Wang Qing, fearing exposure for employing an unregistered worker, also didn’t dare to file a report. Wen Qing took Mudan back with him. Mudan hoped Wen Qing could help her obtain a fake household registration, but Wen Qing, being upright and principled, refused.

Mudan didn’t press the issue and left him a letter before departing. Mudan continued her life of wandering and rough conditions, unsure of Five Niang’s current situation. That night, the precious jade plant, Qiongtian Yulu, bloomed, bringing Mudan to tears. She wept with joy and thought of Yu Lu, who had passed away. Meanwhile, Jiang Zhangyang made a grand entrance at the Imperial Academy, bringing with him a collection of rare treasures.

However, he was unceremoniously thrown out by Xu Jijiu, who treated the gifts like trash. Even Jiang Zhangyang, a distinguished envoy for the Flowers and Birds Bureau, was not spared. His honeyed words and bribes were ineffective against Xu Jijiu and Wen Qing, yet Jiang Zhangyang showed no signs of frustration. After days of searching, Mudan learned that Wanguantang could forge household registration documents. She decided to pawn her precious Qiongtian Yulu plant.

However, Wanguantang only accepted items as permanent pawns. Mudan continued negotiating with the shopkeeper Yun, who eventually brought her inside to meet the master of Wanguantang. Although she didn’t meet the master directly, she encountered an elaborate charade meant to intimidate her. He Weifang, being no ordinary woman, wasn’t frightened by the theatrics. She poured a pot of cold tea into the peephole used to spy on her, startling the watcher and causing them to stumble.

Taking advantage of the chaos, she attempted to escape but was halted by a familiar voice calling her name, "He Weifang. " It turned out that the master of Wanguantang was none other than Jiang Zhangyang. The person mimicking voices earlier was Chuan Yu, who also happened to be the one doused with cold tea. Afterward, both parties sat down to negotiate.

He Weifang had no choice but to agree to exchange twenty pots of Qiongtian Yulu for a household registration document. Since she currently had only one pot, she was in debt to Jiang Zhangyang for nineteen more. Having been previously scammed over registration papers, Mudan was more cautious this time. She stuck to Jiang Zhangyang like glue, refusing to leave his side.

Jiang Zhangyang, finding her persistence amusing, directly went to the Ministry of Revenue’s Langzhong at Wufang to obtain an official seal while the official was enjoying himself. The registration papers were completed quickly, but Mudan noticed that the name on the document was "Jiang Xiaohua. " Still, as she was the one seeking help, she didn’t dare complain.

Meanwhile, Wang Qing brutally beat Five Niang, leaving her severely injured, and dragged her to Huanyun Tower to sell her as a dancer. Mudan happened to witness this and, in order to save Five Niang, agreed to pay Wang Qing five guan in exchange for a divorce agreement between Wang Qing and Five Niang.

Mudan pawned the jade necklace her mother left her to Shopkeeper Yun in exchange for ten guan. She used the money to pay Wang Qing, who then wrote a divorce agreement. Just as Wang Qing was basking in his triumph, Jiang Zhangyang made his move. At Jiang Zhangyang's prompting, Shopkeeper Yun demanded compensation from Wang Qing for the flowers he had destroyed during his earlier rampage in the shop.

Wang Qing, unable to provide payment, was forced to repay the debt in a rather unconventional way—Jiang Zhangyang ordered Chuan Yu to punch Wang Qing once for every guan owed. The abusive Wang Qing, who had beaten his wife, finally received the punishment he deserved. Afterward, Mudan brought Five Niang back to her dilapidated residence. Five Niang was taken aback, surprised that Mudan could still live well in such a rundown place. This filled her with hope for the future.

To celebrate her new beginning, Mudan gave Five Niang a new name: Qin Shengyi. For two women trying to establish themselves in Chang’an, life was anything but easy. After several days of job hunting, they either encountered scoundrels like Wang Qing or faced constant rejections. Mudan decided it was more reliable to start her own business.

Given her skill in growing flowers and her observations from exploring the flower market, she learned that there were dwarf peonies on Qingliang Mountain outside the capital and that there were no competitors in the market. Mudan planned to collect the dwarf peonies, nurture them, and sell them. However, with their livelihood already strained, they had no funds for fertilizer or flower supplies.

Mudan came up with a bold plan: she would seek help from the “God of Wealth,” who, in her eyes, was none other than Jiang Zhangyang. At first, Jiang Zhangyang dismissed Mudan’s talk of a business opportunity. However, Mudan, with her eloquence and determination, managed to convince him, even going so far as to climb the mountain herself to gather flowers. Qingliang Mountain was steep and treacherous, but Mudan’s perseverance paid off as she climbed step by step.

Unfortunately, she accidentally entered the royal hunting grounds. That day, Jiang Zhangyang happened to be accompanying King Ning on a hunting trip and cleverly rescued her. Meanwhile, Princess Jia of Ji’an, having heard that Jiang Zhangyang was hunting with King Ning, suspected they were discussing Jiang Zhangyang’s potential marriage to her. She immediately rode to Qingliang Mountain to intervene. Jiang Zhangyang had no intention of marrying Princess Jia as his primary wife, but he also didn’t want to offend King Ning.

Instead, he leaned into his reputation as a playboy, hoping to discourage King Ning from pursuing the match. He even shifted the conversation to support King Ning’s interest in promoting Chen Zhang to a position in Luoyang as a warehouse officer. In the camp, Mudan woke up and overheard Jiang Zhangyang’s conversation with King Ning. She regretted having sympathized with a man who indulged in corrupt practices like buying and selling official positions.

A servant reported that Princess Jia was on her way. Knowing better than to linger, Jiang Zhangyang left. King Ning lamented Jiang Zhangyang’s cleverness and transparency while sighing over his daughter’s lack of ambition. As Jiang Zhangyang approached the camp, Mudan quickly lay back down and pretended to be unconscious, but Jiang Zhangyang had already seen through her act.

After the servant placed the leopard, which King Ning had gifted Jiang Zhangyang, behind the camp and left, Jiang Zhangyang exposed Mudan’s ruse. Mudan didn’t hold back, accusing Jiang Zhangyang of scheming. She mocked him, saying that if she hadn’t made it up the mountain, he would have conveniently used it as an excuse to cancel their business deal.

If she had made it but trespassed into the hunting grounds, he could use her as an excuse to get out of a tricky situation. Mudan sarcastically remarked that Jiang Zhangyang’s schemes were so well-known that even merchants in Luoyang could see through them. Facing Jiang Zhangyang, Mudan showed no fear.

Her words were laced with sarcasm, comparing him to Tao Qian, who refused to bow for five dou of rice, saying that Jiang Zhangyang, as the Flower and Bird Envoy, had now sworn loyalty for the sake of a leopard. She quipped that it seemed the Flower and Bird Envoy enjoyed not only admiring flowers but also taming beasts. Jiang Zhangyang didn’t argue further. Instead, he opened a box and accused Mudan of being superficial. When Mudan saw the contents of the box, her expression shifted to one of surprise and shock.

Inside the box was not a real leopard but a jade leopard, radiating a pure, translucent glow. He Weifang drafted a contract and handed it to Jiang Zhangyang for review, but Jiang Zhangyang turned out to be even craftier than she anticipated. He directly changed the originally equal profit split of fifty-fifty into a ninety-ten split in his favor, requiring He Weifang to repay all the initial capital if there was a loss.

Left without any other patron to turn to, He Weifang had no choice but to agree to these terms. Meanwhile, Princess Jia of Ji’an convinced King Ning to select Liu Zishu as her new fiancé. Overjoyed, she prepared to deliver the news to Liu Zishu, who was in Luoyang, but encountered Jiang Zhangyang and his party descending the mountain. Curious, she asked which woman had managed to make Jiang Zhangyang so eager to hide someone away.

Jiang Zhangyang wove a web of lies, but Princess Jia, already elated by her success, chose not to press the matter. However, Jiang Zhangyang’s keen mind caught an important detail from her words: to outsiders, He Weifang was believed to have fallen off a cliff and died. Moreover, Liu Zishu was soon to arrive in Chang’an.

Jiang Zhangyang told Mudan that while their cooperation had one price, keeping her survival a secret from Princess Jia and King Ning had an entirely different cost. He Weifang quickly expressed her loyalty, claiming that Liu Zishu’s arrival in Chang’an didn’t concern her. She vowed that when the time was right, she would personally settle accounts with the Liu family. With He Weifang and Qin Shengyi’s careful tending, the dwarf peonies finally blossomed.

At dawn the next day, the two women brought the dwarf peonies to the flower market to sell. He Weifang named the dwarf peonies “Huai Xiu Xiang” (Fragrance for the Sleeves), pricing each pot at just eighty wen. The flowers were lush and vibrant, making them affordable for ordinary families. Huai Xiu Xiang quickly sold out, and many customers even placed pre-orders.

With money in hand, He Weifang decided to rent a proper courtyard, where they could cultivate flowers without worrying about excessive dampness during rainy weather. Through a real estate broker, He Weifang and Qin Shengyi found a seemingly suitable property. Though it was dirty and rundown, it was conveniently located next to the Jiang residence, making it easier for them to seek payments or credit from Jiang Zhangyang in the future.

Liu Zishu arrived in Chang’an and, using his connections, secured a position as a sixth-rank official in the Ministry of Revenue. Princess Jia even had the Liu family residence cleaned and refurbished so that Liu Zishu could move back in upon his arrival. Within the Ministry, many officials sought to curry favor with Liu Zishu, hoping to gain King Ning’s recognition through him. However, Liu Zishu felt uncomfortable with the situation.

He was determined to prove his abilities and earn people’s trust through genuine accomplishments. Meanwhile, He Weifang and Qin Shengyi realized they had been tricked by the real estate broker—the courtyard they rented wasn’t near Jiang Zhangyang’s back residence but was, in fact, part of it. The broker had already absconded with the money.

After much negotiation and assurances that they would pay nine-tenths of the profits by the end of the month, they finally persuaded Jiang Zhangyang to rent them the abandoned courtyard. Hiring workers to clear the weeds in the yard was prohibitively expensive, so the two women rolled up their sleeves and did it themselves. During the process, He Weifang discovered that the weeds in the yard were actually purslane, a medicinal herb.

She decided to sell it for ten wen to someone willing to dig it up. Qin Shengyi was puzzled and asked why they didn’t harvest the purslane themselves to make more money from selling it as medicinal herbs. He Weifang patiently explained that one of the most important lessons she had learned from her father, who had been in business for many years, was that time is more valuable than money.

While purslane was worth something, it paled in comparison to the value of peonies. Selling the purslane quickly at a lower price allowed them to save time and focus on the more profitable peonies. Though Qin Shengyi’s experience in business was far less than He Weifang’s, after listening to her explanation, she finally understood.

Qin Shengyi didn’t question things earlier because she was worried she might say the wrong thing and disrupt Mudan’s plans. Mudan quickly corrected her, emphasizing that they were equal partners in business, and that she should ask directly if she had any doubts. In Qin Shengyi’s eyes, Mudan’s literacy and business skills suggested she must be the daughter of a wealthy family.

However, Mudan didn’t reveal much about her background and instead changed the subject, asking Qin Shengyi what she would do if money were no longer an issue in the future. Qin Shengyi didn’t know, so Mudan suggested she learn to read and write, so she could help with bookkeeping. Qin Shengyi readily agreed. Next door, the Jiang residence was filled with nightly revelry. Mudan was only worried that the precious “Qiongtai Yulu” plant wouldn’t get damaged in the chaos.

The following day, Mudan went to the Jiang residence and encountered an open warehouse event. Chuan Yu, a guard, explained that the officials queuing outside were there to offer gifts to replenish the Jiang residence’s storerooms. Among them was Sima Feng, who brought a massive piece of red coral. However, Chuan Yu dismissed his offering as lacking sincerity, stating that Jiang Zhangyang would not meet him.

Sima Feng insisted on an explanation, so Chuan Yu took him to the backyard, where an even larger and more exquisite piece of red coral—more than twice the size of his—stood. Sima Feng was so shocked that he nearly lost his footing. Inspector Yin lavished Jiang Zhangyang with compliments and presented him with a basket of priceless pearls, whimsically named “Magpie Eggs.

” In return, Jiang Zhangyang gifted him a cricket, known as the “Unbeaten General,” claiming it was a gift from the emperor. Mudan, curious, asked if the Jiang residence would host another warehouse event on the fifteenth of next month.

Chuan Yu explained that the fifteenth marked the “Relocation Day,” which didn’t involve moving houses but rather transferring items within the storerooms—moving things from the left side to the right, and from the right to the back, to make space for more. He Weifang, ever shrewd, realized Jiang Zhangyang was deliberately creating the illusion of extravagance and indulgence to conceal something more important. However, she suspected Chuan Yu might be feeding her information to spread these rumors and mislead others.

When Jiang Zhangyang asked if she wasn’t curious about what he was truly hiding, Mudan quickly responded that she didn’t want to know. Jiang Zhangyang said no more and informed her that the Qiongtai Yulu plant was in the study. Meanwhile, Liu Zishu accompanied Princess Jia to Jia Erlang’s home for a drinking party.

Liu Zishu boasted about the refined and elegant painting he had gifted, only to find that Jia Erlang’s home was filled with works by Wu Hua Sheng, a renowned artist. Moreover, Jia Erlang’s father was close friends with Wu Hua Sheng and could easily invite him to create a live painting. Liu Zishu wanted to discuss canal management strategies with Jia Erlang, but as a member of an aristocratic family, Jia Erlang was only interested in indulging himself.

At Jia’s residence, two servants praised the clever woman selling dwarf peonies, marveling that she had made it possible for ordinary families to afford such flowers. Overhearing this, Liu Zishu wondered if the mysterious flower seller could be He Weifang. Feeling stifled by the extravagance of the gathering, Liu Zishu left early and instructed Qiushi to visit the flower market. Mudan, at the flower market, witnessed a con artist deliberately injure an old man’s donkey.

The scammer then demanded an exorbitant sum as compensation, claiming the donkey had startled him and caused him to drop a rare and expensive “Gunpowder Golden Peony. ” Using her wit, Mudan exposed the scam. The con artist fled with some money, while Mudan kept the potted peony. When Liu Zishu arrived at the market, he saw Qin Shengyi at the flower stall and realized she wasn’t He Weifang, leaving him disappointed.

However, fate soon brought him face-to-face with Mudan again. This time, Liu Zishu confessed his feelings to her. Mudan firmly declared that the only emotion she had left for him was hatred. He Weifang took the Gunpowder Golden Peony back home, intending to carefully nurture it until it bloomed so she could sell it at a high price. Unexpectedly, Jiang Zhangyang’s friend, San Lang, suddenly appeared and accidentally damaged the plant.

Mudan and San Lang signed a written agreement: if she could restore the peony and make it bloom, San Lang would pay whatever price she set. However, if the flower didn’t bloom, he would only compensate her at the price of an ordinary flower. Elsewhere, Wang Qing grew envious of Qin Shengyi’s thriving flower stall. He pretended to seek reconciliation, but Mudan arrived just in time to stop him.