Flourished Peony Recap, Plot, Synopsis

Flourished Peony Synopsis

After the merchant's daughter He Weifang meets Jiang Changyang, the prominent figure in Chang'an, the two form a partnership as a craftsman and an investor. Leveraging He Weifang's exceptional skills in cultivating rare peonies and her outstanding business acumen, she leads a group of women with tumultuous destinies to collectively run a flower shop. Through numerous trials and tribulations, she triumphs over prejudices about women's supposed weaknesses and establishes her own place in the world.

As He Weifang and Jiang Changyang become more acquainted, she discovers that this man, infamous as the "number one corrupt official in the world," is actually outwardly corrupt but inwardly pure, carrying the welfare of the nation in his heart. Having experienced the hardships of the lower class and gained a new understanding of the significance of peonies, He Weifang is determined to transform into an industry that benefits the people.

In the end, after facing life-threatening challenges and undergoing a profound personal transformation, He Weifang, with her skillful craftsmanship and refined heart, helps Jiang Changyang successfully quell a rebellion. The two lovers then choose to retire from the world, disappearing together from the mortal realm.

Flourished Peony Recap

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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.

Wang Qing played the victim to gain sympathy and begged Qin Shengyi for reconciliation, promising that he would treat her well and never raise his hand against her again. As an outsider, Mudan could see through his act clearly. It was obvious that Wang Qing had made such promises to Qin Shengyi more than once before. A leopard cannot change its spots, and Mudan did not believe Wang Qing could suppress his beastly nature.

Ultimately, Qin Shengyi rejected Wang Qing, and Mudan promptly chased him away. Little did they know that Wang Qing was still lurking in the shadows, watching their every move with sinister intent. Qin Shengyi and Mudan were confident that life would only get better. Even though they couldn’t afford the expensive perfumes used by wealthy families, Mudan planned to make her own fragrances from flowers, which smelled just as good as the costly ones.

For Mudan, making perfume not only nurtured her spirit but also helped her pass the time. Grateful for the fulfilling life Mudan had given her, Qin Shengyi used her earnings to buy Mudan a beautiful dress. Mudan, in turn, decided to buy an outfit for Qin Shengyi as well, and the two agreed to take the next morning off to visit the market together. Their joy was short-lived.

The next day, while setting up their flower stall at the market, several regular customers came with withered flowers, demanding an explanation. Wang Qing stirred up trouble among the customers, inciting them to destroy Mudan’s flowers and demand refunds. Some even stormed into her home, smashing and breaking things. Though Mudan was heartbroken, she found strength by looking at her mother’s portrait. She resolved to regroup and face the challenges head-on once an incense stick burned out.

However, Wang Qing gave her no time, barging in again to create chaos. Jiang Zhangyang merely watched the spectacle, refusing to intervene. Mudan, keeping her word, refunded all the customers, and the crowd dispersed. Yet Wang Qing and his cronies wouldn’t relent. One of his lackeys stole a personal item belonging to Qin Shengyi during the commotion, intending to escalate the trouble. That night, as Mudan tended to her flowers, Jiang Zhangyang visited.

Mudan sincerely apologized to him, but to her surprise, Jiang Zhangyang was understanding. He assured her that he wouldn’t withdraw his investment over one mistake. Mudan promised there would be no more mishaps. Jiang Zhangyang, curious, asked why she continued with the risky and costly business of growing and selling flowers instead of doing something else. Mudan explained that growing flowers was her passion.

While peonies might seem delicate and fragile, she believed that once replanted in the soil, they would thrive and grow toward the sun. Among the dissatisfied customers earlier was Sun Daniang, a reasonable woman. Qin Shengyi later told Mudan that Sun Daniang also sold perfume in the Western Market. This gave Mudan an idea: if she could turn the withered dwarf peonies into perfume, it would solve the problem of disposing of late-blooming flowers and flower waste.

The next day, Mudan and Qin Shengyi visited Sun Daniang to ask for advice on perfume-making and proposed a partnership. Sun Daniang, whose business was struggling and on the verge of closing, readily agreed to collaborate. However, she had one condition: she wanted them to include her daughter, Zhu Fu, in their work. Although Zhu Fu was a woman, she had a cheerful, straightforward personality and extraordinary strength.

She was also highly skilled at identifying scents, able to distinguish different ingredients in perfumes with a single sniff. Wang Qing’s crony tried to use Qin Shengyi’s personal item to defame her reputation but was swiftly dealt with by Zhu Fu, who sent him running off like a defeated dog. Mudan was thrilled by Zhu Fu’s bravery and strength. With Zhu Fu by their side, she was confident that Wang Qing and his gang wouldn’t dare cause trouble again.

Initially, Sun Daniang was upset by her daughter’s brash behavior, but seeing how much Mudan valued Zhu Fu and the promising opportunity for her daughter to work alongside Mudan in business, she felt reassured and at ease.

Zhu Fu believed that the three of them chasing away the troublemakers today marked a life-and-death bond, so she insisted on forming a sisterhood with Mudan and Qin Shengyi. Though the traditional ceremony was complicated, they opted for simplicity. Without the deities of Heaven and Earth to witness, Mudan suggested they swear their oaths in front of the God of Wealth instead.

When Zhu Fu found the lengthy oath too difficult to recite, Mudan simplified it to: “We do not ask to be born on the same year, month, or day, but we do ask to become wealthy on the same year, month, and day. ”Meanwhile, Jiang Zhangyang noticed what seemed to be firelight in the backyard. Chuan Yu explained that He Weifang had recently hired a new worker, and they were forming a bond of loyalty.

When making perfume powder, millet is typically used as the base, with fragrant materials layered on top. However, the millet often overpowers the scent of the materials, causing Mudan’s perfume to lack intensity. Mudan proposed using flowers as the base instead. Though this would consume more flower material, she insisted that if they were going to make perfume, it had to be the best.

The three of them, along with Sun Daniang, divided their tasks to produce fragrant powder and floral water, reaching the final step of scent blending. Scent blending wasn’t difficult, as anyone could adjust the strength of the fragrance according to their preferences. Mudan believed that since everyone had contributed to making the perfume, they should all participate in blending the scents. However, it was challenging to please everyone.

Qin Shengyi preferred lighter, more delicate scents, while Zhu Fu liked strong and intense aromas. Sun Daniang pointed out that other flowers could also be used to make perfume, but the process would be even more complicated, and they didn’t have enough manpower. Mudan came up with a solution that addressed both the lack of manpower and the debate over fragrance intensity: customers could blend their own perfumes according to their preferences.

Her idea proved effective, quickly earning back the money needed for the flower fertilizer. The emperor’s health had been poor lately, and he once again failed to attend court discussions, leaving King Ning to take charge. This stirred dissatisfaction among the ministers. Xu Zuping, in particular, angrily accused Jiang Zhangyang and King Ning of treating the imperial court like their backyard. However, Jiang Zhangyang remained indifferent. Recently, a student accused Minister Cui of falsifying exam results.

Shortly after, Xu Zuping, a respected official of two dynasties, advocated for academic reforms, proposing to value talent over lineage. Many ministers supported him, leaving King Ning’s faction struggling to respond. While the emperor trusted Xu Zuping deeply, King Ning saw him as an obstacle to his ambitions and resolved to take action against him, ensuring Xu Zuping could no longer pose a threat.

Meanwhile, Liu Zishu, eager to showcase his talents, worked tirelessly for days to write a proposal on water management. Yet, King Ning dismissed him, commenting only on his attire. Qin Shengyi’s fresh flower pastries were exceptionally delicious, reminding Mudan of Yu Lu and bringing her to tears. If Yu Lu were still alive, she would surely have loved the pastries. Qin Shengyi had made fifty pastries, and Mudan intended to give them to customers buying perfume.

However, Qin Shengyi mentioned that Chuan Yu had taken the remaining pastries. Borrowing Chuan Yu’s horse, Mudan chased after Jiang Zhangyang, who had taken the pastries, and unexpectedly discovered another side of him. She would never have believed it without seeing it for herself—this dignified nobleman was using his money to provide clothing, food, and care for a group of children. He even personally boiled water and looked after them.

Since the woman responsible for taking care of the girls was absent that day, Mudan helped bathe the young girls. Jiang Zhangyang was straightforward, stating that her wages for the work would be deducted from the interest she owed. The perfume business was flourishing, and Zhu Fu hurried back to transport the Spring Evening perfumes to sell. Thanks to He Weifang’s improvements, the dwarf peonies were now easier to care for, and no one came to return flowers anymore.

Everything was gradually improving. Once they saved enough money, He Weifang planned to open another shop, cultivate new flower varieties, and ensure they never ran out of business opportunities.

Mudan went outside the city to gather peonies and only returned after nightfall, accidentally witnessing Jiang Zhangyang, the Flowers and Birds Envoy, killing Xu Zuping from the Imperial Academy. She was so frightened upon returning that she caught a cold from the rain and spent three days in bed recovering, plagued by nightmares. In her dreams, Jiang Zhangyang slaughtered countless people, with Xu the Wine-Rite Master dying tragically under his blade.

Mudan later visited her cousin Wenqing, who worked at the Imperial Academy. Hoping to pay her respects to Xu, whom she had met once before, she asked Li Xing to bring her inside. To her surprise, so many people held Xu Zuping in high regard. The culprit, Jiang Zhangyang, came to the mourning ceremony in place of the emperor, crying as though his heart were broken.

But Mudan, remembering the cold-blooded way he had killed Xu that rainy night, could not hide the suspicion on her face. Mudan learned that Jiang Zhangyang had also been a student of Xu Zuping. However, after Jiang began serving the emperor and influencing him, Xu gradually distanced himself. Mudan recalled how Jiang had helped her obtain a divorce in Luoyang. Now, if she revealed the truth about Xu’s death, Jiang Zhangyang would not let her go unpunished.

She decided to keep the truth to herself but could not dispel her fear of Jiang. Determined to save enough money to move out of the Jiang estate's backyard, she even avoided visiting Qiongtai and Yu Lu unless Jiang was away. Her cheerful demeanor disappeared, and even Chuan Yu noticed she was avoiding Jiang. One day, Jiang sought her out, producing a piece of cloth he had found on the rainy night of the murder. Mudan denied any connection.

On the day of Xu Zuping’s mourning, Jiang noticed He Weifang at the ceremony and ordered Chuan Yu to investigate. He learned that Li Xing, a registrar at the Imperial Academy, was He Weifang’s cousin on her maternal aunt’s side. He Weifang quickly clarified that she was just a commoner trying to make a living. Jiang appeared to let go of his suspicions, but his parting words sounded more like a threat.

Soon after, the shop "Blossoms in Full Bloom" opened and was bustling with business. Qin Shengyi planned to use the earnings to buy back Mudan’s mother’s heirlooms from Yun Niang and return them to Mudan. Meanwhile, Liu Chang volunteered to work on water management proposals, but King Ning refused. Later, Liu discovered that King Ning had never even opened his carefully written report, instead treating it as trash and instructing his servants to burn it.

Growing increasingly disillusioned, Liu became colder toward the County Princess of Jia. Without consulting him, the County Princess requested leave from the Ministry of Revenue on Liu’s behalf so they could travel to Lishan the next day. Liu reluctantly agreed but used unfinished official duties as an excuse to avoid dining with her that night. Instead, he went to a tavern to drink away his sorrows. From the tavern, he could see Mudan’s shop bustling with activity.

Watching her greet customers, Liu couldn’t help but reminisce about the days when Mudan had been his wife. After drinking, Liu stumbled downstairs to leave, only to encounter a male customer harassing Mudan. Liu intentionally bumped into the man, freeing Mudan from the situation but drawing the man’s ire. Seeing that Liu was only a sixth-rank official, the man grew arrogant, and his men pinned Liu to the ground, beating him.

The situation only changed when the man noticed the fish-shaped token that fell from Liu’s body, identifying him as one of King Ning’s men. Terrified, the man knelt and begged for forgiveness. Liu, unwilling to exploit his authority, angrily told him to leave. Mudan instructed a servant to bring out some medicine for Liu’s injuries and urged him to leave so as not to disrupt her business.

Liu sighed, realizing that only Mudan had always treated him as the real Liu Zishu, regardless of his position. Later, Mudan shared her experiences in Luoyang with Qin Shengyi and Zhu Fu. Qin Shengyi was shocked and sympathetic toward her, while Zhu Fu praised Mudan for her courage in seeking a divorce, calling her a true heroine among women.

All the flower trade in Chang’an was controlled by the Flower Guild. He Weifang understood that if she wanted her business to run smoothly, joining the guild was essential. Previously, their shop had been a small operation that was beneath the guild's notice, but times had changed, and offending the guild was no longer an option. However, when Zhu Fu sent a visiting card to the guild on her behalf, it was rejected.

The guild insisted that only the shop owner herself could show sincerity by visiting in person. Soon after, He Weifang brought Qin Shengyi and Zhu Fu to pay a visit to the guild. At the entrance, a young servant begrudgingly let them in upon learning that they were the shop owners.

Yet, a male shop owner who arrived after them completed his business in no time, while He Weifang’s group was kept waiting for the time it took to drink three cups of tea. Zhu Fu grew impatient and could not resist complaining. When the guild head and deputy head finally appeared, they treated He Weifang and her companions with blatant disdain.

They believed that, as female shop owners, the women would eventually marry and thus proposed that they should hand the shop over to the guild for management. Naturally, He Weifang refused. The guild head further claimed that there had never been a precedent for female shop owners joining the guild. To avoid upsetting other shop owners, they would require He Weifang to pay a higher share of her profits—a 50-50 split.

Since He Weifang had already signed a profit-sharing contract with Jiang Zhangyang, such a split would leave them with no earnings. Ultimately, He Weifang chose to reject the offer and left with Qin Shengyi and Zhu Fu. Unexpectedly, the guild retaliated by cutting off their access to all fertilizer suppliers. The flower fertilizer households that had previously supplied them were now intimidated by the guild and refused to provide them with any products.

Qin Shengyi suggested apologizing to the guild and showing submission, but He Weifang refused to bow and decided to make their own fertilizer. They began collecting all materials suitable for composting and buried them in the soil. Their persistence paid off, and they eventually produced usable flower fertilizer. When Chuan Yu went to pick up shoes and socks He Weifang had made for the children, he ended up covered in the foul smell of the fertilizer.

Jiang Zhangyang learned of the incident and sent He Weifang some soybean dregs, suggesting she use them to wash herself before heading to his estate next month to pay dividends. Jiang also offered to help her deal with the guild, suggesting she could invoke his name to stop them from bullying her. However, He Weifang declined, believing it would be improper for both her and Jiang.

No matter the difficulties, He Weifang remained steadfast, and Jiang Zhangyang felt reassured that he had not placed his trust in the wrong person. While the homemade fertilizer temporarily solved the crisis for Blossoms in Full Bloom, He Weifang knew this was not a long-term solution. Meanwhile, Lv Gengchun, the daughter of the guild head, sent her maid to purchase an expensive peony from Blossoms in Full Bloom, with the delivery destination set at a bridge.

The first time, He Weifang’s group did not think much of it, though they were curious. However, when Zhu Fu later passed by the same bridge, she saw the peony had been cut off at the stem. To investigate, they decided to monitor the area the next time Lv Gengchun made a purchase. As expected, they caught Lv Gengchun in the act of trying to cut the peony.

Qin Shengyi recognized Lv Gengchun as the guild head’s daughter and suggested using this as leverage to force the guild to admit them. However, Mudan (He Weifang) noticed Lv Gengchun’s straightforward demeanor and instructed Zhu Fu to release her. She returned the money for the peony and took the plant back, deciding not to publicize the matter to avoid shaming the guild head. Later, Mudan went to Jiang Zhangyang’s estate to deliver the profits.

To her surprise, King Ning brought Liu Zishu to meet Jiang Zhangyang. Startled, Mudan hid inside a cabinet. After Jiang Zhangyang led the two men out to the courtyard, Mudan was about to leave when she was terrified to find Xu Zuping—who was supposedly dead—hiding in the same cabinet. She screamed in shock. When she awoke, Jiang Zhangyang threatened her, saying that if she knew his secret, she would have to die. Mudan made a bold decision and was about to stab herself in the stomach with a knife.

Under Jiang Zhangyang's coercion, Mudan had no choice but to stab herself with a knife. However, she quickly realized the knife was just a toy that retracted upon contact. It dawned on her that Jiang Zhangyang had tricked her. Then, Xu Zuping, sitting outside the hall, spoke up. Seeing the supposedly deceased Xu Jijiu alive shocked Mudan, and she realized the truth was far more complicated than she had imagined. Jiang Zhangyang briefly explained the truth.

On that rainy night, Jiang had been waiting at Xu Zuping’s house to discuss business. When his teacher didn’t return on time, Jiang went out to look for him and discovered assassins attempting to kill Xu Zuping. Jiang eliminated the assassins and saved his teacher.

To fake Xu Zuping’s death, Jiang found the corpse of a condemned prisoner with a similar build and appearance, threw the body into the river, and spread the news of Xu Zuping’s supposed death, thus convincing King Ning of its authenticity. Since Jiang’s estate was frequently visited by influential figures, keeping Xu Zuping there was inconvenient. Understanding Jiang Zhangyang’s meaning, Mudan immediately suggested bringing Xu Zuping to stay at her shop.

Xu Zuping volunteered to serve as an accountant for the shop, leaving Mudan both flattered and surprised. Jiang handed Mudan the medicinal powder for Xu Zuping’s foot baths and the tea he needed to drink daily, demonstrating his trust in her by entrusting his most respected teacher to her care. Mudan didn’t reveal the truth to Qin Shengyi, simply claiming that Xu Zuping was an accountant she had worked hard to recruit from elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Jiang’s estate was bustling with the sound of opera. Curious, Mudan went to watch and learned from Chuan Yu that it was the memorial day for Jiang’s deceased birth mother. Some guests deliberately performed opera to flatter Jiang Zhangyang, hoping to secure an official position. However, Jiang Zhangyang, in a rare show of defiance, rejected these attempts and instead accused the flatterers of bribery. Standing nearby, Mudan suddenly noticed that the puppeteer performing the opera seemed different from usual.

The opera depicted the touching love story between Jiang Yuantang and his first wife, but Jiang Zhangyang knew the truth behind the tale. Late at night, Mudan grilled some meat, and the enticing aroma attracted Jiang Zhangyang. She generously invited him to join her. In the quiet night, Jiang Zhangyang, uncharacteristically, confided in her. The world praised his parents for their lifelong devotion, but only he knew the supposed love was a farce.

After moving to Chang’an, Jiang Yuantang became infatuated with another woman and took her as his mistress. When his wife passed away, Jiang Yuantang was eager to bring the mistress into the household, but Jiang Zhangyang stopped him by threatening to take his own life. Jiang Zhangyang and Mudan, both reluctant to marry, made a bet to see who would break their vow first. The loser would owe the winner ten thousand guan.

Without drafting a formal agreement, Jiang carved “The first to marry wins” on a stone table, signing it with his name. Mudan then added her signature with a peony symbol. The two drank among the flowers, eventually falling asleep on a soft couch. The next morning, Mudan awoke first and was about to admire the elegant profile of the flower-and-bird puppeteer when she was startled by a group of strangers.

Jiang Zhangyang addressed one of the women as “Auntie,” and Mudan realized their identities. Madam Feng, Jiang Zhangyang’s aunt, ordered him to be tied up and taken to the ancestral hall for a scolding. She declared that Jiang and Mudan’s drunken slumber among the flowers had ruined Mudan’s reputation, and the two should marry to preserve Mudan’s honor. Surprisingly, Jiang Zhangyang didn’t refuse and readily agreed. Mudan immediately explained that their relationship was purely transactional.

However, seeing Jiang Zhangyang remain silent in front of Madam Feng, Mudan seized the opportunity to slap him, feigning anger and embarrassment before running off. Instead of being upset, Madam Feng admired Mudan’s boldness, praising her as the first woman daring enough to slap Jiang Zhangyang. She later sent a collection of gold and silver hairpins as an apology gift.

Mudan recalled Chuan Yu delivering Jiang Zhangyang’s message—he was willing to change their profit-sharing ratio to 70-30, provided that Mudan resolutely refused Madam Feng’s offer of marriage.

When Madam Feng became a widow at eighteen, she traveled the world with a fleet of ships, encountering many people and witnessing many things. She naturally understood society's biases against women. In her eyes, Mudan’s behavior wasn’t rebellious or improper. Mudan wished for a lover who shared her feelings, someone who would descend from the heavens bathed in radiant light to save her when she was engulfed in darkness.

Based on this, Madam Feng felt her nephew, Jiang Zhangyang, was indeed not what Mudan was looking for. Later, Chuan Yu invited Mudan to Jiang’s residence, saying Jiang Zhangyang wanted to discuss how to deal with Madam Feng. Chuan Yu led Mudan into a pitch-black room and locked the door from the outside. Inside, Mudan discovered Jiang Zhangyang suspended in mid-air with his hands tied behind his back and a cloth gagging his mouth, preventing him from speaking.

Jiang Zhangyang gestured for Mudan to pull a nearby cloth strip. She complied, and Jiang Zhangyang promptly fell to the ground. It turned out Madam Feng had taken Mudan’s earlier description literally, creating a dark setting where Jiang Zhangyang would appear to descend from the heavens. She had even arranged for fireflies to create a glowing effect, making Jiang Zhangyang look utterly ridiculous.

To encourage them to learn more about each other, Madam Feng had luminous pearls hanging in the room with small notes attached, each describing Jiang Zhangyang and Mudan’s respective traits. Mudan discovered that Jiang Zhangyang was afraid of cockroaches. Seeing Jiang and Mudan interact cheerfully in the room, Madam Feng was delighted and left with a satisfied smile. The next day, she sent Chuan Yu with an apology gift, which Mudan gladly accepted.

One day, a woman came forward, claiming that a powder she had purchased from Mudan’s shop, Hua Man Zhu, caused her husband to feel weak-limbed, dizzy, and disoriented. She brought a so-called practitioner to the shop, who publicly accused Mudan of being possessed by evil spirits that drained others of their fortune and luck. Unbeknownst to Mudan, a shop assistant had been bribed and sided with the practitioner, making endless accusations against her.

The surrounding crowd quickly believed the practitioner and angrily smashed the powders they had bought from Hua Man Zhu. Madam Feng repeatedly hinted to Jiang Zhangyang that he should step in and rescue Mudan. That evening, Jiang went to the backyard to find Mudan. Earlier that day, Zhu Fu had tracked the bribed shop assistant and discovered he had accepted money from a rival shop's deputy manager.

Mudan had already anticipated how to handle the situation and needed someone as reputable as Jiang Zhangyang to boost her efforts. If their rivals could bribe a practitioner to spread slander, Mudan could do the same. Under Mudan’s arrangement, Jiang Zhangyang first went to the rival shop to buy a sachet, then staged a fainting scene at the entrance of Hua Man Zhu.

The practitioner Mudan had hired joined in, convincing the public that the shop was now free of any misfortune. Mudan emphasized that her specially crafted sachets had been blessed by monks from Kaiyuan Temple, making them full of fortune and prosperity. Jiang Zhangyang added flair to the act, increasing the practitioner’s credibility, and people began scrambling to buy the sachets.

Additionally, Mudan had Li Xing distribute some sachets to scholars ahead of time, all of whom later passed their entrance exams. This solidified the belief in the sachets’ efficacy. Consequently, Hua Man Zhu became bustling with customers, including more male patrons, while the rival shop saw its business dwindle to a desolate state. As Madam Feng prepared to depart, Mudan gave her a hair treatment.

Feeling overwhelmed by Madam Feng’s kindness, Mudan confessed that she had been acting on Jiang Zhangyang’s behalf in exchange for payment. Madam Feng didn’t mind, saying she could see through her nephew’s feelings and Mudan’s character. She added that Jiang Zhangyang clearly treated Mudan differently from others—even a precious plant, the Qiongtai Yu Lu, had not been offered to Madam Feng but remained with Mudan.

Meanwhile, Liu Shen was reassigned to Chang’an and presented with a box of land deeds, only for King Ning to gift him a dog in return. Liu Chang, standing nearby, looked visibly uneasy. Passing by Hua Man Zhu, Madam Liu spotted Mudan, whom she believed to be dead, and was shocked. She hurried back to inform Liu Shen of what she had seen. Later, while gathering flowers on the mountain, Mudan was suddenly pursued by an assassin dressed in black.

At the foot of the mountain, a caravan happened to pass by. While running, Mudan called for help, but the assassin relentlessly pursued her. He struck at her with a blade, and Mudan barely dodged the first strike. The second attack followed swiftly, and Mudan, in desperation, caught the blade with her bare hands, which began bleeding profusely. Just as her life hung in the balance, an arrow struck the assassin. Mudan quickly seized the blade and slashed his arm.

Seeing the large number of people in the caravan, the assassin fled in panic. The woman who saved Mudan was elegantly dressed, and Mudan heard her mention that she was new to Chang’an. After nightfall, Mudan quietly returned to her courtyard, worried that Zhu Fu and Qin Shengyi might see her bloody clothes and injured hands. She tiptoed inside, only to be stopped by Jiang Zhangyang, who happened to catch her sneaking around.

Jiang was holding a basket of fish and said he wanted her to grill them for him. Mudan lied, saying her hands were cut by grass. However, Jiang Zhangyang could easily tell the difference between grass cuts and knife wounds. Left with no choice, Mudan told the truth.

Initially, she thought her only enemies in Chang’an were from the rival flower shop, but Jiang believed that business rivalries in Chang’an were common and that it was unlikely the flower shop would go so far as to hire an assassin. Regardless of who was behind it, Jiang Zhangyang promised to have Chuan Yu investigate. At Jiang’s residence, there was a cat he had been feeding for nearly a year, but it still refused to stay.

It was elusive, but thanks to the cat, there were no more mice in the house. Jiang remarked that Mudan was much like this cat, yearning for freedom. Jiang later had his men check the records of those who entered and exited Chang’an on the day Mudan was attacked and showed her a sketch of the most suspicious individual. Mudan recognized the person as someone from the Liu family.

She suspected they had discovered she was still alive and, fearing she would disrupt Liu Chang’s engagement to the county princess, sent someone to kill her. Hoping to resolve the enmity, Mudan declined Jiang’s offer of help and went to Liu Chang herself, asking him to let go of the past and focus on his marriage to the princess.

Liu Chang was overjoyed to see her, but his excitement turned to shock when Mudan revealed the assassination attempt and begged him to tell his parents that she had no intention of ruining his engagement. She added that He Weifang was already dead. Liu Chang returned home and pleaded with his parents to stop sending assassins after He Weifang. However, Liu Shen insisted it wasn’t his idea but Liu Chang’s.

After hearing his father out, Liu Chang resolved never to see He Weifang again. Lv Gengchun, disguised as a man, was practicing medicine but was chased and beaten by competitors for underpricing her services and affecting their business. Mudan and Zhu Fu happened to pass by and saved her. They learned why she was being attacked.

Lv Gengchun noticed that Mudan’s hand injury had already affected her tendons and said it needed to be surgically treated to restore functionality, or else her hand would be crippled. Qin Shengyi, suspicious of Lv Gengchun due to her being the daughter of Lv Wanrong, worried it might be a ploy to harm Mudan further. However, Mudan chose to trust her own judgment and allowed Lv Gengchun to treat her hand.

Despite her injury, Mudan still had to grill meat for Jiang Zhangyang. To her surprise, Jiang showed his gratitude by personally bringing her the Qiongtai Yu Lu plant and a special ointment for tendon injuries. He even applied the medicine to her hand himself, leaving Mudan with a newfound respect for him. At another property belonging to the Jiang family, a woman gave birth to a child, but the baby fell gravely ill.

Desperate, the woman brought the child to the Jiang residence, kneeling at the door and begging Jiang Zhangyang to save his younger brother. However, the gates remained tightly shut. Mudan, unable to bear the sight, dared to approach Jiang Zhangyang, but he once again seemed like a stranger to her. Left with no other option, Mudan brought the woman and her child to the backyard.

After examining the child, Lv Gengchun diagnosed him with a rare condition known as "ghost bones. " With her current medical skills, she could only alleviate the symptoms. To cure the child, they would need the help of Master Fu from the Imperial Medical Office. One way or another, the matter still required Jiang Zhangyang’s assistance. Yet, despite several attempts, Mudan couldn’t manage to see him over the following days.

Mudan went to the countryside estate, where Jiang Zhangyang was indeed silently carving gold ingots. Wu Bo explained to Mudan that the day Bai Shi gave birth was also the anniversary of Jiang Zhangyang’s biological mother’s death. On that day, Jiang Zhangyang’s mother had wished to see Jiang Yuantang one last time, but he chose to visit the difficult Bai Shi instead.

Heartbroken, Jiang Zhangyang’s mother passed away, and Jiang knelt by her bedside the entire night in silence, just as he was doing today. Perhaps from that moment, Jiang Zhangyang resolved to sever his ties to emotions and love. Wu Bo knew that while Jiang Zhangyang appeared heartless, he was, in fact, deeply loyal and emotional. Mudan also understood that Jiang would not truly abandon Bai Shi and her son; he simply needed to overcome his inner conflict.

To help him, Mudan deliberately mentioned that Bai Shi and her son were staying at an inn and emphasized that only Master Fu from the Imperial Medical Office could save Bai Shi’s son. Soon after, Imperial Physician Fu arrived at Jiang Zhangyang’s estate. Though he was summoned to treat Mudan’s injured tendons, Lv Gengchun immediately pulled the physician away to examine the child. Master Fu successfully cured Fan’er’s ghost bone condition.

Mudan hired a carriage to send Bai Shi and her son away, slipping some money and silk to Bai Shi before they left. Bai Shi, misunderstanding Jiang Zhangyang’s actions as heartless, warned Mudan to be cautious of him. However, Mudan defended Jiang, saying that without his tacit approval, no one in Chang’an would have dared to save Fan’er.

Later, Jiang sent Chuan Yu to reimburse Mudan for the expenses she incurred for Bai Shi and her son, revealing Jiang Zhangyang’s soft heart beneath his tough exterior. That evening, Mudan and Jiang Zhangyang grilled meat together. Jiang proposed a toast to Mudan, and she seized the opportunity to renegotiate their contract, changing the profit split to a 40-60 division. Jiang readily agreed. Lv Gengchun’s passion for medicine stemmed entirely from her grandfather.

She had become obsessed with practicing medicine after accidentally reading a medical manuscript her grandfather left behind. Mudan told her that the Imperial Tutor visited Jiang Zhangyang’s estate every month, suggesting she could seek his guidance then. Mudan, seeing Lv Gengchun’s pure and kind nature, offered to let her use unused flowers from Huaman Zhu for medicinal purposes. Overjoyed, Lv Gengchun was further delighted when Mudan promised to let her observe the legendary “Firelight Gold Elixir” up close.

A few days later, the flowers at Huaman Zhu suddenly wilted, revealing a pest infestation. Upon investigation, Mudan discovered that someone had deliberately placed insect eggs into the flower fertilizer. Qin Shengyi, already prejudiced against Lv Gengchun, suspected her of sabotage. However, Mudan chose to trust Lv Gengchun and involved her in eradicating the pests. This gesture deeply moved Lv Gengchun.

Later, Lv Gengchun told Mudan that while her father, Lv Wanrong, indeed disapproved of women in business, he would never resort to the despicable act of planting insect eggs to ruin flowers. If it turned out someone from the flower shop was responsible, Lv Gengchun suggested confronting her father directly. When the saboteurs attempted the same tactic again, Mudan captured them and forced them to confess that the mastermind was Cao Yuying, the deputy head of the flower shop.

Mudan devised a plan: Lv Gengchun brought her father to a restaurant, where he overheard Cao Yuying admitting to hiring people to sabotage Huaman Zhu’s prized Firelight Gold Elixir. Lv Wanrong was furious and decided to expel Cao Yuying from the flower shop, forbidding him from ever working in the flower trade again. Though Cao begged for forgiveness and tried to gain Mudan’s sympathy, he could not escape his fate of being ousted, leaving him resentful.

Lv Wanrong, impressed by Mudan’s extraordinary intelligence, admitted that he had underestimated her before. He extended a rare invitation for Mudan to join the flower shop, but Mudan’s mindset had already changed. She also understood that the flower shop imposed many rules on female shopkeepers, making it unsuitable for her. Thus, she politely declined. Lv Wanrong was surprised but acknowledged that changing the rules would be too troublesome, so he dropped the matter.

Mudan encouraged Jiang Zhangyang to host a banquet and invite the young aristocrats to Jiang’s estate to watch a performance. On the stage, she displayed a variety of exquisite flowers. The aristocrats were eager to purchase them, but Mudan informed them that Jiang had already purchased all the flowers from Huaman Zhu. She suggested that if they became regular customers of Huaman Zhu, they would receive priority access to any flowers in the future.

Zhu Fu apologized to Lv Gengchun for the previous misunderstanding, and Lv Gengchun accepted her apology. Qin Shengyi, noticing this, specially prepared a delicate scented powder as a gift for Lv Gengchun. However, Lv Gengchun, not fond of scented powders, declined the gift, leaving Qin Shengyi disheartened. Soon after, Wang Qing appeared again, playing the role of someone concerned for Qin Shengyi, gifting her a hand balm. Qin Shengyi reluctantly accepted it but returned the money to him.

Zhu Fu recognized Wang Qing as Qin Shengyi’s ex-husband, who had once mistreated her. Furious, she confronted Wang Qing on Qin Shengyi’s behalf but accidentally hurt Qin Shengyi in the process. That evening, Mudan learned about the incident and asked Zhu Fu to apologize to Qin Shengyi. However, she shared one sentiment with Zhu Fu: if Wang Qing were to appear again, he deserved to be beaten every time they saw him.

Yet Qin Shengyi remained hesitant, still longing for a man she could rely on. She felt that Wang Qing had changed from the person he once was. Mudan told her that finding someone who truly understood her was far more important than simply marrying. Though Mudan couldn’t persuade her further, she hoped Qin Shengyi would listen. Meanwhile, the County Princess visited the Liu residence, bringing purple bamboo tea as a gift.

She reminded Madam Liu that the tea must be enjoyed within two months of picking to fully appreciate its fragrance. Madam Liu immediately understood the underlying message and agreed that Liu Zishu could marry the County Princess on the sixth day of the following month. However, Liu Zishu cited his busy schedule at the Ministry of Revenue as an excuse to delay, which displeased the County Princess. Madam Liu quickly stepped in to ease the tension.

Seeing Liu Chang’s ongoing frustration, the County Princess agreed to postpone the wedding, which slightly softened his stance. But then she mentioned having taught a lesson to some Ministry officials who had given him trouble, causing them to take leave. This infuriated Liu Chang, who felt she had interfered without consulting him. The County Princess argued that she had acted for his benefit, but Liu Chang was unmoved, accusing her of overstepping.

Later, a dog sent by King Ning bumped into the County Princess. She initially appeared angry but softened when she learned it was King Ning’s gift, even feeding the dog herself. Liu Chang sarcastically remarked about “the dog relying on its master’s power,” to which the County Princess retorted, accusing him of being oppositional. Still, it was clear that the County Princess’s feelings for Liu Chang were deeper, and she eventually conceded.

Yet their peace didn’t last, as they quarreled again. The County Princess then revealed details about the incident at Shuiyu Pavilion, exposing Liu Chang’s lingering feelings for He Weifang. Liu Chang’s first reaction was to defend He Weifang, claiming she wasn’t that kind of person. He overlooked the fact that the County Princess had compromised her own reputation to push for their marriage and exaggerated her actions to coerce him and his family.

The County Princess, now enraged, refused to yield, and their relationship reached its lowest point. Jiang Zhangyang invited Mudan to Huan Yun Lou to watch the competition for the title of courtesan queen. Someone had tampered with the wine at his table, so Jiang ordered Chuan Yu to pour it all out, wary of potential poisoning due to his notorious reputation. Liu Chang was also present, frustrated and drunk.

In his stupor, he accidentally dropped his strategy essay into the water. Mudan, not recognizing the masked Liu Chang, kindly helped retrieve his essay and praised its brilliance. Liu Chang recognized Mudan and knelt before her, pleading for reconciliation. He confessed that he had fallen out with the County Princess and was willing to give up his current position and reputation for He Weifang.

Mudan’s expression turned cold as she mocked him for needing to see a doctor for his mind before it deteriorated further. Liu Chang, angered, accused Mudan of looking down on him like everyone else. Mudan retorted that if he wanted respect, he first needed to become a respectable person and learn to respect himself. Jiang Zhangyang, dressed in a cloak and wearing a mask, watched the scene unfold from the sidelines. Mudan recognized him.

Huan Yun Lou was bustling with guests that evening, and it was already late. Only one room was left in the building. If Mudan and Jiang Zhangyang wished to stay, they would have to share the room.

Due to a shortage of rooms in Huan Yun Lou, Mudan ended up sharing a room with Yun Niang. Taking the opportunity, she asked Yun Niang for advice on business strategies. Yun Niang explained that the key to success was recognizing talent and placing capable individuals in roles where they could truly shine.

Meanwhile, Liu Chang approached King Ning to request the cancellation of his engagement to Li Youzhen, even offering to resign from his position as a Ministry of Revenue officer to prove his sincerity. While King Ning outwardly admired Liu Chang’s integrity, his real intention was to assign Liu Chang to a harsh and remote position, forcing him to admit his mistake and apologize to the County Princess.

When Liu Shen learned that Liu Chang had broken off the engagement with King Ning, he flew into a rage. Liu Chang calmly suggested that Liu Shen could ask Minister Chen to intercede with King Ning to preserve his position. Distracted by this idea, Liu Shen begrudgingly let Liu Chang off the hook and hurried off to grovel before Minister Chen.

Thanks to Minister Chen’s mediation, King Ning decided that Liu Shen’s ability to curry favor and gather wealth made him a useful subordinate. Considering him an obedient “dog,” King Ning allowed him to retain his position. Elsewhere, She Yan was tirelessly working on errands for Jiang Zhangyang. To show his gratitude, Jiang Zhangyang visited the stables to select a horse for him.

While there, he encountered Supervisor Ge and two other officials bullying Liu Chang, forcing him to drink water from the stables. Jiang Zhangyang intervened, helping Liu Chang escape the ordeal. Jiang then asked Liu Chang why he didn’t simply flatter the County Princess, which would guarantee a smooth career path. However, Liu Chang’s pride prevented him from doing so. He firmly believed he could rise to prominence based on his own talents and, once successful, win back He Weifang.

Jiang Zhangyang, however, cared more about whether He Weifang would even want to reconcile with him. Qin Shengyi decided to visit her family and younger brother, Qin Liulang. Mudan sent her off with words of encouragement, praising her as the most accomplished daughter in the family and reminding her that her future was bright.

Initially, Qin Shengyi felt confident, but upon arriving home, she was met with cold indifference from her father and brother, who accused her of laziness, blaming her for being mistreated by Wang Qing. Her heart sank, but her brother, Qin Liulang, was the only one who showed her understanding. To her dismay, her father had even arranged for her to marry a widower from the Zhou family, who was nearly forty years old.

Even her mother thought it was a practical choice, as marrying the widower would provide her with a more stable life than staying in Chang’an. Devastated, Qin Shengyi returned to Chang’an, only to overhear Mudan speaking to Lv Gengchun about her. Feeling worthless, she lamented that she lacked any talent to make Mudan proud. In her despair, Qin Shengyi went alone to burn paper offerings for her stillborn child, where she encountered Wang Qing, who was there for the same purpose.

Taking advantage of her vulnerable state, Wang Qing apologized and begged for forgiveness, promising to change. His words resonated with Qin Shengyi, who began to soften toward him. Mudan, knowing Qin Shengyi would return that evening, prepared a roasted chicken and nourishing soup for her. However, Jiang Zhangyang, unable to resist his cravings, stole the roasted chicken and sent Chuan Yu to deliver some dendrobium instead.

Mudan brought the soup to Qin Shengyi, comforting her and telling her not to overthink. Qin Shengyi was deeply moved by her kindness. Meanwhile, Cui Mao, who had killed a constable and attempted to flee, was captured again by Jiang Zhangyang. Jiang imprisoned him in a secret chamber for interrogation. Cui Mao’s crimes were innumerable, but he refused to reveal the mastermind behind his actions. Jiang Zhangyang, skilled in interrogations, exploited Cui Mao’s weakness—his love for his son.

He promised that if Cui Mao confessed the truth, he would ensure the safe departure of Cui Mao’s wife and son from Chang’an, allowing them to live peacefully. After consuming the dendrobium, Qin Shengyi’s complexion improved significantly. To thank Jiang Zhangyang, Mudan baked him a batch of fragrant, delicious pastries and personally delivered them to him.

Jiang Zhangyang found an excuse to travel to Luoyang. Before leaving, he asked Mudan if there was anything she needed him to bring back. Mudan, unreservedly, listed four items since she would be paying the carriage fees anyway. As for visiting any relatives or friends, Mudan stated that the He family daughter was dead, and she had no ties or acquaintances in Luoyang. Before his departure, Jiang Zhangyang prepared a magnificent phoenix kite for Mudan, releasing it into the sky.

The kite’s belly opened, scattering petals everywhere, leaving a lasting impression on her. Jiang Zhangyang told Mudan that no matter where she was in the future, as long as she saw the bright moon, she would never be alone. Meanwhile, Qin Shengyi once again became entangled with Wang Qing. Inadvertently, she let slip that Mudan had a family in Luoyang. Sensing an opportunity, Wang Qing coaxed Qin Shengyi into sharing more details about Mudan’s life in Luoyang.

The County Princess of Ji’an had been copying the *Lotus Sutra* for days, praying for a smooth path in love and marriage. At the same time, Li Youzhen kept close tabs on Liu Chang’s activities at the stables office. She heard that Liu Chang was overwhelmed with work, often exhausted, and would occasionally relax by having a few drinks at a tavern or climbing Zhongnan Mountain.

A servant reported that across from Liu Chang’s favorite tavern was a flower shop owned by He Weifang. Furious, Li Youzhen went straight to Liu’s residence to hold him accountable. She hinted to Liu Shen that he should take King Ning’s carriage and expose He Weifang’s true identity. The Luoyang Magistrate, however, was tactful and shrewd. Upon seeing King Ning’s carriage, he knew how to handle the matter.

But if Liu Shen and his wife personally appeared, Liu Chang would undoubtedly suspect something. After listening to Li Youzhen’s explanation, Liu Shen decided to have someone unrelated to them report He Weifang instead. Wang Qing tricked Qin Shengyi into signing and sealing a marriage contract, then made her drink nuptial wine that caused her to pass out.

He went to the Luoyang Magistrate and accused He Weifang of forging noble status to open a flower shop in the city and amass wealth. Liu Shen and his wife appeared as witnesses. Soon after, officials from the magistrate’s office came to arrest He Weifang. She hurriedly instructed Zhu Fu to notify Xu Zuping to leave to avoid being implicated. Meanwhile, she was taken to the magistrate’s office.

Outside the magistrate’s office, Mudan spotted an opulent sedan chair, indicating that its occupant was no ordinary person. The Luoyang Magistrate colluded with the Minister of the Imperial Household, leaving Mudan powerless as a commoner to fight back. She was demoted to a convict slave, stripped of her noble status, her property confiscated, and sent to a military camp outside the city. When Qin Shengyi woke up, she found the doors and windows locked.

Forcing them open, she ran outside, only to discover that Wang Qing had taken over Hua Man Zhu. Wang Qing deliberately tried to sow discord between Zhu Fu and Qin Shengyi, accusing Qin Shengyi of conspiring with him to seize Hua Man Zhu. Zhu Fu, filled with hatred for both Qin Shengyi and Wang Qing, confronted him but was outnumbered and injured by his men. Lv Gengchun persuaded Zhu Fu to avoid direct conflict for now.

With a heavy heart, Zhu Fu severed ties with Qin Shengyi. After receiving sixty lashes, Mudan was sent to the military camp as a convict slave. There, she encountered a mute woman who noticed Mudan’s eyes resembled her sister’s. The mute woman took care of Mudan, becoming the first kind soul she met in the camp. Together, they worked on laundry, and when they couldn’t get soap pods, they burned wild grass to produce ash with cleansing properties.

The porridge given to the convict slaves was so thin it was barely edible. One day, a strong convict, seeing Mudan as a weak woman, took her porridge when she wasn’t looking. Mudan was indignant and complained to the soldiers, but they ignored her and blamed her for failing to protect her food. It was then that Mudan realized that convict slaves had no dignity in the camp. She and the mute woman supported each other to survive.

Meanwhile, Jiang Zhangyang had arrived in Luoyang, drinking and socializing with local officials, completely unaware of the events unfolding in Chang’an.

Jiang Zhangyang accompanied the emperor on a discreet inspection tour and met with Cheng Qing in a secluded mountainous area. Back when the emperor deliberately demoted Cheng Qing to Luoyang in front of King Ning, it was actually a covert mission to investigate corruption and abuse of power in Luoyang. Cheng Qing lived up to expectations, uncovering that the Chen family had embezzled funds and seized land from the people.

The Chen family’s power extended into the Six Ministries, all under the protection of King Ning. The Chen family knew King Ning’s secrets thoroughly. To eliminate King Ning, the Chen family must first be removed, but this required a carefully timed opportunity to leave King Ning no room for maneuvering. Meanwhile, Mudan, demoted to a lowly status, suffered constant hunger and disdain in the military camp. Thankfully, the mute woman and Mudan supported each other.

They often went to the hills behind the camp to forage for wild vegetables. When Mudan spotted a plant called *mao qiang*, she warned the mute woman that the entire plant was toxic and inedible. As they were speaking, they heard the sound of drums and whistles from the military camp. The mute woman’s face turned pale with fear. It turned out that the camp was using convict slaves as targets for sword practice by new recruits.

The mute woman’s sister had died this way. Mudan narrowly escaped, with a sharp arrow grazing her arm. Others were not as fortunate—some were struck in the neck and died with their eyes wide open, while others were hit in fatal spots and were doomed. Mudan couldn’t hold back her anger, denouncing the general for treating lives so carelessly. The general retorted that he was protecting the common people with legitimate status, not these slaves with forged identities.

Later, Mudan decided they couldn’t continue living in constant fear of being killed. She intentionally mixed the toxic *mao qiang* into the wild vegetables served to the soldiers. That night, many soldiers in the camp were poisoned, writhing in pain and wailing. Carrying an herbal remedy that could induce vomiting and detoxify, Mudan stood outside the tents and called out to those with stomach pain. The suffering soldiers weakly came out, begging for a bowl of her remedy.

The camp doctor discovered Mudan’s knowledge of medicine when the remedy she prepared proved effective. General Yuan, suspecting that Mudan’s resourcefulness indicated she was no ordinary person, questioned her. Mudan took the opportunity to explain her desire to live and revealed her skills in medicine, literacy, and accounting, emphasizing that she did not want to die as a target for undisciplined recruits. The doctor and the new recruits pleaded on Mudan’s behalf, and eventually, General Yuan agreed to her request.

The emperor returned to Chang’an ahead of schedule, while Jiang Zhangyang and Chuan Yu stayed in Luoyang. There, they sought out the *jiangmian* (fermented noodle soup) that Mudan had mentioned. At the shop, they encountered an elderly man vying for the last bowl of *jiangmian*. Through his words, Jiang Zhangyang recognized him as Mudan’s father and agreed to let him trade a honey-glazed pancake for the last bowl. Liu Chang was determined to rescue Mudan from the military camp.

However, the County Princess intercepted his letters to Mudan, becoming even more enraged and vowing that He Weifang must die. Under orders from the camp, the mute woman was falsely accused of a crime and beaten to death. Mudan covered her body with her own clothes, lamenting that such a pitiful girl should not be left exposed in the wilderness. Later, Mudan was sent to the kitchen to help and encountered a soldier attempting to assault her.

She fought back desperately, and the soldiers suddenly fell ill, sparing her life. Jiang Zhangyang received a letter from Xu Zuping and Yun Niang detailing Mudan’s plight. He immediately rushed to the military camp, exhausting two horses in the process. Upon arriving, he nearly mistook the body covered in Mudan’s clothes as hers but soon realized it wasn’t He Weifang.

By the time Jiang Zhangyang reached the kitchen, Mudan had already escaped with the help of the new recruits she had saved earlier. His arrival felt more like a finishing touch than a rescue. Later, Jiang Zhangyang reprimanded General Yuan harshly, but knowing he would never confess that the County Princess was the mastermind, Jiang Zhangyang had him detained and sent to the Minister of War for further handling. In truth, it wasn’t mere luck that saved Mudan.

The mute woman had overheard General Yuan’s plan to harm Mudan and risked her life to warn her. Mudan preemptively spiked the food with medicine, but the mute woman was beaten to death for her efforts. Jiang Zhangyang comforted Mudan and took her out of the military camp. As they were leaving, Mudan hesitated for a moment and called out to Jiang Zhangyang from behind.

Mudan called out to Jiang Zhangyang and asked him to buy her. If she wanted to leave the military camp and return to Chang'an to rise again, she would need Jiang Zhangyang’s help. For this, Mudan was willing to renegotiate their previous arrangement. Jiang Zhangyang smiled, reached into his chest, and pulled out Mudan's bond. It turned out that he had already purchased her. The two of them rode together back to Chang'an.

Meanwhile, Zhu Fu had not received any news from Jiang Zhangyang and was growing increasingly anxious. She was about to go to the military camp to wait for him with her mother when there was a knock on the door. When she opened it, she found Mudan standing there, someone she hadn't seen in a long time. Zhu Fu, Lv Gengchun, and Sun Daniang hurriedly welcomed Mudan inside.

The money and silk that belonged to Mudan had already been seized by the officials, but Zhu Fu had secretly hidden away the precious *Qiong Tai* jade dew and some other important items for Mudan. King Ning once again tricked Qin Shengyi into helping him make incense powder and manage the business at *Hua Man Zhu*. Qin Shengyi, with an emotionless face, refused, which resulted in King Ning beating her.

Afterward, Qin Shengyi returned to the dilapidated temple where she and Mudan had once started, praying to the gods for Mudan's safe return. However, the candle flame kept being blown out by the wind, and no matter how many times she relit it, the wind extinguished it again. Qin Shengyi was both shocked and regretful, feeling that her sins were so great that even the gods could not forgive her.

At that moment, Mudan appeared, cupping her hands together and helping Qin Shengyi light the candle. Qin Shengyi was overjoyed, but Mudan’s next words were to question why she had betrayed her. Qin Shengyi explained that she had never betrayed Mudan, but she hadn't expected King Ning to deceive her into revealing everything, resulting in Mudan’s accusation at the Jingzhao Prefecture. However, by now, those words had no use.

What Mudan wanted to tell Qin Shengyi was that she had been reduced to a slave status, while Qin Shengyi had returned to her hardships. The cost of falling for King Ning's false affection was far too great. Still, Mudan kept a piece of her heart for Qin Shengyi. If Qin Shengyi’s life became unbearable, she could always return to Mudan.

But Qin Shengyi, feeling deeply guilty, didn’t want to face Mudan again and hoped that Mudan’s future friendships would be with true friends, never encountering someone like her. When Jiang Zhangyang returned from Luoyang with items he had brought back, Mudan realized that the *hu bing* (a type of cake) was made by her father. Jiang Zhangyang told her that since she had regained the identity of He Weifang, she could return to Luoyang to see her family.

Mudan recounted the day she escaped home and told Jiang Zhangyang that her father believed a woman’s place was in the inner chambers, managing the household and raising children. However, Mudan was not that kind of person, and she knew she would never be able to return to that family. No matter what Mudan's identity was, Jiang Zhangyang had never looked down on her. So, Mudan wanted to develop a relationship with him beyond just financial matters.

Jiang Zhangyang smiled and said that they were already friends. When Liu Chang learned that the *Hua Man Zhu* contract was bought by Jiang Zhangyang, allowing Mudan to leave the military camp, he immediately sought out Jiang Zhangyang. However, Jiang Zhangyang advised him to be more discerning in judging people, suggesting that it was obvious who had ordered the mistreatment and death of Mudan.

At the same time, Old Madam Tang, a noblewoman with a high rank, was known for being difficult to please. No one dared take on the flower banquet order for her eightieth birthday. Just then, King Ning visited to deliver a ceremonial invitation, hoping to meet with Lv Wanrong. He sent word that he could take on the flower banquet order for Old Madam Tang.

Unbeknownst to him, this was all part of Mudan’s plan to reclaim *Hua Man Zhu* from King Ning and restore its reputation. Soon, the flowers that King Ning bought from the flower shop wilted within hours of being delivered to the Tang residence. The house steward came to confront King Ning, demanding that he provide new flowers by the next day.

King Ning had already spent all the money on the flowers, and now the flower shop refused to lend him any more florists. Desperate, he kidnapped Qin Shengyi, who had been beaten and bruised, to try and force He Weifang into cooperating with him. However, He Weifang exposed him for trying to save face and shamelessly asking for help when he was already out of options.

The reason the flower shop entrusted King Ning with the flower banquet order for the noble lady was entirely because Old Madam Tang was hard to please, and Tang Silang was arrogant and domineering. No one in the flower shop dared to take the order, so it was passed to *Hua Man Zhu*, which had not yet joined the flower shop. Even if something went wrong, the flower shop could claim no responsibility.

King Ning angrily accused Mudan and Lv Wanrong of plotting against him. Mudan retorted, mocking him by saying that if it weren’t for his own greed, he wouldn’t have ended up in such a predicament. When King Ning found himself cornered, he kneeled and begged Mudan for help. Mudan set three conditions: first, he must immediately return *Hua Man Zhu* to her, and all profits from the banquet must be hers.

Second, he had to apologize to Qin Shengyi by kowtowing. As for the third condition, it would bring her the most satisfaction. Mudan returned to *Hua Man Zhu* to save the flowers that had withered due to lack of water. Sun Daniang and Zhu Fu helped her, working through the night. The next morning, the Tang family’s steward was woken up and was amazed to see the flowers had regained their vitality.

The flower arranger King Ning had chosen was incompetent, so Mudan had already contacted another florist and rearranged the flowers. As for King Ning, Zhu Fu was in charge of keeping watch over him. At dawn, King Ning was seen kneeling down the street, confessing his wrongdoings and clearing *Hua Man Zhu*’s name. Tang Silang was very pleased with the flowers and gave his approval, which allowed Mudan to finally feel at ease.

Qin Shengyi, observing from the crowd, felt a sense of relief as her anger dissipated. She waited by the small courtyard for Mudan, watching her return victorious, which also gave her peace of mind. Despite this, Qin Shengyi still didn’t want to return. She had been tormented by the rules of propriety for too long, and deep down she still longed for a husband and children.

But now she could no longer have children, and perhaps only King Ning would still want her. Therefore, Qin Shengyi resigned herself to becoming the woman she once was, *Qin Wu’er*. Mudan didn’t want to force her and planned to give her the money from the second shop of *Hua Man Zhu*, along with a gift Mudan had prepared for her. However, before Mudan could take out the gift, Qin Shengyi had already left.

Mudan took back *Hua Man Zhu*, and the previous florists were still willing to cooperate with her in business. Mudan was grateful and settled the outstanding wages, promising them an increase when she opened a new shop. She continued saving money, hoping to reclaim *Fang Yuan* one day. Every time Liu Chang went to the wilds to exercise his horse, Princess Ji and her maid would secretly observe him.

This time, they fell into a trap from which they could not escape. Zhu Fu and Mudan had placed raw meat around the edges of the trap to lure wolves, making Li Youzhen experience the fear of being surrounded by beasts. Although it didn’t compare to the torment Mudan had faced in the army, it allowed them to vent their anger.

When the *she yan* (a messenger bird) told Jiang Zhangyang that Liu Shen had sent two boxes of rare goods to the capital's defense office, far surpassing his yearly salary, Jiang Zhangyang understood that the wind was starting to shift against the Chen family. The key to toppling them now rested on whether the Liu family’s secrets remained airtight.

Mudan took the wages she had saved up and offered them to Jiang Zhangyang, including the money he had spent to buy her, hoping to reclaim her bond. However, Jiang Zhangyang refused, telling her to bide her time and stay under his protection for now. The rice shop had sold moldy millet to *Hua Man Zhu*, which caused Zhu Fu, who had been handling the moldy millet, to break out in a rash.

Mudan immediately decided to recall the incense powder made with this batch of millet. Lv Gengchun also noticed an increase in patients with stomach pains and diarrhea, likely caused by the moldy millet. Mudan instructed Zhu Fu to buy millet from both the West and East markets for comparison. They discovered that the millet from the West market had been mixed with moldy grains, while the millet from the East market was fine.

Further investigation revealed that Liu Shen was the culprit. It was no wonder the West market had been flooded with inferior goods; Liu Shen, a corrupt official, had no regard for the livelihood of the people. Mudan decided to plan her retaliation. At the same time, Jiang Zhangyang learned from the *she yan* that Mudan was targeting the same big fish, and it seemed the waters would not remain calm for long.

Jiang Zhangyang reminded Mudan that if Liu Shen discovered she, a mere merchant, was investigating him, he wouldn’t hesitate to take drastic action. Mudan didn’t understand how Jiang Zhangyang knew this, and he explained that Chuan Yu had seen her hire someone to follow Liu Shen in the black market. Jiang Zhangyang wasn’t advising Mudan to protect herself but to act wisely.

The entire West Market rice shop had mixed in old, spoiled rice, something that a mere Taifuqing like Liu Shen could not have done alone. There were far more complex forces behind him, and Mudan was dealing with more than just a greedy official. After hearing Jiang Zhangyang’s words, Mudan understood that he also wanted to bring down the people behind Liu Shen. This made her even more determined not to stand idly by.

She decided to cooperate with Jiang Zhangyang—he would handle the officials, and she would take care of the common people. Jiang Zhangyang hosted a banquet and invited a number of officials, including those from the Jingzhao Prefecture, to his residence. They were served rice made from moldy millet from the West Market rice shop, and before long, everyone began suffering from severe diarrhea.

Jiang Zhangyang used this as a reason to demand that the Jingzhao Prefecture investigate the matter thoroughly and give their colleagues an explanation. Mudan, meanwhile, was not idle. She staged a performance in front of the common people, encouraging them to report the officials to the Jingzhao Prefecture. She made it clear that only by making this matter public would the guilty party be exposed.

Furthermore, Mudan began recalling the incense powders made from inferior millet that had been sold, offering anyone who had purchased or even just used the incense the opportunity to visit Hua Man Zhu for free consultations and buy stomach remedies at cost. The people were extremely grateful. When the common people came to the Jingzhao Prefecture to report the officials, they were ignored and locked out. Mudan wasn’t worried, as this was exactly what she wanted.

She needed the anger of the people to continue growing, waiting for the right moment to ignite a wildfire that would burn through the criminals. Mudan kept encouraging the public to demand justice from the government. Lv Gengchun brought out the moldy rice she had bought, publicly declaring that the flower shop was on her side. As more and more people joined the protest, the pile of moldy millet grew larger, and the momentum increased.

When Jingzhao’s men arrived to intimidate the people, they were met with resistance, and the authorities even resorted to seizing the millet in broad daylight. Mudan struck the drum and argued the case, calling for a decision from the sage. Soon, the matter reached the emperor’s ears. He inquired about it, and Liu Shen and the other officials tried to cover up the issue.

To avoid arousing suspicion from King Ning and his faction, Jiang Zhangyang briefly downplayed the incident, only mentioning that officials in the residence had suffered from diarrhea. The Grand Inspector, however, insisted that the public grievance was no small matter and should be thoroughly investigated. Jiang Zhangyang suggested that Princess Liu take the lead in the investigation, with the Grand Inspector assisting her. The emperor agreed with Jiang Zhangyang’s proposal.

Jiang Zhangyang specifically gave Liu Shen some time to handle the evidence, hoping that he would try to secretly move the spoiled millet so that Chuan Yu and Mudan could catch him in the act. Sure enough, Liu Shen hastily replaced the spoiled rice with good rice, but when he tried to move the spoiled rice, Chuan Yu overturned the rice barrel in the street, exposing the moldy millet to everyone.

Liu Shen and his household became like rats crossing the street, everyone shouting for their punishment. Liu Shen tried to flee in panic, but Mudan struck him in the leg with a slingshot, causing him to fall into the water, crying out for help. What awaited him was the Grand Inspector’s arrest. Liu Shen confessed, and the Chen family was immediately implicated.

When King Ning stood by and watched, he could do nothing to help, and Liu Shen began accusing others. The corrupt officials accepting bribes were all exposed to the public. The noble families saw that King Ning was not stepping in to protect the Chen family, and there would surely be complaints. From now on, it would be difficult for King Ning to win their favor.

Liu Chang was informed that Liu Shen could only be spared if he re-engaged to the princess, and his mother also begged him to comply. Liu Chang was reluctantly forced to propose to Li Youzhen, who then threatened King Ning with her life, stating she would only marry Liu Chang. King Ning had no choice but to agree.

Liu Shen was publicly flogged, but as long as Liu Chang was still King Ning’s son-in-law, there was a chance that Liu Shen could avoid exile. However, Zhu Fu pointed out that it was always best to look on the bright side. Just in time, Fang Yuan was about to change owners, and Gao Xing was happily discussing the selling price of Fang Yuan with Zhu Fu.

On this night, with the bright moon high in the sky, Mudan prepared a late-night meal to celebrate her smooth collaboration with Jiang Zhangyang. They hadn’t even eaten much when a knock on the door interrupted them. The one knocking was her cousin, Li Xing. He had recently heard about the troubles Mudan had been through and had come to propose marriage, offering to take her as a concubine and protect her.

Not long after, Liu Chang arrived, also pushing his way in. He claimed he had already found a house and that he wouldn’t allow anyone to harm Mudan, and she didn’t need to become anyone’s servant. Jiang Zhangyang, enjoying the spectacle, decided to stir the pot further. He casually remarked that Mudan’s contract was with him, and Li Xing and Liu Chang could make an offer—the higher bidder would win.

Mudan rolled her eyes in frustration, warning Jiang Zhangyang not to add to the chaos. Nearby, Zhu Fu and Chuan Yu were watching the scene unfold, each supporting their respective masters and friends. Mudan realized there was no point in talking sense to them. She grabbed a stick and firmly kicked them out, swiftly closing the door behind them. Finally, Mudan saw the truth: the men around her, including Jiang Zhangyang, were far from normal.

With "Fang Yuan" up for sale, Mudan decided to take a loan by pledging it. However, when she arrived the next day with two boxes of gold ingots, Lv Gengchun told her it was too late. *Fang Yuan* had already been bought by the Flower Guild. Lv Gengchun wouldn’t sell it to her, so Mudan decided to use the gold to find a suitable shop in the East Market instead.

Before long, "Hua Man Zhu" in the East Market opened, and Xiao Chun’s beauty cream quickly became a hit. It was clear that Mudan and her team had made the right investment. Mudan couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. If Shengyi were still around, she would have been in charge of this shop. What a pity. Shengyi knew that "Hua Man Zhu" in the East Market was opening that day.

She embroidered a scarf with white peony flowers on it, hoping to give it to Mudan. When Wang Qing drunkenly returned home and saw her working on the embroidery, feeling frustrated, he destroyed the scarf in a fit of rage. The accumulated resentment in Shengyi boiled over. Grabbing the scissors on the table, she killed Wang Qing. Her hatred and anger turned into repeated stabbings, until he finally breathed his last.

When Mudan received the items and letter from Shengyi through a messenger, she immediately knew something had gone terribly wrong. Shengyi had killed someone, and afterward, she turned herself in to the authorities and committed suicide in court. Mudan and Zhu Fu arrived too late, only to catch a final glimpse of Shengyi’s lifeless body. They cried, heartbroken. Later, they set up a grave for Shengyi, planting a fragrant flower there.

Mudan promised to return the following year when the flower bloomed to remember her. The story of Shengyi killing her husband spread widely through the city, and people began to label her a vicious woman. Mudan felt the injustice and decided to act. She bought up all the distorted tales of Shengyi’s story and burned them, then wrote the true account with her own hand.

In a world where men were dominant and women were oppressed, Mudan bravely took a stand, fighting alone against the system. In the East Market, fewer noble ladies came to order flowers. The two noble ladies who had originally placed orders had canceled. Just as Mudan was about to inquire about the reasons for the cancellations, Jiang Zhangyang arrived with Tang Silang and cleared up her doubts.

It turned out that the county princess had intentionally warned the noble ladies not to buy flowers from "Hua Man Zhu" in the East Market, all because Liu Chang had come to visit Mudan after drinking too much one day. Mudan wasn’t angry. The county princess could control the noble ladies, preventing them from buying her flowers, but she couldn’t control the many dancing halls in the city.

"Hua Man Zhu" took over the fresh flower supply business for "Huan Yun Lou" and also catered to the dancing halls and other businesses in Pingkang Fang. As a result, there was no worry of the shop closing. However, the income still dropped by twenty percent. Mudan found a new business opportunity with *Huan Yun Lou*, planning to introduce affordable and useful seaweed beans and practical grooming items.

Mudan personally tested them, which made Jiang Zhangyang mistakenly think she had someone special in mind. His jealousy flared, and he rushed over to confirm.

His Majesty merely mentioned the matter, but Jiang Zhangyang immediately rejected it, unwilling to involve the innocent Mudan. Back then, if Jiang Zhangyang hadn’t insisted on taking His Majesty to Mengzhou, Princess Shouchang wouldn’t have met her tragic end. In their childhood, Princess Shouchang treated Jiang Zhangyang like a younger brother, but in the end, Jiang Zhangyang couldn’t even protect his own loved ones.

Meanwhile, Xiao Chun examined the pulses of the women at "Huan Yun Lou" and bluntly spoke about their health issues. Mudan quickly smoothed things over, suggesting that they could develop some restorative pills and tonics to nourish the body. The awkward atmosphere finally eased. Mudan decided to prioritize opening a clinic, which would also provide a convenient way for Xiao Chun to treat women. However, this would increase the risk of Xiao Chun being exposed.

Xiao Chun assured her that her father, Lv Wanrong, was preoccupied with a new project and unlikely to pay much attention to her. As they were leaving *Huan Yun Lou*, they encountered four men dressed as scholars. Mudan noticed their agility and sharp movements, which didn’t align with their scholarly guise. She also noticed that the scrolls on their backs looked unusually heavy. Growing cautious, Mudan went to alert Yun Niang. Yun Niang immediately sent someone to notify Jiang Zhangyang.

Jiang Zhangyang, hearing the sudden urgency in the music, realized that uninvited guests had arrived. He instructed His Majesty to escape through the secret passage while he stayed behind to stall the "guests," ensuring they wouldn’t discover the passage. The four “scholars” turned out to be assassins sent to kill Jiang Zhangyang. One of them, quite young, harbored deep hatred for Jiang Zhangyang, accusing him of colluding with King Ning and enabling the Emperor’s indulgence.

Jiang Zhangyang, understanding that these were righteous men, did not make things difficult for them. Instead, he had them taken in to be treated for their injuries and cared for properly. Outside the door, Mudan clutched a ladle and cowered, seemingly preparing to knock out the assassins if the situation became dire. Unfortunately, Yun Niang was wounded by one of the assassin’s poisoned blades. Recognizing the poison, Mudan immediately instructed someone to gather the necessary medicinal herbs.

Thanks to the timely treatment and wound cleaning, the poison hadn’t spread to Yun Niang’s internal organs. When Imperial Physician Fu arrived to check her pulse, he confirmed that following his prescription would lead to a full recovery within half a month. To thank Mudan for her timely warning, His Majesty, disguised as San Lang, sent her a gift. Jiang Zhangyang also prepared some fine wine as a gift, though he felt too embarrassed to admit it was from him.

San Lang, who harbored unrequited love for someone, sought Mudan’s advice on how to win her favor. Mudan not only gave him suggestions but also teased Jiang Zhangyang, who was clearly eavesdropping. From an outsider’s perspective, His Majesty noticed that Jiang Zhangyang and Mudan interacted like a married couple, with their banter resembling playful flirting. Thinking of himself and Consort Shu, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of bitterness.

Meanwhile, the County Princess, jealous of Liu Chang constantly sending Qiu Shi to check on He Weifang, ordered people to bring Mudan over under the pretense of having He Weifang promote grooming products to the noblewomen. When Mudan arrived, the County Princess deliberately made things difficult for her. Li Youzhen even tried to ride a horse straight at He Weifang, but the horses seemed frightened and refused to move.

Frustrated, Li Youzhen stabbed a horse with her hairpin, causing it to go wild. In the chaos, she was thrown off and trampled by the horse, which stomped on her abdomen before rearing up to strike again. Consort Shu arrived just in time and threw a spear to kill the horse, saving Li Youzhen. The noblewomen demanded Mudan’s imprisonment, but Consort Shu defended her, insisting that an innocent person shouldn’t suffer unjustly.

From that moment on, Mudan and the brave Consort Shu became friends. Mudan agreed to visit the palace each month to share amusing stories from outside. Noticing that Consort Shu disliked the bitter taste of her medicine, Mudan offered to use her knowledge of pharmacology to help improve the flavor.

The County Princess, now unable to bear children due to the injury inflicted by the horse, faced the wrath of King Ning, who stormed into Jiang Zhangyang’s residence to demand Mudan’s capture. Jiang Zhangyang came up with an excuse to prevent King Ning from taking Mudan. However, King Ning countered by suggesting that Jiang Zhangyang simply marry another beautiful and gentle woman instead.

Jiang Zhangyang tempted King Ning with the position of Vice Commissioner of Transportation and reminded him that His Majesty had already met Mudan, and Consort Shu had also seen her. If King Ning insisted on selecting another beautiful and gentle woman for marriage, it would be considered deceiving the emperor. Seeing that King Ning was wavering, Jiang Zhangyang further mentioned that what the County Princess desired was Liu Zishu’s heart.

If he were to take He Weifang as a concubine, it would sever Liu Zishu’s lingering thoughts and be a good thing for the County Princess. Although King Ning didn’t say anything, Jiang Zhangyang knew he couldn’t resist the allure of the lucrative position and finally felt relieved. Mudan, already hidden in a secret chamber for protection, overheard Jiang Zhangyang’s negotiation with King Ning.

After King Ning left, Jiang Zhangyang worried about how to explain this makeshift plan of taking a concubine to Mudan, but to his surprise, Mudan was understanding and broad-minded. For Mudan, her reputation wasn’t as important as her life. Besides, she was already remarried and viewed by society as a profiteering merchant, while the "Hua Niao Shi" was marrying for the first time, making him the one who seemed to be at a loss.

Jiang Zhangyang couldn’t help but laugh—Mudan was no ordinary woman and didn’t need his reassurances at all. Even though Mudan didn’t mind, Jiang Zhangyang was determined to ensure the wedding was properly arranged. However, Mudan preferred to keep things simple, as an elaborate wedding would only draw unwanted attention. Zhu Fu and Xiao Chun disagreed, insisting that the occasion couldn’t be overly modest, and even San Lang warned that visitors bringing gifts to Jiang’s residence tomorrow would flood the entrance.

Despite this, Jiang Zhangyang decided to respect Mudan’s wishes—if she wanted simplicity, then so be it. There would be no banquet for guests, but the wedding gifts would still be delivered. Li Youzhen, having brought this upon herself, came to understand a harsh truth: even the paternal love of royal and noble families for their daughters could not outweigh political interests.

King Ning demanded that Liu Chang marry into his family, stipulating that as long as Liu Zishu signed the agreement to marry into the Ning family and take no other concubines, any of his other demands would be met. Liu Chang was unwilling and attempted to buy time by claiming he needed to consult his family patriarch. King Ning grew furious, threatening to destroy the Liu family lineage. Terrified, Liu Shen immediately signed the agreement on his son’s behalf.

Liu Chang laughed bitterly—what kind of absurd love was this? Not only did he have to marry into another family and forgo having children, but King Ning also expected him to harmoniously coexist with Li Youzhen. Liu Chang, outraged, grew even more resistant, but King Ning had his methods of forcing him into submission.

Unaware of the inside story, Zhu Fu and Xiao Chun, having heard rumors of *Hua Niao Shi* constantly surrounded by beautiful women and living an indulgent life, were deeply worried that Mudan had chosen poorly. Xiao Chun, who had once checked *Hua Niao Shi*’s pulse, found no signs of excessive indulgence; instead, he was in excellent physical condition.

What began as an act between Mudan and Jiang Zhangyang to reassure Zhu Fu and Xiao Chun soon began to feel real to Mudan, as she started to sense a vague, ambiguous connection forming between herself and Jiang Zhangyang. While accompanying Consort Shu in the palace, Mudan not only brought calming and healing incense but also sought to ease her emotional distress.

His Majesty and Jiang Zhangyang, eavesdropping outside, were shocked to hear how much Consort Shu detested the rigid etiquette and formalities of palace life. His Majesty felt a pang of sorrow and instructed Jiang Zhangyang not to tell Consort Shu that he had been there. Liu Chang, now crippled, was imprisoned in the Ning family’s dungeon. In a desperate act of resistance against King Ning’s overwhelming power, he began a hunger strike.

A servant delivering food informed Liu Chang that Liu Shen and his wife had joyfully accepted twenty carts of betrothal gifts, declaring that Liu Chang now belonged to the Ning family in both life and death. Per King Ning’s orders, the servant also brought wedding pastries celebrating He Weifang’s marriage to *Hua Niao Shi*, completely shattering Liu Chang’s hope of ever taking He Weifang as a concubine. Perhaps this was the beginning of Liu Chang’s descent into darkness.

Liu Chang swallowed the wedding pastries of Jiang Zhangyang and He Weifang with hatred, marking his descent into darkness. He feigned deep affection for Li Youzhen, expressing his willingness to marry into King Ning's household and spend an eternity with her. He never mentioned that his leg had been crippled by King Ning, instead claiming he had fallen from a height in his eagerness to see her.

Li Youzhen believed his every word, fully immersed in the false emotions he displayed. Liu Chang decided they would marry in ten days. Though Li Youzhen felt the time was too rushed, she couldn't resist agreeing upon hearing his earnest desire to marry her without delay. Due to the tight timeline, the flowers provided by Lv Wanrong, who managed the flower shop, were exquisite but not unique enough to meet the County Princess's standards.

There were rare flowers in Danzhou, but the travel time made them inaccessible. A servant mentioned that He Weifang had never given up on developing new flower varieties. Lv Wanrong decided to try his luck with her and discovered that she had indeed rented a pond to cultivate a new flower species called "Jin Chanyao".

"Jin Chanyao" was a variety of peony recorded in ancient texts, but He Weifang had cultivated a new lotus species with colors as vibrant as a peony, bearing striking similarities to the original "Jin Chanyao". The name "Jin Chanyao" was thus fitting, and its auspicious connotation would undoubtedly make it a sought-after treasure among nobles. Lv Wanrong, understanding the difficulty of cultivating new varieties, knelt to beg for her help.

He Weifang was not trying to exploit him but proposed a deal instead. Lv Wanrong agreed on the spot to sell Fang Garden to He Weifang and, in turn, bought the "Jin Chanyao" at five times its value, offsetting half of the price. Showing leniency, Lv Wanrong allowed He Weifang to pay half upfront and gather the remaining funds later. With Fang Garden reclaimed, Mudan's wish was fulfilled, and she was overjoyed.

If not for the wedding tomorrow, she would have run to Fang Garden immediately. It was Jiang Zhangyang's first marriage, and he was anxious, while Mudan was calm and content because she was marrying Jiang Zhangyang, a man disguised as a villain but truly a noble soul. Although the wedding was to deceive King Ning, Mudan could see Jiang Zhangyang's sincerity. Compared to the nervousness she felt during her first marriage, she now felt at peace.

Hearing this, Jiang Zhangyang was deeply moved. The next day, while getting ready, Zhu Fu and Xiao Chun pooled their money to make a set of hair ornaments for Mudan. Though less valuable than the turquoise-studded phoenix crown made by the Weaving and Dyeing Bureau, Mudan appreciated their heartfelt gesture and decided to wear both. Suddenly, Xiao Chun arrived in a panic, speaking urgently.

Mudan had no choice but to set aside her wedding preparations, don a veil, and rush to King Ning's residence to deal with the emergency. It turned out that the staff at King Ning's estate had mishandled the flowers, causing the roots of "Jin Chanyao" to be eaten by larvae, leaving the flowers in a withering state. Mudan used tea to lure out the pests, helping Lv Xingtou and the Lv family avoid disaster.

Jiang Zhangyang arrived to support Mudan, fearing for her safety should King Ning or the County Princess discover her identity. Once the crisis was resolved, Jiang Zhangyang swiftly escorted Mudan away. Liu Chang's wedding to King Ning's household was more extravagant than typical noble ceremonies and coincided with the day of Jiang Zhangyang and Mudan's wedding.

As Liu Chang left his home in a bridal sedan, he happened to cross paths with Jiang Zhangyang riding a horse, with Mudan seated beside him. Hearing the horse neigh, Liu Chang lifted the sedan curtain and saw Mudan's face, her veil blown aside by the wind, revealing her bright smile. Jiang Zhangyang hosted a banquet in Mudan's small courtyard, where she felt most at ease.

Knowing Jiang Zhangyang lacked for nothing, Mudan personally brewed rose-infused wine for their ceremonial drink. The two drank together, sharing the moment. Though they had intended to keep the ceremony simple, Xu Jijiu insisted on upholding the traditions, dragging them off to perform the formal wedding rites.

According to tradition, Jiang Zhangyang and Mudan went through the ceremonial rites, including the "que shan" (closing the fan) ceremony, the "wo guan" (washing hands) ceremony, the "tong lao" (joining the prison) ceremony, and the "he jiin jiu" (drinking the wedding wine). Afterward, it was time to enter the bridal chamber. In the room, Mudan helped Jiang Zhangyang remove his clothes, and Jiang Zhangyang carefully took off her headpiece and combed her hair.

They behaved respectfully and followed all the necessary rituals. Mudan’s hair had finally grown out, and she was reluctant to cut it. Jiang Zhangyang didn’t mind. He placed a lock of his hair in the fragrant pouch, waiting for Mudan to lose a few strands while combing her hair. That would be the symbolic act of "jie fa" (joining hair). Mrs. Feng sent over a jade comb in haste.

It wasn’t a valuable item, but Mudan accepted it calmly, unaware that it had once belonged to Jiang Zhangyang’s birth mother. She had intended to give it to her son’s future wife while she was still alive. Xu Jijiu and Sun Daniang, both of advanced age, couldn’t bear to watch the young couple’s intimate gestures, so they left. Zhu Fu, Xiao Chun, and Chuan Yu, three young ones, stayed behind, peeking through the door.

After the hair-joining ceremony was complete and the bridal candle was lit, Jiang Zhangyang sent them all away. Mudan saw that the bed was filled with money and smiled broadly. Since their marriage was a fake one, there was no actual bridal chamber. Mudan grew hungry, so Jiang Zhangyang moved some food to the bed for them to eat. Jiang Zhangyang truly pampered Mudan, not wanting her to feel any constraints just because she married him.

He promised to treat her as he always had, no matter the circumstances. Mudan was touched. Her first marriage had been real, but the wedding had been absurd. She had been forced to suppress herself and act as Liu’s second wife. Now, in this fake marriage, she could truly be herself. Unlike the happy Jiang Zhangyang and Mudan, Liu Chang, on his wedding day, drowned his sorrows in alcohol.

He mocked himself, thinking that he was no different from He Weifang, who had married into the Liu family. Officials trample on merchants, and royal family members trample on officials. If one cannot rise to the top and become a person of power, one will always be at the mercy of others. Seeing the thousand-petal lotus in the yard getting drenched in rain, Liu Chang, disregarding his injured leg, rushed into the rain, lost his umbrella, and protected the lotus.

Li Youzhen, who was behind, saw everything clearly. In her anger, she tore off the thousand-petal lotus from her head and ordered that no more peonies or lotuses should be planted in the entire household. The next day, when Jiang Zhangyang got up, the servants congratulated him, and he rewarded each of them with gifts. However, his happiness didn’t last long. He soon discovered that Mudan had moved to Fang Garden.

He ordered Chuan Yu to pass on a message to her. Seeing that Mudan truly didn’t realize his feelings, Jiang Zhangyang smiled bitterly. Fang Garden was vast, with many houses, and the farmers were busy working. Mudan recalled her childhood days spent in Fang Garden and thought that if people who appreciated flowers could be invited to the garden to admire the blossoms, her mother’s spirit would surely be comforted.

In the garden, an elderly woman named Tang Daniang had threatened to hang herself and refused to leave. Mudan gave her three days to prove her worth; if she failed, Mudan wouldn’t keep her. Chuan Yu remarked that now Jiang Zhangyang had no chance to help find people anymore. Mudan hadn’t returned to the small courtyard in Jiang Fu for two days. Jiang Zhangyang, feeling lonely, roasted meat by himself.

At that moment, King Ning arrived and forcibly gifted him a beautiful woman named Lian Zhou as a concubine. Jiang Zhangyang couldn’t refuse, so he reluctantly accepted. In three days, Tang Daniang not only brought skilled, practical artisans but also found three talented women. They were A Tao, a guqin (zither) player; A Man, a skilled embroiderer; and Jin Niang, an expert in steaming and cooking.

Each of them had their own tragic backstory, but Mudan recognized their excellence in their respective crafts. She immediately decided to redeem their contracts and bring them to work alongside her in the re-establishment of Fang Garden.

Jiang Zhangyang and Mudan followed the customary rituals for their wedding, including the "que shan" (closing the fan) ceremony, the "wo guan" (washing hands) ceremony, the "tong lao" (joining in prison) ceremony, and the "he jiin jiu" (wedding wine). Afterward, they proceeded to the bridal chamber. Inside, Mudan helped Jiang Zhangyang undress, while he carefully removed her headpiece and combed her hair. They both observed the proper manners, completing each step of the ceremony with respect.

Mudan’s hair had only just grown out, and she was reluctant to cut it. Jiang Zhangyang didn’t mind. He placed a lock of his own hair in the fragrant pouch and told her that whenever she lost a few strands while combing her hair, he would add them to the pouch. This would be the symbolic "jie fa" (joining hair). Mrs. Feng had sent a jade comb in a hurry.

It wasn’t a valuable item, but Mudan accepted it calmly, not realizing that it had once been a treasured possession of Jiang Zhangyang’s birth mother. She had intended to give it to her son's future wife. Xu Jijiu and Sun Daniang, both elderly, couldn’t bear to watch the young couple’s intimate gestures and left one after the other. Only Zhu Fu, Xiao Chun, and Chuan Yu remained, peeking through the door.

After the "jie fa" ceremony and the bridal candles were lit, Jiang Zhangyang sent them away. Mudan was overjoyed when she saw that the bed was covered in money, her smile wide and bright. Since their marriage was a sham, there was no true bridal chamber. Mudan became hungry, so Jiang Zhangyang brought food to the bed for them to share. He treated her with great indulgence, not wanting her to feel any constraints just because she married him.

He assured her that things would remain the same as before. Mudan was touched. Her first marriage had been real, but the wedding had been absurd. She had suppressed herself every day to act as Liu’s second wife. Now, in this false marriage, she could truly be herself. In contrast to the happy Jiang Zhangyang and Mudan, Liu Chang spent his wedding day drowning his sorrows in alcohol.

He mocked himself, comparing his situation to that of He Weifang, who had married into the Liu family. Officials trample on merchants, and royal family members trample on officials. If one cannot rise to the top and become someone important, they will forever be at the mercy of others. Seeing the thousand-petal lotus in the yard being drenched in rain, Liu Chang, disregarding his injured leg, rushed into the rain, lost his umbrella, and shielded the lotus.

Li Youzhen, who was behind him, saw everything clearly. In her anger, she tore the thousand-petal lotus off her head and ordered that no more peonies or lotuses should be planted in the entire household. The next day, when Jiang Zhangyang woke up, the servants congratulated him, and he rewarded each of them generously. However, his happiness was short-lived when he discovered that Mudan had moved to Fang Garden. He asked Chuan Yu to convey a message to her.

Seeing that Mudan truly didn’t realize his feelings, Jiang Zhangyang smiled bitterly. Fang Garden was large, with many houses, and the workers were busy with their tasks. Mudan thought back to her childhood days spent there and imagined that if flower enthusiasts were allowed to visit and admire the blossoms, her mother’s spirit would be at peace. In the garden, an elderly woman named Tang Daniang had threatened to hang herself and refused to leave.

Mudan gave her three days to prove her worth, warning that if she failed, she would not be allowed to stay. Chuan Yu remarked that Jiang Zhangyang had no chance to help search for people anymore. Mudan hadn’t returned to Jiang Fu’s small courtyard for two days, leaving Jiang Zhangyang feeling lonely as he roasted meat by himself. At that moment, King Ning arrived and forcefully gave him a beautiful woman named Lian Zhou as a concubine.

Jiang Zhangyang couldn’t refuse, so he reluctantly accepted. In three days, Tang Daniang not only brought in skilled and practical artisans but also found three women with specific talents: A Tao, a guqin player; A Man, an expert embroiderer; and Jin Niang, a master of cooking and steaming. Each of them had their own tragic pasts, but Mudan recognized their skills and immediately decided to redeem their contracts, bringing them to work with her in the re-establishment of Fang Garden.

King Ning had already arranged for the wedding banquet and sent out invitations, so everything was prepared. Jiang Zhangyang was pushed into a corner. During the banquet, Chuan Yu overheard people talking but didn’t dare to interrupt. Lian Zhou took an entire hour to finish her makeup, and when Jiang Zhangyang went to hurry her along, she pretended to be pitiful, complaining about the lack of a wedding carriage and a poem, and even mentioning Mudan.

Jiang Zhangyang made up an excuse and quickly left when he smelled the delicious scent of food wafting from the backyard. Zhu Fu defended Mudan when she heard the gossip, but Mudan wasn’t too concerned. First, because her marriage to Jiang Zhangyang was fake, and second, because it was his right to take a concubine.

Jiang Zhangyang didn’t want to barge into Mudan’s event, so he threw a stone to knock over the trash can, making it obvious that he was climbing the wall to see her. Jiang Zhangyang explained to Mudan that taking a concubine was not his wish but something forced upon him by King Ning. Even the Emperor had a concubine, Huifei, so how could he refuse?

Mudan understood and said she would handle Lian Zhou, but Jiang Zhangyang hurriedly stopped her, worried she might embarrass herself since she had drunk too much and was flushed with wine. Mudan cleverly used rouge to cover her face, enhancing her beauty, and the guests at the banquet admired her rather than Lian Zhou.

Mudan treated the newly arrived Lian Zhou with great kindness and even took the initiative to hand over the household responsibilities to her, making it impossible for anyone to find fault with her actions. That night, Jiang Zhangyang, eager to avoid the bridal chamber, went to Mudan’s courtyard. After the banquet guests had left, Lian Zhou’s maid couldn’t find Jiang Zhangyang and reported back, discovering that he had gone to Mudan’s courtyard.

Lian Zhou, realizing that King Ning had sent her to marry Jiang Zhangyang to win him over, decided not to wait idly. Eventually, Mudan and Jiang Zhangyang played along with a little drama. Jiang Zhangyang pretended to be drunk, and Mudan took care of him, successfully sending Lian Zhou away. After she left, Mudan took out a contract and gave Jiang Zhangyang two-tenths of Fang Garden’s profits. She was grateful for his protection and was not one to forget favors.

Jiang Zhangyang didn’t like that Mudan always talked about money instead of emotions, but Mudan was fully focused on the business and didn’t understand his feelings. Jiang Zhangyang took out a new design of Fang Garden he had made and showed it to Mudan, who cherished it greatly. As he reluctantly left, Mudan was so engrossed in the design that she didn’t notice how much Jiang Zhangyang didn’t want to leave her room.

Since the noblewomen had learned that Mudan had befriended the Empress Dowager and helped her recover her health, they all flocked to Flower Mansion to buy incense and rouge, and the business boomed. The tickets to the garden’s opening were sold out immediately. Jiang Zhangyang thought Mudan would be moving to Fang Garden the next day, and with a heavy heart, he wrote a letter to congratulate her on her new home.

However, Mudan returned that night and told him she wouldn’t move to Fang Garden after all. Jiang Zhangyang was overjoyed and immediately told Chuan Yu to burn the letter, not wanting anyone to know how much he couldn’t bear to let Mudan go. On Liu Shen’s birthday, Liu Chang returned to his family home and killed the dog King Ning had sent as a gift to Liu Shen, cooking it and serving it to Liu Shen and his wife.

This severed their ties. Jiang Zhangyang went to the garden to accompany Mudan, helping her weed the garden. While digging, they found an old jar of daughter’s red wine that Mudan’s mother had buried for her years ago, which seemed like a blessing from her mother in the afterlife. One jar had leaked, and they both drank from it, joking and playfully arguing like a couple teasing each other.

This story, rich with emotional depth and cultural nuance, paints a vivid picture of Mudan’s complex relationships and her evolving journey. The dynamic between her and Jiang Zhangyang is particularly intriguing—while their marriage begins as a farce, it gradually transforms into a meaningful connection, built on mutual respect and unspoken affection. Mudan's dedication to Fang Garden and her business is remarkable.

She not only fosters a thriving enterprise but also creates a space for people with troubled pasts, giving them a second chance. The subplot of the concubine, Lian Zhou, adds tension, but Mudan handles it with grace, not letting it affect her sense of self-worth or her business goals. There’s an ongoing exploration of identity, gender roles, and how Mudan balances personal and societal expectations.

The relationship between Mudan and Jiang Zhangyang, though it starts with a bit of tension, seems to develop into something deeper as the story progresses. His jealousy and tenderness toward her, especially when he tries to protect her from the concubine, show a side of him that is vulnerable and cares for her more than he lets on. Mudan, on the other hand, remains focused on her goals, which creates a beautiful contrast between them.

The emotional layers are thickened further with Mudan’s reflections on her mother’s spirit and her longing for her, as well as her bond with her late brother, Qin Liulang. These personal connections give her motivations and actions a deeper resonance, grounding the story in family and tradition while still pushing her to carve out her own path. The final scenes, with Mudan reflecting on the success of her garden, her mother, and her brother, bring a sense of fulfillment.

It’s as if her journey has come full circle, honoring her roots while establishing her future. The opening of Fang Garden is symbolic of her blossoming—both literally and figuratively—as she steps into a new chapter of her life, surrounded by the fruits of her labor and the legacy of her family. This blend of personal growth, cultural rituals, and emotional complexity makes this narrative quite compelling. What did you find most interesting about this progression?

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