“How can you just speak so carelessly?”

They’d never seen someone state “talking nonsense” so righteously.

“Exactly, what a waste of emotion!” Making them think there was some new gossip.

Amid a chorus of curses, Wen Rusheng fled in panic.

“Miss, that person seemed to be Eighth Master.” Baozhu looked at that figure running madly away, the more she looked the more it resembled him.

Lin Hao smiled: “Let’s go, to the flower essence shop.”

Wen Rusheng didn’t return home but instead ran all the way to the government office and called Wen Feng out.

“What does Father want with me?” Wen Feng walked out quickly. The composure between his brows was vastly different from that young man who had first come to the capital to take the examinations.

During this period, Wen Feng had become increasingly smooth at the office.

Prince Wei had become heir apparent, and Yang Zhe was someone the new Crown Prince valued highly. By association, Wen Feng and the others who were on good terms with Yang Zhe also had more opportunities to interact with the new Crown Prince, naturally becoming like fish in water in official circles.

Wen Rusheng glanced left and right, pulled Wen Feng into a corner, and only then said in a low voice: “I saw A’Hao on the street.”

Wen Feng’s temple twitched. He suddenly felt his brain aching.

He didn’t know why, but whenever his father got involved with anything related to A’Hao, he became rather abnormal.

“Father, if there’s nothing else, I’ll go back in. It’s quite busy today.”

Wen Rusheng hurriedly grabbed his son: “There’s also Prince Liang!”

Hearing “Prince Liang,” Wen Feng’s expression became somewhat serious: “Did he cause trouble for A’Hao?”

“How is it causing trouble?” Wen Rusheng instinctively objected. His eyes darted around to confirm Lin Hao wasn’t nearby before lowering his voice: “Prince Liang also discovered A’Hao is a demon!”

Wen Feng: “…”

“Father, didn’t you say yesterday you wanted to eat Taoranzhai’s roast chicken? Go there today and eat more. Your son really has many tasks unfinished. If I delay any longer, I’ll be scolded by Shanzhang.” Wen Feng stuffed a piece of broken silver into Wen Rusheng’s hand and quickly ran off.

“Why won’t anyone believe me!” Wen Rusheng felt somewhat wronged. Thinking that he’d soon get to eat Taoranzhai’s roast chicken, his mood improved again.

The manor servants finally managed to get Prince Liang back to the manor, only to discover the atmosphere inside was wrong.

A steward came forward crying: “Your Highness, you’ve finally returned! Something terrible has happened!”

Seeing the weeping steward, Prince Liang felt it was inauspicious. He cursed him to get lost and headed straight for the rear courtyard.

“Your Highness, Your Highness—” The steward was so anxious he turned in circles.

The manor servants returning from outside asked: “What happened?”

The steward burst into tears: “The Chief Administrator is dead!”

Several servants were shocked: “How could he be dead?”

The steward wiped away tears: “Your Highness pushed the Chief Administrator down. The Chief Administrator’s head hit the ground and bled profusely. Before the physician could arrive, he stopped breathing…”

“What are we to do?” Everyone in Prince Liang’s manor was troubled by this question. Ultimately it was still reported to Emperor Tai’an.

The manor’s Chief Administrator was still a court official. It wasn’t so easy to muddle through and cover things up.

Speaking of which, Prince Liang’s manor was different from other princes’ manors. After Prince Liang was deposed, Prince Liang’s manor was hastily renovated. Not one person occupying an important position in Prince Liang’s manor was a veteran from the Eastern Palace, so naturally no one would wholeheartedly cover up for Prince Liang.

When Emperor Tai’an heard that Prince Liang’s manor Chief Administrator had been pushed to death by Prince Liang while trying to stop him from entering the palace to make trouble, he was so angry his face turned ashen, increasingly convinced that changing the Crown Prince had been a wise move.

The punishment was quickly announced: Prince Liang was demoted to Prince of Second Rank and confined to his manor for half a year.

How Prince Liang went mad after the decree reached his manor need not be detailed. All sides increasingly understood the new Crown Prince’s position was incomparably stable. Thus when news spread that the imperial family intended to select a consort for the Crown Prince, many households that caught wind of this were like cats smelling fish, becoming covetously watchful.

The Emperor only had two sons. When the former Crown Prince was deposed, there was at least Prince Wei to choose from. Now that Prince Wei had become Crown Prince, there was no replacement. The Crown Princess selected now would be the future Empress.

The flower banquet for selecting the Crown Princess was set for late August. Lin Hao discovered that the Wuxiang Flower Essence Shop’s business had suddenly become exceptionally good—it could even be described as explosive.

“Second Miss Lin, I heard the flower essence formula here was developed by you.” A noblewoman who came to buy flower essence happened upon Lin Hao in the shop and walked over.

Lin Hao recognized the noblewoman’s identity—she was Duke Yingguo Manor’s eldest miss, Du Ying.

“Just idle tinkering when I had nothing to do.”

Du Ying smiled charmingly: “Idle tinkering and you created flower essence that all the women of the capital pursue—Second Miss Lin is too impressive.”

“Miss Du is too kind.” Lin Hao responded politely, watching to see what the other intended.

Du Ying’s behavior clearly wasn’t simply to buy flower essence.

Sure enough, after some pleasantries, Du Ying stated her purpose: “I’d like to ask Second Miss Lin to formulate a new flower essence.”

Lin Hao was surprised: “Is there no flower essence in the shop that Miss Du likes?”

Du Ying smiled: “I do like them, but I want a flower essence that no one else has used.”

Lin Hao understood: “Miss Du wants a flower essence that belongs exclusively to herself?”

“Correct. Price is no object.”

Lin Hao looked at Du Ying with a half-smile.

This Miss Du was truly wealthy and imposing.

“I’m truly sorry, but developing new flower essence requires inspiration and time. It’s not something that can be produced on demand. I’m afraid I must disappoint Miss Du.”

“I said price is no object.” Such a direct refusal made Du Ying’s voice somewhat hard.

Lin Hao maintained a good-tempered appearance, her tone gentle but firm: “It’s not a matter of money.”

Du Ying’s willow-leaf eyebrows shot up. Just as she was about to speak, a voice carrying a trace of playfulness came from the doorway: “The General’s Manor doesn’t lack money either, Miss Du, wouldn’t you say?”

Du Ying looked toward the shop entrance: “Second Miss Kou?”

Kou Wan walked over with light steps: “Elder Sister Lin, I want to buy flower essence.”

Lin Hao nodded politely to Du Ying: “Miss Du, why don’t you look around some more to see if there’s anything you like.”

“Never mind.” Du Ying said no more, pursing her lips as she walked out.

The matter of Wuning Marquis Manor’s second miss winning the Empress Dowager’s favor had already spread among the noblewomen. At this critical time, she had no need to create friction with her.

Kou Wan curled her lip toward the doorway. Since there were no other customers in the shop, she spoke very casually: “Asking Elder Sister Lin to specially develop flower essence for her—what nerve. Elder Sister Lin, do you know why she came looking for you?”

Lin Hao shook her head to indicate she didn’t know.

Kou Wan lowered her voice: “The Crown Princess selection is coming up soon. She thinks her chances are best.”

Lin Hao understood: “No wonder.”

No wonder the flower essence shop’s fragrances were exceptionally popular.

“Wan’er received an invitation too, right?”

The purpose of selecting the Crown Princess was very clear. Not many noblewomen received invitations—noblewomen like Lin Hao who were already betrothed were not on the invitation list.

“I did. I’m just going to join the excitement. If I encounter anything interesting, I’ll tell Elder Sister Lin.”

Soon it was late August. The Crown Princess candidate was decided—it was precisely Duke Yingguo Manor’s eldest miss, Du Ying.

Kou Wan immediately told Lin Hao: “Du Ying was rejected by Elder Sister Lin that day. Now that she’s been selected, she’ll definitely come to show off.”

Lin Hao: “…” Was she really that childish?