Moving day has always been a time when the household is overwhelmingly busy. Although Huo Liuxing had declined hosting a banquet for guests on the grounds that the war had just ended and the bones of border soldiers were not yet cold, making it inappropriate to hold grand celebrations, he couldn’t stop guests from coming on their own initiative.

After all, facing someone like Huo Liuxing who had established a mansion through merit and was newly entering the court, officials should send congratulatory gifts on this day to demonstrate their future united efforts in assisting His Majesty and revitalizing Daqi. Even many lower-ranking officials, partly to observe propriety and partly to show goodwill, often came in person to offer their congratulations.

Early in the morning, once the firecrackers crackled and popped at the mansion gate, guests from all quarters arrived one after another. After Huo Liuxing sat down in the main hall, he barely had any opportunity to move.

When encountering officials of ordinary rank, Shen Lingzhen didn’t need to appear to receive them, so she stayed in the back handling the congratulatory gifts for him.

Fortunately, she had studied with Nanny Ji for a while and had seen many rare treasures since childhood, so when checking the gift lists, she managed the classification of these gifts with relative ease. When encountering excessively valuable items, she would have someone quietly relay a message to Huo Liuxing in the hall. When receiving guests, Huo Liuxing could then grasp the proper balance.

After a full day like this, with one managing external affairs and the other internal matters, though they hadn’t rested for a moment, they cooperated seamlessly.

Approaching dusk, the stream of visitors gradually lessened. Shen Lingzhen had just breathed a sigh of relief when the gatekeeper came to report that a noble’s sedan chair had stopped at the mansion gate—this time, it was the Fourth and Second Imperial Princes from the court.

This Fourth Prince was His Majesty’s second legitimate son, Zhao Xun, who had previously visited the Qingyang Huo mansion. Given his playful nature, it wasn’t surprising he would come join this commotion today.

But although this Second Prince was the eldest among the princes besides the Crown Prince, because he was born of a concubine, his status didn’t compare to legitimate sons. He had always kept a very low profile and rarely actively participated in political gatherings. That he would personally descend from his carriage was unexpected for Shen Lingzhen.

With imperial princes gracing them with their presence, Shen Lingzhen had to set aside her tasks and wait respectfully in the hall alongside Huo Liuxing.

From the moment Zhao Xun stepped through the mansion gate, he laughed loudly all the way, seemingly praising the unique style of this residence to his older brother beside him, noting it had quite the charm and character of the Jiangnan region.

Zhao Rui, twelve years his senior, spoke in a lower voice with fewer words, merely agreeing with him gently.

Seeing the two enter the hall, Shen Lingzhen immediately hurried forward with small steps and curtsied. Due to his leg inconvenience, Huo Liuxing only performed a seated bow, asking the two nobles to forgive him.

Zhao Xun waved his hand indicating it was fine. After taking the seat of honor, seeing his brother still standing, he took charge as host saying: “Second Brother, sit.”

Only then did Zhao Rui silently take his seat.

Huo Liuxing personally poured two cups of tea and had Shen Lingzhen serve them to the two men.

“To have both Your Highnesses grace my humble abode, Liuxing is deeply honored. This is Taiping Houkui tea from the south. The autumn tiger has been fierce these days, and this tea dispels heat and relieves fatigue. If Your Highnesses don’t mind, please have a taste.”

Zhao Xun took the tea and sipped it, nodding in praise: “Good tea indeed! Cousin Brother-in-law, things are really looking up for you now. Even a casual pot of Taiping Houkui is more authentic and refined than the coarse tea at my mansion.” He turned to ask Zhao Rui: “Don’t you agree, Second Brother?”

Zhao Rui laughed to deflect: “This tea tastes light and refreshing. It’s indeed quite good.”

Huo Liuxing gave Shen Lingzhen a meaningful look.

Understanding his intent, Shen Lingzhen outwardly instructed Jianjia to prepare tea leaves to give to the two nobles shortly, but inwardly groaned in exhaustion. Why did this Fourth Cousin of hers have to make an issue even out of a pot of tea?

After drinking tea and getting to business, Zhao Xun clapped his hands and had his attendants present the housewarming gift.

The gift was a luminous and translucent Hetian jade carving—a statue of Guanyin about a foot tall.

“Cousin Brother-in-law, I don’t like empty gestures. Seeing you and my cousin married so long without any good news, I’ve sent you a Child-Granting Guanyin statue. When one reaches middle age, having many children and grandchildren is blessing!”

Shen Lingzhen looked at the Child-Granting Guanyin and swallowed dryly.

Huo Liuxing smiled and thanked Zhao Xun for his kind intention: “Fourth Highness is truly thoughtful.”

Zhao Xun waved his hand indicating no need for thanks, then pointed at Zhao Rui beside him, explaining for him: “Oh, my Second Brother here happened to encounter me halfway and I dragged him along temporarily. He probably hasn’t prepared any gift, so don’t mind, Cousin Brother-in-law.”

“Fourth Highness speaks too seriously.” Huo Liuxing smiled at Zhao Rui. “That Second Highness descended from his carriage to come here already brings brilliance to my humble abode.”

Zhao Rui looked embarrassed: “My mansion just received a shipment of abalone from the east. I’ll have it sent over to General Huo later.”

Zhao Xun laughed: “Second Brother’s gift is quite ‘substantial’!”

Shen Lingzhen couldn’t bear to see Zhao Xun bully this honest brother and hurried to smooth things over: “Second Cousin means the abalone from the sea? I love eating this! And Young Master, growing up in the northwest, you may not know how good abalone is. If matsutake mushrooms are the crown of mountain delicacies, then this abalone is the king of sea treasures—extremely delicious flesh, quite precious and rare!”

Huo Liuxing smiled at her and thanked Zhao Rui again.

Having delivered their gifts, the two nobles didn’t stay long. After chatting briefly with Huo Liuxing, they left.

Once they were gone, Shen Lingzhen grew curious. Her thorny Fourth Cousin not only spoke to Huo Liuxing with veiled barbs but treated his own brother the same way. But Zhao Rui was so honest—what had he done to provoke such hostility? And why did Zhao Xun insist on dragging him to the Huo mansion to embarrass him?

She had doubts but hadn’t had time to ask Huo Liuxing when the gatekeeper announced that another visitor had arrived outside—this time, the eldest legitimate son of the Xue family.

Xue Jie seemed to have intended to just deliver his gift and leave without entering the mansion, but seeing him lingering hesitantly nearby for a long time, the gatekeeper thought he should report it.

At the mention of this name, Shen Lingzhen’s expression was clearly somewhat unnatural.

Huo Liuxing glanced at her: “How long has it been since you saw this maternal cousin?”

She answered honestly: “We haven’t met since that encounter at Peach Blossom Valley.”

After returning to Bianjing from Qingyang, while keeping vigil, she had remembered the matter of Dingbian Army spies throwing dirt on the Xue family and had asked her mother to remind the Xue family to be careful of villains.

So Zhao Meilan had handled that matter. Later, Shen Lingzhen had quickly departed for the mausoleum and hadn’t specially arranged to meet with Xue Jie.

Huo Liuxing jerked his chin: “If you want to see him, go see him.”

Though she didn’t know why he was suddenly so generous, Shen Lingzhen still shook her head: “Better not to meet. The matter of Brother A’Jie privately meeting me at Peach Blossom Valley reached His Majesty’s ears because of my abduction. His Majesty must have guessed that he intended to interfere in my marriage to Young Master, so he doesn’t have a good impression of him or even the Xue family. Uncle Xue is one of the few military generals in court who wields military authority. Right now, people are already watching him, trying to bring him down. If I associate with Brother A’Jie at this time, it would be even more disadvantageous to the Xue family.”

Huo Liuxing had taken the attitude of “better to channel than to block,” planning to give Xue Jie a chance to clear things up with Shen Lingzhen.

But Shen Lingzhen’s answer stabbed Huo Liuxing’s heart even more than if she had directly gone to see Xue Jie.

He said “Oh”: “You certainly think of him considerately. Then let him continue wandering outside.” Saying this, he wheeled away from the hall.

Shen Lingzhen pouted, looking at Huo Liuxing’s petty retreating back, then turned to instruct: “Jianjia, go relay a message for me to Brother A’Jie. Tell him it’s getting late and he should go home early for dinner.”

Jianjia went on her errand. Outside the mansion gate, she saw Xue Jie standing beneath an osmanthus tree, staring at the Huo mansion’s gate plaque in a daze.

She stepped forward, curtsied to him, and relayed Shen Lingzhen’s words verbatim.

Xue Jie recognized Shen Lingzhen’s personal maid. After listening, his eyes flickered slightly: “Did she truly instruct you to say this herself?”

“This servant wouldn’t dare falsely convey the young mistress’s words.”

Xue Jie smiled: “Good, I understand. I’ll go home right away.” He started to leave, then stopped after two steps, turning back: “Your young master… has he been treating her well these days?”

Jianjia was startled and quickly nodded: “Young Master treats the young mistress very well. Why does Young Master Xue ask this?”

Xue Jie frowned: “I saw that over the past year, your young master paid her no attention, and on his first day in Bianjing he went to Mingchao Pavilion.”

Jianjia smiled and waved her hand: “Young Master Xue misunderstood. Young Master didn’t do anything improper at Mingchao Pavilion, and over this past year, he didn’t neglect the young mistress—he sent her flowers every few days!”

Xue Jie was stunned: “Sent flowers? Your young master also…” He stopped mid-sentence, furrowing his brows. “How do you know those flowers were sent by your young master?”

“Young Master personally admitted it to the young mistress.” After a moment’s confusion, Jianjia sensed something wrong. “Could those flowers not be…”

——

When Jianjia left on this errand, even after Zhao Rui’s abalone arrived at the kitchen and went into the pot, she still hadn’t returned. It wasn’t until dinner time that she hurried back.

Shen Lingzhen was already at the table, waiting for Huo Liuxing to come for the meal. Seeing her, she asked strangely: “Why were you gone so long? Did Brother A’Jie tell you something important?”

“It truly is important.” Jianjia recounted the whole exchange. “Young Master Xue said he was the one who sent the flowers!”

Shen Lingzhen was stunned: “But Young Master clearly said…”

“Young Master Xue had no intention of disturbing you and only wished you’d be happy receiving the flowers. But seeing Young Master deceive you like this, he said he truly found it absurd and had to tell you the truth.” Jianjia unfolded a long slip of paper and handed it to her. “Young Mistress, look—this is the list Young Master Xue just wrote. Summer, autumn, winter, spring—all the flowers are recorded here.”

With Shen Lingzhen’s memory, scanning it quickly, she knew it was indeed true.

This liar with a face thicker than city walls!

Furious to the point of laughter, she raised her hand to slap it on the table but grabbed her own hand halfway down.

Hurting herself would be so uneconomical.

With nowhere to vent her anger, Shen Lingzhen’s face flushed red. Jianjia patted her back consolingly, then heard the sound of wheels rolling from the outer corridor.

Shen Lingzhen quickly hid Xue Jie’s note in her sleeve, took several deep breaths to calm herself, and smiled at Huo Liuxing: “Young Master has arrived.”

Huo Liuxing had just received news from Jingmo’s investigation and learned that the flower sender was actually Xue Jie. Still immersed in displeasure, he responded to her with a faint “Mm.”

He still had the nerve to show her attitude.

Shen Lingzhen gritted her teeth, smiling as she went forward, taking over from Kongqing and pushing Huo Liuxing’s wheelchair: “Young Master, come quickly for the meal. This abalone stewed in soup—the first pot has the best flavor.”

Seeing her unusually enthusiastic manner, Huo Liuxing frowned and gave Kongqing and Jingmo a look.

The two shrugged, both indicating they didn’t understand.

Shen Lingzhen personally ladled a bowl of rich soup, added two abalones, and handed it to Huo Liuxing: “Young Master, eat while it’s hot.”

He took it and sipped the soup. Inexplicably feeling somewhat guilty under her eager gaze, he looked up tentatively: “Do you have something to tell me?”

“Young Master discovered it,” Shen Lingzhen said with a smile. “I have a request for Young Master.”

Huo Liuxing made an enlightened “Oh” sound and magnanimously straightened his back: “Feel free to speak.” Saying this, he seemingly casually popped an abalone into his mouth and slowly chewed, adopting the full posture of someone in authority.

“Feel free to speak,” indeed.

Shen Lingzhen snorted coldly inwardly, but her face still smiled as she propped her chin: “It’s like this—I just toured the garden at home and felt the flower beds were still lacking some color. I think the flowers Young Master last sent to the mausoleum were particularly beautiful, but I don’t know what variety they were. I need Young Master to enlighten me.”

Huo Liuxing’s motion of ladling soup paused: “The house is already nearly full of red and green. What do you need so many flowers for?”

“But they’re just so beautiful!” Shen Lingzhen gently tugged his sleeve. “I’ve been married to Young Master for so long and have never asked Young Master to buy me pearl jewelry or brocade finery. Now I have just this one small wish—won’t Young Master grant it to me?”

Grant it, he must grant it.

Huo Liuxing gritted his teeth: “But you also know I didn’t personally arrange those flowers. How about this—you tell me what it looked like, and I’ll try to get it for you.”

Shen Lingzhen gestured: “Each flower had seven petals, each petal a different color—specifically red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple. And it smelled of milk fragrance!”

“…”

Huo Liuxing glanced at Jingmo and Kongqing: Such a flower exists?

The two shook their heads in small motions: Never heard of it.

Huo Liuxing coughed lightly: “Oh, I’ll go look for it.”

“Young Master doesn’t need to look. Just ask the subordinate who delivered flowers to me last time, isn’t that enough?”

He smiled: “You’re right. I was looking too far afield.”

Let him search, let him search, let him search until he’s drenched in sweat, until heaven and earth grow old!

Shen Lingzhen chuckled and began eating her food, just feeling satisfied when she suddenly heard the crisp sound of chopsticks hitting the floor.

Startled, she looked up to see Huo Liuxing truly covered in sweat, clutching his throat as if choking, and passed out, falling sideways in his wheelchair with a “thud.”

Jianjia and Bailu screamed.

Shen Lingzhen suddenly stood up: “Young Master, Young Master, what’s wrong? I didn’t mean to… didn’t mean to curse you!”

Kongqing and Jingmo were also shocked and rushed forward urgently.

However, at this moment, the panicked crowd in chaos in the hall didn’t yet know that the sudden illness their young master was experiencing would have a very famous scientific name a thousand years later—shellfish allergy.