After breakfast, Shen Xihe didn’t immediately return. Having ventured out, and with no harsh sun today, she went exploring with Bu Shulin.

Perhaps due to its proximity to the capital, this small town had the prosperity of a county seat. Among unfamiliar foods and folk crafts, they eventually reached a street selling flowers and trees, where Shen Xihe spotted winter daphne.

The large blooms were well-preserved by the flower seller, likely picked last night, and still fresh. “Elder, how much for the winter daphne?” Shen Xihe asked.

The flower seller was a gaunt man in his fifties with darkened skin. Noting their clean clothes of indiscernible but fine quality, his dull eyes brightened: “One… one tael of gold per plant.”

“How much?” Bu Shulin’s voice rose in disbelief.

As the flower seller lowered his head timidly, a younger vendor nearby spoke up: “Please don’t be offended, noble ones. Old Chen’s family has fallen on hard times and needs twenty taels of silver to survive. That’s why he carefully tended these two winter daphne plants, hoping for a good price. He’s not trying to cheat you. If you find it too expensive, please just treat it as a jest.”

One tael of gold equaled ten taels of silver – two to three years’ income for a farming household, let alone twenty taels of silver.

Shen Xihe glanced at both men, then around at the surroundings. Her gaze held sympathy when looking at the Chen flower seller. It seemed everyone knew of his family’s dire situation, as they defended rather than mocked him.

“Where were these flowers picked? Are there more?” Shen Xihe asked.

The flowers had been picked at peak bloom. Xiao Huayong still needed winter daphne – last year they’d learned of this too late when the blooming season was ending. This year, the season was just beginning. Shen Xihe had sent people searching, but this variety was rare.

“Yes, if the noble ones want, this old man can take you there, though they won’t bloom for some time,” the flower seller said hoarsely.

“Then please lead the way, Elder,” Shen Xihe smiled. “I’ll pay you for guiding us.”

Winter daphne could only ease Xiao Huayong’s poisoning, reducing episodes or making them more bearable. This was the solution Axi had provided. The Crown Prince had also sent people to collect the flowers, though their poor timing had wasted many.

Some guide money was better than nothing. Selling Winter Daphne was just a desperate attempt at hope, though they knew it was unlikely to succeed – all potential buyers had walked away.

On the way, Shen Xihe asked the old man if he knew of other places with such flowers, and skillfully inquired about their expertise in harvesting them.

Satisfied with the answers and finding a small grove of about ten to twenty plants, Shen Xihe had Zhenzhu give the old man one tael of gold: “This is a deposit. These two plants aren’t worth two taels of gold, but if you can watch over this grove until each plant blooms…”

Shen Xihe held up the two flowers: “Just like these, pick them at peak bloom and deliver them to the temporary palace. I’ll give you another tael of gold.”

The old man fell to his knees, repeatedly kowtowing until Zhenzhu and Biyu helped him up. After giving detailed instructions, Shen Xihe left.

“What do you need so many winter daphne for?” Bu Shulin felt Shen Xihe wasn’t purely doing charity, or she wouldn’t have asked someone to guard the flowers – a grueling task requiring sleepless nights.

It was a farming season too, so the farmers couldn’t make up sleep during the day.

“They’re beautiful,” Shen Xihe smiled slightly.

Regarding Xiao Huayong’s poisoning, Shen Xihe couldn’t explain the details to Bu Shulin.

Bu Shulin understood everyone had secrets they couldn’t share, so she naturally changed the subject: “Shall we head back?”

“No hurry, there’s still something to do,” Shen Xihe said, lowering her head to smell the winter daphne.

“Oh?” Bu Shulin was confused at first, then huffed, “Who was reluctant to come out earlier? Now you have things to do?”

Shen Xihe glanced at her: “It just occurred to me.”

With that, she left Bu Shulin behind, who pouted pitifully.

This person had no sense of romance, not knowing to act coy or yield a little to make her happy.

She only dared complain in her heart, not aloud. After walking a few steps, Shen Xihe noticed no one following and turned to see Bu Shulin’s dejected face. She smiled ambiguously: “Are you complaining about me in your heart?”

Bu Shulin immediately perked up and smiled: “No, not at all.”

Chuckling softly, Shen Xihe returned to the inn in good spirits with the winter daphne, instructing Moyu to send them to the temporary palace.

“Your Highness, Princess Liyang and Second Lady Yu will return to the temporary palace this evening,” Zhenzhu reported after Shen Xihe’s midday rest.

Yu Sangning had come here under the cover of Gu Qingzhu. Returning during daylight would draw attention, but a day’s absence from dusk till tonight, with Yu Sangzi’s cover, would go unnoticed.

“We’ll depart tomorrow. Arrange tonight’s matters carefully. Princess Liyang has guards – they need to be drawn away,” Shen Xihe instructed.

“Yes,” Zhenzhu withdrew.

Bu Shulin, just entering, heard this and her eyes lit up: “Are you going to deal with Second Lady Yu?”

“What? You want to do it?” Shen Xihe asked, eyeing her.

“Yes, yes!” She was bored anyway.

“Fine, you can help me draw away Princess Liyang’s guards,” Shen Xihe said.

This wasn’t what she wanted! She wanted to teach Yu Sangning a lesson herself – that lady was too vicious.

She wasn’t seeking justice; if Shen Xihe didn’t act, neither would she. But since Shen Xihe was acting, she wanted to join in.

Shen Xihe wasn’t one to meddle needlessly. Yu Sangning must have provoked her somehow to make her take action.

Seeing her dissatisfaction, Shen Xihe smiled: “Or should I leave it all to you, and wait for your good news?”

“No, no, I’ll draw away Princess Liyang’s guards,” Bu Shulin quickly agreed.

Without Shen Xihe’s involvement, she wouldn’t act alone. Princess Liyang was backed by Xiao Changqing, and Prince Xin was mysterious – she didn’t want unnecessary trouble.

Looking out the window at the overcast sky with white clouds, it seemed unlikely to rain: “Let’s go enjoy the lotuses at Ten Mile Pavilion.”

There was a Ten Mile Pavilion built by a wealthy man of the previous dynasty, sitting a mile out on the Yangsheng River, which stretched ten miles and was filled with lotus flowers. In midsummer when the lotuses bloomed, their leaves stretched endlessly green to the horizon, rivaling West Lake’s beauty.

Bu Shulin loved going out to play and happily agreed.

As the two went out together, the winter daphne was delivered to Xiao Huayong.