In late spring, Qujiang Pool was at its most beautiful. Willows swayed like clouds, and flowers bloomed like an ocean. As evening approached and visitors thinned, the setting sun cast golden fragments across the water’s surface, dazzling to the eye. A pleasure boat slowly glided through the shimmering light, disturbing the golden glow.
Jiang Changyang and Monk Fuyuan sat on the boat, engrossed in an intense game of Go. Jiang Changyang placed a white jade piece and looked triumphantly at the frowning Fuyuan. “Well monk, I’ve finally beaten you, haven’t I?”
Fuyuan remained silent, his brow furrowed in deep thought. Eventually, he relaxed and clasped his hands. “Amitabha,” he sighed, then smiled. “If it brings you joy, I wouldn’t mind losing ten more times. If I don’t enter hell, who will?”
Jiang Changyang raised an eyebrow and turned to Pan Rong, who was observing nearby. “This monk is a sore loser. He lost but insists he let me win.”
Pan Rong, lounging on a nearby couch in a light blue robe, fanned himself lazily. “This monk has a white face but a black heart.”
“To a monk, black is black, and white is white,” Fuyuan replied, examining a black jade piece. “Just as these Go pieces are white inside and out, or black through and through. Pan Shiwai, you’re flowery both inside and out.”
Jiang Changyang snatched the piece back, carefully putting it away. “This was a gift from my father-in-law. If you want one, go find yourself a father-in-law to give you some.”
“I’m flowery inside and out?” Pan Rong laughed heartily. “Monk, there are many benefits to not being a monk. Want to try it?”
Fuyuan smiled serenely. “Shiwai, there are many benefits to being a monk. Would you like to try?”
“Bah!” Pan Rong rolled his eyes. “I haven’t had my fill of worldly pleasures yet. Be careful, or my Ah Xin might hear you and come at you with a knife!”
Jiang Changyang drawled, “Ah Xin is sitting in the next cabin. If she were going to hear, she’d have heard by now. I bet she’s hoping Fuyuan convinces you so she and the children can have some peace.”
Pan Rong sat up abruptly. “Who says? Go ask her!”
They heard a gentle knock on the wooden wall, and Nianyu’s serious voice came through: “Shiwai, the madam says she didn’t hear anything.”
Pan Rong grinned shamelessly. “See? I told you she didn’t hear. She’s busy with Dan Niang and the children right now.” Everyone burst into laughter.
In the adjacent cabin, He Bai Furen and Mudan exchanged smiles as they reclined on the carpet. Mudan sighed contentedly, “I told you, on a rare day off with such nice weather, we should get out and about. See how happy everyone is?”
He Bai Furen replied, “It’s been a while since we’ve been this relaxed. Shall we go to my place another day to browse cosmetics?”
“Why don’t we go to Fang Garden instead?” Mudan suggested, hugging Zheng’er who had crawled to her side. “There are more flowers there, and the peonies will be in full bloom in a couple of days. I’ll prepare some wine and invite you all over to enjoy them.”
As she spoke, there was a soft thud, and the boat swayed slightly. A maidservant called from outside, “My ladies, we’ve docked.”
“That was quick!” He Bai Furen sat up to adjust her clothes. Suddenly, they heard someone asking, “Is Jiang Langzhong on this boat?” followed by hurried footsteps on the deck.
Through the bamboo curtains, they glimpsed four or five figures in blue rushing past, stopping at the adjacent cabin. After a brief commotion, silence fell abruptly.
Mudan tensed, exchanging a worried glance with He Bai Furen. Shu’er slipped out to investigate and quickly returned, whispering, “Shun Hou’er at the door said the ladies shouldn’t leave yet. It’ll be over soon.”
Mudan relaxed slightly, asking softly, “Who are they?”
Shu’er shook his head, unsure.
After a while, footsteps retreated, and a maidservant poked her head in, smiling. “The gentlemen ask the ladies to prepare to disembark.” They could hear Pan Rong and Jiang Changyang talking outside.
As the tension dissipated, Mudan wiped her palms and instructed the wet nurse to hold the children. She and He Bai Furen walked out hand in hand. Monk Fuyuan had already left on his donkey. Jiang Changyang and Pan Rong were talking quietly by the railing. Seeing the women emerge, they approached with smiles.
Jiang Changyang’s first words were, “Leave the children with Uncle Pan. We need to go to Fang Garden right away.”
Mudan looked at Jiang Changyang questioningly. He lowered his voice, “His Majesty sent an oral edict requesting the Jin Yaolou peony immediately.” He glanced towards the shore, where two men in blue stood holding four horses, their eyes fixed on the group.
Mudan’s palms grew clammy again. How did the Emperor know about the Jin Yaolou in her garden? Why the urgency? Could it be related to Jin Buyan? She dared not ask, following Jiang Changyang silently as they mounted their horses. As they rode off, she looked back to see Pan Rong and He Bai Furen holding Xian’er and Zheng’er, watching from the boat. Pan Rong’s face still held a playful expression, but his eyes had grown serious.
They passed through the Qixia Gate and onto the main road. The horses’ hooves beat a cold, hard rhythm on the packed earth. Mudan stole a glance at Jiang Changyang, meeting his concerned gaze. He suddenly smiled, revealing a row of white teeth that briefly caught the last rays of sunlight. Mudan relaxed, returning a shy smile. She had promised to trust him.
As the last streak of twilight faded, Mudan and Jiang Changyang arrived at Fang Garden with the two men in blue. Jiang Changyang dismounted smoothly, helping Mudan down. He turned to the men, saying, “This is the place. Digging up the flower, packaging it, and transporting it to the palace will take at least an hour, even at the fastest pace.”
The men dismounted quickly, their faces grim but voices still polite. “Jiang Langzhong, an hour is too long.”
Jiang Changyang responded promptly, “We’ll do our best. Please, come in.”
As they entered, Yuhe rushed out, looking confused and worried at the sight of the strangers. Mudan, unable to reassure her, hurriedly instructed, “Quickly have Man and the others bring tools, baskets, and straw ropes to dig up the Jin Yaolou. The faster, the better.”
Yuhe acknowledged and hurried off to make arrangements.
Mudan and Jiang Changyang led the two men to Jin Yaolou’s location. Most of the peonies in Fang Garden were in full bloom, their beauty taking on a different quality in the twilight. Mudan noticed that the two men remained expressionless, their gazes fixed ahead.
At the site, the Jin Yaolou had already bloomed one flower. Its massive, foot-wide crown of layered petals in pink and yellow was stunningly beautiful. A Tao brought over a lantern, and Mudan gently cradled the magnificent bloom for the men to see. “This is the Jin Yaolou,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. She feared she might never see this flower again. Jiang Changyang squeezed her hand reassuringly.
The two men examined the flower closely, their expressions finally softening. The younger one sighed quietly, “What a beautiful flower.” The older one, however, simply said, “Let’s begin.”
Man and the others were experts at transplanting, carefully positioning their hoes to avoid damaging the roots. This caution, however, slowed their progress. The older man grew impatient, “Faster! Hurry up!” He then asked, “Has the horse cart been prepared?”
Mudan felt a surge of anger. These men had suddenly appeared to take her prized possession and now complained about the service. She forced a smile and said gently, “Sir, we can go faster, but we risk damaging the roots. If the transplant fails, won’t all this effort be wasted?”
The man barely glanced at her, addressing Jiang Changyang instead. “We can’t wait an hour.”
Jiang Changyang nodded silently, took the hoe from Man, and began digging vigorously around the Jin Yaolou. Mudan watched, her heart sinking as she saw the white roots exposed. She clenched her fists, reminding herself that she still had two smaller plants that would mature in a few years.
Jiang Changyang worked quickly, soon loosening the soil around the plant. With a gentle tug, he lifted the Jin Yaolou, roots and all. Mudan personally wrapped the leaves and flower crown in soft silk, and then had it placed them in a basket. “It’s ready,” she said flatly. “Is there anything else you need?”
The man in blue continued to ignore Mudan, focusing on Jiang Changyang. “Load it onto the cart immediately. There’s no time to waste.”
Jiang Changyang efficiently directed Man and the others to carry the flower out, load it, and set off. The entire process took less than half an hour. Poor Yuhe didn’t even have a chance to speak with Mudan before she saw her off again. Mudan only managed to say, “Watch the house. Everything’s fine.” The two men were already driving the cart far down the road.