“This flower truly is a treasure from top to bottom!” He Zhizhong exclaimed admiringly, his face a picture of innocence. He turned to Jiang Changyang and asked, “May I inquire, Sir Jiang, if your friend is still in the capital? If convenient, I’d like to request his help in procuring a plant of this kind, or perhaps some seeds, at a high price…”
Mudan realized this was her father’s roundabout way of asking for a flower on her behalf. She blushed and quietly tugged at He Zhizhong’s sleeve. Her father was wonderful in many ways, but when it came to his children, he always seemed to have an exceptionally thick skin. He Zhizhong grasped her hand in return, looking at Jiang Changyang with sincere expectation.
Noticing the subtle interaction between the father and daughter, Jiang Changyang couldn’t help but be amused. He mused that in this world, there were always passionate enthusiasts – some loved wealth, some fame, some power, some beauty, some art and antiques, some prized weapons. Now he had encountered someone obsessed with flowers. The He family seemed to be people of clear principles, with integrity and understanding. They could be worth befriending. With this in mind, Jiang Changyang smiled slightly and said, “My friend is not currently in the capital, so it’s not convenient to ask him. If you like, when autumn comes and we’ve successfully divided or grafted the plant, I’ll have someone deliver it to your residence.”
“How generous,” Mudan blurted out. “There’s no need for such trouble. A few seeds would suffice.” At this time, most people propagated peonies through division or grafting rather than from seeds. There was even a popular method where, as soon as the flowers wilted, they would be cut off immediately. People believed letting them go to seed would cause the flowers to degenerate. If Jiang’s gardener truly knew his craft, these flowers would likely have been pruned clean already, leaving no seeds behind.
Jiang Changyang glanced at the purple peony with its seed pods and agreed without hesitation, “If you like them, feel free to take them all.”
Seeing his generosity, Mudan didn’t want him to lose out. She smiled and said, “Just a few seeds will be enough. I don’t need so many. I have a few varieties that you don’t have here. When the time comes, I’ll send them along with the Wei Purple and Jade Tower Emerald Dots we discussed earlier.”
Glancing at the sheepish gardener, Mudan worried that if he didn’t understand, he might give her a packet of old seeds that wouldn’t germinate. She couldn’t help but advise, “These newly formed seeds, when planted, can also be used as rootstock for grafting flower seedlings. However, peony seeds prefer fresh over old. The harvesting must be timely.”
Mudan knew that peony seeds were delicate and peculiar. Fresh ones could germinate in a year, slightly older ones in two years, and very old ones might take three years to sprout. They needed to be planted the same year they were harvested, otherwise, the germination rate would be extremely low.
Jiang Changyang looked slightly perplexed. He stepped forward to examine the seeds and asked with a worried expression, “Then when is the appropriate time to harvest them?” He had thought promising someone a few seeds would be a simple matter, not realizing it could be so complex. But having agreed to give them seeds, he naturally wanted to provide good ones, so he had to understand the details.
Mudan smiled and said, “Sir Jiang, don’t worry. When the seed pods turn the color of crab roe, just have someone pick them. Then leave the processing to me.” She had her agenda – wanting to mass-produce and cultivate, she wasn’t about to freely share the techniques for handling peony seeds with others.
Seeing that she had given a clear answer about harvesting when the pods turned crab-yellow, Jiang Changyang decided not to concern himself with the rest. Not refusing the flowers Mudan had promised him, he smiled and said, “Thank you for your trouble, then.” He turned to the gardener with a serious look, “Keep a close eye on these flower seeds. As soon as the pods turn crab-yellow, harvest them immediately.”
The gardener wiped away imaginary sweat, carefully gauging Jiang Changyang’s expression. Seeing no particular reaction, he realized he wouldn’t be punished until a truly skilled peony cultivator was found. Relieved, he quickly assured, “Rest assured, sir. Even at the cost of my life, I won’t let anything happen to them.”
Jiang Changyang glanced at him and said coolly, “If that were true, you should have forfeited your life already. How many lives do you have?” The gardener’s face changed instantly, his lips trembling as he dared not speak further. Suddenly, he fell to the ground, bowing deeply to Jiang Changyang, “Sir, you are merciful. This lowly one will never dare such mistakes again.”
Jiang Changyang turned to Mudan, “It’s difficult to find someone suitable to care for these flowers right away. Would you please teach him how to manage them?”
Mudan called the gardener over and earnestly instructed him on several key points for caring for peonies: “Watering must be done carefully – water thoroughly when dry, but don’t let water accumulate. In summer, don’t water at noon. Water either before sunrise or after sunset. Rainwater or river water is best, or use well water that has been left to stand for a day or two.”
The gardener, having just been chastised, dared not be negligent and carefully acknowledged her instructions.
As Mudan was about to take her leave, she remembered Princess Qinghua’s intention to invite Jiang Changyang as a guest. She asked worriedly, “Princess Qinghua didn’t cause you any trouble afterward, did she?”
Jiang Changyang smiled slightly, “I’m at home waiting for her invitation.” Seeing the concerned looks on the faces of He Zhizhong and his daughter, he added, “Don’t worry about me. Pan Shi has always been on good terms with me. He won’t let things go too far. My visit should help resolve this matter.”
He Zhizhong looked at Jiang Changyang’s residence, considered his actions, and observed his calm demeanor. Instinctively, he believed seven or eight parts out of ten of what Jiang Changyang said. Realizing his family couldn’t be of much help in this situation, he exchanged a few more polite words before taking his leave.
After leaving Jiang’s residence, He Zhizhong was in good spirits. He led Mudan on a stroll around Qujiang Pool, pointing to the Purple Cloud Tower, “When the new imperial examination graduates hold their celebratory feast, performers from the Imperial Music Bureau will come to entertain. The Emperor will observe from behind a screen on the Purple Cloud Tower. You haven’t had the chance to come out before, but next spring you can come and see the excitement. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the Emperor.”
Mudan humored him, asking trivial questions about this and that, joking with Da Lang, making He Zhizhong laugh heartily. Suddenly, he remembered, “Oh my, I asked Si Lang to invite Zhang Wu Lang. It must be about time now. If we’re late, it might seem disrespectful. Let’s hurry back.” He turned his horse around, urging Mudan and Da Lang to keep up.
As they approached Xiuzheng Ward, they suddenly saw an elderly woman standing in the middle of the street, wailing and pleading for help in a non-local accent: “Please, save my mistress!” Passersby largely ignored her, though some kindhearted individuals offered her a few coins, which she refused, continuing to weep and cover her face.
Mudan looked over and noticed that the old woman was wearing a fine cloth jacket and skirt, her hair neatly combed. Though not luxurious, her appearance was clean and tidy, resembling a servant from a middle-class family rather than a vagrant. Curious, she obtained He Zhizhong’s permission and sent Yuhe forward to inquire about the situation.
The old woman, who had been wailing for half a day, finally found someone willing to listen patiently. Disregarding all else, she rushed forward and grabbed Mudan’s horse’s reins, crying out, “Young miss, please be kind! Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. Please save my mistress!”
He Zhizhong frowned, raising his whip and shouting, “Let go! If you have something to say, say it properly. Don’t grab and pull like this, or beware of my whip!”
The old woman released her grip and pointed to a nearby tree shade, “My mistress accidentally offended her husband, who divorced her with a letter and drove her out. Her maiden family is not here, and we servants have nowhere to go with her! She fell ill and has no strength, having spent all her money. We were just driven out of an inn, and now she has fainted from illness. I beg you, young sir, have mercy and save her!”
Feeling empathy for a fellow woman, Mudan’s heart chilled. She looked pleadingly at He Zhizhong, who sighed and said, “Let’s go take a look.”
Under the nearby tree shade, they saw a relatively clean straw mat spread on the ground. A maid of about seventeen or eighteen knelt on it, cradling a young woman of about twenty in her arms, weeping. Beside them were only two small, worn bags, and neither of them had any valuable ornaments on their heads or bodies.
Mudan observed clearly that although the young woman was unconscious, her features were beautiful and delicate – a rare beauty indeed.
He Zhizhong, finding the situation peculiar, said, “If you want our help, you must tell us clearly who you are, who her original husband was, whose daughter she is, and why she was divorced. Otherwise, how can we help you without knowing the full story?”
After much tearful explanation from the old woman, Mudan finally understood the situation. The young woman’s maiden name was Qin, originally from Yangzhou. Orphaned, she had been married off by her aunt and uncle to Yan Ba Lang of Tongshan Ward in the capital. Despite the man’s extreme ugliness, Miss Qin hadn’t complained, and the couple had lived peacefully. However, half a month ago, while she was at her dressing table, Yan Ba Lang had been secretly watching her. When Miss Qin suddenly saw his reflection in the mirror, she fainted from fright. Yan Ba Lang was furious and, despite Miss Qin’s pleas and apologies, divorced her with a letter and drove her out. Far from home, with no family to return to, she had fallen into this desperate situation.
“Beauty and the Beast, but as a tragedy rather than a comedy,” Mudan thought. Such a minor incident had become grounds for divorce. Miss Qin didn’t even try to appeal the decision, simply accepting her fate. Mudan couldn’t help but ask, “Why not file a complaint against him?”
The old woman paused, then smiled bitterly, “What good would it do now that she’s been cast aside? At most, we’d get a bit more money. The real problem is that my mistress has no father or brothers to rely on, and we’re not locals…”
Mudan felt a chill. Although she had schemed and planned, in the end, she too relied on having a powerful father and brothers behind her. Without them, she could be just as miserable, at best able to bring down her oppressors with her. Where else could one seek justice? She shrank back towards He Zhizhong, gripping Da Lang’s hand tightly.
Seeing his daughter’s reaction, He Zhizhong said in a deep voice, “Help her up. Take them to the nearest inn, and immediately fetch a doctor from the medical hall. If they wish to return to Yangzhou, they can travel with our group in two months.”