Liu Chang approached in high spirits, spotting Mudan and Yu’er standing in the corridor from afar. Their contrasting figures – one tall and slender, the other petite and plump – each had their charm, a pleasing sight that improved his mood, bringing a smile to his face.
Yu’er, sharp-eyed, was the first to notice Liu Chang. Seeing him today with a jade crown, wearing a crimson round-collared gauze robe with floral patterns, blue silk cloud-patterned shoes, and a silver fragrance pouch with bird and flower designs hanging at his waist along with jade pendants, he looked exceptionally handsome and refined. Filled with admiration, she curtsied and said, “This servant greets the young master.” Noticing Mudan still in a daze, she gently tugged at her sleeve. Mudan snapped out of it and woodenly bowed to Liu Chang: “Greetings, husband.”
Liu Chang absent-mindedly waved at Yu’er, then looked at Mudan coolly and said, “At least you don’t embarrass me today with this appearance.”
Mudan blankly averted her gaze to the floor tiles. “Scoundrel! Scoundrel!” she thought to herself.
Yu’er’s gaze darted between the two, seemingly thoughtful. She took Jiao’er and smiled, “Jiao’er, quickly greet your father.”
Jiao’er, still not speaking clearly and drowsy, clung to Yu’er’s neck. She frowned and pouted at Liu Chang, looking utterly miserable, refusing to call out to him.
Liu Chang displeased, perfunctorily poked Jiao’er’s cheek: “This weepy look, who knows where she learned it from. So early in the morning, it’s an ill omen just to look at her.” As he spoke, he glanced at Mudan, who pretended not to notice.
Yu’er was heartbroken, hugging Jiao’er tightly.
Madam Qi’s voice came from behind the curtain: “Come in, all of you.”
Seeing Mudan’s attire, Madam Qi’s eyes lit up, and she smiled, “That’s more like it! This is how a daughter-in-law of the Liu family should look!” Turning to Liu Chang, she said, “Zishu, I was just telling Danni yesterday that in a few days, we’ll invite Imperial Physician Zhu to examine her and prescribe some medicine to improve her health. We need her to quickly give me a legitimate grandson.”
Hearing this, Liu Chang gave a noncommittal “Mm,” neither agreeing nor disagreeing. But Madam Qi knew this attitude was as good as consent, which greatly pleased her. “A harmonious couple can overcome any obstacle. Danni is hosting such a banquet for the first time, Zishu. You should support her. Teach her what she doesn’t understand, and don’t upset her again.”
Liu Chang gave another “Mm,” absentmindedly patting Qi’er’s head as the child came to lean against his knee.
Bimei, who had been listening behind the curtain for a while, lifted it and entered with a smile, placing a food box on the table. After greeting everyone, she asked, “Madam, shall you dine now?”
Madam Qi gave her a cold look: “Why didn’t you follow my instructions from yesterday?”
Startled, Bimei thought Mudan had complained about her. She glared resentfully at Mudan and knelt, full of grievance: “This servant went to the young mistress’s quarters first, but seeing it was getting late and the young mistress hadn’t yet washed up, I feared I wouldn’t be able to attend to Madam in time. So I informed the young mistress and hurried here to serve Madam.”
Her words seemed carefully chosen. It was late, yet Mudan hadn’t washed up, implying she wasn’t worried about serving Madam Qi – clearly a deliberate slight. However, Madam Qi sneered: “Smooth talk! According to the rules, you should have helped the young mistress wash up. I have people here to attend to me; who asked you to meddle? You can’t even do your duties properly, yet you dare to act on your own? I think you’re taking advantage of the young mistress’s kindness and not showing her proper respect!”
Bimei wanted to cry but didn’t dare, glancing at Liu Chang while saying, “This slave knows her mistake and won’t dare to do it again.”
Liu Chang just stared at his teacup, not intervening on her behalf as he usually would.
Mudan coughed lightly and smiled, “Mother, don’t upset yourself over this small matter. I did indeed tell Bimei to come here first.”
Madam Qi sighed, “Fine since the young mistress is pleading for you, I’ll give her face. But you’ve been ignorant of the rules for too long. Today, you’re forbidden from attending the banquet as punishment. You’ll stay by my side and learn proper etiquette!”
“What?” Bimei was shocked by this outcome. She had risen before dawn to carefully dress up for this banquet, hoping to outshine Mudan. Now, faced with this fate, she nearly burst into tears, her gaze towards Mudan even more resentful. “This cunning, vicious woman,” she thought, “afraid I’d steal her spotlight at the banquet. Knowing Madam Qi’s word is final, she deliberately set this trap for me. How foolish was I to fall for it!”
Looking at Yu’er, whose lips were curled in a smirk of schadenfreude, Bimei felt utterly wronged and instantly despised Mudan.
Mudan, receiving Bimei’s venomous glare, was puzzled. She thought she had been considerate enough – never beating or scolding anyone, never scheming against anyone, only seeking peace. If Bimei didn’t want to serve her and rushed to please Madam Qi, she had let her go. It wasn’t Mudan’s fault if Bimei wasn’t clever enough and took out her frustration on Mudan after being reprimanded by Madam Qi. Finding this unreasonable, Mudan glared back without hesitation.
Liu Chang happened to see this exchange and coldly snorted, thinking to himself that Mudan’s calm and wooden demeanor was all an act, that she was still jealous and meddlesome inside. This move was meant to lure him in. “If she wants to pretend, let her,” he thought. “In the end, won’t she still have to come begging me?”
After dealing with Bimei, Madam Qi invited Mudan and Liu Chang to join her for breakfast. Mudan, thinking about the people and events she would soon face, could barely eat. Liu Chang also seemed distracted, lost in thought. Seeing this, Madam Qi impatiently dismissed them: “Go on, go on, attend to your business.”
Mudan, not wishing to stay a moment longer, immediately stood to leave. Madam Qi called out to Liu Chang: “Zishu, I have something to discuss with you.”
Mudan didn’t wait for him and left arm-in-arm with Yu’er, saying affectionately, “It’s been so long since I’ve attended such a banquet. I feel a bit shy and just want to watch from the sidelines. You’ll have to work harder.”
Usually, it was Bimei who stole the spotlight, but now Yu’er had her chance. Seeing Bimei’s dejected face behind the curtain, Yu’er secretly rejoiced. Noticing Madam Qi and Liu Chang’s attitudes towards Mudan, she suspected the young mistress might be on the rise. If the banquet went well and the young mistress was happy, the young master would be pleased too. Yu’er was determined to seize this opportunity and not disappoint either of them. She focused intently and began explaining the day’s arrangements to Mudan in detail: “Guests will start arriving around 10 am. It’s nothing out of the ordinary – just flower appreciation, poetry composition, singing and dancing performances, variety shows, garden tours, banqueting, followed by flower, grass, and cockfighting competitions, and playing Chupu. Whatever entertains, goes.”
Mudan asked, “Who are the guests?”
Yu’er smiled, “That’s easy. We can ask someone to get a guest list from Xixia.” She called over her maid, Lüyao: “Go ask Xixia for today’s guest list. Say it’s for the young mistress.”
As Lüyao left to carry out the order, Yu’er continued, “It’s still early, young mistress. Would you like to rest in your room for a while? I noticed you didn’t eat much at breakfast earlier. We could have something light brought to your room.”
Mudan smiled, “That sounds good.” The two walked back to Mudan’s quarters, all smiles. Lin Mama was surprised to see them suddenly so close after just half a day but didn’t show it. She came forward smiling, “Young mistress, shall I prepare breakfast?”
Mudan replied, “Yes, please.” She then warmly invited Yu’er to join her: “There’s no one else here. Have breakfast with me. It’ll save you the trouble of going back to your room to eat later and wasting time.”
Yu’er declined politely at first but ended up standing while eating.
Just as the dishes were being cleared away, Lüyao returned with the guest list, presenting it to Mudan with both hands. Mudan’s eyes immediately fell on two names: one was Liu Chang’s old flame, the recently widowed Princess Qinghua, and the other was He Mudan’s cousin, Li Xing.
Uninterested in the other guests, Mudan casually tossed the list on the table and went to the corridor to play with Shuaishuai. Lin Mama then brought over Li Mama and Lanzhi, whom Madam Qi had assigned, to kowtow to Mudan.
Seeing this, Yu’er tactfully excused herself, saying she would return later to accompany Mudan to the garden.
Mudan gave a noncommittal “Mm,” glancing briefly at Li Mama and Lanzhi, and said, “There aren’t many rules here. The most important thing is these few pots of flowers. Don’t touch them carelessly.”
Li Mama and Lanzhi both smiled, “Rest assured, young mistress.”
Mudan nodded and paid them no more attention. She went back to her room to fetch a few paper bags she had made herself. Taking advantage of the mild morning sun, she walked to several peony bushes that were about to bloom. Selecting the largest and sturdiest buds, she carefully removed the petals, leaving only the stamens and pistils for self-pollination and reproduction. She then securely placed the paper bags over them, instructing Kuan’er and Shu’er to pay extra attention to them.
Lin Mama and the others were used to this behavior, but Li Mama and Lanzhi watched with a mix of distress and disapproval. They found it heartbreaking that such beautiful peonies, which could fetch hundreds of coins if sold in full bloom, were being so ruthlessly treated. Mudan was destroying several at once, truly wasteful in their eyes.
Their disapproval stemmed from interpreting this as Mudan’s show of authority, perhaps warning them to be careful or face a fate similar to these flowers. They had been instructed by Madam Qi before coming and weren’t afraid of this sickly, weak, and unlikable young mistress. Thus, from their first encounter, they developed a sense of resistance towards Mudan.
Unaware of their thoughts, Mudan focused solely on her task. After inspecting the area, she mused that although the color and shape of these peonies weren’t top-notch, if she could successfully breed these varieties over the next two years, it would be enough to cover expenses. As for other hybrid varieties, that wasn’t something that could be rushed.
After surveying the small garden, Mudan beckoned Yuhe: “Li Gongzi will be coming later. Find an opportunity to tell him I have something to discuss with him, and he must find a chance to see me. When the time comes, find a way to distract Lin Mama.”
Yuhe’s eyes twinkled mischievously as she smiled, “Hmm, Cousin Li is a good choice.”
Mudan pinched her cheek, grinning, “Don’t talk nonsense! I have important business.”