Obsession, Treasure Hunting at the Flower Market
In his past life, the name breeds that Jing Wan raised weren’t as many as this lifetime’s. After all, Jing Wan only had a pair of discerning eyes. And some of those name breeds were sent before her by him through others. Jing Wan was fortunate, he will let her be even more fortunate. Also those books about planting flowers and trees, Record of Flowers, and even agricultural books, as long as there was the slightest connection, he would collect, new and old. Those paint material used in painting that she wanted, he would send people to search all over the country for, regardless of whether it was already being used by someone else, or hearing that certain things can be used for paintings too. The Luo family servants wanted to find. ‘Painstakingly’, they would always find some relating information and obtain an unexpected find. It’s not that Luo Old Madam didn’t have suspicions, but the results from the investigation really were just that her own granddaughter was very lucky.
In his past life, she used that small number of rare valuable breeds, as well as many high quality breeds to capture the hearts of a number of people. However, because of her age, in order to avoid arousing suspicion, only those elderly old fools, under Luo Pei Shan’s permission, were allowed to directly ‘curry favor’ with her. Jing Wan’s heart was pure, and she deeply respected the elderly. Those old fools usually didn’t need to put out too much effort to have their desires fulfilled, obtaining from her hands the name breeds they wanted, and even some secret breeding methods. Those benefits, for the most part, were asked for on her behalf by Luo Pei Shan. And those people knew their place, and naturally wouldn’t just take Jing Wan’s things for nothing either.
During that time, Li Hong Yuan wasn’t someone that liked plants and flowers, but even he heard about the incident, where a few officials in the capital, for the sake of a pot of multicolored peony, almost got into a physical fight. Clearly, it can be seen that Jing Wan was truly the gem of their heart.
This way, even if Jing Wan didn’t have a father that occupied a high position, she still similarly held a high advantage in her hands. If she encountered trouble, as long as they were willing to help, then they can easily help her settle it. However, when the trouble Jing Wan came across was too big, under the imperial power, they too were powerless even if they had the heart to help. After all, no matter how valuable those name breeds were, it couldn’t compare to the lives of their entire family either. Thus, they could only secretly lament. Because she knew that they had their difficulties, from the start, she’d never counted on anyone coming to help. That’s why, towards their ‘watching with folded arms’, Jing Wan didn’t resent, and just voluntarily drew the lines between them.
Li Hong Yuan closed his eyes and massaged the space between his brows. Some things he really shouldn’t recall. Every time he recalled them, his emotions would go out of control and would want to immediately have all the disasters eliminated by the roots. But, it was still far from time. If it fell into chaos now, he still didn’t have a way to control the overall situation, and it would destabilize Qi Yuan’s foundations. This wasn’t what he was willing to see. He didn’t want it to be like the past life, where what fell into his hands was an unstable country, and needed for him to spend large amounts of time to govern and fix. Where would he still have the time to share happy moments with Wan Wan. The gains do not make up for the losses. As for not wanting the throne? Don’t joke around, with how hated he was, no matter who ascended the throne, they will undoubtedly all want to kill him, and Wan Wan naturally wouldn’t be spared either. As for giving up on Wan Wan, that was his two lifetimes’ one and only desire, that was even more impossible! The throne to him wasn’t even that important. After all, he’d already sat up there once before. The paramount and unmatched power, although made one think fondly of it, compared to Wan Wan it was still inferior.
“Someone come.”
A beautiful servant girl silently walked in, “Master.”
“Send it back.”
“Yes.” The servant girl went forward and carefully picked up the flower pot. Originally, to her, it wasn’t something that was very heavy, yet she needed to pay a hundred and twenty percent attention, because this flower was more valuable than her life.
These plants and flowers, Li Hong Yuan didn’t raise in the Jin Wang Manor. Because every pot of flower all had a person specially tending to it, if left in the Jin Wang Manor, this kind of manner was too conspicuous. Although he appeared powerless and without influence, he had his Majesty’s favor, so there would always still be people that wanted to curry favor with him. Naturally, they would try track down the source of the things he particularly liked. And that wasn’t what he wanted. All of them were raised in the villa outside the city, a very big villa. The few people taking care of the plants and flowers of the villa, who would care? And who would know that some of the servant’s real responsibility was only a single pot of flower?
Inside the villa, there were a lot of rare and valuable breeds. But among them, the most popular job with the gardeners was solely raising a single pot of flower. No one knows the origins of these flowers. Perhaps they weren’t very rare or valuable, but master likes them, so their value was doubled. Although if raised poorly, they’ll inevitably throw in their little lives, but if raised well, then the rewards were more than enough to let countless people be jealous. That’s why, generally when a new flower that the above specially mentioned to properly take care of came, aside from those that already had a ‘specialty’, each and every one all went up to fight for it. Once they were certain that they’re able to raise it, they will use any means possible to get it in their hands.
Jing Wan, after a good night’s sleep, woke up very early and began resuming her morning exercises routine that she’d abstained from for a fairly long time. A good body was very important, especially in this place, where even a small cold could kill you. There was a reason why she’d been healthy ever since she was young. Her goal was to be like some of those reported people in her past life, over fifty, but still had a figure comparable to women in their twenties. In any case, she had a lot of time right now. As long as she was willing to persist with it, her goal wouldn’t completely just be a dream.
Towards Jing Wan’s eccentric behaviors at certain times, the people by her side were already used to it and didn’t find it strange anymore. After all, in the beginning, Jing Wan didn’t overstep what was proper. Rather, she did it steadily, bit by bit. By the time it was too late and became a routine, each and every one all felt it was as a matter of course.
On the contrary, Gong mama, who was skilled in maintaining good health, at the start, felt it was somewhat strange, but after seeing it a few more times, she understood the benefits within. Not only did she not stop Jing Wan, she instead made some appropriate alterations, striving to achieve the best results.
She worked up a whole body of sweat, went to wash herself, then drank a bowl of blood swallow congee, before finally going to Falling Plum Residence to pay her respects to her parents, then to the main courtyard to pay her respects to her grandmother. As for her grandfather, he’d already gone out. If there was morning court session, he would attend court. If there was no morning court session, then he would go the magistrate office. If there was important matters, then he’d go to the inner imperial court[1].
Blood Swallow CongeeHowever, this time, Jing Wan unexpectedly ran into Luo Pei Shan. After giving her morning greetings, she asked, “Grandfather has the day off today?”
“En. Third girl, after breakfast, tidy up, keep it simple, and go out with grandfather.” When he said these words, there was a faint trace of eagerness.
Jing Wan didn’t ask much and just respectfully complied.
Luo Old Madam knew what he wanted to do, and a certain few people also more or less could guess too. “In the later afternoon, come back a bit early. Min boy has already been waiting for your day off. He wants to ask for guidance on some things. Don’t wait until after the evening meal to come back again.” Clearly, even if they hadn’t lived together for a few years, Luo Old Madam still had Luo Pei Shan grasped thoroughly. When she spoke, she’d actually casted a glance at Jing Wan, however Jing Wan didn’t have any reactions.
Luo Pei Shan complied. Min boy was his old wife’s closely related great-nephew, and nine times out of ten will become third girl’s husband, so naturally he need to give guidance.
To be able to go out with Luo Pei Shan, among the grandchildren generation, apart from the eldest three brother, only Jing Wan had this honor.
Jing Wan receiving special treatment, for the most part, they were already numb to. At most, they would just say a few sour words in their heart. Only she could act cleverly and obediently and get what she wanted, but even if it was acting cleverly and obediently, that was also her ability. Others, even if they wanted to do it, didn’t have that ability to either.
When Luo Pei Shan changed into casual clothing, he was just an ordinary old man. At most, he would just have some scholarly mannerism, letting people who saw know that his identity was probably not ordinary. And Jing Wan also dressed plainly with minimal hair ornaments, and her wrists were furthermore empty.
The grandfather and granddaughter pair each brought along two people and separately got on the horse carriage. Afterwards, they smoothly set off.
Jing Wan knew this trip was to the flower market, and grandfather was bringing her to ‘search for treasure’. It truly was ‘to use one to their fullest’. Just, Jing Wan also liked it very much too.
Because she was traveling together with an elder, Jing Wan, rather, wasn’t that constrained either. She followed by Head Minister Luo’s side, looking to the east and west, taking pleasure in her time.
The flower market in the capital city was much larger than the one in Qi An Fu. There was also a lot more flower variety too. The quality even more excellent. However, because there were also many that were experts, to want to pick up any ‘leaks’ was also relatively harder.
Listening to her grandfather’s explanation, and learning that on this current street, for the most part, were all those flowers grown by flower growers from outside the city to make a living with, or those wild flowers excavated from the wilderness. Most were all very ordinary, and basically, it was very hard to find a good breed. Of course, occasionally, there were peddlers that came from other places. They would bring some along the way, and because they don’t recognize, as a result, it could be out of the ordinary, or perhaps not worth a cent.
If it wasn’t for the fact that he’d brought along Jing Wan, Luo Pei Shan probably wouldn’t have walked this way.
Although the purpose was treasure hunting, but seeing the different kinds of flowers was also a kind of enjoyment, no?
As she walked, Jing Wan quietly introduced these flowers by the wayside. Perhaps not prominent, perhaps far from the name breeds, but they all still possessed their own worth. Certain plants paired together were advantageous to humans, while some were harmful. How to match it so that it would appear exceptionally pretty, and placing which plants in which position? All had quite a bit of science behind it. Just because it was uncommon and valuable, may not necessarily mean it was good.
[1] Inner Imperial Court – Place inside the imperial court where the Emperor handled government affairs, gave orders, etc. Different from the court where the morning court sessions are held.