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Chapter 32: The Purple Peony

Translator: Storm in a Teacup

An Rushuang, coming to understand suddenly, shook her head and smiled. “Your Grace is really judicious. It’s absolutely my fault.”

“Please don’t flatter me. Without your help, I will be kept in the dark forever. Won’t I be laughed at if it’s got known by others?”

Compared with her seriousness just now, a straightforward Princess Anyang was much more lovely. Even Mingyue stared at her with eyes full of kindness.

Noticing there were no more people out of the gate, Princess Anyang said, “It seems that all of the fans of flowers have come already.”

“It’s too early now. There may be others coming later.” An Rushuang remembered the last year thousands of people gathered here to enjoy the various peonies in full bloom.

Xianxian echoed her softly, “Exactly. Probably, some noble will pay a visit!”

Anyang tittered while shaking her head, with a tinge of disappointment on her face. “Nobler than a princess, will there be a prince coming? Ha-ha. If he came, my Changchun Manor couldn’t suit his highness.” Though saying so, she still asked Lingdang to guard at the gates and reported to her in case of emergency.

The ladies stepped into the manor slowly.

The manor, occupying an extreme large area, was filled with various pavilions and buildings. After going through a garden full of towering trees and fragrant flowers, the ladies stopped at the entrance of a yard. A streak of elegant and refreshing aroma floated into their noses even before they entered the doors.

“Please come in”, Princess Anyang said to the ladies.

Raising her head, on the vine-covered doors, An Rushuang saw a rectangle plaque embedded with three Chinese golden characters–Changchun Garden.

Except for the Changchun Garden, there were numerous gardens hidden among the large manor which could only be viewed at the entrance.

Upon entering the Changchun Garden, a paradise of flowers, you would see a delicate pavilion on which the glazed tiles glistened a dazzling golden light in the sunshine, with luxuriant vines growing over the roof.

Hundreds of flowers of various kinds in full bloom emitted different aromas. Instead of mixing disorderly, they formed a unique combination of entrancing fragrance.

Suddenly, everyone fixed their eyes on a peony in full bloom.

As a common flower, the majority of peonies were red or white, but this one was actually deep purple. With the color of the center being the deepest, the purple gradually faded on the outer layers until it became pure white. A purple peony surrounded by a large snow-white petal, a perfect combination of grace and glamour.

Its aroma was, though strong enough to have an enjoyment three steps away, characterized as elegance.

Xianxian, astonished at the wonderful view, spent a long time in the appreciation before saying slowly, “I remember a poem about peony written by Liu Yuxi in Tang Dynasty. ‘Being coquettish, the paeonia in the forecourt lacks strength of character; the lotus in the pound, though elegant, is short of charm. Only the peony is drop-dead gorgeous, which attracts numerous people to have an enjoyment.’ As a flower lover, merely today have I learned the true meaning of this poem. Princess Anyang is really tasteful.”

Upon hearing her words, Princess Anyang couldn’t help smiling. Given Xianxian kept staring at the peony, Anyang knew clearly that she liked it wholeheartedly, which slightly touched her.

“My mother liked this peony very much, but I didn’t understand. Since she passed away, I moved these peonies to Changchun Garden to accompany her. I gradually fall in love with these flowers too as time goes by, and actually feel reluctant to throw them away now.”

Princess Anyang murmured while staring at the purple peony, “It’s my mother’s favorite one. Today, only we can have a look at its full bloom,” she sighed.

An Rushuang, looking at her in sorrow, knew clearly that it was just herself rather than the flower that Princess Anyang pitied.

As old as fourteen, it was high time for Princess Anyang to pick a husband.

However, there was nobody to arrange it for her. The lord didn’t want to mind Princess Anyang’s business, while the emperor had no right to arrange the marriage. Let alone her step-mother, a total stranger to her. No one intended to bother with this hot potato.

Even the flower admiration party was nearly ruined by a maid.

To Princess Anyang, it’s better to be born at a common family where there was, at least, true love between family members.

Seeing Anyang’s sullen face, the ladies, including Mingyue, as outgoing as she was, had to keep silent.

Coming up slowly, An Rushuang, staring at Princess Anyang’s curling up lip corner, said softly, “It’s such a pity that no one comes to enjoy the beautiful flowers. Why not hold a grand feast here to present the gorgeous flowers?”

Frowning a bit, Princess Anyang was a little hesitant. “Even with the grand feast, the noble ladies may be unwilling to come...”

Pressing her lips tightly, Princess Anyang was probably furious. It was still a shame for her to vent her anger in public.

“Your Grace has misunderstood me.” An Rushuang smiled. “Why should we invite the noble ladies? There are not many of them in the capital, besides, few of them have a true love for the flowers.”

The majority of the nobles merely focused on the fame and wealth. Who would fix his eyes on the peony in full bloom?

“Not invite noble ladies?” Princess Anyang looked at An Rushuang in confusion. “Who will you invite?” The maids and manservant in the manor?

Their words had attracted Zhu Xianxian and Lu Mingyue’s attention. “Will you invite the noble princes in the capital?” Lu Mingyue made a daring guess.

Zhu Xianxian patted Mingyue gently before grumbled in her soft voice, “Don’t blabber. The suspense is killing us, Rushuang, just tell us.”

Glancing at her in helplessness, An Rushuang said slowly by curling up her lip corner, “It’s so easy. Appreciate the flowers with all the citizens in the capital.”