Chapter 30: She's in such an embarrassing situation right under my nose, how can she still make such a fuss? ...

Lu Tingwan thought hard for several days. With Cheng Xianzhi's permission, she could move around the mansion more easily. She no longer had to go out at times when no one was around in the backyard. She could just walk through the main gate openly.

The government conducted a thorough investigation of the Chamber of Commerce and flower market merchants, and ordered rectification. The price of flowers in the flower market returned to last year's price, and new merchants flocked to the farm to discuss business.

The farmers' flowers were originally intended for Zhichunli. Lu Tingwan intended to transform Zhichunli into a combined flower garden and rouge business, prioritizing rouge while maintaining the flower business. Therefore, he reduced the original five dan daily quota to two, using the remaining funds for rouge research and jewelry forging.

The farm is also the production site for Yulu Cream and Huanyan Cream. She has taken over several houses to provide services to villagers and matchmakers, and to produce Zhichunli products, which can not only bring livelihoods to the villagers but also reduce the supply and marketing pressure on flower farmers.

The people on the farm were incredibly grateful to Lu Tingwan, but she didn't mind. To her, she and the farmers weren't one helping the other; they were mutually supportive and accomplished.

If Zhichunli had not had the supply of flower farmers when it opened, it would not have been able to become so successful in Fenglin Lane so quickly and become well-known in Kyoto.

Since Lu Tingwan no longer needed to calculate the exact time to enter and exit the back door, he had to pass by the study on the east side when walking from Yansheng Hall to the main entrance. The fragrance of osmanthus was strong in that study.

For more than half a month, she could smell the sweet scent of osmanthus every time she went to the yard to enjoy the cool air at night. In summer, she loved to open the window and fall asleep with the breeze blowing in from the yard. She could still remember the sweet scent of osmanthus in her half-awake state.

When she passed by the study, the fragrance came again, even stronger. She suddenly had the idea to pick some osmanthus flowers and ask Feng Xin to make osmanthus cakes and send them to Zhichunli. She hadn't seen Luo Yunchu for several days, so it was a good opportunity to bring some snacks to see him.

Just as he was about to step into the study, he hesitated for a moment, and only after confirming the time did he step in steadily.

Cheng Xianzhi's study is elegantly decorated, with a row of small green bamboos planted at the foot of the wall in the courtyard. At this time of year, the bamboo leaves are lush and green, mixed with the fragrance of osmanthus, and the whole courtyard is fresh and breathtaking. Lu Tingwan likes this arrangement. This row of small green bamboos and the grape vine trellis in her courtyard have a unique charm.

But Cheng Xianzhi planted them for his enjoyment, while she planted the grapes for their fruit to be eaten.

She thought that Cheng Xianzhi was in court at this hour and would not come back so early. Even if he did, he would most likely go to Yingyue Pavilion.

But her miscalculation was that she didn't know Cheng Xianzhi's habits and movements. She just thought that Cheng Xianzhi would stay in Yingyue Pavilion every night. The two of them were newlyweds and were very affectionate. In addition, they were young, so they must have needed more than ordinary people in some aspects.

It is said in the storybook that if a couple is in love, the husband is considerate of his wife and cannot bear to see her alone in the empty room, so he will move his official business to the bedroom.

Her father didn't live with her mother, and she didn't know if this was the case for ordinary couples. She had only been back at the Lu Mansion for a few days, confined to her own courtyard all day, rarely going out. No one in the mansion had heard of Lu Mingqian working in the bedroom for Liu's sake.

The branches of the osmanthus tree are tall, and it is estimated that the tree is more than ten years old. Therefore, the fragrance of its flowers is richer than that of new trees. The taste of osmanthus cake made from it is definitely not bad.

Most of the flowers on the low branches have fallen, and new flowers have grown on the high branches. Lu Tingwan looked at them with interest, half-stepped on the viewing stone on the side of the branch, rested one hand on the branch, and picked petals with the other hand.

Bian Cai was still leisurely selecting, so when he took the fruits back to Feng Xin, Feng Xin would not have to go through the step of selecting.

Normally, only Cheng Xianzhi was in the study room. No one from the mansion dared to enter. If Cheng Xianzhi wasn't there, the study room would be quiet and deserted. At this moment, she felt at ease, in a good mood, and hummed a tune.

The volume was raised higher and higher, as if she had forgotten where she was. She always had the ability to quickly throw away the unhappiness and worries, and after she recovered, she didn't take them seriously.

I don’t know whether to say she is heartless or open-minded.

The person leaning on the branch picking flowers was immersed in his own world and enjoying himself, and he didn't even notice the footsteps getting closer behind him.

The man behind Cheng Xianzhi crossed his arms and jokingly said, "I guess this must be the chivalrous Second Madam."

Lu Tingwan, who was yawning comfortably, stretched her arms and looked up when she heard the sound. Her yawn stopped halfway, her mouth was half open, her body tilted slightly, the viewing rock under her feet was unstable, her center of gravity was lost, and she fell straight down.

The two heard a "plop" sound, startling a layer of fallen flowers on the grass. The osmanthus petals were small and stained the man's long gown she was wearing, and some of them also flowed into her hair.

The situation was very embarrassing, and the two people standing in the front right seemed to be watching the show and had no intention of going forward to help.

Lu Tingwan could vaguely see two pairs of long boots. When he moved his gaze upwards, he saw a purple official robe. There was also a man wearing a plain dark blue robe with straight silk trimmings, and his wide sleeves were wrapped with wrist guards. He was standing on the right and rear side of the purple official robe.

Its temperament is like the moon at night and the full sun during the day, one cold and one hot.

Cheng Xianzhi's brows pressed against his eyes, his posture was straight, his black eyes were slightly drooping, and he looked straight at her. However, Han Zhou, on the other hand, was watching the show with his arms folded, his posture casual.

Lu Tingwan's embarrassment was clear to see. Cheng Xianzhi said disdainfully, "Why, is it the Second Madam's first time meeting Mr. Han Zhou, so she's showing such a great courtesy?"

Han Zhou untied his arms and waved his hands politely, "No need for formalities. Han Zhou is only half of your advisor, and I don't deserve such a great gift from the Second Madam."

Lu Tingwan was hurt from the fall, and the pain made tears well up in her eyes. She held it back for a moment before getting up by herself without asking Han Zhou for help.

"I, I was passing by and smelled the sweet-scented osmanthus in the study, so I thought of picking some to take back," Lu Tingwan was the first to explain why she came to the study. "Just now, my foot slipped and I lost my balance. I wasn't saluting..."

She didn't dare look at Cheng Xianzhi and glanced away. Lu Tingwan wondered why the two of them walked without making any sound, causing her not to hear anyone coming in. Moreover, the two of them only spoke when they got closer, so they must be deliberately teasing her.

She was even more certain that Cheng Xianzhi hated her and did it on purpose!

"Don't you know that you can't enter the study without my permission?" Cheng Xianzhi's voice was cold and his face was as frosty as ice, which was very different from when she knew him as Han Jinzhang.

Or maybe it was because she knew he was Cheng Xianzhi, so she unconsciously felt fear in her heart. She didn't know where this fear came from, perhaps it was his reputation for murder, or perhaps it was her guilty conscience.

Feeling guilty about being a concubine, she secretly got engaged to another man in front of him.

That night she told him clearly that she wanted a divorce, and he agreed. Then she no longer had to consider herself inferior to him because of her feelings for Luo Yunchu.

After Lu Tingwan figured it out, he straightened his back and said with a stern tone, "I don't know. There was no one guarding the yard, so I came in."

"If I had known the Master's order, I would never have gone near this study."

"If you don't go near the study, how can you get the news and pass it on to Jinhua Palace?" Cheng Xianzhi stared at her, nakedly revealing her embarrassing identity.

Lu Tingwan's spine shuddered, and he looked straight at her and said, "We made an agreement. My Lord, you tend to forget things. Now that we've met today, I'll talk to you about it again."

Han Zhou turned sideways to look at Cheng Xianzhi, but Cheng Xianzhi didn't move.

"I, Lu Tingwan, will not pass on any information that is detrimental to the Cheng Mansion. Your Excellency has allowed me to enter and leave the mansion freely, without any restrictions on my words or actions. When Your Excellency's great cause is accomplished, I, Lu Tingwan, will voluntarily part ways with you. Your Excellency, I present the divorce letter, and I, Lu Tingwan, will not cling to you. The sky is high and the sea is vast. I will never appear before you again and be an eyesore."

Han Zhou couldn't help but admire her from the bottom of his heart. She dared to be so presumptuous in front of Cheng Xianzhi.

"Whatever you say." Cheng Xianzhi still responded indifferently, ignored her, and went into the study.

Han Zhou nodded to Lu Tingwan and followed him in.

The osmanthus flowers in her sleeve pocket were still there and had been picked almost all. Lu Tingwan didn't want to stay here and get bored, so she went back to take out the osmanthus flowers and gave them to Feng Xin. She walked out of the yard with quick steps, like a gust of wind blowing up thousands of layers of flower waves. She lowered her head to tidy up the petals stuck to her clothes, and there was nothing else to be seen.

Gongsun Xue, who was coming in from the courtyard gate, brushed past her. Lu Tingwan walked quickly and didn't notice anyone.

Gongsun Xue stopped and looked back, only a faint shadow of her passed by and then disappeared, leaving only the scent of osmanthus and women's cosmetics lingering around her.

The only time outsiders came to the study was when Han Zhou and Cheng Xianzhi were discussing official business. Even she had not been there many times, and she could feel that Cheng Xianzhi did not like her coming to the study.

She wasn't sure who that person was.

As soon as Han Zhou entered, he teased Cheng Xianzhi, "Lu Tingwan really wants to divorce you, sir? Does the Queen Mother know about this?"

"Empress Dowager," Cheng Xianzhi said as he sat down, "Your Majesty has not reached the point where you think you can turn the Cheng Mansion upside down by pointing a random woman to me."

"From my observation, both Manager Jiang and Second Madam are difficult to deal with." Han Zhou looked as if he saw through everything.

"How can she turn the tables right under my nose?" Cheng Xianzhi didn't care too much.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Lu Tingwan changed her clothes and went to Zhichunli. Feng Xin prepared some osmanthus cake and specially packed it in a food box for Lu Tingwan to take away.

As soon as we entered Fenglin Lane, we saw Aunt Miao and a group of women gathered at the street corner, discussing the secrets of some family's backyard.

She saw Lu Tingwan and waved enthusiastically, "Hey, Shopkeeper Jiang is here to check on the shop."

"Yeah, Aunt Miao isn't opening the store today?"

"Shaobing, shaobing..."

"Wontons, wontons..."

"Tanghulu, Tanghulu..."

The hawking sounds from street vendors drowned out the crowd and then gradually faded away.

"I have a day off today, so I came to talk to you." Aunt Miao said in a loud voice.

Lu Tingwan walked away, then turned her head back. Aunt Miao made way for her and moved a stool for her.

"Shopkeeper Jiang, what are you carrying? It smells so good." Aunt Miao moved closer to the food box.

Her nose is like a dog's, how could she not smell it?

Lu Tingwan protected the food box and racked his brains. "This won't do. Sisters, I've been in Zhichun for a while and want to introduce some new products. Do you have any sisters you'd like? I'll bring some over for you to try. If you like them, can you promote them in your store for me?"

"Shopkeeper Jiang is so sweet," Aunt Miao said, her heart blossoming with joy when she heard there was something good. "You said it would be great if you were a woman, good at business, smart, pretty, and sweet-talking. Auntie, please let my scoundrel marry you."

Lu Tingwan grinned, "Auntie, you really are making fun of me. Then this matter is settled."

Aunt Miao was straightforward and rallied everyone around. "It's settled. Leave it to us old sisters. The shopkeeper gave me the rejuvenating cream earlier. After using it, my skin is so supple. My old man visits me more often in a day than in a month."

Lu Tingwan raised her hand and waved to the person behind her. The sound of him walking away reached Aunt Miao's ears, and she laughed, "Then let him stay for a few more months this time."

"Shopkeeper Jiang has been very close to Young Master Luo recently. Did you know that?" Aunt Miao resumed her attitude of telling a secret.

Several women started talking.

"Mr. Luo is half the boss of Zhichunli, so it's only natural for him to be close to her..."

"That's right."

"You've heard that the former president of the Chamber of Commerce was raided by the government. Do you know who the new president is?" Aunt Miao said.

"No one is our business."

"Master Luo, I also heard from the people drinking in the restaurant that Master Luo sacrificed his own family for the sake of justice and sent a secret letter to the Jingzhao Prefecture, accusing his uncle, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, of corruption."

"Don't say such things carelessly. This is the capital, under the feet of the emperor."

Lu Tingwan didn't know that Luo Yunchu had taken the position in the Chamber of Commerce. Aunt Miao just heard what the official on duty from the Ministry of Personnel said after he got drunk in the restaurant. Aunt Miao kept her eyes and ears open in all directions, and no secrets could escape her ears.

Most of the clerks in office have now entered the Luo Mansion on Changqing Street.