Imperial Garden
Halfway through the banquet, as was customary, everyone moved to the Imperial Garden to admire the flowers. It was early summer, and the garden was ablaze with exotic flowers and rare herbs, their fragrance filling the air. Noble ladies strolled in twos and threes, their elegant attire and graceful figures moving among the pavilions and waterside terraces, their laughter and chatter filling the air.
Su Qingyue deliberately avoided the crowd, choosing a secluded path. Qingdai followed closely behind her, whispering, "Miss, weren't you a bit too conspicuous at the banquet? I noticed your expression was quite unpleasant."
"I can't just jump into the limelight whenever I want, or avoid it whenever I want." Su Qingyue plucked a bamboo leaf and toyed with it between her fingers. "In this place, showing weakness will only lead to being devoured until nothing is left."
Her years of experience navigating the modern workplace have taught her that sometimes, appropriately showcasing one's abilities is the best form of protection.
At the end of the path was a bamboo pavilion overlooking the water, surrounded by lush bamboo, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere. Su Qingyue sat down in the pavilion, gazing absently at the shimmering lake. This moment of peace made her feel as if she had been transported back to the modern world, to a time when she would stroll alone by the campus lake after a long day in the laboratory.
"If only it could always be this peaceful," she murmured to herself.
"Third sister has such refined tastes."
A familiar voice broke the silence. Su Qingxue walked in gracefully with several noble ladies, a flawless, sweet smile on her face.
"Sister, are you here to enjoy the scenery too?" Su Qingyue stood up, behaving with impeccable manners.
"Indeed." Su Qingxue affectionately stepped forward and took her arm. "I didn't have a chance to talk properly with you at the banquet. I heard you were sick a few days ago, are you much better now?"
This behavior made her seem like a caring older sister. But Su Qingyue clearly felt that Su Qingxue was secretly tightening her grip on her fingers, her nails almost digging into her flesh.
"Thank you for your concern, Sister. I'm fine now." Su Qingyue withdrew her hand without making a sound and straightened her sleeves.
Just then, Li Yanran suddenly pointed to a peculiar orchid outside the pavilion and exclaimed, "Look! This orchid is blooming so beautifully!"
Everyone's attention was drawn to it. There, growing in the cracks of the artificial rockery, was a rare bicolor orchid, with two flowers on one stem, one purple and one white, its graceful posture and refreshing fragrance.
"This is a 'Mandarin Duck Orchid' brought as tribute from the Western Regions; there's only one in the entire Imperial Garden," Su Qingxue said, feigning surprise. "I've heard it's extremely delicate; even ordinary people getting close can affect its flowering."
Upon hearing her words, the noble ladies instinctively took a few steps back, afraid of damaging the rare flowers.
Su Qingyue frowned slightly. As a PhD in biology, she could tell at a glance that something was wrong with the orchid—the leaves were slightly yellow, and there were subtle signs of drying on the edges of the petals, clearly indicating improper care.
"Little sister, you're standing so close, you must be careful," Su Qingxue "kindly" reminded her. "If we damage this precious imperial gift, we can't bear the consequences."
These words, seemingly out of concern, were actually putting Su Qingyue in a very difficult position. If she backed down now, she would appear cowardly and weak; if she didn't back down, and something happened to the orchid, the responsibility would fall entirely on her.
Su Qingyue suddenly bent down and gently lifted a petal to examine it closely.
"What are you doing!" Li Yanran exclaimed, "Let go!"
Ignoring the gasps of the crowd, Su Qingyue took out a small glass bottle from her sleeve and carefully examined the leaves in the sunlight.
"This orchid wasn't damaged by someone," she said confidently. "It got infested with aphids."
"What?" Everyone was stunned.
Su Qingyue pointed to the underside of the leaf: "Look at these tiny black dots, those are aphids. They suck the sap, causing malnutrition in the plant."
As she spoke, she took out some dried herbs from her first-aid kit, crushed them, and sprinkled them on the roots of the plant: "This can repel insects. With proper sunlight and water, it will recover in three to five days."
This series of professional maneuvers left everyone stunned. Even Su Qingxue, who had initially been prepared to laugh at them, was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Third Miss, you know how to grow flowers?" A gentle male voice suddenly came from behind.
Everyone turned around and saw a young man in a moon-white robe standing outside the pavilion. He had a handsome face, a gentle demeanor, and a faint smile on his lips.
Su Qingyue was slightly shocked. This person walked without making a sound!
"Greetings, Grand Preceptor." Su Qingxue and the others hurriedly bowed.
So this is the Imperial Advisor, Pei Jin. Su Qingyue curtsied respectfully, but her gaze met his eyes with neither servility nor arrogance.
"I know a little bit," she replied ambiguously.
Pei Jin approached, his gaze lingering on the orchid for a moment before turning to Su Qingyue: "Third Miss, were those wormwood and pyrethrum used just now?"
"The Imperial Advisor has a keen eye." Su Qingyue was somewhat surprised. These two herbs are not common, and being able to recognize them at a glance shows that the other party also has considerable knowledge of pharmacology.
"Using herbs instead of incense is indeed a good method," Pei Jin nodded approvingly. "However, adding a little mint would make it even more effective at repelling insects."
"Peppermint is good, but it's too irritating and might damage the plant's roots," Su Qingyue retorted instinctively. "Rust would be better; it's milder and lasts longer."
Only after she finished speaking did she realize the other person's identity. Just as she was about to apologize, she saw a hint of admiration flash in Pei Jin's eyes.
"I've learned a lot." He nodded slightly. "I didn't expect the Third Miss to be so knowledgeable about pharmacology."
This conversation left the noble ladies present dumbfounded. The Imperial Tutor, Pei Jin, was renowned for his vast knowledge; to receive a single compliment from him was already a rare occurrence. Yet now he was discussing professional matters with Su Qingyue, and in such an equal tone!
Su Qingxue's face was as ugly as it could possibly be. She had intended to embarrass Su Qingyue, but instead, she had made Su Qingyue look good in front of the Imperial Advisor!
"Your Excellency, Imperial Preceptor," she interrupted forcefully, "the imperial competition is about to begin. Shouldn't we head over?"
Pei Jin glanced at her, his gaze indifferent: "Very well."
He turned to Su Qingyue, his tone gentle: "If Miss Su is interested, you might want to watch the competition later. This year, a medical theory category has been added; it's sure to be very exciting."
These words, seemingly casual, were actually a reminder of the upcoming competition. Su Qingyue understood immediately: "Thank you for your guidance, Imperial Preceptor."
After Pei Jin left, the way the noble ladies looked at Su Qingyue changed. There was jealousy, curiosity, and a bit of apprehension.
"When did my sister meet the Imperial Advisor?" Su Qingxue asked, barely suppressing her anger.
"Wasn't it my sister who introduced us?" Su Qingyue asked innocently.
Su Qingxue was speechless, and could only leave angrily.
Qingdai then dared to step forward and whispered, "Miss, the Imperial Preceptor seems to be paying special attention to you..."
Su Qingyue gazed thoughtfully in the direction Pei Jin had left. This Imperial Advisor gave her a very special feeling; unlike the pedantic scholars common in this era, he possessed a kind of wisdom that transcended his time.
"Let's go." She straightened her dress. "The real show is yet to come."
After this encounter, she became even more convinced that in this world, knowledge is the best weapon. And what she had to do was to use this weapon wisely to carve out a way to survive in this unfamiliar era.
At the other end of the Imperial Garden, Pei Jin stood on a high place, his gaze following the receding moon-white figure.
"What did you see?" A cold voice came from behind.
Pei Jin didn't need to turn around to know who it was: "Is His Highness Prince Rui also interested in her?"
Xiao Jue walked to his side, his black python robe gleaming coldly in the sunlight: "A concubine's daughter, is she worth your attention?"
"A concubine's daughter?" Pei Jin chuckled. "Doesn't Your Highness think she's different from all the other women in this garden?"
Xiao Jue snorted coldly: "Just a trick of pretending to be a ghost."
"Really?" Pei Jin said meaningfully, "But I heard that she saved the teacher's life a few days ago."
Xiao Jue's eyes flickered slightly: "Is the Grand Tutor's matter related to her?"
"His Highness will find out soon." Pei Jin gazed at the figure about to enter the arena in the distance. "I have a feeling that today's imperial competition will be very interesting."
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