"Perhaps it was purchased during a trip to the south? The kind that isn't available in the capital?"
"Oh dear, that's possible. Although Consort Yan isn't as favored as Consort Su, she's not bad either. After all, she comes from a good family. Even if she were... well, it's the same."
"Are you asking for trouble? How dare you say that?"
"I was just saying, hey, what's the big deal? My mother remarried three times before I was born! It's just that wealthy families are more particular, but who cares about families like ours?"
The little girls were chattering away, all expressing their envy.
The gap is so large that one can't feel jealousy, only envy.
When Yan Nangui reached the vicinity of Yuzhi Bridge, he saw Xia Fengyi.
Xia Fengyi greeted her with a smile: "Sister Yan."
"You've come to admire the flowers too? The weather is lovely today," Yan Nangui said.
“Yes, it’s rare to meet Sister Yan, why don’t we go together?” Xia Fengyi said with a smile.
“Alright, a chance encounter is worse than a planned meeting.” Yan Nangui smiled as well.
The two of them went up the bridge. After crossing the bridge, they reached the place with the most chrysanthemums, where even the most expensive flowers were displayed.
Upon seeing the two of them arrive, people rushed forward to serve them.
These two are people you can't afford to offend.
Since the beginning of the year, when Ye Liangdi was placed under house arrest, she hasn't had time to cause trouble for Xia Fengyi. With the main court constantly giving her trouble, she has even less time to cause problems.
Nowadays, Xia Fengyi is not in as difficult a situation as before, and she is still favored by the emperor. So, although she is still only a Fengyi, she is not someone that the servants in the mansion dare to offend.
The southward migration of geese goes without saying.
"Go and prepare some tea and snacks for me and Xia Fengyi. We can sit here, enjoy the flowers, and chat," Yan Nangui said.
As she spoke, Luo Kui personally went to make arrangements with the maids in the garden.
Xia Fengyi didn't stand on ceremony and said, "I'll arrange it."
"To be honest, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I've heard that Consort Zhen in the palace is particularly fond of chrysanthemums. His Majesty even praised her, saying that Consort Zhen is as beautiful as a chrysanthemum," said Consort Xia.
Fortunately, Yan Nangui didn't drink tea, otherwise he would have spat it out.
But she also laughed out loud: "Is His Majesty scolding or praising Consort Zhen?"
Xia Fengyi covered her mouth: "Of course it's a compliment, His Majesty dotes on her very much."
"Plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums are the Four Gentlemen. The chrysanthemum embodies one of these qualities: tranquility. As the saying goes, a person is as tranquil as a chrysanthemum. It is also said that those who have ever dared to use the chrysanthemum as a symbol of elegance are those who bloom alone in the face of frost, not like others. They do not curry favor with the powerful, nor are they greedy for worldly power; they are truly hermits of the world."
"Our precious Consort... is so ambitious, and dares to describe herself as gentle and unassuming? I truly admire her."
"Sister Yan has hit the nail on the head. In my opinion, whether in the palace or in the household, if you want to live well, you have to work hard and strive for advancement. Who can truly be as indifferent as a chrysanthemum? Unless they genuinely don't care about how life is going, but few are truly indifferent; most pretend not to. Some people, if you really can't have them, you can only say you don't like them," Xia Fengyi said with a smile.
"Your words, sister, are just to my liking. You're truly a wonderful person," Yan Nangui said with a smile.
No wonder Shu Chengfeng dotes on her; she likes such a beautiful and intelligent woman.
"Thank you, sister." Xia Fengyi smiled shyly.
“You and I can see that, but His Majesty, as usual, ordered the Imperial Household Department to make a set of chrysanthemum jewelry for Consort Zhen this year, saying that it is done every year. I wonder if Consort Zhen is tired of it yet,” said Consort Xia.
Yan Nangui laughed again. "Isn't that right? If you like it, we'll give it to you every year. If we bestow it upon you, wouldn't you wear it?"
Going back and forth like this, you'd probably get sick of it.
Xia Fengyi is a truly intelligent person.
Regardless of what he was thinking, he only chatted with Yan Nangui, never mentioning anything about the affairs of the manor.
We ended up having a very pleasant conversation that morning.
When they returned home, Yan Nangui remarked, "Talking to Xia Fengyi was much easier than talking to Luo Liangyuan."
Jiangxiang smiled and agreed.
The main thing is that Luo Liangyuan still puts on airs to some extent, while Xia Fengyi, on the other hand, isn't exactly humble, but when she speaks, she really has a very natural and comfortable feeling.
Indeed, everyone who gains favor has their own unique abilities.
In the evening, Shu Chengfeng arrived.
Yan Nangui smiled and said, "Your Highness has come at the perfect time. I asked the kitchen to make some sweet and sour pork ribs. Doesn't Your Highness like them?"
"Then my arrival is just in time." Shu Chengfeng smiled and looked at her: "What did Tang'er do today?"
"Enjoying flowers with Consort Xia, she is such a wonderful person, I had a good laugh today," Yan Nangui said.
"Oh? Tang'er and Xia Fengyi get along quite well?" Shu Chengfeng asked as he sat down.
"Look at what Your Highness is saying. I don't even know if I can answer that question. Are you testing me?" Yan Nangui snorted.
"You're so cunning." Shu Chengfeng served tea but ignored her.
"Alright, Xia Fengyi is quite good. I enjoy spending time with intelligent and humorous people."
"In that case, we can spend more time together in the future," Shu Chengfeng said.
"That won't do. They're all His Highness's women; there's no good in them being together all the time," Yan Nangui said with a smile.
"How come there's no benefit? Let me tell you." Shu Chengfeng looked over.
"Tsk, did Your Highness come to see me? Or to hear me talk about other women with Your Highness? If you keep this up, I'll get jealous." Yan Nangui glanced at him.
Shu Chengfeng shook his head: "I don't know who brought it up."
"Ahem, let's not talk about that. Let me tell you a funny story, Your Highness." Yan Nangui put down his teacup, walked over, put down his teacup as well, and sat down again. "I heard something from Consort Xia today, and I laughed for ages."
Then she started talking about the chrysanthemum.
"You certainly know how to amuse yourself. Because Consort Zhen loves chrysanthemums, they're everywhere in the palace. Every year around this time, her palace is filled with precious chrysanthemums." Shu Chengfeng said this without any anger. It was a calm remark.
The wild geese returning south reminded me of chrysanthemums from later generations... something only brought to graves.
The funeral hall was full of them.
Then he laughed again.
However, what wasn't said was that people in ancient times actually considered chrysanthemums to be flowers of longevity. They didn't carry the same connotations as in later generations.
Nowadays, flowers can only be used to worship gods.
"Oh dear, Your Highness, please promise me one thing: when you become Emperor, please don't hold a grudge against chrysanthemums. They are quite beautiful." It wouldn't be good if, because Consort Zhen once liked them, you forbade anyone from planting them.
Shu Chengfeng shook his head again. This woman talked about him becoming the emperor in the future with such ease.
"I'll have someone plant more crabapple trees for you later," Shu Chengfeng whispered, looking down at the crook of her neck.
"No need," Yan Nangui said, "I like all kinds of flowers, except for crabapple blossoms. If I saw too many, I might get tired of them." Yan Nangui thought of Consort Zhen, who wore chrysanthemums every year, and couldn't help but laugh.
This is absolutely hilarious. Seriously, once you get a laugh, it's hard to forget.
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