Jiang Yufen grew up in front of her grandfather. What she loved most was the free and easy life of going up the mountain to collect herbs, going into the water to catch fish, raising chickens and millet in the fields, and listening to the croaking of frogs and rice flowers according to the seasons.
The little girl loved beauty and learned to grow exotic flowers and plants. Zhu Qingwei taught his granddaughter how to appreciate flowers and talk about them.
The skills that Jiang Yufen had learned were completely invisible when she married into the Chen family. However, after Chen Zijing returned home, she was fully demonstrated to his amazement.
Every corner of the Chen family's home is full of vitality.
Even General Chen, who never even glanced at flowers and plants, would stop to admire them while walking: "It's interesting that Podocarpus can be grown in a pot!"
The average Podocarpus is often two meters tall, standing on the mountain peak, looking particularly majestic and majestic. The Podocarpus in their flowerpot is only about one foot tall and as thick as a finger, with a stone next to it, which gives it a sense of foresight.
The reason why these bonsai caught Mr. Chen's eye was all because of the guests of the Chen family. As soon as they entered the door of their house, they began to look at the flowers and plants one by one, admiring them all the way in.
Some people who love elegance come with valuable gifts just to exchange them for a few pots of flowers and plants.
The most precious item was Chen Zijing's exclusive treasure, the Ganoderma lucidum. Someone offered five thousand taels of silver, but Chen Zijing refused to give it up.
Because Grandmother Zeng's illness had improved significantly, and Jiang Yufen's reputation as the Flower Goddess had gradually spread, everyone in the Chen family had a very different opinion of Jiang Yufen.
The young couple spent every day together picking flowers, writing poems and painting. Mrs. Ye didn't care much about them, but only complained to her personal maid behind General Chen's back when he was not at home.
If there were no war, life would just go on peacefully, which would be a hard-earned happy life.
However, the emperor, relying on the most eloquent civil officials and the best soldiers and generals in the world, did not rest on his laurels after preventing foreign invasions, but instead began to think about annexing the surrounding small countries.
He had just been reunited with his young wife, and before half a year had passed since they were in love, Chen Zijing, as the beloved son of General Chen Jinzhong and deputy vanguard general, had to follow his father to lead the troops into battle.
Even though Jiang Yufen was reluctant to leave, she had no choice but to bid farewell to her husband.
The night before leaving, heavy snow was falling. The young couple was lingering in love and only wished they could turn into one and stay together closely.
Chen Zijing kissed his beloved wife goodbye and rode away on his horse.
Within a month of sending troops, they conquered a small country in the south. Its king was willing to surrender and become a vassal state. Not only did he pay tribute every year, but to show his loyalty, he also intended to form an alliance with Qin and Jin.
The emperor paid no attention to such a small country that could be defeated with a flick of a fingernail. He even disdained to take the beautiful princess who was presented as tribute into his own harem. Instead, he pointed her directly to Chen Zijing: "My dear Chen, you are young and have worked hard and made great contributions. You deserve this honor!"
There is no way to refuse such a reward.
Chen Zijing had no choice but to take the imperial edict and return home to report it to his mother.
Madam Ye was delighted. Although she was a princess of a small country, she had a different power and upbringing. "The auspicious date has been set. Quickly clean up the house and get dressed. We will marry the princess soon."
The Chen family’s specialty now is off-season flowers, which are famous throughout the capital.
"Jiang, place the peonies you planted in Zijing's main room!" Madam Ye was overjoyed. "The princess is a beauty of the highest order. We must place peonies in our home to be worthy of her noble status!"
Jiang Yufen's face turned pale: "Yes!"
Madam Ye said sternly, "Jiang, Zijing marrying the princess represents the friendship between the two countries. If you are well-educated and polite, you should know how to give in. I don't need to tell you who is older and who is younger."
Jiang Yufen's heart was bleeding: "Yes!"
Although she loves Zijing very much, it doesn't mean that she is willing to endure any grievance.
She weakly supported the maid's shoulders and walked to the greenhouse in the back garden. She saw that the peony she had carefully cultivated had already formed two buds.
Peony is the king of flowers.
The peonies she planted had flowers as big as bowls, layered upon each other when in bloom, with fragrance wafting from ten miles away. Each branch had two colors, making it unique in the entire capital.
When she first saw the flower bud, Jiang Yufen thought it was a flower fairy sent by God to welcome the little life in her belly.
She even asked her maid to secretly seek out the most famous half-immortal in the capital to do a divination. She learned that she was pregnant with two beautiful girls, and waited for Chen Zijing to come back to tell him the good news.
Who knew that good and bad are interdependent? When Chen Zijing entered the house, before she could tell him the good news of her pregnancy, she heard the "bad news" that Chen Zijing was going to marry a princess from another country within seven days.
There was a floor heater in the greenhouse, and dozens of pots of flowers and plants were lush and green.
Jiang Yufen looked at the peonies, lost in thought.
"Fen'er!" Chen Zijing strode up behind her and gently held her in his arms: "It is difficult to disobey the imperial decree. Please understand my difficulties."
Jiang Yufen's vision blurred. "If I had known I'd marry into the family as a concubine, my grandfather would never have agreed to marry into your family."
Chen Zijing discussed carefully: "There is no distinction between the old and the young. The princess is one year older than you, so you can just call her sister."
Jiang Yufen remembered her grandfather's words: If he treats you badly, just come back. Don't worry about whether your father is happy or not. Come to the farm and your grandfather will raise you.
"My dear husband, why don't you divorce me and just treat the princess wholeheartedly?"
Chen Zijing just thought she was jealous: "Don't be angry, I said before that I only love you. I married the princess just for show. Otherwise, if it gets to the emperor, no one will be able to bear the blame."
Jiang Yufen was helpless, and after a long while, she could only whisper: "This pot of peonies cannot be placed in the main room."
When her husband married, she was like a flower in a pot, unable to control herself and could only watch helplessly, feeling heartbroken and powerless.
Chen Zijing chuckled: "I'll do as you say!"
Jiang Yufen sighed softly, "Only the newcomers always laugh."
Chen Zijing swore: "In my heart, you will always be as fresh as this flower."
Jiang Yufen remained silent for a long time, but finally swallowed the fact that she was pregnant.
If she told this, Madam Ye would probably use this as an excuse to let her take care of her pregnancy and build a separate house for her to live in, so that she would stay away from Chen Zijing forever.
Madam Ye made a list of items for the wedding and sent for Chen Zijing to discuss it. She also took two pots of orchids with her: "The general has a guest in his study, and he specifically requested orchids with buds."
Chen Zijing smiled: "Fen'er, you see, your reputation is well-known. Don't worry, your mother will know how good you are!"
Then two strong maids came and said, "Madam said to place the peonies in the main room. Please take good care of them and make sure they bloom on the day of the wedding."
Jiang Yufen stood alone in the greenhouse, holding the gradually cooling hot water bottle, her fingertips were icy and her heart was frozen.
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