In March and April, it was getting warmer with blossoming flowers. Pedestrians in the street were dressed brighter. In order to match the beautiful clothes, young ladies began using various moon-shaped fans. It was a good time for spring outings to appreciate flowers, plants, and other scenery.
Mo Xuetong put on the clothes sent by Mo Huawen early in the morning. It was a piece of fine-gauze palace dress embroidered with colorful clouds. The bright blue color looked simple and elegant, and it seemed pure white when looked close and turned slight blue in the distance. Her hand held a white fan painted with a landscape in Chinese ink. Her slim and white fingertips were revealed from the sleeves, appearing more beautiful and delicate.
She grew taller, and her slender and soft waist was outlined apparently in such a floor-length dress.
“Miss, old sir said the peony over there is very famous in full range. Common people are not permitted to come there. Even with the invitation, anyone dressed unseemly is not allowed to come, either.” Mo Yu said with a serious look. But after finishing the words, she was a bit puzzled and asked with curiosity, “Miss, is it true? Who is the master of the garden? So awesome that he could claim that he just values dressing rather than personality.”
It was the capital of the Qin Dynasty. Merely a person met in the street would have a connection with the government. So how could the garden master claim it in such a supercilious tone?
Peony Master, proud and aloof in the world.
His name and age remained unknown, except that the mysterious Peony Master wore a mask with formidable power.
Mo Xuetong grinned, and some memory flashed into her mind. What a distinctive and independent Peony Master!
In her last life, she had met with him once not in the capital but in Cloud City. On that day, Mo Xuetong managed to get Mdm Yu’s permission to worship her mother in the temple. And Yu Sirong insisted on following her. When getting out of the sedan at the gate of the temple, Mo Xuetong was tripped by Yu Sirong and knocked to the doorframe immediately.
Such accidents often occurred in Yu Sirong’s presence.
Mo Xuetong had to resign herself to covering her face, closing her eyes, and enduring the coming pains and shame.
But this time she didn’t hit the ground but fell into a person’s arms.
An elegant but deep voice rang, “Miss, have you got hurt?”
The soft voice with a touch of concern floated into Mo Xuetong’s ears. She raised her head with surprise, only to see ruddy lips, and a half mask. A pair of bright and deep eyes exposed from the mask were looking at her gently with some smile in them.
At such a mere glance, it was enough to tell he was an extraordinarily handsome man.
The maids beside and Yu Sirong all looked at him spellbound.
“Thank you, sir.” Mo Xuetong collected herself, hurried to push him away, and took two steps back. Yu Sirong behind also reacted and held Mo Xuetong to look her up and down with superficial care. And she asked worriedly, “How about you? Did you get injured? Don’t be so reckless when you walk next time.”
Hearing the girl’s soft and genial words, the man showed more smiles in his eyes.
He stepped to Mo Xuetong, handed the peony in his hands to her and said, “We are destined to meet this time. But after that, I don’t know when we will meet each other again in the future. Miss, I would like to give this purple peony to you as a gift. If we have chances to meet one day again, feel free to find Peony Master.”
After finishing his words, he put the peony into Mo Xuetong’s hands who was still in a daze, and led his people away…
As soon as the man left, Yu Sirong snatched the precious purple peony from Mo Xuetong’s hands.
It happened by accident, so Mo Xuetong had never taken it to her heart in the last life. It was all about a man who had never shown his true face and gave her a peony. It was not a matter of romantic fate. Later, when she came to the capital, she just knew him from others’ words. Peony Master was quite mysterious about his whereabouts.
He did have not only impressive bearing, but also unusual preference.
It was said that he was fond of gorgeous robes embroidered with peonies…
It was also said that whosoever could enjoy the peonies in his garden should come from a noble family and wear beautiful clothes…
Emphasis on the dressing rather than the personality illustrated the Peony Master’s attitude.
It was also said that he loved peony deeply. All the peonies in the garden were fostered by himself, so even the Peony Fairy was attracted to the garden, which made his peonies stand out of its kind…
However, all the rumors could tell Peony Master was not a common person. In the capital, Peony Master who dared to make such claims must have strong connections.
Besides, it was said that Peony Master just showed up in March and April. Every time he emerged, he would wear a mask with his perfect chin exposed. Therefore, people all guessed that he was a great handsome man. But pity that no one had ever seen his true face.
The time when Mo Xuetong came to the garden was the most prosperous time.
An incessant stream of horses and carriages was stopped outside the garden. The Mo Manor’s coachman took a look and was about to row in. Right at the moment, someone asked him, “Is the comer Princess Anping?”
“Yes, we are.” The coachman stopped the carriage and answered.
“Please follow me.” The person leading the way was a clever servant. He led the Mo Manor’s carriage to take two turns to another door, where only three or four carriages were stopped. Obviously, the owners of these carriages had nobler status than those at the front door.
Mo Yu helped Mo Xuetong get off the carriage, and came to the door to hand in the invitation. The servant at the door took a casual glance and pointed the way affably. He said, “Your Highness, please take this way and turn right.”
“Thank you.” Mo Xuetong gave a polite smile and took Mo Yu inside the door.
“Miss, this Peony Master is so snobbish that he asks common people to queue at the front door and checks their invitation one by one for fear that some unqualified people will get in here. However, the back door is quite empty, but common people are not allowed to enter from here.” Mo Yu complained in a low voice.
“You should feel content that you can enter the garden from here. Mo Yu, Peony Master may be hearing your complaints, and he may ask us to queue in the front door again.” Mo Xuetong raised the corner of her lips and bantered Mo Yu.
“It is impossible, right? Miss, how can a man like Peony Master overhear a little maid?” Frightened by Mo Xuetong’s words, Mo Yu covered her mouth immediately and looked around. When her eyes fell on Mo Xuetong’s teasing look, Mo Yu stomped and said pettishly, “Miss, you are making fun of me again. I don’t want to talk to you any longer, but go to enjoy the peony now.”
Then, Mo Yu ran forward.
Mo Xuemin turned around and found a number of peonies well-spaced before her eyes. They flourished in different shapes and with bright colors in various presences. Even though Mo Xuemin had a preference for plum blossom’s exclusive nature, she had to admit that only the peony could be called the national flower, as its flowering time could cheer up the whole capital.
Some of the peonies were as red as fire, some as yellow as gold, some as pink as sunglow, some as white as jade, to name but a few… The breeze came and blew up refreshing fragrance of the flowers. Besides, butterflies dances among them, forming a vivid picture of butterflies’ flitting flowers. The beautiful scenery everywhere was a feast for the eyes.
Mo Yu had run to the far front. Mo Xuetong appreciated the peonies as she walked ahead. The sight of these flowers did help a person forget all the worries. In such a sea of flowers, every peony demonstrated its unique beauty in various ways. What a charming scene!
But she just took several steps when a hand reached out from a blooming peony.
The strong hand was just in front of her and blocked her eyes. The blue robe sleeve with golden lines was set in her way like a ban.
Mo Xuetong stopped and raised her eyes, only to see the hand retract slowly in an aloof manner.
Under the flower tree, the man raised his head slightly. The blue robe on him looked inconspicuously noble and reflected the coldness on his face.
It was undeniable that You Yuecheng in this way looked charming. No wonder Ding General Manor’s Ling Mingyan was attracted and hung up on him, and was obsessed with marrying him. His temperament and aura were remarkable.
But no matter how remarkable he was, Mo Xuetong did not want to see him here. She remembered clearly that the man did not have a good feeling for her, and even tried to frame her in collusion with Mo Xuemin. Although their plot had failed, Mo Xuetong thought it was not pleasant to meet such a person at such a refreshing moment.
“Your Excellency, do you also come to enjoy the peony in a good mood?” Mo Xuetong saluted and said with a smile.
Her voice was extremely sweet, and now mixed with a girl’s tenderness, it sounded more pleasant to ears.
You Yuecheng looked at the girl in front and darkened his eyes. The face was so pure with a girl’s unique childishness but a sense of attractive charm. Her watery eyes glowed with enchanting brightness, showing a girl’s most lovely elegance.
But no one had ever imagined that under the beautiful face hid completely opposite coldness, indifference, and cunning…
As for such a girl, how many faces did she have on the surface and behind the scenes? You Yuecheng thought he was curious to dig them out completely.
“Was it you again?” You Yuecheng said inhospitably. He meant the matter about Mo Xuemin. The marriage in the Duke Zhenguo’s manor had become a widely-spread farce.
“Your Excellency, what are you asking? I… seem to have no intersection with you?” Mo Xuetong curled up the corner of her mouth slightly and asked with a smile, pretending to be unaware of it.
She said softly with a smile on her face. Her bright watery eyes reflected the peony. She was more delicate and beautiful than the flowers. However, You Yuecheng could still feel the slight coldness in her watery eyes, which showed her feelings of repugnance.
Although she was talking to him, she really did not want to do so in her heart.
Somehow, he just could feel it, so his eyes darkened a bit.
“Frame your sister into such a situation. Your Highness, don’t you feel guilty?” You Yuecheng said frigidly and fell his eyes on her gorgeous face. The girl in front was so delicate and graceful.
“Your Excellency, if you want to defend my sister against what happened yesterday, please go to Duke Zhenguo’s manor. If my sister sees you seeking justice for her, she will be moved to tears of gratitude.” Mo Xuetong gave a bland smile, which made her tender face more attractive just like flowers in full bloom. Her long eyelashes flickered with some irony.
If Mo Xuemin had known that You Yuecheng had sought justice for her again and again, she would not have stayed in the Duke Zhenguo’s manor any longer, or would have even run to find You Yuecheng. But Mo Xuetong was pretty sure that You Yuecheng did not have the courage to do so, otherwise, he would not have bothered to wait till now. The man, who pretended to care about Mo Xuemin and often set himself against Mo Xuetong, was really annoying.
Her expression displeased You Yuecheng. His inky eyes stared at Mo Xuetong as deeply as if two Mo Xuetongs would come out of his eyes.
“Has your father ever mentioned our marriage?” He darkened his eyes and leveled down his lips into a tight line, which made him look more commanding. But in Mo Xuetong’s eyes, nothing could be more shocking than his words!
Their marriage? When? Why did she totally know nothing of it?
She looked up at You Yuecheng, and just met with his eyes, deep and serious.
Marriage? She and he? How can it be?
She opened her pink and tender lips slightly with a look of surprise in her eyes, but soon, it turned into indifference, as if what she had heard were the marriage about others.
