Just as Hua Manman and Mu Qing walked out of the study, they saw a Chief Eunuch walking toward them.
’Only Hua Manman and Mu Qing lived here. Where did this outsider come from?’
Hua Manman stopped and frowned.
"Who are you? Who let you in?"
The moment the Chief Eunuch saw Hua Manman, he immediately bowed.
"This servant has come to deliver flowers to the Princess, by order of Prince Wu Zhang.
A moment ago, this servant called out several times in the front courtyard but received no response.
Worried that something might have happened to the Princess, this servant took the liberty of coming inside to have a look.
This servant is relieved to see that you are safe."
After speaking, he bowed again, an apology to Princess Consort Zhao.
Hua Manman and Mu Qing had been in the secret chamber, which was so well-sealed they couldn’t hear anything from the outside.
Hua Manman was glad she had come out in time. If she had been any later, someone might have discovered that something was amiss.
She casually changed the subject.
"What flowers?"
The Chief Eunuch replied, "They are peonies transplanted from the Imperial Garden. Would you like to go see them?"
Hua Manman responded coolly, "Alright."
"This way, Princess."
The Chief Eunuch led the way, with Qing Huan supporting Hua Manman as they followed behind.
They arrived at the front courtyard. It was already filled with peony plants, their buds ready to burst into bloom. A dozen or so palace maids and eunuchs stood to the side, evidently the ones tasked with delivering them.
The Chief Eunuch asked respectfully, "May I ask where the Princess would like to plant these flowers?"
Hua Manman said, "I’ve already told Prince Wu Zhang that I don’t need any flowers here. You can take these peonies back."
The Chief Eunuch said quickly, "Please forgive us, Princess, but Prince Wu Zhang has already given the order. We servants can only obey. If we cannot carry out this task, we will certainly be punished. We pray the Princess will show great mercy."
The other dozen or so palace maids and eunuchs also began to plead.
"Please, Princess, show us mercy!"
Hua Manman said, "I don’t know how to tend to flowers. Even if you plant these peonies, they’ll just wither and die if no one takes care of them."
The Chief Eunuch was prepared for this. "You needn’t worry about that, Princess. These are all skilled gardeners. With them here, the peonies are sure to be looked after perfectly."
Hua Manman frowned. "You mean not only do the peonies have to stay, but these people have to stay as well?"
The Chief Eunuch nodded and bowed.
"That’s right."
Hua Manman was very much against the idea. "Qing Huan and I are enough. I don’t want so many people here."
’If there were more people around, she would have to be far more careful. Things wouldn’t be nearly as uncomplicated as when it was just the two of them.’
The Chief Eunuch looked troubled. "But these are Prince Wu Zhang’s orders. We servants are merely following them."
Hua Manman understood what he was implying.
’He was telling her to take it up with Prince Wu Zhang directly. It was useless talking to a lowly underling like him.’
Hua Manman said, "Take these peonies away. If Prince Wu Zhang questions you, just say I told you to do it. If he gets angry, he can take it out on me."
At her words, the Chief Eunuch fell to his knees before her.
"This servant appreciates the Princess’s kind intention not to involve us.
But Prince Wu Zhang’s word is law. He will not give us a chance to explain ourselves.
If we anger him, we will only end up as fertilizer for these flowers."
The other palace maids and eunuchs also knelt, their faces deathly pale. They looked truly terrified.
’Hua Manman hadn’t realized Prince Wu Zhang was so terrifying in their eyes.’
’But on second thought, the Li Ying from the original novel was a cold-faced, even colder-hearted man whose hands were stained with blood. He could kill without batting an eye.’
’It was just that he usually acted quite normal in front of her.’
’To the point that she had almost forgotten his true nature.’
Although Hua Manman found the crowd a nuisance, she wouldn’t go so far as to sacrifice their lives over a few flowers.
She wasn’t that heartless. She had no choice but to concede.
"Forget it. Just find a place and plant the flowers."
As if they’d been granted a royal pardon, the servants all kowtowed, thanking her for her grace.
Qing Huan helped Hua Manman back inside.
Through the window, she could see them in the courtyard, busy planting flowers.
’Hua Manman frowned. With so many extra people in Chaoyang Palace now, she would have to be even more careful when she used the secret passage tomorrow.’
It began to rain. Fortunately, it wasn’t a downpour, just a fine, dense drizzle.
The eunuchs pulled out canvas covers and spread them over the newly planted peonies to protect them from the rain.
At noon, Li Ying arrived at Chaoyang Palace, braving the rain.
Arriving at this hour naturally meant he intended to stay for lunch.
Li Ying asked her if she had received the peonies and if she liked them.
Hua Manman said, "Didn’t I tell you I didn’t need any flowers sent over?"
Li Ying said, "You had someone send me an umbrella yesterday. Think of these flowers as a gift in return. Your courtyard is too drab. It needs some flowers. Besides, I could tell you liked those peonies. There’s no harm in planting some at home. It’s not a big deal, either way."
Hua Manman said calmly, "This is not my home."
Li Ying fell silent.
Silence fell over them.
After a long while, he finally spoke. "Was I being presumptuous?"
His voice was bitter, his expression crestfallen.
Hua Manman felt a pang of pity, but she held her ground.
"You don’t have to do all this for me. I don’t need it."
Li Ying smiled self-deprecatingly. "I know you don’t need it, but I still want to do things for you."
He paused, then added in a softer voice.
"Anything Li Ji could do for you, I can do, too."
Hua Manman had already said all that could be said, but he remained just as stubborn. She didn’t know what else to say and could only repeat herself lamely.
"There’s really no need."
Li Ying avoided her eyes and changed the subject. "Let’s eat."
While they were having lunch, the rain outside stopped, and the sky cleared up.
The sun peeked out from behind the clouds. As sunlight streamed down, the raindrops on the peony petals glistened brightly.
As Li Ying passed by the peonies, he thought to himself, ’This was necessary after all.’
’With these flowers, Chaoyang Palace is much prettier, and more like a home.’
Hua Manman looked at the peonies outside and sighed deeply.
’I have to finish my business and get out of here quickly.’
’If I stay here any longer, my guilt will just grow stronger.’
After sunset, Li Ying returned.
This time, he brought more gifts: storybooks, a nine-linked-rings puzzle, a Kongming lock, and other such trinkets.
All of them were toys perfect for passing the time.
Hua Manman told him she didn’t need them.
Li Ying said, "They’re just cheap little trinkets. If you don’t like them, you can just set them aside. When I’m bored one day, I can play with them to pass the time."
With a wave of his hand, the palace maids immediately put the items away.
As she watched the room fill with more and more things, Hua Manman’s head began to ache.
’It really looked like Li Ying was starting to treat this place as his home.’