Long Live the Empress

Sure enough, someone went looking for the porcelain rose the next day, and a single plant was offered at a high price of one hundred gold coins on the black market.

It was already afternoon when Yue Hanwen heard the news. He quickly sent servants to look for her, and told them to find her no matter what the cost.

For several days, there was no news in the capital that anyone had found the porcelain rose, and some people even said that the drunk man was talking nonsense and that such a flower did not exist in the world.

Prime Minister's Mansion

When everyone went to pay their respects to the old lady, Yue Jinghao did not come. The maid said that the eldest lady had gone to the lady's yard to tend to the flowers and plants, and did not have time to come back.

Yue Hanwen felt that nothing he had done had gone well recently. When he suddenly heard the maid's report, he felt like he had found a vent for his anger and went to find Yue Jing in a huff.

In the dilapidated courtyard, Yue Hanwen saw Yue Jinghao watering the flowers as soon as he entered the door. Her peaceful appearance was just like that person... Suddenly realizing something, he stepped on everything without caring about what was under his feet.

Yue Jing was shocked, "Father, what is this doing? These flowers are extremely precious porcelain roses. I have worked so hard to keep them alive..."

Yue Hanwen's feet suddenly stopped, and he looked at the flower under his feet in disbelief, "Is this... a porcelain rose?" He actually stepped on the porcelain rose that everyone in the world was looking for. He squatted down and tried to pick up the flower, but the flower had already been crushed by him and could not be repaired. His hands holding the flower could not stop shaking...

Yue Jinghao suppressed her sneer in her heart, stepped forward to help him up, and pointed to a corner, "Father, don't be sad for your daughter. Look, there are three more plants there..."

Yue Hanwen looked in the direction of her finger and saw three flowers in full bloom. He ran forward excitedly and stared at the flowers.

"This porcelain rose originally grew very tall, but my daughter used some secret method to make it bloom beautifully without growing too tall. Does father like this flower too?"

Yue Jinghao's words really touched his heart, but it was not him who liked it, it was the prince who liked it! "Jing'er, father likes it very much, can you give it to father? Tell me what you want, father will agree to it!"

Yue Jinghao looked at the flower, feeling reluctant to part with it. "This flower seed was left by my mother. She didn't leave me many thoughts..."

"Didn't she leave you so much dowry..." Yue Hanwen paused in the middle of his words. The dowry was taken by Aunt Su, but now the porcelain rose was right in front of him... "On the day of your coming-of-age ceremony, your father will give you all your mother's dowry, okay?"

Yue Jinghao bit her lip, looking embarrassed. Her father had always been a shameless man, and he had done many things that went against his words. "Father, this flower only blooms for three days, and today is the first day..."

"Someone, bring me some paper and pen!" The flowers still have two days left to bloom, and we can't let the prince see the withered flowers! Yue Hanwen also made up his mind and wrote a letter of guarantee, promising to give Yue Jinghao all her dowry on her coming-of-age day, and pressed his handprint.

Yue Jinghao took the letter of guarantee and asked Lao Zheng to carry the flowers to her father's yard.

Watching Yue Hanwen leave triumphantly, Yue Jinghao sneered.

Yue Hanwen did not return to his own courtyard, but went to Ruyi Garden. He told Aunt Su the whole story, of course hiding the dowry.

"Tomorrow you..." Yue Hanwen whispered to Aunt Su...

......................................................

The next morning, the prince came to visit the Prime Minister's residence.

After the old lady and Yue Hanwen complimented the prince, the prince anxiously asked to go see the flowers.

Yue Hanwen walked in front to lead the prince. A servant came to report that the old lady felt a little dizzy and asked him to go and see.

The prince took his guards to stroll around the garden. He couldn't help but praise the back garden, which had a different scene every three steps. Suddenly, he heard a melodious sound of a piano not far away.

The prince followed the direction of the sound of the piano and saw a beautiful woman in a fairy tasseled dress dancing in the pavilion. Her graceful and charming figure made his heart beat faster.

"Who is there?" a maid asked.

"How bold..." The guard was interrupted by the prince before he could finish. "This lady's dancing is so graceful that I... I am fascinated by her... Please forgive me!"

The girl bowed quickly and said, "Sorry to have embarrassed you, I will leave now." Then she was about to leave. The prince quickly stepped forward and held the zither, "I also know some music, can you play a song for me?"

"This... there is a difference between men and women. How can a little girl play the piano for you, young master?" Yue Jinghong was very happy in her heart. It seemed that the prince had taken the bait... but the words she said seemed a bit distant.

"It's okay, the guards and maids are here, it won't ruin the young lady's reputation!" The prince personally placed the zither in the correct position and made a gesture of invitation.

Yue Jinghong's fingers gently stroked the ink zither, and the ink color made her fingers look even whiter and more slender. A piece of music, High Mountains and Flowing Water, slowly sounded. The prince looked at the fairy-like person playing the zither for him, his eyes blurred...

Yue Hanwen and Aunt Su, who were watching the interaction in the pavilion from a distance, had triumphant smiles on their faces.

Yue Jinghong finished playing a piece of music, and Yue Hanwen also came back. "Jinghong, why don't you bow to the prince?"

Yue Jinghong seemed to have just realized that the man in front of her was the prince, and she knelt down hurriedly to pay her respects. "My eyesight is poor, and I failed to recognize the prince's demeanor. Please forgive me, prince."

"Second Miss, we just met at the Royal Aunt's birthday party. How come you don't recognize me, the Crown Prince?" The Crown Prince still had that gentle look on his face, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry.

"Please forgive me, Prince. My father always taught me that you are a child of destiny and you are not someone that mortals like us can blaspheme at will... So... that day... I didn't dare to look at your face..." Yue Jinghong's voice became smaller and smaller, and her face became redder and redder.

The prince felt excited again, "Second Miss is indeed a good person. Not only does she love her sisters, but she is also very polite. Not to mention her talent and beauty. Hahahaha, Second Miss is worthy of being the most talented woman in the capital!"

Yue Jinghong and Yue Hanwen felt 50% more relieved after hearing the prince's praise.

When the prince saw the porcelain roses, he was shocked. "The shortest of these porcelain roses is at least ten feet tall. This is the first time I've seen one so short! How did Prime Minister Yue do it?"

“This…” Yue Hanwen hardened his heart, “This is Jinghong’s idea. She said it’s a secret method and even I can’t tell it.”

The prince paused while stroking the petals and looked at the lovely girl beside him, "Even this prince can't know?"

Yue Jinghong lowered her head shyly and said coquettishly: "If the prince likes this flower, I will have someone send it to the prince's mansion. However, the secret method... Please forgive me for being stingy..."

The prince was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, "So the Second Miss can also be naughty at times, she is really a wonderful person, hahaha!"

Yue Hanwen and Yue Jinghong looked at each other, and everything was said without words.

When the prince left, he took the three pots of porcelain roses with him, and said that if Yue Jinghong got any good flowers in the future, she would definitely invite him to see them.

After hearing this, Yue Jinghao held the book and waited quietly for Yue Jinghong to come and beg her...