After deceiving the villain, I was forced to love him.

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Bicui had no choice but to explain again, "The old master often admonishes the young masters and ladies not to pay too much attention to the works of others, but to focus on their own self-cultivation."

"I see." Wang Qingyan was thinking of selecting a few paintings and calligraphies from his collection to give to her, but who would have thought that she didn't have any, but simply didn't like them.

but......

"The young lady has remembered what Elder Baili said clearly."

“…” Bi Cui was taken aback.

But seeing Wang Qingyan's gentle smile, they assumed he was just saying it casually.

Just as he was about to explain that he only knew this much because he grew up in Baili family—

"Master Wang, I've kept you waiting." Baili Ce has arrived.

Wang Qingyan stood up and returned the greeting, "Greetings, young lady."

Looking at the vibrant flowers outside the door, Baili Ce figured Wang Qingyan probably wasn't hungry.

Not wanting to invite him to dinner, she said, "The flowers outside are in full bloom; would the Wang family head be interested in taking a look?"

"It's an honor," Wang Qingyan said, knowing that Baili Ce also had something to say to him. He readily accepted the offer.

Bai Li Ce smiled and nodded, leading the way, completely forgetting the unpleasantness of their last meeting and the fact that his visiting card had been ignored.

Yun Su and Bicui followed dozens of meters away, ensuring that they could not hear the two's conversation without causing gossip by leaving them alone.

As they entered the quiet, fragrant path, Wang Qingyan accidentally got pollen on his sleeve. Just as he was about to raise his hand to brush it off, Baili Ce stopped him.

"Don't take pictures, it'll just make it dirtier."

Wang Qingyan gave up, "Then what should we do?"

After all, the marks were quite significant; we couldn't just let him go back like that.

"This pollen is a bit sticky, but it will dry completely in a while and the wind will blow it off. Patriarch Wang, there's no need to worry about it."

"Then we'll listen to the young lady."

Seeing that she showed no impatience whatsoever, Wang Qingyan simply walked deeper into the flower garden and began to carefully admire the flowers and trees on both sides of the road.

Compared to the front yard, every flower and tree here is not only stunning and radiant, but also more precious.

The gardener, seeing a guest, silently bowed and quickly left via a side path with his tools.

"These flowers and trees are truly rare." In other words, they are not much cheaper than paintings and calligraphy by famous artists.

"Even if it's extremely rare, hasn't the Wang family head seen it before?"

Although it was meant to praise his extensive knowledge, it sounded more like an insult.

"I thought you were just casually raising these plants, but it seems you really like them."

Bai Li Ce subtly retorted, "I didn't really like them that much, since they were all gifts from other people."

In short, it means "to take advantage of someone for free".

"Look, like that one."

Following Baili Ce's gesture, Wang Qingyan turned his gaze to a green peony.

"It was sent over by the Zhou family head last summer. I heard it's a rare variety, one in ten thousand, worth a thousand gold pieces."

"Unfortunately, it seems to have had some trouble adapting to the local environment; only this one plant has died."

"This is the result of hiring an experienced gardener to take care of it for a long time."

"So I still prefer plants that are easy to care for, which can bloom all summer long if you just plant them."

"Unlike some flowers, which are delicate and difficult to grow—rain, soil, sunlight, fertilizer... if any one of them is slightly off, they're even more troublesome than people!"

Look, look, it's starting again, it's starting again.

However, this veiled criticism and sarcastic tone is indeed her style.

Wang Qingyan remained expressionless. "Since it is precious, it is naturally different from other ordinary flowers and trees, and it is normal that it needs to be carefully maintained."

"Look at it now, standing out among a hundred flowers, it still shines brightly, which shows that all the effort was worthwhile."

"...That's true." To be fair, this green peony is indeed outstanding.

It's the kind of outstanding item that stands out wherever you place it.

"Does that young lady aspire to be a precious queen among flowers, or an easy-to-care-for but ordinary little flower or grass?"

Are you setting a trap for her?

She won't fall for it.

"Heh, Patriarch Wang, you jest. I was just mentioning it casually. In the end, people are people and flowers are flowers; how can they be compared?"

Following Baili Ce's words, Wang Qingyan said meaningfully, "Indeed."

"No matter how bright and beautiful it blooms, how precious it is, or how hard it tries to survive, it is still just a flower."

"In fact, it is no different in essence from the other flowers in this garden, or even the wildflowers and weeds by the roadside."

As he spoke, Wang Qingyan reached out to a flower that was also quite valuable and gently grasped its stem.

"Anyone who wants to can trample on it and pick it at will."

Anything goes!

This is in my garden!

“Patriarch Wang…” Baili Ce was anxious. She knew that Wang Qingyan had something else in mind, but there was no need to use her flowers as an example. “Please show mercy.”

How can you talk while picking them? That's so arrogant!

With a "snap," it broke, but Wang Qingyan ignored her and picked the flower.

Bai Li Ce felt a chill run down his spine. Her "beauty is like jade"!

We have to pay back the money! We absolutely must pay back the money!

Bi Cui, who was watching from a distance, was also eager to join in, ready to rush over and help if Wang Qingyan made any further moves.

Just as Baili Ce was about to extend his hand and demand tenfold compensation—

Wang Qingyan smiled, plucking a flower, which made all the beauties envious. "I will take care of the trip to the three cities. Consider it compensation for this flower, how about it?"

what?

Okay then.

Bai Lize quickly withdrew his hand, which was halfway outstretched. "Really?"

Wang Qingyan pretended not to have seen Baili Ce's little trick.

"However, I have one more condition."

I knew it wouldn't be that easy!

But after thinking about it, Baili Ce agreed, "Okay."

She could roughly guess what Wang Qingyan wanted to say.

Anyway, there are more than a dozen people in charge of this campaign to promote agriculture and sericulture, so one more person won't make a difference.

Moreover, no amount of acquaintances can be as effective as Wang Qingyan personally taking action.

And since the dog emperor had provided a "sample," she couldn't be stingy with it.

However, traveling together is impossible; she can only agree to meet in Lincheng.

"Then Qingyan will take his leave first and wait for the young lady's arrival in Lincheng." He didn't plan to go with Baili Ce.

If she doesn't "walk slowly" soon, she won't be able to hold back.

Seeing that Wang Qingyan was about to leave, Bicui quickly came up to see him off, "Patriarch Wang, this way please."

Seeing the barely concealed smile on her face, Wang Qingyan was both amused and annoyed. "There's no need to be in such a hurry to send me away."

"No, I didn't," Bai Li Ce hurriedly denied.

But in his heart he thought, "Wang Qingyan couldn't possibly really want to stay for dinner, could he?"

"I am......"

"I'm sorry," Wang Qingyan interrupted Baili Ce softly.

Unable to come up with a good reason, Baili Ce blurted out, "It's okay~"

Then it dawned on her that he wasn't apologizing for stopping her in the street last time. "What is it for, Patriarch Wang?"

"I didn't receive your invitation in time."

Who are you bluffing?

"You haven't received any of the three letters?" Bai Li Ce looked incredulous.

Also, you didn't mention the gift at all.

Three seals? !

Wang Qingyan's brow furrowed, and he gripped the flowers tighter. "I'm sorry, I really mean it."

"Hey, it's just a few visiting cards, it doesn't matter." Seeing that things were not going well, Baili Ce quickly stopped.

They didn't mention the gift anymore.

People need to learn to forget.

He also offered an excuse for him, saying, "The Wang family is large and powerful, with many daily affairs. It's normal for their subordinates to occasionally make mistakes."

It sounds very magnanimous, but upon closer inspection, it's actually quite sarcastic.

"Don't worry about it too much," Bai Li Ce said with a dignified and polite smile.

Little did she know that not long ago she had eaten three large bowls of rice because she thought Wang Qingyan was unwilling to help.

Her meaning was so clear that Wang Qingyan couldn't say anything more.

He could only pretend to have accepted the advice and breathed a sigh of relief, "Alright, then I'll take my leave."

Smile, "Take care."

Hurry up and walk.

Upon leaving Baili Prefecture, Wang Qingyan noticed someone peeking from a distance. He deliberately picked up a rose, smelled it, muttered something to himself, and then got into the carriage, satisfied.

The spy at the corner, believing he had observed Wang Qingyan's every word and action, quickly disappeared into the bustling street.

But as soon as the carriage curtains were drawn, Wang Qingyan's expression turned cold, as if he had become a completely different person.

Twisting the flower stem, he slowly crushed the rose petals, "An occasional oversight?"

This oversight is far too significant.

However, since some people desire a golden age, he wouldn't mind crushing them all when they are in full bloom.

......