"You may take a couple of days off, but don't be too ostentatious."
Li Wanming said with a gentle smile. Her slender fingertips lightly caressed the edge of the celadon teacup. The glaze reflected the skylight outside the window, making her fingertips look even more jade-like.
"I know, mistress!" Chuntao suddenly remembered something and leaned closer. "But regarding the Second Master... I heard that after he returned to the mansion that day, there was a ruckus in the Western Courtyard until the third watch. They even smashed four or five plates! In the end, the Second Master dragged his injured leg and moved to the study to live before it finally quieted down..."
As Chuntao spoke, she fetched a cushion embroidered with the pattern of blooming peonies and carefully stuffed it under Li Wanming's waist. She asked in confusion, "The Second Master just went into the mountains to pick some flowers. Why was the Second Lady so angry?"
"Silly Chuntao," Li Wanming raised her hand and gently tapped the tip of her nose. "It wasn't because of the flower-picking that she was angry..."
"Then why?" Chuntao blinked her almond-shaped eyes, looking even more confused.
"She..." Li Wanming's lips curved slightly. "She was annoyed that the Second Master didn't appreciate her good intentions."
It was easy to imagine that after returning that night, Kang must have carefully questioned Xiao Yuanjie about what he had said in front of the Prince of Ning.
And judging from Xiao Yuanjie's character, he surely wouldn't lie. He must have told her everything that had happened in the villa.
Maybe he even told her about the conversation with Li Wanming on Banshi Mountain - about abandoning his wife and children, forcing his young daughter to death, and being utterly shameless and worse than a beast...
No wonder Kang was so furious!
However, even so, Li Wanming knew clearly that it was still far from the time to relax.
Kang was just lying low for the time being due to the situation. Once the storm passed, she would surely find ways to cause trouble for her - until she was pulled down from the position of the Crown Princess and Xiao Jingnan spent the rest of his life alone.
But now with Xiao Yuanjie's testimony, the matter of the Dragon Boat Festival gifts had finally been concealed from the Prince and Princess of Ning. However, the problem with the storeroom in the mansion still remained unsolved.
The accounts were still unclear, and it was impossible to conduct an inventory rashly.
Li Wanming was almost certain now that Kang must have tampered with the items in the storeroom, and the problem was not small.
Otherwise, with the trust and favor of the Princess of Ning towards Kang, if it was just a few strings of beads or a few pairs of bracelets, Kang could have just told the truth. Why would she rather destroy the account books than confess?
However, the question was... What exactly had Kang taken from the storeroom? And where had she moved it? So much so that she had to go to so much trouble to hide it?
Just as she was deep in thought, a figure flashed outside the door. Qinglan lifted the curtain and entered with a smile on her lips. "Does the Crown Princess still not see any guests? During the two days you've been ill, the Second Master has come to visit four or five times every day."
The corners of Li Wanming's lips curved slightly. She said softly, "Well, since he's come, let's see him today."
Hearing this, Qinglan immediately fetched a skirt made of red brocade with colorful patterns and helped her change into it. Her slender fingers deftly coiled up her long black hair and styled it into an exquisite crescent-shaped bun. Then she inserted a gold hairpin inlaid with jewels obliquely on her temple.
After the dressing was done, she helped Li Wanming walk slowly to the outer room.
Xiao Yuanjie had been pacing back and forth in the hall for a long time. As soon as he saw Li Wanming come out, he quickly took two steps forward, but then stopped awkwardly when he got close. He asked carefully, "Crown Princess... Are you feeling better now?"
"I just caught a cold from the wind that day. It's nothing serious." Li Wanming sat down on the soft couch. "How's Uncle's injury? Does it still hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt anymore! It doesn't hurt anymore!" Xiao Yuanjie waved his hand quickly and stammered, "I came here... actually, I just... just wanted to see how the Crown Princess is doing..."
Li Wanming knew that he had come because of the orchid, but she deliberately didn't mention it.
She asked Qinglan to offer a seat to him and served a pot of Longjing tea. Then she sat there chatting casually with Xiao Yuanjie, sipping tea, without mentioning a single word about the orchid.
Finally, Xiao Yuanjie couldn't hold back anymore. He stammered and asked, "Crown Princess, that... about the Golden-thread Ghost Orchid..."
"Oh, this," Li Wanming gently tapped her forehead with the silk fan, pretending to suddenly realize. "Uncle, don't worry. How could I forget what I've promised you?"
"I asked the shopkeeper of the warehouse through Chuntao yesterday. But the shopkeeper said that the Golden-thread Ghost Orchid is extremely delicate and is the national treasure of the Western Regions. It might not be easy to obtain..."
Xiao Yuanjie said impatiently, "No matter how much it costs, I'll pay!"
"Uncle, you're being naive." Li Wanming put down the fan and said seriously with a straight face. "Since it's a national treasure, it must be planted in the palace with strict guards. It's not easy to get... How could it be settled just by paying a little more money?"
"Then... what should we do..." Xiao Yuanjie stood up anxiously. He missed the orchid even more and felt extremely restless.
It was okay when he didn't know about this orchid in the ancient books before. But now that he knew, how could he, a "flower maniac", not be haunted by it day and night and find it hard to eat and sleep?
Li Wanming sighed softly. "I also said that Uncle is a flower lover who regards flowers as his life. As long as he can buy the flower, he will surely offer mountains of gold and silver. But the shopkeeper only said that the orchid is precious and hard to obtain..."
She gently waved the fan and looked troubled. "This matter might be difficult to handle."
Xiao Yuanjie asked a few more questions, but Li Wanming only said it was difficult to handle. She neither refused nor agreed.
Xiao Yuanjie couldn't help but feel a bit confused.
How difficult was this "difficult to handle" exactly?
Was it because of the lack of money, people, caravans, or travel permits?
But Li Wanming just waved the fan and looked at him with a smiling face. She didn't give a definite answer for a long time.
Xiao Yuanjie was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan and paced back and forth in the hall. Suddenly, he stopped abruptly. Finally, he tasted the real meaning from Li Wanming's meaningful smile -
This girl was asking for a price!
Her orchid was not for sale with money. Instead, she needed him to exchange it with something else.
So, what did Li Wanming need most now?
Naturally, it was the power to manage the Prince of Ning's mansion.
But the huge Prince of Ning's mansion had always been under Kang's control. He was just an idle person who spent all day planting flowers. How could he help?
At this moment, Li Wanming beside him just sighed softly at the right time. "Sometimes I think that having a big family and a great career may not necessarily be a blessing. It's so complicated and there are obstacles everywhere. It's better to live in a small family and be more free..."
Complicated?
Obstacles everywhere?
Xiao Yuanjie suddenly turned around and blurted out without thinking, "The daughter-in-law in charge of the flower and grass procurement - Zhang Wang's wife. She used to be in charge of the storeroom, the one north of the lotus pond!"
There were three storerooms in the Prince of Ning's mansion. The one north of the lotus pond stored gold, stones, and jadeware.
Li Wanming covered her lips with the fan and her eyes were bright. "Oh, really? This is the first time I've heard of it."