Chapter 23: The Floral Banquet (Part II)

The Cloud Fragrance Pavilion closed for renovations, taking the opportunity to announce that a Peony Banquet would be held, which immediately piqued the interest of the capital's nobility.

Wang Xifeng seized the lively moment to bring this up to Grandmother Jia to cheer her up.

"That Cloud Fragrance Pavilion truly has such remarkable ability to procure so many peonies for a flower banquet in the dead of winter. Even I, your granddaughter-in-law, would like to go see it. It is a pity I do not know if our estate has received an invitation," Wang Xifeng said, appearing quite interested.

"You have been working hard these days. If an invitation arrives, you should go; it is time for you to relax a bit," Grandmother Jia said with a smile as she looked at Wang Xifeng.

Lady Wang was displeased in her heart. This banquet would surely be attended by high-ranking officials and nobles. It was one thing that the Old Matriarch did not mention her husband attending, but how could a junior like Wang Xifeng be the one to go? Despite her internal dissatisfaction, she did not show it on her face, appearing all the more composed.

Grandmother Jia was satisfied with this reaction. She naturally understood the importance of the banquet, but since the Rongguo Estate stood with the Crown Prince, it was not appropriate to be too closely associated with Prince Sheng’s faction. Sending a junior like Wang Xifeng was just right.

Elsewhere, several princes were pestering Xiao Junji with questions. Xiao Junji found it unbearable; unable to outwit these old foxes, he could only hide away in his fourth brother’s residence.

"They are hounding my Cloud Fragrance Pavilion every day now, to the point where I dare not even go there," Xiao Junji complained to Xiao Junchi while lounging on a recliner.

"A tall tree catches the wind. After the Peony Banquet, your Cloud Fragrance Pavilion will likely be coining money daily. How could they not swarm around you?" Xiao Junchi looked at his brother, thinking that the foolish often have their own share of luck.

"Fourth Brother, you must come when the time comes. I cannot handle that pack of old foxes alone." Xiao Junji was open-hearted and preferred straightforward dealings, rarely beating around the bush—a rarity among royals. It was this trait that endeared him to the Emperor, though it often made him seem out of place among the other princes.

"Rest assured, they will not dare go too far," Xiao Junchi said, offering a rare word of comfort upon seeing his brother’s pathetic appearance. Few dared to openly scheme against Xiao Junji.

However, the very next day, Xiao Junji was summoned to the palace.

"Does Mother have an urgent matter for me?"

"The Empress specifically summoned me today and spent our time together fishing for information about the Peony Banquet. I wanted to warn you: the Crown Prince may try to interfere." Consort Shu was over forty, yet she was well-preserved and still appeared elegant. Her ability to remain in favor in the inner palace did not stem from her beauty, but from her keen insight into human nature.

This talent allowed her to stand out, becoming the Emperor’s confidante and resolving many hidden conflicts.

"The Crown Prince? Him again! Father has given him so many properties, yet he must keep his eyes on my little patch of land," Xiao Junji said, his patience wearing thin at the mention of the Crown Prince.

"Your temperament is no match for him. Go ask your fourth brother and prepare early," Consort Shu said. She did not expect Xiao Junji to come up with a plan, but with his fourth brother to help him shoulder the burden, there was little she could do regarding matters outside the palace.

However, the Crown Prince moved too quickly. He did not intend to act in the shadows; he intended to seize it openly.

"The Crown Princess has been busy organizing my birthday banquet at the estate, but she has been fretting over not finding suitable flowers. Seeing her lose her appetite these past few days has truly pained me. After much thought, I have no choice but to be thick-skinned and borrow some flowers from you, Fifth Brother," the Crown Prince said, approaching Xiao Junji directly after the morning court session.

Xiao Junji felt nauseated. Who didn't know that the Crown Prince was involved with both men and women behind the scenes? Over the years, he had brought many people into his estate without ever showing the Crown Princess any consideration. To claim he was "pained" now? He was lying to ghosts!

"Why, Fifth Brother, are you unwilling to give me this face?"

"Your Highness, you speak too seriously. I have already sent out the invitations for the banquet, and I fear I cannot spare them now," Xiao Junchi intervened to smooth things over.

"You can lend the flowers to the Eastern Palace first; they will be returned once the banquet is over. Do you not trust me, Fourth Brother?" The smile on the Crown Prince’s face did not reach his eyes.

Once something entered the Eastern Palace, how could it ever be retrieved? This was an open robbery. Yet, no one dared to reason with him. As the Crown Prince whom the Emperor had pampered for over twenty years, his path had been smooth; anyone who dared to accuse him of theft would likely be tired of living.

"Your Highness, is this not a bit too unsightly?" Xiao Junji could not help but sneer.

"Hmph! There is truly nothing I want that I cannot obtain. Fifth Brother, I hope to see your peonies at my birthday banquet," the Crown Prince said with a contemptuous smile before walking away, disregarding Xiao Junji entirely.

"Fourth Brother! Look at him! Is this a crown prince of a nation? He is nothing but a bandit!" Xiao Junji was incensed.

"Watch your tongue! Let us return to the estate first and discuss this," Xiao Junchi said, feeling a headache coming on.

"The only way forward is to hold the flower banquet before the Crown Prince’s birthday. Send out invitations overnight and host it in two days. It may be rushed, but it is better than making wedding clothes for someone else," Xiao Junchi advised.

"But won't I still have to send them to the Crown Prince's residence after the banquet? These peonies took so much effort to cultivate!" Xiao Junji remained unsatisfied.

"As long as you host this banquet successfully, we can convince the Empress Dowager to host another one in the palace, scheduled after the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet. He will not dare refuse to return the flowers, nor will he dare to pull any other tricks," Xiao Junchi said after a moment of thought.

"Hmph! Father is so filial to the Empress Dowager. If the Crown Prince dares to hoard the flowers and not return them, it would be an act of unfilial behavior. Once Father is angered, the Crown Prince will have a bitter time of it! Fourth Brother, you are brilliant! When I earn the silver, I will give you half!" Xiao Junji’s face immediately brightened.

The Empress Dowager favored him more than the Crown Prince. The late Empress and the Empress Dowager had not gotten along, which meant the Crown Prince was not close to her either. Consort Shu often took Xiao Junji to visit, so the Empress Dowager was naturally biased toward him. There was no doubt she would agree.

On the other side, Zhao Guoji received notice from the manager of the Cloud Fragrance Pavilion and rushed to the Rongguo Estate overnight to consult with Qin Mingyue.

"Although it is rushed, with extra pay for overnight work, we can make it. Manager Lin has plenty of hands, but we must hurry to move the peonies to the restaurant. We must send people to guard them closely so the plants are not damaged in transit," Qin Mingyue surmised that something must have happened at the top. Otherwise, it would not be this urgent. If someone could make Prince Sheng suffer, it had to be the Crown Prince. She feared the Crown Prince had been eyeing these flowers for a long time.

This time, the Cloud Fragrance Pavilion sent out invitations overnight, hoping to host the nobles before the Crown Prince could spread the news, lest they avoid the banquet out of fear of offending him.

For two days, Zhao Guoji was spinning in circles, supervising the gardeners overnight as they moved the peonies into the Cloud Fragrance Pavilion for display. Fortunately, they finished just before the banquet began.

"Thank you all for coming. Aside from inviting you to appreciate the flowers, there is one more thing: we shall vote for this year's 'Peony King'! Each guest will receive a wooden plaque representing their status. Place the plaque in front of your favorite peony. The flower with the most plaques will be crowned this year's Peony King!"

"In the future, if any of you have fine specimens at home, you may enter them as well. The winning peony can be auctioned, with the highest bidder taking it home! Now, everyone, please step inside!" Manager Lin, acting as the host arranged by Qin Mingyue, proved his ability to control the crowd. His words greatly stirred the interest of the guests.

As he finished speaking, the doors of the Cloud Fragrance Pavilion slowly swung open.