Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Unaware that someone was looking for her, Ming Tang was engrossed in climbing the mountain.

The steps of Qixia Mountain were exquisitely crafted. Ming Tang and her two companions ascended steadily, reaching the halfway point in one go. Having not engaged in such physical activity for a long time, she felt an aching in her calves. Spotting an empty pavilion nearby, she decided to rest there.

Upon entering, however, Ming Tang realized it wasn’t empty. A small and thin girl was crouched on the ground, hidden behind a pillar and bench.

Before her lay a delicate basket filled to the brim with bright azaleas. Ming Tang couldn’t help but ask softly, “Are you selling flowers? Why not do so at the foot of the mountain?”

Flower buyers were mostly women, and few women ventured this far up the mountain. Moreover, it wasn’t safe for a young girl to be alone here.

The girl looked up at the sound of her voice. Upon seeing Ming Tang, she paused for a moment before her cheeks flushed slightly with excitement. “Hello, fairy sister! My mother and aunts sell flowers at the foot of the mountain. My father was coming up here, so my mother told me to bring flowers along and sell them. She said any money I make would be my spending money!”

“Have you sold any yet?” Wen He glanced at the basket and asked.

“No… Lots of uncles and older men passed by, but none wanted to buy. There was even a handsome young man even more beautiful than fairy sister, but he didn’t buy either. My mother said one flower costs just one copper coin—it’s very cheap. If no one’s buying, maybe our flowers aren’t pretty enough.” As she spoke, she hung her head.

Her hair was fine and soft, with many wispy hairs framing her face, giving her an irresistibly soft and cute appearance. Ming Tang couldn’t resist reaching out to ruffle her hair—once, then again.

Only when the girl looked up in confusion did Ming Tang withdraw her hand, cleared her throat lightly before kneeling down to her height with a smile. “It’s not that the flowers aren’t pretty—it’s just that those people don’t know how to appreciate them. I happen to need some flowers to wear. How about I buy a few from you? But you must put them in my hair yourself, alright?”

The girl’s eyes lit up. She carefully selected a freshly bloomed flower from the basket and gently pinned it in the braid at the back of Ming Tang’s head, her smile growing even sweeter.

As she reached for another flower, Ming Tang nodded and pointed to the two behind her. “How about picking flowers for these two sisters as well?”

Zhe Liu and Wen He obediently crouched down, allowing the girl to adorn their hair with flowers.

Ming Tang watched with amusement, not stopping her until the pointed looks from her companions became too obvious to ignore. Only then did she finally stop the girl.

The girl seemed a little disappointed as she pulled her hands back, gazing hopefully at Ming Tang. “Sister, won’t you wear a few more flowers? Like these two sisters—they look so pretty!”

Wen He immediately perked up, shooting Ming Tang a smug look before taking out her purse to pay the girl. She affectionately ruffled the girl’s bangs. “Don’t bother persuading her. This sister is a miser who won’t spend more money on flowers. She’ll just have to make do with one lonely blossom.”

The girl’s expression turned pitying, sending all three into laughter.

Encountering such an adorable girl on their climb felt like a delightful surprise. Moreover, though the girl had mentioned coming up with her father, there was no sign of him nearby. Ming Tang decided to stay with her a while longer, resting in the pavilion while chatting with her.

After some time, a figure finally appeared on a distant path. The girl recognized him at once and ran over excitedly, proudly announcing that she had successfully sold some flowers.

The man took his daughter’s hand and approached. Seeing Zhe Liu and Wen He with their hair full of flowers, he looked slightly embarrassed. He shot his daughter a reproachful glance before bowing to Ming Tang.

“Thank you, miss, for indulging her. My surname is Li. I grow flowers and plants west of the city—many varieties, selling both cut flowers and whole plants. May I ask which family you’re from? If you ever come to buy from me in the future, I’ll be sure to give you a discount.”

Now Ming Tang understood where the girl had learned her sweet talk. She gave him a surprised glance and smiled faintly, about to reply, when a voice abruptly cut in: “You Niang?”

Turning toward the sound, she saw none other than Chen Wenyao.

The flower farmer, noticing Ming Tang’s change in expression, surmised that someone who addressed her so familiarly must be either her husband or a relative. The two were close in age, didn’t resemble each other, yet wore similarly colored clothing—likely a young couple.

He took a small step back, watching as Chen Wenyao approached, and bowed with an ingratiating smile. “You’re a fine-looking gentleman, sir, and a perfect match for your wife.”

Chen Wenyao froze.

Ming Tang frowned slightly.

The flower farmer, observing their reactions, realized he had guessed wrong. Panic set in—praising a young woman for being well-matched with a man in front of her, especially when the two seemed to have some unresolved tension, was a terrible blunder!

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he scrambled to smooth things over. Meanwhile, the girl, who had been ignored for some time, studied Chen Wenyao with her clear, bright eyes before shaking her head. “Daddy’s wrong! This brother isn’t as pretty as fairy sister. They don’t match!”

Wen He burst out laughing, bending down to tap the girl’s nose. “You’ve got good taste!”

Chen Wenyao turned red with embarrassment. Seeing Miss Ming the Fourth dressed so youthfully, her expression naturally cheerful, she showed no trace of the unease one might expect from someone at the center of gossip. Instead, she seemed as free-spirited as a mountain breeze.

Recalling how Ming Tang had looked in the past, he felt a pang of melancholy. “I’ve never seen you dressed like this before.”

Ming Tang twisted a loose braid hanging over her chest, unconcerned. “I never dressed like this before because I didn’t need to climb mountains.” Clothing was just clothing—why attach so much meaning to it? One should wear whatever was comfortable and becoming.

“I suppose that’s true.” Chen Wenyao flicked his sleeve lightly—the very one Ming Tang had bought for him that spring.

A mountain breeze stirred, lifting a few strands of hair by Ming Tang’s cheeks and lending her a youthful air, belying the fact that she had already been married once. Something stirred in Chen Wenyao’s chest, and the words slipped out before he could stop himself: “How have you been lately? My mother is arranging another marriage for me. There’s already some progress.”

“Lately, I’ve been eating well and sleeping soundly. No need for your concern, Master Chen.” Ming Tang found this rather funny. Did he really think she’d be moping about their divorce?

With outsiders present, Chen Wenyao noticed the flower farmer’s intrigued and excited expression from the corner of his eye. He knew he should leave, yet for some reason, his feet remained rooted in place. Instead, he pressed on awkwardly, “We were once husband and wife. I’ll always wish for your happiness.”

Ming Tang’s patience was running out. Of all people to run into, why him? She’d have preferred meeting the so-called “handsome young man” rumored to be more beautiful than her—or even a polite stranger!

Annoyed, she stood and bent down to pat the girl’s head. “Sister has met someone she doesn’t like and wants to go down the mountain early. Say goodbye, alright?”

The girl nodded. “Goodbye, sister!”

Ming Tang smiled again before leading her two companions out of the pavilion, ignoring Chen Wenyao’s hesitant expression, and heading straight down the mountain.

Once the trio had left, from behind a thicket of bushes on the other side of the pavilion, Pei Yue—who had witnessed the entire exchange since Ming Tang’s arrival—finally exhaled in relief.

*Finally, no more hiding.*

He hadn’t intended to eavesdrop. He had simply grown tired of the stares from passersby and opted to wander off the main path. Spotting the secluded pavilion, he had thought to rest there briefly—only to see a woman enter.

Pei Yue knew that suddenly emerging from the bushes would startle any woman, especially one dressed as an unmarried maiden. Unable to leave discreetly, he remained concealed behind the dense foliage, waiting for the group to depart.

Who could have predicted such a coincidence? By sheer chance, he had witnessed this entire scene. The woman in the pavilion turned out to be Miss Ming the Fourth. Despite having just undergone a major upheaval in her life, she had patiently entertained a little girl. Truly, she was someone unafraid of defying convention—her demeanor was remarkably carefree.

As for Chen Wenyao, putting on such a devoted act after their divorce was nothing short of contemptible.

Pei Yue had hidden to avoid startling the women, but he had no such reservations about men. Hearing Miss Ming the Fourth’s footsteps fade into the distance, he pushed aside the branches and stepped forward, light as a white crane, landing gracefully in the pavilion.

The flower farmer started in surprise, and Chen Wenyao instinctively retreated half a step. The little girl, however, widened her eyes and exclaimed, “Pretty brother!”

Being called “pretty” was hardly flattering for a man, but having eavesdropped, Pei Yue couldn’t bring himself to dislike the girl. Besides, she had inadvertently voiced his own thoughts.

This wishy-washy Censor Chen was indeed ill-suited to someone as decisive as Miss Ming the Fourth.

Pei Yue glanced at her and beckoned. “Are you still selling flowers? How about selling some to me?”

The girl’s face brightened. She immediately broke free from her father’s grip and hurried over with her basket. “Do you want me to put flowers in your hair, brother? Fairy sister let me do it for her!”

The memory of that glaringly vivid bloom nestled in Ming Tang’s dark braid made Pei Yue shake his head at once. “No. Just tell me how much they cost.”

The girl’s face fell with disappointment.

As this unlikely pair conversed, Chen Wenyao studied the newcomer, wondering if he had overheard his exchange with Ming Tang.

Just then, the flower farmer gasped and exclaimed, “This is too much!” Chen Wenyao turned to see the man handing over a silver piece into the girl’s palm.

Surprised, Chen Wenyao scrutinized the stranger more carefully. His clothes were ordinary, yet he spent money so freely. With such striking features and a vaguely familiar posture, he bore a strong resemblance to the Duke of Dingguo’s heir, whom Chen Wenyao had glimpsed once before.

Guessing who the man was, Chen Wenyao hesitated briefly before deciding to leave. Not that he was arrogant—since the divorce, the number of visitors to the Censorate had more than doubled, many of them digging for information while pretending to make small talk.

If this man was indeed Prince Pei, he might already know of Chen Wenyao’s situation—or even recognized him.

With Ming Tang gone, the feelings she had brought up in him faded away like the tide. The thought that his earlier words might have been overheard by someone who knew him made Chen Wenyao feel utterly out of place.

The father and daughter in the pavilion were still admiring the silver ingot and paid no mind to Chen Wenyao’s abrupt departure. Only Pei Yue glanced at his departing figure, suddenly finding the sight of that attire—so similar in color to Miss Ming the Fourth’s—slightly irritating.

How was it that such a delicate shade of watery blue looked so natural and carefree on Miss Ming the Fourth, yet on Chen Wenyao, it seemed dull and ordinary?