After a period of silence, Haya turned back to look at Qinglu before talking to her in resoluteness, “Go tell him I’m the princess of Dongyi Kingdom. I can give him everything except our land, as long as he is willing to give up the purple peony.”

Following her order, Qing Lu left for the man, who, a lean figure clad in purple robe, came to visit Haya merely after a short while.

Though held by a body guard, the man in purple robe was still swaggering at his feet. His pallid face, half s.h.i.+elded by a folding fan behind which came a flurry of cough, was embedded with a pair of dark eyes.

“This is the buyer of the purple peony

—

Mister Zhu,” Qing Lu said to Haya in a hurry.

Suddenly, all of the people fixed their eyes on Mister Zhu, who coughed more seriously under people’s gaze.

“Mister Zhu, are you willing to give up the purple peony?” Haya asked.

While intending to speak, Mister Zhu coughed so severely that he almost coughed his lungs out. As terrible as he was, all the people looked at him in sorrow, as if he would be suffocated to death at once.

Given Mister Zhu’s severe and lingering illness, as well as his wife’s disease, Lu Mingyue made a cup of tea while comforting him, “Take it easy. Have some tea first.”

After taking the cup, Mister Zhu stared at Lu Mingyue with his eyes full of tears. “Lady... cough... it’s so... cough... kind of you,” he thanked Mingyue while coughing.

His body guard, perhaps, knowing his master was in torture, said calmly, “Since my lord is so weak, in case his disease would be worsened, we might as well have a talk at the Changting Pavilion nearby.”

Princess Anyang nodded at his words. Zhu Xianxian laughed, “Someone must stay here to have a watch. I like enjoy flowers with so many people.”

Upon hearing her words, Lu Mingyue echoed, “I can stay here with you in case you would be bored.” Then, she whispered to An Rushuang, “I really don’t feel like this situation, and given my loose tongue, it’s very likely that I would say something unsuitable...You can go to the pavilion with Princess Anyang.”

An Rushuang touched her forehead gently after a sigh. “Now you realize you have a loose tongue.” Considering perhaps, that man was still at Changting Pavilion, Mingyue might cause some trouble due to her character.

“If that’s the case, you must come with me then!” Princess Anyang ordered An Rushuang.

They headed for the Changting Pavilion when everything was settled down.

With three stories, the rooms in Changting Pavilion were cla.s.sified into three levels, respectively named as Heaven, Earth and Person, the number of rooms ranked as the Heaven being the least, while the Person being the most. It was said that each room was attached with a private yard, where you could enjoy the stars at night. Though there were merely four Heaven rooms respectively named as Plum, Orchid, Bamboo and chrysanthemum, the four gentlemen among the flowers, and the accommodation fees for these four rooms were very expensive, the guests still desired to have a look at the top-level rooms of the eminent Changting Pavilion.

Until now, staying one single night at the Heaven rooms were still a dream so hard to fulfill.

Upon entering the gate, you would see a screen set in the middle of the hall, on the outer side of which stood a storyteller clad in long robe, a sage-like type with long beard. He was telling the story of Wu Song killing a tiger at Jingyang Mountain, with the hall full of guests served by the waiters walking around with liquors for sale.

There came the sound of instrument from the inner side of the screen played by women, which must be an elegant place visited by people of high status though couldn’t be viewed from this side.

The owner of the Changting Pavilion really had a unique taste, An Rushuang thought.

Before long, the two men stopped. Mister Zhu was out of breath due to the heavy cough when getting on the stars. “This... cough... way, please,” he said after a while.

With one of his arms held firmly by his body guard, Mister Zhu, his legs being still too weak to hold his body, nearly fell to the ground.

Perhaps, he really suffered severe disease, An Rushuang and Princess Anyang couldn’t help thinking...

Upon entering the Heaven room, all the people were shocked by its supreme luxury.

With its floor paved by snow white jade, and its wall by the emerald produced in Qinghai province on which there were dark patterns of plum and falling snow, the room was decorated by a cascading crystal curtain, behind which came the clanging sound of instrument like pearls of various sizes falling on the jade plate, or as entrancing as the beautiful scenery.

Having seen a lot of luxurious rooms before, Princess Anyang couldn’t help being slightly touched. The Heaven room, more sumptuous and elegant than her Changchun Pavilion, was even a match to the royal palace.

“Changting Pavilion is absolutely the most elegant place in the capital city,” she gasped in admiration.

“Just... cough... enough to live within,” Mister Zhu said after a flurry of cough.

After the body guard and the women player left, the ladies sat down. “Can you tell us now? What do you want to exchange for the purple peony?” Haya pressed on.

“Don’t worry, please... cough... have some tea first,” Mister Zhu said while waving his hand.

An Rushuang, sitting aside, nearly broke out into laughter, but still tried her best to stay calm, which almost exhausted her. Mister Zhu was really a good actor.

“Haya is in a hurry. Mister Zhu, please cut to the chase,” Princess Anyang said in helplessness.

Mister Zhu took a long breath before he set the dark-red enameled teapot slowly on the desk. “If I say I want the Tianshan Mountain, will you give it to me?” He asked calmly, looking at Haya with his dark eyes.