"We've arrived at Luoyang!"
Based on the speed of the Mo Family Village's carriage, it would only take a day to reach Luoyang from Chang 'an City. However, Meton and Princess Changle had been climbing mountains, enjoying the scenery, and finally arrived at Chang' an City unhurriedly.
Looking at the majestic city that was not inferior to Chang 'an City, Princess Changle could not help but exclaim. Chang' an and Luoyang City had been on par with each other for the past hundred years. In terms of economy and population, they were even once the capital. Chang 'an City Magistrate and Luoyang City Magistrate Zhou Hongde were rare fifth-grade officials in the various cities of the imperial court. From this, one could see Luoyang's status.
"Your Highness and Merton have come from afar. I apologize for not going out to meet you! Please forgive me. "
Meton and his wife had just arrived at the west gate of Luoyang City when they saw that Luoyang City Magistrate Zhou Hongde was already waiting for them. Naturally, Princess Changle would not appear when there was an official to receive them, so Meton could only come out to receive them.
"Lord Zhou, you're too courteous. We're here to have fun and have no official business. We did not intend to disturb you. I'm truly sorry." Meton said helplessly.
Luoyang City Magistrate Zhou Hongde said straightforwardly, "Merton is being modest. Merton and Your Highness have come all the way from the east. The reputation of Huashan and Stork Brothel have soared and benefited immensely. Everyone knows that Merton has the ability to turn stone into gold. The citizens of Luoyang have been looking forward to Merton for a long time."
To be honest, Zhou Hongde had a love-hate relationship with Meton. If not for Meton, as the center of the Grand Canal, Luoyang's economic status would definitely surpass Chang 'an City.
However, since Meton allowed the use of brick roads in the Tang dynasty, the traffic advantage between Luoyang and Chang 'an City had been constantly narrowed. Coupled with the industrial wave that the Mo Family disliked in Chang' an City, the economy of Chang 'an City developed rapidly. Now, Zhou Hongde, the county magistrate of Luoyang City, had succumbed to Su Luosheng, the county magistrate of Chang' an City, in terms of political achievements, and the gap between them had been widening.
However, Meton's method of controlling the flood discharge of the Yellow River had greatly increased his political achievements and indirectly helped him. The reason why Zhou Hongde was so enthusiastic was partly because of the identity of Princess Changle, and partly because he valued Meton's ability. After all, not to mention the distant Village Mo, Mount Hua and the Stork Tower were clear evidence. If he could get Meton's help, he might have a chance to surpass Su Luosheng.
However, Meton was destined to disappoint Zhou Hongde in Luoyang City. This was Meton's honeymoon trip, and he did not want to add any political things here.
Zhou Hongde was naturally a tactful person, and did not ask further. Instead, he solemnly said, "Merton and the princess have come from afar, and I have already prepared a place for you to stay. Princess, please come with me."
Meton shook his head and said, "Thank you for your kindness, but I have already asked the Village Mo to make arrangements before I came, so I won't disturb you."
Zhou Hongde nodded and changed the topic, "Then I won't disturb the princess any longer. I will set up a banquet to welcome the princess and Merton later."
Seeing Zhou Hongde's perseverance, Meton immediately knew that he would not be able to get past this hurdle if he did not bleed a little this time. Furthermore, the Mo family's business center was in Luoyang, and Zhou Hongde had always maintained a fair attitude. This was why the Mo family did not suffer any losses in Luoyang City. He could only helplessly say, "Then I will nag you, sir."
Hearing this, Zhou Hongde was immediately overjoyed and solemnly said, "Thank you, Merton, for giving me the honor."
Zhou Hongde cupped his hands and bid farewell to Meton and Princess Changle, and the Mo family, who had been waiting at the side, came forward to welcome them.
"Greetings to the young master and madam!"
"Elder Hua, Uncle Yu, Shopkeeper Xu!" Meton waved to the crowd. Elder Hua and Uncle Yu had been operating in Chang 'an City for a year, while Shopkeeper Xu had been running between Luoyang and Chang' an City. Last year, the Village Mo's crisis could be said to have played a huge role in Luoyang City's wealth, and the three of them had contributed greatly.
Both Elder Hua and Uncle Yu were Meton's elders, and Princess Changle, whom Zhou Hongde had avoided in Luoyang, actually took the initiative to alight from the carriage to greet them.
The two of them hurriedly returned the greeting, their faces filled with flattery.
"Shopkeeper Xu, has the residence I requested been prepared?" Meton asked after exchanging pleasantries. One of the reasons he had spent so much time on the journey was to prepare a surprise for Princess Changle, a peony garden specially opened for Princess Changle.
"Young master, the peony garden you requested has already been prepared. The owner is infatuated with peonies, and the peonies he cultivates are the best in Luoyang. Previously, when we approached him to purchase the peony garden, we were all rejected by him. We had no choice but to say that Young Master had prepared it for the princess, and that the owner had long heard of the princess's benevolent act of providing relief for the flood of the Yellow River, so he reluctantly parted with his love." Shopkeeper Xu cupped his hands and said to Princess Changle, who was sitting in the carriage.
Meton couldn't help but feel curious as he said with a smile, "In that case, I'm still basking in my wife's glory this time."
Princess Changle couldn't help but roll her eyes at Meton before smiling proudly.
Princess Changle, who was in charge of the Red Cross Society, had an extremely high prestige among the people. Whenever there was a crisis, the Red Cross Society's figure could be seen. Especially when the Yellow River flooded two years ago, the Red Cross Society had appeared in Luoyang for the first time. The people of Luoyang were extremely grateful to Princess Changle.
The carriage moved forward and soon entered the city of Luoyang. Suddenly, a bustling atmosphere hit them in the face. Compared to Chang 'an City, Luoyang City was less political and serious, but more commercial. The streets of Luoyang City were even more lively.
"Luoyang City is truly flourishing!" Princess Changle couldn't help but exclaim.
Meton nodded his head solemnly. Luoyang was the second pearl of the Tang dynasty. It could even be said that it was the transportation center of the Tang dynasty. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it was the economic center of the Tang dynasty. If Meton hadn't brought the brick road to the Tang dynasty, Luoyang would have truly surpassed Chang 'an City in a few decades. From then on, Luoyang would have been the capital of the Tang dynasty. On the other hand, Chang' an would have completely declined and never become the capital again.
With Shopkeeper Xu leading the way, the carriage quickly passed through the bustling streets of Luoyang and arrived at a large courtyard.
"How fragrant!" Princess Changle was still in the carriage when she smelled a refreshing fragrance. In fact, the fragrance of a single peony wasn't strong. To be able to produce such a strong fragrance, it must be because many peonies had bloomed together.
"As expected, Princess Changle is here!"
"I knew that the owner of the Peony Garden was a love-struck fool. I'm afraid that only Princess Changle would have the face to make him part with his treasure."
"However, Mo Jiazi didn't let the owner of the Peony Garden suffer a loss. Not only did he give him a huge compensation, he also allowed him to transplant some peonies and continue to cultivate them."
… … …
The Peony Garden was one of the sacred grounds of Luoyang's peonies. The news of its change of ownership had already spread throughout Luoyang City. When Meton and Princess Changle entered the Peony Garden, everyone suddenly understood why the reclusive owner of the Peony Garden was willing to sell it.
Furthermore, there were quite a few young girls who looked at Modun and Princess Changle with envy. For the sake of Princess Changle, Modun had come to Luoyang to admire the peonies and had actually purchased the entire Peony Garden. How could this kind of extravagance not cause many young girls to feel envious?
"Wow! So beautiful! "
As Princess Changle stepped into the peony garden, she was immediately stunned by the beautiful and colorful peonies that filled the garden. Other than the commonly seen white, red, yellow, and yellow peonies, there were also the rarely seen black peonies.
There was even a peony with seven different colors on it, forming a rainbow. It was the best among the peonies. Princess Changle was like a flower fairy as she shuttled through the competing peonies. She was like a peony fairy as she wandered through the sea of flowers.
"This owner must be an expert farmer!" Meton sighed as he looked at the blooming peonies in front of him. Although peonies were very popular in Luoyang during the Tang dynasty, few people cultivated them on a large scale. The original owner of the Peony Garden was indeed a genius. He had managed to cultivate so many varieties. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he was the first person to cultivate peonies.
Princess Changle stopped in her tracks and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Farmers also cultivate flowers?"
Meton nodded and said, "Flowers are also planted in the soil, so they naturally belong to farmers. Furthermore, some flowers can even be used as medicinal herbs! Even inoculation is inseparable from flowering and pollination. Mastering one thing leads to a hundred things. If one can control the flowering period, it would be like controlling the farming season. If one isn't an expert farmer, what is one? "
Princess Changle couldn't help but nod in thought.
Meton laughed out loud and said, "Lord Zhou has always wanted my help, but he doesn't know that the true opportunity for Luoyang is so far away. Manager Xu, invite the original owner of the Peony Garden over. Tell him that the Mohist family wants to cooperate with the School of Agriculture. I hope that the expert farmer will not be stingy with his guidance. "
"There's no need to invite him. This Old Man is ashamed. I'm not worthy of Merton's praise. I'm just a gardener, not some expert farmer." Suddenly, a gardener with a hoe stood up. He was in his fifties and looked simple. He looked no different from an ordinary farmer.
"Mr. Hu, why are you a gardener here?" Xu Jie was immediately alarmed. This gardener was the original owner of the Peony Garden, Hu Daonong.
Hu Daonong said with a wry smile, "This Peony Garden is the result of this Old Man's lifetime of hard work. I really can't be at ease. Even if I have to be a gardener here, I'm willing to do so. If I have offended Princess and Merton, I hope you can forgive me."
Princess Changle shook her head and said, "Changle has snatched away someone's love. You are the true owner of this garden. This garden will always be open to Mr. Zhou. Changle will be returning to Chang 'an City in a few days. In the future, I hope that Mr. Zhou can help me take care of this garden."
Only then did Xu Jie heave a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Princess Changle didn't blame him. If not, it would be difficult for him to absolve himself of the blame.
Hu Daonong was immediately delighted and said, "Thank you for your magnanimity, Princess."
Naturally, he was extremely reluctant to part with his life's blood and sweat. Princess Changle's arrangements naturally left him overjoyed at this turn of events.
"I heard that Your Highness likes peonies. This is the peony nectar that I have carefully prepared. The peony blooms for only a month. As long as you have this nectar, even if the blooming period has passed, Your Highness will still be able to smell the fragrance of the peony." Hu Daonong heard what she said and handed over a porcelain bottle.
Changle took it and opened the cork. Immediately, a strong peony fragrance came out. Merton was moved and said, "Isn't this the original perfume?"
"This old man has long heard of Marquis Mo. Marquis Mo's grafting technique has really opened this old man's eyes. This Rainbow Peony was grown using Marquis Mo's grafting technique. Recently, there was even a rumor that Marquis Mo's greenhouse technique could seize the four seasons. It is not impossible for a hundred flowers to bloom in winter. From the Old Man's point of view, Merton is the real Old Man. I don't know why you are looking for the old man. "Hu Daonong was puzzled.
Meton looked at the peony nectar that Princess Changle loved so much that she couldn't put it down. He couldn't help but reveal a mysterious smile and said, "Originally, I only had one thing. Now, I'm afraid there are two. The first thing is that Merton and Nong Yuan want to make perfume together."
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