The Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period were the most glorious times for the School of Vertical and Horizontal. Their wrath struck fear into the feudal lords, and peace would extinguish the world. Every generation's School of Vertical and Horizontal was a hero of their generation, leading the winds and clouds. However, hundreds of years later, no one was able to command the winds and clouds like the School of Vertical and Horizontal of the past.
But now, Mo Jiazi was heading east. Everywhere he went, he would cause a stir, causing his local reputation to soar. It could be said that he was in no way inferior to the School of Vertical and Horizontal of the past.
However, unlike the School of Vertical and Horizontal, Mo Jiazi did not bring war, but fame and benefits. The Vast Sky Plank Road could foresee the rise of Mount Hua. The poem "Stork Tower" made the originally unknown Stork Tower popular. And now, with the Peony Blossom Meet, it caused a storm to gather in Luoyang.
"Mo Jiazi!"
The citizens of Luoyang couldn't help but sigh at Mo Jiazi's means of stirring up storms. Everyone knew that the Peony Blossom Meet might seem like a new idea for Mo Jiazi's honeymoon with Princess Changle, but the ones who truly benefited were Luoyang City, or even the citizens of Luoyang.
Instantly, Mo Jiazi and the Mo Family Village's reputation in Luoyang City soared. The Mo Family Village's originally difficult situation immediately turned for the better. The Mo Family Village's goods sold like hotcakes in Luoyang.
"Killing three birds with one stone. Mo Jiazi sure has good means." In a private peony garden in Luoyang, a gnashing voice sounded.
Facts had proven that humans were not gold or silver. They could not be loved by everyone. Even though he had brought great benefits to Luoyang City, there were still people who found Meton an eyesore.
"Brother Zheng, Mo Jiazi has already latched onto Princess Changle and become a relative of the royal family. We can't treat him lightly." An azure-clothed youth advised the person sitting at the head of the table.
If Meton were here, he would definitely realize that the person leading the group was Zheng Chonghua's elder brother, Zheng Chang. Back when the Luoyang aristocratic families besieged the Mo Family Village, they had suffered a desperate counterattack from Meton. Lu Shuang had become a scapegoat and was unable to recover from the setback. As for Zheng Chang, he had escaped calamity because of his sister's Chonghua. However, he had suffered heavy losses.
However, back then, Mo Jiazi was still a fledgling. That was why the Luoyang aristocratic families had gathered all their strength to attack the Mo Family Village and covet its wealth. However, now that Mo Jiazi was engaged to Princess Changle, it was unlikely that any underhanded methods would work. Even the heads of the aristocratic families in Luoyang would not agree. Without the support of the aristocratic families, they probably wouldn't be able to stir up any waves with just the few of them.
However, Mo Jiazi was far away in Chang 'an City, so everyone naturally did not fuss over it. Now that Mo Jiazi had entered Luoyang City with great fanfare and had clearly stirred up a huge storm in Luoyang, how could Zheng Chang watch as Mo Jiazi became complacent? He immediately snorted coldly and said, "Mo Jiazi is a relative of the royal family, and so is my Zheng family. How can we be afraid of him?"
"That's right. There are no heroes that can make a rascal famous. The peony is an item of Luoyang, but it made Mo Jiazi famous! In fact, it's detestable! " The surrounding people echoed. Everyone in Luoyang viewed the peony as something that was already in the bag. Now, Mo Jiazi was using it to curry favor with Princess Changle. This left everyone displeased. "That's right.
This is a matter of our Luoyang, so it should be hosted by someone from our Luoyang. How can we let an outsider like Mo Jiazi do it? In my opinion, Young Master Zheng is elegant and talented. He is also famous for his love of peonies. He is much better than someone like Mo Jiazi, who curries favor with the princess. He is the best candidate to host the Peony Meet. "
Everyone's eyes immediately lit up as they nodded in agreement.
"Lord Zhou has been persuading us to open our peony gardens in response to the Peony Meet. If Young Master Zheng takes the lead, we can open several peony gardens together. We will definitely overshadow Mo Jiazi's reputation," the azure-clothed youth said with a glint in his eyes.
Zheng Chang was immediately interested. Zhou Daonong's peony gardens were indeed diverse, but the peony gardens in the group's hands were in no way inferior to his. If they were to join forces, they would definitely overshadow Mo Jiazi in terms of the number of peony gardens and the variety of peony. They already had an innate advantage.
Furthermore, this time, they had effortlessly embarrassed Mo Jiazi. Furthermore, they did not use any underhanded methods. Even Princess Changle was helpless against them. Zheng Chang nodded.
Zheng Chang pondered for a moment and nodded, "This plan is also feasible. The peony is incomparably noble and is the king of all flowers. Some true varieties are even more valuable. The Mohist family opened the peony garden and allowed some bumpkins to casually enjoy it. This is simply a waste of the peony. In this one's opinion, the peony is a precious item and is not something that ordinary people can profane. The Mohist family used the peony garden to please those bumpkins, but this Zheng will do the opposite and only open the peony garden to scholars. We will invite scholars from all over to the peony garden to recite poems and eulogize the flowers with poems. This way, we can set off the nobility of the peony."
"Young Master Zheng is right," the azure-clothed youth said with a nod.
These private peony gardens were all rare varieties that were usually very precious. How could they be willing to let the common folk visit them? Zheng Chang's suggestion to invite scholars to visit the peony gardens could be said to be exactly what everyone wanted. They would not crowd together with the bumpkins to view the peony gardens.
Soon, within Luoyang, the news of several peony gardens being opened once again spread throughout Luoyang. Immediately, countless people clapped and cheered.
However, another piece of news soon came. These peony gardens were not open to everyone. They were only open to scholars or nobles. The common folk naturally had no chance to enter.
"In my opinion, Mo Jiazi is benevolent. Mo Jiazi's peony gardens are open to everyone for free."
"Hmph! Even if he wants me to go, I won't go. Isn't it just a few peonies? Mo Jiazi's peony gardens have all kinds of varieties. "
"That's right. If you want to see them, we will also go to Mo Jiazi's peony gardens in the west of the city."
…
In Luoyang, the citizens were indignant. Soon, the person in charge of these nobles, Zheng Chang, was dug out by the crowd.
"He's just someone who lost to Mo Jiazi. To think he wants to compare himself with Mo Jiazi. He's just a clown." Many Luoyang citizens quickly spread the news of the grudge between Zheng Chang and Mo Jiazi. They couldn't help but despise Zheng Chang and spurn him all over the city!
In Luoyang County's yamen, Zhou Hongde could not help but roar angrily when he heard the news of Zheng Chang. "Zheng Chang, you really can't do anything right!"
He was determined to turn the Peony Flower Festival into a grand event like Chang 'an's New Year's Eve Lantern Festival. However, Zheng Chang had remained stagnant and shut out most of the citizens. It was completely contrary to his original intentions. Could it be that there was a hierarchy when it came to Vermilion Bird Avenue to admire the lanterns?
"Don't be angry, Dong Weng. Now that the Zheng family has the backing of the imperial palace, they are like the sun in midday. We cannot afford to offend them," advised his advisor.
After a long while, Zhou Hongde calmed his thoughts and said hatefully, "These scions of the aristocratic families are really worrisome!"
Compared to Mo Jiazi's Midas Touch, these scions of the aristocratic families were nothing compared to him. Mo Jiazi brought fame and benefits, while these scions of the aristocratic families only knew how to cause trouble and drag him down. It was no wonder all of them combined were no match for Mo Jiazi.
The advisor advised, "Don't be anxious, Dong Weng. Peonies can be planted. With Hu Daonong's help, even if we fail this year, we will definitely be able to expand the peony garden several times in the coming year. When that happens, no matter how many peony gardens Zheng Chang and company have, it will be nothing to worry about."
Zhou Hongde nodded and said, "That's the only way."
In his heart, he also believed that the final outcome was already destined. Mo Jiazi only had one peony garden, while Zheng Chang and company had several peony gardens. It would probably be difficult for them to compete with Zheng Chang and company. This time, Mo Jiazi's chances of winning weren't high! The only way now was to take things slowly.
In the Hu family's peony garden! No, it had now been changed to the Princess Garden.
Meton and Princess Changle were concentrating on mixing several kinds of liquids together. Suddenly, a strong fragrance assaulted their nostrils.
"Unfortunately, it's too strong." Princess Changle couldn't help but frown when she smelled the slightly pungent smell.
She and Meton had followed Hu Daonong's recipe for peony nectar and used various kinds of spices to mix it. Sure enough, they could create different fragrances, but none of them were suitable for court ladies.
Meton comforted her, "These are only spices from the Tang dynasty. Shopkeeper Xu has already gone to collect spices from the Western Regions. Once the spices are delivered, the perfume will definitely be successfully mixed."
Princess Changle proudly said, "Mei Niang was able to create the silver mirror after making hundreds of mistakes. I can naturally do the same. This is only an insignificant failure on my path to success."
Meton didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He didn't expect that the matter of him giving pointers to Wu Meiniang would be spread so widely. Even Princess Changle was delighted by it. Soon, the husband and wife began to research in high spirits. It wasn't until Xu Jie arrived and offered the precious Western Regions spices that the two of them came to a sudden realization.
However, Shopkeeper Xu didn't only deliver the Western Regions spices. There was also bad news about Zheng Chang and company establishing themselves on another mountain.
"Reporting to Young Master, Zheng Chang has joined forces with Luoyang's scholars and gathered several peony gardens to invite scholars to play. They are openly opposing Young Master's Peony Flower Association." After Xu Jie learned of Zheng Chang and company's actions, he immediately came to report.
"Zheng Chang!" Meton couldn't help but frown. This person was Zheng Chonghua's elder brother. Back when Zheng Chonghua entered the palace, Meton didn't investigate the Zheng family too deeply. Instead, he let Zheng Chang off lightly. He never expected this clown to jump out at this moment.
"Young Master, what should we do?" Xu Jie frowned. The other party had more peony gardens than Princess Garden, so they had the advantage.
Meton shook his head and said, "It's fine. Although this person is deliberately causing trouble, he has also indirectly opened the peony gardens. This will only increase the influence of the Peony Flower Association."
"But …" Xu Jie said anxiously.
He had already seen the influence of the Peony Flower Association. After the news spread, the Mo Family Village's business immediately went up a level in Luoyang. If Zheng Chang were to snatch the dominance of Luoyang's Peony Flower Association, it would be a huge loss for the Mo family.
Meton couldn't help but sneer. "No matter how precious a flower is, it only has value if it's admired by others. A solitary orchid in an empty valley is the greatest blasphemy to flowers. From the moment Zheng Chang rejected the commoners, he was destined to fail. How can he threaten the Peony Flower Association?"
"Husband, you are right." Princess Changle said proudly. Although she liked peonies, she wouldn't take them for herself. Instead, she was willing to open the peonies in her garden for everyone to admire.
"That's natural! Besides, I have already made preparations. I'm afraid Senior Hu is already prepared! A mere Zheng Chang is nothing but a clown. He won't amount to anything. "Meton revealed a sliver of confidence.
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