Red makeup against the world

Chapter 142 Peony Garden

Bai Shao brought Xu Wanzhen out of the pavilion, while Madam Zheng and Sangzi were still waiting outside the pavilion.

Xu Wanzhen said: "You guys wait a little longer, I will go to the 'Peony Garden' with Miss Baishao and we will return."

The two were about to answer, Bai Shao said: "Since I am serving you, let's go together." The two thanked each other and followed.

It is not far from the gazebo to the peony garden. After walking half a circle along the lake, and then turning on a cobblestone path, it was not long before we came to a garden surrounded by low flower walls.There are many vines crawling on the flower wall, and small beige and bright yellow flowers bloom in dots on it.A simple and simple huanghuali wood plaque is hung on the gate of the garden, with the words "Peony Garden" written on it.

Combining the plaque with the environment, it looks extraordinarily natural and interesting.

Bai Shao turned around and said: "Miss Xu, this is the 'Peony Garden', please come in." Xu Wanzhen nodded slightly, and walked in behind her.

After entering the garden and bypassing the screen wall, you will have a wonderful view.The fragrance of flowers blows in the face, and all you can see are peonies of various colors that are about to bloom. The breeze blows, and the peony buds are swaying in the wind, with a unique charm.

Didn't see those sick peonies, Xu Wanzhen was not in a hurry, and walked in behind Bai Shao.

Walk along the veranda, pass several elegant halls, and arrive at a stone bridge, with a gurgling stream flowing in front of it.On the rockery opposite the stone bridge, there is a pavilion with carved beams and painted buildings. Flower bells are hung under the high cornices, and the melodious bells are heard in the wind.

Looking at its structural location, there are halls and pavilions, flowers and water, and the buildings are open and exquisite.This place should be an important scene in the "Peony Garden", and maybe even an important venue for the "Peony Fair", Xu Wan really thought to herself.

Looking up, the peonies planted on both sides of the stream looked sparse and not very energetic. Mrs. Wang and several gardeners were busy there, and Laurel watched from the side.

Seeing Bai Shao coming, Yue Gui said: "You are not serving in front of the princess, why are you free?" Seeing Xu Wanzhen and the three of them, she asked: "This is this?"

Bai Shao introduced with a smile: "This is the eldest lady of the Xu family, the princess told me to bring her here to see what's going on here."

Yuegui understood, as Princess Zhaoyang's personal maid, she naturally knew the princess's true intentions in summoning Xu Wan, and immediately saluted slightly: "Yuegui has met Miss Xu."

Xu Wanzhen hurriedly turned sideways to avoid it, and was not rude.Although Yuegui is not a high-ranking female official, this gift is not something she can afford, said: "Don't dare to be a gift from Miss Yuegui, dare to ask how the situation is now?"

Laurel shook her head and said, "It's not good. The peonies on both sides of the stream are the most seriously ill. I just discussed that they need to be eradicated and replanted. Before replanting, the soil should be refurbished to prevent the disease from spreading. For the newly planted peonies. But in this way, the newly planted peonies may not have time to bloom due to the lack of time to fill the soil."

Xu Wanzhen nodded. With her limited knowledge of planting flowers and trees, she also knew that the diseased plants had to be completely eradicated, and the soil had to be sterilized before new plants could be planted.The transplanted plants still have a process of being potted and soiled before they can be considered fully alive.

Bai Shao asked: "Isn't it okay to directly replant peonies that have already bloomed?"

"No. Mrs. Wang said that peonies are delicate and should not be transplanted after they are in full bloom. Otherwise, even if they are planted reluctantly, it will be difficult to subdue the soil and survive." Yue Gui is in charge of this matter, and she knows more.

Xu Wanzhen pondered for a moment, then asked: "May I take a closer look?"

Yuegui responded with a smile, "Why not?" leading her to the stream.

When she got closer, Xu Wanzhen realized that the peonies in front of her were really seriously ill.Brown water-soaked spots appear on the roots, causing the whole plant to fall.The leaves are also infected, producing brown, purple-brown water-soaked spots.There are also irregular ring patterns on the leaves, and the original emerald green leaves are covered with a layer of gray mildew.

The peonies planted here are all the most expensive varieties, and the ones she recognizes include Guanshi Moyu, Yaohuang, Shiyangjin, Xiaoweizi and so on.It confirmed her previous conjecture that this scene is indeed an important place for the "Peony Fair".

An old gardener with cracked hands looked at these peonies with tears in the corners of his cloudy eyes.He raised his hand to wipe away the tears with the back of his hand, but the hands holding the shovel trembled slightly.These are all peonies he has spent his painstaking efforts to cultivate with his own hands. They grow up slowly from seedlings, just like his children.Now he has to eradicate it with his own hands, how can he bear it?
Seeing this situation, Xu Wanzhen couldn't bear it, but she was powerless.Looking around again, the peonies around the hall are in much better condition.Although some of the flower buds were removed due to disease, the plants returned to health.

She made up her mind and said: "Miss Baishao please lead the way. I have some vague ideas, and I need to report back to the princess to know if it is feasible."

Seeing that she came up with a solution so quickly, Bai Shao and Yue Gui looked at each other with surprise in their eyes.

Turn around the gazebo, Hibiscus is already serving Princess Zhaoyang.Seeing her come back, Princess Zhaoyang smiled and said, "Has Wan really figured out a way?"

When Xu Wan really wanted to speak, Princess Zhaoyang said again: "There is no rush. You should keep the invitation for the 'Peony Flower Fair' first."

Mu Jin handed over the invitation to Xu Wanzhen.Another tray was brought out from the side, and ten gold ingots were neatly placed on it, and the top was covered with red silk. Sangzi stepped forward to take the tray.

Xu Wanzhen saluted respectfully: "Minister, thank you Princess for your reward."

Princess Zhaoyang smiled heartily, and said: "You are young, but you have many rules. You don't have to be so polite with this princess, just let go of your hands and feet."

Xu Wanzhen smiled slightly, and said: "I have written down what the princess said. I have some ideas about the Peony Garden, but I wonder if it is feasible?"

"Let's talk about it first." Princess Zhaoyang said with interest.

"The folk girl looked carefully, and the peonies near that hall have been rescued, but the number of buds is not enough, and they may not be in full bloom next month." Xu Wanzhen said in detail what she was thinking: "About these peonies Minnv had an idea to make peony silk flowers of the same color and put them on the flower seedlings according to the peony species. When the flower festival is held, the peonies are in full bloom and the silk flowers are placed in it. It is difficult to distinguish between real and fake."

Hearing this, Princess Zhaoyang's eyes lit up, and she praised: "This method is excellent! It's just that it's hard to make silk flowers that are hard to tell from peonies."

Silk flowers are not uncommon, and concubines in the palace often put silk flower hairpins of various colors on top of their hair as decorations.The silk flowers made by the Shangyi Bureau in the palace are exquisite and unique, and are often used by empresses and four concubines as rewards to close female relatives.But the current silk flowers are mainly hairpins, with gorgeous colors and complex and beautiful shapes.However, there is no such precedent for making it difficult to distinguish between true and false peonies.

Xu Wanzhen said with confidence: "Minnv is not talented, and she has some experience in female red. If the princess is at ease, she can give it to Minnv to do this. After three days, Minnv will make a few samples and bring them to the princess to see first. .”

(End of this chapter)