There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 298 Obsession in the Heart

Princess Changning sat down and began to recount her story: "Several years ago, a twin lotus flower was accidentally cultivated in the palace's flower room. It was beautiful and had a delicate fragrance. Everyone in the palace wanted this twin lotus flower."

I was only ten years old that year, and I was determined to have that lotus flower. I was just about to ask my uncle, the emperor, for it when news came from the palace that the twin lotus flowers had been stolen.

Li Shuchen's eyes widened: "Could it be that the Tenth Prince stole it?"

Princess Changning nodded: "Indeed, the nine-year-old tenth prince stole the twin lotus blossoms in the middle of the night."

Li Shuchen sat down and said, "Then he will be punished by the Emperor, right?"

"No, after Consort Ru presented the twin lotus blossoms to the Empress's aunt, the matter was dropped."

After Princess Changning finished speaking

Li Shuchen recalled carefully: "When the Tenth Prince saw the twin lotus blossoms, he seemed to say something... and then gave them to someone else."

Princess Changning sighed, "Perhaps it was Consort Ru who gave the twin lotus blossoms to the Empress's aunt, which saddened the Tenth Prince. It's because of that that he became the unlikable person he is today. He used to be well-behaved and adorable. I treated him like a younger brother and often played with him, but we stopped spending time together after that."

Li Shuchen sighed as well: "Even as a prince, he is pitiful."

Princess Changning nodded, then smiled and said, "You're lucky. You accidentally gave him the twin lotus blossoms, which resolved his obsession. It's understandable that he greets you with a smile."

"is it?"

Princess Changning said firmly, "Of course! If a nobleman is not favored and rarely sees good things, he was overjoyed to finally obtain the rare twin lotus blossoms, only to have his own mother give them away to someone else. Anyone would feel resentful about that."

And when you gave him the twin lotus blossoms, allowing him to receive this flower and fulfilling a childhood wish, he was naturally happy, which is why he greeted you with a smile.”

Li Shuchen felt something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Frustrated, he shook his head and stood up.

"Anyway, as long as he doesn't kill me, I need to go choose a vase."

Princess Changning also stood up: "Ziying and I will be starting our flower arranging soon, but what's the prize?"

Li Shuchen turned and took out a key from his sleeve to open the wooden box, handing the thirty milliliters of rose essential oil inside to Princess Changning.

"That's it."

Princess Changning held it in her hand and examined it closely in the sunlight. The liquid inside was crystal clear and very beautiful, and it even had the fragrance of roses.

"Bingli said that it took a lot of manpower and resources to produce this rose essential oil. If you give it away so easily, you'll lose at least a thousand taels of silver."

Li Shuchen: "You can't catch a wolf without risking your cubs. There will be more in the future. Also, here's a 5ml bottle of rose essential oil. Put some on their wrists and let them smell it."

Princess Changning tucked the item into her sleeve: "Alright, you and Yuying, be careful."

"Miss Li, what are you talking about? What do you mean by 'be careful'?"

Caiyi rubbed her head, still sleepy, and walked out of the inner room.

Li Shuchen: "It's nothing, you can go back to sleep."

Caiyi sat down lazily: "How boring, when does the auction start?"

Princess Changning: "Soon, in about half an hour."

Caiyi stood up happily: "Princess Changning, are you telling the truth?"

Princess Changning: "Hmm"

"Then I need to tidy myself up; I can't let Miss Li down."

After Caiyi finished speaking, she began to apply her makeup.

Li Shuchen: Only nine pots of purple-gold roses will be auctioned.

Caiyi: "Okay"

Porcelain warehouse

Li Shuchen entered and examined each vase one by one, pausing when he saw the vase with crackled patterns.

Since the Purple Star Dynasty doesn't produce crackle glaze porcelain, the Tenth Prince, with his impeccable aesthetic sense, would certainly not appreciate it. If she presents these pieces to him, he'll find them ugly and uninteresting, which will only make him feel bored.

I won't attend the banquet again next time.

That's great, she's so smart.

He then called over several girls, each carrying a uniquely shaped crackle-glazed vase, who followed behind Li Shuchen.

Passing by the kitchen

Li Shuchen came in and took a rose caramel pudding, which was loaded with rose jam.

The tenth prince eats more sweets, which makes him feel better, and when he's in a good mood, he'll spend money on vases and flowers.

She can then earn more gold, hehe.

Smiling brightly, she arrived at the pavilion.

"Tenth Prince, this is dessert, rose caramel pudding. Please enjoy."

Upon hearing this, the tenth prince gracefully picked up the small spoon, put the pudding in his mouth, paused slightly after taking a bite, and then ate another bite.

Li Shuchen smiled and said, "Tenth Prince, does this rose caramel pudding dessert suit your taste?"

"Fair"

"Acceptable? Acceptable my foot! It's only been a short while, and you've almost finished eating. You clearly enjoyed it. You stubborn prince!"

Li Shuchen's gaze shifted, and he saw that each of the Tenth Prince's accompanying servants on the left was carrying a huge bouquet of flowers, so large that their arms could barely hold them all.

Dozens of people, as many as dozens of people

How many flowers will she waste? Can the Tenth Prince arrange them all by himself?

Li Shuchen's heart was bleeding; she felt sorry for the flowers. Her poor flowers, each one costing an ounce of silver.

"These are your vases?"

The ruthless voice unique to the tenth prince rose up

Li Shuchen nodded: "Yes."

"ugly"

Ugly? Ugly is good. Her humble family can't afford to be tormented by a powerful prince like him. She'd better hurry up and leave.

The tenth prince frowned and casually pointed to an orange-yellow crackled plum vase.

"Let's choose this one."

"okay"

Li Shuchen placed the vase in front of the Tenth Prince.

The tenth prince's furrowed brows deepened as he beckoned to the servants.

The servants carrying flowers walked up to the tenth prince one by one.

The tenth prince would occasionally pick a flower and put it in the vase, or wave it away. A dozen or so people would walk by, and there would only be two or three flowers in the vase.

Li Shuchen's heart was breaking. What a waste! What a waste!

Unable to resist, he stepped forward and said, "Tenth Prince, this flower is called White Lisianthus. Its flower language is sincere and unchanging love, and it also means 'unique.' With such a beautiful meaning, why not leave it and put it in a vase?"

The tenth prince glanced at Li Shuchen, then picked up a white lily bulb and put it in the bottle.

Seeing that his efforts were initially successful, Li Shuchen continued to explain, "This flower is called a lily, and its flower language is nobility and purity, which is most suitable for the Tenth Prince's status. Why don't we keep it as well?"

The tenth prince picked up a lily, examining it closely from both sides: "According to you, every flower has a meaning?"

Li Shuchen: Yes

What is the meaning behind this flower?

The tenth prince picked up another red carnation and asked...

Li Shuchen: "This flower is called a carnation, and its flower language is motherly love and respect for elders, making it most suitable as a gift for mothers."

The tenth prince seemed to be deep in thought. After a long while, he gestured to the servant in front of him to leave all the carnations behind.

He then waved for everyone else to leave.

Li Shuchen was puzzled. Was it all done already?

"Tenth Prince, shall we continue? If it's finished, the vase and flowers will cost two hundred taels of silver."

The tenth prince raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

"Shouldn't you have given me a ride?"

Li Shuchen stood frozen in place.

Damn it, why should I give you these? You ruined so many of my flowers; charging you two hundred taels of silver is already too little.

"Tenth Prince, the Emperor is of noble birth and certainly doesn't lack this small amount of money. I'm just a small business owner trying to support my family. Please forgive me, Tenth Prince."