The Strategy of Love

Ling Hua liked begonias and bought a mountain specially to plant them all over.

During the best blooming season of begonias, Ling Hua, accompanied by her maidens and trusted aides, went to Qiyun Mountain to admire the begonia sea.

Halfway there, they saw a very good-looking young man. Dressed in luxurious purple diamond satin and riding a horse with a green mane, he wielded a Crescent Moon Bow and released three arrows simultaneously. All arrows hit their targets—three Plum Blossom Deer running in the wild fell to the ground, one after the other. A group of young aristocrats who had come out hunting immediately burst into cheers and unanimously praised his skill.

The young man put away his bow and arrows, a face full of pride, with brows lifted and eyes sparkling. His already delicate and handsome features suddenly took on an added touch of the sun's proud brilliance.

A gust of fresh breeze, ten miles of orchids intoxicating the royal courts.

Watching from a distance, Ling Hua asked the person next to her, "Who is that? Do you know him?"

Liuli burst into laughter, "That's the young Marquis from the Marquis Duanjing's residence. It's a pity that he doesn't use such fine archery skills for the right cause."

"Oh? How so?"

Liuli said with a smile, "He refuses to study in the academy or join the military. He says he wants to be a profligate for life, to loaf around and die of idleness—what joy!"

Ling Hua couldn't help but laugh, "Really?"

"Yes! The old Marquis of Duanjing Residence and the Marquis were both worried sick by him. Now, there is only him in Duanjing Residence, and with no one to look after him, he's free to do as he pleases!"

Ling Hua: "…"

She seemed to have vaguely heard about this.

She stared at the young man's face for a while, then instructed, "Go and ask, I have a mountain full of begonias, if he is willing to appreciate them for three days in exchange for those three Plum Blossom Deer he just shot."

Liuli: "…"

Looking at Ling Hua, she asked, "Miss, are you serious?"

"Yes, I want to have venison."

"All three?"

"All of them!"

Liuli dismounted from the carriage, waved and took some guards with her, following her to the hunting ground.

Approaching nearby, Liuli bowed to Yan Qing, "Young Marquis Yan, would you like to see a mountain full of blooming begonias?"

Yan Qing turned around, a look of confusion on his face.

Liuli gestured towards the distance, "That mountain over there."

Yan Qing looked even more confused but still said truthfully, "I would love to. I've heard that there's a mountain full of begonias, and when they bloom, they're like a sea of rouge and powder, exceedingly beautiful. Yet, the owner never opens it to the public, so very few have seen it. I don't know the owner of that mountain, so I have not seen the begonias in full bloom there."

Liuli couldn't help but smile, "That mountain belongs to my miss. She happens to be passing by and wants to eat venison. If Young Marquis Yan is willing to part with the three Plum Blossom Deer you just hunted, she invites you to appreciate the begonias for three days."

Yan Qing looked Liuli up and down, "Your miss? Which one?"

Liuli blinked, not saying a word.

Yan Qing immediately stepped back warily, "It isn't some kind of scheme, is it? Your miss didn't see that I'm good-looking and want me to marry her?"

Liuli: "…"

With an expression that spoke volumes, she said, "My miss just wants to eat venison! Young Marquis Yan is overthinking it!"

After carefully examining Liuli's expression and seeing that she seemed genuine, Yan Qing let out a sigh of relief. "Isn't three a bit too many? Your miss must have a big appetite. She's not a fat lady, is she?"

Liuli took a deep breath, "Do you agree or not? If not, forget it."

Yan Qing also inhaled deeply, reluctantly glancing at the three Plum Blossom Deer lying in a row that he had just captured, and finally said reluctantly, "Alright, then!"

Liuli signaled with her eyes to those behind her. Several guards immediately approached and carried away the deer.

Yan Qing said with genuine regret, "I haven't had venison for a long time either!"

Liuli pretended not to hear and threw a jade token to him, "As per Qiyun Mountain rules, a jade token only allows one person to visit. Young Marquis Yan, go on your own, but don't bring anyone else. Even if you do, it won't be of any use; they can't enter."

Yan Qing caught the jade token; it was thin and fragile, easily crushed with a squeeze. He was worried that it might break accidentally and quickly called out, "What if the jade token breaks?"

"Then you'll miss out on the visit, Young Marquis Yan. Be careful!" Liuli didn't look back as she and her people left.

Yan Qing: "…"

Watching Liuli and her group swiftly carry away the three Plum Blossom Deer, he felt like he was being followed, and they disappeared in a blink of an eye. Suddenly, it seemed to him that he might have been duped a bit.

How could he appreciate a begonia for three days? One day was more than enough, three days would surely be way too much!

He should have traded one Plum Blossom Deer for a single day of flower viewing. The remaining two could be his feast!

He tapped his forehead with his hand, muttering, "Call yourself stupid!"

"Beholding the Begonia Sea of Qiyun Mountain for three days, brother, you've struck gold."

"Yes! I've been longing to see that begonia sea for a long time. I heard it blossoms all year round, each season showing a different splendor."

"When spring winds blow ten miles, the view is a shower of beauties," someone said.

"In the peak of summer, the begonias are tender, as rouge blends with pear blossoms," another continued.

"Autumn coolness as gentle as water, the moonlit nights dye the peach blossoms," another followed.

"Under winter's snow, the heavy boughs, sunset cloaks over the red plums," someone else chimed in not to be outdone.

Yan Qing: "…"

He despised listening to poetry! It was a headache! He covered his ears.

"To be able to appreciate for three days, one can die without regrets!" Cheng Chu said with enviable excitement. "Brother Yan Qing, if you go, it would be like a bull chewing peonies, squandering the chance to muse poetry or compose odes amidst the blossom viewing. How about you hand it over?"

Yan Qing blinked, "One hundred thousand taels of silver, and this opportunity to appreciate the flowers is yours! Want it or not?"

"Want it!"

Yan Qing tossed the jade token to him, "Have the silver delivered to my residence before sunset today."

Cheng Chu caught the jade token, holding it gingerly as if it was precious, and exhilaration filled his face, "Sure, I'll send the silver right away."

"One hundred thousand taels, not one tael less."

"Not one less, not one less."