A Clash of Gods - Chapter 63

Chapter 63 The King of Flowers
The old man nodded. “Sir, you have great insight. The crape myrtle is the treasure of my shop and the most expensive.” He turned to Yang Ning, but the latter smiled at Xiaoyao before he spoke. Yang Ning asked, “Xiaoyao, which one do you think is the king of flowers?”

Xiaoyao walked to a flowerpot and her eyes were soft. “I think this fragrans is top-grade.”

“Oh?” The old man smiled. “Lady, why do you think so?”

Yang Ning saw the fragrans with pure white petals, which were even crystal-clear. Compared with the crape myrtle, it was not dazzling, but it was simple and clean, elegant with charm.

“The fragrans is spotless and pure. It’s not as noble as the crape myrtle.” Talking about the flowers, Xiaoyao displayed a serious expression on her pretty face. “But flowers are like people. A person’s moral quality has nothing to do with his family status. Only somebody who is innocent and experienced, without distaining his heart with selfishness can have clear eyes.” She turned around and stared at Yang Ning, continuing, “Only if your heart is spotless can you be gentle to others. Without selfish desire, you can do anything with justice and rule a country, making it prosperous. It’s just like… just like what you did today, Your Excellency. You don’t care about your family background or others’. You stood out to save somebody else but didn’t surrender to anybody. You are like the fragrans.”

This girl was a good talker. Yang Ning praised in secret and meanwhile felt happy. In his eyes, Xiaoyao looked neat and tidy and her clothes showed that she was from an ordinary family, but she talked like an educated person. She compared flowers with people and was at a much higher level than Yuan Rong who spoke empty words.

At least, Xiaoyao’s words were understandable, but Yuan Rong said much from books, and Yang Ning couldn’t figure out what on earth he was saying.

Yang Ning was joyful but just replied, “Xiaoyao, I am flattered.”

However, Yuan Rong wagged his head. “Lady Xiaoyao, your enlightening remarks refreshed me. So the crape myrtle is at a lower level.”

The old man also praised, “Lady, a few witty remarks of yours made the fragrans more valuable.” Then he glanced at Yang Ning and saluted. “Your Excellency, which flower do you think is the king?”

Yang Ning laughed. “I know nothing about flowers and won’t embarrass myself. Just choose one winner between the two.”

Yuan Rong laughed loud. “Ning, you don’t want to? Or you don’t dare to? Only four of us are present. I promise we won’t tell anybody else even if you say something wrong or talk nonsense.”

Peering at Yuan Rong with a superiority feeling, Yang Ning was furious and responded, “I really can’t find the king of flowers if I look for it here.”

“Your Excellency, do you mean that the king of flowers in your heart can’t be found here?” The old man asked in a hurry. “Can I ask which flower is the king in your opinion?”

Yang Ning pondered for a while before answering, “The lotus.”

“The lotus?” The old man and Yuan Rong looked at each other. Then Yuan Rong burst into laughter instantly. “Ning, you really have a unique view. We can’t find a lotus in October, late autumn indeed. But in the pool of the backyard in my mansion, there are lotuses every year, which are regularly seen. It’s true that it must be the most worthless flower in my mansion.” He pointed at the crape myrtle. “Ning, do you know that this crape myrtle can be exchanged for the lotuses in all mansions on the Pipa Street?”

Evidently, he disdained the lotus in his words.

The old man also laughed. “Your Excellency, it turns out that you love lotuses. But it is rare to see somebody sell lotuses in the flower shop on this street. However, the flower can’t be compared depending on the price. You like lotuses, and you must have reasons.”

Yang Ning noticed that the old man spoke politely but obviously looked down upon lotuses, too. However, Xiaoyao wrinkled her beautiful brows, as if lost in thought.

He didn’t argue. After a short pause, he announced, “I love the lotus only. It grows up in the mud but is not stained. It is bathed in the water but doesn’t look seductive. Its stem is connected in the middle and is straight on the surface, without branches or vines. Its fragrance spreads far and smells fresh. It’s a graceful and pure plant. You can watch it from afar but can’t play with it,” he stated vividly and then suddenly raised his voice, “I think the chrysanthemum is a hermit, and the peony is a nobleman, while the lotus is a gentleman.”

Yuan Rong was from a literary family and had literary talent. He heard Yang Ning recite this poem all of a sudden and was stunned. Obviously, it was beyond his expectation.

Xiaoyao also showed an astonished expression in her clear eyes. She meditated for a minute and then repeated in a low voice, “It grows up in the mud but is not stained. It is bathed in the water but doesn’t look seductive… You can watch it from afar but can’t play with it…!” Her eyes lit up. “Your Excellency, is…is this the reason why you like lotuses?”

Yang Ning nodded calmly and appeared carefree.

Suddenly, Yuan Rong shouted, “Bravo!” He even stepped forward and grabbed Yang Ning’s arm, asking, “Ning, who wrote this poem? The writer has excellent literary talent. It turns out that you actually know such a big shot. Can you introduce him to me?” He sighed. “I think I am good at writing, but the poems and songs I have written in the past so many years are shit compared with this one…” Realizing that Xiaoyao was here, he stopped using dirty language in time.

Yang Ning thought this guy knew which was better but seemed to be sure that this poem Ode to the Lotus Flower was not written by him. Apparently, Yuan Rong just thought less of him. Yang Ning rolled his eyes and asked, “Do you mean that I am unable to write such a poem?”

“Of course you can’t,” Yuan Rong affirmed. “I am clear about your ability. It’s not that anybody can write such wonderful sentences. It grows up in the mud but is not stained. It is bathed in the water but doesn’t look seductive. These two sentences can be popular for one hundred years.”

Yang Ning thought, “You are not well-informed enough. These two sentences have been popular for far more than one hundred years.” He shook off Yuan Rong’s hand on his arm and replied, “You can say whoever wrote it as you like. After you leave here, even if you brag that you have written it, I won’t expose you.”

Yuan Rong thought, “What you said is pointless. Some people here have heard you say it. Otherwise, I will try to mislead the public with this poem.”

“Your Excellency, your speech was full of whimsy. I really admire you.” Although the old man was not so educated, seeing Yuan Rong and Xiaoyao’s reaction, he understood that it was a masterpiece. He smiled at Yuan Rong. “Sir, who do you think is the winner to select the king of flowers?”

The old man was a shrewd businessman. He invited Yang Ning into the shop to enjoy flowers in order to advertise.

Yang Ning saved somebody on the street and confronted King Shu’s heir. There were many onlookers, and the news would spread soon in the capital city. Yang Ning would gain much more popularity.

Then as long as he publicized that the heir of the Marquis of Honor once enjoyed flowers and commented in this flower shop, it would naturally be helpful to his business. In the first place, he didn’t plan to decide who would be the winner. After all, the heir of the Marquis of Honor had honorable status, and Yuan Rong was from a noble family obviously. If the old man decided the winner, he was afraid that he would offend somebody.

Yuan Rong smiled. “For the sake of this poem, the winner is this guy.” He gazed at Xiaoyao and asked, “Lady, what do you think?”

Xiaoyao just wanted to enjoy flowers and was not interested in the victory. Moreover, Yang Ning’s poem was amazing, and only a few words fully revealed the lotus’ shape, quality and even the hidden meaning. She admired him and put on a fascinating smile. “Your Excellency, your lotus is naturally the king of flowers.”

Yang Ning laughed heartily. “I just talked nonsense. Don’t take it seriously.”

“Your Excellency, if you just spoke casually, you are so awesome.” Xiaoyao showed a bright smile. “You can make an impromptu speech with such excellent sentences. If you think hard, wouldn’t you make quotable comments? It grows up in the mud but is not stained. It is bathed in the water but doesn’t look seductive. Such wonderful remarks can’t be heard at any time.”

Yang Ning rubbed his forehead and expressed, “In fact, it’s said like this, but it’s rare to see somebody who can do it.”

Yuan Rong echoed, “Ning, you are right. I notice that in the neighborhood of the Qinhuai River, no matter in the pleasure-boat or the music club, many people are in the mud, but few can be unaffected by the atmosphere. Instead, everybody is vulgar and obscene. It grows up in the mud but is not stained. It is bathed in the water but doesn’t look seductive. It’s easier said than done.”

Yang Ning responded, “Because it is difficult, it is precious. In the entertainment area, there are so many beautiful women, and few men can be aloof.” While speaking, he suddenly realized that they shouldn’t talk about this in front of a girl like Xiaoyao. When he was about to change the subject, he found that the girl paled and turned to leave.

“Xiaoyao, you…” They talked cheerfully. Yang Ning didn’t expect that Xiaoyao would leave all of a sudden. She walked quickly and had reached the door when the three were petrified.

Yang Ning felt nervous and was clear that there was something amiss. He couldn’t figure out which words irritated Xiaoyao and hurriedly chased her. “Xiaoyao, did we say anything wrong?”

In his anxiety, he grabbed Xiaoyao’s slender arm.

Xiaoyao shook off his hand with strength and sneered. “Your Excellency, how would you say something wrong? I am ignorant and merely talked nonsense.” She raised her leg and went away.

Yang Ning heard that her voice was not as friendly as before. Seeing that she walked swiftly and went into the crowd on the street, he stood blankly at the door. Suddenly he saw the daffodil and shouted in a hurry, “Lady Xiaoyao, the flower you want…” When he raised his head to have a look, Xiaoyao had disappeared in the crowd.

Yuan Rong moved close to him and asked in astonishment, “What happened? We talked happily. Why did the girl get mad?”

Yang Ning frowned. “It seems that we said something wrong… Which words are wrong?”

“We didn’t say anything wrong.” Yuan Rong was also confused. “Didn’t we just say that few people in the pleasure-boat or the music club near the Qinhuai River are decent? …Gee, did these words make her angry?”

Yang Ning was depressed and instantly thought of one possible result. He couldn’t help but ask, “Is Xiaoyao a…”

“No way.” Yuan Rong shook his head at once. “You are the heir of the Marquis of Honor, but you still know nothing about women. Xiaoyao’s brows are wrinkled and her waist is slim, with her slender neck and straight back. She is a virgin evidently. Look at her disposition and behavior. It’s impossible that she comes from a brothel.”

Hearing Yuan Rong’s words, Yang Ning felt relieved and asked in confusion, “If that’s not true, why… why did she get furious because of those words?” He frowned. “Did we talk about the entertainment area regardless of anything in such a place and make Xiaoyao unhappy?” He raised his finger and pointed at Yuan Rong, saying crossly, “You just can’t get rid of your bad habit. We just enjoyed flowers. Why did you mention that?”

“You can’t put all the blame on me.” Yuan Rong was grieved. “Didn’t you continue the subject? Why do you blame me?”

The old man walked to them and expressed cautiously, “Your Excellency…” He reached out his hand, and it was two taels of silver. “Xiaoyao has gone, and you don’t need to buy the daffodil.”

“I have bought this flower, but I will keep it here.” Yang Ning was still confused why Xiaoyao left abruptly. “Please take good care of it. If Xiaoyao comes here again, just give it to her, no matter what method you will use.” Something occurred to him and he asked, “By the way, do you know her?”

The old man shook his head. “Many people come here and leave every day. Even if Xiaoyao once came here, I… I can’t remember. But please rest assured, Your Excellency. I will keep an eye in the future and look after this flower carefully.”

Yang Ning stared at the direction where Xiaoyao disappeared and murmured, “Who are you?”