Chapter 1097: Orchid
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Qiao Xuan was thinking inwardly – here they are!
That was what they were curious about.
But that was understandable. She would have been very curious too!
That was a rare thing!
Qiao Xuan threw a look at the orchids.
The long, slender green leaves exhibited a lush and moist appearance. They were gathered, with the tips gently drooping outward. Planted in an octagonal purple sand flower pot intricately carved with depictions of mountains, rivers, pine bamboos, it exuded an aura of antiquity and elegance.
The flowers bloomed in a delicate shade of light green, evoking a fairy-like elegance. The emerald green sepals resembled peach petals, while the slender flowers mirrored the shape of peach petals. Hence, it earned the name “Emerald Peach.”
Orchids held immense popularity during this era, and Qiao Xuan had acquired comprehensive knowledge about them through the system within her spatial realm.
Consequently, she recognized the orchid species immediately upon setting her eyes upon them.
In the modern era, Emerald Peaches had long gone extinct, and Qiao Xuan had no desire to encounter them at this moment. However, their presence indicated their remarkable value.
Qiao Xuan observed them attentively but refrained from divulging their exact classification. Emerald Peaches were rare, and she was merely a Madame Hanlin hailing from a humble background. It was unlikely that she had encountered them before.
She smiled warmly. “While I may not be able to identify the exact species, the orchids are thriving and exhibit no signs of distress. You can rest assured.”
However, the madame appeared unwilling to let the matter go. “Nevertheless, I still find these orchids rather lackluster. Our Old Master has a penchant for cultivating exquisite varieties such as Green Clouds, Plain Lotus, Heavy Snow, Peach Cheeks, Eighteen Beauties, and so forth. I can’t help but feel that there is something amiss with this pot of Emerald Peaches. Madame Shao, perhaps you could examine them more closely?”
Upon hearing Madame Qiao’s remarks, the others began whispering amongst themselves, hinting at the possibility of something being awry with the orchids.
Qiao Xuan maintained her composed smile, fully aware of what was truly happening. “If there is any issue with the orchids, it is simply because they have recently been relocated from the greenhouse and are still acclimating to their new environment. There are no other problems to be concerned about.”
The collective shock was palpable – Qiao Xuan’s explanation seemed absurd. It appeared as though Madame Shao was spouting nonsense!
The expression on Madame Qiao’s face changed abruptly. In a state of surprise, she blurted out, “How did you know?”
Even Secondary Concubine Shi was taken aback. It seemed that Qiao Xuan’s statement held truth.
Emerald Peaches held great significance to the Fourth Prince, and there were only three pots of them in the entire capital. Due to the presence of a hot spring in the vicinity of the side yard, a dedicated greenhouse had been constructed. As winter approached, these precious orchids had been relocated from the greenhouse to the intermediate side yard. In case of sudden weather fluctuations, the greenhouse could be used to maintain a suitable temperature, far superior to relying solely on charcoal fires.
Those renowned orchids would lose their perfection if they were damaged, and orchid enthusiasts found such imperfections unacceptable.
Secondary Concubine Shi had placed the peach blossoms on display not only due to her personal fondness for their elegance but also as a means to showcase her favored position.
A few days prior, there had been a sudden drop in temperature, prompting the relocation of the Emerald Peaches when the weather improved.
How could Qiao Xuan discern such details so easily?
Unable to contain her curiosity, Secondary Concubine Shi inquired, “Madame Shao, how did you come to this realization?”
The others were left dumbfounded, acknowledging the accuracy of Qiao Xuan’s observation.
It became evident that Madame Shao possessed knowledge about the matter – after all, she was the second sister-in-law of Secondary Concubine Shi’s family.