Peony heads to a suburban retreat, where she finds Jiang Changyang quietly carving gold ingots. Uncle Wu explains that on the day Madam Bai gave birth, it happened to be the anniversary of Jiang Changyang’s birth mother’s death. That day, Jiang Changyang’s mother longed to see Jiang Yuantang one last time, but he still chose to visit the demanding Madam Bai. Jiang Changyang’s mother died with regret, and Jiang Changyang knelt by her bedside all night in silent mourning—just as he is now. Perhaps from that moment on, Jiang Changyang resolved to sever all ties of affection.
Uncle Wu knows that although Jiang Changyang appears indifferent, he is in fact deeply loyal and sentimental. Peony also realizes he wouldn’t truly abandon Madam Bai and her son; he just needs time to overcome his inner turmoil. With this in mind, Peony deliberately brings up the plight of Madam Bai and her child, who are now staying in a shabby guesthouse in the city. She adds that only Doctor Fu—“the Magic Hand” at the Imperial Medical Bureau—can save Madam Bai’s son.
Sure enough, Imperial Physician Fu arrives at Jiang’s back courtyard soon after. Although Jiang Changyang summoned him to examine Peony’s injured tendons, Lü Gengchun immediately pulls the physician aside to attend to the ailing child, who is then successfully cured of his “strange bone disease.” Peony pays for a carriage to take Madam Bai and her son away, even slipping them some extra money for the road. Mistaking Jiang Changyang for a heartless man, Madam Bai warns Peony to be cautious. But Peony clarifies that if Jiang Changyang hadn’t quietly permitted it, no one in all of Chang’an would have dared save the boy. Later, Jiang Changyang sends Chuan Yu to reimburse Peony for the child’s medical expenses. Thus, the “Flower-and-Bird Envoy” once again proves himself a man whose outward stubbornness masks an inner compassion.
That evening, Peony and Jiang Changyang roast meat together. He offers her a toast, giving Peony the perfect opportunity to propose amending their business contract to a “60–40 split.” Jiang Changyang readily agrees.
Lü Gengchun is devoted to medicine thanks to her grandfather. After stumbling upon his medical texts, she became utterly fascinated with healing. Peony assures her that Imperial Physician Fu will visit the Jiang estate every month, at which time Lü Gengchun can seek his counsel. Recognizing Lü Gengchun’s kind and innocent nature, Peony volunteers to provide any surplus flowers from her shop, Hua Man Zhu, for medicinal use. Delighted, Lü Gengchun also agrees to let Peony observe her precious “Fiery Gold Elixir” at close range.
A few days later, Peony discovers her flowers have suddenly wilted—evidently due to pest infestation. Upon investigating, she finds that insect eggs were deliberately mixed into the fertilizer. Harboring bias from the start, Shengyi suspects Lü Gengchun of sabotaging the fertilizer. Yet Peony chooses to believe Lü Gengchun and lets her help deal with the pests. Touched, Lü Gengchun grows even more grateful to Peony.
Lü Gengchun explains that while her father, Lü Wanrong, does oppose women in business, he would never stoop to such despicable tactics as sabotaging flowers with insect eggs. If, in fact, anyone in the flower guild is behind it, Lü Gengchun says Peony can confront them in her father’s presence. They wait for the culprit to strike again, and when that person repeats the same trick, Peony catches him and forces him to reveal that the mastermind is none other than the deputy head of the flower guild, Cao Yuying.
Peony devises a plan: Lü Gengchun lures her father to a restaurant, where he personally overhears Cao Yuying confess to paying someone to destroy Peony’s prized “Fiery Gold Elixir” blooms by planting insect eggs. Furious, Lü Wanrong vows to expel Cao Yuying from the guild and ban him from the flower trade. Cao Yuying pleads for Peony’s forgiveness, playing the victim, but cannot avoid being driven out of the guild—left with bitter resentment in his wake.
Impressed by Peony’s cleverness, Lü Wanrong, who once looked down on her, now takes the initiative to invite her to join the flower guild. By this point, however, Peony’s mindset has changed. She is well aware the guild imposes numerous restrictions on female shop owners, which no longer suits her. Thus, she politely declines. Lü Wanrong is surprised, but concedes that changing the rules would be too much trouble, and lets the matter drop.
