The Flower Lady's Manor

As the four siblings stepped outside, a massive gust of wind suddenly whipped through the area, followed by a powerful roar. Shielding their eyes against the glare, they looked up to behold a magnificent sight.

Twisting and undulating through the sky was a breathtaking dragon, its scales shimmering in hues of white and blue. A light blue mane flowed around its regal head, and elegant horns curved from its forehead.

Ao Min was the first to speak up, his voice carrying a hint of awe. "Where's Grandpa Ao Bing going?"

Ao Huli did not immediately respond, his gaze fixed on the departing dragon. Without a word, he began walking with purpose toward the bustling city center.

As they entered the market district, Ao Min and Ao Fang's attention was quickly diverted by the myriad of vendors and their wares. The twins dashed from stall to stall, their eyes gleaming with excitement as they examined the various trinkets and baubles on display.

Ao Huli turned to Ao Qing, intending to ask her to reign in their wayward siblings, but to his dismay, he found her absent from his side. Glancing back, he spotted Ao Qing joining Ao Min and Ao Fang, the three of them now gathered around a particularly elaborate display of hair ornaments.

Letting out a soft sigh, Ao Huli reluctantly resigned himself to the task of herding his easily distracted family. With a furrowed brow, he approached the trio.

Fixing Ao Qing with a pointed look, he spoke up.

"Can you please take this seriously?" he implored. "We don't have much time."

Ao Qing merely crossed her arms, a smug smile playing on her lips. "Relax, Huli," she said dismissively. "Yan Wang is stabilizing the soul, remember? We've got plenty of time."

Ao Huli's brow furrowed in frustration. "That can't last forever," he insisted. "Master Yan Wang will only be exhausting his own spiritual energy in the process."

Rather than addressing his concerns, Ao Qing's smile widened as she gave her brother a playful nudge. "I noticed you called him 'Master"," she teased. "Does this mean you're finally recognizing him as your teacher?"

Ao Huli felt his cheeks flush slightly at her jibe. "Regardless of what I think," he replied tersely, "Yan Wang is still my master, and he deserves respect."

Ao Qing shrugged nonchalantly. "Just because someone has a fancy title doesn't mean they're owed respect," she argued. "Plenty of 'masters' are just incompetent fools."

Ao Huli regarded his sister with a raised brow, wondering if she even recognized the hypocrisy in her statement. Ao Qing, with her restless spirit and disregard for protocol, was hardly one to talk about the failings of those in esteemed roles.

Ao Huli considered pressing the matter further, perhaps pointing out the contradiction in her words. But ultimately, he decided it was not worth the effort. Ao Qing was unlikely to see the irony, and he had more pressing concerns that required his attention.

With a slight shake of his head, Ao Huli turned and walked away.

Ao Min and Ao Fang, noticing Ao Huli's departure, glanced between him and the market stall they had been browsing. For a brief moment, they seemed uncertain, torn between their interest in the trinkets and the desire not to be left behind.

However, the pull of following their elder brother won out, and the twins quickly sprinted after Ao Huli, their earlier purchases forgotten. Ao Qing, seeing her siblings hurry off, rolled her eyes but followed suit, catching up to the group.

At last, the four siblings arrived at the flower maiden's hut, entering the serene front courtyard. Without hesitation, Ao Qing opened her mouth, likely intending to loudly summon Nu Yi. But before she could, Ao Huli swiftly clamped a hand over her lips, silencing her.

Casting an apologetic look around, Ao Huli politely called out, "Lady Nu Yi? Forgive our sudden intrusion. Are you home?"

Yet despite his courteous tone, there was no immediate response. The courtyard remained still and quiet, with no sign of the ethereal beauty they had come to see.

Ao Huli's brow furrowed slightly, his red-tipped ears twitching as he strained to detect any sound from within the hut. But the silence stretched on.

Just as Ao Huli considered calling out again, a melodious voice suddenly reached their ears from the left. Turning, the four siblings were greeted by the sight of a stunningly beautiful woman striding toward them.

Her long hair, a captivating shade of light green, was adorned with a variety of delicate flowers. The woman's flowing robes, in shades of green and yellow, seemed to shimmer as if infused with the very essence of nature. Around her waist, a string of pearls glinted softly in the warm light of the courtyard.

With each graceful step, the woman's feet barely seemed to touch the ground, lending her an almost ethereal quality. As she approached the group, she offered them an apologetic smile.

"Forgive me," she said, her melodious voice carrying a hint of regret. "My daughter is not currently here."

Recognizing the deity before them, Ao Huli immediately cupped his hands and bowed deeply.

"Mistress Huaxu," he addressed her with the utmost respect, "we did not mean to intrude. Please accept our apologies."

Mistress Huaxu paused before the group, her delicate features softening into a gentle smile. She returned Ao Huli's formal bow, her movements graceful and measured.

While Ao Qing maintained her defiant posture with folded arms, Ao Min and Ao Fang quickly mimicked their eldest brother, cupping their hands and bowing in perfect synchronization.

Huaxu's gaze drifted to the younger set of twins behind Ao Huli. "Here again, are we?" she asked, her melodious voice tinged with amusement.

Ao Min and Ao Fang nodded enthusiastically in unison, causing Huaxu to chuckle softly behind her sleeve. She turned her attention back to Ao Huli. "Are you here to see my daughter, Nu Yi?"

"Actually," Ao Huli replied respectfully, "we were hoping to speak with Nu Jinhua."

"Where is he?" Ao Min and Ao Fang burst out simultaneously.

"My grandson?" Huaxu's lips curved in a knowing smile. "He should be around here somewhere. Last I saw, he was tending to the green room."

The moment the words left her mouth, Ao Min and Ao Fang bolted forward, but Ao Qing's quick reflexes allowed her to catch them both by their collars before they could escape.

Huaxu laughed softly at their enthusiasm. "They remind me so much of Nu Yi and Fuxi at that age. Those two were always such a handful to keep track of."

Ao Huli blinked, caught off guard. "Elder Fuxi and Mistress Nu Yi are siblings?"

"Twins," Huaxu confirmed with a nod, "much like yourself and Ao Qing, or these two spirited ones here." She gestured to the still-struggling Ao Min and Ao Fang. "Who visit quite frequently, I might add. At least once a week, sometimes more."

Ao Huli shot his younger brothers a stern look, which they met with matching sheepish grins.

Ao Qing leaned closer to Ao Huli, whispering, "Who exactly is this woman?"

Ao Huli responded with a subtle but firm elbow to her stomach, silently urging her to stand straight and show proper respect.

"If you'll excuse me," Huaxu said, bowing once more, "I have some matters that require my attention." As she lifted her head, Ao Qing caught a glimpse of her eyes - distinctly serpentine in nature - and let out an audible gasp.

Ao Huli's elbow found her ribs again, but the damage was done. However, Huaxu merely smiled, seeming more amused than offended by the reaction.

Seeing their opportunity, Ao Min and Ao Fang darted past, weaving around their elder brother's grasp with practiced agility, Ao Huli let out a resigned sigh. He turned to suggest pursuing them to Ao Qing, only to find her already moving down the corridor. Following his twin, Ao Huli quickly discovered that the flower maiden's hut defied all mortal understanding of space and architecture.

What appeared modest from the outside revealed itself to be an endless maze of wonders within. Each door they opened led to increasingly fantastical sights. One room contained an entire forest, ancient trees stretching up into what appeared to be actual sky, their branches disappearing into clouds that drifted lazily overhead. Shafts of golden sunlight pierced through the canopy, illuminating patches of moss and mushrooms that seemed to glow with their own inner light.

Another chamber was a riot of color, every surface covered in blooming flowers. Roses as large as dinner plates climbed the walls, their petals shifting through impossible colors. Lotus flowers floated in mid-air, suspended in nothing but light and mist. The ceiling dripped with hanging wisteria that chimed like crystal bells when brushed against.

They passed a room filled with nothing but mirror-smooth pools of water, each reflecting a different season. Another contained a garden of glass flowers that sang when the wind blew through them. One particularly strange chamber seemed to be entirely upside down, with grass growing from the ceiling and trees reaching down toward the floor.

The siblings found themselves thoroughly lost in this impossible architecture, where corridors seemed to shift and reshape themselves when not directly observed. Just when they thought they'd checked every possible room, they'd turn a corner and find an entirely new wing of the building.

Finally, they heard Nu Jinhua's voice drifting from ahead. Exchanging a quick glance, Ao Qing and Ao Huli followed the sound to yet another door. Opening it revealed what could only be described as a master botanist's dream.

The greenhouse stretched impossibly far in all directions, its glass ceiling so high it disappeared into a perpetual morning mist. Crystal panels caught and refracted the light, creating rainbow patterns that danced across the verdant space. The air was thick with the scent of earth and growing things, carrying hints of exotic fragrances that no mortal nose had ever encountered.

Elaborate wooden tables filled the space in concentric circles, each hosting its own unique collection of botanical marvels. One held delicate plants with translucent leaves that showed their inner workings like living stained glass. Another displayed flowers that bloomed and withered in endless cycles, each cycle taking only seconds to complete. There were plants that changed color based on who approached them, others that hummed musical notes when their leaves were stroked, and some that seemed to be made entirely of light.

Hanging baskets suspended by golden chains swayed gently overhead, trailing vines that glowed like strands of starlight. In one corner, a tree grew upward and downward simultaneously, its branches twisting through reality in impossible ways. Butterflies made of pure light flitted between the plants, their wings leaving trails of sparkles in their wake.

In the center of all this impossible beauty, they could hear Nu Jinhua's voice, though the source remained hidden behind a curtain of luminous vines.

As they ventured deeper into the mystical greenhouse, Ao Huli caught a flicker of movement from the corner of his eye. A massive flower, its petals an unsettling shade of crimson streaked with black, was silently uncoiling from behind a display of floating orchids. The stalk was as thick as a tree trunk, supporting a head larger than a dinner table.

Ao Huli's red-tipped ears twitched at the sound of rustling leaves, and he dove forward just as the flower struck. Its head smashed into the floor where he had been standing, shattering several crystal pots and sending their contents scattering across the ground. The bloom unfurled, revealing row upon row of needle-sharp teeth arranged in concentric circles within its maw. The petals flexed like muscled flesh as it turned toward Ao Huli, tracking his movement with an intelligence that no plant should possess.

"What in the three realms-" Ao Qing gasped, stumbling backward.

The initial shock gave way to focused determination as Ao Huli rolled to his feet, his mind already calculating possible strategies. "A Yaoguai!" He called to his sister, his voice urgent.

Beside him, he could see Ao Qing's hands instinctively moving to summon her flames, the sudden light casting dancing shadows across the greenhouse walls. "I can take care of this," she declared, drawing her arm back.

"Are you insane?" Ao Huli hissed, ducking as the plant lunged again. "This entire place is filled with rare and probably highly flammable specimens. Do you want to burn down the flower maiden's home?"

Clicking her tongue in annoyance, Ao Qing extinguished the flames. "Well, what's your brilliant plan then?"

Instead of responding, Ao Huli charged forward. The plant reared back, its stalk coiling like a snake preparing to strike. As it shot forward, Ao Huli dropped into a slide, the teeth passing inches above his head. In the same fluid motion, he grabbed the plant's stem with both hands, his fingers digging into the fibrous surface.

The plant thrashed violently, trying to shake him off. Its head whipped back and forth, smashing through displays and sending pottery flying in all directions. But Ao Huli held firm, his feet planted as he concentrated. Frost began spreading from his fingertips, crystallizing the plant's flesh where he touched it.

The creature's movements became more frantic as the ice spread upward along its stalk. The frozen section crackled and sparkled, the ice taking on an almost ethereal quality as it crawled higher. The plant's attempts to break free grew weaker as more of it succumbed to the freezing touch.

Finally, the ice reached the head, transforming the terrifying maw into a beautiful but deadly sculpture. The frozen petals caught the light filtering through the glass ceiling, sending rainbow refractions dancing across the walls.

Ao Huli stepped back, wiping beads of sweat from his forehead as Ao Qing came to stand beside him. The frozen plant stood like a macabre ice sculpture, its deadly beauty a stark contrast to the peaceful greenhouse around them.

"Show off," Ao Qing muttered, but there was a hint of pride in her voice as she regarded her brother's handiwork.

After their encounter with the frozen flower yaoguai, Ao Qing's keen hearing caught a hint of something in the distance. "There," she said, pointing toward a secluded corner of the greenhouse. "I can hear them."

Ao Huli nodded, and they made their way through the maze of luminous plants. The scene they discovered would have been amusing if not for their urgent mission.

Nu Jinhua sat perched atop a massive, softly glowing mushroom, looking thoroughly resigned to his fate. Ao Min had wrapped himself around the flower spirit from behind, his chin resting contentedly on Nu Jinhua's shoulder, while Ao Fang sat in front, clutching Nu Jinhua's hands in his own. The flower spirit's usually pristine appearance was slightly disheveled, his face flushed pink with embarrassment.

Upon spotting the approaching siblings, Nu Jinhua's eyes lit up with relief. "Elder Huli!" he called out, his voice carrying a clear plea for help.

Understanding immediately, Ao Huli strode forward and seized his younger brothers, pulling them away from Nu Jinhua with practiced efficiency. The twins struggled against his grip, squirming and protesting, before simultaneously going limp in defeat, their arms crossed in matching poses of defiance.

Ao Huli unceremoniously tossed them aside, earning twin yelps of indignation, before turning to address Nu Jinhua. He bowed formally, which Nu Jinhua returned, quickly adjusting his rumpled robes as he did so.

"Mother isn't here today, I'm afraid," Nu Jinhua said apologetically.

"Your grandmother already informed us," Ao Huli replied. "But it's actually you I'm here to see."

Nu Jinhua's brow furrowed slightly. "Grandmother Huaxu is here?" he asked, genuine confusion coloring his tone.

Ao Huli paused, noting the strange reaction, before confirming, "Yes, we just spoke with her."

Nu Jinhua nodded slowly, though something flickered behind his eyes. Seeming to catch himself, he quickly asked, "I see… - and what can this humble one do for you, Elder Huli?"

Ao Huli stepped closer, his expression growing serious as he placed a hand on Nu Jinhua's shoulder. "I have a favor to ask of you."

In the background, Ao Min and Ao Fang's faces transformed from sullen to outraged. "Get your hands off him!" they shouted in unison, their voices rising with indignation.

"How dare you touch our future wife!" Ao Min yelled.

"Only we can touch Nu Jinhua!" Ao Fang added vehemently.

Ao Huli ignored their protests completely, his focus remaining entirely on Nu Jinhua as his younger brothers continued their angry tirade behind him.

"What could this one possibly help Elder Huli with?" Nu Jinhua asked, his manner almost painfully formal. "This lowly flower spirit will try to assist, but..." He trailed off, ducking his head slightly in deference.

Ao Huli found himself momentarily distracted by Nu Jinhua's peculiar way of referring to himself, but quickly refocused on the urgent matter at hand. He leaned in closer to Nu Jinhua's ear, ignoring the increasingly violent protests from his younger brothers who were now being physically restrained by Ao Qing.

When Ao Huli finished whispering his request, Nu Jinhua's face drained of color. He took a stumbling step backward, shaking his head slowly. "Impossible," he whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "This one... this one cannot do such a thing."

Ao Huli immediately bowed deeply, his formal posture carrying the weight of his desperation. "Please, master Jinhua, we truly need your help."

 Nu Jinhua's eyes widened in panic at the sight of the eldest prince showing such deference to him.

"Elder Huli must not bow to this worthless one!" Nu Jinhua exclaimed, his hands fluttering anxiously. "Please, this lowly flower spirit is not worthy of such respect!"

"Then perhaps you'd prefer I let these two go?" Ao Qing called out sweetly, loosening her grip on the struggling twins ever so slightly.

Nu Jinhua's face flushed crimson as his eyes darted between Ao Qing's threatening smile and the twins, who were practically foaming at the mouth in their attempts to reach him. He retreated another step, one hand clutched protectively to his chest as he hunched in on himself, unable to meet Ao Qing's gaze.

"Ao Qing," Ao Huli snapped, straightening to fix his sister with a stern look. "Don't use our brothers as a threat. It's unbecoming."

Turning back to Nu Jinhua, his expression softened with urgency. "Please understand, this is crucial. If you can't help us, many people will suffer. I wouldn't ask if the situation weren't dire."

Nu Jinhua's eyes widened at the gravity in Ao Huli's tone. "What... what has happened?" he asked, momentarily forgetting his usual formal speech patterns.

Ao Huli cast a meaningful glance at his younger brothers before responding, "Perhaps we should discuss this somewhere more private."

"HAH?" Ao Min's outraged cry echoed through the greenhouse.

"TRAITOR!" Ao Fang shouted, his face contorted with betrayal. "Our own brother is trying to steal our future wife!"

Their accusations rang through the greenhouse as they renewed their struggles against Ao Qing's restraining grip, their identical expressions promising vengeance for this perceived treachery.

"Ao Qing," Ao Huli said suddenly, his voice carrying the quiet authority of an eldest brother. "Perhaps you can keep our brothers entertained while I speak with Nu Jinhua."

Ao Qing caught his meaning immediately and nodded. "Come on, you two," she said, grabbing the twins by their collars once more. "Let's go see what other man-eating plants we can find."

"No!" Ao Min protested.

"We won't leave Nu Jinhua alone with him!" Ao Fang added vehemently.

But Ao Qing was already dragging them away, their protests fading as they disappeared around a corner filled with luminous vines.