Editing Peony

{{Era|Culture}}{{WP-REAL}}
[[File:AC Dynasty Bloodied Peony.png|thumb|220px|A bloodied peony]]
A '''peony''' is a flowering plant in the genus ''Paeonia'' known for its voluminous and vibrant flowers ranging from white to violet and red. It is remembered today as the most beloved flower of the [[Tang dynasty|Tang people]] owing to its exquisite status and ubiquitous popularity in that era of [[China|Chinese]] history.<ref name="Dynasty Special 1">''[[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty]]'' – [[The Flower Banquet (Special)]]</ref>

==History==
According to [[Republic of China|Taiwanese]] professor Li Shu-t'ung (李樹桐)'s ''Examining the Tang People's Love for the Peony'' (唐人喜愛牡丹考), the peony first began to make its name during the reign of {{wiki|Emperor Gaozong of Tang}} in the approximately twenty-year span between 655 and 683. At the time, the exalted status of the flower gave rise to countless references in Tang poems and historical records. From Zhang Youxin (張又新)'s poem "Peony" in ''The Compendium of Tang Poetry'' (全唐詩) comes the iconic line "''A peony is worth a thousand gold, ever misplaced for the deepest hues''"<ref name="nb1">「牡丹一朵值千金，將謂從來色最深」</ref> which has been passed down to the present day.<ref name="Dynasty Special 1" />

===Assassination through a peony===
{{Quote|One peony is worth a thousand gold, one peony can buy the favours of officials. And how many people have had their families destroyed for the sake of one peony?|Li E to Li Bai, 754|Assassin's Creed: Dynasty|The Flower Banquet (Part 1)}}
By 754, peonies were being grown as a luxurious commodity, especially at flower farms like [[Duling village]]. Duling was known for their beautiful and famous peonies, which were coveted by Right Chancellor [[Yang Guozhong]] for his procession in that year's [[Flower Banquet]], an annual contest for the most splendid flower exhibit in the capital. Guozhong sent [[Yang Guozhong's flower delegates|his team]] to acquire peonies from Duling, which resulted in the [[gang]] stealing the peonies by force<ref name="Dynasty 1">''[[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty]]'' − [[The Flower Banquet (Part 1)]]</ref> and murdering seventeen villagers in the process.<ref name="Dynasty 4">''Assassin's Creed: Dynasty'' − [[The Flower Banquet (Part 4)]]</ref> Enraged at the crime, the [[Hidden Ones|Hidden One]] [[Li E]] followed the team back to [[Chang'an]].

On the morning of the Flower Banquet, Li E by chance met the renowned Tang poet [[Li Bai]] on a balcony while surveying the streets for his target. When [[Assassins|Assassin]] alluded to Zhang Youxin's poem with a twist, rhetorically musing out loud "how many families have been destroyed for one peony?", Li Bai got a measure of who this youth was. Queried for his purpose in Chang'an, however, Li E only gave the curt answer "to pluck flowers", which Li Bai misunderstood and found amusing. Shortly after, Li E intercepted a small cart of peonies making its way to rendezvous with the rest of the cortege. He slew all three men transporting it with his [[Hidden Blade]], forcing the location of their boss out of them at the same time. As he concluded his attack, he plucked a single, bloodied peony from the cart per his earlier answer to Li Bai.<ref name="Dynasty 4" />

Later that night, Li E confronted the leaders of Yang Guozhong's team at [[Chenxiang Pavilion]] on the grounds of [[Xingqing Palace]] while still twiddling with his peony. Pronouncing vengeance for the seventeen lives at Duling village, he boldly proclaimed that he would only draw his blade once to defeat the gang. After he swiftly dispatched five of the henchmen with punches and kicks alone, he pounced on the fleeing gang leader with his Hidden Blade, concealed the entire time by the peony. The blade burst through the flower and into his target's neck, completing his [[assassination]].<ref name="Dynasty 4" />

Many of the flowers would go to waste after the annual festival, with disposal wagons collecting them and transporting them outside the palace grounds to be dumped. On the night of the 754 Flower Banquet, the young, visiting scholar [[Yan Jiming]] took it upon himself to commandeer one of these wagons so that he could redirect it to less affluent areas of the city. There, he hoped to share the peonies with the orphans of the streets since they rarely had the opportunity to enjoy the wondrous flowers that the upper-class did.<ref name="Dynasty 6">''[[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty]]'' – [[The Flower Banquet (Part 6)]]</ref> 

By coincidence, Li E [[Leap of Faith|landed]] in Jiming's wagon while making his escape from Xingqing Palace, believing that it would be filled with flowers to cushion his fall and have no occupants. Despite the surprise encounter, both cooperated and achieved their goals for the night, and the chance meeting proved to be the start of a friendship significant for the future of the Tang.<ref name="Dynasty 6" />

==Behind the scenes==
In Chinese history, peony exhibitions are held and cultivated annually, in the ancient city of [[Luoyang]].{{Fact|27 February 2022}}

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty]]'' {{1st}}

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Plants]]
[[Category:Flowers]]
[[Category:Food]]