Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 102

~ NI YUN FANG CATCHES FIRE ~ 

“Madam went out today to buy silk threads,” Si Qin reported. “On the way back, a child suddenly rushed in front of the carriage and tossed a string of firecrackers at the horse.”

“A child?”

“Yes. This servant went to question them. He was just a child from an ordinary farming family. His parents rushed over, kowtowing nonstop and begging forgiveness, so Madam didn’t pursue it.”

Mu Yunyao’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Even ignoring why the child had charged the carriage, the firecrackers alone were suspicious. Jiangnan might be wealthy, but common folk didn’t let children play with firecrackers casually unless it was New Year’s or a festival.

Seeing her still frowning, Su Qing hurried to comfort her. “It’s just a twisted ankle. It’s nothing serious.”

Mu Yunyao immediately crouched and checked Su Qing’s ankle herself. It was only a little swollen and red. Only then did she breathe easier.

“Mother, try not to go out much these next two days. This feels like it’s not that simple.”

“Alright.”

With Liu Liang not at her side, and with Mu Yunyao still not fully trusting Si Qin and the others, she kept her doubts pressed deep in her chest for the moment. She only warned everyone in Ni Yun Fang to stay extra alert.

That night, she jolted awake to the smell of something scorched.

She threw on her clothes and sprinted out, shouting for Jin Lan and the others as she ran. By the time she reached the first floor, flames were already flickering.

Because Mu Yunyao had warned them, Jin Lan and the others stayed surprisingly steady. They grabbed basins and doused the fire fast. The flames had not spread far, only catching the bed canopy and blackening a section of wall with soot.

Mu Yunyao’s brows drew together, coldness flooding her heart.

These past two days, she had been extremely cautious. She had even had Jin Lan and the others move all the flammable cloth and silk thread into their own rooms and store everything carefully, precisely because she feared someone might set Ni Yun Fang on fire.

And now it had happened anyway.

Jin Lan and the others did not dare speak. It was Su Qing who, leaning on the stairs and limping down, broke Mu Yunyao out of her thoughts.

“Yao’er, it’s just a small matter, nothing serious. Why did you come down too?”

When Su Qing saw the burned canopy and the water splashed across the floor, she clutched her chest, shaken. “Yao’er, their methods are far too vicious.”

“Mother, don’t worry.” Mu Yunyao’s voice turned icy. Her black eyes were deep and unfathomable, as if swallowing the light around her. “In two days, I’ll make them pay it back, one by one.”

Hearing that, Su Qing’s worry only grew. “Yao’er, don’t be impulsive. Luckily the fire didn’t spread.”

“Mother, rest assured. I know my limits.”

When Madam Jin heard what happened at Ni Yun Fang, she came in person.

“Yunyao, is everything alright? Nothing serious?”

Mu Yunyao hurried forward. “Greetings, Madam. Sorry to trouble you. We caught it in time. Only a bit of the canopy burned. A little tidying up will be enough.”

Madam Jin frowned. “And your mother? Is her injury severe?”

“It’s only a twisted ankle, nothing serious,” Mu Yunyao replied as she guided Madam Jin to sit, then had Jin Lan bring fruit tea. “Madam is with child, so fruit tea is better.”

Madam Jin’s expression finally eased. “Seeing you still so steady, I’m relieved. It’s only these two days. Once these two days pass, it’ll be fine.”

Mu Yunyao nodded. “I’m only able to stay calm because I remembered what Madam said.” She was not the type to swallow losses. Those people had harmed Su Qing, so this debt had to be repaid. She could not say that out loud to Madam Jin.

“These two days, I’ll send more people to keep watch around Ni Yun Fang. You should stay sharp too. There isn’t a better solution right now.” Her people had not noticed anyone suspicious approaching Ni Yun Fang. Without evidence, everything was empty talk.

“Thank you, Madam.”

After seeing Madam Jin off, Mu Yunyao sank back into her chair and thought carefully. After a moment, she stood, went upstairs, and took up a brush and paper to write to Yue Wang.

Ni Yun Fang belonged to Yue Wang by 30%. Now that trouble kept happening, and someone had nearly burned the place to the ground, she had to inform him. Beyond that, she should also send silver along with the letter. When His Royal Highness saw real money, he would take it even more seriously.

Yuexi was bitterly cold, she had heard, and even military pay was lacking. This time, she would send more silver. Later, she could slowly make up the difference.

Steward Qin looked surprised when he saw her. Her face was heavy with exhaustion, faintly pale.

“Steward Qin, I have a letter and some items I want to send to Fourth Master. Would that be convenient?”

“Of course it’s convenient. Miss Mu, what happened? Why do you look like this?”

Mu Yunyao gave a bitter smile. “It’s nothing major. Ni Yun Fang has had too many incidents lately. Last night someone tried to set fire to it. Luckily we discovered it quickly, so there was no real loss.”

“Something like that happened?” Steward Qin’s gaze sharpened. Whether Miss Mu would end up with His Royal Highness in the future, she was currently helping to prepare the tea business, allowing His Royal Highness to openly place people in Jiangnan. He could not stand by and let her be bullied.

“Miss Mu, don’t worry. I’ll have people investigate as soon as possible. If we find anything, I’ll inform you immediately.”

Mu Yunyao finally relaxed a little. “Thank you, Steward Qin.”

The next two days passed peacefully. Su Qing’s tightly wound nerves finally eased.

On the third day, Madam Jin called Mu Yunyao to the Cao Residence early.

“Yunyao, we’ve received definite news. His Majesty’s reward will arrive today. Governor Zhang has already taken officials to receive it. We will head to the Governor’s residence soon as well. Go tidy yourself again, and be sure there’s nothing improper.”

Mu Yunyao knew Madam Jin meant well. Following Yin Hong into the inner room, she adjusted her makeup in the mirror again and again. There was excitement on her face, but in her heart, there was not much turbulence.

She had worked a long time for this day. Now that it had come, it simply felt deserved. The fear and thrill she had imagined were not there.

Outside Jingling City, a hundred-man escort guarded two wagons and rushed toward the city at speed.

The officials had been waiting at the city gate for a long time. The streets had already been sealed off, and not a single commoner was allowed to move about.

Governor Zhang stood at the front of the officials. When the escort halted, he stepped forward at once.

“Lord Su, you’ve traveled a long way. You’ve worked hard.”

A young man in light armor dismounted and returned the salute. “Greetings, Lord Zhang. I am fortunate to receive His Majesty’s grace and be entrusted to escort the imperial rewards. I consider it an honor.”

He had a face like carved jade and a tall, straight posture. A pair of phoenix eyes shone like stars. Even covered in dust from the road, he still looked like a flawless jade tree, outstanding and unworldly.

Among the officials, Cao Yunian studied him and sighed inwardly. As expected of someone raised by the Su family. Only twenty years old, yet His Majesty had promoted him beyond the rules into a first-rank imperial guard. Even a mission as important as escorting imperial rewards could be entrusted to him. Meanwhile, Cao Yunian had spent ten years struggling through officialdom and had only just reached a minor fourth rank. Truly, people could not be compared.

Governor Zhang escorted the young man and the imperial rewards all the way to the Governor’s residence. The other officials hovered at the side, smiling and flattering, their eyes unable to stop drifting toward the two wagons.

Edited by Little Kitty on 05/06/20

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