~ SU QINGWU ~
At the Governor’s Residence, the governor’s wife came forward with a bright smile to greet Madam Jin and Mu Yunyao.
“Why are you two so late? If you still hadn’t come, I was about to send someone to fetch you. Don’t bother with formalities, get up and come sit.”
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Madam Jin, the governor’s wife turned her gaze to Mu Yunyao. Compared to the previous times they’d met, she was clearly much warmer this time.
“These days have been so busy I never had the chance to visit Ni Yun Fang. Miss Mu, why do you look like you’ve lost weight? You’re much thinner.”
Mu Yunyao wore a sweet, obedient smile. “Thank you for your concern, Madam. I haven’t had much appetite lately, so I’ve been eating less.”
“You’re still so young. You have to take care of yourself.” The governor’s wife looked genuinely fond of her. “My household’s cook is good at medicinal dishes. Later I’ll have someone stew a bowl for you.”
Mu Yunyao quickly stood, looking flustered and honored. “Madam, how could I accept that?”
“I like you the moment I see you. What’s there to ‘accept’ or not?” The governor’s wife waved it off. “When you leave, I’ll have the recipe copied for you too. Go back and make it every day. In a few days you’ll be plump and dewy again, just like before.”
Mu Yunyao immediately curtsied. “Thank you, Madam. I’ll stew it daily.” Her eyes were bright, her tone sincere. Since the governor’s wife was clearly trying to build goodwill, Mu Yunyao naturally could not refuse.
Both the governor’s wife and Madam Jin were a little distracted, glancing toward the doorway from time to time.
About half an hour later, a maid rushed in, breathless.
“Madam, the imperial rewards have arrived. The Master requests that you, Madam Jin, and Miss Mu go to the front courtyard to receive the edict.”
“Good, we’ll go at once.” The governor’s wife stood immediately, face glowing. “Quickly, quickly. You two are the main event today.”
Madam Jin stopped being polite and followed her straight to the front courtyard.
In front of the main hall, an incense table had already been set, everything arranged in perfect order. Governor Zhang stood with the officials, lined up according to rank on the side before the table. Resting atop it was a bright yellow imperial edict, shining in the sunlight with solemn authority.
Mu Yunyao arrived with Madam Jin, eyes lowered to the ground. Her gaze was calm, yet her face wore the proper trace of fear and reverence.
She heard Governor Zhang speak. “Lord Su, everyone is present. The edict may be read.”
At the word “Su,” Mu Yunyao’s brow twitched. She lifted her head on instinct.
The instant she saw him, it felt like thunder split her skull.
Beside the incense table stood a young man in light armor. His features were refined like a painting, his phoenix eyes brilliant. He was like a frost-proof pine standing tall in snow, proud to the bone, naturally outstanding.
Mu Yunyao stared at him, hatred surging from the depths of her chest, pouring into her eyes until her dark gaze froze into a sheet of thousand-foot ice, no warmth left, no light at all.
Su Qingwu.
It was Su Qingwu.
Su Qingwu held the edict in both hands, waiting for the crowd to kneel. Suddenly, he felt an unusually sharp gaze land on him. He lifted his eyes at once, scanning the crowd, but all he saw were bowed heads and kneeling bodies. Nothing seemed out of place.
“By decree of the Emperor, in Jingling…”
Mu Yunyao knelt with everyone else, hands folded, forehead pressed to the ground, posture perfectly respectful.
Inside, her hatred roared like a monstrous tide.
Su Qingwu, the Su family’s most celebrated eldest grandson. At twenty, he had already been promoted beyond the rules to a first-rank imperial guard. Even princes and nobles spoke of him with praise, calling him a rare talent.
In her previous life, to strike back at that so-called “good elder sister,” she had used schemes to climb into Jin Wang’s bed.
This “perfect gentleman” that everyone adored had kicked her straight in the chest, hard enough to make her cough up blood three times. She would never forget the look in his eyes then, contempt and disgust, like she was a lump of filth on the ground.
Later, she entered Jin Wang’s estate as a concubine. To please the Emperor, Jin Wang had to personally copy a hundred volumes of Buddhist scriptures to pray for blessings. She accompanied him to Huguo Si, imitating Jin Wang’s handwriting to help copy the scriptures.
Su Qingwu discovered it.
He accused her of disrespecting the Emperor and had her dragged into the courtyard and beaten.
She was four months pregnant at the time.
After ten blows, she bled.
That very night, the child was gone.
That child had been unexpected, yes, but she had still cradled hope for it with all her heart. If not for those ten blows, maybe the baby could have been born safely.
Her thoughts churned violently. Then Su Qingwu’s voice reached the part of the edict that named her reward.
“…Mu Yunyao, benevolent in heart and sincere in intent. Rewarded with a pair of jade ruyi, ten bolts of brocade, one hundred taels of gold…”
Jade Ruyi*
The edict took about a quarter of an hour to finish.
Mu Yunyao forced the hatred back down, forced herself into calm, and followed everyone in thanking the Emperor for his grace.
Governor Zhang rose, received the edict, and placed it respectfully inside the hall. Then, smiling broadly, he invited Su Qingwu to a banquet.
“Lord Su has traveled through dust and wind. I have prepared a modest feast at my residence to welcome Lord Su and the guards, to cleanse the road weariness.”
In terms of official rank, Governor Zhang outranked Su Qingwu, yet he did not dare to act superior. Su Qingwu was favored by the Emperor, and, more importantly, he was born into the Su family. No one could afford to underestimate him. He was only twenty, and his future was practically limitless.
“Thank you for Governor Zhang’s generosity,” Su Qingwu replied.
“Please.”
Su Qingwu remained where he was, gaze turning toward Mu Yunyao’s direction.
“Speaking of which, I have a personal matter,” he said. “May I ask whether Miss Mu, the one who spread embroidery techniques through Jingling, is present?”
The hatred Mu Yunyao had just pressed down surged again.
She dug her nails into her palm, hard, forcing her expression to stay smooth and gentle.
When everyone’s eyes turned to her, she walked forward step by step.
With every step, the killing intent in her heart rose another level.
Yet on her face, her expression softened instead, blooming into a mild, graceful smile.
“This common girl, Mu Yunyao, pays respects to Lord Su.”
Su Qingwu’s eyes flashed with surprise. He hadn’t expected Miss Mu to be so young.
She wore an apricot-colored mamian skirt, embroidered with moonlight over a lotus pond. Standing there, she looked like a lotus bud just about to bloom, delicate and upright, bright and lively. It was as if all the spiritual charm of Jiangnan’s rivers and mountains had gathered around her.
Su Qingwu swiftly hid the ripple in his gaze and spoke gently. “Miss Mu, no need for formalities. I’ve heard your embroidery is unmatched. Might I request a screen from your hands, as a birthday gift for my grandmother?”
“Since Lord Su asks, I should not refuse,” Mu Yunyao said softly. “But recently I cannot handle needle and thread. I fear I must disappoint you.”
“Why is that?” Su Qingwu studied her.
From start to finish, she kept her eyes lowered. Her long lashes were like small fans, and under the sunlight, they seemed to catch faint, colorful glimmers. For someone so young to have such spirit and beauty, even the irritation of being rejected eased for him.
Mu Yunyao lifted her hand. Across her pale, jade-like skin was a fresh cut, a thin line of red that looked startlingly vivid.
“I injured my hand some time ago. I ask Lord Su’s forgiveness.”
“So that’s the reason.” Su Qingwu nodded. “Then Su was too abrupt. What a pity…”
Mu Yunyao curtsied again, then retreated behind Madam Jin, lowering her head and saying no more.
Su Qingwu glanced at her once more. As he withdrew his gaze, his brow moved slightly.
For some reason, facing Mu Yunyao just now had left him with a strange sense of discord, something he couldn’t name, yet it tugged at his attention all the same.
*Ru Yi means “as you wish.” The additional meaning of Ru Yi is that of good luck and protection, with a reputation for helping its owner find an obvious way to fulfill his path or destiny.
Thanks for the chapter! Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteThankyou, hanamooi-san 💞
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