Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 103

Chapter 103: Su Qingwu

At the Governor’s Residence, the Governor’s wife came forward with a face full of smiles to welcome Madam Jin and Mu Yunyao.

“Why have the two of you come so late? Had you delayed any longer, I would have sent someone to invite you. Come now, there is no need for such ceremony. Rise and come inside to sit.”

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Madam Jin, the Governor’s wife turned her gaze toward Mu Yunyao.

Compared with the previous two times Mu Yunyao had met her, the Governor’s wife was clearly much warmer this time.

“These days have been so busy that I have not had time to visit Niyun Pavilion. Miss Mu, why do you look as though you have grown thinner?”

Mu Yunyao wore a docile smile. “I have troubled Madam to keep thinking of me. These past few days, my appetite has not been very good, so I have eaten a little less.”

“At such a young age, you must take better care of yourself. The cooks in my residence make excellent medicinal cuisine. Later, I shall have someone stew a bowl and send it to you.”

Mu Yunyao quickly rose, her face showing a flattered, almost overwhelmed expression. “How could I dare accept such kindness?”

“The moment I saw you, I felt fond of you. What is there to dare or not dare? When you leave later, I will have someone copy down the medicinal recipe for you to take back. Once you return, have it prepared every day and eat some. In only a few days, you will be as fresh and dewy as before.”

Mu Yunyao hurriedly bent her knees in a curtsy. “Many thanks, Madam. I will certainly have it stewed every day.”

Her eyes were bright, and her tone was extremely sincere. The Governor’s wife was clearly intending to befriend her. Naturally, Mu Yunyao could not refuse.

Both the Governor’s wife and Madam Jin were somewhat distracted. From time to time, they glanced toward the doorway.

Roughly half an hour later, a maidservant hurried in with a flustered expression.

“Reporting to Madam, His Majesty’s rewards have arrived. Master has sent word inviting you, Madam Jin, and Miss Mu to the front courtyard to receive the imperial edict.”

“Good. We shall go at once.”

The Governor’s wife rose quickly, her face glowing with joy.

“Come, come. The two of you are the important ones today.”

Madam Jin did not stand on ceremony any longer and followed the Governor’s wife toward the front courtyard.

Before the main hall of the front courtyard, an incense table and all the necessary ceremonial items had already been arranged.

Governor Zhang led the officials to stand respectfully below the incense table according to their respective ranks. Upon the incense table rested a scroll of bright yellow imperial edict. Beneath the sunlight, it seemed to give off a solemn and majestic radiance.

Mu Yunyao followed Madam Jin into the front courtyard. Her eyes were slightly lowered, fixed upon the ground. Her gaze was calm, yet her face carried an expression of apprehension.

She only heard Governor Zhang say, “Lord Su, everyone has arrived. You may now read His Majesty’s decree.”

At the sound of the surname Su, Mu Yunyao’s brows moved slightly.

Almost by instinct, she raised her head to look.

With that one glance, it was as though a thunderbolt had struck her. Her whole body suddenly froze where she stood.

Beside the incense table stood a young man. He wore light armor, his brows and eyes as fine as a painted portrait. His phoenix eyes shone with brilliant light. His entire person was like a green pine standing proud against frost and snow, full of unyielding bones, innately distinguished, and impossible to diminish.

Mu Yunyao looked at him.

The hatred in her heart churned and surged, rolling violently into her eyes. Her dark pupils seemed to freeze over like a thousand-foot cliff of suspended ice, leaving not the slightest trace of warmth or light.

Su Qingwu.

It was actually Su Qingwu!

Su Qingwu held the imperial edict in both hands, quietly waiting for everyone to kneel and pay respects. Suddenly, he felt an exceptionally sharp gaze fall upon him. He immediately lifted his eyes to look, but saw only the kneeling crowd. He discovered nothing unusual.

“The Emperor decrees: Jingling City…”

Mu Yunyao knelt on the ground with the others. Her hands were folded, and her forehead touched the earth. Her posture was incomparably respectful. Yet the hatred in her heart towered like waves surging to the heavens.

Su Qingwu.

The Su family’s most prized legitimate eldest grandson.

At only twenty years old, he had been specially promoted to First-Class Imperial Guard. Even when imperial descendants and noble scions mentioned Su Qingwu, they had to praise him as a rare talent.

In her previous life, in order to take revenge on that good elder sister of hers, she had used certain means to climb into Jin Wang’s bed.

This refined young master, praised by all the world, had kicked her hard in the chest, making her spit up three mouthfuls of blood.

She remembered his eyes at that moment at all times. They were contemptuous and disdainful, as though he were looking at a clump of filthy mud on the ground.

Afterward, she entered Jin Wang’s Residence and became his concubine.

To please the Emperor, Jin Wang decided to personally copy one hundred volumes of Buddhist scriptures to pray for blessings. She accompanied him to Huguo Temple and, imitating Jin Wang’s handwriting, helped him copy the scriptures. Unexpectedly, Su Qingwu discovered her.

Using the charge of disrespect toward the Emperor, he had her dragged into the courtyard and beaten.

At that time, she had already been four months pregnant.

After ten strokes of the plank, she began to bleed. That very night, after she was brought back, the child was gone.

That child had indeed come beyond her expectations.

Yet she had longed for it with all her heart.

If not for those ten strokes, perhaps it might have been born safely.

As her thoughts churned, Su Qingwu had already reached the portion of the edict concerning her rewards.

“…Mu Yunyao, benevolent in heart and worthy of commendation, is bestowed one pair of jade ruyi, ten bolts of brocade, and one hundred taels of gold…”

The imperial edict took roughly a quarter of an hour to finish reading.

Mu Yunyao gathered back the hatred in her heart and did her utmost to restore herself to calm. Along with the others, she performed the rites and gave thanks for the imperial grace.

Governor Zhang rose and received the imperial edict, then enshrined it within the main hall. His face was full of smiles as he invited Su Qingwu to the banquet.

“Lord Su has come from afar, travel-worn and weary. I have prepared a modest wine banquet in the residence to welcome Lord Su and the guards, and to wash away the dust of the road.”

In terms of official rank, Governor Zhang naturally stood above Su Qingwu. Yet he did not dare put on airs in the slightest.

Leaving aside the fact that Su Qingwu was favored before the Emperor, his birth from the Su family alone was enough to make others unwilling to underestimate him. Moreover, he was only twenty years old. His future could be said to be bright, his prospects boundless.

“Many thanks for Lord Zhang’s hospitality.”

“Please, this way.”

Su Qingwu remained standing where he was. His gaze turned in Mu Yunyao’s direction.

“Speaking of which, this lowly official has a private matter. May I ask whether Miss Mu, who spread the embroidery stitches throughout Jingling City, is present?”

The hatred that Mu Yunyao had only just forced down surged up again.

She dug her nails fiercely into her palm, doing everything she could to make herself appear calm, as though no wind or wave stirred within her.

Seeing that everyone’s gazes had turned toward her, she walked step by step to stand before Su Qingwu.

With every step she took, the hostility in her heart deepened by one degree. Yet the expression on her face was precisely the opposite, gradually taking on a gentle and graceful smile.

“This common girl, Mu Yunyao, greets Lord Su.”

Seeing Mu Yunyao, a trace of surprise flashed through Su Qingwu’s eyes. He had not expected her to be so young.

She wore an apricot-colored mamian skirt embroidered with moonlight over a lotus pond. At this moment, she stood there slender and graceful, like a lotus bud rising upright from clear water. Around her lingered a delicate cleverness and bright charm, as though she had gathered into herself all the spiritual grace of Jiangnan’s mountains and rivers.

Su Qingwu very quickly restrained the unusual feeling in his heart and spoke in a warm voice.

“Miss Mu need not be so courteous. I have heard that Miss’s embroidery skill is without equal. Might I request from Miss’s hands an embroidered screen to present to my grandmother as a birthday gift?”

“Since Lord Su has made a request, I ought not refuse. It is only that recently, I cannot touch needle and thread. I fear I must disappoint Lord Su.”

“Why is that?”

Su Qingwu studied Mu Yunyao. From beginning to end, her eyes had remained lowered. Her long lashes were like two small fans, and when sunlight fell upon them, they seemed to shimmer with seven-colored light.

Though she was so young, she already possessed such exquisite grace. The displeasure he had felt at being refused lessened considerably.

Mu Yunyao extended her hand.

Across her palm lay a bloody mark. Against skin as white as jade, it appeared especially startling.

“I injured my hand some time ago. I ask Lord Su’s forgiveness.”

“So that is how it is. Then Su was presumptuous. It is truly a pity…”

Mu Yunyao bent her knees in a curtsy, then withdrew behind Madam Jin. Lowering her head slightly, she said nothing more.

Su Qingwu glanced at her once more. After withdrawing his gaze, his brows moved faintly.

For some reason, when facing Mu Yunyao just now, he had felt an indescribable sense of dissonance. It made him unable to stop himself from taking notice.

Ru Yi means “as you wish.” The additional meaning of Ru Yi is beneficial luck and protection, with a reputation for helping its owner find a clear way to fulfill his path or destiny.

Edited by Little Kitty on 05/06/20

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