Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 123

Chapter 123: Forcing Out Yue Wang’s Identity 

Naturally, Jin Lan and Jin Qiao also recognized Su Qingwu. After a brief moment of fluster, they hurried forward to bow, then quickly helped Mu Yunyao down from the osmanthus tree.

Mu Yunyao straightened her skirt, a trace of fitting puzzlement on her face.

“Greetings, Official Su. Had you not already returned to the capital? How is it that you have suddenly appeared in Jinxiu Garden?”

“Miss Mu, no need for such courtesy. I came this time to escort the two pieces of calligraphy His Majesty bestowed upon you.”

At once, delight filled Mu Yunyao’s face, the joy in her clear eyes almost spilling over.

“His Majesty truly bestowed calligraphy upon me? Wonderful! Official Su, you said two pieces?”

“Yes—one for Ni Yun Fang and one for Bu Xian Lou. Miss Mu ought to have guessed that long ago, should she not?”

Su Qingwu studied Mu Yunyao closely. Thinking back on all her previous methods, he felt his emotions churn in his heart. He was so affected by her—had that too been calculated by her hand?

Mu Yunyao paid no mind to the faint mockery in his words. Her smile remained bright.

“How would I dare casually presume to guess His Majesty’s intentions? Could Official Su have guessed them in advance?”

“Of course not.” To presume upon the imperial will was a grave offense. Naturally, he would never admit to such a thing.

“Exactly so. Official Su is someone favored by His Majesty, yet even you could not know—so how could I?”

Mu Yunyao was in too good a mood now to bother needling Su Qingwu further. Seeing that he did not answer, she lost the urge to continue sparring with him.

“May I ask where the imperial calligraphy is now? Should I set out an incense table at once and prepare to receive it?”

“It has already been escorted under Imperial Guard to Governor Zhang’s residence. As it is now late, Governor Zhang will likely send someone to notify you tomorrow.”

The smile on Mu Yunyao’s face grew even brighter.

“Tomorrow just happens to be Mid-Autumn—truly, joy comes in pairs. Jin Lan, Jin Qiao, help me gather osmanthus blossoms and send them back to Mother. I must go find Steward Qin and discuss how to celebrate tomorrow. This osmanthus grove has not yet been opened to guests. If Official Su wishes to drink tea, it would be better to go elsewhere. Shall I call a tea attendant to receive you?”

“There is no need. I should be leaving as well.”

“Then I respectfully see Official Su off.”

After Su Qingwu turned and left at once, Mu Yunyao went back full of delight to share the good news with her mother.

Once outside Jinxiu Garden, one of Su Qingwu’s attendants hurried up.

“Official Su, Governor Zhang has learned that you have come and has specifically sent someone to invite you to the banquet.”

“Decline for me. Tell him I am weary from the journey and not feeling well. We can speak of it tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir.”

Su Qingwu was just about to mount his horse when he suddenly realized that he was still holding that spray of osmanthus. Its leaves were green, its blossoms luxuriant, tiny pale-gold flowers crowded together in cheerful abundance, making it especially pleasing to the eye.

“Official Su?”

The attendant saw him pause and could not help speaking up.

Su Qingwu’s brow twitched. He looked deeply at the osmanthus branch once, then casually threw it to the ground, mounted his horse, and galloped away like a gust of wind.

Though Su Qingwu’s appearance had somewhat dampened Mu Yunyao’s spirits, the thought of those two golden signboards drove the small displeasure straight out of her mind.

“Mother, our plaques have arrived.”

“The plaques? You mean the calligraphy His Majesty bestowed has arrived?”

Su Qing was overjoyed.

“Yes. Both Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Lou have one. Tomorrow we may receive them from Governor Zhang’s residence.”

Su Qing’s face lit up with happiness. She was so excited that she could not stop pacing the room.

“That is wonderful—truly wonderful! And tomorrow is Mid-Autumn as well. We must celebrate properly.”

“Yes. Ah, I must also bring the good news to Steward Qin. He too has been looking forward to it for a long time.”

“Go, then. Quickly. Steward Qin is all alone and has no family in Jingling City. And the children at Bu Xian Lou have also worked so hard these days. Since tomorrow is Mid-Autumn, how about we all celebrate together?”

Su Qing spoke somewhat hesitantly, worried that her suggestion might be too abrupt or troublesome. The more she spoke, the quieter her voice became.

Mu Yunyao, however, approved wholeheartedly.

“Mother has thought of everything so well. I have been so busy these days that I nearly forgot all about Mid-Autumn. Thankfully Mother reminded me. Then let Siqin and the others help you prepare. Tomorrow Bu Xian Lou shall close early, and we will all have a reunion meal together.”

“Good. Then Mother will go make ready.”

Hearing her suggestion affirmed, Su Qing was delighted. She immediately called Siqin and the others to begin preparations. There would be a great many mouths to feed, after all.

When Steward Qin heard the news about the imperial calligraphy from Mu Yunyao, he smiled so broadly that his eyes nearly disappeared.

“This is truly excellent!”

With that golden signboard, who would still dare investigate Bu Xian Lou? So long as things were handled properly, Yue Wang could use Bu Xian Lou to spread his eyes and ears throughout all of Jiangnan, soon accomplishing the great plan in his heart and returning early to the capital.

“I shall write to Fourth Master at once. He is sure to be overjoyed.”

“Fourth Master is so far away—would it not take a long time for a letter to reach him?” Mu Yunyao asked, as though the question were entirely casual.

“Yes indeed. To send it to Yuexi would take half a month—”

The moment the words left his mouth, Steward Qin froze where he stood.

“Ahem... Master has gone to Yuexi these days to discuss some business, so the letter must be sent there...” But the more he spoke, the more it sounded like a clumsy attempt at concealment.

Mu Yunyao only looked at Steward Qin with a faint smile and said nothing.

“Yuexi is a bitter and remote borderland, with high terrain and mountain ranges everywhere. Some peaks are capped with snow all year long, and even grass struggles to grow. What kind of business could possibly be done there?”

“As for Master’s affairs, I do not know them so clearly...”

“Steward Qin, now that Bu Xian Lou bears the golden signboard bestowed by His Majesty, it will only continue to prosper more and more. But if I do not know Fourth Master’s true identity, then sooner or later I may do something contrary to his wishes. If things continue that way, it can only harm Bu Xian Lou’s development.”

“Does Miss not already know? Fourth Master is from Xiling in the capital. His forebears held official office, and he has quite a number of businesses in hand...”

“But I asked Official Su, and he said that among the Ning families of the capital, there is none whose business stands out in such a way.”

“Su... Su Qingwu? He serves at court. That does not mean he knows all the circumstances of Xiling...”

“It so happens that this time he is also the one escorting His Majesty’s calligraphy to Jingling City. If Steward Qin will not tell me honestly, then I shall simply draw a portrait and ask Official Su to make inquiries for me.”

“You must not! Absolutely not!”

Yue Wang had only recently returned to the capital to offer birthday congratulations to the Emperor, and Su Qingwu had seen him. If Mu Yunyao handed over a likeness, matters would be truly disastrous.

“Since Steward Qin will not let me make inquiries, then you had better speak for yourself.”

Looking at the certainty on Mu Yunyao’s face, Steward Qin gave a helpless little smile.

“Miss is so clever. I imagine you must already have guessed something?”

Since she had already resolved to lay bare Yue Wang’s identity, Mu Yunyao did not intend to circle around any further. Hearing Steward Qin ask that question, she nodded.

“Fourth Master bears an extraordinary presence. His surname is Ning, he is fourth in rank, and just now you said he is in Yuexi. So I have made a bold guess. Fourth Master would not happen to be His Highness Yue Wang, would he?”

To support us, kindly donate through our website. Thank you. 💕

↞ Previous│❀ Table of Contents ❀ │ Next ↠