Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 126

Chapter 126: Drunk on Osmanthus Wine

After Mu Yunyao changed her clothes, she had only just walked into the front courtyard when Jin Lan and Jin Qiao pulled her over to Su Qing’s side.

“Miss, everything is ready. We were only waiting for you to take your seat.”

Su Qing had been arranged in the seat of honor. Although her expression showed a little restraint, she was still able to steady herself. During this period, under the influence of Madam Ding and Madam Jin, her temperament had changed a great deal. At the very least, she could now handle a scene like this.

“Yao’er, come sit where Mother is.”

Mu Yunyao stepped forward, held Su Qing by the shoulders, and gently pressed her back down.

“Only Mother may sit in this seat. Just sit at ease. We still need to toast you.”

Steward Qin quickly echoed her.

“Indeed. Madam has worked extremely hard during this period. This first cup of wine should properly be offered to Madam by all of us.”

“What hard work is there to speak of? I have not helped much at all.”

Su Qing’s face flushed slightly, and she was extremely embarrassed as she tried to refuse.

After half a year of careful nourishment, Su Qing had changed greatly. Now, her face was fair, and her eyes were bright with spirit. Paired with the clothes and jewelry Mu Yunyao had personally made for her, her whole bearing was dignified and refined, carrying an indescribably gentle grace.

Steward Qin looked at Su Qing and kept feeling that there was something familiar about her features, as though he had seen them on someone before. But when he tried to look more carefully, he could not recall who it was.

Mu Yunyao lifted her wine cup.

“Who says Mother has not helped? If not for your support, Niyun Pavilion could never have opened. Your contribution is great indeed.”

Jin Lan, Jin Qiao, and the others all echoed her one after another.

“Miss is right. Back when I was learning the pressing stitch and could never master it, Madam taught me again and again without the slightest impatience.”

“Yes. At that time, I kept pricking my fingers, and it was Madam who helped apply medicine for me.”

“And me…”

After spending so much time together, everyone had developed an affection for Su Qing. The words they spoke were all sincere, and for a moment, Su Qing was deeply moved.

In Su Qing’s eyes, she had only helped deal with a few trivial matters. Some of them were things even she had already forgotten, yet Jin Lan and the others remembered them clearly.

“The first cup is to Madam. May Madam be whole and fulfilled, and may all her wishes come true.”

“Wishing Madam good health and all things according to your heart.”

“Wishing Madam eternal youth and blessings as enduring as life itself.”

One blessing after another, each filled with joy, deeply touched Su Qing.

“Then let us drink this cup together. I hope that in the days to come, all of us may be whole and fulfilled, and may all our wishes come true.”

“Yes. Many thanks, Madam.”

Mu Yunyao watched from the side, her heart filled with joy.

To suit the occasion, they were drinking osmanthus wine. It was not very strong, but once it entered the stomach, it spread a warm, mellow feeling through the body.

Steward Qin rose.

“This second cup should be offered to Miss Mu. If not for Miss, none of us would have the life we have today.”

The moment these words left his mouth, they immediately drew agreement from everyone.

Mu Yunyao did not stand on ceremony either. With a smiling expression, she drank the wine down.

After a round of toasts, the courtyard was filled with endless laughter and cheerful voices.

Mu Yunyao was happy and could not help drinking two more cups. The light in her eyes immediately grew somewhat misty.

For some reason, she suddenly thought of the branch of osmanthus she had broken off and tossed into Su Qingwu’s arms. At once, she felt uncomfortable. Picking up a pot of wine, she headed toward Jinxiu Garden.

Su Qing noticed her and quickly reached out to stop her.

“Yao’er, where are you going?”

“Mother, I am going to pick osmanthus flowers for you.”

“What osmanthus flowers? Mother already had people buy them. Have you forgotten?”

As Su Qing spoke, she pulled Mu Yunyao back down to sit.

“Mother sees that your cheeks are red. Could it be that you have drunk too much?”

Mu Yunyao felt an inexplicable grievance rise in her heart.

“The osmanthus flowers I picked for Mother were taken away by someone hateful. I want to go pick another branch for you.”

“There is no need.”

Su Qing looked at Mu Yunyao, her eyes full of affection.

In another two months, Yao’er would turn fourteen. During this period, her figure had gradually begun to grow, and more than half the childishness in her appearance had faded. Her whole person was like a flower bud about to bloom, revealing a delicate beauty. Especially that face, fairer and softer than ever. Now, because of the wine, a thin layer of red had spread over it, giving the illusion that her skin might break with the slightest touch.

“Mother does not love me anymore.”

Seeing Mu Yunyao’s expression grow more and more dazed, Su Qing quickly called Jin Lan over.

“Yao’er has drunk too much. Help her back to her room to rest.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Mu Yunyao was supported back to her room, but in her heart, she was still thinking about that branch of osmanthus she had failed to pick. Her eyes moved slightly, and she said to Jin Lan, “I am going to rest. You may continue eating in the front courtyard. It is rare to have a little free time these two days, so you should also gather properly with your two younger sisters.”

“Miss, will you be all right alone?”

“Be at ease. I am only sleeping. What could happen?”

“All right. Then this servant will go to the front courtyard.”

Jin Lan poured water for her, then saw Mu Yunyao lying on the bed with her eyes closed. Only then did she slowly withdraw.

Once there was no sound left in the room, Mu Yunyao opened her eyes and sat up.

The wine had surged upward, making her thoughts slow. She thought for a while about the osmanthus flowers in Jinxiu Garden, then opened the window, stepped onto a stool, climbed up, and prepared to jump down.

“Master!”

Liu Liang’s heart jolted. He hurried forward and supported Mu Yunyao.

The window was not especially high from the ground, but Mu Yunyao was already tipsy. When she jumped down, the impact jarred her heels painfully, causing her to draw in a breath.

“Master, how are you?”

Liu Liang hated himself for following too slowly. If he had arrived even a moment earlier, he certainly would have stopped her from jumping out the window.

Mu Yunyao shook her head. She lifted a finger and softly shushed him.

“You must not let Mother find out.”

Liu Liang lowered his head and looked at the smile at the corners of Mu Yunyao’s lips. After a moment of hesitation, he carefully tested, “Master, are you drunk?”

“How could I be? I still need to go to Jinxiu Garden and pick osmanthus flowers for Mother.”

“It is late. Going over there now is too dangerous.”

Mu Yunyao would not listen. Her whole mind was fixed on the osmanthus flowers. The more he refused to let her do it, the more stubborn she became.

“If you are afraid, then wait here by yourself. I will pick the osmanthus flowers and come back.”

She pressed her lips together slightly. Because she had drunk wine, a trace of rosy color lingered on her lips, making them even more delicate and vivid than roses beneath the moon.

Liu Liang was now certain that Mu Yunyao was drunk, but he did not wish to go against her will. Seeing that everyone was in the front courtyard, he accompanied her through the wall entrance and into Jinxiu Garden.

The bright moon was like a silver plate, pouring clear radiance down upon the earth. It illuminated the scenery in the garden with perfect clarity, yet compared with the daytime, it added a few more shades of hazy beauty.

Mu Yunyao’s steps were somewhat unsteady. Afraid she might fall, Liu Liang carefully supported her arm all the way. By the time they reached the osmanthus grove, his palm was already damp with sweat.

Finally seeing the osmanthus flowers, Mu Yunyao became happy. She grabbed a branch and was about to climb up, just as she had during the day.

Liu Liang was startled and quickly stepped forward to support her.

“Master, which branch of osmanthus flowers do you want? I will pick it for you.”

Mu Yunyao tried for quite a while, but felt her arms soft and weak. She could not help furrowing her brows.

“Liu Liang, I want to go up. Can you not fly? How about you carry me up?”

Mu Yunyao lifted her head slightly. Her white-jade-like face seemed to glow faintly beneath the moonlight.

Liu Liang’s heart suddenly leapt. At that moment, he felt that no matter what order she gave, he would be willing to obey it without condition.

“…All right.”

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