Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 132

Chapter 132: Meeting Tan Bawang Again

Mu Yunyao bent down and picked up the packet of powder.

“If this were truly poison, I might have believed you. Unfortunately, you did not finish staging your little play. This powder would make someone vomit blood and appear to be on the verge of death, but it would not actually be fatal. If treated in time, a few months of recovery would be enough.”

Cai Qing looked up, trembling all over.

“Miss Mu understands medicine as well?”

“There are too many wicked people in this world. One must know a few methods of self-protection. If I did not understand medicine, would I not have been deceived by you today?”

Cai Qing fell silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into tears.

“Miss Mu, I deserve to die. I gave rise to thoughts I never should have harbored. But I truly had no choice. Little Mao was injured and we had no silver for a physician. Nan’er is already eleven years old, yet because he has never had enough to eat, he looks no more than eight or nine…”

Mu Yunyao looked at Cai Qing coldly, disgust flashing through her heart.

“And even now, you still use them as an excuse? Or do you think I have no way to deal with you? There are many ways in this world to make a person die without a sound. You said it yourself—when people of your station die, the officials do not trouble themselves over it. I have more than enough means to settle the matter.”

She did not believe that this clever young woman would risk her life to scheme against her for such a reason. If Cai Qing truly valued Nan’er and Little Mao above her own life, how could she have brought herself to use them?

Cai Qing shuddered, then raised her hand and struck herself hard across the face. She used such force that blood immediately appeared at the corner of her mouth.

“Miss Mu, I will tell the truth… It was not really for Nan’er and Little Mao that I allowed myself to deceive you. It was for the sake of getting enough silver to leave the Charity Hall!”

As Cai Qing spoke, she raised her head slightly. When she saw Mu Yunyao’s expression grow still colder, a desolate look flashed through her eyes.

“You live in comfort, high above us. How could you possibly understand the suffering of orphans like us? On the surface, the Charity Hall appears to exist to shelter children like us, but behind the walls it is full of filth. Girls like us, once we are grown, are quietly sold off. The fortunate ones become someone’s concubine. But more often, they are bought and kept in private houses as secret prostitutes. I was unwilling to fall to such a fate, and that is why I agreed to Tan Bawang’s terms…”

The Charity Hall? Secret prostitution?

Mu Yunyao had never expected the Charity Hall to be engaged in such business. She measured Cai Qing carefully.

“And you were certain I would send someone to rescue you? If I had not granted Nan’er’s request, how did you intend to end this matter?”

“Miss Mu likes that child Nan’er, does she not? He was abandoned at the gates of the Charity Hall when he was small. Because he is thin and weak, people often bully him. Yet he has never blamed Heaven or resented others. Most of all, those eyes of his are so clear that they seem untouched by filth. Give him only a little kindness, and he can live clinging to it with happiness. I believed that Miss would not refuse such a pure-hearted child. And even if this attempt failed, there could always be another. In time, it would succeed…”

Mu Yunyao let out a cold laugh.

“You certainly know how to use people thoroughly. And you were quite certain I would save you, weren’t you?”

Now that Cai Qing was in her house, even if Mu Yunyao were to throw her back out this moment, Tan Bawang would still cling to the claim that she had stolen another man’s concubine. And if he were ruthless enough, he could even have Cai Qing quietly poisoned, then lay the blame at her door. What a neat calculation.

Cai Qing burst into sobs.

“Miss, I truly regret it. I should not have used Nan’er, and I should never have placed Lier in danger. I was only confused for a moment. I simply did not want my own end to be so miserable. I truly never meant to harm them. Please, find a way to save them!”

Mu Yunyao’s brows knit tightly. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed movement from the side.

“Miss, please… please save Sister Cai Qing…”

Nan’er was struggling to rise, but there was not the slightest strength in him. He nearly rolled off the daybed.

Cai Qing rushed over and caught him.

“Don’t move. Miss Mu said that two of your ribs are broken. If you move carelessly, it may leave lasting harm.”

But Nan’er only looked stubbornly toward Mu Yunyao.

“Miss, I know I am being unreasonable, but other than you, I do not know any noble person at all. I can only beg you to save Sister Cai Qing. I have nothing in this world except this life. If it would save her, I am willing to pay it with my life. I would do anything!”

At those words, Cai Qing covered her face and wept aloud.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry to all of you…”

At the doorway, Su Qing stepped in, her eyes red, and looked at Mu Yunyao with some hesitation.

“Yao’er…”

Mu Yunyao gave her a small nod, then turned to Nan’er and Cai Qing.

“I can save you, and I can help you leave the Charity Hall. But the two of you must sign indenture contracts. Are you willing?”

Nan’er nodded frantically.

“I am willing. Many thanks for Miss’s great kindness.”

Cai Qing agreed without the slightest hesitation.

“I am willing as well. Many thanks, Miss.”

She truly regretted everything now. Even if Mu Yunyao were to sell her off afterward, she would accept it. They had lived together for years. How could she not have long since regarded Nan’er and Little Mao as younger brothers of her own? Seeing them reduced to such a miserable state because of her, and still pleading on her behalf, her heart had already been drowned in remorse. She could no longer understand how she had once become so crazed as to use them, nearly costing them their lives.

Seeing this, the chill in Mu Yunyao’s eyes eased slightly.

To Cai Qing, she said, “Come with me. I will have Jin Lan watch over these two children.”

“Yes, Miss.”

After a round of busyness, noon was nearly at hand when a commotion suddenly broke out at the gate of Jinxiu Garden, drawing many townspeople over to watch.

At the front gate, a servant missing one finger was shouting at the top of his lungs:

“Mu Yunyao, come out! Hand over our young master’s concubine! Stealing another man’s concubine is a serious crime. If you do not surrender her, our young master will take you to court and ask the county magistrate to decide justice!”

Jin Lan brought the matter to Mu Yunyao. Beside her, Su Qing was full of worry.

“Yao’er?”

“Mother, do not worry. I will go have a look at the gate and return shortly.”

“You must be careful. Take Siqin and the others with you. Do not let yourself suffer any loss!”

Su Qing hurriedly called for Siqin and the others.

“You must protect Miss properly!”

Mu Yunyao could not help laughing.

“Mother, rest assured. They would not dare lay hands on me.”

“Take them anyway. They kicked Nan’er so hard that they broke his ribs. That alone shows how lawless they are. You must not lower your guard.”

“All right. I’ll do as Mother says.”

As soon as she stepped out of the room, the warmth vanished from Mu Yunyao’s eyes.

Steward Qin had already gathered people at the gate. The moment he saw her come out, he hurried forward to greet her, then stood at her side, looking at Tan Bawang and his people with open hostility.

The instant Tan Bawang saw Mu Yunyao, his teeth ground audibly. He narrowed his eyes and looked her up and down, resentment filling him to the brim.

So he had finally gotten hold of this little wretch.

Mu Yunyao naturally saw Tan Bawang as well, but the sight of him brought a flicker of surprise to her eyes. Compared with the last time, he had grown much thinner. The air about him had also changed, becoming far softer and more affected. Something about every movement of his carried an indescribable sense of wrongness.

“Master Tan, it has been quite some time. I never expected that you would come all the way to Jingling City.”

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