Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 133

Chapter 133: Tan Bawang’s Righteous Outrage

“I never expected to run into Miss Mu here,” Tan Bawang said. “Back then, you claimed to be from the Han family and sent me on a fine chase!”

His eyes darkened even further, and hatred boiled inside him. He longed to tear Mu Yunyao into pieces.

Back on the streets of Huai’an City, she had beaten him soundly with an oil-paper umbrella, leaving him bedridden for more than a month. Yet what enraged him even more was this: ever since she had kicked him between the legs, he had discovered that he could no longer function as a man. He had sought out every famous physician he could find, and none of them had been able to improve his condition in the slightest. How could he not hate her so bitterly that his heart bled?

“Did I say that? I have been terribly busy of late, and my memory seems to be getting worse and worse. I do not recall ever claiming to be from the Han family. May I ask what instruction Master Tan has come here with such fanfare to bestow upon me?”

Tan Bawang let out a cold laugh.

“You stole my concubine and still ask me what I came here for? Miss Mu’s talent for feigning ignorance is truly admirable.”

“I have heard that Master Tan keeps many concubines in his household, but unfortunately I have had the fortune to meet none of them. Besides, my household is hardly short of servants. Why would I steal your concubine?”

Tan Bawang was so enraged his liver seemed to tremble. His concubines had all been selected with the greatest care. How had they become mere servants for attending to others the moment they passed her lips? Though he himself had never thought much of those women, hearing Mu Yunyao speak of them in such a way felt like a knife driven straight into his lungs.

“Miss Mu, enough of your tricks. Hand over Cai Qing!”

“So the concubine you speak of is Cai Qing?”

“Exactly. Early this very morning, I signed a contract with that girl Cai Qing. She willingly entered my household as a concubine, with Matchmaker Liu of Jingling City as witness. I was just about to discuss taking her back with me to Huai’an City when you sent your people to seize her by force. I should like to ask—what kind of reason is that?”

Mu Yunyao frowned slightly.

Tan Bawang’s hatred burned hotter and hotter. At the sight of her expression, he nearly laughed aloud in satisfaction. To make that contract hold water, he had even gone so far as to hire a matchmaker in advance. With witnesses and proof all in place, he wanted to see how Mu Yunyao planned to wriggle out of this one.

“What is it—have you nothing to say now? Under the laws of the Great Li dynasty, seizing another man’s concubine without cause is punishable by exile eight hundred li away. Mu Yunyao, if you kneel and admit your fault now, perhaps this young master may still spare you!”

The crowd all around began whispering among themselves. None of them knew Tan Bawang, but who in Jingling City did not know Mu Yunyao? Now that they heard she had stolen another man’s concubine, their curiosity immediately flared. If a man stole another man’s concubine, that would be one thing—but what would Miss Mu want with another man’s concubine?

Someone in the crowd could not help stepping forward to speak in Mu Yunyao’s defense.

“This young master must not speak carelessly. How could Miss Mu possibly seize your concubine without cause? There must be some misunderstanding here.”

“What misunderstanding could there be? It was that subordinate of hers, the one called Liu Liang, who went to seize her. He even beat two of my attendants badly. Men, bring them forward quickly and let everyone see how miserable my two attendants have become!”

At once, two men were indeed carried forward. Their faces were mottled blue and purple, streaked with blood, and they lay on the carrying frame wailing incessantly. The sight of them was so miserable that many people in the crowd retreated two steps, unable to bear looking directly at them.

Tan Bawang’s face was full of indignation.

“Mu Yunyao, you are lawless and outrageous beyond measure. Return my concubine Cai Qing at once. Otherwise, I will immediately report this to the authorities and have the county magistrate take you in for questioning!”

Someone nearby quietly advised Mu Yunyao:

“Miss Mu, it really is not worth making such a great fuss over one concubine. If that Cai Qing is truly in your household, perhaps you should simply hand her over. They did sign a contract, after all. No matter how you look at it, she belongs to someone else now…”

Mu Yunyao only shook her head slightly.

“Thank you for your concern, sir, but things are not as Tan Bawang has described them.”

Seeing her refuse, Tan Bawang let out a savage laugh inwardly, his eyes shining with the thrill of imminent revenge.

“Mu Yunyao, the reason you refuse to hand her over—could it be that something has already happened to my concubine in your house? Ah, now I remember. Cai Qing once told me that her younger brother, Nan’er, had accidentally offended you. Could it be that you took the matter to heart and seized both Cai Qing and Nan’er to take revenge on them?”

“That is nonsense! Miss Mu is not that kind of person!”

“Exactly! Miss Mu taught embroidery techniques selflessly and helped the women of Jingling City acquire a skill. How could she be the kind of vicious woman you describe?”

Tan Bawang gave a mocking snort.

“It is easy enough to know a face and impossible to know a heart. Who is to say she is not simply fishing for fame? If she is not guilty, why does she still refuse to hand them over? Seizing another man’s concubine and still acting as though she has the right of it?”

Then, feigning sudden alarm, he blurted out,

“Could it really be that you have already done something to Cai Qing? Hand her over at once. If you keep delaying, I shall lead men inside myself and search for her!”

At once, Steward Qin brought people forward and blocked the gate.

Tan Bawang let out a cold laugh. Seeing Mu Yunyao behave like this, he became more certain than ever that Cai Qing had already swallowed the drug and died, and that Mu Yunyao dared not hand her over because her heart was full of guilt. His arrogance rose still higher.

“Mu Yunyao, do you think this can hide your crime? Let me tell you—I have already sent someone to report this to the authorities. Today, I will definitely seek justice for Cai Qing!”

Even as he spoke, the crowd suddenly parted. County Magistrate Zhao, dressed in official robes and accompanied by yamen runners, stepped forward.

“I heard that a case involving human life has arisen here, so I came to have a look. Miss Mu, what exactly is going on?”

“Greetings, Magistrate Zhao. I merely brought Miss Cai Qing and her two younger brothers into my house so they could recover from their injuries. This Master Tan then came to my gate, making trouble, insisting on slandering me for stealing his concubine and hinting at every turn that I had taken a life. Speaking truthfully, I myself do not clearly understand what exactly has happened.”

Magistrate Zhao turned to Tan Bawang.

“Who are you, and why are you making such a disturbance here?”

“Greetings, Magistrate Zhao. I am Tan Bawang, the young master of Caiyue Pavilion. My concubine Cai Qing was taken by Mu Yunyao, and now her life or death is unknown. That is why I went to the yamen to report this matter and ask that Magistrate Zhao judge it impartially.”

Magistrate Zhao’s brows drew together.

“Whoever is involved, this official will deal with the matter impartially. Explain the details of the case clearly.”

Seeing that Magistrate Zhao meant to hear the case in the street itself, even more townspeople crowded in. But with the yamen runners standing guard, they could only watch in silence and did not dare make too much noise.

Tan Bawang immediately recounted the entire matter in vivid detail. In particular, when he spoke of Mu Yunyao sending people to seize Cai Qing and Little Mao, his expression became especially righteous and indignant. Matchmaker Liu stepped forward as well and testified on Tan Bawang’s behalf, saying that Cai Qing had indeed pressed her thumbprint onto the contract and had willingly agreed to become Tan Bawang’s concubine.

The two injured attendants also spoke up, and the story they told was so pitiful that anyone hearing it would grieve, and anyone listening would weep. Quite a few among the crowd began to sympathize with them.

After hearing everything, Magistrate Zhao’s face remained as stern as ever, impossible to read.

“Miss Mu, are matters truly as Tan Bawang describes them?”

Mu Yunyao shook her head slightly.

“As for the full truth, I am not entirely certain either. It would be better to let Cai Qing speak for herself.”

“What?”

Tan Bawang blurted out in shock. According to their plan, should Cai Qing not already have taken the powder by now?

Mu Yunyao looked at him, the corner of her lips curving in faint mockery.

“What is this? Master Tan seems disappointed that Cai Qing is still alive.”

“How could that be? I only fear that you have threatened her in secret…”

“Just now, by your own account, you and Miss Cai Qing are deeply in love and bound by mutual affection. You even traveled all the way from Huai’an City solely to bring her back with you. If your feelings are truly that deep, how could she possibly be induced to act against you because of one or two threats?”

Mu Yunyao turned to Jin Qiao.

“Go and invite Miss Cai Qing out.”

“Yes, Miss.”

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