Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 120

Chapter 120: Traces of Ding Yuelan

After returning from the Cao residence, Mu Yunyao told Su Qing about Madam Jin’s condition. When she had finished, Su Qing praised her for doing the right thing.

“If Madam Jin had not helped us in the beginning, then you and I would never have the life we have today. I know that after so long, there is naturally some element of mutual use in how people get along. Human feeling is not something that reaches true intimacy in a single morning or evening. But now that you have spent time with Madam Jin, now that you know her character and real affection has grown between you, you should think less of gain and loss and more of protecting that bond.”

Mu Yunyao paused, then nodded.

“Yes. Mother is right.”

Having lived a second life, she had become harder-hearted. She could scheme with great care to reach her goals. But she did not wish to become someone who would stop at nothing. Otherwise, what difference would there be between herself and the Su family she hated, or Jin Wang?

Since Ni Yun Fang had naturally to be rebuilt after being burned down, Madam Jin had given her the deed to the original little building. After thanking her, Mu Yunyao did not refuse too strenuously. Once Bu Xian Lou had begun to run smoothly, she started going there from time to time to inspect the progress of Ni Yun Fang’s reconstruction.

Having come into contact with so many embroiderers, she had already marked several out in her mind. She sent Jin Lan and Jin Qiao to inquire after them. Apart from three who had already signed contracts with other households, more than a dozen others agreed to come work at Ni Yun Fang.

With the income from Bu Xian Lou these days, Mu Yunyao’s hand had grown much freer. She bought silk thread and bolts of cloth and had those embroiderers begin making garments. Sure enough, two among them proved genuinely gifted. The garments they made according to her designs needed only slight adjustment before they could be sold directly.

Following Mu Yunyao’s advice, Madam Jin now comes to Jinxiu Garden almost every day. Whether because her heart had relaxed or for some other reason, she found that she could actually eat the food Su Qing made. She praised Su Qing’s cooking again and again, and within only a few days, the two had grown quite familiar with one another.

Once Madam Jin learned that Su Qing would be in charge of Ni Yun Fang in the future, she began, in the course of casual conversation, to reveal this. That was about the households of the various great families, allowing Su Qing to benefit greatly.

Seeing how harmoniously Mother and Madam Jin got along, Mu Yunyao naturally felt delighted. With that, she was able to free her hands and focus all her attention on overseeing the embroiderers as they made garments. With Ni Yun Fang soon to receive a golden signboard, they absolutely could not afford to produce anything that might tarnish its reputation. Every garment had to be exquisitely made and splendidly beautiful.

After supper, Mu Yunyao was sketching clothing patterns in the study when Liu Liang suddenly knocked on the door.

“What is it?”

“Master, I have found traces of Madam Ding!”

Mu Yunyao immediately looked up. The Assistant Magistrate of Jingling and the Xuanfu Commissioner had both been escorted to the capital to answer for their crimes, and the Ding family had been confiscated as well. She had never received any word of Ding Yuelan and had thought she must have left Jingling City together with Master Ding and Old Madam Ding.

“Where is she?”

“At Ruyi Pavilion.”

“Ruyi Pavilion?”

Mu Yunyao thought carefully for a moment, but had never heard of the place.

For an instant, Liu Liang’s expression turned slightly unnatural.

“...In Crossroads Lane.”

Mu Yunyao’s face changed sharply. Crossroads Lane was where Jingling City’s brothels and pleasure houses gathered. That being so, Ruyi Pavilion must be one of those places of purchased tenderness.

“Take banknotes and redeem her.”

“Yes.”

Liu Liang hurried off with the banknotes, but in less than half an hour, he returned alone.

“That procuress says ten thousand taels was the previous price. She is now asking twenty thousand.”

Mu Yunyao’s expression darkened further.

“She must have guessed the connection between Madam Ding and me, which is why she dares raise the price so shamelessly. Is it not merely twenty thousand taels? Give it to her!”

“Yes.”

Liu Liang immediately left again. Yet more than half an hour later, Jin Lan and Jin Qiao came in supporting Ding Yuelan between them.

“...Many thanks, Miss Mu.”

The moment Ding Yuelan entered, she tried with all her strength to stand on her own, but her body was so badly injured that she collapsed directly to the floor.

Mu Yunyao hurried forward and helped her up.

“How did Madam Ding come to such a state?”

Ding Yuelan had wasted away terribly. Her body was covered in lash marks. Her hair hung in disarray, and her face was white as paper. There was not the slightest trace left of her former grace.

At Mu Yunyao’s question, Ding Yuelan let out a miserable laugh.

“I thought that even without blood ties, so many years together must have created an affection that could not be cut away. Who could have known that their hearts had long since turned black...”

As she spoke, tears streamed down without pause, blooming across her blood-stained clothing in dark patches.

“Jin Lan, go prepare something to eat. Jin Qiao, go prepare hot water and clean clothes. Let her wash, eat a little, and then we can speak.”

Mu Yunyao had already more or less guessed what had happened, and could not help sighing inwardly. Ding Yuelan had clung to the grace of being raised by them. How could she ever have imagined that Master Ding and Old Madam Ding had regarded her only as a tool for profit? And who would ever care about the life or death of a tool?

Ding Yuelan seemed like a puppet with its soul torn away. Her expression remained dazed and vacant. Only after Jin Qiao had helped her wash and change did she seem to recover a little of herself.

Mu Yunyao took a bottle of medicine and began applying salve to Ding Yuelan’s wounds. As she did so, she could not help frowning inwardly. The injuries on her body were far too severe. And from the look of them, some were old while others were new—she must have suffered greatly.

“Once I apply the medicine, and with careful rest for a time, you will recover.”

Ding Yuelan was still deathly pale, and her voice was hoarse as she answered,

“Many thanks, Miss Mu.”

Jin Lan brought over white porridge and a few small dishes.

Mu Yunyao pushed them gently toward Ding Yuelan.

“I heard from Liu Liang that you were kept shut away for a long time without food, so I had Jin Lan cook some porridge. Eat only a little first, in case your body cannot bear more. Though this is a study, I have screened off an inner space. All the bedding there is new. Once you have eaten, rest here for the night. Tomorrow I will have a proper room prepared for you.”

Seeing Ding Yuelan nod, Mu Yunyao stepped quietly back out.

Jin Lan and Jin Qiao were standing guard outside the door. When they saw Mu Yunyao emerge, they could not help but ask with concern,

“Miss, is Manager Ding all right?”

“The wounds on her body are easy enough to treat. The wounds in her heart have no medicine. I fear Master Ding and Old Madam Ding have broken her heart completely. I only hope she can come to terms with it soon. Jin Qiao, stay here. If Madam Ding needs anything, help look after her.”

“Yes, Miss.”

The next morning, just as Mu Yunyao finished breakfast with Su Qing, Jin Lan came in quickly to report,

“Miss, people from Ruyi Pavilion have come to make trouble. They say they are here to take Manager Ding back.”

Su Qing had also heard what had happened to Ding Yuelan and was furious.

“Yao’er, you must not send Madam Ding back into that pit of fire.”

“Do not worry, Mother. I know what to do.”

As she walked toward the main gate, she instructed Jin Lan,

“Go keep watch at the entrance. By this hour, Madam Jin should be arriving soon enough. Do not let people from Ruyi Pavilion offend or startle her.”

“Yes.”

The procuress of Ruyi Pavilion looked to be close to forty, though the charm of her youth still lingered. She was dressed in especially bright and showy clothing, and one could easily tell that in younger days she, too, must have been beautiful. Seeing Mu Yunyao, she did not begin by shouting or causing a scene. Yet every word she spoke was edged with barbs.

“Greetings, Miss Mu. In recent days, everyone has heard that Miss Mu has been teaching the women of Jingling City embroidery techniques. We lowly folk have heard of it as well and greatly admire you in our hearts, though, because of our humble station we have had no means of coming here to learn. Yet no matter how great Miss Mu’s grace toward Jingling City may be, it cannot outweigh the law itself. Once a person signs a contract of saContentsenters Ruyi Pavilion, that person belongs to me. May I ask on what grounds Miss Mu laid hands on my people and took one away?”

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Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 120

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 119

Chapter 119: Leaving a Kindness Behind

As no news had yet come from the capital, Mu Yunyao could not help feeling somewhat uneasy. Carrying the newly prepared Ni Yun Beauty Register, she went to the Cao residence to visit Madam Jin.

The child in Madam Jin’s womb was nearing its third month. By rights, the pregnancy ought to have been gradually stabilizing, so there should have been no need for such constant caution as before. Yet instead of improving, her appetite had worsened, and her morning sickness had only grown more severe.

When Mu Yunyao arrived, Madam Jin was reclining on a couch with her eyes half closed, taking a brief rest.

“Greetings, Madam.”

Mu Yunyao rose after curtsying, but the moment she saw Madam Jin, her heart gave a start.

“Why is Madam’s complexion so poor?”

“Yunyao, you’ve come.” Madam Jin opened her eyes, but her brows were still faintly knit with worry. Even the motion of her hand resting on her belly had become unusually careful, as though any excess force might somehow harm the child within. Compared to before, she had grown markedly thinner. Clothes that had once fit her well now seemed loose upon her frame.

For the moment, Mu Yunyao set her own concerns aside and stepped forward to take Madam Jin’s pulse.

“If Madam has been feeling unwell, you should have told me sooner. If I had not come today, how long were you planning to delay?”

“Your Bu Xian Lou has only just opened, and I knew you had scarcely had a moment to set your feet down these past days, so I asked Official Cao to invite several physicians to see me. All of them said it was simply morning sickness and entirely normal. Even the midwife said that once this stage had passed, it would be fine. It is only that enduring it has been truly difficult.”

Mu Yunyao’s brows drew together, and her expression darkened slightly.

“Madam has already invited a midwife into the residence?”

“Yes. Official Cao is also deeply concerned for the child in my womb. The Cao family had a midwife brought in ahead of time, and I kept her here in the residence, thinking she might help look after me a little in daily matters.”

“Madam would do better to send that midwife away.”

Mu Yunyao withdrew her fingers and neatly adjusted the sleeve over Madam Jin’s wrist.

Madam Jin sat upright at once, her gaze turning uncertain and alarmed.

“Yunyao... could it be...?”

Her nerves had already been made sensitive because of troubles in her natal family. Hearing Mu Yunyao speak this way, a sudden chill rose straight through her heart.

“It is true that morning sickness is perfectly normal in pregnancy. But with Madam in this state—the child is nearly three months along, and yet Madam herself has wasted away to such a degree—this is no condition to be endured without question. Proper adjustment should have been made long ago.”

After losing her child, Mu Yunyao devoted herself to studying medicine. Perhaps because of the pain in her own heart, she had unconsciously learned a great many things about what women ought to take care of during pregnancy. No matter how she looked at it, Madam Jin’s condition held a deeply unnatural air.

Madam Jin truly panicked then. She seized Mu Yunyao’s hand so tightly that red marks appeared at once.

“Yunyao, you must help me. I must protect this child!”

Seeing her so agitated, Mu Yunyao quickly soothed her.

“Madam must not worry too much. Fortunately, it has been discovered in time. With proper care, there is still time to set things right. Right now, you and the child are one body. If you are distressed and anxious, the child will become restless as well. So you must not excite yourself. At present, nothing grave has yet happened.”

Madam Jin took several deep breaths in succession and steadied her emotions.

“Very well. I shall listen to you.”

Mu Yunyao glanced around the room. At a single sweep of her gaze, she felt inwardly alarmed. The last time she had come to Madam Jin’s chambers, nothing had seemed particularly amiss. Now, however, many unsettling things had appeared. Yet in order not to alarm Madam Jin further, she showed nothing too obvious on her face.

“Madam, these three pots of poinsettia in your room are blooming beautifully. I find myself especially taken with them. Might Madam part with them and give them to me?”

Yin Hong hurriedly spoke up.

“Miss Mu, those three pots of poinsettia were bought by Master as a gift for Madam, in hopes that looking at them might cheer her heart.”

“What nonsense are you saying?” Madam Jin rebuked Yin Hong softly, then turned back to Mu Yunyao. “Yunyao, if you like them, then they are yours. Move those three pots out beneath the corridor first. When Yunyao leaves later, place them in her carriage.”

Yin Hong’s words had been meant only as a kindly reminder. Now, seeing how anxious Madam Jin was to be rid of the poinsettia, she immediately understood something was wrong. She quickly stepped forward and had the flowers moved outside.

Mu Yunyao opened the windows, and at once the sweet, cloying incense in the room thinned out considerably. The air felt easier to breathe. Madam Jin drew in one breath and felt some of the oppressive heaviness in her chest lift away.

In a gentle voice, Mu Yunyao said, “My mother says that children are born knowing how to care for their mothers. Even before they are born, while still in the womb, they already know how to show filial feeling in secret. So Madam may find herself less afraid of the cold than before. Even in winter, it would be good to open the windows at times and let fresh air in.”

Hearing her say so, Madam Jin placed a hand over her abdomen, her expression growing gentler still.

“So children begin to understand so early already?”

“Yes. And since the child has come into Madam’s womb, it means there is already a bond of mother and child between you. Such a bond is ordained by Heaven and does not break easily. So Madam must also broaden her heart and not worry too heavily.”

Madam Jin’s morning sickness was so severe that much of it likely came from her excessive anxiety. For many years, she had gone childless, and that had become the knot in her heart. Now that she had finally conceived, she only feared and worried over it at every moment. Under such conditions, how could she possibly nourish herself well?

“By now, the child in Madam’s womb can already sense your emotions. If you remain anxious day after day, the child may misunderstand and feel sad in secret. Only if you are cheerful each day will the child also be content. Then when the child is born, it will surely be a fortunate little one who loves to smile.”

At Mu Yunyao’s words, Madam Jin seemed almost to see her child already born and smiling up at her with a little laugh. She could not help but smile too.

“I understand now. From this day on, I will be especially careful.”

“If Madam still feels terribly nauseated, you may rub a bit of ginger against your tongue. Ginger is an excellent thing for easing vomiting, though Madam will have to endure some bitterness.”

“I am not afraid of bitterness. For the sake of this child, no hardship is too great.”

Seeing the determination in Madam Jin’s face, Mu Yunyao thought suddenly of Su Qing. Back then, to protect her, Mother had forced herself to change her very nature and even dared to fight Li Shi with her life on the line. It must have been born of that same wholehearted love. Originally, Mu Yunyao had not wanted to invite further trouble, but now she had changed her mind.

“Madam has eaten the food in this residence for so long that you must surely be weary of it. If Madam has the time, why not come often to Jinxiu Garden? My mother’s cooking is excellent. A change of flavors might perhaps suit Madam’s taste.”

Madam Jin immediately lifted her head and beckoned Mu Yunyao closer, then clasped her hand tightly in both of hers.

“Yunyao, I do not know how I am to thank you.”

“Madam is much too polite. Why speak of thanks at all? When your child is born, I shall be demanding a great reward.”

“Yes, yes! Then when the time comes, I shall open my storeroom and let you choose whatever you please!”

Madam Jin had come out of a great family and knew full well that a person’s true sincerity was the hardest thing to find. Mu Yunyao was so intelligent that she naturally understood the risks such actions could pose to her. Yet she had still spoken up. That could only mean she was acting from genuine feeling. How could Madam Jin not be moved?

“When Madam travels to Jinxiu Garden, be especially careful along the road. Have extra cushions laid in the carriage. Any hot water or such things must be secured firmly, so that nothing splashes out in transit. Also, if Madam enjoys incense, use only something very light and fresh, so that it remains pleasant to breathe.”

Madam Jin nodded repeatedly.

“Yes, I will be especially careful.”

Madam Jin held on to Mu Yunyao and spoke with her for another half-quarter-hour before finally feeling at ease.

“Yunyao, I have also kept people watching matters in the capital. I imagine news will come down before long. You should begin making your preparations.”

Joy stirred in Mu Yunyao’s heart.

“Very well. Many thanks, Madam.”

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Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 119

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 118

Chapter 118: Her Wish Fulfilled 

Only after talking for quite some time did Steward Qin finally, though still unsatisfied, bring himself to stop.

“These are the silver earnings from these past days. Take them back and deliver them to Wang Ye.”

The moment Yu Yi saw the amount on the banknotes, he could not help but be shocked.

“So much?”

The tea house had not even been open a full month, and yet it had already earned this much silver?

Steward Qin could not help feeling a trace of superiority. Casting Yu Yi a sidelong glance, he said, “It is only thirty thousand taels. Is that really worth such astonishment?” Miss Mu was a little golden treasure. With her, however much silver they needed, they would surely earn it back.

Yu Yi swallowed hard.

“Steward Qin, do you think we ought to open a few tea houses in Yuexi as well?”

“In Yuexi, it is already a blessing if the common people can fill their stomachs each day. If we opened tea houses there, who would go to drink tea?”

“If not Yuexi, then somewhere else! Jiangnan has so many rich and prosperous cities. If we opened one in each place, then our master would never need to worry about silver again!”

“For now, it is better to first run Bu Xian Lou properly. As for anything else, we still have to wait for Miss Mu’s arrangements.”

Steward Qin sighed inwardly. He himself would have loved nothing better than to open Bu Xian Lou all across the Great Li dynasty at once, yet as for how such a thing should actually be arranged, he had not the faintest idea. Still, so long as Miss Mu was properly treasured, perhaps that wish would be fulfilled before long. So he really ought to write once more to Old Cheng and tell him to urge Wang Ye on all the more.

A great passion for tea swept across Jingling City, and Steward Qin smiled until his face nearly split with delight. In the imperial city of the capital, Eunuch Xu was smiling just as broadly.

He had brought back the tea Mu Yunyao had given him, and recalling how clear and settled his mind had felt after drinking tea in Jinxiu Garden, he found himself brewing it whenever he could steal a moment. Every time he drank it, he felt refreshed in spirit, and even the oppressive weight in his heart seemed to ease a little.

The Chief Eunuch had caught a chill, so Xu Li had taken his place serving at the Emperor’s side these past few days. Recently, one of the newly favored ladies in the harem had lost her child, then, half-mad, stumbled into a pond and drowned. At court, there had been endless clamor and argument over it, leaving the Emperor’s temper in an even darker state.

If Xu Li had not seen with his own eyes how seriously ill the Chief Eunuch truly was, he might have suspected the man had simply wished to dodge the danger and pushed him forward instead. Because of this, Xu Li was especially cautious whenever serving tea, terrified of provoking the Emperor’s displeasure.

Yet after the Emperor took one sip, he suddenly set the teacup down sharply upon the table and swept Xu Li with a piercing look.

“Palace attendants are forbidden to wear scent. Are you ignorant of that?”

Xu Li was already an old hand in the palace. If he had been an ordinary young eunuch, the Emperor would likely have ordered him dragged out and beaten to death on the spot.

Xu Li at once dropped to his knees, cold sweat soaking through him.

“May Your Majesty see clearly: even if this servant had courage enough to reach the heavens, I would never dare violate palace regulations. This servant has never worn any scented perfume.”

“Then where does the lotus fragrance on you come from?” The anger in the Emperor’s tone only deepened, and the pressure in the room was so heavy that Xu Li nearly wished to flatten himself against the floor.

Xu Li could not stop himself from trembling. Thinking of the tea he had drunk before coming in, he inwardly groaned with misery. Had he known, no matter how greedy he was for one cup, he would never have indulged himself.

“Reporting to Your Majesty—the lotus fragrance you speak of should come from the tea I drank. It is all this servant’s fault. A craving for tea came over me, and I could not restrain myself. I beg Your Majesty for mercy!”

“You say tea?” The Emperor’s anger still had not entirely faded. “How is it that I have never heard of tea in the palace carrying a lotus fragrance?”

“It was given to this servant by Mu Yunyao when I returned from Jingling City.”

“Mu Yunyao? Is she not the one who opened Ni Yun Fang and taught embroidery techniques to the women of Jingling City?”

Some time ago, even the censors had submitted memorial after memorial over the burning of Ni Yun Fang, almost as if it were their own embroidery workshop that had been destroyed. A few had spoken with particular vehemence, blocking him so completely that he could neither swallow his irritation nor spit it out. Yet since these censorial officials could not be condemned merely for speaking plainly, he had finally said, out of sheer annoyance, that if Mu Yunyao desired anything, he would compensate her by imperial decree. That remark had enraged the censors so badly that they had nearly jumped up on the spot.

“It is she. Not only is Miss Mu’s embroidery skill exquisite, but her tea-brewing is uniquely remarkable. This servant once had the good fortune to drink tea brewed by her own hands. Upon drinking it, it was as though pure lotus filled the mouth, all vexations vanished, and the whole body felt soothed and refreshed. That is why this servant, unable to resist, secretly drank one cup before attending on Your Majesty today. The tea fragrance then lingered upon my person. I shall never dare do such a thing again. I beg Your Majesty for mercy.”

“All vexations vanish, and the whole body feels soothed and refreshed? Is this tea some sort of immortal elixir?”

Yet his words had clearly piqued the Emperor’s interest, and some of the anger in his tone subsided.

“Go fetch some. Brew it and bring it for me as well. Let me see whether it is truly as good as you claim.”

Once the Emperor had spoken, the palace servants scrambled in great haste. Nearly half the Imperial Medical Bureau was brought over. One by one, the physicians carefully examined the tea leaves, and only after determining that there was nothing amiss did they permit Xu Li to brew the tea and place it before the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, the tea is ready. Please have a taste.”

Fortunately, the palace stores still contained some dew gathered from lotus leaves and blossoms. Yet as Xu Li smelled the tea, he could not help but feel that it still fell short by several parts compared with tea brewed by Mu Yunyao’s own hands.

The instant the tea was carried in, the Emperor caught that unique fragrance. It was indeed much like the scent that had clung to Xu Li, only fresher and more far-reaching. Unable to resist, he lifted the cup and took a light sip. At once, lotus fragrance seemed to fill his mouth, and his spirit stirred. His brow relaxed slightly.

“It is indeed uncommon.”

Xu Li let out a long, heavy breath of relief. At that moment, he was more than happy to do Mu Yunyao a good turn.

“This servant’s hands are clumsy, and I cannot compare with Miss Mu’s skill in brewing tea. When she brews tea, flowers and birds can be made to appear within the cup. That day, when this servant lifted the lid, I saw the tea leaves in the cup form a lotus. With the slightest stir, it changed again into the shape of a flying bird, pure vapors rising, cloud-like mist curling in the air. It was truly marvelous beyond words.”

The Emperor’s interest deepened further. Looking down into the teacup before him, he could not help feeling a trace of regret.

“Does she not run an embroidery workshop? How is it that she has now opened a tea house as well?”

Xu Li could not quite read the Emperor’s thoughts and answered all the more cautiously.

“I imagine it is because she wished to spread the art of tea-brewing as well. The tea house has taken in quite a number of people to learn together. And the name she gave it is even more interesting. Though the tea house is opened in a garden, she has called it Bu Xian Lou.”

“Bu Xian Lou? That Mu Yunyao truly has a mind. Jingling City, after all, was the native place of the Tea Sage Lu Yu. He once wrote the Song of the Six Envy-Nots:
I envy not golden cups, nor cups of white jade.
I envy not entry to the ministries at dawn, nor audience halls at dusk.
Of all things, I most envy the waters of the West River,
for they once flowed beneath Jingling City.
For her to use Bu Xian Lou as a name may indeed be counted a thoughtful touch.”

“Yes. When Miss Mu received Your Majesty’s reward, she was so overwhelmed that she repeatedly kowtowed toward the capital in gratitude for Your Majesty’s grace. She even said she would work all the harder, in hopes that one day she might open Bu Xian Lou in the capital, and then have the chance to come there in person and kneel outside the palace walls to give thanks.”

“She asked for nothing else, only for a piece of my calligraphy. That, too, may be counted as sincerity. Prepare brush and ink.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Xu Li quietly wiped the cold sweat from his brow and hastily ordered the writing materials to be brought.

Not long afterward, Xu Li emerged carrying two sheets of large calligraphy in his hands, one reading Ni Yun Fang, the other Bu Xian Lou.

“Official Su, His Majesty has issued a verbal order. These two inscriptions are to be sent to Jingling City and delivered into the hands of Miss Mu Yunyao.”

“Please report to His Majesty that this subordinate will personally convey His Majesty’s calligraphy to Jingling at once.”

Xu Li smiled and nodded.

“Official Su means to go in person, then? In that case, do carry one sentence to Miss Mu for me: tell her that her tea has already been presented before the Emperor.”

Su Qingwu’s heart stirred slightly.

“I shall certainly deliver the message.”

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Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 118

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 117

Chapter 117: Business Flourishes

In just a little over ten days, Jinxiu Garden and Bu Xian Lou had become the talk of all Jingling City. Every day, groups of people waited outside the gates of Jinxiu Garden, trying their luck to see if they could go in for a cup of tea.

Wei Yi, Yun Chun, and the other tea attendants had also won themselves a following in a very short span of time. There were even people who quarreled heatedly over which tea attendant possessed the better tea-brewing skill.

Each day, Steward Qin looked through the account books and felt his heart pound in alarm. He had never imagined that selling tea could bring in such enormous profit. In only a little over ten days, there had already been more than ten thousand taels in revenue—and that was still with the early opening restrictions in place, when invitation cards limited the number of guests entering Jinxiu Garden. Otherwise, they might have earned even more.

Mu Yunyao was in the tea room examining a newly delivered batch of tea leaves. All of them had been dried and roasted according to her own methods. Each leaf had been handled with extraordinary care, and its fragrance was so rich that it was especially pleasing.

Jin Lan came in to report, “Miss, Steward Qin has arrived.”

“Show him in,” Mu Yunyao said, rising to go out and meet him.

Steward Qin bowed. “Miss.”

By now, Steward Qin’s admiration for Mu Yunyao had long since reached its peak. More than once, he had written letters praising her, constantly urging Old Cheng to beat the drum a little louder and encourage Wang Ye to bring this little golden treasure into the residence as soon as possible.

“Miss, here are the accounts from these past days. Would you like to take a look?”

“Are the accounts not usually settled at the end of the month?” Mu Yunyao asked in surprise as she took the ledger. Since it had earlier been agreed that she and Yue Wang would divide the profits four-sixths, the accounts were normally only balanced at month’s end. Seeing Steward Qin bring the account book to her now, she could not help but wonder.

“Miss, just look—these past thirteen days alone, Jinxiu Garden has netted fifteen thousand taels of silver!”

Mu Yunyao took the account book and turned through it. She was not especially surprised.

Those who could afford to appreciate tea were, by and large, people of some means. For that reason, she had never been soft in setting prices. The most expensive lotus tea dew was sold at three taels per pot. After all, even men like Governor Zhang had drunk it and praised it without ceasing; naturally, it could not be priced as common tea.

For ordinary folk, three taels of silver could sustain a family of three for half a year. But to wealthy households, it was scarcely worth a thought—no more than the sort of coin one might toss away as a casual tip.

Thus, every guest entering Jinxiu Garden spent at least four or five taels each day. How much silver it would bring in over the course of a month had always been within her estimates, so after reading the ledger, she remained calm.

Seeing how little the numbers moved her, Steward Qin did not know how to react. He had expected her to be startled, yet she was even steadier than he was, which left him with the distinct feeling that he was the one who had never seen the world.

“Showing Miss the account book was only incidental. In truth, I wished to discuss something with Miss. Would it be possible for us to settle the accounts every half-month instead? Wang Ye resides rather far away, and when the silver accumulates too much, it becomes inconvenient to send.”

“That is fine. So long as the accounts are clear, it makes no difference how they are settled.”

Mu Yunyao kept her expression unchanged, but many thoughts flashed through her mind.

Steward Qin would not have said such a thing without reason. If silver were inconvenient to transport, it could simply be exchanged for banknotes. There was nothing truly inconvenient about that. The only real possibility was that Yue Wang lacked money—and lacked it badly.

“I have just thought of another matter I wish to discuss with Steward Qin.”

“Please speak, Miss.”

“Each day, when we roast and process the tea, quite a lot of broken leaves are sifted out. Those leaves are of little use if kept, and selling them would not bring in much silver. So I thought of setting up tea stalls along certain official roads and at the docks. Anyone could pay one copper coin and drink tea as much as they pleased. It would make things convenient for travelers and bring us some good reputation besides.”

Steward Qin nodded. “Miss truly has a kind heart.”

“It is only a small matter within our means. Why would we not do it? Though we must also be careful. There are already tea sellers at many of the docks. Even if we are doing a good deed, we cannot disrupt other people’s livelihood.”

“I understand. I will have people pay special attention to that.”

If they were to do well, they should do so as properly as possible and avoid stirring resentment in others.

Steward Qin moved quickly. In only two days, tea stalls had been set up in many places: a single pot, a tin of tea, a stack of black porcelain bowls, a few tables, and benches. The arrangement was simple, yet it won Mu Yunyao and Bu Xian Lou a flood of praise.

Unexpectedly, the tea stalls at the docks also brought many merchants to Bu Xian Lou. After witnessing the tea-brewing skill there, those merchants began seeking out Steward Qin one after another to discuss purchasing tea leaves directly from them.

Naturally, Steward Qin had no reason to refuse. In only a short while, nearly twenty thousand taels’ worth of tea leaves had been sold.

Another letter from Yue Wang reached Mu Yunyao’s hands. This one was even briefer than the last, containing only two words:

Rest easy.

Looking at the two characters, sharp as blades upon the page, Mu Yunyao could not help thinking that Yue Wang truly valued each word like gold. She had sent him twenty thousand taels in banknotes, only to receive two words in return. Yet at the same time, she could not help recalling her earlier suspicions.

Could it be that Yue Wang truly lacked silver?

By the time she first met Yue Wang in her previous life, she had already become a concubine in Jin Wang’s household. At that time, the Emperor’s health had been failing, and the princes of the court were all fighting one another until their eyes had gone red. By the time Yue Wang returned to the capital, the Emperor had already become too ill to attend court and had even ordered Yue Wang to command the Imperial Guards in defense of the palace.

Jin Wang and the others had been deeply wary of Yue Wang. Before that, however, his circumstances did indeed seem poor. In court, he had almost no presence to speak of. When Jin Wang mentioned him, it was always with disdain and mockery.

It seemed she ought to find some way of learning more about Yue Wang. In any case, she already knew that in three years, he would rise magnificently. If his present situation was truly difficult, there was no harm in offering him some support now. Perhaps it might even bring her an unexpected return.

Steward Qin received Old Cheng’s reply and was so delighted he could scarcely contain himself. He turned to Yu Yi, who stood at one side.

“You are saying that after receiving Miss Mu’s letter, Master spoke outright of protecting his own people?”

Would that not mean that Master, too, had feelings for Miss Mu?

Yu Yi could not help but carefully reconsider his own words. “I heard from Yu Heng that Master’s meaning was that he wished to protect what belonged to him. I imagine he was referring to Ni Yun Fang?”

“Objects are dead; people are alive. How could objects be more important than people? Master’s meaning is surely that we must protect Miss Mu well!”

Steward Qin shot Yu Yi a sidelong glance. This man, just like Yu Heng, was hopelessly rigid of mind.

Yu Yi studied Steward Qin’s expression and decided that perhaps it was wiser not to argue. He immediately changed the subject in an awkwardly abrupt way.

“Steward Qin, I see that business at Jinxiu Garden seems extraordinarily good.”

“It is all thanks to Miss Mu. From the very first moment I laid eyes on her, I knew she was no ordinary person. Where would you find someone so full of spirit and grace?” The moment the topic turned to Mu Yunyao, Steward Qin’s face lit with a smile, and he praised her without pause. “You have not had the good fortune to drink tea brewed by Miss Mu herself. Wei Yi and Yun Chun are still far from it. At the time—”

Yu Yi found himself at a loss. In the past, whenever he met Steward Qin, the man did nothing but ask after Master’s circumstances. But now he did nothing but praise someone else. If not for knowing that Steward Qin’s loyalty to Master was beyond question, Yu Yi might have suspected him of having already been bought over.

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Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 117

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 116

Chapter 116: Brother, Would You Treat Me to a Cup of Tea? 

Not only Wei Yi, Yun Chun, and the others looked tense—even Steward Qin felt sweat gather on his brow. Earlier, he had thought everything flawless, but now, on reflection, flaws seemed to lurk everywhere. If not for Mu Yunyao’s warning, who knew what kind of trouble might arise later?

“Miss may rest assured. This old servant will remind them at every turn.”

Mu Yunyao nodded. “You needn’t be overly nervous. All this is merely to guard against unforeseen circumstances. If my plan succeeds, then with that golden plaque in place, no one will dare investigate or make trouble lightly. So long as you remember the identities you now bear, no grave mistake should arise. But if a flaw does appear, you must tell Steward Qin and me at once. Bu Xian Lou will not remain only in Jingling City; you may be sent elsewhere. Never conceal matters and handle them on your own, lest greater trouble follow.”

“Yes—we will remember Miss’s instruction!”

“Steward Qin, just have the garden put in order. Tomorrow we open on time, according to the tea prices we agreed upon earlier.”

“Yes.”

The people of Jingling City were still burning with indignation over the destruction of Ni Yun Fang, and the news that Mu Yunyao was opening a tea house spread through the city as swiftly as flying sparks.

People began drifting to the area around Jinxiu Garden, peering in through the entrance and secretly trying to glimpse the scenery within. Unfortunately, all they could see was a single cluster of lush Xiangfei bamboo.

Then word spread that Governor Zhang, Cao Yunian, the Governor’s wife, and Madam Jin had all gone in succession to drink tea there. That only made people more curious about Jinxiu Garden. Many quietly resolved that once the tea house opened in earnest, no matter what, they must go in and have a look.

Yet when the next day came, and Jinxiu Garden opened its gates, people found themselves stopped at the entrance.

“Why is this?” asked one scholar-dressed man, full of puzzlement. “Is it not opening today after all?”

“Please forgive us, sir,” Steward Qin explained with an apologetic smile. “Bu Xian Lou is short of hands at present and cannot receive so many at once. For now, we may only admit those guests who have received invitations from Bu Xian Lou.”

Even as he spoke, someone arrived holding an invitation card, and Wei Yi at once gestured for someone to escort the guest inside.

The moment the guest entered the garden and saw the fifty tea attendants in flowing white standing at the entrance, he was stunned. When they saluted in unison, the men warm as jade and the women lovely in form, that single moment made him feel as though his own status had risen several degrees. He could not help but feel almost lightheaded with self-importance.

Someone outside had already gone slack with amazement and pointed at Wei Yi, Yun Chun, and the others as he asked Steward Qin, “Steward Qin, may I ask who these people are...?”

Steward Qin, whose public identity was that of the manager of Bu Xian Lou, quickly replied, “They are all tea attendants of Bu Xian Lou, specially responsible for brewing tea for our honored guests. As there are only fifty of them, we can presently receive only fifty tables of guests. We are truly short of hands. If the honored guests wish to come in for tea, they may only take the places of those who leave. And each tea attendant receives at most eight tables per day, so that every pot of tea may be brewed with the utmost care, and no honored guest be disappointed.”

Those gathered outside to watch were dumbfounded. Jingling City had tea houses of its own, certainly, but no matter how refined they were, they paid at most greater attention to water and heat when brewing tea. Bu Xian Lou, however, had gone so far as to assign fifty people, one to each table, solely to brew tea. This was refinement carried to the very limit.

Rather than being deterred, the crowd only grew more impatient. Everyone wanted to go inside and experience for himself what it felt like to be personally attended in such a way.

As more invitation-holders arrived, acquaintances rushed toward them at once.

“Brother Ma, surely you remember that we dined together only two days ago? One invitation admits only one man—it would be a waste indeed. Why not let me accompany you? Did you not say last time that you admired that spring painting in my room? I shall have it rolled up and sent to your residence afterward.”

“Master Wang, we have done business together before, have we not? How about letting me join you for a cup of tea today?”

For a time, the entrance to Jinxiu Garden became extraordinarily lively.

Each invitation could admit five additional guests in addition to the holder. Apart from the first few parties, which did not fill their numbers, most invitation cards brought in six people.

Once inside the garden, the new arrivals could not help crying out in admiration at the scenery.

To take an entire garden and make a tea house of it—Miss Mu truly was unlike any other. More importantly, the scenery within Jinxiu Garden was simply too beautiful.

A narrow stream wound inward, its waters murmuring softly, clear enough to see to the bottom. At the heart of the garden, it broadened into a lake, with a winding corridor bridge linking east and west. The lake was thick with lotus leaves, and the lotus blossoms swayed gently in the breeze.

Looking to either side, one found on the eastern side Xiaoxiang Bamboo Court, Proud Plum in Snow, Flowers Slain in Bloom, Fragrance of the Empty Valley—plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum, each occupying its own realm. On the western side were Spring in Bright Glory, Only in Clear Skies, One Color Beneath the Long Heaven, Spring Splendor in Scenery—each carrying the grace of one season or another. Beyond those eight principal courts, the rest of the garden had been constructed to follow the flow of the water: a tower every five steps, a pavilion every ten, each with its own character, all arranged in layered harmony. In every place, there was somewhere set aside for tea.

There were low tables, tree stumps, long benches... all blended seamlessly with the surrounding scenery, without the slightest discord. Sitting among them, one felt only tranquility and a washing away of all earthly cares.

The tea attendants’ brewing skill was even more astonishing. Their methods were so precise and so refined that one felt as though even the number of tea leaves and the amount of boiling water were measured exactly. Once the tea touched the lips, one felt the heart cleanse,d and the whole body soothed.

Outside Jinxiu Garden, many people waited for those inside to come out so they might take their turn entering and glimpse the scenery within. Yet to their surprise, they waited more than an hour before the first guests emerged, reluctant and lingering.

One hurried forward to ask, “Sir, how were the scenery and the tea inside?”

The guest who had just come out shook his head, his expression full of meaning.

“Were they no good?”

“No, no. They were so fine that words fail entirely. If I must force myself to describe it, then I can only say this: marvelous—marvelous beyond speech!”

“Can it truly be that good?”

The guest stood there full of self-satisfaction, wearing the air of one man awake while all others still dreamed.

“If you have not gone to taste it for yourself, naturally you cannot understand what I mean by marvelous. Miss Mu truly is a rare woman! It is only a pity that I had no fate to enter Bu Xian Lou itself and thus could not taste the tea personally brewed by Miss Mu. A pity! A true pity!”

“But is not the tea house itself called Bu Xian Lou? How can there still be parts of it where one is not allowed to enter?”

“You speak like an outsider. Do you know why it is called Bu Xian Lou?”

“What is the meaning?”

“Bu Xian Lou—I envy not golden cups, nor cups of white jade. I envy not entry to the ministries at dawn, nor audience halls at dusk. Of all things, I most envy the waters of the West River, for they once flowed beneath Jingling City. Only those who truly understand tea and love tea may enter Bu Xian Lou. Otherwise, no matter what status you possess, no matter how much wealth you command, it will still be hard for you to set foot on the sixth floor of Bu Xian Lou.”

“I envy not golden cups, nor cups of white... what?... Brother, would you please repeat that once more?”

“You do not even know that poem? You are hardly fit company. Hmph—I’m leaving.”

This exchange, overheard by those who had come to watch the excitement, spread through Jingling City before long. As a result, more and more people wished to go to Bu Xian Lou to drink tea. Yet Bu Xian Lou issued only fifty invitations per day. For all others, whether they could enter depended solely on fortune. Thus, many kept their eyes fixed upon Jinxiu Garden. The moment they saw a tea attendant step out to deliver invitations, they followed close behind, found the recipient, and then tried by every means possible to attach themselves to that invitation and seize one of the precious places.

For a time, the most common phrase in all Jingling City became:

“Brother, would you treat me to a cup of tea?”

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Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 116

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 115

Chapter 115: Instructions Before the Opening 

After seeing off Su Qingwu and Xu Li, Mu Yunyao let out a long breath, her face bright with satisfaction.

Steward Qin had Yun Chun brew tea and personally brought a cup to Mu Yunyao’s side.

“Miss, has the matter you planned truly come to pass?”

“Eight or nine parts out of ten.”

Joy surged through Steward Qin’s heart. “Excellent. If so, that will make things easier by no small measure.”

“Let us wait a little longer. In a few days, we should have definite news. For now, have people tidy up Jinxiu Garden. Madam Jin and the other ladies will still be coming later, and we must receive them properly. Some of the ladies are cold in constitution, so prepare floral infusions and fruit teas for them. The Governor’s wife will likely come as well; she cannot take sweet foods, so prepare some savory pastries for her. Be especially careful when they are served, and do not let anything be mixed up.”

“Yes. I shall have it arranged at once.”

Once Steward Qin had left, Mu Yunyao removed the sachet hanging from her waist and handed it to Jin Lan, who was waiting nearby.

“Find a brazier and burn this. Do not leave behind the slightest trace.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Jin Lan did not ask what was inside. After receiving the instruction, she simply took the sachet and withdrew.

Mu Yunyao let out a slow breath and rubbed lightly at her brow. The corners of her lips could not help but lift. No matter how likable she might be, Xu Li couldn’t look upon her with entirely new eyes after only two meetings. The tea was fine, and the water was fine, but to achieve the effect of calming the mind and making one forget the vulgar world, a few additional methods of coordination were still necessary.

What she had done was somewhat risky, but for the sake of her two golden signboards, that small risk was not worth mentioning.

As for this Eunuch Xu—if he could come all the way to Jingling City to convey the Emperor’s verbal decree, and if he were on such familiar terms with Su Qingwu, then he must hold considerable rank within the palace. Yet strangely, in her memories, she could not recall any such person at all.

It seemed she would have to find an opportunity to ask Yue Wang to investigate him on her behalf. If matters truly proved to be as she suspected, then perhaps she could forge a very valuable bond of goodwill—one that might one day let her move through the capital with much greater ease.

After resting for an hour, Madam Jin arrived at Jinxiu Garden in the company of the Governor’s wife. The moment Mu Yunyao received word, she at once brought her attendants out to greet them.

The fifty, clad in flowing white, saluted in perfect unison, their bearing graceful and elegant. In an instant, the assembled ladies were struck dumb with amazement.

The Governor’s wife had grown far warmer in her attitude toward Mu Yunyao. This summer had been the most comfortable one she had enjoyed in years. Wearing the garments Mu Yunyao had made for her, she felt especially cool and at ease, no longer worrying constantly about her clothes being damp with sweat. Naturally, her spirits had improved. And now that Mu Yunyao had become the benefactor of all the women of Jingling City and had even received imperial favor, there was every advantage and not a single disadvantage in befriending her.

The other ladies naturally understood this as well. Yet in the past, it had been Mu Yunyao who had needed to curry their favor in every possible way. Now the situation had reversed, and they found themselves needing to weigh every word they spoke before her. Inevitably, each of them felt a faint sourness in her heart.

There were rather too many ladies present. If Mu Yunyao were to brew tea for them all herself, she could never manage it. Yet she also could not attend only to Madam Jin and the Governor’s wife alone, lest the others feel slighted. So, in the end, she simply spared herself the trouble. After leading the ladies into Xiaoxiang Bamboo Court and seating them, she had Wei Yi, Yun Chun, and the others called in directly.

Xiaoxiang Bamboo Court was spacious enough that even with so many people entering, it did not feel crowded in the least.

When the tea tables and tea wares were brought out, the ladies’ curiosity was immediately stirred. It was the first time many of them had seen so many implements used merely for brewing tea.

Mu Yunyao stepped forward, gave a bow, and said with a bright smile,

“I invite all the honored ladies to admire the tea art of Bu Xian Lou.”

Once she had completed her courtesy and stepped back, the fifty saluted together in greeting.

These ladies, though all of them held distinguished standing within Jingling City, had never in their lives been saluted all at once by fifty people before. For a moment, each of them felt her own status rise a little higher. Before a single cup of tea had been tasted, several already felt a trace of pleased self-importance.

When the fifty began to brew tea, the ladies stared outright in amazement. On the women’s side, white sleeves flowed like drifting clouds, their slender fingers and jade-bright wrists moving with supple grace and softness. On the men’s side, gentleness and strength were blended together, warm as jade, composed and refined, with an elegance of bearing that seemed entirely natural.

Quite apart from the fragrance of the tea itself, even if they had brought out plain bowls of water, one might still have felt that such water was somehow different from all other water.

By the time the tea had been brewed, the assembled ladies had not yet fully returned to themselves.

Wei Yi and Yun Chun led the group in serving the tea in order, then all of them withdrew respectfully.

Only once they had left did Madam Jin finally let out a sigh of admiration.

“In the future, I shall not go to any tea house but yours.”

On the strength of this display alone, Bu Xian Lou had already left every other tea house far behind.

“Indeed! I never knew that brewing tea involved so many elegant refinements. Merely watching it is enough to delight the eye.”

The ladies gradually came back to themselves and began praising Mu Yunyao without pause.

Mu Yunyao smiled with visible pleasure.

“Many thanks for all your praise. Hearing such words from the honored ladies, my heart feels much more assured. It seems Bu Xian Lou is unlikely to lose money once it opens.”

That one line made the ladies burst into laughter. One after another, they declared that if she ever did lose money, they would personally bring people to support the establishment. For a time, Xiaoxiang Bamboo Court rang with cheerful conversation and laughter.

After the laughter subsided, the ladies began to taste the tea. More than a few of them, being unable to drink tea, lifted their cups and then glanced around—only to break into genuine smiles. Knowing they did not drink tea, Mu Yunyao had floral infusions and fruit drinks instead. No wonder she had managed in such a short time to flourish so splendidly in Jingling City; such thoughtfulness was simply too delicate and attentive.

Host and guests alike left utterly satisfied. Mu Yunyao once again gained a long string of praise. When she saw the ladies off, she thoughtfully presented each of them with some carefully dried rosebuds, drawing still more delighted smiles from them.

After a full day of busyness, Mu Yunyao finally allowed herself to truly relax. She poured a cup of fragrant tea for herself, sat down in a chair, and sipped it slowly.

Steward Qin then led Wei Yi, Yun Chun, and the others over.

“Miss, our tea house will formally open for business tomorrow. Is there anything further you wish to instruct them in?”

Mu Yunyao set down her teacup.

“There is nothing in particular that needs saying, only this: from now on, your identity is that of tea attendants of Bu Xian Lou. Receiving guests well is your first duty. If we cannot make our guests love Bu Xian Lou, then all else is empty talk on paper. Nothing we hope to achieve will ever come to pass.”

She understood very well why Yue Wang had chosen these fifty. This instruction was meant precisely to guard against their becoming too eager for quick success—too intent on gathering information or pursuing other goals—and thereby producing the opposite of what was desired.

Steward Qin’s heart gave a sharp start. He had nearly overlooked exactly that point. There would be plenty of time in the future; the first priority had to be making Bu Xian Lou flourish. If they became too eager for immediate results and allowed others to sense something amiss, then even with the Emperor’s golden signboard protecting the place from direct harm, people could simply choose not to come. Once guests no longer came, Bu Xian Lou would exist in name alone.

“Yes, Miss,” they all responded quickly.

Mu Yunyao nodded.

“In addition, I will have people gather books on tea arts, poetry, and letters. Each of you is to choose something you like and study it thoroughly. I do not ask that you master everything, but each of you must possess one or two areas in which you are truly distinctive. Also, each of you should think carefully about your own background. Where is your home? Do you have relatives? What did you do before? How did you come to Jingling City? Why do you understand tea? In short, the more clearly and the more fully you think through your own history, the better. Then fix it firmly in your memory. No matter how others ask, that is the answer you will give.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“And another thing—you are all too cold in temperament. Whatever method you use, combine it with the background you have imagined for yourselves and change your dispositions for me. You may be proud, aloof, bitter toward the world, delicately pitiable, scornful of all beneath you, or innocently guileless. But the one thing you must not be is fifty people all wearing the same face. Once you have chosen your temperament, keep to it from that day forward. Do not be one thing today and another tomorrow before outsiders.”

“...Yes, Miss.”

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Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 115

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 114

Chapter 114: Lotus Fragrance Drifts Afar 

The moment the tea set was placed before them, it drew everyone’s attention. The entire set was pure white, painted with lotus blossoms stretching unbroken to the horizon. Looking more closely, one saw that it bore a striking resemblance to the very scenery before their eyes.

At last, Su Qingwu could not help but speak.

“Miss Mu, could it be that the design upon this tea set was painted after the landscape before us?”

“Indeed. I hope the honored gentlemen will not laugh at me.”

“How could we? The tea set is exquisite, and the painting captures both form and spirit perfectly. Even I find myself deeply delighted by it.”

“Many thanks for Official Su’s praise.”

Mu Yunyao began to brew the tea. Su Qingwu had still meant to say something more, yet upon seeing her movements, he gradually lost himself.

She did not move quickly. Every gesture flowed like drifting clouds and running water, carrying an indescribable grace and elegance. Her slender, pale hands held the white jade-like tea vessels, and one could hardly tell which was more captivating.

A breeze drifted by, bringing wave after wave of lotus fragrance. Watching her movements, the men felt as though some distant Zen chime had spread through the air around them. Bit by bit, they forgot their own identities, knowing only a deep stillness of mind. It was not until the scent of tea rose before them that they suddenly came back to themselves. In that dazed instant, they felt wholly relaxed, their bodies and spirits lightened.

When Mu Yunyao had completed the final gesture of courtesy, she carried the cups over one by one.

Su Qingwu took up his teacup somewhat absentmindedly. The moment he lifted the lid, however, the scene within the cup stilled him where he sat.

At the bottom of the white jade cup, the tea leaves had unfurled and gathered into the shape of a blooming lotus. His heart gave a sudden jolt, and his hand nearly failed to steady the cup. The tea rippled at once. He almost cried out for fear of disturbing that beauty, yet in the next instant, the lotus dissolved and transformed into the shape of a bird, like the lakeside scene they had only just admired.

For a long while, none of the honored guests spoke. They simply held their teacups and stared.

“Honored gentlemen,” Mu Yunyao said softly, “tea does not taste as good once it has gone cold.”

Only then did they come back to themselves. By now, the tea leaves in the cup had already settled to the bottom. No lotus remained, nor any flying bird. It was as though it had all been a dream, leaving behind only a faint trace of regret in the heart.

Eunuch Xu could not help but sigh. He took a light sip from his cup, and at once it seemed that he had drunk in the fragrance of an entire lotus pond. The regret in his heart was washed away, leaving behind only deep ease and release.

Governor Zhang shook his head in wonder. Even a man like him, who knew little about the finer points of tea, could tell how rare this cup was.

“Miss Mu, may I ask what sort of famous tea this is? Drinking it, one feels wave after wave of lotus fragrance, as if lotus itself had bloomed upon the tongue.”

“It is not any famous tea,” Mu Yunyao replied. “I simply selected the newly sprouted tender leaves from my tea garden, chose them with care, dried and roasted them, and then brewed them with dew gathered from lotus leaves and lotus blossoms.”

“Then this is the tea Miss roasted with her own hands?”

“Yes. I was often occupied with matters at Ni Yun Fang before, and I frequently drank tea to keep my mind alert. But I am rather particular of taste, and though I drank strong tea, I could not bear bitterness. So I selected some leaves and roasted them myself. I only hope the honored gentlemen will not disdain it.”

Eunuch Xu spoke up at once.

“Miss said before that she would give that tea to me and let me take it back to the capital. You must not go back on your word.”

Mu Yunyao looked overjoyed.

“Certainly. So long as honored sir does not dislike it, all that I roasted may be given to you.”

For some reason, hearing this made Su Qingwu feel faintly displeased.

“Miss Mu is being rather partial. I, too, am returning to the capital. Will you not spare some for me as well?”

Eunuch Xu burst into laughter.

“I had nearly forgotten that Official Su was here too. But Official Su has always preferred Longjing. You must not snatch this tea from me.”

Mu Yunyao at once replied, “Since Official Su likes Longjing, then I shall buy some of the finest quality for you to take back.”

Su Qingwu smiled outwardly, but the displeasure in his heart only deepened.

“I was only teasing, Miss. How could I let you spend money on my account? I already instructed someone to buy some for me. After making such a rare trip to Jiangnan, naturally I ought to bring back gifts for my family.”

Mu Yunyao smiled, but inwardly,y wave after wave of mockery rose in her heart.

Yes—Su Qingwu had always cherished his family deeply. Even if he was away only two or three days, he would still bring back gifts for them. And especially for that Eldest Miss of the Su family: pearls from the Eastern Sea, Shu brocade from Chuanzhou, fine gauze from Nanyun... if there was some rare treasure under heaven, Su Qingwu had once sought it out for her. No wonder so many noble young ladies in the capital had burned red-eyed with jealousy.

Seeing Mu Yunyao’s expression grow a shade fainter, Su Qingwu could not help knitting his brow. He looked up toward the six-story building not far away.

“Is that the Bu Xian Lou Miss spoke of?”

“It is.”

With fragrant tea in hand, everyone relaxed all the more.

Xu Li looked toward the building and said, “I see that the tower still lacks a plaque.”

“Yes,” Mu Yunyao replied with a sigh. “I wished to find a good one made, but after looking at many, I have never yet been satisfied with the style of the calligraphy.”

Xu Li said nothing more. Mu Yunyao, too, seemed merely to have mentioned it in passing. She poured them each another cup. The more they tasted, the more extraordinary the tea seemed.

Many teas tasted fine enough at first, but could not bear repeated savoring. Mu Yunyao’s tea, however, only grew more lingering the more one drank of it, much like listening to a chant of Zen—each repetition bringing fresh understanding.

After the tea was finished, Mu Yunyao led them to admire the other sights within the garden. Once the mind had settled, even the scenery itself seemed more pleasing. Walking through the garden, one felt that beauty lay everywhere. Though they wandered for more than an hour, not one of them felt the least fatigue.

Seeing that it had already reached noon, Mu Yunyao ordered food to be prepared.

“Honored gentlemen, I have had a few dishes prepared. Might the honored gentlemen be willing to grace us further?”

Xu Li shook his head. “There is no need. In a short while, we must be on our way back to the capital.”

“So soon...” Mu Yunyao looked a little disappointed.

“Did Miss not say she wished to open her tea house in the capital one day? When that wish is fulfilled, I shall still have another chance to taste Miss’s skill.”

“Then I must work twice as hard to make that happen.”

Mu Yunyao brought over the tea leaves she had prepared and added several delicate pastries as well. Only then did she escort the honored guests out of Jinxiu Garden.

Just as he was about to board the carriage, Xu Li suddenly turned back and said one more thing.

“If Miss truly cannot find a suitable plaque for Bu Xian Lou, then you may as well wait a while longer.”

Puzzlement showed on Mu Yunyao’s face. She blinked lightly and looked toward Governor Zhang.

Governor Zhang and Cao Yunian both smiled without speaking. They escorted Xu Li and Su Qingwu into the carriage, but inwardly, both had already made up their minds: the opening gift they intended to send for Mu Yunyao’s tea house must be increased by another thirty percent.

Just as the carriage was about to leave, Su Qingwu suddenly lifted the curtain at the side and looked straight at Mu Yunyao.

The moment Mu Yunyao raised her head, she looked directly into those deep eyes of his. Within those ink-dark pupils, her own figure was reflected. The faintest shift, and an unreadable glimmer passed through them. She gently curved her lips, the smile on her face measured to perfection, and bent her knees in a graceful curtsy.

“I respectfully send off the honored gentlemen.”

The wheels began to turn, and the carriage slowly rolled away. Only once Mu Yunyao’s figure could no longer be seen clearly did Su Qingwu finally lower the curtain.

Xu Li held the tea caddy Mu Yunyao had given him in his hands. It was as if he could still smell that clear, refined fragrance, and he could not help sighing inwardly.

“So many say that the capital is prosperous and rich in gifted people, but who could have imagined that in a place like Jingling City there would be both a person and a landscape that gather the very grace of heaven and earth?”

Su Qingwu smiled and nodded.

“Yes...”

Grace and refinement enough to overwhelm anyone—and on top of that, so exceptionally clever. Even a man like Eunuch Xu, long used to deception and intrigue, had been taken in by her. That final remark Xu Li had made—had Mu Yunyao truly failed to understand it? He did not believe so.

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Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 114

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 113

Chapter 113: Jade Bamboo in Layered Green 

Steward Qin had long since made Wei Yi, Yun Chun, and the others change into fresh clothes and wait in the front courtyard. When he saw Mu Yunyao arrive, he quickly stepped forward to lead her inside.

“Miss, please have a look. Are these arrangements suitable?”

“Greetings, Miss.”

All fifty saluted in unison. Clad in white robes and white skirts, they stood with striking composure, carrying an indescribable sense of vitality.

Mu Yunyao felt satisfied. These people had truly put in the effort. In bearing alone, they were improved by who knew how many times over compared with before.

“Good. Come with me to the entrance. We shall prepare to receive our honored guests.”

Su Qingwu and Xu Li rode in the same carriage. As both served within the palace and both enjoyed favor before the Emperor, they had some acquaintance with one another and spoke somewhat more freely than usual.

Su Qingwu spoke first.

“Eunuch Xu seems to hold Miss Mu in particularly high regard.”

Xu Li looked at Su Qingwu with a smile. “And does Official Su not hold her in particularly high esteem as well? Yesterday, if you had not asked after Bu Xian Lou, we would never have thought to come have a look.”

Su Qingwu’s expression did not change. “Miss Mu’s heart is kind. That she could spread such precious embroidery techniques so widely is no small thing. It is only right to lend her a little support.”

“That is just what I thought as well. It seems Official Su and I have arrived at the same conclusion.”

The two exchanged a smile. It appeared mild enough on the surface, yet what truly lay beneath it was likely known only to themselves.

As they spoke, they arrived at Jinxiu Garden in the blink of an eye. The carriage came to a stop, the driver set down the step stool, and the two men alighted in turn. Hardly had they steadied themselves before the sight before them gave both a moment’s start.

At the front stood Mu Yunyao, and behind her was a great group of people, perhaps forty or fifty at a glance. Men and women stood separately on either side, all dressed in white, their waists neatly fitted, their sleeves and hems falling a little wide. Together they bent in a curtsy or a bow, their pale garments flowing, their entire bearing light and unworldly.

“Greetings, honored gentlemen.”

Su Qingwu’s gaze fell on Mu Yunyao. Her clothing was especially refined in its simplicity. The upper garment was white, while the skirt faded from white into a pale moonlit blue. At first glance, she was far less dazzling than the people standing behind her. Yet the more one looked, the more the eye was drawn irresistibly back to her.

Most striking of all was the fresh white magnolia pinned in her hair. Its petals were slender and pure as snow, making her seem all the more delicate and luminous.

“Miss Mu, no need for such courtesy.”

Governor Zhang and Cao Yunian had naturally come as well, though both deferred to Su Qingwu and Xu Li as the principal figures. They stood smiling at one side and did not speak.

Mu Yunyao rose and led them into Jinxiu Garden. Wei Yi, Yun Chun, and the others remained bent in their greeting until everyone had passed within, only then straightening and following after at a respectful distance.

Upon entering Jinxiu Garden, the eye was met by a wash of new green. Stalk after stalk of emerald bamboo stood tall and flourished, their leaves interlacing in a soft rustle. Here and there, faint markings on the bamboo were scattered like tears.

Governor Zhang could not help exclaiming in admiration.

“Is this Xiangfei bamboo? It is quite rare in Jingling City.”

Mu Yunyao smiled, her eyes bright.

“‘Its integrity endures frost, though none may see it; all day it keeps an empty heart, awaiting the phoenix’s coming.’ Today, to welcome the honored gentlemen, even this Xiangfei bamboo seems to have grown more pleasing to the eye. Does that not answer exactly to the poem?”

Governor Zhang could not help shaking his head over and over.

“What is Miss Mu saying? It is the scenery here that is so fine. We coarse men merely profit from it in vain.”

“If Governor Zhang calls himself a coarse man, then my tea house might as well close its doors at once.”

Governor Zhang was so startled that he did not immediately follow. “And why is that?”

“If even Governor Zhang calls himself coarse, then among the people of Jingling City, who would still be qualified to come drink tea here? If I do not close the place, what else should I do?”

Mu Yunyao’s smile was sincere. Whatever words left her mouth always seemed to carry with them a natural ring of heartfelt truth.

“Who in Jingling does not know that during Governor Zhang’s term of office, he has done much practical good for both Jingling and all of Jiangnan? Even now, the children of Jingling City still sing:
The Jingling River rises three chi high, as mighty as the waves of Qiantang.
Governor and Prefect together gave command, and made the billows bow their heads.”

Xu Li, who had all along been smiling quietly, showed a trace of curiosity at this.

“‘Governor and Prefect together gave command, and made the billows bow their heads’? The Jingling River came near to bursting its banks several times in the last few years, yet in the end it was brought safely under control. Even His Majesty once praised that achievement, and Governor Zhang’s merit in it was indeed great. As for the Prefect mentioned there, that should be Official Cao, should it not? If I remember correctly, before Official Cao was promoted to Salt Transport Commissioner, he served as Prefect of Jingling City.”

Cao Yunian nodded quickly. “Yes. Eunuch Xu has an excellent memory.”

“It is only because both honored gentlemen are genuinely beloved by the people that even children know of your achievements.”

At once, both Governor Zhang and Cao Yunian flushed red with excitement. The Xu Li before them was one of the Emperor’s favored attendants; if he were willing to say even a single good word of them before His Majesty, it would be a heaven-sent opportunity. They truly ought to thank Mu Yunyao properly for this. Later, they would certainly make up for it with an additional grand opening gift.

Too much was as bad as too little—Mu Yunyao naturally understood that well. After seeming, quite casually, to flatter the two gentlemen a little, she led them around the bamboo grove and farther in.

The deeper they went, the more they found Jinxiu Garden’s scenery exquisitely arranged. Especially when they came upon the winding corridor bridge, where the calm lake mirrored the drooping willows at the shore, while gulls wheeled and played among the lotus blooms as if both greeting and avoiding them at once, the place was so beautiful that it seemed to have stepped straight out of a landscape painting.

The group paused on the bridge and, for a time, fell silent, gazing at the picturesque scene. Their hearts felt cleansed, as though the dust of the mortal world had slipped away.

For some reason, Su Qingwu turned his head slightly—and saw Mu Yunyao standing beside him.

One of her hands rested lightly on the white marble railing of the bridge, her gaze settled upon the lotus-covered lake, a tranquil smile playing at her lips. It was not the bright, pure smile she wore while speaking, yet for some inexplicable reason, it made his heart tremble.

A slanting breeze swept in and stirred her skirts. At the same time, it caught the loose strands of hair behind her, and one lock happened to brush past him, skimming over the back of his hand like a feather. The faint tickle seemed to travel all the way into his heart.

His arm went stiff, and his heart began to waver despite itself.

He had seen many women—imperial princesses, daughters of noble houses. Some had crowded eagerly toward him; some had dismissed him with indifference. Yet never had anyone given him a feeling as complicated as Mu Yunyao did.

Mu Yunyao, however, noticed nothing unusual about him. After the group had admired the scene for a while, she spoke.

“Honored gentlemen, just ahead is the place where I had intended to invite you to drink tea. To taste fragrant tea while enjoying such beautiful scenery—is that not delightful?”

Xu Li could not help sighing softly.

“Before even tasting the tea, my mind is already three parts intoxicated. The scenery in Miss’s tea house is truly most refined.”

“Many thanks for the praise, honored sir.”

Not far away stood the six-story building Mu Yunyao intended to name Bu Xian Lou. Yet Xu Li was even more fond of the beauty by the lakeside, and so he proposed that they drink tea there instead.

Everything had already been prepared. It was only a matter of moving the setting from one place to another, and Mu Yunyao at once sent Steward Qin to arrange it.

When Steward Qin returned, he found a moment with no one nearby and quietly informed Mu Yunyao,

“Miss, Madam Jin has sent Yin Hong to say that Miss should concentrate on receiving the honored gentlemen for now. She and the other ladies will come in the afternoon.”

Warmth stirred in Mu Yunyao’s heart.

“Good. Since it is only the honored gentlemen for now, there is no need to have Wei Yi, Yun Chun, and the others display their tea art. I shall attend to them myself.”

“Yes.”

The group took their seats in the pavilion. The tables were low, and the cushions upon the seats were embroidered with lotus motifs. The moment they sat down, everyone felt somewhat more at ease, and the atmosphere grew noticeably lighter.

* The poem from Zhang Bi in the Tang Dynasty is titled Yongzhu (Wing Bamboo). The whole of the article is as follows: 

The trees are full of color and clouds, and the king and his grandson are full of court. 

Ling Shuang has no one to see and treats Feng modestly all day. 

Who let the wind add to the singing, the self-pity dashing out of the dust. 

Zhu Men has many leisure areas throughout. 

It’s just time to move the clouds and the green moss.

Edited by Little Kitty on 17/06/20

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Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 113