Chapter 120: Ding Yuelan’s Whereabouts
After returning from the Cao family’s Residence, Mu Yunyao told Su Qing about Madam Jin’s condition. After listening, Su Qing praised her for doing the right thing.
“If Madam Jin had not supported us back then, we mother and daughter would not have what we have today. I know that in all this time we have spent together, there has inevitably been some mutual use between us. People’s feelings do not become completely open and sincere in a day or a night. Now that you have spent so long with Madam Jin, you know what kind of person she is. Since there is already true affection between you, you should think less about gains and losses and cherish that bond more.”
Mu Yunyao was stunned for a moment, then nodded.
“Yes. Mother is right.”
Having lived once before, her temperament had become cold and hard. She could scheme carefully in order to achieve her goals, but she did not wish to turn herself into someone who would use any means without restraint.
Otherwise, what difference would there be between her and the Su family she hated so deeply, or Jin Wang?
Since the Niyun Pavilion had been burned down, it naturally had to be rebuilt. Madam Jin gave her the land deed for the original small building. After thanking her, Mu Yunyao did not refuse too much.
Once Buxian Tower gradually moved onto the right track, she would occasionally go there to check on the progress of Niyun Pavilion’s reconstruction.
After coming into contact with so many embroiderers, she had already taken note of quite a few people in her heart. She arranged for Jin Lan and Jin Qiao to inquire with them. Aside from three women who had already signed contracts with other residences, the other dozen or so all agreed to come work at Niyun Pavilion.
These days, with the income from Buxian Tower, Mu Yunyao’s finances had eased considerably. She bought silk thread and cloth and had those embroiderers try making garments. Unexpectedly, there were truly two among them with decent talent. The clothes they made according to the patterns she provided only needed slight alterations before they could be sold directly.
After listening to Mu Yunyao’s suggestion, Madam Jin came to Jinxiu Garden almost every day.
Perhaps because her mood had relaxed, she could actually eat the food Su Qing made. She praised Su Qing’s cooking several times in succession, and within a few days, the two became familiar with one another.
Knowing that Su Qing would manage Niyun Pavilion in the future, Madam Jin would, intentionally or unintentionally, reveal the situations of the various residences during casual conversation. Su Qing benefited greatly from it.
Seeing Mother and Madam Jin get along harmoniously, Mu Yunyao was naturally pleased. She then freed up her hands to focus on watching those embroiderers make clothes.
Niyun Pavilion was about to have an imperially bestowed signboard. It absolutely could not do anything that would damage its reputation. Every garment had to be exquisite and magnificent.
After dinner, Mu Yunyao was in the study, thinking through patterns for garments, when Liu Liang suddenly knocked on the door.
“What is it?”
“Master, I have found Madam Ding’s whereabouts.”
Mu Yunyao immediately lifted her head.
The Jingling Assistant Prefect and the Xuanfu envoy had both been escorted to the Capital to answer for their crimes, and the Ding family had also been confiscated. She had never received any news of Ding Yuelan. She had thought Ding Yuelan had already left Jingling City with Master Ding and Old Madam Ding.
“Where is she?”
“Ruyi Pavilion.”
“Ruyi Pavilion?”
Mu Yunyao thought carefully, but she had never heard of this place.
For an instant, Liu Liang’s expression became unnatural.
“…In Cross Alley.”
Mu Yunyao’s expression changed abruptly.
Cross Alley was the place in Jingling City where brothels and pleasure houses gathered. Presumably, Ruyi Pavilion was one of those pleasure houses.
“Take banknotes and redeem her.”
“Master, the brothel madam demanded ten thousand taels.”
Mu Yunyao’s expression grew even uglier.
“That brothel madam must have calculated my relationship with Madam Ding, which is why she dares to name such an outrageous price. Is it not merely ten thousand taels? Give it to her.”
“Yes.”
Liu Liang took the banknotes and hurried out. Yet in less than half an hour, he returned alone.
“The brothel madam said ten thousand taels was the earlier price. Now she demands twenty thousand taels.”
Mu Yunyao laughed coldly.
“She truly knows how to raise the price on the spot. I originally did not wish to cause further trouble, but Ruyi Pavilion is greedy beyond measure. Since they refuse to release her even when given silver, go find Steward Qin and ask for two men. Bring Madam Ding out by force.”
“Yes.”
Liu Liang immediately turned and left.
More than half an hour later, Jin Lan and Jin Qiao supported Ding Yuelan inside.
“…Many thanks, Miss Mu.”
The moment Ding Yuelan entered, she did her utmost to stand steadily on her own. Unfortunately, she was covered in injuries and fell directly to the floor.
Mu Yunyao quickly stepped forward and helped her up.
“Madam Ding, how did you become like this?”
Ding Yuelan had become terribly thin. Her body was covered with lash marks. Her hair was disheveled, and her face was deathly pale. Where was even half of her former grace?
Hearing Mu Yunyao’s question, Ding Yuelan gave a miserable smile.
“I thought that even if we were not related by blood, after spending so many years together, there would still be feelings that could not be severed. Who would have thought that their hearts had long since turned black…”
As she spoke, tears kept falling, spreading into dark stains across the blood-marked clothes she wore.
“Jin Lan, go prepare some food. Jin Qiao, prepare hot water and clean clothes. Let Madam Ding wash properly and eat a little first. We can speak afterward.”
Mu Yunyao could roughly guess what had happened, and she could not help sighing inwardly.
Ding Yuelan had remembered the kindness of being raised by them. How could she have imagined that Master Ding and Old Madam Ding had completely treated her as a tool for profit?
And how could people care whether a tool lived or died?
Ding Yuelan was like a puppet whose soul had been drawn out. Her expression was dazed and hollow. Only after Jin Qiao helped her wash and tidy herself did she recover slightly.
Mu Yunyao took out a medicine bottle. As she helped Ding Yuelan apply medicine, she could not help but secretly frown.
The injuries on Ding Yuelan’s body were far too serious. Judging from their appearance, some were new, and some were old. She must have suffered a great deal of torment.
“I have applied medicine for Madam. If you carefully nurse yourself for a period of time, you will recover.”
Ding Yuelan’s face remained pale. She thanked her in a hoarse voice.
“Many thanks, Miss Mu.”
Jin Lan brought in plain congee and small side dishes.
Mu Yunyao pushed them in front of Ding Yuelan.
“I heard from Liu Liang that you were locked up for a long time and had not eaten, so I had Jin Lan cook some congee. Eat a little first, so your body will not be unable to digest it. Although this is the study, I have separated off an inner room. The bedding and quilts inside are all new. After you finish eating, rest here for the night. Tomorrow, I will have someone prepare a room for you.”
After Mu Yunyao finished speaking, she saw Ding Yuelan nod, then slowly withdrew.
Jin Lan and Jin Qiao were waiting at the door. Seeing her come out, they could not help asking with concern, “Miss, is Shopkeeper Ding all right?”
“The wounds on her body are easy to treat, but the wounds in her heart have no medicine. I fear Master Ding and Old Madam Ding have thoroughly broken her heart. I only hope she can come to terms with it as soon as possible. Jin Qiao, you stay here. If Madam Ding needs anything, help look after her.”
“Yes, Miss.”
The next day, Mu Yunyao had just finished breakfast with Su Qing when Jin Lan hurried in to report.
“Miss, the people from Ruyi Pavilion have come making trouble. They say they want to take Shopkeeper Ding back.”
Su Qing had also heard about Ding Yuelan’s situation and was now furious.
“Yao’er, you absolutely must not send Madam Ding back into that fire pit.”
“Mother, rest assured. I know what to do.”
As Mu Yunyao walked toward the main entrance, she instructed Jin Lan, “Go wait by the gate. At this hour, Madam Jin should be arriving soon. Do not let the people from Ruyi Pavilion cause trouble in front of her.”
“Yes.”
The madam of Ruyi Pavilion looked nearly forty, yet traces of charm still remained. She was dressed in particularly bright and gaudy clothing, and it was clear that when she had been young, she too had been a beauty.
Upon seeing Mu Yunyao, she did not shout or make a scene. But every word she spoke carried thorns.
“Greetings, Miss Mu. During this period of time, Miss Mu has taught the women of Jingling City embroidery stitches. Even lowly people like us have heard of it. It is only that our status is humble, so we have had no way to come here and learn from Miss. In our hearts, we greatly admire Miss.
“However, no matter how heavy Miss’s kindness toward Jingling City may be, it cannot outweigh the clear authority of the law. Once someone has signed a life-sale contract and entered Ruyi Pavilion, she belongs to me. For Miss to directly use force and snatch someone away, what reasoning is there in that?”
