Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 105

Chapter 105: Then Let Me Test His Depths

When Mu Yunyao returned to Niyun Pavilion, Su Qing did not notice anything unusual about her. Instead, she listened with great excitement as Mu Yunyao described the scene of receiving the imperial edict.

“Yao’er, His Majesty bestowed so many things upon you. When will they be delivered?”

“It is already late today, so I fear they will not come now. They should be delivered first thing tomorrow morning. Mother, rest assured. No one would dare pocket His Majesty’s rewards.”

“Good, good.”

Su Qing paced back and forth in excitement for quite some time, then took Si Qin and the others with her to continue arranging the room where His Majesty’s rewards would be reverently displayed.

The moment Su Qing left, the smile on Mu Yunyao’s face vanished.

Jin Lan carried in tea and pastries. Seeing Mu Yunyao’s complexion, she asked carefully, “Miss, this servant sees that your expression is truly poor. Should we invite a physician for you?”

“I am fine. You may withdraw first.”

Only after she was left alone in the room did Mu Yunyao extend her palm and examine the wound there.

The instant she saw Su Qingwu at the Governor’s Residence, she had already prepared herself for the worst.

She had worried that Su Qingwu had come this time because of that embroidered screen of splendid rivers and mountains from before, and even more feared that he might ask her to embroider something in order to test her. Therefore, while kneeling on the ground, she had quietly used the golden needle she carried with her to cut open her palm.

Fortunately, the imperial edict had taken a long time to read, and everyone had been kneeling. It had given her enough time to treat the wound on her hand so that it would not look like a fresh cut.

Even so, the result was still limited.

Added to that, she had not fully controlled her emotions before, and it had more or less caused him to grow suspicious. After all, this legitimate eldest grandson, upon whom the Su family placed such high hopes, possessed intelligence and talent that even His Majesty praised without end.

Mu Yunyao frowned.

Just now on Jinling Bridge, he had been the first to mention the person who embroidered the screen of splendid rivers and mountains. That must have been a probe. After she had evaded it, he would certainly not give up. He would have follow-up methods.

If he waited until he investigated clearly where she and Mother had come from, the matter would become troublesome.

“It is still better to strike first…”

Mu Yunyao murmured softly and propped a hand lightly against her temple. Her thoughts turned swiftly. At last, she gently raised the corners of her lips.

“The winter cicada longs for the emerald grass; the singing phoenix perches upon the green wutong… Since we have met, let me test his depths in advance. In any case, sooner or later, we will have to cross hands.”

Early the next morning, Mu Yunyao and Su Qing had already tidied themselves and were waiting downstairs.

Half an hour later, Jin Lan ran over with a face full of smiles.

“Miss, His Majesty’s rewards have arrived.”

Su Qing could not help gripping Mu Yunyao’s hand tightly. “Yao’er…”

Mu Yunyao patted the back of her hand soothingly and gave her a warm smile. “Mother, do not be nervous. These rewards cannot run away.”

“Miss Mu, His Majesty’s rewards have been delivered.”

Su Qingwu studied the signboard above Niyun Pavilion, a flash of amazement passing through his eyes.

What excellent calligraphy.

“Greetings, Lord Su.”

Mu Yunyao had not expected Su Qingwu to personally deliver the rewards. Her brows drew together for an instant before she immediately understood.

He must still want to probe her.

Since that was the case, she would simply respond move for move.

Su Qingwu appeared to be studying the signboard, but from the corner of his eye, he was watching Mu Yunyao. Seeing her expression, his thoughts stirred faintly.

Yesterday had indeed not been his imagination. This Miss Mu held hostility toward him.

After Mu Yunyao and Su Qing led everyone in Niyun Pavilion through the rites of kneeling and thanking His Majesty for his grace, they had the rewards carried into the room.

Su Qingwu looked around Niyun Pavilion with great interest. In particular, he seemed especially fond of the two basins of water lilies placed in the hall. The lotus leaves were emerald green, the flowers soft pink, and golden-red koi swam among them, making the scene appear especially vivid and full of life.

Since Mu Yunyao had already resolved to exchange a few moves with Su Qingwu, she no longer deliberately avoided him.

“If Lord Su likes these two basins of water lilies, I can give them to you as a token of thanks.”

“They have been tended with such care. They must be things Miss cherishes. A gentleman does not take what another loves. Let it be.”

“I do not like them. I only keep them to cater to those madams who favor lotus flowers.”

Su Qingwu was inwardly surprised.

Lotus flowers, especially water lilies, were particularly pleasing in appearance. Very few young women would dislike them. Moreover, even if one truly did not like them, one would rarely say so with such directness.

“Then what does Miss like?”

“I opened an embroidery shop, so naturally, I like silver.”

Mu Yunyao knew that the refined young master before her possessed a proud and aloof temperament. If she said so plainly that she liked silver, he would certainly find it unpleasant to hear.

Sure enough, Su Qingwu’s expression did not change, but a trace of displeasure flashed through his eyes with great speed.

“Miss Mu has such a straightforward nature. That is rather rare.”

Su Qingwu studied Mu Yunyao.

The young girl before him had skin like white snow and lips like flowing cinnabar. Her delicate brows and eyes were bright with smiling charm, and now and then, a quick, lively light flashed through them. Had he not caught that slight frown of hers just now, he might almost have believed she truly welcomed him.

“If one does not even dare speak plainly and spends each day scheming like flies after scraps, would that not make life far too stifling? Besides, who in this world does not like silver?”

Mu Yunyao’s words carried a hidden barb, yet her smile remained pure and flawless.

“What does Lord Su think?”

Su Qingwu’s gaze swept over Mu Yunyao’s face. In his heart, he became certain that she truly bore hostility toward him.

Only, where had such hostility come from?

“I have only just arrived in Jingling City and wish to stroll about. Yet I am unfamiliar with the roads. Might Miss Mu be willing to give Su some guidance?”

“Lord Su, that truly puts me in a difficult position. Although I am only a commoner, Mother has taught me strictly. I am at just the right age. If I accompany you outside for a walk, then when I return, I need not think of preserving my reputation any longer.”

Su Qingwu paused. A trace of interest flashed through his eyes.

“It was Su who failed to consider matters carefully and acted presumptuously toward Miss. However, Miss has not yet reached hairpin age, and I also have attendants following at my side. I imagine it should not be a hindrance?”

Mu Yunyao naturally knew it would not be a hindrance. She was only deliberately making him uncomfortable.

After all, in a few years, Su Qingwu would receive His Majesty’s commendation and, in one stroke, become the model of etiquette that all of Xiling’s Capital vied to imitate. If rumors were to spread in the future that he had recklessly invited a young woman out, she truly wondered what expression he would make.

“It was I who overthought the matter. Since that is so, I will tell Mother, then accompany Lord Su for a walk.”

Su Qingwu nodded and watched Mu Yunyao go upstairs.

The smile in his eyes gradually faded, covered by a faint, cool glimmer that seemed both present and absent.

Mu Yunyao informed Su Qing, then dawdled for a while as she changed her clothes. Only then did she bring Jin Lan and Jin Qiao downstairs.

Su Qingwu was sitting beside the table, his gaze resting on the pedestrians passing outside the door, a faint smile on his lips.

“Lord Su, I have made you wait. It is all because I was careless for a moment and even forgot to have the maids serve you tea. This…”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Su Qingwu had already grown displeased in his heart, but his temperament would not allow him to reveal even the slightest trace of it.

When he saw Mu Yunyao after she had changed, however, he was momentarily dazed. A flash of astonishment crossed his eyes, and without his noticing, much of his anger scattered.

She wore a pale green gauze robe patterned like ancient mist over her upper body, and below, a pleated ruyi moon skirt. In her hair was a cloud-foot pearl tendril hairpin, matched with fine, delicate huadian ornaments. When she smiled, it was as though a hundred flowers had burst into bloom.

At such a young age, she already possessed this kind of grace. Once she reached hairpin age and fully grew into herself, what kind of heavenly beauty would she become?

“Many thanks to Lord Su for your generosity. In that case, let us go. This is just the right time to take to the streets.”

Su Qingwu suppressed the strange look in his eyes, rose, and followed Mu Yunyao’s steps.

As they walked, many women greeted Mu Yunyao. Their attitudes were especially warm and intimate. After all, they had all learned their embroidery stitches from her. Although there was no formal title of master and disciple between them, the gratitude and respect that ought to exist were still there.

Mu Yunyao responded to each of them with a nod. From time to time, she even stopped to admire the embroidered goods displayed at the stalls, her expression particularly leisurely and at ease.

Su Qingwu followed behind her at an unhurried pace.

It almost seemed as though he were the one accompanying Mu Yunyao.

After they had strolled for quite some time, Mu Yunyao finally seemed to remember all at once that Su Qingwu was still at her side. She picked up an embroidered item and asked, “Lord Su, what do you think of the embroidery on this handkerchief?”

It was a man’s handkerchief. In one corner, a cluster of orchids had been embroidered, vivid and full of spirit.

“After having seen Miss Mu’s embroidery skill, I find this piece rather ordinary.”

Edited by Little Kitty on 07/06/20

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