Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 100

Chapter 100: What Is So Shameful About Brothels and Pleasure Houses?

Seeing the looks on their faces, Mu Yunyao felt satisfied.

She rose and bent down to help them up, then explained with rare patience, “In a few days, the tea house will open for business. I intend to leave Niyun Pavilion in Mother’s hands. Therefore, there must be capable people at her side, people who can uphold her dignity and protect her. Those four maids are the helpers I chose for Mother. As for you two, you will follow me and help manage the tea house. You must not allow even the slightest negligence. Do you understand?”

“Yes. Please rest assured, Miss. We will certainly do our utmost.”

Jin Lan and Jin Qiao’s eyes shone with excitement. Mu Yunyao still valued them. More than that, she even intended to train them carefully. To them, there could be no better news.

“Good. Go and arrange their rooms. Also, send over Si Qin and the others’ clothes and monthly allowance. In half an hour, we will go to Jinxiu Garden.”

“Yes, Miss.”

After the two of them left, the smile on Mu Yunyao’s face slowly faded.

Jin Lan and Jin Qiao were obedient and sensible. They were willing to work hard and improve, and they were extremely loyal to her. Because of that, she had no intention of replacing them. It was only that their experience was still too limited. They lacked the bearing needed to command a room.

She had to seize the time to train them. Otherwise, once they entered a place like the Su family estate, not only would they be unable to help her, but she would also have to divide her attention to protect them.

After the two finished making arrangements, Mu Yunyao went to Jinxiu Garden.

When Steward Qin received the thick letter, he could not help pausing in surprise. Then he smiled silently.

Miss Mu must have many things she wished to say to Fourth Master. Otherwise, this letter would never be so thick. He, too, would have to write to Old Cheng and tell him to urge His Highness to learn from Miss Mu in earnest.

After sending the letter to Yue Wang, Mu Yunyao seemed to have settled a matter that had been weighing on her heart.

After correcting their tea-brewing technique several times without success, she finally sought out Steward Qin to discuss the matter.

“Steward Qin, I am thinking of sending these fifty people out for a period of time.”

Steward Qin was startled and did not quite understand her meaning. “Does Miss have some matter that needs handling? I can have others help Miss complete it.”

Mu Yunyao shook her head and summoned Wei Yi and Yun Chun. Without saying much, she only ordered them to brew a pot of tea.

“Steward Qin will understand after watching.”

Still puzzled, Steward Qin carefully watched the two of them brew tea. The longer he watched, the tighter his brows drew together.

He had seen Mu Yunyao prepare tea before. Her expression had been serene, and her movements had flowed like clouds and running water. Merely standing beside her and watching had been enough to quiet one’s heart, as though even the dust of the mortal world had been washed clean.

But now, looking at Wei Yi and Yun Chun, although their movements were exactly the same as Mu Yunyao’s, no matter how he looked at them, they seemed stiff and rigid. There was none of the pleasing grace he had expected.

“I understand. Where does Miss wish to send them?”

“The ten-li stretch of Qinhuai is famed for its boundless splendor. I wish to have them stay for a time along both banks of the Qinhuai River.”

Steward Qin was greatly shocked. “Miss Mu… the scenery along both banks of the Qinhuai is indeed beautiful, but that place…”

The ten-li stretch of Qinhuai was renowned for its beauty, yet what it was most famous for was its brothels and pleasure houses. Its true splendor lay not in the scenery, but in its beauties.

Could Miss Mu truly mean to send these fifty people into brothels?

“I only want them to stay there for a period of time and learn something of the warmth and coldness of human nature. They all possess martial arts skills, so I imagine no serious danger will arise. If Steward Qin is still uneasy, you may send people to protect them from the shadows.”

Steward Qin was still uneasy, but when he saw Mu Yunyao’s expression, he ultimately did not speak against her. “Then Miss may arrange it as she sees fit.”

A faint movement passed through Mu Yunyao’s heart, and a trace of satisfaction flashed through her eyes.

“Please rest assured, Steward Qin. I intend to temper their dispositions, not destroy them.”

“Yes. Miss has always known where to draw the line.”

Since the decision had been made, Mu Yunyao did not hesitate. She directly summoned all fifty of them.

“Today, you will set out for both banks of the Qinhuai. Fifteen days from now, at this same hour, you will return to Jinxiu Garden.”

The group did not understand. Wei Yi could not help asking, “May I ask, Miss, are we not supposed to be learning the art of brewing tea? Why must we go to both banks of the Qinhuai?”

“You will understand once you return.”

Mu Yunyao then called Liu Liang over.

“I will have Liu Liang sell you, group by group, into the brothels and pleasure houses along both banks of the Qinhuai, each for ten taels of silver. If you have the heart to learn, then the tea-brewing skills I have taught you will be enough for you to pass as qingguan. You are to remain there for a full half month. During this half month, unless your lives are truly at stake, you are not permitted to use force. Can you do this?”

“Miss, we do not understand.”

After hearing Mu Yunyao’s words, anger appeared on many of their faces.

Sending them into brothels and pleasure houses, how was that not humiliation?

Yun Chun could not help stepping forward. “Is Miss doing this because we offended you when we first met, and so you are deliberately humiliating us?”

Mu Yunyao’s expression remained calm from beginning to end. Hearing this, she lifted her head and swept her gaze over them.

“So you believe being sent to brothels and pleasure houses is humiliation?”

“A place like that… is it not?”

“Brothels receive guests and send them away, yet those who survive there still rely on their own abilities. Is that so different from farmers planting melons and harvesting melons, or officials receiving their stipends? What about it is so shameful that it cannot bear the light of day? I am sending you there only to serve as qingguan, and even if you call it humiliation? If you cannot endure it, then you need not go. I will report it to Fourth Master and have you replaced at once!”

The resentment on many faces deepened.

It was only because of Mu Yunyao’s final sentence that they did not dare speak up to refute her. They could only express their dissatisfaction through indignant eyes.

Mu Yunyao took in all their expressions, her heart as clear as a mirror.

These people appeared respectful toward her on the surface, but in their hearts, they still harbored disdain. Steward Qin had merely suppressed it by force. Now, because of anger, those feelings had finally revealed themselves.

In the end, they were not her own people. No matter how she used them, they would never feel smooth in her hand. If Steward Qin or Yue Wang had ordered them to go, not only would they not have felt humiliated, they would have gone with great enthusiasm.

“Is there anyone who cannot endure it?”

Mu Yunyao lifted her eyes. Her cool gaze was faint and pale, like moonlight before dawn.

Quite a few people looked toward Steward Qin, hoping he would speak and take charge. Yet Steward Qin kept his eyes lowered from beginning to end, keeping himself entirely apart from the matter.

After waiting another moment, Mu Yunyao spoke again. “Since no one objects, depart at once. Liu Liang, take them away.”

Liu Liang stepped forward with his longsword in his arms, his face cold and stern.

Though he was clearly only one man facing fifty, his presence did not yield in the slightest. Rather, he faintly seemed to hold the upper hand.

For the first time, Steward Qin studied Liu Liang seriously.

He had noticed this man before, but Liu Liang had only followed quietly at Mu Yunyao’s side and had never once opened his mouth to speak. Steward Qin had not known the depth of his martial skill. He had taken Liu Liang for an ordinary guard. He had not expected his own eyes to be so mistaken.

This one man alone surpassed the fifty before him.

Someone was unable to resist the urge to move. Before Liu Liang even made a move, Wei Yi spoke first and stopped him.

“Miss, then we shall take our leave.”

Mu Yunyao looked at Wei Yi with some surprise. At last, a trace of gentleness appeared in her expression.

“Go and see Qinhuai’s misted willows and painted bridges, its wind-stirred curtains and green screens. Watch how the brothels receive and send off their guests, and how laughter and revelry rise and fall. When you return, you will understand what must be done.”

Wei Yi and Yun Chun nodded at the same time, then led the others to follow Liu Liang out of Jinxiu Garden.

Even Steward Qin had not expected matters to proceed so smoothly.

He had thought those people would certainly rise up in resistance. He had even prepared himself for the worst. Yet he had never imagined that once their anger had spent itself, they would actually all agree to go to both banks of the Qinhuai.

“Steward Qin, over these next few days, tea wares, tea leaves, and other such items will be delivered here one after another. I must trouble Steward Qin to arrange them. In half a month, I will come to receive them back. Farewell.”

“Miss Mu, take care.”

After Mu Yunyao left, Steward Qin hurried to the study. Once he finished writing his letter, he had it sent to Yuexi overnight.

Although by the time His Highness read this letter, the matter would already be beyond recall, he still could not leave it unreported. He could only hope His Highness would not be too furious.

The Qinhuai is historically famous for elite courtesans who were valued for their arts and cultivated skills.

Edited by Little Kitty on 05/06/20

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