Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 100

Hi, ~ This is my first translated chapter, so if there are any mistakes or better wording, please tell me in the comments!

~ So What If It’s Brothels and Pleasure Houses? ~

Seeing the expressions on their faces, Mu Yunyao felt satisfied. She rose, bent down, and personally helped them to their feet. Rarely did she explain things with such patience.

“In a few days, the tea house will open. I will hand Ni Yun Fang over to Mother to manage. She must have people by her side who can uphold her dignity and protect her safety. Those four maids are the helpers I selected for her. As for you two, you will follow me to run the tea house. You must not slack off in the slightest. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Miss. Please rest assured—we will do our utmost.”

Excitement filled Jin Lan and Jin Qiao’s eyes. Mu Yunyao still valued them and even intended to cultivate them further. Nothing could have pleased them more.

“Good. Arrange the rooms. Also, send Si Qin and the others their clothing and monthly allowances. In half an hour, we will go to Jinxiu Garden.”

“Yes, Miss.”

After the two left, Mu Yunyao’s smile faded.

Jin Lan and Jin Qiao were obedient, diligent, and fiercely loyal. She had no intention of replacing them. Yet their experience was limited, and they lacked a certain commanding presence. She needed to train them quickly. Otherwise, in a place like the Su family, not only would they be unable to help her, but she would have to divert her attention to protect them.

Once the arrangements were complete, Mu Yunyao went to Jinxiu Garden.

Steward Qin accepted the thick letter, paused in surprise, then smiled silently. Miss Mu must have much to say to Fourth Master—otherwise the letter would not be so substantial. He ought to write to Lao Cheng as well and urge him to remind His Royal Highness to learn properly from Miss Mu.

After sending the letter to Yue Wang, Mu Yunyao felt as though a burden had finally lifted. She had corrected those fifty people’s tea-brewing technique several times to no avail. At last, she sought out Steward Qin.

“Steward Qin, I am thinking of sending those fifty people out.”

He was taken aback. “Miss, do you have some task to handle? I can assign others to assist you.”

Mu Yunyao shook her head and called Wei Yi and Yun Chun over. Without further explanation, she instructed them to brew a pot of tea.

“Steward Qin will understand once he sees.”

Still puzzled, Steward Qin watched carefully. The longer he watched, the deeper his brows furrowed.

He had seen Mu Yunyao brew tea before. Her expression had been serene, her movements flowing like drifting clouds and running water. Merely watching her brought a sense of tranquility and beauty.

But Wei Yi and Yun Chun? Though their movements mirrored hers almost exactly, everything appeared rigid and mechanical. It was correct—but it was not pleasing to the eye.

“I understand,” Steward Qin said at last. “Where does Miss intend to send them?”

“Qinhuai’s ten miles of endless scenery. I want them to spend some time along both banks of the Qinhuai.”

Steward Qin was startled. “Miss Mu… the Qinhuai River is indeed beautiful, but that place…”

The famed ten miles of Qinhuai—its most famed scenery was none other than the brothels and pleasure houses. What made it beautiful were not the riverbanks, but the beauties within. Was Miss Mu intending to send all fifty of them into brothels?

“I am only sending them there to stay for a time,” Mu Yunyao said calmly. “Let them see the warmth and coldness of human hearts. They all possess martial skills; nothing should go wrong. If Steward Qin remains uneasy, you may send people to watch over them in secret.”

Though still uneasy, Steward Qin could tell from her expression that she would not be persuaded.

“As Miss arranges.”

A trace of satisfaction flickered through Mu Yunyao’s eyes.

“Please rest assured. I mean to temper these fifty people’s  character, not ruin them.”

“Yes. Miss has always acted with measure.”

Having made her decision, Mu Yunyao wasted no time. She summoned all fifty.

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

The group was bewildered. Wei Yi could not help but ask, “Miss, are we not to learn tea-brewing? Why are we going to Qinhuai?”

“You will understand when you return.”

She then called Liu Liang forward.

“I will have Liu Liang sell you in batches to the brothels and pleasure houses along the Qinhuai—ten taels of silver per person. If you have any ability, the tea-brewing skills I taught you will be enough to make you a qingguan. You are to remain there for half a month. During that time, unless your lives are in danger, you are not to use force. Can you do it?”

Anger spread across many faces.

“Miss, we do not understand!”

Sending them to brothels—was this not humiliation?

Even Yun Chun stepped forward. “Miss, is this because we were disrespectful when we first met you? Are you deliberately humiliating us?”

Mu Yunyao remained expressionless. She lifted her gaze and swept it across them.

“You believe going to brothels and pleasure houses is humiliation?”

“That kind of place… is it not?”

“Brothels receive guests, but they rely on their own skill to earn a living. Farmers sow and reap. Officials draw their salaries. What is shameful about that? I am sending you there merely to serve as qingguan, and you call it an insult? If you cannot endure it, then do not go. I will report to Fourth Master and have you replaced.”

The anger on their faces deepened, yet at the mention of replacement, none dared argue openly. They could only glare in resentment.

Mu Yunyao saw everything clearly.

Outwardly respectful, inwardly disdainful. Steward Qin had forced their obedience. Now that anger stirred them, their true feelings surfaced.

They were not her people. No wonder using them felt awkward. If Steward Qin or Yue Wang had ordered them, they would not have felt humiliated at all—they would have accepted it gladly.

“Is there anyone who cannot endure it?” she asked.

Her gaze was cool and distant, pale as moonlight before dawn.

Several glanced toward Steward Qin, hoping he would intervene. But he kept his eyes lowered, as though uninvolved.

After a moment, Mu Yunyao spoke again.

“Since no one objects, depart at once. Liu Liang, take them.”

Liu Liang stepped forward, long sword cradled in his arms, his face cold and stern. One man facing fifty—yet his presence did not falter. If anything, it faintly overwhelmed the entire group.

For the first time, Steward Qin truly examined Liu Liang. He had assumed him to be an ordinary guard, silent at Mu Yunyao’s side. It seemed he had misjudged him.

This one man was worth more than all fifty.

Someone twitched, ready to resist, but before Liu Liang could move, Wei Yi spoke first.

“Miss… we will go.”

Mu Yunyao looked at him in faint surprise, her expression softening slightly.

“Go and admire Qinhuai’s misty willows and painted bridges, its emerald curtains and drifting sails. Watch the endless greetings and laughter within those brothels. When you return, you will understand what you lack.”

Wei Yi and Yun Chun nodded and led the group out of Jinxiu Garden behind Liu Liang.

Even Steward Qin had not expected matters to proceed so smoothly. He had prepared for resistance. Yet after venting their anger, they had agreed to go.

“Steward Qin,” Mu Yunyao added, “in the coming days, tea sets and tea leaves will arrive one after another. Please make the arrangements. In half a month, I will return to pick them up. Farewell.”

“Safe travels, Miss Mu.”

After Mu Yunyao left, Steward Qin hurried to the study. He finished writing a letter and had it sent overnight to Yuexi.

By the time His Royal Highness read it, everything would already be settled—but it had to be said.

He only hoped His Royal Highness would not be too angered.

清倌 / 清倌人 (qīngguān / qīngguān rén): an “uninitiated courtesan” in older usage—i.e., a prostitute/entertainer who has not yet begun receiving clients (often described as selling performance/arts rather than sex, at least initially)

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

Edited by Little Kitty on 05/06/20

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