Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 100

Chapter 100: What Is So Shameful About the Pleasure Quarters?

Seeing the look on their faces, the faintest trace of ease passed through Mu Yunyao’s eyes. She rose, bent down, and helped them to their feet. Rarely did she have the patience to explain herself, but this time, her voice remained measured.

“In a few days, the tea house will open. I intend to hand Niyun Pavilion over to Mother to manage. For that reason, the people at her side must be capable enough to uphold her dignity and protect her safety. Those four maids are the helpers I found for Mother. As for the two of you, you will remain with me and help manage the tea house. You cannot afford the slightest negligence. Do you understand?”

“Yes. Please rest assured, Miss. We will do everything in our power.”

Jin Lan and Jin Qiao’s eyes brightened at once, the tension in their shoulders quietly loosening. Mu Yunyao had not set them aside. On the contrary, she still intended to train them carefully. For two servants who feared being left behind, there could be no greater reassurance.

“Very well. Go and arrange their rooms. Also, have Si Qin and the others’ clothing and monthly allowance sent over. In half an hour, we will go to Jinxiu Garden.”

“Yes, Miss.”

After the two of them left, the curve at Mu Yunyao’s lips gradually faded.

Jin Lan and Jin Qiao were obedient and clever. They were willing to work hard and improve, and deeply loyal to her. For that reason, she had no intention of replacing them. However, their experience was still limited, and they lacked the calm, imposing presence needed to stand firm in a great household. She had to seize the time to train them properly. Otherwise, once they entered a place like the Su family, not only would they be unable to help her, but she would have to spare her attention to protect them.

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

When Steward Qin received the thick letter, his hand paused slightly. A moment later, a silent smile unfolded across his face. Miss Mu must have had many things she wished to say to Fourth Master; otherwise, the letter would not be so substantial. He would have to write to Old Cheng as well and tell him to urge His Highness to study properly under Miss Mu.

After sending off the letter to Yue Wang, the faint weight between Mu Yunyao’s brows seemed to ease.

She had corrected those people’s tea-brewing techniques several times, but to no avail. At last, she went to Steward Qin to discuss the matter.

“Steward Qin, I am thinking of sending these fifty people away.”

Steward Qin’s gaze shifted. For a moment, he did not quite understand her meaning. “Does Miss have some matter that requires attention? I can send others to help you accomplish it.”

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

“Steward Qin will understand once he sees.”

With doubt in his heart, Steward Qin carefully watched the two of them prepare the tea. The longer he watched, the tighter his brows drew together.

He had seen Mu Yunyao brew tea before. Her expression had been serene, her movements as smooth and natural as drifting clouds and flowing water. Merely standing at the side and watching her had filled one’s heart with quiet beauty.

Yet when he looked at Wei Yi and Yun Chun, although their movements were identical to Mu Yunyao’s, no matter how he viewed them, they seemed stiff and mechanical. There was not the slightest trace of the elegance and pleasure one ought to feel when watching the art of tea.

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

“The Qinhuai River is famed for its boundless splendor,” Mu Yunyao replied evenly. “Let them spend some time there.”

Steward Qin’s expression changed. “Miss Mu… the scenery along Qinhuai is indeed beautiful, but that place…”

The Qinhuai River was famed for its beauty—but more so for the world hidden along its banks. There, the true spectacle was not the scenery, but the courtesans of the pleasure houses.

“I am only asking them to stay there for a period of time and experience something of the warmth and coldness of human relations. They all possess martial arts to protect themselves, so I do not imagine anything will go terribly wrong. If Steward Qin is still uneasy, you may send people to protect them in secret.”

The crease between Steward Qin’s brows did not ease, yet under Mu Yunyao’s calm gaze, the words of objection reached his lips and went no further.

“Then Miss may arrange it as she sees fit.”

A subtle gleam crossed Mu Yunyao’s eyes.

“Please rest assured, Steward Qin. I wish to temper their temperaments, not ruin them.”

“Yes. Miss has always known proper measure in her actions.”

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

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

The crowd exchanged glances, uncertainty passing silently among them. Wei Yi stepped forward and cupped his hands. “May I ask, Miss, were we not supposed to learn the art of brewing tea? Why are we going to the banks of the Qinhuai River?”

“You will understand when you return.”

Mu Yunyao then called Liu Liang over.

“I will have Liu Liang sell you in batches to the brothels and courtesan houses along the Qinhuai, ten taels of silver per person. If you have the will, then relying on the tea-brewing skills I taught you, you will be more than capable of serving as qingguan. You must remain there for a full half month. During this half month, unless your lives are in danger, you are not permitted to use force. Can you do this?”

“Miss, we do not understand.”

At these words, several faces darkened. Sending them to brothels and courtesan houses—such an arrangement pressed against the pride they had barely managed to keep hidden.

Yun Chun also stepped forward, her voice tight despite her effort to restrain it. “Miss, is it because we were disrespectful to you when we first met that you are deliberately humiliating us like this?”

Mu Yunyao, however, remained calm from beginning to end. Hearing this, she lifted her eyes and swept her gaze over them.

“You think sending you to the pleasure quarters is an insult?”

“That kind of place… is it not?”

“Brothels receive and send off guests, but even there, one relies on one’s own ability. Farmers reap what they sow, officials receive their salaries—what is so shameful about earning one’s living? I am sending you to the brothels, and what is more, only to serve as qingguan. Is that already an insult? If you cannot endure it, then you need not go. I will report it to Fourth Master and have you replaced at once.”

The eyes fixed upon her grew sharper. Yet because of Mu Yunyao’s final sentence, no one dared speak out rashly. Their displeasure could only gather silently in their gazes.

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

On the surface, these people were respectful toward her. In their hearts, however, they still carried contempt. It was only that Steward Qin had forcibly suppressed it. Now, with their pride provoked, those hidden feelings had finally surfaced.

In the end, they were not truly her people. No matter how she used them, they would never feel completely smooth in her hands. If Steward Qin or Yue Wang had ordered them to go, not only would they not have felt humiliated, they might even have gone with eagerness.

“Is there anyone who cannot endure it?”

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

Many of them looked toward Steward Qin, hoping he would step forward and make the decision for them. Yet Steward Qin kept his eyes lowered from beginning to end, remaining entirely outside the matter.

After waiting a moment longer, Mu Yunyao spoke again.

“Since no one objects, set out at once. Liu Liang, take them away.”

Liu Liang stood at the front with his long sword in his arms, his expression cold and stern. He was clearly only one man, yet even when facing fifty people, his aura did not fall short in the slightest. If anything, he faintly held the upper hand.

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

He had noticed this person before, but Liu Liang had merely followed quietly at Mu Yunyao’s side and had never spoken. Steward Qin had not known the depth of his martial skill and had assumed he was only an ordinary guard. He had not expected that he himself had misjudged him.

This one man was superior to all fifty before him.

Someone could no longer restrain the urge to resist. Yet before Liu Liang could act, Wei Yi spoke first and stopped him.

“Miss, then we shall go.”

Mu Yunyao looked at Wei Yi for a moment. At last, the frost in her expression eased by a fraction.

“Go and admire Qinhuai’s misty willows and painted bridges, its wind-stirred curtains and emerald screens. Watch the brothels receive and send off their guests. Listen to the laughter and revelry within. When you return, you will understand what you ought to do.”

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 the matter to proceed so smoothly.

He had thought those people would certainly rise up in resistance. He had even prepared himself for the worst. Unexpectedly, after that brief surge of defiance, they had actually all agreed to go to both banks of the Qinhuai River.

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

“Miss Mu, take care.”

After Mu Yunyao left, Steward Qin hurried to the study. Once he had written a letter, he had someone send it to Yuexi overnight.

Although by the time His Highness read the letter, the matter would already be settled, Steward Qin still could not leave it unsaid. He only hoped His Highness’s temper would not be stirred too greatly.

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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