Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 100

Chapter 100: What Is Wrong with the Pleasure Houses?

Seeing the expressions on their faces, Mu Yunyao felt a quiet sense of satisfaction. She rose, inclined slightly, and helped them both to their feet. With unusual patience, she explained, “In a few days, the tea house will open. I will leave Niyun Workshop in my mother’s care. She must have capable people by her side, people who can command respect and ensure her safety. The four attendants are the assistants I have chosen for her. As for the two of you, you will remain with me and help manage the tea house. There must not be the slightest carelessness. Do you understand?”

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

Jin Lan and Jin Qiao were overjoyed. Mu Yunyao still valued them, and she even intended to continue cultivating them. To them, there could be no better news.

“Good. Go and arrange rooms for Si Qin and the others. Send over clothing as well, along with their monthly stipends. In half an hour, we will go to Jinxiu Garden.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Once they had withdrawn, the smile on Mu Yunyao’s lips faded.

Jin Lan and Jin Qiao were obedient, diligent, and loyal. She had never intended to replace them. But they had seen too little and lacked the presence to hold their own. They needed to be trained as quickly as possible. Otherwise, once they entered the Su family, not only would they fail to assist her, they would instead become a burden she had to watch over at every turn.

When everything had been arranged, Mu Yunyao set out for Jinxiu Garden.

Receiving the thick letter, Steward Qin paused in surprise, then allowed himself a small smile. Miss Mu must truly have had much to say to Fourth Master, or the letter would never have been so substantial. He ought to write to Lao Cheng as well and have him urge the Wangye to apply himself properly under Miss Mu’s instruction.

After the letter had been sent to Yue Wang, Mu Yunyao felt as though a weight had finally been lifted from her heart. She had corrected those people’s tea brewing again and again, yet to no avail. At last, she went to find Steward Qin.

“Steward Qin, I intend to send those fifty people elsewhere for a time.”

Steward Qin was taken aback. “Miss, is there some need you have? I can arrange for others to assist you.”

Mu Yunyao shook her head and beckoned Wei Yi and Yun Chun over. Without offering any further explanation, she merely said, “Brew a pot of tea. Steward Qin will understand once he sees it.”

Still puzzled, Steward Qin watched closely. The longer he observed, the more tightly his brows drew together.

He had seen Mu Yunyao brew tea before. Her expression had been serene, her movements flowing with effortless ease, like drifting clouds and running water. Simply watching her inspired a sense of quiet harmony.

Yet although Wei Yi and Yun Chun followed the same steps, their movements were stiff and constrained, utterly devoid of grace.

At length, Steward Qin gave a slight nod. “I understand. Where does Miss intend to send them?”

“The Qinhuai River stretches for ten li, unrivaled in beauty. I want them to spend some time along its banks.”

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

Along the famed ten-li Qinhuai, what was most renowned was not the scenery, but the pleasure houses. What drew men there was not the river itself, but the beauties within.

Was Miss Mu truly planning to send those fifty people into such a place?

“I only want them to remain there for a while and learn something of the ways of the world,” Mu Yunyao said evenly. “They all possess martial skill, so nothing serious should happen. If Steward Qin is still concerned, you may arrange for someone to watch over them in secret.”

Though unease still lingered in his heart, Steward Qin saw how composed she was and did not argue further. “As Miss arranges.”

A faint trace of satisfaction passed through Mu Yunyao’s eyes. “Please rest assured. I mean to temper them, not ruin them.”

“Yes. Miss has always known her measure.”

Since the decision had been made, Mu Yunyao did not delay. She summoned all fifty of them at once.

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

The group was utterly bewildered. Wei Yi could not help but speak. “Miss, are we not meant to continue learning tea brewing? Why must we go to the Qinhuai?”

“You will understand once you return.”

She then called Liu Liang forward.

“I will have Liu Liang arrange for you to be sold, in batches, into the pleasure houses along the Qinhuai. Ten taels of silver per person. If you have any ability at all, the tea-brewing skills I have taught you will be enough to serve there as refined attendants. You will remain for half a month. During that time, unless your lives are in immediate danger, you are not to use force. Can you do that?”

“Miss, we do not understand.” Anger surfaced on many faces at once. To send them to such places was that not deliberate humiliation?

Yun Chun stepped forward as well. “Miss, is this because we showed you disrespect when we first met? Is this your way of humiliating us on purpose?”

Mu Yunyao remained perfectly composed. She lifted her eyes and swept her gaze across them.

“You believe that going to the pleasure houses is humiliation?”

“Is it not?”

“The pleasure houses live by skill no less than any other trade,” Mu Yunyao replied calmly. “A farmer earns his living from the fields. An official receives his stipend from the court. They earn theirs by welcoming guests and seeing them off. What is there to be ashamed of? I am not asking you to abase yourselves. You are only to serve as refined attendants. And for that, you call it humiliation? If you cannot accept it, then refuse. I will report the matter to Fourth Master and have you replaced.”

The resentment in many of their faces deepened, yet none dared to speak openly. Their anger showed only in their eyes.

Mu Yunyao saw it all with perfect clarity.

Outwardly, they appeared respectful. Inwardly, however, they still looked down on her. It was only Steward Qin’s authority that had kept them in check. Now, stirred by anger, those buried thoughts had finally surfaced.

They were not her people. No matter how she used them, things would never sit smoothly. Had the order come from Steward Qin or Yue Wang instead, they would not have felt humiliated at all. They might even have gone willingly.

“Is there anyone who cannot accept this?” Mu Yunyao asked, her gaze cool and pale as the moon before dawn.

Many of them turned toward Steward Qin, hoping he would intervene. Yet Steward Qin merely lowered his eyes and remained silent, as though he had removed himself entirely from the matter.

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

Liu Liang stepped forward, sword cradled in his arms, his expression cold and still. Though he stood alone before fifty men, his bearing did not yield in the slightest. If anything, his presence seemed to weigh down upon them.

For the first time, Steward Qin truly looked at him.

He had noticed him before, always standing quietly at Mu Yunyao’s side, silent and unobtrusive. He had taken him for nothing more than an ordinary guard.

He had been mistaken.

This one man was worth more than all fifty standing before him.

At last, someone could no longer suppress his anger and seemed on the verge of acting. Before Liu Liang could move, however, Wei Yi spoke first and restrained him.

“Miss, we will go.”

Mu Yunyao glanced at Wei Yi with mild surprise. At last, a trace of approval entered her eyes.

“Then go. Look well upon the mist-veiled willows and painted bridges of the Qinhuai, the gauze curtains and jade-green chambers. Watch the comings and goings, the laughter and bright revelry within the pleasure houses. When you return, you will understand what must be done.”

Wei Yi and Yun Chun both nodded. They led the others out of Jinxiu Garden, following Liu Liang.

Even Steward Qin had not expected matters to proceed so smoothly. He had thought they would resist and had already prepared for the worst. Yet after all their anger, they still agreed to go to the Qinhuai.

“Steward Qin, in the coming days, tea sets and tea leaves will be delivered one after another. I must trouble you to make the necessary arrangements. In half a month, I will return to receive them. Farewell.”

“Take care, Miss Mu.”

After Mu Yunyao left, Steward Qin hurried to the study at once. When he had finished writing the letter, he had it sent overnight to Yuexi. By the time the Wangye read it, the matter would already be settled. Even so, it still had to be reported.

He only hoped the Wangye would not be too angered.

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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