Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 104

Chapter 104: The Crying Phoenix Perches on the Green Parasol

When Mu Yunyao returned to the rear courtyard with Madam Jin, many guests had already gathered to offer congratulations.

The Governor’s wife wore a radiant smile. Though she herself had not received any reward, Governor Zhang had been granted a Lan Ling—a rare and precious honor for an official serving outside the capital.

More importantly, this merit had come almost effortlessly—how could she not be pleased?

Madam Jin, too, was surrounded by well-wishers. She had just been bestowed the title of a Ninth-Rank Honored Lady. No matter how jealous others might feel, they could only offer sincere congratulations on the surface.

The exchanges of courtesy lasted for over an hour before the Governor’s wife finally arranged for everyone to be seated.

---

Lan Ling

Mu Yunyao was placed beside Madam Jin.

As people conversed, many nodded and smiled in her direction.

Mu Yunyao wore an expression of seven parts joy, three parts modest unease, and smiled politely in return.

Madam Jin, watching from the side, felt a quiet sense of admiration.

This girl… she is truly astonishingly clever.

She had worried that after receiving the Emperor’s reward, Mu Yunyao might grow arrogant—but it seemed she had worried for nothing.

---

The banquet was lively and bustling.

Yet Mu Yunyao ate absentmindedly.

Su Qingwu’s arrival had stirred her emotions again and again. Those blood-soaked memories buried deep within her surged to the surface—each recollection cutting into her heart.

“Yunyao, why does your complexion look so poor? Is your hand hurting badly?” Madam Jin asked, feeling somewhat guilty. She had been too excited earlier to notice Mu Yunyao’s injury.

“It’s nothing. My chest just feels a little tight. Madam need not worry.”

“If it’s too uncomfortable, you may step outside for some air. There is a small garden nearby.”

Mu Yunyao nodded—but did not move, insisting on remaining until the banquet ended.

---

At the entrance, Jin Lan and Jin Qiao stood beside the carriage.

Seeing Mu Yunyao emerge pale-faced, they hurried forward to support her.

“Miss, what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

---

Once inside the carriage, leaning against the cushion, Mu Yunyao’s face suddenly turned deathly pale.

She clutched her chest, gasping for breath—as though doing so might ease the pain within.

When the carriage passed Jinling Bridge, she suddenly called for it to stop.

She stumbled toward the riverbank, covering her chest as she began to retch.

Jin Lan and Jin Qiao were alarmed.

“Miss, what’s wrong? Did you eat something unhealthy?”

She had barely eaten at the banquet, so there was little to vomit—yet the nausea would not subside.

After a while, she straightened and slowly walked toward the bridge.

“Miss?”

“I’ll get some air. Wait below.”

“…Yes. Please be careful, Miss.”

---

Dusk was falling.

The last traces of crimson clouds had not yet faded, reflecting across the river in shimmering red, like the blood that filled her memories.

At the mere thought of the Su family, hatred surged uncontrollably within her.

They were the nightmare that had shadowed her entire life—never allowing her a moment’s peace.

---

Mu Yunyao closed her eyes tightly, clenching her fists.

The wound in her palm split open again—fresh blood staining her hand.

If she returned to her mother like this, Su Qing would worry endlessly.

She had to regain control.

---

She forced herself to think of the Su family.

Again and again.

She dragged every painful memory from the depths of her mind, replaying them relentlessly, like a form of self-inflicted torment.

---

Gradually—

The pain in her heart overwhelmed the pain in her palm.

The shattered wounds torn open by Su Qingwu’s presence slowly hardened, as though covered by armor.

From the outside, she appeared whole again.

Untouched.

Unharmed.

---

After a long while, Mu Yunyao opened her eyes.

Night had fully fallen. The crimson glow had vanished without a trace.

A smile slowly curved her lips—even more perfect. even sweeter than before.

---

If not for Su Qingwu’s sudden appearance, she would not have realized—

That beneath her hatred of the Su family lay a deep, lingering fear.

But perhaps the outcome was for the best.

Once fear was acknowledged, it could be overcome.

And now—

Had she not done exactly that?

---

“Su Qingwu… Su Qingwu…”

She murmured softly.

“The autumn cicada clings to green grass;
The phoenix cries, alighting upon the parasol tree.”

“Who would have thought Miss Mu knows the origin of my name?”

A gentle, smiling voice sounded suddenly.

---

Mu Yunyao turned sharply.

Su Qingwu was walking slowly onto Jinling Bridge from the opposite side.

His expression was warm, his demeanor as refined as jade—gentle as water.

---

In truth, he had been there for quite some time.

From the moment Mu Yunyao stepped out of the carriage, he had stood on the opposite bank, watching her.

The longer he watched, the stronger that sense of unease became.

---

He remembered his younger sister at thirteen—though she often complained about strict tutors, she was, for the most part, carefree and joyful.

But the girl before him…

It was as if she were suppressing something intensely.

Even looking at her made his chest tighten.

---

That fleeting curiosity had arisen suddenly—yet he had quickly suppressed it.

Reason told him:

This girl had nothing to do with him.

There was no need to waste time on an irrelevant person.

---

And yet, when he heard her recite those lines… and as he spoke his name, he realized his steps had carried him onto the bridge.

---

Mu Yunyao bowed.

“Greetings, Lord Su. I spoke out of turn just now—please forgive me.”

Su Qingwu studied her. That faint sense of discord surfaced again.

Yet the girl before him appeared gentle, composed, and smiling softly—no different from other young ladies.

Perhaps it had all been his imagination.

“You spoke no wrong—what fault is there to forgive? My name does indeed come from those lines.”

“Thank you for your magnanimity. It is getting late—I should return home. Farewell.”

---

“May I ask when the injury on Miss Mu’s hand will heal?” Su Qingwu asked with a smile.

“My wounds always heal slowly. And with the weather growing warm… I expect it will take about half a month.”

In one month, it would be his grandmother’s birthday.

By the time her hand healed—

It would already be too late.

Besides, if she wished for the wound not to heal—

There were countless ways to ensure it.

---

As expected, disappointment flickered across Su Qingwu’s face.

“What a pity. I once saw a double-sided embroidered screen depicting mountains and rivers—its craftsmanship was astonishing, almost as if made by heaven itself…”

Mu Yunyao remained composed.

“Then Lord Su should seek the one who embroidered it. Your grandmother would surely be even more pleased.”

“Many have searched for that person, but none have found them.”

“Perhaps the time has not yet come,” Mu Yunyao replied calmly. “It is late, and my mother is waiting at home. I take my leave.”

---

She turned and walked down the bridge without hesitation.

Su Qingwu flexed his fingers slightly, watching her departing figure in silence.

She had left in such haste—

As though she feared him.

---

In the capital, he was accustomed to admiration.

To be avoided so plainly—

Felt strangely novel.

---

The moment Mu Yunyao stepped off the bridge, Jin Lan and Jin Qiao hurried forward.

Seeing her complexion had returned to normal, they let out a quiet sigh of relief.

“Miss, are you alright?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

 The lan ling is an ornament on the top hat of the Qing Dynasty. It is made of partridge feathers and inserted into the cap. Because of its blue color, it is called Lan Ling. 

** 7th line of a poem from Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty: Mulberry on the road [Mo Shang Sang] Volume 165_2. 寒螀爱碧草，鸣凤栖青梧.[ Pinyin: Hán jiāng ài bì cǎo, míng fèng qī qīng wú.]

“The autumn cicada clings to green grass;

The phoenix cries, alighting upon the parasol tree.

(i.e., cicadas emerge from the soil and naturally feel nostalgic for green grass, and the phoenix is high-spirited and prefers tall trees to inhabit.) Furthermore, Qingwu means high trees. Symbolically, the phoenix always strives for greatness, just like a certain someone here, haha~.

Edited by Little Kitty on 05/06/20

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