Monday, June 8, 2020

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 106

~ IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY, I AM HAPPY ~ 
  
Mu Yunyao pretended to be surprised as she looked at him, “I wonder where Lord Su saw my embroidery before?”

Since she had arrived in Jingling City, she had only made clothes for the ladies. Su Qingwu had been dragged to the banquet by Governor Zhang yesterday. The only women he saw were Governor Zhang’s wife and Lady Jin, who did not wear clothes made by her. Then, where had Su Qingwu seen her embroidery before and knew that her embroidery was extraordinary?

Su Qingwu paused momentarily, and a bitter smile appeared on his face. “But how did I offend Miss Mu and make you look at me with such hostility?”

Mu Yunyao smiled. You’ve offended me in many ways, but on the surface, she pretended to be confused. “What is Lord Su saying? I’m curious, but did you ask me something I shouldn’t have?”

“It is just that you seem to have a grudge against me.”

“How could that be? Lord Su is young and capable. Upon entering the city yesterday, his outstanding charm spread throughout Jingling City. Right now, I wonder how many people are envious of me. Did you not realize that on the way here, many women were embarrassed to the point of blushing?”

Su Qingwu had made the Sixth Princess unwilling to eat or drink because of him. She threatened to go hungry, and Su Qingwu had to marry her. They even forced Su Qingwu to retreat to the scholar’s office. Otherwise, at his age, he would have already married.

“What about Miss Mu?” As soon as the words left his mouth, Su Qingwu immediately pursed his lips. It was too rude to ask that, but she didn’t even react when he blurted it out.

Mu Yunyao’s smile was still the same. “I am naturally envious of Lord Su’s fame and achievements at such a young age. Because I am a girl and cannot enter the Imperial Court. Otherwise, I would have to learn from Lord Su.”

“Miss Mu spread the embroidery needle technique to benefit the citizens and has done better than many officials.” Su Qingwu heaved a sigh of relief, but a trace of discomfort flashed across his heart.

“Lord Su thinks too highly of me. I have my selfish motives for spreading the news of the embroidery needling technique.”

Mu Yunyao looked around, and because there were no people by the riverside and was quiet, she continued, “I am doing this for silver taels. There are too few females embroidered in Ni Yun Fang. If I spread the embroidery needle technique, then there are more people I can choose to be the best. I can make more clothes, and they can earn money for me.”

Su Qingwu chuckled. “Miss Mu’s personality is so interesting.”

“I’m telling the truth. It’s like a lot of officials. Are they working for the benefit of the people? In all likelihood, even if there were benefits to the citizens, it was mainly for their accomplishments. To gain more power, they would have to pay more silver taels. However, they are not willing to admit it. Why else would there be three years of Qingzhifu and a hundred thousand taels of snowflake silver*? A reputation is a reputation. Silver taels are affordable. With a reputation, there will be benefits, and only then will one be able to achieve perfection.” 

The smile on Su Qingwu’s face faded, his fingers twirling lightly, his lips pursed. 

Mu Yunyao knew that he was angry, and the curve of her lips slowly widened. Seeing that he was unhappy, she felt good.

“Miss Mu is biased against everyone. His Majesty is wise. He has a wide selection of talents and countless excellent court officials...”

Mu Yunyao also knew this statement was true, just like Lord Cao and Governor Zhang, who were excellent officials. However, to anger Su Qingwu, she did not admit it. She changed the topic: “After walking for so long, Lord Su should be hungry, so let’s go to the restaurant to rest. How about we have a taste of Jingling City’s delicacies?”

As Su Qingwu’s words cut off, his beautiful eyebrows twitched. Looking at Mu Yunyao’s smiling expression and her sweet face, he slightly nodded his head, “Alright.”

Mu Yunyao brought Su Qingwu to the restaurant’s private room. She then opened the window and looked at the Jingling River, which was not far away. “Lord Su said I am biased against everyone, but I know the suffering of those without power. Even after receiving the Emperor’s praise for imparting the embroidery needle technique to the citizens, I am being bullied and humiliated by others, not to mention thousands of other ordinary citizens.”

Unexpectedly, she started the conversation again now. As Su Qingwu held his teacup, a light flashed in her phoenix eyes, “I wonder what Miss Mu has encountered? May I help you?” She had said so much along the way, all just for this moment?

Mu Yunyao smiled lightly: “I don’t dare trouble Lord Su. I will think of a way to solve it myself. As I’ve said, I’m bringing Lord Su to experience the local customs and practices in Jingling City today. Let’s not talk about these troublesome matters.”

After eating, Mu Yunyao led Su Qingwu around half of Jingling City, looking through the most famous places with the most beautiful scenery.

Su Qingwu admired the scenery of Jingling City, but his mind was set on Mu Yunyao. On the way, he had heard her introductions. He could tell that she had very excellent etiquette and good knowledge. She didn’t seem like a woman that any regular family could nurture. Furthermore, every word she said on the way entered his ears and his heart. It makes him feel extremely comfortable.

“Lord Su, it’s getting late. I should also go back. If you haven’t enjoyed enough of the beautiful scenery of Jingling City, how about tomorrow?”

“Alright, I will get someone to send Miss Mu home.” 

“I do not want to bother Lord Su. I have maids accompanying me, and this place is not far from Ni Yun Fang. I can immediately return to Ni Yun Fang. Goodbye, Sir.” After she finished speaking, Mu Yunyao immediately turned and left.

Su Qingwu frowned slightly. He originally wanted to test Mu Yunyao this time. But he didn’t expect before he could do so, his thoughts thrown into chaos. 

On his way back, he passed by the embroidery stand at the corner of the street. He saw the sweat towel embroidered with orchids and couldn’t help but walk over to take a closer look. The fabric used by the patrons was general. Although the orchids had some charm, not many were stunning. However, he noticed one after looking for a while.

“Does Young Master like it? It’s only eight cents.”

Su Qingwu nodded, and the follower behind him immediately took a copper coin and handed it over. The stand owner’s smile became even more brilliant. The aura of the wealthy young master in front of him was extraordinary. 

Su Qingwu had just followed Miss Mu from Ni Yun Fang, so the stall owner remembered him clearly. “Miss Mu is beautiful. Her personality is also first-class, and no one in Jingling City doesn’t praise her. I wonder who will have the fortune to marry such a woman.”

Su Qingwu nodded slightly to the stand owner before putting away his sweat towel and leaving. 

Walking past the Jingling Bridge, he couldn’t help but twirl the orchid embroidered on the sweat towel. “Beautiful indeed, but her personality isn’t first-rate. Also, does she have anything to do with that screen?”

When Mu Yunyao returned to Ni Yun Fang, Su Qing counted the rewards for inventory.

“Yao’er, look at these fabrics. They’re not too bad. It seems like the Emperor knows that you’re good at embroidery, so he especially rewarded you for making clothes.”

“If Mother likes it, I’ll make one for you to see tomorrow.”

“That’s great! We have money, so we have to keep all of it. We’ll use it as your dowry in the future.” Su Qing was beaming with happiness. It had been so long, but this was the first time she was so happy.

Mu Yunyao thought about the plan in her heart and secretly apologized to Su Qing. To deal with Su Qingwu, she had no choice but to pay some price. 

Snowflake silver: silver taels. 

Means: As the prefect of the three years of corruption, you can get 102.13 million silver. This proverb initially pointed out that the Zhifu government had a lot of ugly income, and it generally referred to local officials or general officials accumulating money and greed. 

“Qingzhifu” is a clean and honest government. The original meaning of this proverb: Even for corrupt and upright governments that are not greedy for the law, after three years in office, the income from all kinds of shabby regulations that should be enforced by law had only one hundred thousand two taels of silver.

Edited by Little Kitty on 07/06/20

4 comments:

  1. I smell the start of an ill-obsession with Yunyao, regarding SQW.

    ReplyDelete
  2. "“Beautiful indeed, but her personality isn’t first-rate. Also, does she have anything to do with that screen?”"
    SQW IS KILLING ME HAHAHHA

    ReplyDelete