Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 106

 Chapter 106: If You Are Displeased, Then I Am Content

Mu Yunyao looked at him with feigned surprise. “May I ask where Lord Su has seen my embroidery before?”

Ever since coming to Jingling City, she had only made clothes for the various madams. Su Qingwu had arrived yesterday and had been drawn away by Governor Zhang to attend the banquet. The only women he had seen, the Governor’s wife and Madam Jin, had not been wearing garments made by her.

Then, where had Su Qingwu seen her embroidery, and how did he know her skill was extraordinary?

Su Qingwu paused. A faint, bitter smile appeared on his face. “Has Su offended Miss Mu in some way, to make you treat me with such hostility?”

Mu Yunyao lowered her eyes and smiled.

There were far too many ways in which you had offended me.

Yet on the surface, she only appeared puzzled. “What is Lord Su saying? I was only curious. Could it be that I asked something I should not have asked?”

“I merely feel that Miss seems to hold some prejudice against me.”

“How could that be? Lord Su is young and accomplished. Yesterday, the moment you entered the city, your outstanding bearing spread throughout all of Jingling City. At this very moment, who knows how many people are filled with admiration for you? Did Lord Su not notice how many young women blushed all along the way?”

Su Qingwu was, after all, the man who had caused the Sixth Princess of the current dynasty to lose all appetite for tea and food. She had even threatened to starve herself if she could not marry down to him, forcing Su Qingwu to withdraw from the marriage discussions with the Grand Secretary’s residence. Otherwise, at his age, he would long since have been married.

“And Miss Mu?” The words slipped out, and Su Qingwu immediately pressed his lips together.

This question was extremely improper. Yet just now, it had left his mouth before even he could react.

Mu Yunyao’s smile remained unchanged. “Naturally, I admire Lord Su as well. Lord Su has achieved success and renown at such a young age. It is only that I was born a woman and cannot enter court as an official. Otherwise, I would certainly have to learn from Lord Su.”

“Miss Mu spread embroidery stitches and benefited the common people of this region. What you have done is better than what many officials accomplish.”

Su Qingwu released a breath of relief, yet a faint discomfort still passed through his heart.

“Lord Su thinks too highly of me. I spread the embroidery stitches out of my own selfish motives.”

Mu Yunyao swept a glance around them. Seeing that the riverside was quiet and there were no people nearby, she continued.

“I did it for silver. There are too few embroiderers in Niyun Pavilion. If I spread the embroidery stitches, more people will learn them. Then I can choose the best among them, make more clothes, and earn more money for myself.”

Su Qingwu gave a light laugh. “Miss Mu’s nature is truly amusing.”

“I am speaking the truth. It is just like many officials. Are they pursuing the welfare of the common people? Eight or nine out of ten are not. Even those who do benefit the people mostly do so for the sake of achievements in their official record, for the sake of peacock plumes and rank, for the sake of greater power. In the end, it still comes down to silver. They merely refuse to admit it.”

She smiled, clear and innocent.

“Otherwise, how could there be the saying, ‘Three years as an honest prefect, and one leaves with a hundred thousand taels of snowflake silver’? Honesty is reputation; silver is substance. Only when one has both reputation and substance can it be called complete.”

The faint smile on Su Qingwu’s face gradually faded. His fingers lightly rubbed against one another, and his lips pressed into a thin line.

Mu Yunyao knew he was angry. The curve of her lips deepened slightly.

Seeing him unhappy made her feel delighted.

“Miss is judging the whole by the part. His Majesty is wise and discerning, and he widely selects worthy talent. There are countless good officials in court…”

Mu Yunyao also knew her words were too sweeping. Officials like Lord Cao and Governor Zhang could both be considered good officials.

But for the sake of angering Su Qingwu, she would never admit it. She simply turned the conversation aside.

“After walking for so long, Lord Su must be hungry. How about we rest our feet at the restaurant beside us and taste some of Jingling’s delicacies?”

Su Qingwu’s words were cut off. His refined brows moved faintly. Looking at Mu Yunyao’s smiling, lovely face, he nodded slightly.

“That would also be fine.”

Mu Yunyao led Su Qingwu up to a private room in the restaurant. She pushed open the window and looked out toward the nearby banks of the Jingling River.

“Lord Su says I judge the whole by the part, but you do not know the suffering of those without power or influence. I taught embroidery skills and received His Majesty’s praise, yet I still had to endure bullying in silence. Let alone the countless ordinary people besides me.”

He had not expected her to bring up the topic again herself.

Su Qingwu held his teacup. A flash of light passed through his phoenix eyes.

“I wonder what matter Miss Mu has encountered. Might Su be of help?”

Had all the things she said along the way been for this moment?

Yet Mu Yunyao smiled lightly. “I would not dare trouble Lord Su. I will think of a way to resolve it myself. Since I said that today I would lead Lord Su to see the customs and scenery of Jingling City, let us not speak of such vexing matters.”

After they ate, Mu Yunyao led Su Qingwu through more than half of Jingling City, showing him nearly all the places known for their most beautiful scenery.

Su Qingwu admired Jingling City’s scenery along the way, yet three parts of his attention remained on Mu Yunyao.

Listening to her introduce each place, he could discern that she had excellent cultivation and uncommon knowledge. She did not seem at all like a young woman raised in an ordinary household. Moreover, every word she spoke along the way fell pleasantly upon the ear and settled comfortably in the heart. There was no longer any trace of her earlier thorned speech.

“Lord Su, the hour is no longer early. I should return. If you have not yet had your fill of Jingling City’s beautiful scenery, how about viewing more tomorrow?”

“Very well. I will have someone escort Miss Mu home.”

“There is no need. My maids are with me, and this place is not far from Niyun Pavilion. I can return directly. Farewell.”

After speaking, Mu Yunyao turned and left without hesitation.

Su Qingwu’s brows moved faintly.

In meeting her this time, his original intention had been to probe Mu Yunyao. Yet unexpectedly, he had not managed to probe her clearly. Instead, his own thoughts had first fallen into disorder.

On his way back, he passed the small stall at the street corner selling embroidered goods. With one glance, he saw the handkerchief embroidered with orchids and could not help walking over to examine it carefully.

The fabric used for the handkerchief was ordinary. Although the orchids possessed some spiritual charm, they were not particularly astonishing. Yet somehow, he had noticed it at once.

“Does Young Master like it? It is only eight wen.”

Su Qingwu nodded. The attendant behind him hurriedly took out copper coins and handed them over.

The stall owner’s smile grew even brighter. The wealthy young master before him had an extraordinary bearing. Just now, he had walked past together with Miss Mu of Niyun Pavilion, so naturally, the stall owner remembered him clearly.

“Miss Mu is beautiful, and her character is first-rate as well. No one in Jingling City does not praise her. I wonder who will have such good fortune in the future, to marry such a young woman as his wife.”

Su Qingwu gave the stall owner a slight nod in acknowledgment. Then he put away the handkerchief and left.

When he passed by Jinling Bridge, he could not help rubbing the orchid embroidered on the handkerchief within his sleeve.

Her beauty was not false.

But whether her character was truly first-rate was another matter.

And in the end, did she have anything to do with that embroidered screen?

When Mu Yunyao returned to Niyun Pavilion, Su Qing was counting the rewards His Majesty had bestowed.

“Yao’er, look at these bolts of fabric. They truly are excellent. I imagine His Majesty knew that you are skilled in embroidery, so he specially bestowed them for you to make clothes.”

“If Mother likes them, then tomorrow I will make one into a garment and wear it for you to see.”

“That would be wonderful. And these pieces of gold, we have money in hand now, so all of these must be carefully kept. In the future, they can become part of your dowry.”

Su Qing’s face was full of joy. In all this time, it was the first time she had been this happy.

Thinking of the plan in her heart, Mu Yunyao silently said sorry to Su Qing.

In order to deal with Su Qingwu, she had no choice but to pay a price.

“Three years as a clean prefect, a hundred thousand taels of snowflake silver.” This proverb implies that even officials with clean reputations can accumulate wealth, pointing to corruption or hidden gain.

Edited by Little Kitty on 07/06/20

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