Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 125

Chapter 125: Sharing in the Glory 

Seeing how firm Su Qingwu’s tone was, Governor Zhang knew it would not do to press him to stay any longer. He quickly had the gifts that had been prepared brought over.

“Official Su, you have worked hard traveling back and forth along the road. Here are some simple provisions for you and the Imperial Guards to eat on the journey.”

“Many thanks, Governor Zhang. Farewell.”

Su Qingwu swung himself up onto his horse and tightened the reins. The fine steed shifted uneasily beneath him. He turned back for one last look at Mu Yunyao, and for a fleeting instant, deep emotion surged through those dark eyes.

Mu Yunyao’s heart gave a small jolt. She wanted to study the expression in his eyes more carefully. Still, by then, Su Qingwu had already urged his horse forward, leaving behind only the image of his elegant figure.

He rode at a gallop all the way out of Jingling City, then abruptly tightened the reins and looked back toward the city gate.

One of the attendants could not help speaking.

“Official Su, today is Mid-Autumn. All of Jingling City is filled with drifting osmanthus fragrance; it is truly enchanting. Why did you not agree to Governor Zhang’s request and stay one night before departing? Our time is not so pressing.”

“No matter how beautiful the scenery, it cannot compare with the splendor of Xiling. One may immerse oneself in it for a moment, but can one remain here for a lifetime?” Su Qingwu’s expression cooled. Clear light flickered in his phoenix eyes before at last sinking into stillness. “Better to withdraw early, lest beautiful scenery disturb the mind.”

Then he added simply, “Let us go.”

Mu Yunyao could not immediately make sense of that last glance Su Qingwu had given her, and in the end, she tossed the matter from her mind. As things now stood, the Su family clearly had not discovered anything about the Splendid Rivers and Mountains screen. In that case, there was nothing to worry over.

Governor Zhang and his wife both wished to keep her in the residence for a meal, but when Mu Yunyao said she wished to return and spend the day with her mother, they did not force her to stay. After all, today was Mid-Autumn, and it was only natural to wish to pass it with one’s family.

Governor Zhang specifically assigned several guards to escort Mu Yunyao and the two pieces of imperial calligraphy safely all the way back to Jinxiu Garden.

Steward Qin was waiting at the gate with Wei Yi, Yun Chun, and the others. When they saw Mu Yunyao bring back the two inscriptions, they all dropped to their knees together and kowtowed in thanks for the Emperor’s grace.

The nearby street was packed with townspeople who had come to watch the excitement. At the sight of the two pieces of imperial calligraphy, their faces flushed red with excitement. Quite a few of those who regularly went to Bu Xian Lou to drink tea wore expressions of shining pride, as though they themselves had received honor from it. In their hearts, they were certain of one thing: from now on, they would never go to any other tea house again.

Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Lou were now places bearing plaques personally bestowed by the Emperor. How could any other embroidery workshop or tea house compare?

In all of Jingling City, Mu Yunyao was the first commoner ever to receive such a favor from the Emperor. That distinction plunged the entire city into a fever of excitement. People spread the news of their own accord, rushing from place to place to tell it, as though the reward had been bestowed upon them personally.

From this moment onward, Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Lou would become symbols of Jingling City itself. No one would ever again be able to shake their position.

Once the calligraphy had been delivered, Steward Qin rewarded the escorting guards with purses of thanks, then hastily had the imperial inscriptions set up in offering.

Before long, servants from one household after another began arriving with gifts, all under the pretext of celebrating Bu Xian Lou’s opening. Mu Yunyao ordered that each family’s gift be carefully recorded and entered into a register. There would be use for such things in the future.

They remained busy in this way until the sky had nearly gone dark and the crowds had finally dispersed. Only then did Mu Yunyao take the two pieces of imperial calligraphy back home with her, so that Su Qing could admire them at leisure.

Seeing how casually Mu Yunyao handled them, Su Qing cried out in alarm. She wanted to swat her twice, but could not bring herself to strike hard, and so she only glared at her.

“This is calligraphy bestowed by the Emperor himself—it must not be handled lightly! I could just as well have gone to Jinxiu Garden to look at it. Why did you need to bring it all the way back here?”

“What is there to worry over? In any case, they were bestowed upon me by the Emperor. If I bring them for you to admire, surely His Majesty will not be so petty as all that.”

Su Qing could not help glaring at her again before she turned back to the two scrolls and studied them like treasures.

“The Emperor’s own brush is truly different. Just look at these characters—no matter how one looks at them, they carry an air of majesty. This must be dragon aura!”

Mu Yunyao could not help laughing.

“Mother, if the Emperor’s writing carries dragon aura, then does his person also have dragon scales?”

“You wicked girl—you must not talk nonsense!”

Su Qing immediately put her hands together and bowed reverently toward the calligraphy.

“A child who does not understand—may the Emperor not blame her! Quickly, come and kneel to apologize!”

Seeing how solemn Su Qing looked, Mu Yunyao had no choice but to step forward and bow together with her before the imperial calligraphy. Under her breath, though, she muttered softly:

“Your Majesty, if you truly are as wise and mighty as Mother imagines, then please deal properly with that Jin Wang and the Su family—they are the real traitors and villains! You have even accepted my tea now, so if anything happens in future, you must at least favor me by two or three parts.”

Su Qing heard her lips moving and feared she might say something truly rebellious.

“Yao’er, you must not speak nonsense. Do you understand?”

“Yes, yes, Mother, do not worry. I said nothing improper—I was praying for the Emperor’s protection. Today Eunuch Xu even sent word that the tea leaves I gave had been accepted by His Majesty. If we return to the Su family in future, I only hope that, for the sake of the little gift with which I bribed him, he may help us a bit more.”

Su Qing laughed helplessly and tapped her on the nose.

“The Emperor rules all under Heaven. What could he possibly lack? Why would he care for your little bit of tea?”

“Mother, then you do not understand. Though the Emperor rules all under Heaven, there are likely very few who treat him with genuine sincerity. That seat may look imposing enough, but in truth it is surrounded by schemes and dark calculations all day long. Even his own sons watch the throne beneath him without cease. His days may very well be harder than ours.”

“Nothing but foolish talk.”

Su Qing hurriedly pushed her to her feet.

“Enough of your nonsense here. Go and see whether Steward Qin and the others have all arrived.”

“Yes.”

Mu Yunyao glanced once more at the two inscriptions and could not help curving her eyes in quiet pleasure. Truth be told, the brushwork really was excellent: rigorously controlled, majestic in force. Simply looking at the script, she could not help imagining an elderly man who held the power of life and death in his hands. His features were gentle, yet every lift of his hand could alter the fate of the realm. He stood like a mountain, stars in his eyes, granting life and taking it away at a thought...

In her previous life, she had been passed from the Su family to Jin Wang’s household, too lowly ever to be granted audience with the Emperor. She had known him only through stories of his deeds, and had thought him likely a wise ruler. Now, seeing this brushwork, she could only hope that the writing was like the man—that he truly was as wise and mighty as she imagined.

Steward Qin had already arrived at the Su residence with Wei Yi, Yun Chun, and the others. They stood there with great curiosity, taking in the household's arrangements. The more he looked, the less certain he felt.

The place had been arranged with exquisite care. Every potted flower, every blade of ornamental grass was thoughtfully chosen. Thinking again of Jinxiu Garden after its renovations, he could not help sighing inwardly:

Miss Mu and Wang Ye truly have very different temperaments.

Wang Ye’s residence was large as well, but most of it had been turned into training grounds. Even the rooms themselves felt cold and austere. Before, he had not thought much of it, but now, comparing it to Miss Mu’s home, Wang Ye’s residence hardly seemed fit for a person to live in at all.

“Steward Qin, come quickly and sit in the hall.”

Steward Qin returned to himself at once and said with a smile,

“Is there anything more this old servant and the others can do? Miss has only to instruct us.”

“Everything is nearly ready already.”

As Mu Yunyao spoke, Jin Lan came over.

“Miss, shall the things be laid out in the hall, or set up in the courtyard?”

“The weather is fine, so let us set them in the courtyard. It will be convenient for admiring the moon. What does Steward Qin think?”

“We shall do entirely as Miss says.”

“Then I shall first go change my clothes. We still have to make our moon offerings together later.”

Mu Yunyao returned to her room, and even there she could still hear the laughter and cheerful voices rising from the courtyard. She could not help smiling along with them.

How quickly time had passed. Without her even noticing, half a year had already gone by. Everything was gradually falling into its proper course. In another year, she would be able to return to the Su family and settle accounts with those people properly.

She only hoped that when that day came, Su Qingwu would not be too startled.

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