Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 135

Chapter 135: Taking Them In

“They weren’t injured at all! A moment ago they were swearing up and down that Miss Mu had sent someone to beat them. Now it’s obvious it was all slander!”

“Exactly. Looking at how miserable they seemed, I nearly believed it myself.”

“That Tan Bawang is the young master of Caiyue Pavilion. They say people in the same trade are born rivals. He must be jealous of Ni Yun Fang, and that is why he deliberately came here to frame Miss Mu!”

“You’re right. Otherwise, he would not have shouted so loudly just now and insisted that Miss Mu had committed murder. He was clearly spewing malicious lies!”

“Miss Mu, rest assured. We can all testify for you. Just now it was Tan Bawang who slandered you. You must not go soft-hearted and let him off. A villain like that ought to be punished.”

“Many thanks to all of you good townspeople for speaking up so righteously on my behalf.”

Mu Yunyao bowed to the crowd in thanks, then turned and saluted Magistrate Zhao.

“I ask Magistrate Zhao to uphold justice.”

Magistrate Zhao nodded. He was very pleased with Mu Yunyao’s attitude. Earlier, he had half expected her to rely on her ties with Governor Zhang and Official Cao to pressure him. Now it seemed he had been overthinking the matter.

“This official will take Tan Bawang and the others away at once. Once we return to the yamen, I shall interrogate them through the night if necessary. I will certainly give Miss Mu and Miss Cai Qing an answer.”

“Many thanks, Magistrate Zhao.”

Tan Bawang was panic-stricken. Seeing that Magistrate Zhao truly meant to have him dragged away, he cried out at once,

“I am the young master of Caiyue Pavilion! You cannot treat me this way!”

Magistrate Zhao’s face turned even colder.

“If even the Son of Heaven breaks the law, he is judged as any commoner. Much less you. Take him away. If he dares utter another word of nonsense, stuff his mouth shut.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Magistrate Zhao gave Mu Yunyao a slight nod, then led Tan Bawang and the others away under guard.

At once Mu Yunyao signaled for Jin Lan and Jin Qiao to step forward and help Cai Qing and Lier to their feet. Then she turned to the physician from Ren Shan Hall.

“Physician, Lier’s condition is severe, and Miss Cai Qing, as well as Little Mao and Nan’er, are all covered in injuries. I have long heard of the skill of the physicians at Ren Shan Hall. May I trouble you to come inside and examine them?”

The physician from Ren Shan Hall shook his head and sighed.

“This little girl was beaten very badly indeed. If she is to recover properly, the cost will not be a small one.”

“A few days ago, I happened to meet Nan’er and found him clever and lively, so I had planned to let him do some light work in the garden and thereby earn himself a living. Who would have thought that the very next day, such a disaster would occur? They are all poor, pitiable souls. Life is difficult enough for them already, and I cannot in good conscience leave them alone. Besides, that Tan Bawang spoke so insistently in slandering me that it is obvious he already bore me a grudge. They have only suffered an undeserved calamity because of it. So no matter how much silver it costs, I will see that they are properly restored to health.”

Hearing this while seeing the state Lier was in, the crowd could not help but sigh.

“Miss Mu, you need not blame yourself. How could any of this be your fault?”

“I know that child Nan’er. He’s one of the orphan boys who has been helping out at the gate these past few days. Earlier, when I was drinking tea in the garden, I even saw Miss Mu treat him to pastries and say she meant to hire him to help tidy the grounds. When he left, she even gave him pastries to take with him. Such kindness is truly rare.”

“Indeed. And now she is even going to pay for their treatment. Miss Mu is truly kind-hearted.”

Mu Yunyao quickly shook her head, looking slightly embarrassed.

“I do not deserve such praise from all of you. If not for everyone’s support, Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Lou would never have become what they are today. Yet there is only so much I can do for Jingling City. The children in the Charity Hall are also people of Jingling City. Seeing how pitiful their circumstances are, I only wish to lend a little support. Once their injuries are healed, I will let them do some simple tasks at Bu Xian Lou, so that at least they will have food to eat.”

That speech naturally brought on another round of praise. Gradually, the crowd dispersed, but Mu Yunyao’s words and all that had happened today quickly spread throughout Jingling City, making her reputation rise still higher.

Once back at the house, the physician from Ren Shan Hall stood and bowed to both Mu Yunyao and Steward Qin.

“This humble one, Zhang Chun, greets Miss Mu and Steward Qin.”

“You cooperated with us today, and I must thank you for it.”

“I do not dare accept such thanks, Miss. It was only a small matter. Besides, your own medical skill is far deeper than mine. If there should ever be an opportunity, might I beg Miss to instruct me in a thing or two?”

Zhang Chun knew this request was rather improper, yet after seeing Lier’s condition, his curiosity had become impossible to suppress.

Mu Yunyao smiled and nodded.

“A physician must never hoard knowledge out of petty pride. Only by sharing and discussing can one learn from another’s strengths and make further gains. On another day, please come to Bu Xian Lou for tea, Physician Zhang. At that time, we may exchange thoughts together.”

Zhang Chun was overjoyed.

“Many thanks, Miss Mu.”

Mu Yunyao took out a porcelain bottle and held it beneath Lier’s nose. A moment later, Lier coughed and opened her eyes. Seeing so many people around her, she immediately shrank back into Cai Qing’s arms.

“Sister Cai Qing…”

“Don’t be afraid, Lier. Quickly kowtow to Miss Mu. She is the one who saved our lives.”

Lier was young, but unusually obedient. Following Cai Qing’s lead, she knelt before Mu Yunyao.

“Many thanks, Miss Mu, for saving my life!”

“Get up. There is no need to be so formal.”

When Tan Bawang came to make trouble at the gate earlier, Mu Yunyao had already sent Liu Liang in secret to search for Lier’s whereabouts. He had then returned and arranged for someone in the crowd to cry out the clue at just the right moment, so that the girl could be rescued in time. As for why she had looked so pitiful when brought back, that was merely the result of a little medicinal trickery. Once she had some water and rest, there would be nothing wrong with her at all.

Seeing that Lier had awakened, Steward Qin rose.

“Miss Mu, then this servant and the others shall return to Jinxiu Garden first.”

Mu Yunyao nodded.

“In a little while, I have something I wish to discuss with Steward Qin. Once the matters here are settled, I will come find you.”

“Very well. I shall await Miss at any time.”

Once everyone else had left, Cai Qing grew even more uneasy and knelt on the ground without daring to make a sound.

Mu Yunyao took Nan’er and Little Mao’s pulses again. Only after confirming that both boys’ pulses had gradually steadied did she sit down and let out a soft breath.

Cai Qing stepped forward and kowtowed once more.

“Miss’s great kindness is beyond anything Cai Qing can ever repay.”

“It is nothing. Get up. As I said before, Tan Bawang and I have an old grudge between us. You only suffered as innocent parties caught in it.”

But Cai Qing shook her head again and again.

“When all this began on the street, Tan Bawang truly was the one who deliberately made trouble and had Little Mao beaten. And when he later laid eyes on me, it truly was lust that rose in him. None of this had anything to do with Miss. And if I had not encountered Miss, my fate in the Charity Hall would only have been worse. Miss has helped me escape a pit of misery. I am grateful beyond words.”

Jin Lan brought over tea and quietly set it beside Mu Yunyao’s hand. Mu Yunyao took the cup and sipped from it, saying nothing.

Cai Qing gathered her courage.

“Cai Qing begs one more thing of Miss. I hope Miss might also take in Lier. Though she is young, she is very sensible. If she is sent back to the Charity Hall, I fear no good end will await her there.”

Lier was as thin and frail as the others, though she had delicate features. At that moment, she looked up at Mu Yunyao with wide, timid eyes.

“Miss, I can work too. I can wash clothes for Miss, and I can sweep the courtyard as well. Please let me stay.”

At that moment, Su Qing came in.

“Yao’er, they really have had a hard lot in life. Let us just take them all in.”

Since Su Qing had spoken, Mu Yunyao let the last trace of hesitation in her heart disperse.

“Very well. We shall do as Mother says. But all of you must sign indenture contracts. Only then can I employ you without worry.”

Cai Qing nodded repeatedly.

“Yes. We will all sign. Many thanks, Miss.”

Mu Yunyao glanced at Lier and gave a faint sigh.

“I will not make things difficult for you. The contract may be a lifetime indenture, or it may be a five-year indenture. Once those five years are over, whether you leave or stay will be entirely up to you.”

With that, she rose and looped her arm through Su Qing’s.

“Mother, after all this commotion, I’m hungry. Shall we go eat something together?”

Su Qing naturally agreed at once.

“All right.”

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