Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 139

Chapter 139: A Lavish Gift

Mu Yunyao let out a soft laugh.

“Ni Yun Fang has already secured its footing in Jingling City, but Jingling City is still too small in the end. Now that everything is in place, it is time to expand it into other regions. I was just worrying over this matter when Master Tan came to my door. He has truly solved a great difficulty for me.”

Steward Qin brightened at once.

“Please explain it in detail, Miss, so that I may share in your joy.”

After Mu Yunyao repeated the conversation she had just had, Steward Qin could not help feeling somewhat uneasy.

“Miss, spreading embroidery techniques is a great merit indeed. How can you bear to hand that over to Tan Lin?” Would not all that merit and reputation end up in Caiyue Pavilion’s hands?

“Whether it is Ni Yun Fang or Bu Xian Lou, neither exists for the sake of fame.”

Her original purpose had always been to earn silver. Spreading embroidery techniques and winning a name for herself had only ever been a way to lay a foundation so that silver could be earned faster afterward. If she fixated only on merit and renown, then she would be putting the cart before the horse.

Steward Qin came to a sudden understanding.

“So that is where I had gone astray. Ni Yun Fang is already drawing enough attention. It is no bad thing to let Caiyue Pavilion stand out in front.”

“Exactly. Let Caiyue Pavilion busy itself. Once the embroidery techniques have spread to more places, we can simply go there, choose embroiderers directly, and then open new branches of Ni Yun Fang.”

Steward Qin still looked troubled.

“But if that happens, and the embroiderers in Caiyue Pavilion improve their skill, will they not seize away our business?”

“Steward Qin, do not worry. The embroidery itself is not the most important thing in the garments sold by Ni Yun Fang. Even if Caiyue Pavilion were to acquire the same standard of embroidery, do they possess our imperial-gifted golden signboard? Whether it is the Ni Yun Beauty Album or the Ni Yun Beauty Rankings, the name has already been spread far and wide in the early stages. Even if Caiyue Pavilion were to rise afterward, it would be nothing more than an ugly imitation. You may set your mind at ease. If I had no confidence, I would never dare take such a risk.”

“Yes, Miss. Now that you have said so, my heart is much more settled.”

Liu Liang handled matters with remarkable speed. By the time Mu Yunyao returned home from Jinxiu Garden, he had already delivered the total Qi Ming had estimated.

After giving it a broad glance and seeing nothing amiss, Mu Yunyao directly handed the banknotes to Liu Liang.

“Have Qi Ming begin purchasing grain at once. A great many merchants have been passing through Jingling City these days. If possible, do it in as inconspicuous a way as you can. If word spreads that we are suddenly buying so much grain, I fear it may invite unnecessary misunderstanding.”

“Master, rest assured. I have already instructed Qi Ming. All the grain will be disguised as fresh leaves intended for tea processing. No one will notice.”

“Good.”

Mu Yunyao did not ask Liu Liang for more details. The man’s origins were a mystery, and she did not know when this master-servant bond between them might end. So long as he harbored no ill intent toward her, the rest hardly mattered.

After Liu Liang withdrew, wave after wave of disappointment rose in his heart. He dared not explain his true identity to Mu Yunyao, yet her refusal to ask or probe only made him feel more and more dispensable.

The next morning, Mu Yunyao went early to Jinxiu Garden to see Steward Qin.

“I have already sent people out to purchase grain. In a few days’ time, the shipments should begin arriving one after another. Has Steward Qin chosen a place?”

Once the grain was bought, it would need to be milled into flour, then stir-fried together with ginger, greens, and other ingredients. That required not only space, but also a good many hands.

“Miss may rest assured. Yue Wang once purchased a country estate. The place is secluded, and ordinarily few people come and go there. Many of the nearby farming households work on the estate, and all of them are trustworthy. They may be called in to help.”

Steward Qin’s heart was full of excitement. Once this batch of ginger tea reached Yuexi (Western Guangdong), the soldiers under Yue Wang would be able to live a little more comfortably.

Seeing how happy Steward Qin looked, Mu Yunyao suddenly curved her lips.

“Did Steward Qin not previously say that Yue Wang’s life was one of great hardship? Then where did the silver come from to buy Jinxiu Garden and the estate?”

Steward Qin coughed lightly.

“Yue Wang spent the savings of many years on just those two places. In the capital, Xiling, any random dandy among the idle rich spends silver as if it were water. Yue Wang struggled for years merely to save enough to buy himself a place to stand. The difference between them truly is…”

He let out a heavy sigh.

Seeing the embarrassment on Steward Qin’s face, Mu Yunyao nodded.

“That is true enough. Yue Wang has indeed had a difficult road.”

With clever people, there was no need to press too far. One light touch was enough to let them know she was not so easily deceived.

“Yes indeed. In the future, Miss will need to take even greater care of Yue Wang.”

Mu Yunyao paused. The phrase “take care of” was not to be used lightly. However lacking in favor Yue Wang might be, he was still a prince. How could someone like her possibly be said to take care of him?

She had just been about to respond when Jin Lan came in and interrupted.

“Miss, Master Tan has arrived.”

Steward Qin immediately took the chance to leave.

“Then I shall go attend to my business first. If Miss needs anything, just send word.”

It was not a convenient moment to explain further, so Mu Yunyao merely nodded.

“Show him in.”

This time, Tan Lin had brought many attendants, and more than ten chests were carried behind him. The moment he saw Mu Yunyao, he stepped forward with a broad smile.

“Greetings, Miss Mu.”

Anyone seeing the sincerity of that smile would never have believed the two of them stood at such deep odds with one another.

Mu Yunyao could not help sighing inwardly. On the strength of this alone—his ability to endure and smile—Tan Lin was not someone to be underestimated.

“Greetings, Master Tan. These are…?”

Seeing Mu Yunyao glance toward the chests behind him, Tan Lin motioned for his servants to open them.

“Miss Mu and I are both people who run embroidery houses. These are some bolts of cloth, embroidery threads, and the like. I hoped Miss might help me judge their quality. Naturally, Miss is busy, and I would not wish to take up her time for nothing. So I have brought a small gift as well. I hope Miss will accept it.”

Jin Lan took the box from Tan Lin’s hands and presented it to Mu Yunyao.

Mu Yunyao lowered her eyes and glanced inside. Her lashes immediately trembled.

The box was not large, yet it was packed full of banknotes—no less than seventy or eighty thousand taels by appearance. This truly was a grand gesture.

Mu Yunyao said nothing for a long while. Tan Lin did not press her, but simply stood below with a smile fixed upon his face.

At last, Mu Yunyao spoke.

“These past two days, Bu Xian Lou has produced a fresh batch of tea. Why don’t I brew two cups myself and invite Master Tan to appraise them?”

“It would be my great honor.”

A burst of wild joy flashed through Tan Lin’s heart.

So—it had succeeded.

Mu Yunyao brewed the tea with her own hands, and the elegance of her tea craft left Tan Lin full of admiration.

“No wonder Bu Xian Lou has made tea culture all the rage. Miss Mu’s tea-making is truly a delight to the eye.”

“You flatter me, Master Tan. What I truly excel at is embroidery. Yet I am only a frail woman. To live out my days peacefully in Jingling City would already satisfy me. As for everything beyond that, I will need Master Tan’s help.”

“That is only natural. Miss need not worry. Caiyue Pavilion has branches everywhere. We will certainly help spread Miss’s embroidery techniques far and wide.”

Mu Yunyao smiled and nodded.

“That would naturally be best.”

Tan Lin took a sip of tea.

“Since Miss thinks so highly of Caiyue Pavilion, then should not Caiyue Pavilion and Ni Yun Fang sign a contract? That way both of us may rest more at ease.”

“That is only proper.”

Mu Yunyao nodded.

“Once all the details are discussed and settled, a contract must naturally be signed. Master Tan is an open and straightforward man, so then I shall speak plainly.”

“Miss may speak freely.”

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