Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 140

Chapter 140: Repaying Evil with Kindness? 

Mu Yunyao set down her teacup and spoke calmly.

“Although Ni Yun Fang enjoys a brilliant reputation in Jingling City, it has also aroused no small amount of jealousy behind the scenes. The reason I spread the embroidery techniques is precisely to make the golden signboard above my head more secure. Therefore, I will help Master Tan train embroiderers and teach everything I know without holding anything back. When Master Tan passes the embroidery techniques on to others, however, he must make clear where those techniques came from.”

Tan Lin’s brow furrowed.

“I may publicize Miss’s contribution, but how am I to ensure that Miss has truly taught everything she knows?”

“In the future, Master Tan may keep a close eye on Ni Yun Fang in all matters concerning embroidery. If you ever find that I have begun using some new embroidery technique, you may bring your people directly to my door—or even take me straight to the yamen.”

“And one more point must be added,” Tan Lin said at once. “Miss may cooperate only with Caiyue Pavilion.”

“Very well. No other embroidery house is as strong as Caiyue Pavilion. Why should I abandon what is near to seek what is far?”

Seeing Mu Yunyao agree so readily, an extra note of pleasure appeared on Tan Lin’s face.

Mu Yunyao continued,

“Cai Qing and her younger siblings have already signed indenture contracts. From this day forward, they are servants of my household. I hope that your son will not trouble them again in the future.”

Though she had not agreed to help directly, the power behind Caiyue Pavilion was not to be underestimated. After all the inquiries and judgments were completed, Tan Bawang would most likely spend only two months in jail before being released. Even if the sentence turned out somewhat heavier, Tan Lin had more than enough silver to smooth the matter over.

“Agreed,” Tan Lin said readily. A few servants were beneath his concern.

The smile on Mu Yunyao’s face deepened slightly.

“In that case, Master Tan may as well draft the contract himself. It should put your mind more at ease.”

Tan Lin considered it and decided there was no disadvantage in doing so. Better that than allow Mu Yunyao to prepare the contract and perhaps hide some loophole within it that he failed to detect. The girl before him was young, but her schemes were extraordinarily deep. Otherwise, how could she have made such a name for herself in Jingling City in so short a time?

Fearing that delays might breed trouble, and having already thought the matter over in detail, Tan Lin asked for a brush and paper and immediately began drafting the agreement.

Mu Yunyao sat quietly sipping her tea. Tan Lin had inherited Caiyue Pavilion and expanded it step by step. Without careful planning and a deft hand, Caiyue Pavilion would long ago have sunk into obscurity. So she was not in the least surprised to see him compose the contract himself.

It took Tan Lin nearly an hour to finish and hand it to Mu Yunyao.

She read through it carefully, then nodded.

“Master Tan has written it in thorough and orderly fashion. In that case, let us make two copies. Once the contract is signed, you may send your embroiderers to Jingling City.”

Tan Lin still looked uneasy.

“If I make such a conspicuous show of sending embroiderers here, and the other embroidery houses learn of it, will they not interfere?”

Though he now had a contract, there was no guarantee that some rival would not step in sideways. He had delivered such lavish gifts and even, for the moment, set aside the matter of his own son. All because he wished to sink his teeth firmly into this fat piece of meat. He did not intend to let anything go wrong now.

“Then let us do it this way. During this period, I will begin compiling a list of the outsiders who come to Ni Yun Fang to learn embroidery. Master Tan may send over a carefully chosen group of embroiderers from Caiyue Pavilion, and I will teach them under the guise of ordinary outsiders. In that way, it should not attract attention.”

“That may be the only safe way. How long will Miss need to finish teaching the embroidery techniques?”

“That depends on the talent of the embroiderers Master Tan sends. If they are naturally quick and clever, half a month will be enough.”

“Good. Then I will return at once to make arrangements and will not trouble Miss any further.”

Mu Yunyao rose and personally escorted Tan Lin to the door.

“Master Tan, this way.”

“Miss need not see me out any farther.”

Once Tan Lin had left in high spirits, Jin Lan entered to clear away the tea things. Yet her eyes kept drifting again and again toward Mu Yunyao.

Seeing the look of hesitation on her face, Mu Yunyao spoke first.

“Do you perhaps think I should not have handed such an opportunity over to Tan Lin?”

“Yes,” Jin Lan admitted. “This servant has followed Miss for quite some time now, and it has always seemed to me that your nature is one of clear gratitude and clear resentment. Tan Bawang acted with malice and framed you. No matter how powerful Caiyue Pavilion may be, it does not seem like you to repay evil with kindness.”

Mu Yunyao smiled. Beneath her lowered lashes, a glint of light flashed.

“Until the very end, no one can say for certain whether a thing is good or bad. Just watch slowly.”

Three days later, Jin Qiao came in to report to Su Qing and Mu Yunyao.

“Madam, Miss, Magistrate Zhao has concluded the hearing on Tan Bawang’s case of abducting a young woman by force. Because Tan Bawang’s servants insisted that it was they who egged him on and led him astray, and also claimed that they themselves were the ones who beat Ah Mao and Nan’er, abducted Lier, and came up with the scheme to frame Miss, saying Tan Bawang himself had little to do with any of it, he was punished only by confiscation of some silver and by three months’ imprisonment.”

Su Qing could not help frowning.

“Tan Bawang nearly beat Nan’er and Ah Mao to death, and yet the matter is to end just like this?”

Mu Yunyao did not seem the least surprised.

“Mother need not be too angry. The two servants took on most of the blame and shielded Tan Bawang behind them. Master Tan must have worked behind the scenes to arrange it. Still, good and evil always receive their due. The punishment owed will not escape him forever.”

Su Qing nodded and turned to Jin Lan, Cai Qing, and the others.

“Then from now on, we must all be extra careful in how we conduct ourselves, lest Tan Bawang come looking for trouble again once he is released.”

“Yes, Madam.”

After lunch, Jin Lan came hurrying in with fresh news.

“Miss, Madam Jin has come.”

Mu Yunyao rose at once and straightened her skirts.

“Quickly, invite Madam in.”

Madam Jin entered wearing a lotus-colored gauze dress, with a tortoiseshell hairpin set with red jade. She looked strikingly radiant.

“Greetings, Madam.”

“There is no need for formality. These past few days, I knew you were busy, so I did not come over every day. Who would have thought that so many things would happen here in the meantime?”

There was a note of gentle reproach in her voice.

“When trouble arose, why did you not come find me?”

Mu Yunyao immediately stepped forward, took her by the arm, and led her inside to sit down, while telling Jin Lan to prepare a cup of fruit-and-flower tea.

“They were all only small matters. How could I dare trouble Madam over such trifles? Right now the most important thing is for Madam to nourish your health in peace. That is far more important than any little affair of mine.”

Madam Jin could not help smiling.

“You always manage to make sense of everything. Yesterday, the wife of Magistrate Zhao came to visit me and spoke to me of Tan Bawang’s case. She asked me to come here and let you know, fearing that you might bear some resentment in your heart.”

Mu Yunyao smiled lightly.

“Madam Chen worries too much. Magistrate Zhao handled the matter impartially. Why would I harbor resentment?”

“That is exactly what I told her. Days are long; nothing is measured in a single morning or evening.”

There was meaning beneath Madam Jin’s words.

Mu Yunyao smiled.

“Indeed, exactly as Madam says.”

Seeing that Mu Yunyao understood, Madam Jin said no more on that score. Instead, she held out her wrist.

“Quickly, feel my pulse for me. I think I have been quite well these last few days. It is all thanks to the delicious food your mother has been making for me. Even now, when I think of it, I find myself craving it.”

Just as Mu Yunyao was about to respond, Su Qing entered from outside.

“Greetings, Madam Jin.”

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