Chapter 151: The Three Winter Months When One Cannot Wake
After Madam Jin left with the New Year’s tribute, Mu Yunyao felt as though a burden had slipped from her shoulders. After supper, she went to bed early and slept until the sun was high the next morning, yet still refused to rise from beneath the covers.
Su Qing came in carrying a bowl of eight-treasure rice. Seeing her daughter curled into the quilt, she could not help stepping forward and pinching her cheek. “What hour is it already, and you still will not get up? Nan’er and A’Mao have swept the courtyard once over.”
Mu Yunyao kept her eyes closed, feigning sleep, but the corners of her lips betrayed her, curving upward. Su Qing pinched her cheek again. “You wicked girl. Last night you were clamoring for eight-treasure rice, and I brought it over as soon as it was done. Hurry and stop pretending. Wash up and eat, or I shall take it out and give it to Nan’er and A’Mao.”
Mu Yunyao immediately opened her eyes and threw herself into Su Qing’s arms, putting on an extremely aggrieved air. “Ever since Nan’er and A’Mao came, Mother no longer dotes on me!”
Su Qing gathered her in with a smile. “What nonsense. If Mother did not dote on you, I would have dragged this lazy worm out of bed long ago.”
“An ancient saying goes: spring brings drowsiness, autumn brings weariness, summer makes one nod off—and in the three winter months, one simply cannot wake. I am merely following the wisdom of the ancients and cultivating my health.”
Su Qing, hearing her solemn nonsense, was caught between laughter and helplessness. She wanted to chide her, but when she remembered how Yunyao had spent so many days and nights rushing to finish the New Year’s tribute, the words would not leave her mouth.
At this moment, Mu Yunyao had only just woken and crawled out from the warm quilt. Her whole body seemed soft and warm as she lay across Su Qing’s knees, carrying a rare hint of girlish dependence that made one’s heart soften at the sight.
“Get up quickly and wash your face. Eat something first. If you still feel sleepy after eating, you may go back to bed.”
Mu Yunyao could not help curving her eyes into crescents, her clear gaze brimming with laughter. “I knew it. In this world, Mother loves me most.”
“You foolish child. Mother has only one daughter. If I do not love you, who else would I love?”
Mu Yunyao’s smile deepened. She rolled lightly against Su Qing’s knees before finally getting up to dress.
Su Qing helped her smooth out her skirt. Looking at the pale green magnolia flowers embroidered on her sleeves, she smiled. “From what Mother sees, you have grown quite a bit taller over the past half year. Once spring comes, these old clothes will likely no longer fit.”
Mu Yunyao stroked the dress she wore with unusual care. “This blue-jade magnolia gauze skirt was made by Mother’s own hands. No matter when I wear it, it will always fit. How could it not?”
“You only know how to say sweet things to coax Mother.” Su Qing wished for nothing more than for her daughter to grow taller and plumper. If the clothes no longer fit, they could simply make new ones.
“Although the trouble in Mother’s hands has improved somewhat, they still cannot bear too much strain. I cannot bear to let you spend your days holding needle and thread to sew clothes. Having this one set is enough.”
Su Qing only smiled and said nothing more, giving her no opening to continue. She watched with gentle eyes as Yunyao washed up.
Mu Yunyao, however, had already made up her mind. Because she had been so busy embroidering, she had not prepared winter clothes for herself at all. She had meant to let Jin Lan and the others find time to make her two sets, never expecting Su Qing to take up the needle herself. Now that she had some free time, she naturally would not allow her mother to tire herself again.
After eating a bowl of steaming eight-treasure rice, Mu Yunyao felt warmth seep through her from head to toe. At last free of urgent work, she wanted nothing more than to do absolutely nothing. Wrapped in a warm fox-fur cloak, she sat beside the brazier, leaning against the soft couch as she slowly drank tea.
Su Qing looked at her lazy, boneless posture and found it both exasperating and endearing. In the end, she simply let her be.
Jin Lan and Jin Qiao came in. They remained near the outer room for a little while, waiting for the chill on their bodies to disperse before approaching Mu Yunyao. “Miss, your room is still the most comfortable. I do not know what has happened these past two days, but the cold has become terribly sharp. Judging from the gloomy sky, it may snow again tomorrow. In previous years, Jiangnan was never this cold.”
Mu Yunyao poured two cups of tea and handed them over. “Drink some tea to warm yourselves.”
The two accepted the cups with bright smiles. Jin Lan took a sip and sighed softly. “Thank you, Miss. If Steward Qin drank tea brewed by Miss, he would certainly stop praising me.”
“Then find time to practice your tea-brewing properly. Perhaps in the future I shall send you out to manage one of the Buxian Towers.”
Jin Lan hurriedly shook her head. “Miss, please do not tease this servant. I know very well how much ability I have. Running errands at Miss’s side is one thing. If I were sent to manage Buxian Tower, I would lose my bearings within two days.”
Mu Yunyao smiled, then looked toward Jin Qiao. “How is the matter I asked you to inquire about?”
“Replying to Miss, this servant went to ask Steward Qin. He said the group of embroiderers from Caiyue Pavilion has already been scattered to various places. In another day or two, there should be movement. Also, Tan Bawang has already been released. However, Master Tan personally took him back to Huai’an City. I heard he has grown terribly thin, as though he suffered quite a bit in prison.”
Mu Yunyao’s lips lifted slightly. “County Magistrate Zhao is upright by nature and has always handled matters with integrity. This time, it was clear he intended to investigate Tan Bawang properly, yet Tan Lin interfered and shifted the blame onto a few servants. His heart must not have been at ease. As the parent-official of Jingling City, if he wants to discipline one or two people, it is only a matter of a few words. It would be strange if Tan Bawang had not suffered.”
“Miss, this servant still thinks letting Tan Bawang return like this is far too easy on him.”
“Rest assured. Even if we do not seek out Tan Bawang, he will come back to seek us out. That Master Tan has managed Caiyue Pavilion for many years. He is not someone who willingly swallows a loss. At present, he needs something from us, so he lowers his stance. Once Caiyue Pavilion receives credit for spreading the embroidery techniques, he naturally will no longer place us in his eyes.”
Jin Lan and Jin Qiao could not help worrying. “Since Miss understands this, why did you still choose him? Spreading the embroidery techniques is such a good opportunity. No matter whom you chose, they would likely have rushed to agree.”
“There is a reason I chose him. If the grudge between us and Caiyue Pavilion were not impossible to untie, I would not have used him as the blade.”
“This servant does not fully understand, but hearing Miss say it, it sounds extremely formidable,” Jin Qiao said with a smile.
“If you do not understand, then think on it more. The two of you both have decent natural ability. What you lack is experience and breadth of vision. In the future, if you are willing to remain by my side and serve me, then watch more, listen more, and think more. If you are willing to stand on your own, whether it is Niyun Pavilion or Buxian Tower, I can grant you the position of shopkeeper.”
Jin Lan and Jin Qiao did not hesitate at all. They immediately curtsied to Mu Yunyao. “This servant is willing to serve Miss.”
Mu Yunyao smiled faintly. “Good. Since the two of you have resolved to remain by my side, I naturally will not treat you poorly.”
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