Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 159

Chapter 159: Miss Mu Brings Fen Dumplings

Yue Wang’s gaze remained fixed upon the lake below. For the first time, the chill in his deep eyes receded, replaced by open astonishment. He had never imagined that a woman could burn with such brilliance, like a cluster of flame setting the bitter winter ablaze.

She was like a riddle. When they first met, he had thought her timid, yet she had calmly bandaged his wound, stolen his dagger, killed a man, and framed another with it. Later, after investigating her, he had thought her scheming and deep-minded, only to hear that she had selflessly aided Ding Yuelan and rescued the orphans from the Charity Bureau. Now, just when he thought he could finally see her clearly, she had shown him this fierce and pure side of herself.

And such a complicated, unfathomable woman secretly harbored feelings for him…

At that thought, Yue Wang’s fingers trembled slightly. He reached for the teacup beside him and drank the tea, already gone cold, in a single swallow.

Steward Qin came back to himself just in time to see this. A smile stirred secretly in his heart, and he quickly ordered someone to replace the tea with a hot cup.

“His Highness, please try this. It is the newest batch of Lotus Fragrance Dew.”

Yue Wang lifted the cup and took a sip, but his gaze soon returned to the lake. Mu Yunyao was no longer there. Only the red silk remained, winding across the ice.

Steward Qin followed his gaze, the smile in his heart deepening. “His Highness, Miss Mu has likely gone to change her clothes.”

After spending these days together, he had come to understand Miss Mu’s proper and decorous nature quite well. When she played with the female apprentices, wearing clothes suited for ice games naturally did not matter. But if she were coming to pay respects to His Highness, that shortened skirt would certainly make her uncomfortable. At this moment, she had most likely gone to change before coming.

Seeing the crowd on the lake gradually disperse, Yu Heng stepped forward and suggested, “His Highness, you have had a long and tiring journey. Would you like to return to your room and rest first?”

Steward Qin narrowed his eyes slightly. His gaze fell upon Yu Heng, a cold glint flickering at the bottom of it. Yu Yi, standing to the side, could not help shivering. He tugged hard at Yu Heng’s sleeve, and, as if struck by sudden inspiration, quickly said, “The garden scenery is so fine. His Highness would naturally wish to admire it first before returning to rest.”

Yu Heng glanced around at the garden buried beneath white snow. With such a desolate winter scene on every side, where exactly was the fine scenery?

Yue Wang, however, nodded. “Mm. It is good to admire it for a while.”

Yu Heng blinked. Could the scenery truly be beautiful, and he simply did not know how to appreciate it?

Before long, Mu Yunyao had changed and returned to Jinxiu Garden. Seeing that there were still figures in the pavilion, her brows moved faintly.

Just now, that man’s cold, austere air had resembled Yue Wang so strongly that all her desire to continue playing vanished at once. She had gone straight back to her room to change, then hurried over, thinking Yue Wang would have returned to rest by now. She had not expected him to still be in the pavilion.

Mu Yunyao entered and immediately curtsied in formal salute. “This common girl, Mu Yunyao, pays respects to Your Highness Yue Wang.”

Yue Wang set down his teacup, his fingers brushing lightly along the edge of the cushion behind him. “Rise. My identity is not suitable to be publicly known. In the future, there is no need for such ceremony. It is better that you continue calling me Fourth Master.”

Mu Yunyao hurriedly rose. In winter, the ground felt like a slab of ice; naturally, she was more than willing not to perform such formalities. “Yes, Fourth Master. Have you come this time to inspect Niyun Pavilion and Buxian Tower?”

Yue Wang nodded slightly. “Indeed. You have managed Buxian Tower very well.”

Mu Yunyao smiled. “His Highness overpraises me. Strictly speaking, Buxian Tower has always been managed by Steward Qin. Aside from teaching some tea-brewing skills, I truly have not been of much help.”

Steward Qin quickly said, “Miss is far too modest. Brewing tea, roasting tea, and later helping Buxian Tower gain its reputation were all Miss’s contributions. If it had been left to me alone, Buxian Tower would likely have closed before it even opened.”

Mu Yunyao could not help laughing. “How could it be as serious as that? Speaking of which, when I came just now, Mother asked me to borrow a few people from you to help wrap fen dumplings. There are many people on both sides, so quite a lot need to be made.”

“Very well. In a moment, I shall have Yun Chun bring people over.”

Mu Yunyao was just about to thank him when she saw Yue Wang rise. She swallowed the words at the edge of her lips. “Is His Highness going back to rest?”

Yue Wang nodded. Against the snow-white fox-fur cloak, his peerlessly handsome face appeared even colder and more aloof, as though untouched by the mortal world.

Mu Yunyao’s thoughts were sharp. Looking at Yue Wang like this, she somehow felt that something was not quite right. Almost instinctively, she said, “Then His Highness should go back and rest first. Once you have rested, the fen dumplings should be about ready. I will send some over for you to taste.”

Yue Wang’s gaze shifted faintly. He nodded almost imperceptibly, then led his people away. Had Mu Yunyao not been watching him closely, she might not even have noticed the slight movement.

Steward Qin’s face was full of smiles as he bowed to Mu Yunyao. “Then I shall trouble Miss Mu later.”

“Steward Qin is too courteous.”

Jin Lan and Jin Qiao came over. “Miss, was that young master, the true owner of Jinxiu Garden?”

“Mm. You may address him as Fourth Master Ning. His temperament is cold, and his moods are difficult to predict. For the next while, do not go in and out of Jinxiu Garden lightly, and do not draw his attention. Otherwise, when the time comes, even I may not be able to save you.”

The two quickly nodded. “Yes. Please rest assured, Miss. We will also restrain the others.” Jinxiu Garden had, after all, been borrowed. When its owner was absent, it was one thing for them to come in and play. Now that the owner had returned, continuing to do so would be somewhat like guests overwhelming the host. If they were in his place, they would feel displeased too.

After the fen dumplings were wrapped, Su Qing washed her hands and returned to the room. Seeing Mu Yunyao leaning lazily against the soft couch, she could not help asking, “What is this? Just now, I heard Jin Lan and Jin Qiao complaining to me that you won away all their monthly silver.”

Mu Yunyao withdrew her gaze and immediately defended herself. “They were the ones who insisted on betting with me. How can that be blamed on me? Who told them their skills were inferior?” Back when she was in Jin Wang’s Residence, she had loved ice games. Once she put on ice shoes and glided across the frozen surface, the defect in her leg could no longer be seen. Instead, it won her admiring gazes.

“You…” Su Qing shook her head fondly. “Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, and the day after is the first day of the year. You must prepare a few more red packets for them. These past months, following us mother and daughter has not been easy for them either.”

“Very well. I shall listen to Mother.”

“Enough. Get up. The fen dumplings have already been wrapped. There are lotus-root-and-fresh-pork ones you like, as well as winter-mushroom-and-bamboo-shoot ones. I will cook a few for you to taste first.” Su Qing affectionately rubbed Mu Yunyao’s hair, then took her wrist and pulled her up. This girl became especially languid whenever she lay on the soft couch. If no one pulled her up, one could call her ten times and still not see her move.

Mu Yunyao sighed. “Mother, cook a few extra. The owner of Jinxiu Garden next door has returned. Hearing that we are eating fen dumplings, he seemed rather envious. We may as well cook more and send some over to him.”

“The owner of Jinxiu Garden—you mean the Fourth Master Ning you mentioned?”

“Yes. Who else could it be?”

“Then wait here. Mother will personally cook them. Once they are ready, you send them over. If he had not generously lent Jinxiu Garden to us, Buxian Tower would not exist as it does today. We must properly repay this kindness.”

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