~ JIN WANG’S TEST ~
Hearing that familiar yet unfamiliar voice, the corner of Mu Yunyao’s lips lifted, but a hint of coldness flashed across her eyes. “The flowers sent by His Royal Highness Jin are so beautiful. I naturally like them very much. It’s on the windowsill in my room, and I watched it every day!”
“Then, Miss Mu, which do you like, that pot of Baiou Zhubo or the Shameless Beauty?”
Mu Yunyao turned her head and looked at Jin Wang with a smile, “Which one does His Royal Highness prefer?”
“I think both of those are pretty good.” Jin Wang’s face was gentle, but his eyes carried deep meaning. His gaze was calm as he looked at Mu Yunyao’s face as if he was examining something.
Mu Yunyao’s smile grew wider. Her eyes were clear and black and white. “I like that pot of Shameless Beauty. As for that pot of Baiou Zhubo, its senses are rather ordinary.”
Jin Wang’s eyes moved slightly. He couldn’t figure out what Mu Yunyao meant. The reason why he had sent the two pots of flowers over was to remind her. He already knew that she was not as simple as she looked on the surface and hoped that she could understand the current affairs and adapt to the overall situation. But now, Mu Yunyao had told him in a flash that the sense pot of Baiou Zhubo is rather ordinary. Is it a sign that she is unwilling to go with the flow, that she is rejecting him?
“I also like that Shameless Beauty. From its appearance, it looks flawless, as if it is so pure and indifferent. But who would have thought that the flawless jade was wrapped in such a dark color?”
Mu Yunyao chuckled, “His Royal Highness Jin, is it better to say that the pure white jade wrapped around a heart that’s about to turn black?”
Jin Wang looked at her coldly, “Miss Mu, do you remember the gift sent to Royal Father on his birthday?”
“Which one did Your Highness say?” Last year, she had embroidered a picture of happiness, longevity, and health. This year, she had presented a picture of five blessings for longevity. If you count the screen of the beautiful landscape that she indirectly sent to the Su family the year before last, there will be three copies.
“I’m talking about that painting of the mountains and rivers...” Jin Wang carefully looked at Mu Yunyao’s expression. He was unwilling to let go of the slightest abnormality.
“River and Mountain Painting?” Mu Yunyao slightly raised her brows with a puzzled expression. “How come I don’t know what the River and Mountain Painting are?”
“Miss Mu is really an honorable person who has forgotten things, but the Spring Embroidery Workshop (Chun Xiu Fang) has been ruined by you.” Jin Wang’s thoughts moved slightly, but Mu Yunyao didn’t panic in the slightest. ‘Could it be that this really had nothing to do with her?’
“I don’t understand what His Royal Highness Jin is saying. I did indeed embroider a landscape painting and sold it to the Spring Embroidery Workshop, but I have no idea where this landscape painting ended up or where it went.” Mu Yunyao didn’t plan on hiding anything. After all, when she embroidered that piece of embroidery, many people in Xiayan village saw it. If they wanted to check it out, they could easily find it out. Even if she hides it, it would be useless. She was sure that no one would know what she was doing.
“You have quite the guts that you actually dare do anything to Royal Father’s birthday present. That is a capital offense!” Jin Wang’s tone suddenly turned stern and rose sharply.
Mu Yunyao chuckled, “I’m a coward. I’ve never seen much of the world before. His Royal Highness, don’t try to scare me. When did I touch the Emperor’s birthday present? The shopkeeper for the Spring Embroidery Workshop shop asked me to embroider all embroidery items, from embroidery cloth to embroidery thread. I am only responsible for making embroidery. What can I do?”
Jin Wang’s gaze looked over to Mu Yunyao, but she didn’t back off in the slightest. Her eyes still filled with smiles, but there wasn’t the slightest trace of panic.
Jin Wang suddenly laughed. “I was merely joking with Miss Mu just now. I hope you don’t mind. We’ve already investigated the matter regarding the embroidery items and found out that it was done by someone from the Spring Embroidery Workshop. Naturally, it has nothing to do with Miss Mu.”
Mu Yunyao patted her chest and looked as if she was relieved. “Then I can relax. After hearing what His Royal Highness Jin said earlier, my heart was about to jump out of my throat.”
Naturally, she doesn’t mind because she was already taken back to the Su family. If she was in trouble now, the Su family could not escape their relationship. Therefore, that beautiful picture of a mountain and river could only be recognized by the Spring Embroidery Workshop. After all, the Spring Workshop Embroidery was already finished, while Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Luo are still standing behind her. Jin Wang never does business at a loss.
“I’ve heard that Miss Mu is going to open another Ni Yun Fang in the Capital soon. Her business is so good. I’m really envious of you.”
“All I earn is hard-earned money. It’s because I come from a poor background that I can only support myself and my mother through this method.”
“Miss Mu is too modest, as Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Luo are the only powers in the Dali Dynasty. It’s an unparalleled spectacle. Once the situation has been fully unveiled, it would not be too excessive for you to make profits every day. Otherwise, Miss Mu would not have given a hundred thousand silver taels back to the people of Jingling City.” Jin Wang’s voice was warm and gentle, it sounded like ordinary chatting, but Mu Yunyao could feel a slight pressure from his words.
The Spring Embroidery Workshop was attached to the Su family in the past, but the Su family supported the Third Prince. Therefore, almost all the silver was dedicated to the Third Prince. Now that he no longer had the Spring Embroidery Workshop, just those properties in the Third Prince’s hands were far from enough to satisfy his ambitions.
At the moment, many people viewed the merchants as the worst kind of business, but they don’t look back to think that if they want to develop a career, which one can leave the support of gold and silver? Walking around during the New Year ceremony, nurturing the party members, raising guards, advisors… costs too much, which is why the other princes wanted to interfere in Jiangnan’s salt tax. That was because it was like a limitless pocketbook. If one could control the salt tax in Jiangnan, he could develop his own power without any worries.
Now that Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Luo had developed like a raging fire, it was no wonder that Jin Wang had spoken such words to test the waters.
“After receiving so many rewards from the Emperor, my heart is forever grateful. In the future, after Bi Yun Fang and Bu Xian Luo earn their money, I will take out the majority to give back to the commoners. What does His Royal Highness think of it?”
Mu Yunyao sneered in her heart, “You have thoughts of stealing, but do you dare to fight with the Emperor?” Do you dare to fight with all the people in the world? It was to let you look at the white silver but can’t touch it. Take that taste slowly!
Jin Wang’s eyes twitched as an unfathomable smile appeared on his handsome face: “If that’s the case…it’s also exceedingly good, so I hope that Miss Mu can persevere on. “
“There is no beginning, but there is an end. Since I have already made a good start, I will naturally persevere to the end.” Mu Yunyao’s smile was gentle and graceful, her eyes bright and radiant, as if she was sincerely satisfied with her actions.
“If that’s the case, then I won’t disturb Miss Mu from admiring the flowers. Miss Mu must prepare well for the Autumn Hunting in September.”
Mu Yunyao nodded her head in greeting before respectfully sending Jin Wang off. Then, her gaze landed on Chrysanthemum in the purple flame. “It’s clearly just an ordinary flower, but it just squeezed itself into the middle of a pile of expensive purple flames, which makes it quite unusual.”
Zhang Wan noticed that Jin Wang had left. She had chatted with Zhou Yuyin for a bit before returning to Mu Yunyao’s side. Following her line of sight, she saw a flower bush, “There’s actually one that’s different from the others. I don’t know what its name is. It looks very fresh and elegant.”
“Its name is Aster, a very ordinary kind of chrysanthemum.”
Zhang Wan’s fingertips trembled slightly. Thinking about Mu Yunyao’s situation, she looked at her with some worry, “Little Sister Mu, you don’t have to care about rumors. It’s always been like this in the Capital. The wind never stops no matter what.”
“Thank you, Elder Sister Zhang, for your reminder.”
They looked at each other and smiled, and they seemed to have a tacit understanding.
Mu Yunyao looked in Su Yuyi’s direction. The First Prince was standing beside her as if he was saying something. The scene was very harmonious, and laughter would occasionally resound from her.
Zhang Wan’s eyes filled with admiration. “Yuyi is indeed a heavenly person. When the banquet ends, the reputation of the Moon Worshiping Fairy will resound throughout the Capital.”
Mu Yunyao raised the corner of her lips and gently lowered her eyes, covering the flowing light that flashed by. “That’s right. I’m guessing that Elder Sister Yuyi would be very happy.”
Thanks for the chapters! (Once again caught up) And once again glad that I waited so I could read them all in one go. That Jin Wang is a piece of work, isn't he! Here's hoping he gets the message and leaves her well alone!
ReplyDeleteStay safe!