~ A Hint Of Ambition ~
Yue Wang spoke with complete seriousness, his expression exceptionally earnest. “The chair in the study is hard. I sit there all day, so that’s why.”
Mu Yunyao was just about to take his pulse when she shot him a look. “Fourth Master, I don’t think your waist hurts. I think you ate too much and got stuffed.”
Yue Wang did not mind at all. He held Mu Yunyao’s hand, his manner intimate. “Mm. I’m stuffed. I’ll have to take a few of your bolsters back with me before I feel better.” He liked using things Mu Yunyao had used, as if they carried her scent. For example, that quilt by his window, even in summer, he could not bear to put it away. He kept it beside the bed, as though that made him a little closer to her.
Mu Yunyao nearly grabbed a bolster and smacked him. He was becoming increasingly shameless. “If Fourth Master wants bolsters, just say so. You don’t need to pretend you’re sick to scare me.”
Yue Wang pulled her in front of him, then wrapped an arm around her waist. “I like the way you look when you’re worried about me. In those moments, it feels like there’s only me in your eyes.”
Mu Yunyao froze for a beat, then slowly smiled. She raised her hand and gently brushed over his brows and eyes. His brows were sharp, his eyes always deep, like an endless night sky. With a single glance, people could not help but sink into them.
Because Yue Wang’s teasing delayed her brewing, when she went back to the tea, it had already cooled quite a bit. Mu Yunyao added some hot water and brought it to him.
Yue Wang did not mind. Smiling brightly, he took a sip and praised, “Good tea.”
Mu Yunyao could not help laughing. “Fourth Master, you didn’t go to court today?”
“I’m getting married. There are far too many things to prepare. I asked Imperial Father for leave so that I won’t be attending court for the next few days.”
“Yesterday, the Emperor even went to complain to my grandmother, saying you won’t help him shoulder state affairs anymore, and that you’re unfilial to the extreme.”
“There are the Eldest Imperial Brother and Second Imperial Brother handling court matters. When I have time, it’s enough for me to accompany Imperial Father.” He saw it clearly. Imperial Father complained with his mouth, but in his heart, he was quite pleased with Yue Wang’s current attitude. Leng Wang and Yu Wang were constantly fighting in court, causing chaos in the government. If Yue Wang joined in as well, things would only become more complicated.
Mu Yunyao asked, “Has the court reached a decision? How does the Emperor intend to treat the Beijiang envoys?”
“The civil officials’ proposal is overly soft, but it has its merits. Between states, you do not kill an envoy. No matter why Beijiang sent envoys this time, before they reveal their dagger, we must treat them gently. Imperial Father accepted the civil officials’ view, but he handed the duty of receiving the envoys to Second Imperial Brother.”
Mu Yunyao paused, then curled her lips into a smile. “Imperial Father is wise. Yu Wang has fought Beijiang before and has seen their brutality. He has no goodwill toward them. With Imperial Father’s orders in place, he won’t openly make things difficult for the envoys, but he will stay on guard. If there’s any problem, he’ll be able to discover it and deal with it in time.”
Yue Wang nodded. “Mu Yunyao, have the letters to Third Prince and the Beijiang envoys been sent already?”
“They were sent yesterday. Beijiang will need some time, but Third Prince should have already seen his.”
In the Third Prince’s residence, Ning Junjin examined the letter in his hands. His gaze rose and fell, filled with uncertainty. After a long while, he finally steadied himself, gripping the letter tightly as he looked toward the guard at his side.
“Did you find any clues?”
This morning, when he woke, the letter was already at his bedside. The contents, and especially the signature at the end, nearly made him fall from his chair. It claimed to be from Beijiang. Not only did it goad him into rebellion, but it even stated that Beijiang could support him in secret, providing weapons and warhorses.
If the envelope had not carried a Beijiang royal seal, he would have torn it up and thrown it aside on the spot.
The guard looked ashamed. “Reporting to Your Royal Highness, we found no clues at all.”
“It seems the person who delivered it has profound martial arts. Otherwise, they could not have slipped past everyone.”
“Your Royal Highness, the letter is full of deceitful, enticing words. Should this subordinate destroy it?”
Third Prince nodded. He watched the guard take the letter to burn it, then, as if possessed, called out, “Wait.”
He took it back, opened it again, and reread it. In the end, his gaze fixed on the words weapons and warhorses.
Beijiang’s warhorses are famed. I’ve heard the Beijiang cavalry is so fierce largely because of their superior mounts.”
“Yes. This subordinate has also heard that training an excellent warhorse can be as hard as training a commander.”
Third Prince’s fingers lightly brushed across the paper. The light in his eyes flickered for a long time. Then he gave a cold laugh.
“I’m unable to walk, not brainless. Beijiang thinks it can fool me with such a shallow scheme. If they truly had an abundance of iron weapons and warhorses, they would have already marched south to attack the Da Li Dynasty. Why would they bargain with a mere prince?”
The guard stood silently to one side. Seeing that Third Prince did not destroy the letter, but instead carefully stored it in a hidden compartment, his heart jolted.
Six days later, a letter bearing the seal of the Third Prince’s residence was quietly delivered into the hands of the Beijiang envoy party.
In their temporary camp, a Beijiang man dressed in Hu attire opened the letter. A glint flashed through his gloomy eyes.
“Third Prince. A blind, crippled wreck dares to negotiate with Beijiang, and the moment he opens his mouth, he demands weapons and warhorses. Ridiculous. Ignore it. Pass the order down. Move faster and hurry on the road. We must enter the Da Li Dynasty capital, Xiling, as soon as possible.”
“Yes.”
Mu Yunyao finished embroidering the phoenix tail feathers on her wedding dress and nodded in satisfaction. “All right. After working so long, it’s finally finished.”
Caiyi and the others held up the wedding dress and carefully brushed over it, praising it without end. “Miss, this dress is truly too beautiful. Just looking at it makes this servant want to marry, too.”
The other embroiderers teased, “Shopkeeper Caiyi, if you want to marry, isn’t it just a matter of saying the word? The men who come to propose to you have nearly talked their lips raw, but you’ve never once agreed.”
Caiyi could not help glaring at them. “I’m waiting for Miss to find me a good match. I don’t care for those crooked melons and cracked dates.”
Mu Yunyao smiled. “Fine. Another day, I’ll find some fine young men and let you choose for yourself.”
The Ni Yun Fang burst into laughter and chatter.
Just then, Jin Lan entered with cheeks faintly red. “Miss, Yue Wang is here.”
Mu Yunyao’s heart lifted. She dismissed Caiyi and the others, then had Yue Wang invited upstairs.
Jin Qiao stepped out the door and hurriedly grabbed Jin Lan, her eyes scanning her up and down. “Sister Jin Lan, you’ve always been steady, and you see things clearly. You understand your place, don’t you?”
To support us, kindly donate through our website. Thank you. 💕
“Yes. This subordinate has also heard that training an excellent warhorse can be as hard as training a commander.”
Third Prince’s fingers lightly brushed across the paper. The light in his eyes flickered for a long time. Then he gave a cold laugh.
“I’m unable to walk, not brainless. Beijiang thinks it can fool me with such a shallow scheme. If they truly had an abundance of iron weapons and warhorses, they would have already marched south to attack the Da Li Dynasty. Why would they bargain with a mere prince?”
The guard stood silently to one side. Seeing that Third Prince did not destroy the letter, but instead carefully stored it in a hidden compartment, his heart jolted.
Six days later, a letter bearing the seal of the Third Prince’s residence was quietly delivered into the hands of the Beijiang envoy party.
In their temporary camp, a Beijiang man dressed in Hu attire opened the letter. A glint flashed through his gloomy eyes.
“Third Prince. A blind, crippled wreck dares to negotiate with Beijiang, and the moment he opens his mouth, he demands weapons and warhorses. Ridiculous. Ignore it. Pass the order down. Move faster and hurry on the road. We must enter the Da Li Dynasty capital, Xiling, as soon as possible.”
“Yes.”
Mu Yunyao finished embroidering the phoenix tail feathers on her wedding dress and nodded in satisfaction. “All right. After working so long, it’s finally finished.”
Caiyi and the others held up the wedding dress and carefully brushed over it, praising it without end. “Miss, this dress is truly too beautiful. Just looking at it makes this servant want to marry, too.”
The other embroiderers teased, “Shopkeeper Caiyi, if you want to marry, isn’t it just a matter of saying the word? The men who come to propose to you have nearly talked their lips raw, but you’ve never once agreed.”
Caiyi could not help glaring at them. “I’m waiting for Miss to find me a good match. I don’t care for those crooked melons and cracked dates.”
Mu Yunyao smiled. “Fine. Another day, I’ll find some fine young men and let you choose for yourself.”
The Ni Yun Fang burst into laughter and chatter.
Just then, Jin Lan entered with cheeks faintly red. “Miss, Yue Wang is here.”
Mu Yunyao’s heart lifted. She dismissed Caiyi and the others, then had Yue Wang invited upstairs.
Jin Qiao stepped out the door and hurriedly grabbed Jin Lan, her eyes scanning her up and down. “Sister Jin Lan, you’ve always been steady, and you see things clearly. You understand your place, don’t you?”
To support us, kindly donate through our website. Thank you. 💕
0 comments:
Post a Comment