Incurable Chapter 22 Part 2

Chapter 22 (2/2)

The bathroom was far stuffier than outside.

The moment she stepped out, the cool air made her skin tense. The heat at the tips of her ears faded, and she heard the sound of water running from the kitchen.

“Liu Qianxiu.”

Standing at the kitchen entrance, Mu Wan called his name.

She had showered quickly. Liu Qianxiu had only just come from the cat room, and the kitchen still had not been fully put in order. He was standing by the refrigerator with two bunches of greens in his hands, wrapped in white paper, the leaves poking out bright and fresh. When he heard her, he raised his eyes.

Mu Wan was wearing his oversized shirt.

She had rolled up the sleeves, exposing two lengths of pale arm. The shirt was long enough to cover her knees, a little above, leaving her calves bare and slender. Her eyes were bright. Like mist spreading in the distance, there was one dot of black in each, one touch of red on her lips.

Looking at him, she said, “Let me help.”

As she spoke, she came over and took the greens from his hands, leaving a faint fragrance of freesia in her wake.

The vegetables had just come out of the refrigerator and still held a trace of chill. Mu Wan tore away the paper. The neatly bundled greens fell open. She turned on the faucet and set them into the sink.

She was not short, but her frame was so fine she looked almost tiny, swallowed inside the shirt.

Sunlight still streamed through the window, though it could not dry her dark hair. In the quiet kitchen, the only sound was the crisp rush of running water.

Her shoulders moved slightly as she worked. After a while, she lifted a damp hand and used the still-dry side of her wrist to push her hair over to one side.

The effort was useless.

It fell back down again almost at once.

She seemed to grow a little frustrated. Pulling both hands from the sink, she was just about to wipe them on the shirt when she suddenly remembered what she was wearing. Her movements stopped short. Turning back to Liu Qianxiu, she asked, “Do you have any tissues? I want to tie my hair up. It keeps falling down and it’s bothering me.”

He stood by the refrigerator, tall and quiet, looking at her without expression.

After a slight pause, he closed the refrigerator door and walked over.

“Give me the hair tie,” he said.

Mu Wan’s eyes lifted.

She saw the calm, unchanged expression on his face. The slight knot in her brow smoothed away at once. She slipped the black hair tie off her wrist and placed it in his hand.

Then, after doing so, she looked up at him again—uncertain, but hopeful.

“Do you know how?” she asked.

Her hair was thick, and though it had not yet dried, it still hung heavy and dark. Liu Qianxiu looked once at the slightly curling ends and said, “I can try.”

Her heartbeat began to scatter out of rhythm.

Mu Wan’s lips parted. Then she turned around, giving him her whole back.

His movements were efficient.

Mu Wan braced both hands on the edge of the sink. The cool marble pressed into her palms. She could feel him lift her hair away from her neck, and now and then his fingertips brushed the skin at the back of it—warm, lightly numbing. Her fingers curled.

She was wearing his clothes, the fabric resting against her skin.

Her heart had become very restless.

Lowering her head to distract herself, she asked, “Who are you having dinner with tonight?”

“Family.”

Beneath the dark fall of her hair, the skin at the back of her neck was fine and pale, tinged with a soft flush.

“Mm,” she made a quiet sound that could have meant anything.

He gathered her black hair into the loop of the band and wrapped it around again, as though circling something closed. Her hair trembled with each motion. Mu Wan could feel it being drawn up little by little. Looking toward the sun beyond the window, her gaze gradually blurred.

This was the first time they had met so early in the day.

“Liu Qianxiu.”

The sunlight had warmed the room, and it seemed to warm her voice with it until it went soft.

“Mm,” he answered quietly behind her.

“Can I eat lunch with you in the future?” Mu Wan asked.

His hand paused for the briefest instant.

Then he drew her hair through the last loop of the black tie. His movements were gentle and clean, not pulling at all.

Mu Wan turned back.

Standing at slightly different heights, face to face, she looked up at him with bright expectant eyes, waiting for the answer.

He lowered his gaze to meet hers, voice low.

“That depends on the timing.”

“Oh.”

It was such a Liu Qianxiu sort of answer—cool, restrained, impossible to read. The breath Mu Wan had been holding leaked right back out of her.

With her hair tied up, her whole face was revealed when she tipped it up. Every thought she had was written plainly across it. Nothing in her could hide.

Liu Qianxiu’s gaze lingered for a moment on the hair tie now holding her hair back.

Then, in that same even tone, he added,

“Your timing.”

Mu Wan’s head jerked up.

As she did, the air shifted between them.

Looking at the pale, fine-boned man in front of her, with sandalwood still lingering at the tip of her nose, she felt the calm breadth of him like distant mountains.

And beneath the sandalwood, there was something else now, too.

Something she had never smelled on him before.

A faint trace of everyday life.

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Continue reading Incurable Chapter 22 Part 2

Incurable Chapter 22 Part 1

Chapter 22 (1/2)

After Mu Wan finished her final shot, she was blasted backward by the staged explosion, rolled out of the trench, and hit the ground.

Liu Qianxiu was sitting in the car watching.

She had tried her best to fall prettily, but once she got back to her feet, her eyelashes were caked with dust, and she knew perfectly well that she must look like some bedraggled refugee.

When filming wrapped, Mu Wan went to the dressing room to change. Before going to find Liu Qianxiu, she ducked into the restroom and washed her face clean.

When she looked up again, the face in the mirror looked as smooth and delicate as a freshly peeled egg. Beneath her long dark brows, her eyes were bright and clear; her nose was fine and small; her lips held a touch of red.

Even without makeup, she was beautiful.

Mu Wan wiped away the water on her face with both hands and turned to leave the restroom.

Liu Qianxiu’s car was parked outside the studio base.

The day had warmed quickly, and by ten in the morning the temperature had already reached thirty degrees. Mu Wan had just come from a battlefield scene and felt as though she had walked straight out of a furnace. The sweat on her skin kept evaporating almost as soon as it formed.

When she reached the car, she pulled open the door and saw Liu Qianxiu in the driver’s seat.

Cool air rushed toward her.

His figure was reflected in her eyes.

Her body cooled. So did her heart.

Something flickered in Mu Wan’s gaze. Smiling, she got into the car and fastened her seat belt.

She had not dried her face before coming out. The air outside had still felt damp enough that it had not bothered her, but once she got into the air-conditioned car, her skin began to feel slightly tight. Mu Wan took out some moisturizer and dotted it onto her face. The loose strands beside her ears had been dampened with water and clung obediently to her cheeks.

“How come you came over?” she asked.

Up until now, it had always been her going to the hospital to wait for him to get off work. This was the first time Liu Qianxiu had come to find her at the studio base.

She was very happy.

Because this was different from before.

Something between them had clearly changed.

As for what exactly had changed, her mind was too sweetly overheated to sort it out properly. All she knew was that her heart felt sugary and cool at once, like eating a strawberry popsicle.

“I was passing by,” Liu Qianxiu replied calmly.

“Oh.”

Mu Wan’s voice curled at the end, light and lingering.

With her long fingers, she slowly rubbed the white moisturizer across her still-warm cheeks, smoothing it in. She had arrived on set at four in the morning and had been filming for a full six hours. Now that she was in the car, the tension in both her body and mind began to drain away.

After finishing with the lotion, she stretched her slender body out against the window the way a stray cat, after wandering, might finally find a sheltered corner to curl up in. Looking out at the studio base still bustling under the heat, she settled deeper into the seat.

“Do you usually film like this?” Liu Qianxiu asked.

The car started and rocked lightly. His voice was cool and clear, like something that had traveled through a mountain forest with morning dew still clinging to it.

“Yes.” Mu Wan withdrew her gaze. “A lot of supporting-role scenes are like this. In the end, they all die one way or another.”

The corner of her eyes lifted slightly as she turned back to him.

“I’ve died countless times on camera,” she said. “Every possible kind of death, I’ve done it. Probably more than you’ve seen, and you’re the doctor.”

There was even a trace of pride in her tone.

The car stopped at a T-junction. Liu Qianxiu switched on the left turn signal and, looking at the bright pride in her eyes, asked in his low voice, “Do you like being an actress?”

“Not exactly.”

Mu Wan shook her head, thought about it, and said, “I’m only pretty. Acting makes money faster than anything else I could do.”

Liu Qianxiu gave her a long, unreadable look.

Mu Wan’s lashes flickered.

Then, a little guilty, she muttered, “The dust was covering it today.”

The light turned green.

Liu Qianxiu started the car again. His profile was finely shaped, the line of his mouth composed and unreadable.

As the car turned into the main road, he looked ahead at the broad flat stretch of asphalt and said lightly, “Fame pays even more.”

The trees by the road slid by in a rush. The sky was high and white with heat.

Mu Wan looked at him, then lightly wet her lips.

When she finally turned her eyes back toward the road ahead, she said, “But then I wouldn’t be able to come see you every day. I want money to come quickly, yes—but even more than that, I want a steady life.”

Liu Qianxiu lowered his lashes slightly.

Her voice lingered in the car even after she finished. He kept driving, but said nothing more.

When they got back to his place, Mu Wan changed into slippers. Watching Liu Qianxiu head toward the bedroom, she hesitated, then asked,

“Can I take a shower at your place?”

His steps paused.

He turned back to look at her.

Mu Wan met his quiet gaze head-on, though her heartbeat was speeding up.

“I’ve been filming since early morning,” she explained. “I’m covered in dust. I feel awful.”

As she spoke, she scratched lightly at her hair. Her high ponytail completely exposed her fresh, fair face. Truthfully, the only clean part of her at the moment was probably that face.

Liu Qianxiu said nothing.

Instead, he turned away from the bedroom and went to a room Mu Wan had never entered before. He opened the door.

“There’s a separate bathroom here,” he said.

“Thank you.”

The moment he agreed, Mu Wan hurried over, asking as she went, “Do you have all the shower stuff?”

“No.”

Mu Wan: “...”

“I’ll get it.”

The two master bedrooms in the apartment each had their own bathroom and shower. There was no shared one.

The moment he said he would get what she needed, something inside Mu Wan was lightly brushed, like grass bending under the wind. What he brought would have to be things he himself used.

Which meant that, in a way, this counted as indirect bodily contact.

Mu Wan’s face heated up again.

Liu Qianxiu looked at her faintly flushed cheeks, then let his eyes drop to her narrow shoulders. She was wearing a cropped black T-shirt that exposed a strip of pale midriff. Even the shirt itself was dusted with dirt.

“Do you want clothes too?” he asked.

Mu Wan looked up sharply.

Her face seemed to redden even more, flushing all the way from the line of her cheek to the tips of her ears. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking. Her throat tightened slightly.

“Hm?” she said, the sound rising like the flick of a cat’s tail. Lightly biting her lower lip, she asked, “Do you have women’s clothes here?”

“No,” Liu Qianxiu said. “Only things I’ve worn.”

Only things I’ve worn.

“Yes,” Mu Wan said at once. “I want them.”

Liu Qianxiu brought her clothes and shower supplies, and Mu Wan took the whole pile into the room.

His apartment was large, and even the second bedroom was spacious. It was not empty the way she had imagined. The décor, like the living room, leaned pale gray—but unlike the living room, this bedroom felt much more modern.

There was a large bed, a hanging lamp, a walk-in closet, decorative paintings, a sofa, and a projector. The sliding doors to the balcony were tightly shut. The pale curtains had been drawn back, revealing a wooden balcony completely bare, quiet, and a little cold.

Such a large room was clearly meant for guests, and yet it did not seem as though anyone had ever really stayed there—otherwise it would not lack even the most basic spare toiletries.

Carrying everything in her arms, Mu Wan went barefoot into the bathroom.

She took only a simple shower, washing the dust from her body and the fatigue from her bones. By the time she was done, she felt as though her whole vision had cleared.

Using a towel to dry her damp hair, she searched around and only then realized there was no hairdryer.

Water still dripped from the ends of her hair.

After blotting at it a little more, Mu Wan reached for the clothes she had been given.

The moment her eyes landed on them, a flush rose up through her chest and set her face burning again.

He really had given her the clothes he had worn.

Because she had seen him wearing them before.

The long cotton-linen shirt and trousers had fitted him perfectly, making his lean frame look even taller and cleaner.

When she picked them up, the weave felt fine beneath her fingers, and the slight current of air they stirred carried with it a faint scent of sandalwood.

Even the clothes smelled like him.

Cool. Abstinent. Quietly severe.

Mu Wan took the long shirt and pulled it on from below like a T-shirt. It fit Liu Qianxiu perfectly, but on her it hung loose and oversized, the hem dropping well below mid-thigh. The thin fabric brushed against her skin, slightly rough and cool. Wrapped in sandalwood, she felt as though she were touching something forbidden, and the heat in her rose uncontrollably.

She yanked at the sleeves, then told herself sternly that she was being shameless. Patting her cheeks once or twice, she hurried out.

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Continue reading Incurable Chapter 22 Part 1

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 290

~ THE ELDEST MADAM TELLS THE OLD STORY ~ 

These ladies all had their own embroiderer ladies in their residence. Ni Yun Fang’s reputation is too prominent, and it also has the golden signboard awarded by the Emperor. Ni Yun Fang was also never used to doing business with commoners. All those who can buy it from Ni Yun Fang are well-known, and only such clothes are suitable for their status and dignity.

Moreover, the present Mu Yunyao gave at New Years’ was truly breathtaking. Just thinking of wearing such beautiful embroidery on their body caused them to feel comfortable from the inside out.

“If Ni Yun Fang is about to open up in the Capital, then what about Bu Xian Luo? The Emperor was praising the Lotus Fragrance Dew from Bu Xian Luo. When did we have the good fortune to have a taste of this?”

“It is said that very few people can really make it to the sixth floor of Bu Xian Luo. There are quite a several tea masters in the Capital. When Bu Xian Luo opens, perhaps those people will be the first to rush in and experience the unique method of brewing tea.”

For a moment, the people at the banquet surrounded Mu Yunyao and began to talk, leaving the brilliant Su Yuyi behind.

While Mu Yunyao was speaking with the other ladies, she has also used the corner of her eyes to observe the Eldest Madam and Su Yuyi’s expressions. Seeing that their smiling faces were especially gloomy, she couldn’t help but secretly raise her lips.

As the conversation ended and the banquet came to an end, the ladies were secretly praising them in their hearts. They had thought that Su Qing and Mu Yunyao were like the rumors, born in the countryside and wouldn’t be able to show off their skills in public. However, after today’s conversation, their impression of the two of them changed drastically.

Although Su Qing did not say much, she still wore a smile on her face. Her manners and actions were elegant and proper. Occasionally, she would bring out a sentence or two, and she dealt with them with extreme propriety.

Mu Yunyao was even more astonishing. Later on, everyone gathered around her to talk. If she were any an ordinary person, she would have already appeared to be in a fluster, but she was neither dull nor slow. Her words and laughter could take care of everyone’s feelings, and she didn’t let anyone feel like they were being ignored and feel unhappy. Even those, who had not made a sound and quietly waited for the end of the banquet, had attracted by Mu Yunyao’s clear and beautiful voice. The time unknowingly passed while listening to her talking about the clothes in Ni Yun Fang, as well as some small tips on dressing and matching.

The guests left one after another, and Mu Yunyao’s reputation spread along with them.

Su Yuyi followed the Eldest Madam back to her own courtyard after seeing off all the guests. She threw the glass cup on the table onto the ground.

Looking at the fragments on the ground, the Eldest Madam could not help but frown. “What are you doing?”

Su Yuyi’s face filled with a wronged expression, hearing the Eldest Madam’s question, her eyes had already started glistening with tears: “Mother, today you said that you would make a good reputation for myself, but in the end, Mu Yunyao had robbed my limelight!”

The Eldest Madam frowned, feeling extremely unhappy in her heart. “Even mother did not expect that Mu Yunyao would actually be so capable! As expected of someone born in a business, her words and actions are exquisite, making it impossible for others to find any mistakes in her words.”

Su Yuyi cursed in her heart, “It’s Meng Yanran’s fault. She was fine at first, but now she wants to provoke her. Mother, I am unwilling. If I can’t spread my reputation, how can the Grand Princess take a liking to me during the Mid-Autumn Festival’s banquet?”

“Don’t worry. The more time you come, the more stable you will be. Even though Mu Yunyao had stolen the limelight at the end of the banquet, with a little manipulation, you must be the one who is famous in Capital! Don’t worry. Mother has her own arrangements.”

“Mother, I always feel that Mu Yunyao is very evil. You said that she is clearly from the countryside, so why is she knows both embroidery and tea ceremony? Moreover, seeing her attitude towards the ladies and young ladies today, I felt that her move was very detailed and meticulous. Did such a person really grow up in the countryside?”

The Eldest Madam frowned, and there was a flash of contemplation in her eyes. “What you said makes sense, but Mother had secretly sent people to investigate the identities of this mother and daughter. The evidence and experiences matched each other. Also, your grandmother was not an easy person to interact with. If the identity of these two people is not confirmed, she will definitely not bring them back to the Su family.”

“Speaking of which, our Su family isn’t small. How can a perfect lady as Grandmother could lose her daughter?”

“She said that she went out to enjoy the incense. On the way back, she met a robber, and her child was taken away in a hurry. I only heard your father say a few words, but I’m not sure about the situation.” The Eldest Madam sighed to herself, “Speaking of which, our Su family is also basked in Su Qing’s glory.”

“Basked in her glory?”

“Yes. At that time, Grand Princess Yi De protected the Emperor from seizing power. Grand Princess Yi De Mansion was the first to be affected by the chaos in the Imperial Court. The Grand Princess’s husband had died in order to protect the Emperor. Grand Princess Yi De had been able to flee the Capital with her children, but in order to send a message to the Emperor, she had no other choice but to send her daughter out. By the time the Emperor led the army to calm the chaos, the Grand Princess’s child could no longer be found, and the Grand Princess was also injured while sending messages to the Emperor. The Grand Princess’s injury made her impossible to have children in the future. The Emperor felt guilty and searched for this child everywhere after he ascended the throne. It’s a pity that it’s not easy to find someone in such a big world, to the point where there still hasn’t been any news about her.”

“I also heard from your grandmother later on that the Su family didn’t really receive much attention from the Emperor at first. But, they suddenly lost a daughter and tried to find her, which made the Grand Princess feel sympathy for this family. It was also because of this that the Emperor gradually began to view the Su family. Even later, when your grandfather passed away, the Su family already had a solid foundation and has steadily developed to this day. Tell me, isn’t it related to Su Qing in some way?”

“Then it really can be considered as a blessing in disguise. If it wasn’t for Aunt being lost, then who knows when the Su family would be able to rise to the top.” Su Yuyi blinked and said proudly, “Although we borrowed this reason, in the end, it’s still because of father has an ability. How could he possibly sit in such an important position as Minister of the Ministry of Public Affairs and have been stable for so many years?”

“Of course,” The Eldest Madam smiled. But very soon, a hint of seriousness appeared in her eyes. “However, now that the Emperor is old and the princes have all grown up. The situation in the Imperial Court is also unpredictable. It’s really uncertain whether our Su family can still be as prosperous as it is now. So, you and your elder brother need to plan carefully. “

“Mother, Elder Brother is now highly regarded by the Emperor. He can be said to be the only one in the Capital, so you don’t need to worry. As for me, how can I help?”

The Eldest Madam pulled Su Yuyi’s hand and looked at her face lovingly, “Of course, you can be great of help. Yuyi, do you know why Mother gave you such a name?”

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Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 290

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 289

~ STIRRED UP THE TORRENT ~ 

Just as Mu Yunyao entered the hall, she heard Su Yuyi reciting a poem, “A set of rich and special makeup, lingering from spring to autumn. The solution turns the heavenly beauty for thousands of years and turns it into a nine-day yellow on earth...”

“Yuyi is not only beautiful, but her knowledge is also unrivaled. Madam Meng, your blessing is really great!”

All the ladies in the hall surrounded Su Yuyi with endless praise. Mu Yunyao slowly walked in without attracting much attention. When Su Qing noticed her, she pulled her hand and said, “Yao’er …”

“Mother, are you hungry?” This banquet seemed to be very sumptuous, but there weren’t many things that could really be eaten. Moreover, if people eat one more mouthful in front of everyone’s eyes, they will be told that they are greedy secretly. My mother’s temperament was always being cautious, so even if she is suffering at this time, she has to bear it.

Su Qing shook her head. With a trace of apprehension in her eyes, she replied, “It’s nothing. I just heard that there seemed to be an important guest just now.” She had already repeated Yao’er’s past life many times in her heart. Naturally, she knew that Jin Wang, who came here today, was Yao’er’s husband from her previous life. Although Yao’er only mentioned a few words vaguely, she clearly remembered the hatred in Yao’er’s eyes when she talked about that person.

Mu Yunyao smiled as she shook her head, “There is indeed such an esteemed guest, but he just left after seeing the ceremony. Mother, you don’t need to worry.”

“That’s good.” Su Qing was relieved to see that she could hide for a day. As a distinguished guest, he could not simply enter Su’s backyard. As long as she deliberately avoided him, she would never repeat the mistakes of her previous life.

However, Mu Yunyao slightly lowered her gaze and didn’t say anything. After experiencing so much in her previous life, she clearly knew in her heart that there were some things that she couldn’t avoid, no matter how much she tried. If escaping was helpful, then she would have buried herself in the dirt in her previous life to live safely to the end. It is hard to get away from the trick, and she had no choice but to be caught up in the torrential currents.

In this life, she would no longer choose to avoid it. Instead, she wanted to become the hand that stirred up the torrent. Although this might be difficult to escape, it was still better than being smashed into pieces by it.

“Little Sister Yunyao, I see that you’ve been sitting on the side the entire time, but don’t you think that the poem that Elder Sister Yuyi is reading is good?” Suddenly, Meng Yanran’s voice rang out, and the entire hall went quiet.

Muyunyao raised her head, and her eyes fell on her. Some people looked indifferent, while some sneered as they waited for the show. The smile on her face did not change. It was still as bright and beautiful as usual, and said, “Didn’t Miss Meng say before that I was born in the countryside, and I couldn’t even recognize a variety of chrysanthemums? And now you asked me about how was Elder Sister Yuyi’s poem? Wasn’t it all on purpose to humiliate me?”

The Eldest Madam’s eyebrows moved, and she felt a little resentful towards Meng Yanran. The reason she held this banquet today was to make Su Yuyi famous. However, she didn’t expect Meng Yanran to appear and directly use Yuyi as a raft to make things difficult for Mu Yunyao. Even if she wanted to revenge her for the slap, she shouldn’t be so disrespectful!

Meng Yanran bit her lower lip, raised her lips, and sneered. Anyway, she had already lost all her face at this time, so she didn’t care about losing it more. She merely couldn’t stand Mu Yunyao, who was clearly a countryside girl, so why was she sitting here with a light in her eyes? “Little Sister Yunyao, what are you thinking? You have such a small heart. The banquet today was set up to welcome you. Elder Sister Yuyi read the poem, and isn’t it normal to ask you about it?”

Mu Yunyao’s eyes flashed with a cold ray of light as she slowly stood up and walked the pot of chrysanthemum and golden hydrangea flower, which was placed in the hall. Her voice was neither slow nor slow, and she filled up Su Yuyi’s unrecited poem, “A set of rich and special makeup, lingering from spring to autumn. The solution turns the heavenly beauty for thousands of years and turns it into a nine-day yellow on earth. Condensed mist, proud and frosty, Dongli is just like Wuling Village. Sometimes drunken eyes secretly look at each other and mistake Tao Qian for Ruan Lang.”

Her voice was clear and beautiful, making her seem even more gentle and beautiful when reciting the poem. In the blink of an eye, everyone’s attention was drawn over to her.

Su Yuyi lowered her eyes and smiled as she stepped forward to hold Mu Yunyao’s hand, “I never thought that Little Sister Yunyao would also know this poem.”

Mu Yunyao smiled slightly: “I studied with my father for a few days and coincidentally read this poem. I quite liked the first few lines of the poem. I always thought that the sentence made people feel that they have a very different mood when reading it. AI also found that the last two lines seemed flat and reduced the momentum of the whole poem. When I told this to my father, he kept laughing, saying that I was still too young to understand and that when I can understand it in the future, e will be distressed.”

That last sentence could be understood as a woman trapped by her feelings, and her drunken eyes mistook others for her own sweetheart. Mu Yunyao was still young, so it was reasonable for her to be unable to understand the feelings. Once she could understand it in the future, she would grow up to be married off. As a father, Mu Cheng naturally couldn’t bear to part with his own daughter and felt deeply distressed.

As the smile on Mu Yunyao’s face faded, she turned to a touch of forbearance and sadness. “I still don’t understand what’s so good about these last two lines. Father must be blessed by the heavens, and he maybe will laugh at me again. Look at me. When I mentioned Father, I can’t stop myself from crying. I am sorry to let the ladies and gentlemen laugh at me.”

Some of the ladies could not help but open their mouths, “Sometimes drunken eyes secretly look at each other and mistake Tao Qian for Ruan Lang, isn’t this the same as thinking about the one whom they love? It was understandable that Miss Mu was still young and could not understand the situation. This Miss Yuyi... Now that I think about it, you should have reached the age of marriage negotiations, right?”

As soon as the words came out, a few chuckles could be heard from the surroundings. Sometimes drunken eyes secretly look at each other and mistake Tao Qian for Ruan Lang. Speaking of which, the Eldest Miss of the Su family had been coming of age. She had been raised in her boudoir for more than a year, yet they haven’t negotiated her marriage. I’m afraid she hates to marry now, right?

Su Yuyi’s face suddenly turned red, and the smile on her face could hardly be maintained.

The Eldest Madam quickly interrupted, “This golden hydrangea flower is so tender and can’t stand the smell of alcohol and tobacco the most. It’s better to move it out. This banquet’s purpose is to welcome Sister Su Qing and Niece Yunyao back to the Su family. In the future, they will often stay in the Capital, so I hope the ladies and young ladies will take good care of them.”

Seeing that the Eldest Madam was unwilling to say too much, the people who came to watch the commotion felt somewhat regretful. However, since the Su family was flourishing right now, no one dared to disrespect them.

“Miss Mu, I’ve heard that the clothes made in Ni Yun Fang make people look like immortals. I wonder when we’ll have the chance to experience it too?”

“In the past two days, I’ve been sending people to look for shops. When the shops have been decorated, we can send embroiderer ladies over from Jingling City. When that time comes, I’ll invite the ladies and young ladies to enjoy the opening ceremony.”

Many people’s eyes could not help but light up when they heard it. “Good, this is really great news. We don’t need to worry about not having clothes to wear in the future?” “However, I have heard that it is difficult to buy clothes from Ni Yun Fang. Sometimes, one might not even be able to buy them within a month or two. Miss Mu must take care of today’s affection and sell us two more pieces.”

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Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 289

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 288

~ SU QINGWU’S THOUGHTS ~ 

Mu Yunyao and Su You sat on a small stool at the edge of the corridor. Beside them were rows of chrysanthemums with golden stamens and pink petals. The long and narrow petals curled upwards. The layers of petals were beautifully arranged. Against the background, it looks like a pink lotus blooming on the green water, which is extraordinarily delicate and pleasant.

Seeing Mu Yunyao’s gaze fall on it, Su You frowned, “Let’s not talk about those troublesome matters. Some people like to live a peaceful life, but some people like to cause trouble for no reason.”

She couldn’t understand Meng Yanran’s thoughts. If she had a healthy body, she would definitely be able to accompany her parents, appreciate the beautiful scenery, and have a taste of delicious food … What’s wrong with it? Why do you have to look for trouble?

Mu Yunyao chuckled and stretched out a finger to tug at the chrysanthemum leaves. Seeing the pink flowers swaying slightly, she couldn’t help but deepen her smile.

Seeing her expression, Su You pursed her lips and retracted her gaze, “Don’t tell me you don’t know this kind of chrysanthemum? It is called pink peach because the petals bloom like pink peach, and they are famous. If I say, chrysanthemum is a chrysanthemum. What peach flowers, and is if it blooms yellow color not good? It’s boring for no reason. So annoying!”

Looking at her fuming appearance, Mu Yunyao couldn’t help but chuckle. “Every people is different, so the flowers are naturally the same. I heard my father say that he once saw a rare chrysanthemum. The flower wheel ring’s size as big as a jade plate, and it was completely red and gold in color. The petals are as red as blood, but the top of the petal suddenly turned golden. The flower blossomed like a phoenix bathed in fire. It was so beautiful that it could not be described in words, and as a result, someone named it — Phoenix Zhenyu.”

Su You blinked, her eyes filled with a surprise: “There really is such a beautiful chrysanthemum. How come I’ve never heard of it before?”

“Perhaps it is because the flower is too beautiful. It doesn’t want people to see it. Haven’t you heard? The famous flower is also intelligent, and some rare treasures can’t be seen to those who are not fated.” Mu Yunyao stretched out her arms to support her cheeks, leaning on the master of the corridor as she watched Su You with a smile.

Su You was regretful that he could not see Phoenix Zhenyu, who Mu Yunyao had mentioned before. However, when she lifted her head to look, she looked at her smiling eyes, and she could not help but be stunned. Her eyes were clear and transparent like a calm lake. At first glance, it seems that she can see the bottom, but it seems to be unfathomable when she explores carefully. The surrounding scenery is reflected in those eyes, but it makes people feel that no matter how beautiful things are, it wouldn’t enter her eyes …

Mu Yunyao blinked her eyes as she came back to her senses. She leaned slightly towards Su You, “Why are you staring at me like that?”

Su You suddenly regained her senses, stood up abruptly, and seemingly frightened. Because her movements were too fast, there was a dull ache in her chest. She suppressed the coughing: “Cough...”

Mu Yunyao stepped forward and held her wrist. Her other hand, pressing down on the acupuncture point on her chest. “You’re too weak to resist the wind. You should obediently stay in your room and don’t run around …”

Su You regained her composure and slapped Mu Yunyao’s hand away, “What weak? Aren’t I going to die soon? Are you from the countryside also looking down on me like they are, or are you afraid that I’ll stick up for you?”

Mu Yunyao’s skin was delicate and tender. Even though Su You’s hand strength wasn’t great, the back of her hand was still red.

Su You fiercely bit her lip, and a glint seemed to flash in her eyes. But in the end, it turned into stubborn and rebellious. She didn’t know why she was suddenly angry, but when Su You looked at Mu Yunyao’s eyes, she felt a great injustice surge up from within her heart for no reason, making her unable to control it at all.

Mu Yunyao raised her eyes and looked at her. She was initially a bit angry in her heart. But when she saw her appearance, she couldn’t help but pause for a moment. “What’s the matter with you? Family members know their own affairs. You know very clearly how your body is, even if I don’t tell you, will you be able to live for a hundred years?”

“You … I don’t need you to remind me, I know that I’m going to die, I already knew that. I wasted my good intentions in vain. I hate you!” As Su You spoke, she turned around and left. The maidservants that were sent to a distance quickly surrounded her and asked her what was wrong.

Mu Yunyao stretched out her hand to hold her and pulled her down, pressing her down on the stone bench. “What are you crazy about now? Don’t think that just because you’re sick that I dare not deal with you.”

“Miss Biao, our Fifth Miss is weak. Aren’t you going too far with her?” The old maid who had followed Su You over was already dissatisfied with Mu Yunyao, so she spoke directly with a cold tone, her eyes full of caution. Mu Yunyao glanced at her indifferently, then lowered her eyes to look at Su You. “Stop messing around. The wind is blowing now. You should go back and rest. What’s wrong with feeling wronged. Aren’t you just going to die? Many times, death is more comfortable than being alive. Moreover, you have Second Uncle and Second Aunt’s love, and …”

“What’s going on?” A clear voice sounded.

The surrounding female servants hurriedly bowed. “Greetings, Eldest Young Master.”

Su Qingwu’s gaze landed on Mu Yunyao and Su You. “Fifth Sister, your health is not good. You should go back and rest, in case Second Aunt worries.”

Su You stood up. Her face was so cold that it was hard to see her expression. It was as if her weakness and stubbornness just now were just an illusion. “Thanks for the reminder, Brother. I’m leaving.” With that, she led her people away without even bowing.

“Fifth Sister is sick all year round. Her personality is a little different than other sisters. You have to endure a little more.”

Mu Yunyao’s lips carried a light smile, and when she heard him, she nodded and bowed, “Thank you for your reminder, Cousin. I’m going to accompany Mother, so I’ll be leaving first.”

“Wait a minute.” Su Qingwu subconsciously stopped her, and when Mu Yunyao turned her head around, he was momentarily at a loss for words, “You … It seems that you understand His Royal Highness Jin Wang very well?” Otherwise, why would she know what he had done all these years?

Mu Yunyao frowned, “Cousin, what do you want to say?”

Su Qingwu looked at the Pink Peach at the side. “The chrysanthemums are full of beautiful things, but not every kind …”

Mu Yunyao suddenly sneered, “Cousin, no need to say anymore, I understand what you mean. The chrysanthemums were all beautiful, but not all of them were famous. Some of the flowers were naturally sought after. They are cultivated in fertile soil, irrigated with dew, given the scorching sun, and cared for day by day. Some were only waiting for the flowers to blossom into gorgeous flowers. Some flowers are born ordinary and unremarkable. They are only suitable for growing in the countryside and eventually scattered into the mud. People are the same. Some are born rich, while others destined to be mediocre and ordinary.”

Su Qingwu frowned. “That’s not what I meant.” He only wanted to remind her that the Third Prince’s identity was something she couldn’t afford.

“Then what does Cousin mean? Seeing His Royal Highness Jin Wang and I spoke, were you worried that I would disrupt Eldest Sister’s future prospects?”

Su Qingwu’s expression suddenly changed, “What does this have to do with Yuyi?”

Mu Yunyao smirked. “Then, you can treat it as me babbling nonsense. It’s getting late. Mother should be worried about me, so I’m leaving first.” After which, she turned around and left.

Su Qingwu stood where she was, staring at Mu Yunyao’s departing back with his deep eyes. Her body was covered in a jade-green water layer. The wind blowing in the corridor, and her skirts fluttered up. There was an illusion that she would take advantage of the wind at any time.

At the Mid Autumn Festival last year, she sat on the branch of the osmanthus tree. She was covered in flowers that looked like the mystique of the laurel. He threw away the osmanthus tree branch and used the excuse of his family to discard the little bit of beauty in his heart. But who would have thought that she would appear again? The seed that was about to wither suddenly broke out, which made him confused and frustrated once more.

Su Qingwu sat beside the stone bench where Mu Yunyao was standing just now and stretched out his hand to pick off a Pink Peach. The petals were delicate and beautiful like a scorching peach blossom, just like Mu Yunyao’s flawless face. He closed his palm and slowly crushed the petals, “The chrysanthemums are full of beautiful flowers, but not every one of them is precious. And some people, despite leaving so many precious treasures behind, just paid attention to one that grows in the countryside …Heh …”

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Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 288

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 287

~ ENEMIES ARE EXTREMELY JEALOUS WHEN THEY MEET ~ 

Meng Yanran was tongue-tied, “You …. You are trying to force the truth!”

Mu Yunyao chuckled, “If you think what I said is wrong, then don’t come to talk to me again. After all, you and I have nothing to say to each other!”

Zhang Wan looked at Meng Yanran and sighed in her heart, ‘Even the Emperor wants to win back the hearts of the people, saying that the people are important, that the country is next, and that the monarch is least. But she openly and secretly mocked Mu Yunyao’s birth. Didn’t she merely want to be humiliated?’

“Pa Pa Pa!” A round of applause rang out, causing the five people in the pavilion to immediately turn their heads over.

Su Qingwu walked over with a young man wearing a narrow-sleeved white robe with an ink splash pattern on it. His jet-black hair was tied with a golden crown. Under his slender eyebrows, his phoenix eyes were warm and flawless. His face was sharp, and his facial features were profound and clear. He was self-cultivation and elegant that one could not help sighing with admiration: What a fine young gentleman!

Looking at him, Mu Yunyao was taken aback. The noise in her ears gradually disappeared, and only the handsome figure in front of her became clearer. A cold light flashed in her eyes, and the chill flowed through her heart through her limbs. She could even hear the sound of her own blood freezing.

She heard a soft whisper in her ear:

“Yao’er, it’s my greatest regret that I can’t marry you in this life and allow you to walk shoulder to shoulder with me. You can rest assured that I will treat you like pearls and treasures in the future. I will hold you in my hand and put you in my heart. You will be happy for the rest of your life, and I will not let you down…”

It was the man in front of her who had solemnly vowed and said that he would be happy for his entire life and would not disappoint her. But he had sent her unconscious’s body to Yue Wang’s residence the next day…

When he was gentle, he was like honey. Even when he was cold and hard like iron, he could still twist his fingers and bend his fingers. When he lowered his head to look at you, he is full of eternal affection, which made people feel deeply stuck and drowned unknowingly.

When she died miserably, she screamed out countless times in her heart. She wanted to ask him why he gave her away, why he used such a miserable method to humiliate her to death. Didn’t he say that she will be happy for the rest of her life? Wasn’t he regretful that he couldn’t marry her? Even if he has a kitten or a puppy, he should have had some feelings for it over the years. So, how could he be so cold and ruthless?

Upon seeing Su Qingwu, Su Yuyi quickly stepped forward and greeted him, “Greetings, Elder Brother.”

Su Qingwu nodded her head, “Sister, this person is His Highness Jin Wang. Salute and greet him quickly.”

Su Yuyi looked up and was looking at Jin Wang with a smile. Her eyes were warm and moist. Although there was a hint of amazement in her eyes, there was no infatuation in them. It seemed that she was merely appreciating, and with the addition of his exceptionally handsome face, Su Yuyi’s heart involuntarily began to jump, a blush flashed across her face quickly. “Greetings, His Royal Highness Jin Wang.”

“Miss Su, please excuse yourself. I’m sorry for disturbing you.” After Jin Wang finished speaking, his gaze landed on Mu Yunyao. “I presume that this person is Miss Mu, who has received a reward from Royal Father?”

Looking into those eyes, Mu Yunyao seemed to hear a cracking sound beside her ears. The surrounding sounds suddenly converged back together, and her blood also started to flow again. The chill in her heart slowly disappeared and was replaced with a thick hatred.

The corners of her lips curled up. Her pure autumn water-like eyes were clear and black. Under her bright smile, her eyes became even more brilliant and flawless. “Greetings, His Royal Highness Jin Wang.”

“There is no need for Miss Mu to be so courteous. You have donated a hundred thousand taels of silver in Jingling City to give back to the people. Such kindness and benevolence are truly admirable.”

“His Royal Highness is not bad either. The year before last, you ordered to go Longping City for disaster relief. There was a plague in Longping City, and as a Prince, you didn’t care about your own safety, took the risk, and survived with the people together. Last year, you went to Ningzhou to build the dam. You ate and slept with the river workers and protected tens of thousands of people’s safety in the lower reaches of the Honghe River. Until now, there are still many people who have built the memorial archway for His Royal Highness Jin Wang. This kind of courage and insight is something that ordinary people cannot compare.”

Jin Wang’s eyes stirred as he looked at Mu Yunyao with surprise. “I didn’t expect Miss Mu to actually to know about this matter. It really makes me ashamed.”

“His Royal Highness Jin Wang’s reputation is extremely great. Many people know about it, so it’s not strange for me to know about it.” The corner of Mu Yunyao’s mouth lifted as she looked at Jin Wang with a gaze as bright as the sun on a peach flower. It was exceptionally bright and actually made Jin Wang momentarily absent-minded.

“His Royal Highness Jin Wang, why don’t you take a seat in the pavilion?” Su Yuyi, who couldn’t get a word in, spoke up.

Jin Wang shook his head, “Today is a banquet to welcome Lady Su and Miss Mu. I shouldn’t have disturbed you, but I just happened to come to see how Qingwu’s injuries were faring. I couldn’t help but stop after hearing what Miss Mu had to say just now. I won’t disturb you anymore.”

Su Yuyi was stunned for a moment before nodding her head, “If that’s the case, then I’ll send you off, Your Highness.”

Jin Wang nodded his head, and his smile became more and more gentle, “Today, I didn’t have the time to prepare the gift. I will make it up for Miss Mu another day.”

“One cannot accept gifts without merit. I have no friendship with Royal Highness Jin Wang, so I dare not accept your gift.” Mu Yunyao smiled as she shook her head.

Jin Wang paused for a moment before smiling, “You are as good as Royal Father said, honest and straightforward. It’s truly a rare sight.”

“Thank you, His Royal Highness Jin Wang, for your praise.”

Su Yuyi stood in the same place with a stiff face. She had heard many things about Jin Wang from her elder brother’s mouth and admired this Third Prince in her heart. She didn’t expect that the first time they met, his gaze wouldn’t land on her. Instead, she let Mu Yunyao got the limelight!

Meng Yanran once again lost face and almost went mad from anger. She grabbed Mu Yunyao in an attempt to find a way to make up for her loss, but she discovered that Mu Yunyao was like cotton that couldn’t be squashed, couldn’t be crushed, and no matter what you say, there was always a way to stop her from being speechless.

Mu Yunyao was very bored. Just as she was thinking about whether she should find an excuse to leave, she saw Su You walk over with the others. When she sees Mu Yunyao, her eyes lit up, and she waved: “Little Sister Yunyao, I’ve been looking for you for a long time. Come quickly.”

Mu Yunyao stood up. “Elder Sister Su You has something to discuss with me. Please, excuse me. I hope everyone will forgive me.”

Zhang Wan had already suffered greatly from the exchange in the pavilion. Now that she saw Mu Yunyao leave, she heaved a sigh of relief in her heart. “Alright, Miss Mu, please do as you wish.”

Mu Yunyao followed Su You out of Liulan Courtyard. After passing through the corridor, the voices faded away, and the seething hatred in her heart at the sight of Jin Wang gradually subsided.

Su You turned his head and looked at her, slightly snorting, “You little girl, shouldn’t you thank me?”

Mu Yunyao was stunned, then couldn’t help but laugh out loud. She raised her hand to pat Su You’s head, “You’re still a little girl yourself, yet you actually dare to call someone else this way?”

“You are really ungrateful! If I hadn’t called you out, you would still be dealing with Meng Yanran!” Su You took two steps back to avoid Mu Yunyao’s hand, staring at her in disbelief, “You’re an idiot if you want me to say so. That Meng Yanran is just like a stone in the pit. Others even can’t hide, but you want to get close to her. Are you not afraid that you will be contaminated by the stench?” “It’s not that I want to go up. It’s that someone can’t bear to see my peace.” Facing Su You, Mu Yunyao’s heart couldn’t help but soften. The girl in front of her still hadn’t reached her best of her life yet. But it looked like she was about to come to an end...

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Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 287

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 286

~ MENG YANRAN HAS BEEN PROVOKING REPEATEDLY ~ 

After Mu Yunyao stood up, she directly walked over to Lady Jin. “Daughter greets Mother.”

Lady Jin stood up and helped her up. With a face full of smiles, she sized her up before asking, “Yao’er, is everything alright?”

After hearing about the relationship between Su Qing and Mu Yunyao with the Su family, Lady Jin had hoped that they would come to the Capital as soon as possible. Finally, she was looking forward to them coming. Lady Jin had been waiting for two days to come to visit. However, she heard that Mu Yunyao had got slapped by the young miss of the Meng family. After carefully inquiring about the causes and consequences, she couldn’t help feeling distressed.

Now that Mu Yunyao’s face was practically devoid of traces, it was only then that she felt her heart, which had been hanging in the air this entire time, calm down.

“After coming to the Capital, my grandmother and aunts took great care of my mother and me. Everything was peaceful and good.” Mu Yunyao had a sweet smile as if there wasn’t the slightest bit of haze on her face.

Lady Jin lightly squeezed Mu Yunyao’s hand and replied with a smile, “That’s good.” She had no one to rely on when she came here, and she didn’t even know anyone. So she was framed and made things difficult for her. Fortunately, the Emperor summoned her to the Palace. The backyard of the influential house has always been the most tight-knit. It was not a secret that even if someone died, they would be able to do it soundlessly.

Mu Yunyao’s heart warmed. After accompanying Lady Jin for a while, she saw Su Yuyi walk over. “Little Sister Yunyao. Last time, we agreed that I would bring you to meet a few more people. Today is perfect for that. Everyone is here, let’s go talk together, how about it?”

Mu Yunyao looked at Su Qing, “Mother, please accompany my adoptive mother. Elder Sister and I are going to make some friends.”

“Alright.”

Lady Jin nodded at Mu Yunyao, hinting that she would take good care of Su Qing. Only then did Mu Yunyao relax and followed Su Yuyi’s footsteps.

There were all sorts of colorful chrysanthemums blooming outside, and none of the chrysanthemums that could be placed here were ordinary. With just a glance, Mu Yunyao could see Purple Dragon Lying Snow (Zi Long Wo Xue), Cinnabar Red Frost (Zhu Sha Hong Shuang), and Yotai Jade Pheonix (Yao Tai Yu Feng) … Each flower had a different shape and blooms to the extreme. It made people unable to shift their eyes away.

In order to make the young ladies more at ease, the ladies gathered in the main hall, leaving the courtyard empty for the young ladies to play.

Mu Yunyao followed Su Yuyi to the corner pavilion. With a glance, she saw the ugly Meng Yanran sitting in the pavilion. She couldn’t help but slightly raise her eyebrows. “I really didn’t think that this Young Miss Meng would dare to appear here right after being humiliated.”

Meng Yanran also saw Mu Yunyao. A trace of malice flashed past her eyes.

Su Yuyi didn’t stop and walked to the pavilion to greet a few young ladies who had already stood up.

Su Yuyi had a smile on her face: “Little Sister Yunyao, let me introduce you. You already know Little Sister Yanran, so there’s no need to say anymore. Here is the legitimate daughter of the Great Scholar’s residence, Zhang Wan. Here is the legitimate daughter of the head of the Imperial Academy, Zhou Yuyin. They are both older than you, so you should call them Elder Sister.”

Mu Yunyao stepped forward to pay her respects but didn’t follow Su Yuyi’s words to address them as an elder sister. Instead, she greeted them one by one according to their identities, “Greetings, Miss Meng, Miss Zhang, and Miss Zhou.”

At the end of the salute, Mu Yunyao glanced over Zhang Wanin intensively. She was the young miss of the Great Scholar’s residence whom Su Qingwu get betrothed. According to their agreement, the two of them would be married by the end of the year, but who would have thought that during the September Autumn Hunt, the Sixth Princess of Huai Yang would be able to recognize Su Qing with a single glance. She had threatened him to marry her and had even caused a commotion. If Su Qingwu didn’t want to marry her, he would have to leave the family, forcibly annulling this marriage.

“Miss Mu need not be so courteous. I have long heard of your good name. Seeing you today is indeed worthy of your reputation.” The one who spoke was Zhang Wan. She had a gentle and beautiful appearance, and her tone was exceptionally soft. At this moment, she was smiling as if she wanted to draw others closer to her.

The Great Scholar was extremely strict with their daughter’s upbringing. Every move of Zhang Wan’s was exceptionally well-behaved. However, her character was too soft and weak, allowing her to accept death’s reason. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been forced to die in the end.

Meng Yanran laughed coldly and said without concealing her hostility, “Is the wound on your face has healed? It’s strange to say that. I think about it carefully. That day, I didn’t really use much strength to beat you. Why are the scars on your face blue and purple, so how many days have they disappeared?”

She kept having the feeling that Mu Yunyao was the one who had done something to her, purposely acting pitiful to gain sympathy!

Mu Yunyao looked over indifferently, with a smile on her lips. “The skin on my face is delicate, and even I usually can’t stand bumping. It’s unlike an ordinary person whose skin is thicker and will not show any traces of being slapped the next day.”

Meng Yanran stared at Mu Yunyao with a gaze that caused people felt chills running down their spines. This bitch, didn’t she say she was thick-skinned? She took a deep breath to regain her senses, “Little sister Yunyao’s eloquence is truly something that no one can compare. You must have read quite a lot every day, right?”

Meng Yanran couldn’t use injuries as an excuse to belittle her, so just used her background?

Mu Yunyao is really a bit unpredictable about Meng Yanran’s mind. The best method right now for this person was obediently staying in the Meng family. Once this matter was settled, she would then think of a way to save her reputation. Who would have thought that she would actually appear at this banquet and take the initiative to be humiliated?

“Miss Meng should know that I’m from the countryside. I only speak the truth. I haven’t read many books.”

Zhang Wan, who was standing at the side, noticed that the situation had turned sluggish and could not help but say, “The chrysanthemum flowers in the yard are blooming quite well. I saw a Yatoi Jade Phoenix....”

Meng Yanran refused to let her go, her eyes full of sarcasm, “Sister Zhang, how did Little Sister Yunyao know what a Yatoi Jade Phoenix is? I’m afraid that she has only seen wild chrysanthemums blossoming in the countryside and might even think that the Ink Peony is a black peony flower! “

Mu Yunyao, on the other hand, didn’t care at all. She calmly looked at Meng Yanran, “People don’t know it when they are born. I have never come into contact with these rare chrysanthemum varieties. I don’t know if it’s excusable. Does Miss Meng have any advice for me?” Zhang Wan slightly heaved a sigh of relief. Everyone knew about the conflict between Mu Yunyao and Meng Yanran, and she was afraid that the two would quarrel on the spot. However, from the looks of it, Miss Mu was a sensible person. Even when she was scorned and humiliated, she isn’t angry. On the other hand, it was Miss Meng who was so aggressive, but she is inferior.

Meng Yanran sneered, “I’m afraid you wouldn’t understand even if I gave you advice. What can I say to you? Can you tell me the colors when I talked about wild chrysanthemums?”

Mu Yunyao’s gaze became cold, “Appreciating flowers has its own preferences. Some people like expensive and famous products, but some people prefer natural things. From what Miss Meng said, you looked down ad don’t like rural farmers. As a person, one must not forget one’s duty. Drinking water is still thinking about the source. Miss Meng enjoys the convenience brought by rural farmers, but she keeps looking down on others. Don’t you think you are hypocritical?”

“You, what did you say?”

Mu Yunyao’s figure stood straight, and her voice filled with authority, “Could it be that what I said was wrong? Which of the fragrant rice, vegetables, and fruit that you eat every day is not the result of farmers’ hard work? It could be said that they had gone through the cold to reclaim the land, had taken good care of it in the heat, and had poured sweat over it to make the food sweet in your mouth. If you looked down and did not like them, you could have avoided eating later on. You also wore satins and silks, without the farmers breeding the silkworm, without the farmers shedding the cocoons and reeling the silks. How could you wear so brightly today? That’s right, I’m from the countryside, but I’ve never been ashamed of it, so you don’t have to remind me all the time!”

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Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 286

Incurable Chapter 21 Part 2

Chapter 21 (2/2)

It rained through the night, washing even the dust from the hills clean.

At Wuling Tea House, the tea fields were cool and clear, with a hint of moisture. Beneath a blue sky laced with pale cloud, a few tea girls dotted the slopes, moving among the rows.

Ahead, the wooden windows stood wide open.

The view stretched across the tea fields and on toward distant mountains veiled in pale mist. The room itself was large and mostly empty. With the windows thrown wide, the fresh morning wind moved through freely, carrying clean air back and forth.

Mei Yaozhi sat on the hard-woven mat, his wide eyes still holding a trace of sleep.

His posture was easy and careless, a sharp contrast to Liu Qianxiu’s straight-backed composure beside him.

Between them stood a low tea table laid with a tea set. A woman in hanfu was serving tea. Freshly picked Longjing buds floated tender and green in the water. Tea poured from the purple clay pot into the cups, and the fragrance rose in soft curls.

Mei Yaozhi glanced sideways at Liu Qianxiu again.

He was a man of frightening discipline and self-restraint. Sitting upright like this, watching the morning sunlight slowly dissolve the mist over the mountains, he seemed to carry an otherworldly air around him, completely out of place among ordinary people.

Then again, that was exactly the point.

He was out of place.

“You got up this early only to sit in a tea house and drink tea,” Mei Yaozhi said.

He took a cup and downed it in one go. The smooth fragrance slid down his throat and shook off a little of the drowsiness that still clung to him.

Once the tea service was done and the woman withdrew, Mei Yaozhi finally straightened up to speak of business.

He handed a file to Liu Qianxiu.

“The person you asked me to look into.”

The paper folder made a crisp sound as Liu Qianxiu took it.

There was not much inside. At most, three pages. But the content was dense and highly detailed. Mei Yaozhi read the summary aloud to him.

“The Mu family in the west part of the city made their living in fabrics and tailoring. They rose to wealth in the Republican era and peaked in the eighties. After the old matriarch died, Mu Yatang took over the family, but they’ve declined ever since. Mu Wan took her mother’s surname. Her mother, Mu Qijun, got pregnant out of wedlock. To hide it, the family claimed Mu Wan was adopted, but she was actually her biological daughter. The Mu family saw Mu Wan as a stain on their reputation, so her circumstances in that house were terrible—especially after Mu Qijun died. As soon as she came of age, she moved out. Since then, she’s had no contact with them at all.”

At this point, Mei Yaozhi remembered one more coincidence.

He poured himself another cup of tea and said to Liu Qianxiu, “It took me a ridiculous amount of effort to find the man who got Mu Qijun pregnant back then—Mu Wan’s father. Funny thing, he also happens to be—”

“Song Kangze,” Liu Qianxiu said calmly, having reached the last page of the materials.

Mei Yaozhi froze.

“You really do know him.”

Liu Qianxiu pulled out the second page. It contained information about Mu Wan’s father. He lowered his eyes to it and said nothing.

“So that’s why you asked me to investigate her?” Mei Yaozhi asked. “Because of her father?”

Liu Qianxiu lifted his eyes to him, giving no clear answer.

Mei Yaozhi had never been able to see through Liu Qianxiu’s mind.

He was like a pool of water—clear to the bottom, yet impossible to tell how deep it truly went or what lay below the surface.

So Mei Yaozhi did not ask any more.

He merely went on, “She’s just some tiny eighteenth-tier actress now. Some of the roles she plays look pretty exhausting. If you wanted to help her, though, it would take you nothing more than lifting a finger—”

His phone rang before he could finish.

Mei Yaozhi looked at it and stood up.

“I have to go.”

Liu Qianxiu tapped once against the file.

“Thanks.”

“What are you thanking me for?”

Mei Yaozhi laughed it off. Then, right before leaving, he remembered something and tapped his forehead.

“Oh, right. Grandmother knew I was coming up to see you this morning. She told me to remind you to go back with me for dinner tonight.”

Old Madam Mei was Mei Yaozhi’s grandmother, and Liu Qianxiu’s maternal grandmother as well.

Liu Qianxiu’s lips curved once.

“All right.”

Mei Yaozhi smiled too.

“Then I’m off. Good lord—I didn’t even get breakfast first. Straight tea on an empty stomach...”

Before the sky had even fully brightened, Mu Wan was already at the studio base filming.

This round was for war scenes. In them, Mu Wan played an army doctor. From dark before dawn all the way into morning, it was one explosion scene after another. By the time they paused, her whole face was covered in soot and dust.

Day had fully broken now.

The wartime dawn sequence was finally done, and once they added one more death scene later, her role would be wrapped.

She had been running back and forth, treating the wounded the whole time. Her body felt drained, her back and waist aching. When the crew stopped for a break, she sat on the edge of a trench made of stacked sandbags and played Plants vs. Zombies on her phone.

She had not even finished planting her sunflowers when the screen vibrated.

A text banner appeared across the top.

Taoist Liu: Where are you?

Her heart jolted with it.

Mu Wan opened the message screen immediately and typed back.

Mu Wan: Filming. At the studio base.

After sending it, she bit down on her lower lip and smiled—only to get a mouthful of dust. Laughing, she spat twice, then sent another.

Mu Wan: What about you? What are you doing at home today?

Since it was Sunday and he did not have work, he ought to be at home.

Liu Qianxiu did not answer the question.

Instead, he replied:

Taoist Liu: I have plans tonight.

The smile on her face stilled.

Mu Wan understood at once.

She curled in on herself a little, shoulders narrow and slight, like some tiny flower-cat retreating into a corner. Someone sat down beside her, stirring up another puff of dust, and she coughed twice. Even her phone screen was dirty now.

“Mu Wan, look! That guy’s so handsome!”

Gao Mei had apparently plopped down beside her. Tugging her arm, she pointed ahead. “Is he an actor? No way. If a face like that were an actor, I would know.”

Mu Wan was feeling a little low.

She ignored Gao Mei and stared at her phone, about to reply. Since Mu Wan would not cooperate, Gao Mei simply cupped her face in both hands and forcibly turned it toward the handsome man in question.

“Hey—”

Mu Wan’s small face was squeezed into a little lump, her eyes darting uselessly around before fixing at last on the figure directly ahead.

The set smelled of explosives and dust, thick enough to sting the nose. Smoke rolled through the air.

And there, standing in the middle of it, was a man in a light-colored shirt and trousers, his figure spare and elegant, his face cool and pale, clean and remote, utterly apart from the world around him.

Mu Wan’s heart jumped hard.

She stared for two seconds, then got up from the edge of the trench.

Liu Qianxiu stood there, looking at her from a distance.

Her face was filthy with grime. Only her eyes remained clear and bright. Seeing him, she first looked disbelieving, and then a little flustered. She lifted a hand and tried wiping the dust from her face. After several frantic attempts, all she managed was one small patch of pale skin on her left cheek.

In the end, she gave up, ran straight toward him, and moved with all the quick, light grace of her narrow body.

She stopped in front of him and looked him over again, as if confirming with her own eyes that he was really here.

Then, once she had confirmed it, the corners of her eyes curved.

“Why are you here?”

Her voice shook a little.

She had rubbed at her face too hard, and the skin there had gone pink.

Liu Qianxiu looked at her quietly.

“I don’t have time tonight,” he said.

“Huh?”

Mu Wan blinked, confused. Her lips came together. She nodded and said, “I know. I got your text—”

“Would you like to have lunch together?”

The words in her throat stopped dead.

Mu Wan lifted her head.

Her eyes were suddenly bright all over again.

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Continue reading Incurable Chapter 21 Part 2

Incurable Chapter 21 Part 1

Chapter 21 (1/2)

Mu Wan’s body was completely off the ground.

Liu Qianxiu had both hands at her waist and lifted her straight up, the way a father might lift a little daughter in a moment of indulgent affection. She had not expected a man who looked as lean as he did to have that much strength.

The air after the rain was clear and transparent. The wind moving through it was cool.

The basketball in her hands was cool.

The hands at her waist were cool, too.

Between heaven and earth, she was the only one burning.

Her heartbeat drummed against her ears. A fine sheen of sweat dampened her palms, while the temperature of Liu Qianxiu’s hands passed through the thin fabric at her waist—dry, cool, steady.

Holding the ball, she stretched out both arms and pushed with force, her waist tightening with the effort.

Bang.

The ball went in.

The ball hit the ground and bounced fast, striking the court over and over.

Listening to it, Mu Wan lowered her eyes.

He set her down.

The ball bounced no more. It rolled off to one side. Mu Wan stood there, breathing quietly, a layer of sweat rising on her skin. The wind swept over her, cooling her at once, and both her skin and heart tightened in response.

But the feeling after the sweat was exhilarating—like mist clearing, like a ship at sea finally sighting a lighthouse.

She turned back and tipped her face up to Liu Qianxiu.

“Was I amazing?”

Liu Qianxiu’s expression did not change. Lifting her like that had seemed to cost him no effort at all.

“Very,” he said evenly.

Mu Wan laughed.

“That’s only because of you.”

Her eyes danced with light, sparks flickering in them.

Liu Qianxiu looked at that light in silence. Then he asked, “Hungry?”

Maybe it was because she had used up some energy missing those first two shots.

Or maybe it was simply that she never knew how to refuse him.

Looking at him, Mu Wan nodded.

“I’m hungry.”

“Going home?” Liu Qianxiu asked.

Something flashed in her eyes.

Her throat moved.

The corner of Mu Wan’s mouth lifted slightly. She turned to glance at the basketball lying off to the side, the line of her neck smooth and beautiful.

“Home,” she said.

When they got back to Liu Qianxiu’s place, Mu Wan went to play with the three little ones.

By now, the kittens had graduated from the nursery and begun exploring the cat room properly. Everything in the new space fascinated them. Zhouyi, by contrast, remained far colder and calmer. It stayed draped over the cat tree most of the time, only occasionally lowering its gaze when one of the babies cried out.

Cats and cats could form attachments.

People and cats could form attachments, too.

Then what about people and people?

After dinner, Mu Wan helped Liu Qianxiu tidy the kitchen and then, as naturally as if she had always belonged there, sat down beside him.

Of course, she had no hope of reading.

She stretched both arms across the table, rested her chin on the paper in front of her, breathed in the faint fragrance of books, and used her gaze to trace the line of his profile.

He was as quiet and detached as ever, as though nothing in the world could disturb him.

Mu Wan watched him for a while, then got up and went to the cat room.

Not long after, she came back and sat down beside him again.

This time she did not lie on the table. Instead, she braced both hands behind her on the floor and looked toward the cat room. When she heard the faint mewing of the kittens, she called softly,

“Over here.”

At last, the man beside her moved.

Mu Wan turned her head, eyes bright as she looked at him.

“It’s not good for them to stay cooped up all the time,” she said. “Let them come out for a bit.”

Liu Qianxiu looked at her quietly.

His eyes were clear as water, the lamp reflected in them—and perhaps, if one looked long enough, the woman reflected there too.

He said nothing.

Mu Wan thought perhaps she had disturbed him. She pulled her arms back in and sat upright.

“Then I’ll put them back.”

“No need,” Liu Qianxiu said in his low voice, already lowering his eyes back to his book.

Permission granted, a smile broke over Mu Wan’s face at once.

She turned toward the direction of the lost little kittens and patted the carpet lightly.

“Come here,” she said. “Mama’s here.”

Then, lowering her voice by half, in a tone only she herself could hear, she added,

“Papa’s here too.”

The hand Liu Qianxiu used to turn the page paused almost imperceptibly.

Mu Wan naturally paid no attention to such a small detail. Hearing her voice, the three kittens found their general direction. A moment later, they came toddling over on their tiny legs.

The light stretched their little shadows long across the floor.

They were soft, sweet, and absurdly cute, their thin little cries like marshmallows floating in hot cocoa.

In the blink of an eye, the three of them had gathered around Mu Wan.

She sat cross-legged. Ertong and Datou wanted to get closer, and their tiny paws kept stepping against her ankle.

Those soft, warm little paws on her skin nearly melted her.

Her whole heart went tender. She reached out to help them and lifted the two babies into her lap. Just as she was about to reach for Zhongfen, she turned her head and found it struggling determinedly toward Liu Qianxiu’s legs instead.

His legs were long enough that even sitting cross-legged, he still sat higher than Mu Wan did. Zhongfen found the climb difficult. It scrambled twice, then slipped, and its chin landed with a soft plop against his knee. It began meowing plaintively.

Mu Wan was just about to reach over for it when she saw a long, pale hand move first.

With impossible gentleness, Liu Qianxiu caught the black-and-white little thing and placed it in his own lap.

“Meow~”

Zhongfen cooed at him.

Liu Qianxiu’s eyes left the page and settled on the kitten.

The sight was almost unbearably warm. Even with Liu Qianxiu doing nothing more than sitting there quietly, light brushing his cheek and lashes, Mu Wan could feel a kind of tenderness radiating from him—one soft enough to make the heart ache.

He stretched out a hand and stroked Zhongfen’s head lightly.

The kitten settled itself in his lap, limbs spread out, paws open like tiny flowers.

“It’s grown,” Liu Qianxiu said softly, his voice long and low, as though some immortal in the clouds had descended to speak to a little creature that had just cultivated enough spirit to understand.

Mu Wan looked at Zhongfen in Liu Qianxiu’s lap.

She folded both arms over each other on the low table and rested her chin on them. Looking at Liu Qianxiu, she said,

“Liu Qianxiu, I want to be your cat too.”

Rain had begun falling again outside.

The soft, clean sound of it distracted her. Resting on the table, she turned to look toward the window, loose-limbed and languid, very like a little cat-spirit who had only just taken human form and still did not know how to sit properly.

The rain tapped at his ears.

Liu Qianxiu looked at her and said, “It’s getting late. I’ll take you home.”

After walking Mu Wan downstairs and seeing her off, Liu Qianxiu returned alone.

The shadows of the living room lay in layers. Apart from his own faint breathing, there was nothing else.

He sat back down by the low table and picked up the book he had not finished.

Something black passed through his vision.

Liu Qianxiu looked up and saw Zhouyi sitting nearby. On the table lay the book Mu Wan had spread open before leaving without reading more than a few lines.

The black cat sat there, and for a moment its silhouette seemed to overlap with the memory of the woman’s own slender, supple one.

Zhouyi let out a cry.

All that remained in his sight was that little dark shape—black body, black eyes made even darker by the widening pupils.

The living room was empty, without distraction or noise, a place suited for quiet cultivation.

And yet his mind would not settle.

Nor did the room feel empty. Loneliness and stillness wound themselves around it.

Her words still echoed near his ear.

Liu Qianxiu, I want to be your cat too.

His lashes lowered.

Liu Qianxiu did not let himself think any further. He lowered his head and continued reading.

At that moment, his phone vibrated.

He glanced at the screen. Something flickered in his eyes, and he lowered them again.

“Tomorrow morning. Eight o’clock. Wuling Tea House.”

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Continue reading Incurable Chapter 21 Part 1

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 285

~ KILLING A HUNDRED FLOWERS AFTER BLOOMING ~ 

In Liulan Courtyard, most of the guests had already arrived. They were talked together in groups of twos or threes, and among them, the Eldest Madam had gathered the most people.

“Madam Meng, Miss Mu’s good name is now widely spread throughout the Capital. Even the Emperor has specially bestowed her with a reward. If such a young miss were to appear in any family, it would be a great honor for them.”

“Yeah, she’s able to take out 100,000 silver easily. Even with our background, it’s impossible for us to take out 100,000 silver and give it to others.”

“Or is it that Miss Mu will receive a reward from the Emperor again?”

Even though the Eldest Madam’s anger had already risen from her heart, there was still a smile on her face, and it was difficult to read her thoughts, “That little girl Yunyao is indeed very well-behaved and sensible, and her heart is also very kind. After coming to the residence, she has gotten along exceptionally well with her sisters, and Yuyi likes her very much.”

“Speaking of Yu Yi, you really treasured this daughter of yours. Normally, you rarely let her attend banquets, and even if she did go, she would only be able to communicate with each other wore that familiar veil. Today, you must bring her over so that we can have a look.”

“That’s right. Rumor has it said that Yuyi is both talented and beautiful. She is also the jewel of the Su family. Today, we must definitely gamble on the brilliance of this precious daughter.”

“That kid, Yuyi, is usually quiet and doesn’t like to move. Furthermore, she has to study the rules in residence and also help me manage the family affairs. Naturally, she doesn’t have that much time to go out and play.” Talked of her own daughter, the Eldest Madam’s smile became even more genuine. “But since you all said so, today I will let her come out and pay her respects to everyone.”

“That’s great. it just so happens that my daughter is also here and bring them over to let them know and recognize each other.”

The topic of Grand Princess Yi De wanted to pick the right lady and place it in the name of her lost daughter had already been spread throughout the Capital. Everyone who was able to attend the banquet today was clear and understood the purpose of the Eldest Madam’s actions. However, many people want to hold that flower palanquin. The Su family had hosted the banquet, and no one will speak straight out in front of them.

The Eldest Madam instructed Qi Mama behind her, “Go and invite the Eldest Miss over. Tell her not to be busy in the back.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Many ladies called their daughters over and sat in the hall to wait for Su Yuyi.

At this time, all the nurturing servants in the Capital were not easy to invite, and all the residences were wholeheartedly urging their daughters to study the rules. The Emperor had already put down his word and asked the officials had to bring their female relatives during the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. The meaning is obvious. Isn’t it just to let these officials take their daughters over to see if their daughter can enter the eyes of Grand Princess Yide?

Therefore, the young ladies who had gathered here at this moment were all dignified and elegant. Their every move was extraordinary and beautiful, just like they were a hundred flowers competing with each other, causing people to be entranced upon seeing them.

Not long after, Qi Mama hurried back. “Reporting to the Eldest Madam, the Eldest Miss has arrived.”

Everyone turned to look at the door and saw a young girl who looked like a fairy carrying a stream of light. Her hair tied into a bun, with beautiful eyebrows, bright lips, and white teeth … She was wearing a long skirt made of thin water smoke, With a complete set of jasper exquisite butterfly steps. When she walked, the golden butterfly gently fluttered as if it could fly away with its wings in the blink of an eye.

“Greetings, Mother. Greetings, Madams.” She slowly stood still as if a hundred flowers bloomed around her. For a moment, it was as like that the sun and moon had lost their luster.

The young ladies who had initially thought of a competition all had stiff faces at this time, almost not daring to believe their own eyes. They had heard that the Eldest Miss of Su Family is beautiful for a long time, but they had never thought that this person would be exquisite to such an extent!

Many of the young ladies lowered their heads. They couldn’t even muster up the slightest thought of fighting with Su Yuyi. In fact, if it was possible, they didn’t even want to stand together with Su Yuyi. Many of them were first-rate beauties, but no matter how beautiful they were, they couldn’t be compared to the fairies.

“Madam Meng is so lucky.”

“That’s right. Isn’t it a good blessing to have such a fairy-like daughter?” They could all imagine just how eye-catching the Eldest Miss of the Su family would be during the Mid-Autumn Festival’s palace banquet. At that time, who could contend against her?

Su Yuyi felt a bit embarrassed after being praised. She bowed to the other ladies again, “Ladies, you’re too kind.”

The Eldest Madam gestured for Su Yuyi to stand beside her. She was so satisfied and stretched out her hand to pull her, “Ladies, don’t praise her anymore. Yuyi has always been thin-skinned. If you keep talking, I’m afraid she won’t be able to show her face.”

Lady Jin sat at the side and looked at the amazement in Su Yuyi’s eyes. She felt more worried about Su Qing and Mu Yunyao in her heart.

She had heard quite a lot about the Su family after she had come to the Capital, and she had also heard some things about this Eldest Madam’s style of doing things. Her reputation had always been good outside and been a virtuous woman. From the Old Madam in the Su family to the family’s maidservants, there is no one who does not praise for her a good sentence. But in her opinion, the more so, the deeper this person is. She really doesn’t know how Su Qing and Yunyao live here.

As she was thinking, she suddenly heard a servant enter and report, “Madam, Madam Su, and Miss Mu are here.”

Everyone in the hall immediately looked towards the door. Having Su Yuyi made them lose all their confidence. If that Mu Yunyao is also so impressive, then it would really make them despair.

Mu Yunyao followed behind Su Qing and slowly walked into the hall. When she saw Lady Jin, her eyes lit up, and she gently nodded her head.

Looking at Mu Yunyao’s appearance, Lady Jin couldn’t help but smile. Although they hadn’t been apart for long, in her heart, she was already missing Mu Yunyao a lot. In just a few months, Yunyao had changed quite a bit. In particular, her spiritual aura was even stronger than before. She was really wondering what will happen to her when she fully matures? What will she look like being?

Mu Yunyao followed Su Qing and bowed. The calm and tranquil atmosphere exuded from her body caused people to be amazed.

“This is Miss Mu?” Didn’t they say that this Mu Yunyao was born and bred in the rural area? However, her bearing was not something that an ordinary family could cultivate. How could it be grown up in the countryside?

“Yunyao greets the various madams.”

“Miss Mu need not be so courteous.”

Mu Yunyao dressed in a jade-green skirt with a peony embroidered just like Su Yuyi. It was just that her beauty wasn’t revealed in such an intense manner, just like the haze of blue water gauze on the outside. Her head jewelry is also simple. The jade hairpin was matched with a thin piece of white pearl, not specifically out of the ordinary but absolutely natural, making people feel comfortable from the inside to the outside.

Su Yuyi’s beauty is like a proud fairy, as though she was the only peerless beauty in the world. Her entire body brimmed with the aura of killing a hundred flowers after blooming, and her sharp gaze made people not dare to look straight at her.

On the other hand, Mu Yunyao was totally different. Her beauty was breathtaking, as though she gathered the spirit of the mountains and rivers of Jiangnan. Her gentle and soft appearance was even more soundless.

Her appearance could not compare to Su Yuyi’s, but for some reason, when the two of them stood together, they did not lose their luster like the others. Especially her skin. It was so fair and tender that it seemed as if one could pinch water out of it. Her entire body emitted a charming and beautiful color, causing people to be unable to shift their gaze away.

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Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 285