Incurable Chapter 8 Part 2

Chapter 8 (2/2)

Rain had begun again.

The wooden windows stood wide open. In the courtyard outside, dense groves of bamboo gleamed green with moisture. By the pavilion and garden paths, a pond of lotus flowers lay in bloom. Fine rain fell over the broad leaves, the droplets gathering, then rolling off into the water below. It was almost possible to hear the clear sound of each drop entering the pond.

Liu Qingyuan sat to one side of the main hall and lifted his eyes toward the man in the seat of honor.

Ascetic. Remote. Noble.

His face was turned toward the open window, and since the lights in the hall were not on, the line of his profile looked like black paper cut by hand—precise, refined, almost impossibly beautiful.

“Qianxiu,” Liu Qingyuan said at last. “Stay and have dinner at home.”

He smiled as he spoke, but in his long, narrow eyes there was a careful, almost deferential kind of hope.

Liu Qingyuan was only a few months older than Liu Qianxiu, yet he looked much more mature. His features were handsome, his bearing straight-backed and polished, his hair immaculate, his whole person carrying the sharp, efficient air of an elite executive.

But he did not resemble Liu Qianxiu.

Each had taken after his own mother.

Liu Qianxiu was cool, restrained, and aristocratic.

Liu Qingyuan was mild, cultivated, and full of ambition.

Although Liu Qianxiu was younger by a few months, he was now the head of the Liu family. When Liu Qingyuan spoke to him, there was unmistakable respect in both tone and expression.

Liu Qianxiu did not reply.

His lashes lowered once.

Outside the wooden window, a single drop slid down the surface of a lotus leaf, broke apart, and vanished into the pond—alone.

“What exactly keeps you so busy at the hospital all day?” another voice sounded from the far side of the main hall, heavy with authority. “If it weren’t for your grandfather’s memorial, would you even have bothered to come back?”

When the speaker finished, a low cough followed.

Liu Fengmian was already in his sixties, but he looked far younger. Dressed in black, he was still lean and straight-backed. Beneath the fine lines of age, one could still see how striking he must once have been.

Even past sixty, Liu Fengmian still had style. Presence and polish had not left him.

The moment Liu Fengmian spoke, Liu Qingyuan stood and refilled his father’s tea, acting the part of the mediator.

“Qianxiu has his own responsibilities,” he said. “And besides, Uncle Cai is here to help.”

Uncle Cai—Cai Qingliang—was the Liu family’s chief secretary, responsible for consolidating information from around the world and reporting it to the family head. The family head gave the orders; Cai Qingliang carried them out.

Liu Fengmian coughed twice again.

Liu Qianxiu’s gaze did not shift. His tone remained level and calm.

“You’re ill?”

Liu Fengmian’s brow twitched. He lifted his eyes briefly to Liu Qingyuan, gave a faint sigh, and took a sip of tea to soothe his throat.

“I’ve been a bit overworked lately.”

“Father handles too many things himself. Of course he’s tired,” Liu Qingyuan said, first explaining it to Liu Qianxiu, then turning to Liu Fengmian. “You’re not as young as you used to be. Some of these matters should be left to me.”

“Bring Aunt Shen back,” Liu Qianxiu said.

Only then did he withdraw his gaze from the window outside.

He lifted his eyes and let them pass once, calmly, over the father and son whose expressions had gone subtly stiff at his words.

His own eyes remained still, bottomless.

“If I wanted to move against her, it wouldn’t matter where she hid.”

Both Liu Fengmian and Liu Qingyuan felt their hearts jolt. The stiffness on their faces vanished almost at once.

Liu Qianxiu behaved as though he had not noticed.

His phone vibrated once in his hand. He lowered his gaze and opened the message, the screen lighting the dark depths of his eyes without making them any easier to read.

Liu Qianxiu rose from his seat.

He was wearing a black suit that day, the collar neat and severe. His tall frame looked spare and imposing as he stood, and both Liu Fengmian and Liu Qingyuan lifted their heads to look at him.

Then Liu Qianxiu turned and walked toward the door.

“You’re not staying for dinner?” Liu Qingyuan asked just before he stepped outside.

The only answer was the man’s disappearing back.

The moment Liu Qianxiu left, the heavy, oppressive air in the main hall seemed to refill with oxygen. It came back to life. The two men inside relaxed almost unconsciously.

Liu Qingyuan frowned and cursed under his breath, looking toward the doorway where Liu Qianxiu had vanished, his eyes full of resentment and unwillingness. Then he looked back at Liu Fengmian, who had returned to the seat of honor.

“Are we really going to bring Mother back?”

Now that Liu Qianxiu was gone, Liu Fengmian seemed to settle back into his own authority as well. He lifted his tea and drank, the fragrance faint, the taste bitter.

“Yes,” he said. “Otherwise, he’ll really start to think we’re afraid of him.”

Mu Wan had sent Liu Qianxiu a message. Apparently, he was not home yet and had asked her to wait a little.

By the time she reached his floor, confirmed by a knock that he truly wasn’t there, and stood at the window at the end of the corridor holding the bouquet, night had fully fallen.

The sky was black, not a single star in sight.

Below it, however, the city glowed with lights, spreading outward like an endless man-made galaxy.

In a good neighborhood, even the night view was beautiful.

Mu Wan waited for fifteen minutes.

Then the elevator chimed.

She turned toward the sound.

The moment he stepped out of the elevator, Liu Qianxiu saw her standing by the window.

She held a large bouquet in her arms. Behind the clustered flowers, her oval face, red lips, and pale, delicate beauty seemed almost like a painting pasted against the night—more moving than the flowers themselves.

Black night.

Bright blossoms.

A soft woman.

The elevator doors closed soundlessly behind him.

Liu Qianxiu’s mouth tightened slightly. His throat moved once, and when he spoke, his voice was low as the night.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“No.” Mu Wan shook her head.

It was her first time seeing Liu Qianxiu in a suit. She had not expected Taoist Liu in formalwear to carry such a different kind of presence.

He had probably just finished with something important and hurried back.

Mu Wan walked over and said lightly, “It doesn’t matter. I wasn’t doing anything on my own anyway.”

On her own.

She was always on her own.

Once the woman drew close, Liu Qianxiu lowered his gaze.

“What happened?”

Mu Wan froze for a moment. The corridor was drafty, and loose strands of hair at her ear kept brushing her cheek, making it itch. Following his line of sight, she shifted the flowers aside and lowered her eyes.

The corridor was empty, just the two of them. The overhead lights were bright enough to show every detail in the other’s face. When she looked down, the flowers in her arms trembled softly, the petals rustling, their fragrance stirring around them.

“I fell while filming,” Mu Wan said.

Then she lifted her head and looked at him over the flowers.

His black eyes were still as deep and cold as a winter pool, and yet something about them made her heart soften.

Mu Wan bent her knee slightly, instinctively about to say it was nothing, when she heard him ask:

“Does it hurt?”

The bend in her knee straightened again.

She looked up at Liu Qianxiu.

That hollow place that had caved in inside her the night before seemed, because of those two words, to fill itself up all over again.

Full to the brim.

Like the flower scent in the corridor.

Mu Wan smiled, her eyes glimmering with moisture.

“Mm,” she said. “It hurts.”

Liu Qianxiu withdrew his gaze and pressed his finger to the lock. The door opened at once.

He turned back to look at her, his voice low—

“Come in.”

↞ Previous│❀ Table of Contents ❀ │ Next ↠

Continue reading Incurable Chapter 8 Part 2

Incurable Chapter 8 Part 1

Chapter 8 (1/2)

The sky had only been clear for two days before the rain started again.

The plum rains of June and July fell in fine, dense threads, veiling the sky in mist. Dark, low-hanging clouds made the whole world feel heavy and oppressed.

Thud.

Mu Wan hit the ground hard, muddy water splashing everywhere.

She let out a sharp sound of pain, swore under her breath, and scrambled quickly back to her feet.

“Cut!” the director called.

That scene was done.

Mu Wan’s costume no longer looked anything like it had originally. It was soaked through and caked with filthy mud. When she had fallen just now, the mud had splashed across half her face, leaving only part of her small face visible—pale, delicate, and set off by dark, bright eyes.

After thanking the assistant director, Mu Wan was done for the day. She dragged herself to the dressing room in her mud-soaked costume and changed out of it.

There was nowhere to shower in the studio complex, so she went into the restroom and washed her face. She had just finished and was about to wipe herself dry when someone beside her handed over a tissue.

Mu Wan glanced sideways, smiled, and took it.

Gao Mei watched as Mu Wan wiped her face. One patch of her pale skin had turned red, probably irritated by the dirty mud. In Gao Mei’s eyes—usually narrowing to slits whenever she smiled—there was nothing now but sympathy and indignation.

“Mi Yu is too much,” she muttered in a low voice. “If she’s in a bad mood, why take it out on other people?”

Gao Mei was a friend Mu Wan had met while filming her very first drama after graduation. Like Mu Wan, she was a professional supporting actress. The difference was that Mu Wan was usually cast as the pretty supporting role, while Gao Mei was the comic relief. She was plump, with a round face, and when she smiled, her eyes disappeared into cheerful slits. She was cute in a soft, pillowy way. The two of them often ran into each other on the same sets, and when work wrapped, they would sometimes go out for food together.

This scene Mu Wan had just filmed was with Mi Yu.

It had been obvious the whole time that Mi Yu was in a bad mood. The scene had gone through four takes, and every one of the retakes had been because of her. Because of Mi Yu’s mistakes, Mu Wan had thrown herself into the mud four separate times.

“What happened to her?” Mu Wan asked.

After wiping the water from her face, she smoothed on a layer of ointment for the irritation. It felt cool against the skin and smelled faintly of mint.

Though she and Mi Yu were from the same agency and often worked on the same productions, Mu Wan did not know her very deeply and rarely pried into her affairs.

“She got cut out,” Gao Mei said.

After years of supporting roles, Gao Mei had connections everywhere. Folding her arms, she leaned against the washroom counter and watched Mu Wan apply the ointment.

“Zhang Chengze had a drama lined up for her as female lead. Then Shen Entertainment came in with funding and pushed a newcomer into the lead role instead. So naturally Mi Yu got bumped down to second female lead.”

Mu Wan remembered that drama.

That was the one where she had attended the dinner and helped drink on Mi Yu’s behalf, only to be hauled back by Liu Qianxiu in the end. At the time, Shen Entertainment had pulled its funding, and Zhang Chengze had cursed them, saying Shen was nothing without the Liu family behind it. Because of that, Mi Yu had not been especially willing to take the role.

Now that Shen had reinvested, the director had accepted the newcomer they sent over as the female lead without hesitation. Even so, Mi Yu was still willing to take the second female lead role in the project.

That did not mean she was happy about it.

The entertainment industry really was that practical.

Money ruled everything.

Once she had finished tidying herself up, Mu Wan commented, “With Shen’s money behind it, second female lead isn’t bad either.”

Seeing that Mu Wan was done, Gao Mei agreed, then asked, “You heading out now? Wait for me—we can grab skewers tonight.”

“I’ve got something to do,” Mu Wan said. “My kitten’s in the pet hospital. I need to go see it.”

She planned to visit Zhongfen first, then go to Liu Qianxiu’s place to see Datou and Ertong.

And the moment she said it aloud, a sense of urgency stirred sharply inside her. She grabbed her bag and was about to leave, but halfway out the door, she suddenly caught the frame and turned back to ask:

“If someone helped me with something, and also bought me dinner, and I want to get him a gift... what should I give him?”

Gao Mei looked at her.

“What kind of help? A friend?”

“He’s helping look after the kittens,” Mu Wan said after thinking for a second. “Not exactly a friend. We’ve only dealt with each other a couple of times.”

Looking after kittens was not the kind of errand that made Gao Mei think of a man, so she immediately began offering ideas.

“Buy flowers. Fresh, pretty—hey, what happened to your leg?”

Only then did Gao Mei notice that Mu Wan’s knee had been scraped open. A little blood had seeped out, vivid against her long,g pale leg.

The wound itched a little. Mu Wan lowered her head for a glance and didn’t think much of it.

“I scraped it filming just now. It doesn’t hurt. I’m going.”

Then she left.

She went first to the pet hospital to see Zhongfen. After a day of treatment, the kitten was already much livelier. The vet told her Zhongfen could be discharged tomorrow.

“Your boyfriend didn’t come with you today?” the vet asked with a smile as they came out of the observation room.

Apparently, ly it wasn’t only the neighbor from across the hall who had misunderstood her relationship with Liu Qianxiu.

Mu Wan turned back and smiled at the vet.

“Do we really look that well matched?”

“Yeah,” the vet answered automatically. “You look especially good standing together.”

Only after saying it did he realize something was off. If they were actually a couple, Mu Wan would not have asked that question. He straightened slightly, looking apologetic and a little disappointed.

“So you’re not? Sorry.”

Last night, after Mu Wan and Liu Qianxiu left, people at the clinic had discussed it for quite a while. The man was refined and imposing, the woman bright and beautiful. They really were striking together.

Mu Wan smiled at the vet and walked out.

She did not go far.

At a nearby flower shop, she bought a bouquet in shades of indigo, with roses, lilies, and orchids woven through it. At the center stood two birds-of-paradise. The whole arrangement was elegant, but bright.

Holding the flowers, Mu Wan stepped outside and hailed a cab.

The moment she got in, the driver glanced back at the bouquet and praised it at once.

“Smells wonderful. From your boyfriend?”

“No,” Mu Wan said, adjusting the flowers in her arms. Fragrance filled the space around her. She lifted her head, eyes bright. “For my boyfriend.”

The driver laughed.

“That’s nice.”

Then, inwardly admiring young love blooming like flowers, he glanced again at the delicate pale face half-hidden behind the bouquet and asked, “Where does your boyfriend live?”

Playing along with the joke, Mu Wan gave him the address.

The moment he heard Nanfeng Apartments, the driver switched off his empty-car light and signaled.

“Miss, let’s take Qiyun Road instead. I just came from Zhongshan Road—too many cars. The whole road is jammed.”

It was a little after six in the evening, right in the middle of rush hour. The rain had stopped for now, though the sky remained dark and threatening, as if preparing for another downpour. Taking Qiyun Road to Nanfeng would mean a longer detour.

Looking at the heavy sky and the traffic streaming past, Mu Wan asked, “Why is it so bad over there? That road’s usually fine, isn’t it?”

Zhongshan Road was somewhat out of the way, which in increasingly congested Xiacheng usually made it one of the less crowded routes.

“Today is the third anniversary memorial for the previous Liu family head,” the driver said, thinking back to the spectacle he had just seen. “The road past the Liu family cemetery is packed with luxury cars, and they even sent traffic police to direct everything.”

It had looked like a movie set.

Rows of luxury cars lined both sides of the road, opening the way. Several more drove at the center in advance.

Their bodies were black and gleaming, almost sacred against the endless rainy-season gloom.

All of this belonged to the Liu family—and not even close to all of it. At the very center of that heavily protected procession sat the head of the Liu family. As his car moved silently along the road, the entire scene carried a solemn, almost ceremonial grandeur.

Families like that had wealth too vast to count. People born into it would never have to struggle just to survive, and probably never know real worry in their lifetimes.

The thought was enough to make anyone envious.

Earlier, during a meal break on set, Gao Mei had even shown Mu Wan the discussion on Weibo. Traffic control had been imposed because of the Liu family memorial. The formal event had ended around three in the afternoon, yet the roads still had not fully cleared.

A true old family was like a bottomless abyss.

Its roots and branches were beyond anything ordinary households could compare to.

“All right,” Mu Wan said. “Let’s go by Qiyun Road.”

Then she took out her phone and called Liu Qianxiu.

↞ Previous│❀ Table of Contents ❀│Next ↠

Continue reading Incurable Chapter 8 Part 1

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 210

~ YUE WANG’S JEALOUSY ~

Mu Yunyao arrived at the study and saw that Ming Yin was kneeling on the ground. Her clothes hadn’t changed, her face was slightly pale, and she looked very miserable. She raised her head to look at the Yue Wang. “What is this for?”

Yue Wang raised his head: “Ming Yin is not able to do things well, and she deserves to get punished.”

“You can’t blame Ming Yin for this. If it weren’t for Li Munian’s sudden disturbance, today’s matter would have gone smoothly. Ming Yin, please get up.”

Ming Yin turned her head and kowtowed to Mu Yunyao. Ming Yin turned her head and kowtowed to Mu Yunyao. “Young Miss, missing this opportunity not only disrupted your plans, but it also makes it difficult to know when I can resolve my old grudge from all these years. This servant’s heart really cannot bear it, so you should punish me.”

“There’s still a way to salvage the situation, so you don’t have to be too hasty …” Yu Yi rushed over before she could finish speaking.

“Fourth Master, the Governor of Liangjiang, Li Yuanyi, has returned. He has asked to see Miss Mu and Steward Qin entertaining him right now.”

The atmosphere in the study room suddenly turned cold, and Yu Yi could not help but drop his head even lower. He could only feel the sound of murderous intent in his ears. Li Yuanyi really didn’t want to live to the end and even dared to scheme against someone whom Wang Ye admired.

Mu Yunyao stood up. “Things aren’t too bad yet. I’ll see him now. If there’s a chance, I’ll take the seal of the Governor of Liangjiang. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll make another plan.”

“Wait a minute.” Yue Wang called out to stop Mu Yunyao, and a trace of a frown appeared on his forehead. “You don’t need to see him. Let Ming Yin try again. If it’s still not possible, then I’ll make a move.”

Feeling the murderous intent from the last four words of Yue Wang, Mu Yunyao quickly shook her head, “Li Yuanyi will still be of use in the future, so I can’t arouse his suspicions now. It’s most appropriate for me to go.”

“No way!” Yue Wang frowned more tightly. He had investigated Li Yuanyi’s temperament very clearly. At this time, Li Yuanyi had rushed over to see Mu Yunyao, and his thoughts were clear as day. How could he let her take the risk?

Yu Yi gave Ming Yin a meaningful glance, and the two of them silently retreated, leaving only Yue Wang and Mu Yunyao standing facing each other in the room.

“Fourth Master, why are you not trusting me?”

“I don’t trust Li Yuanyi.” The cold aura around him caused the atmosphere in the study to become even tenser.

Mu Yunyao was stunned for a moment, then lowered her eyes. Only then did she realize why Yue Wang was so adamant about not agreeing. He was actually jealous…,

“Fourth Master, I’m just going to retrieve the seal. There won’t be any other matters. Also, I’m well versed in medical knowledge, so I still have a way to protect myself.”

“That wouldn’t mean put you out of danger, either.”

Mu Yunyao frowned. She had already explained in warm words, but Yue Wang still refused to let go, causing a bit of anger to rise in her heart, “Is it possible for Fourth Master to build a golden silk cage to lock people up?”

The corner of Yue Wang’s lips moved. Looking at Mu Yunyao’s resolute expression, a trace of helplessness flashed across his heart. “You …”

“There is no loss in this matter, and the time is urgent. Although according to our guesses, the salt merchants will not make a big fuss about the robbery of salt. What if they do not follow our plans and directly make a big deal out of it? When the time comes, the Emperor will investigate. With Fourth Master’s current abilities to do so! Can you cross the sea without telling the world?”

Yue Wang pursed his lips, the coldness in his eyes growing more powerful, like a cold winter night: “I’ll go with you, I’ll stay in the shadows to ensure your safety.”

Mu Yunyao fell silent for a moment. “Sure.”

Yue Wang stepped forward, took out a dagger from his sleeve, and handed it over: “Self-defense!”

Mu Yunyao carefully examined the dagger in her hand. It was precisely the same as the one that Yue Wang had given her, except that the gemstone inlaid in the handle was slightly different. “This dagger …”

Yue Wang directly walked out of the room and ignored Mu Yunyao’s question.

Steward Qin led Li Yuanyi to the Hibiscus Courtyard and explained patiently, “Please wait a moment, Lord Li. Miss Mu rarely makes any tea personally. Whether or not she is willing to come and see the Lord, I still require a special inquiry.”

“Then let’s hurry. I do have something that I need to discuss with Miss Mu. As long as you say it, she will definitely come and see me.”

“Yes, please take a seat, my Lord.”

After waiting for about half an hour, Mu Yunyao slowly walked in. “Greetings, Sir Li. I heard from Shopkeeper Qin that you have something to discuss with me. Is it about the Dragon Boat Festival that I’ve mentioned before?”

Li Yuanyi’s eyes lit up as he saw Mu Yunyao. Mu Yunyao had changed her clothes again. At this time, her clothes were moon-white, making her look even more beautiful and refined, like a fairy descending to earth. Li Yuanyi calmed himself down with a lot of difficulties. “It can be considered to be related to this matter. After listening to the girl’s saying that she would like to thank the people in Jingling City at the Dragon Boat Festival, I was really touched and wanted to help you. Miss Mu also knows that I am now the Governor of Liangjiang, and I can say a word or two in many places. If Miss Mu wants to expand the scale Ni Yun Fang in another place, I can do my best to help.”

Mu Yunyao had a happy expression, “Is what Lord Li said true?”

“Of course, How can I lie to you?”

“That would be great.” Mu Yunyao was overjoyed. Her eyes were bright like the stars, seeming to be able to attract people’s attention. “Thank you, Lord Li. I really don’t know how to repay such huge kindness.”

Li Yuanyi walked to Mu Yunyao’s side and sized up her face with a trace of infatuation in his eyes. “I’ve always felt that Miss Mu was very popular when I first saw her. Seeing how kind and kind she is, I decided to help out not for any reward.”

Mu Yunyao didn’t seem to notice the abnormality in his actions as she said a few words of thanks as usual, “Lord Li is so considerate of me. Yunyao is unable to repay this kindness, so she wholeheartedly brewed a cup of good tea for you. Consider it my gift of gratitude.”

“Alright.” Li Yuanyi’s current thoughts were not on the tea, so naturally, anything she said would be fine.

Mu Yunyao sits at the back of the table to make tea. Li Yuan looks at her action intently and feels astonished. How could there be anyone in this world that fits his mind like this? As if heaven specially sent her for him. He unconsciously stood on the side of the table.

Mu Yunyao finished making the tea and stood up with the teacup in her hand. Just as she turned around, she bumped into Li Yuanyi. The teacup in her hand almost spilled over, and she was so surprised that she quickly reached out and steadied herself: “Ah … Lord Li, please forgive me! “

Li Yuanyi smelled the fragrant aroma of the tea, and his expression turned absent-minded. Mu Yunyao apologized but quickly exchanged the scented sachet with the seal on his waist, and she placed it in her sleeve with a turn of her wrist.

In the past few days, even Li Yuan had prepared many scented pouches containing seals. Whether it was size, shape, pattern, or weight, they were all exactly the same as the ones on his body, all so that he wouldn’t notice them after replacing the scented pouches.

Mu Yunyao’s movements were fast, and Li Yuanyi did not feel the slightest bit strange. Hearing her apologizing, he hurriedly said, “I was rude. Just now, I saw that the girl was too engrossed in making the tea, and I unknowingly stood beside the table.”

“It’s good. The tea is not hot enough for the Lord. Would you like to have a taste of it?”

↞ Previous│❀ Table of Content ❀ │ Next ↠

Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 210

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 209

~ LI YUANYI HAD A SUDDEN THOUGHT ~

 
Mu Yunyao smiled and said, “It’s already April, and it’s only a few days until the Dragon Boat Festival. The people in Jingling City have been taking great care of me, so I wanted to take advantage of the Dragon Boat Festival to thank the people in Jingling City.” Li Munian has an interest in his eyes. He knew about what had happened in Jingling City before, and he had also heard of the great name of Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Luo. The scene of the Laba porridge festival in Jingling City was grand, and it was even drawn by Grandmaster Li Chong and delivered to the Emperor through the hands of Grand Princess Yi de. If Mu Yunyao made any influential movement this time, he naturally had to participate. Once news of this spread to the Emperor’s ears, it could increase the number of chips he had on his side.

“How does Miss Mu wish to thank the people in Jingling City?” There was still some time before the Dragon Boat Festival. If she were to ask now, it would mean that she needed a long time to prepare. In that case, the scene would definitely not be small.

“The custom of the Dragon Boat Festival is all that matters. Since I want to thank the common people on this day, naturally, I can only give them some rice and dumplings. After all, this is the most practical way for the common people.”

“Indeed, how much does Miss Mu intend to send away?”

“During this period of time, Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Luo had made some silver. I am going to put out one hundred thousand taels of silver. I’ve basically taken out all of the profits I earned previously.”

Li Munian had guessed that Mu Yunyao’s movements were not small, but he didn’t expect her to be this big. “One hundred thousand taels of silver?” In a place like Jingling City, where natural calamities had occurred, the government had allocated several hundred thousand taels of silver for disaster relief. Now that she had suddenly offered a hundred thousand taels of silver, the people in Jingling City would go crazy with joy.

Li Yuanyi could not help but answer, “Miss Mu, it’s not easy for you to manage Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Luo. Not to mention how hard it is for you to earn some silver taels. Do you not feel any pain in your heart to take them out so easily?”

Mu Yunyao lowered her eyes and lightly smiled, a little embarrassed on the surface. “Speaking of which, I don’t simply want to thank the common people, but more of it is to gain a good reputation for myself.”

Hearing Mu Yunyao expresses her thoughts so plainly, Li Yuanyi’s gaze became even more surprised. “As far as I know, there is no one in Jingling City who does not know of Miss Mu’s reputation. Even Emperor praises Miss mu, but in my opinion, there is no need to be so harsh on yourself.”

Just now, the teacup that Ming Yin had brought to Li Yuanyi spilled and leaving nothing in front of him. Mu Yunyao walked behind the table used for making tea, and as she replied, she started to brewing tea, “My Lord, you are an official, so you don’t know what we businessmen think. If you think I have a good reputation is for myself, but it’s only my selfish thought. Cai Yue Pavillion had closed down all over the country because of its owner’s involvement. I thought, without Cai Yue Pavilion, it would be inconvenient for many people to order clothes. If Ni Yun Fang could take advantage of the opportunity, wouldn’t it be a beautiful thing? That’s why I wanted to gain a good reputation. When Ni Yun Fang wants to open up in other places, I guess the resistance I would encounter would be less.”

Li Munian let out a laugh. “Miss Mu is quite frank.”

“In front of you two Lords, I do not dare to lie and act rashly. Furthermore, with my little thoughts, Milord would be able to guess it even if I did not say it.” As she spoke, the teacup in Mu Yunyao’s hand had covered, then she stood up to bring it to Li Yuanyi. The more he watched, the more he became addicted. She carries blue porcelain floating flower teacup, with her fingertips as white as jade, which makes people unable to shift their gaze away from her. When she put down the teacup, they were able to see her look even more clearly. Her complexion was as white as condensed oil, and even at such a close distance, they were unable to see her the slightest flaw. There was a fresh and deep scent all over her body that made it seem as if the fragrance of flowers was not as fragrant as her body. When he wanted to savor it carefully, he found that the beauty was already far away, causing him to stand up immediately.

Li Munian was pondering over Mu Yunyao’s words when he noticed Li Yuanyi’s movements. He frowned, “Uncle, you haven’t even sipped tea. Do you want to return to the government office?”

Li Yuanyi suddenly came back to his senses and realized that Mu Yunyao was looking at him with a strange expression. He immediately became annoyed and almost yelled out to the beauty, “I’ve always heard of Miss Mu’s reputation before, but was unlucky enough to meet her. Seeing her today, I can’t help but be excited. Please forgive me.”

“It’s fine. Lord is too polite.” Mu Yunyao hurriedly shook her head before turning her gaze towards Li Munian, “Lord Li, is it possible to do what I’ve said?”

“The young lady is kind-hearted, so it is natural to give great support to such good things. However, these hundred thousand taels of silver aren’t small. It wouldn’t be easy for the young lady to exchange it for food and distribute it to the common people in the City. Buying food in large quantities would consume a lot of energy, so you have to think about it carefully.” “It’s too specific, and I don’t have a constitution, so I came to ask Lord Li. Earlier, when I served porridge, it was actually my adoptive father who was in charge. I only paid a few taels of silver and gained some glory. If Lord Li had a specific constitution, I would have sent the silver taels to your residence.” Mu Yunyao said that as if she was aware of something wrong with her words, and her face was even more bashful. “Look at what I’m saying. It’s as if I’m deliberately trying to be hiding something. They also have a lot of helpers in Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Luo. At that time, if the Lord needs help, I’ll definitely do my best.”

Li Yuanyi could not help but open his mouth and say, “Don’t worry, Miss. we are naturally supportive of such good things. We will come up with a specific plan to discuss with you in the next two days. What do you think?”

Mu Yunyao couldn’t help but smile, “This is natural for the best. Thank you for your hard work, my Lords.”

“How can there not be any hard work? For such a good thing, we officials naturally would like to have a few more.” Under Mu Yunyao’s clear gaze, Li Yuanyi felt as if his entire being was floating, “Nephew, what do you think?” Li Munian has long been aware of Li Yuanyi’s mind. If he isn’t in Bu Xian Luo, he would have scolded him directly. This Li Yuanyi was totally too perverted. Not to mention that Mu Yunyao was still young, just with her current status alone, she was not someone that he could provoke easily. He actually dared to have his thoughts go wary.

“I will settle this matter as soon as possible. I hope that Miss Mu will be at ease.”

Mu Yunyao nodded, “Since the two Lords are busy, I won’t disturb you any longer. I’ll take my leave now.”

Li Yuanyi could not help but want to say something but was held down by Li Munian on the shoulder. After Mu Yunyao left, Li Mu Nian stood up fiercely and said with a gloomy expression, “Uncle, Mu Yunyao has been praised by the Emperor many times, and now she has become the adopted daughter of Cao Yunnian and Lady Jin. She has Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Luo behind her, so her influence is not comparable to the ordinary legitimate daughters of the family in the Capital. Furthermore, judging from her intelligent nature, she is definitely not the kind of person who would easily suffer a loss. No matter what you have in mind, you have to hold it down.”

Li Yuanyi frowned. “Nephew, what you said is biased. No matter what, I am the First Prince’s uncle and can regard me as a relative of the Emperor. If Miss Mu has the heart, it would not be an insult to her.”

“Uncle, at your age, you’re more than enough to be my father!”

Li Yuanyi’s face darkened after he heard that, “Nephew’s words are too harsh.”

“What I said was the truth. Uncle, don’t forget, your objective here is to check out the salt tax this time. If you delay these matters, don’t blame Father for personally coming to interrogate you! It’s getting late. We should go.” After Li Munian finished speaking, he walked out. Li Yuanyi followed him out of the Bu Xian Luo and found an excuse to leave the government office alone. After strolling around the government office for a while, he turned around and returned.

↞ Previous│❀ Table of Content ❀ │ Next ↠

Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 209

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 208

~ LI MUNIAN IS SUSPICIOUS ~

The next morning, Mu Yunyao saw Ming Yin and said, “This day is the most appropriate time to use the powder I gave you. Then, you secretly exchange the seals of the Governor of Liangjiang. Be careful when you do it, and might as well find a chance. Don’t make any mistakes. Otherwise, the entire Bu Xian Luo would be in a predicament.”

“Yes, please be at ease Young Miss. I will definitely be more careful.” 

“Right.” Mu Yunyao’s heart sank. The salt merchants wouldn’t spread the news that the salt exchange had gone wrong, but they would definitely think of ways to pave the way. They would suffer such a tremendous loss for nothing, and they won’t take a long time to find Li Yuanyi. Once Ming Yin missed today’s opportunity, it will ruin her plan. As a result, she had deliberately stayed in Jin Xiu Garden.

Li Yuan came here early every morning, but he came a little later today. When he arrived, he was accompanied by Li Munian.

When Mu Yunyao heard the news, her heart suddenly sank. Li Munian even came. Could it be that he received some information? Mu Yunyao thought for a moment before immediately going to see Yue Wang.

Yue Wang had also received the news, and upon seeing Mu Yunyao come in, he promptly signaled for her to calm down and not be impatient. “Don’t worry. I’ll think of a way to lure Li Munian away. It’s just that this way, he’ll probably notice it afterward…” 

“It would be best if Li Munian would leave by himself. If he doesn’t leave, I can only ask Fourth Master Ning to help.” This chance was hard to come by. If she took advantage of it, she would be safe. She would not even need to fear the Su family. However, once she made a mistake, she would have to spend her days there carefully.

“Alright.” said the Yue Wang, looking at her intently. “You don’t have to think so much about it. You can do whatever you want to do. Although I haven’t fully deployed my power in Jiangnan, I will still be able to protect you.” Mu Yunyao’s hand under her sleeve suddenly tightened, her nails stabbing into her palm until it hurt, and her heart felt as if it was tightly clenched by someone, causing her chest to tighten. In her previous life, she was alone, helpless, and she can’t rely on anyone. What she hoped for the most was for someone to appear in front of her and protect her. As a result, she had no choice but to choose Jin Wang. She did all she could to please him, tried her best to make him stand out from the masses, and did everything that made him happy. She was trembling all day. Even she could think out a hundred kinds of conjectures with a sigh. The final result was that she was sent to Yue Wang’s Mansion without any warning and died miserably. In this life, she no longer relied on others to protect her, worked hard to make herself more powerful, and secure her mother from harm. However, someone took the initiative to stand out and say that he could protect her, causing her heart to surge with emotions. It was as if she had overturned five buckets and tasted all kinds of tastes in the blink of an eye.

Yue Wang carefully observed Mu Yunyao. He saw that her expression was unperturbed, but a glint flashed in her eyes. It made his heart tense up. Afraid that she would reject him, he quickly changed the topic. “It’s about time. How about going to see what happened to Ming Yin?”

Mu Yunyao suppressed her thoughts and slightly lowered her gaze. With a gentle and calm smile, she said, “Many thanks to Fourth Master. If Mingyin doesn’t manage, there’s no need to force it. We can wait for the next opportunity.”

Yue Wang had already gotten up and was about to leave when he heard these words. He suddenly stopped and turned around. His deep and cold eyes looked at Mu Yunyao, “You won’t miss it!” Since she wanted to do it, he would do his best to make her wish come true.

Mu Yunyao opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but since Yue Wang had already stood up and walked to the door, she could only stay silent.

On the other side, Ming Yin was brewed tea to entertain Li Yuanyi and Li Munian. Ming Yin felt very anxious in her heart. According to her original plan, she should have given Li Yuanyi medicine today and stole the seal of the Governor of Liangjiang. Who would have thought of killing Li Yuanyi, can only wait for the right time. Li Munian looked closely at Ming Yin, and he had actually dispelled his suspicions about Ming Yin before. But Li Yuanyi had been in Bu Xian Luo all day and even always talked about her. Li Yuanyi was totally mesmerized by her, causing doubts to arise in his heart. In addition, these two days were the last few days of inspections in Jingling City. If the other party had any action, it was almost in these days, so he came to have a look.

Ming Yin sat quietly at the side. Even though she was admonishing herself to be steady, she couldn’t help but show signs of impatience. Li Yuanyi happened to see it and asked, “Miss Ming Yin, is there something wrong?”

“Making tea for the guests and entertaining them is my most important task. Moreover, I’m entertaining two Lords today, so naturally, nothing is as important as both of you.” Ming Yin nodded slightly, purposely revealing her slender white neck, causing Li Yuanyi to become absent-minded.

The corner of Li Munian’s lips curled up coldly. “Miss, you have such a sweet mouth.”

Ming Yin smiled but did not reply. She then revealed the teacup that had brewed and said, “The tea has already brewed. Please, the two Lords have a taste.” When she brought the teacup over to Li Yuanyi’s hand, she suddenly lost her balance. The teacup overturned and splashed onto her skirt.

Li Yuanyi stood up distressed: “Miss Ming Yin, how are you? Are you hurt?”

“Don’t worry, Lord. I’ll go down and change my clothes, and then I’ll come and entertain the two of you.”

“No need. We still have things to do, so we’ll be leaving first.” Li Munian stood up and turned to look at Li Yuanyi with a solemn expression, “Uncle, there’s something at the government office. We should go take a look.”

Ming Yin is flustered. Li Mu Nian is obviously suspicious of her. If they were allowed to leave like this, then all Miss Mu’s preparation would have been in vain. When she is anxious to say something to save her, she heard Mu Yunyao’s voice coming from the door.

“I have heard that Lord Li is here, and I have come to disturb you. Please forgive me.” Mu Yunyao walked in and saw that Ming Yin was covered with tea stains. She hurriedly went up to check. “Ming Yin, are you burned?”

Hearing Mu Yunyao’s concerned voice, Ming Yin’s eyes immediately turned watery. “Miss, I’m fine. However, I’ve wasted a good tea.” The waste in her words didn’t just refer to the spilled tea, but also the great opportunity she had today.

Mu Yunyao’s eyes showed traces of happiness, “When the tea spilled, we will sprinkle it. It’s fine as long as you’re fine. There’s no need to brood over it. Coincidentally, I have some business with Lord Li, so leave this to me.”

“Yes, Young Miss, This servant will take to leave.” Ming Yin glanced at Mu Yunyao as she withdrew with worry in her heart.

Seeing Mu Yunyao, Li Munian sat back down, “Miss Mu, long time no see. May I ask why you have come to see me?”

Li Yuanyi, who was standing at the side, was completely dumbfounded. He had thought that Ming Yin would already be considered stunning, but after seeing Mu Yunyao, he suddenly felt that he had been too stupid. In front of her eyes, Mu Yunyao is wearing a horse face skirt with Tianshui blue color. Her sleeves and waist tightened, causing her to appear even more slender. She hadn’t fully grown yet, so she looked like a budding flower. Although she hadn’t reached the most beautiful time, she had a different kind of elegance. You only need to wait patiently for another two years, and then you can wait until the flowers bloom. At that time, I don’t know how breathtaking it would be. If Ming Yin is like a pearl, then Mu Yunyao in front of him is like a bright moon, totally in line with his heart.

A horse face skirt, also known as a horse face pleats skirt, is a kind of traditional Chinese dress. There are four front and back skirt doors, overlapping each other, side pleating, middle skirt door overlapping part, commonly known as horse face (马面).

↞ Previous│❀ Table of Content ❀ │ Next ↠

Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 208

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 207

~WOUNDED YUE WANG ~ 

Hearing her reject him directly, Li Yuanyi became anxious, “Miss Ming Yin, please think it over carefully. Here, you have to serve others by bringing them tea, and you will always do the work of serving people. Don’t tell me that you are really willing?”

Ming Yin’s expression was firm: “Lord Li doesn’t need to say much. I have already made up my mind. As long as I can stay in Bu Xian Luo, I will not leave. If I can’t continue to make tea here in the future, I only need to find a place with beautiful mountains and rivers to settle down, so I won’t dare to dream of anymore.”

“Miss …”

“My Lord, the tea won’t taste good when it’s cold.”

“Why are you so stubborn? I can see that you are not completely unmoved. Could it be that you mind the scar on your arm?”

Ming Yin’s expression changed as she subconsciously held onto her arm, and her face slightly pale.

“As expected,” Li Yuanyi said with a pained expression, “This matter has already passed, and Tan Bawang had executed as well. The wound on Miss’s arm has already healed, but the wound in her heart is still not healed, right?”

“Lord Li, you can merely take me as a stubborn person. If you go to Bu Xian Luo to taste the tea, don’t let a small matter like me affect your taste of the tea. Moreover, I was a lowly person and almost ruined by others. My reputation had ruined, but I don’t want to lose my dignity. My lord’s identity is precious. Don’t ruin your reputation because of me.”

Regardless of how Li Yuanyi tried to persuade her, she did not loosen up. Over the next few days, she was in good shape and began to entertain the guests. Her expression did not change at all, as if she did not take his words seriously at all.

Li Yuanyi had no choice but to put more effort into Ming Yin. But after not seeing her for just a day, his heart was so worried about everything, and he had no interest in doing anything. As soon as he had time, Ming Yin’s face would flash past his eyes, causing him to come to Bu Xian Luo subconsciously.

He specially arranged for Shopkeeper Qin to make deliberate arrangements and freed Ming Yin for the next few days, and he had her specifically entertain him alone. Ming Yin couldn’t reject him and could only accompany him day and night.

When Mu Yunyao heard Steward Qin talk about the progress over here, she couldn’t help but smile a little. “It’s almost about time. It seems like it’s about time for Fourth Master to make a move.”

At night, Mu Yunyao slept restlessly. While she was still in a daze, she suddenly heard a movement in the window. She hurriedly got up and sat down. “Who is it?”

“Don’t be afraid. It’s me.” In the darkness of the night, there was a sense of desolation in Yue Wang’s voice.

Mu Yunyao heaved a sigh of relief, and her eyes lit up to show her happiness. She quickly got up and lit the candle, “Fourth Master, did everything go smoothly?”

Yue Wang walked in, his eyes filled with uncontrollable joy. “As we expected, when we bought the salt, there were no problems, and we were able to board the ship smoothly afterward. However, on the surface of the river, there was a hidden ship that looked exactly like the salt carrying ship. It was just that the bags on it filled with sand and mud instead of salt. The salt merchants were going to take advantage of the night to replace the salt carrying ship with the salt ship filled with sand and mud. The salt ship intercepted by us, and we put all the salt in a safe place.”

Mu Yunyao’s heart jumped with joy, “This is great! Congratulations to Fourth Master on your success!”

Yue Wang smiled, his face softened a lot: “Thanks to Qi Ming, the information provided was extremely accurate. Furthermore, the salt merchants knew that this matter was not suitable for them to publicize, so they did not send that many people. The officials, who escorted the salt ship, we bribed in advance. When they were about to change the boat, they arrived at the shore in advance. Otherwise, we can't snatch the salt ship away so easily.”

“What about the ships with mud and sand?”

“It has already been cut down.”

Mu Yunyao’s eyes moved, “The salt merchant knew that the salt ship had robbed, so they continued to follow their original plans and dug up the boat. It seems that they aren’t willing to expose this matter.” If the Imperial Court knew that the salt ship had been taken away, it might even shake the ruling and opposition parties. So they would definitely send a large number of people to investigate and exterminate the salt ship. In this way, the risk will magnify many times. In addition, she doesn’t know the purpose of stealing the salt boat. Therefore, she did not dare to publicize, which was a great help to her.

Yue Wang coughed lightly, and his face turned pale.

Mu Yunyao hurriedly looked over, “Is Fourth Master injured?”

“I’ve been hit by some people, suffered some internal injuries, and will be fine after a period of recuperation.”

“Let me take a look.” Mu Yunyao indicated for Yue Wang to extend his hand and use her fingertip to touch it. Suddenly, she was shocked in her heart, “Fourth Master, how come you’re so heavily injured?” His pulse was in chaos. If it were a bit heavier, it would be hard to tell if he would be able to return to his feet.

“It’s not that serious.” A trace of unnaturalness flashed through Yue Wang’s face, but Mu Yunyao was still thinking of a way to help him recuperate, so she didn’t notice it.

“The matter has stabilized, and Fourth Master can go back to rest with peace of mind. I will see you again the next day, so you don’t have to worry too much. I will write down the prescription to recovery your health. It just so happens that I have almost all kinds of medicine materials here, and I’ll send them when they are ready.”

Yue Wang nodded his head: “Alright, you rest early too. There is no rush for the medicine. Just wait until the next day to boil it.”

“Internal injuries are not to taken lightly, and Fourth Master shouldn’t treat this carelessly. If you leave the root of the problem behind, I’m afraid it might affect your future progress in martial arts.”

“Mm, then I’ll wait for you to send it over.” After Yue Wang finished speaking, he stood up and left.

After Mu Yunyao finished writing the prescription, she called Jin Lan over to help her boil the medicine before sending Liu Liang over to deliver it. She had naturally heard what Yue Wang had said before he had left. It was just that already midnight, and she did not plan on getting involved with Yue Wang any further. Naturally, she would not personally deliver medicine.

In Jin Xiu Garden, Steward Qin was listening to Yue Wang’s orders. When he heard Yu Heng say that Liu Liang had sent medicine to him, he was startled: “Master, you’re injured?” Just now, he saw that his master’s expression as usual, and his words were full of vigor. He didn’t seem to be injured at all, so he thought that he was all right.

When Yue Wang heard that it was Liu Liang who sent the medicine over, the expression in his eyes darkened for a moment. He asked Yu Heng to take it in and put it aside directly.

Steward Qin promptly admonished: “Master, Miss Mu’s medical skills are exceptionally high, and the medicine she prescribed must be correct. You better drink it while it’s still hot. If you are worried, I will call Zhang Chun over the next day and ask him to help you have a diagnosis and treatment.”

“Don’t worry, Uncle Qin. I’m fine.”

“Are you alright?” Steward Qin still didn’t believe it.

A look of awkwardness flashed past Yue Wang’s eyes as he lightly clenched his fists and coughed: “I just used my Qi to change my pulse. It’s nothing.”

Steward Qin was surprised for a moment, and then he suddenly blinked his eyes, trying his best to hold back the smile on his face, “Ah, Master asked about Li Yuanyi’s progress before, and this servant will tell you in detail now. That Lord Li is now totally devoted to Ming Yin, and he even sent over several sets of precious accessories and headgear. I’m afraid it cost nearly ten thousand taels of silver.”

“Nearly ten thousand taels of silver. A Governor of Liangjiang can casually send such a large amount of silver to please a woman. Truly generous.”

Steward Qin sighed. Not long ago, Wang Ye had a headache because of several tens of thousands of silver taels. Now, a second rank official had casually thrown out so many silver taels, which was ironic: “It won’t take long to get so happy.”

“Yes.” Yue Wang nodded his head, “Tomorrow, keep an eye on Li Yuanyi. Don’t let anything go wrong.”

“Yes, Master. Please rest early. En, you had suffered internal injuries. If you don’t rest, it will get worse. It won’t be good.” After Steward Qin finished speaking, he turned and left directly. When he walked out of the door, he couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Steward Qin really didn’t expect that when he and Old Cheng were worried that Wang Ye would be lonely for the rest of his life. In half a year, he was able to pretend to be wounded to make the young lady’s heart grieve. Not bad, not bad at all!

↞ Previous│❀ Table of Content ❀ │ Next ↠

Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 207

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 206

~ COMPLETELY HOOKED ~ 

 
Ming Yin suddenly came back to her senses after hearing the voice. She hurriedly smoothed out her sleeves. Because her movements were too fast, her body couldn’t help but sway. Her face became even paler. “Greetings, Lord Li.” After speaking, she looked at Yun Chun reproachfully, as if she was displeased that she had taken the initiative to bring him over.

When Li Yuanyi heard Yun Chun’s message, he first rejected it and then asked Yu Chun brought him here on his own accord. He thought Ming Yin wanted to capture him, but upon seeing her expression, he realized that Yun Chun must have made the decision privately.

Yun Chun lightly patted Ming Yin’s hand. “Little sister Ming Yin, you should have a good chat with Lord Li. Don’t worry too much about the rumors that are circulating, which will surely go away if it’s not valid.

Ming Yin couldn’t help but lower her head and gently bite her lower lip. Her expression became increasingly fragile as she said, “Big sister Yun Chun, you really shouldn’t …”

Yun Chun interrupted her by saying, “Lord Li, Yun Chun will be leaving first.”

“Alright.” After Yun Chun had retreated, Li Yuanyi looked at Ming Yin with great concern in his eyes. “Miss Ming Yin, how is your health?”

“Thank you for Lord Li’s concern. Nothing serious has happened.”

“Miss Ming Yin, from the looks of you, you seem to have something on your mind. I wonder if there is anything I can do to help you?”

Ming Yin lifted her head with a smile on her face, but a hint of fragility flashed across her eyes. “I live a safe life in Bu Xian Luo, and there’s nothing to worry about it. Lord Li need not listen to the nonsense of Big Sister Yun Chun.”

“The more you say like that, the more certain I am that you really have something on your mind.” Li Yuanyi was a handsome man, and his aura was surprisingly elegant. This time, when he makes a caring look, it makes people more likely to have a good impression of him, “In Jingling City, no matter what happens, I can help more or less.”

“It’s really nothing that you need to worry about it, My Lord. Lord Li must be here to drink some tea in Bu Xian Luo. My body is much better now. If you want, I can make a pot of tea for you.”

“No need. Your body has not fully recovered yet. How could you work to make the tea yourself?”

“It’s not a big deal. Actually, I know a bit about swimming, but I suddenly choked when I fell into the water. I’ll be fine after two days of rest.” With that, she led Li Yuanyi into the pavilion, “These tea sets are for my daily practice. Lord Li, please do not mind them.”

“How could that be? Then I’ll have to trouble Miss Ming Yin.”

Ming Yin smiled faintly. Her smile was like a light flower on the water’s surface, light and weak, causing one unconsciously to feel pity for her.

The more Li Yuanyi watched her making the tea, the more he felt that every movement was just right and pleasing to the eyes.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew up Ming Yin’s sleeves, revealing her slender white arms. However, there was a long wound on them, which looked particularly shocking.

Ming Yin hurriedly lowered her head to wrap her sleeve, but Li Yuanyi was able to see it clearly. “Miss Ming Yin, is your arms hurt?”

Ming Yin quickly stood up, her expression becoming more and more flustered. She placed the teacup in front of Li Yuanyi and prepared to retreat, “Ming Yin lacked in manners. Please excuse me, My Lord. The tea has already been brewed, so I will not entertain you here anymore. I will take my leave first.”

“Miss, please wait.” Li Yuanyi immediately went forward to pull Ming Yin’s arm, but Ming Yin retreated too quickly, and he only had enough time to use his fingertips to brush against her sleeve.

Ming Yin left in a hurry, too flustered to notice that the silk handkerchief between her sleeves had fallen off.

Li Yuan stepped forward and picked up the silk handkerchief, only to see a piece of red embroidered on the silk handkerchief and four short poems: “The flowers bloom and the flowers fall in different ways. If you ask for love, it when the flowers bloom and fall.” 

The beauty had already left. Once Li Yuanyi finished his tea, he could only get up and leave. On the way, he bumped into Nan’er, who was trimming the plants in the garden and was helping people give directions. He could not help but give him a second glance.

Nan’er hurried forward to pay his respects, “Is My Lord can’t find the way either? You can ask me where you’re going to go. There’s nothing in the garden that I don’t know.”

“Oh? Do you recognize Ming Yin?”

“I naturally recognize Big Sister Ming Yin. Are you here to visit her as well? Big sister Ming Yin has been in a bad mood these past few days and has not met with anyone. I’m afraid you’ll have to go there for nothing.”

“Do you know why she is in a bad mood?”

“There some people who are jealous of big sister Ming Yin. They have secretly spread a rumor about Big Sister Ming Yin!” Nan’er was exceptionally indignant. “Back then, it was all because of that Tan Bawang being rude to Big Sister Ming Yin, and she was on the verge of death. However, they still do not give up. It seems that they will not give up until they forced her to die. Fortunately, Big Sister Ming Yin asks Shopkeeper Qin to drive out those people who spread the rumor. However, Big Sister Ming Yin has always been meticulous, so I think that she will be difficult to forget it for a while.

“Who is Tang Bawang that you were talking about earlier?”

“My Lord, Aren’t you from Jingling City? I’ve never seen you in Bu Xian Luo before. Don’t tell me you’re a traveling merchant?”

Li Yuanyi smiled, took out a piece of silver from his sleeve, and handed it over, “You still haven’t told me who Tang Bawang is.” Nan’er hurriedly put the silver back into his sleeves, looked around to see that there was no one nearby, then lowered her voice and said: “This Tan Bawang is the young master of Cai Yue Pavilion. This fellow framed us, Bu Xian Luo, not long ago. He even almost belittled Big Sister Ming Yin. Fortunately, Lord Zhao was fair and impartial, and he disposed of Tan Bawang. If not, then Big Sister Ming Yin will die from sadness. The matter is already in the past, so please do not speak carelessly to prevent Elder Sister from feeling sad.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Nan’er was just about to speak when he heard a voice calling for him to bring water, and he hurriedly said to Li Yuan, “My lord, I’m going to be busy, if you’re really curious, you can find a teahouse or a tavern to ask about it. This matter caused a lot of commotion in Jingling City, and many people came here to watch from the sidelines. You will understand the cause and effect if you ask around.” With that, he ran off.

Li Yuanyi was curious. After exiting Bu Xian Luo, he found a teahouse and walked in. He wasted a bit of silver and got to know the stories from the teahouse waiter. When he thought of the scar on Ming Yin’s hand, he could not help but feel more heartache for her. “It’s true that beauty is full of troubles.”

Fortunately, Miss Ming Yin met me. Otherwise, I’m afraid she would be sad in the future.

Over the next few days, Li Yuanyi would go to Bu Xian Luo to see Ming Yin every day, but she avoided him most of the time. On this day, it was only because Shopkeeper Qin forced her that Ming Yin entertained Li Yuanyi in the backyard.

“My Lord, you really shouldn’t have wasted your time on me.” Ming Yin’s expression was much colder, but there was bitterness in her eyes.

“Miss Ming Yin, I come over here regularly. You must understand what I mean. I’ve fallen in love with you at first sight. If you’re interested in me, I can give silver taels to help you redeem yourself and leave Bu Xian Luo.”

“Thank you for your good intentions, but there’s really no need for that. My life here is pretty good, and I have many sisters who can chat and have fun together. I’m not a canary, and I don’t like living in the golden cage either.”

↞ Previous│❀ Table of Content ❀ │ Next ↠

Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 206

Incurable Chapter 7 Part 2

Chapter 7 (2/2)

She unlocked the door and stepped inside.

The apartment was pitch-dark.

Mu Wan switched on the light and set her keys down on the cabinet. The faint clink of metal striking metal echoed through the room.

The place was small. The space should have felt cramped, yet instead it seemed flooded with a strange emptiness.

Mu Wan looked around once, found nothing in it worth looking at, and turned toward the bedroom.

The bedroom was empty too.

Apart from the lifeless furniture, there was nothing there at all. Mu Wan had the sudden feeling that the apartment had never seemed this empty before.

She walked over to the bed and sat down. The mattress gave beneath her, closing around her body as if swallowing her whole.

The place inside her that had felt so full in Liu Qianxiu’s home caved in again.

She had never felt the contrast so vividly before.

Three kittens.

A bowl of clear noodles.

A man.

The kitchen filled with steam.

The cold edge of a marble counter brushes her skin.

All of it circled in her mind.

Lin Wei had been right.

It wasn’t that she wasn’t afraid of loneliness.

It was that she had long since mistaken loneliness for something normal.

“It was only a bowl of noodles,” Mu Wan murmured.

She thought she was being too sensitive. After laughing at herself softly, she got up and went to the bathroom.

The next morning, she had no work, so as usual, she stayed in bed.

Around ten, she was woken by voices talking outside the door.

The moment she recognized one of them, Mu Wan climbed out of bed, all long limbs and sleepy grace, and went quickly to open the door.

Outside, Aunt Wu was standing there chatting with the neighbor from across the hall. At the sound of the door opening, the older woman turned and looked over, the joy in her face pausing for a beat.

“Just woke up?” she asked.

Mu Wan reached out and took the vegetable basket from her hands with a smile.

“I’ve been awake for a while. I just didn’t get up. Why didn’t you knock?”

Aunt Wu said goodbye to the neighbor while Mu Wan carried the basket inside. As she followed her in and shut the door, she said, “I only just got here too.”

Aunt Wu was in her sixties now. She had once worked for the Mu family, and she had watched Mu Wan grow up. Mu Wan’s mother had once shown her a kindness she never forgot, so after Mu Wan’s mother died, Aunt Wu had quietly continued to look after her. In the years since Mu Wan moved out of the Mu household, Aunt Wu would come by whenever she had time to cook her a meal, tidy up the place, do what she could.

Aunt Wu followed Mu Wan into the kitchen.

The apartment looked exactly as it had the last time she visited, and suspicion flickered in the older woman’s eyes. She looked around twice more before coming back to herself—only to find Mu Wan leaning against the doorframe, arms folded, watching her.

“There’s no one here,” Mu Wan said.

Caught in the act of snooping, Aunt Wu only smiled shyly. After that, she tested the waters and asked, “Then what about the one from yesterday?”

Mu Wan immediately understood.

When she and Liu Qianxiu had gone downstairs together the day before, they had run into the neighbor from across the hall. Judging by how enthusiastically those two had been chatting outside just now, that had almost certainly been the topic.

“That was Dr. Liu,” Mu Wan explained. “He came to pick up the cats.”

She knew Aunt Wu cared about her, and she had never hidden anything about her love life from her.

The light in Aunt Wu’s eyes dimmed visibly.

Earlier, outside the door, the neighbor had gone into great detail—how handsome the man was, how refined he looked, how perfectly matched he and Mu Wan seemed. Aunt Wu had been thrilled for a good while because of it.

As she began taking ingredients out of the vegetable basket, Aunt Wu uttered, “You’re not getting any younger. After all these years, is there still no one you like? Even just having someone to eat with would be good.”

At that last sentence, Mu Wan’s lips pressed together for a moment. Something stirred through her mind. Watching Aunt Wu take out the vegetables one by one, she asked, “Why the sudden urge to push this now?”

Aunt Wu had always thought about it, but she had never pressed before.

Aunt Wu lifted her eyes and sighed.

“Mu Qing brought her boyfriend home yesterday.”

At the mention of Mu Qing, Mu Wan’s thoughts drew back at once.

Mu Qing was the daughter of her maternal uncle—her cousin, only two months younger than she was. Mu Wan had grown up in the Mu household with her mother, and a widowed woman raising a child under someone else’s roof never made for a pleasant reputation. Mu Wan’s mother was still considered part of the Mu family, more or less. But Mu Wan, though she carried the family name, had always been treated like an outsider. Nearly everyone in the Mu household disliked her.

Mu Wan and Mu Qing were close in age, but they had never been treated the same way.

Especially after Mu Wan’s mother died.

So once she was able to support herself, she moved out of the Mu family home.

Still, children raised in the same house were inevitably compared. Mu Qing had never been able to surpass Mu Wan while they were growing up, which had made her cry in anger. Later, after receiving the polished education expected of a socialite, she stopped showing such feelings openly.

“Her boyfriend is the future heir to the Shen family,” Aunt Wu said. “They met while traveling abroad. From the way he spoke, he seemed like someone very capable.”

After giving her judgment, Aunt Wu sighed again.

“After all these years, she’s finally managed to come out ahead of you.”

Mu Wan lowered her eyes to Aunt Wu. Her expression was as calm as a drifting cloud.

Putting on a look of mock offense, she smiled and said, “How has she come out ahead of me? Maybe I’ll find someone even more impressive.”

“And where exactly are you going to find someone more impressive than that?” Aunt Wu got back sideways.

Mu Wan laughed.

“The Shen family is only impressive because they have the Liu family behind them. I’ll just find someone from the Liu family instead.”

Aunt Wu looked up at her, saw the joke in her eyes, and said, “No need for someone especially impressive. Just find someone who treats you well. Once you do, you’ll have family again.”

Mu Wan’s smile paused.

Aunt Wu did not continue the subject. Instead, after taking out all the ingredients, she asked, “What do you want to eat?”

Mu Wan glanced over them, then lightly wet her lower lip.

“Yangchun noodles.”

↞ Previous│❀ Table of Contents ❀│Next ↠

Continue reading Incurable Chapter 7 Part 2

Incurable Chapter 7 Part 1

Chapter 7 (1/2)

Liu Qianxiu did not seem to notice anything unusual.

Mu Wan looked up at him. He met her gaze, set the baby bottle aside, and rose to leave the cat room.

Clearly, he hadn’t caught the suggestive edge of what she had just said. A man like Liu Qianxiu probably didn’t spend much time online. There was no way he knew an old joke like that.

A little while after Liu Qianxiu stepped out, Mu Wan followed.

He had invited her to stay for dinner, and out of basic courtesy, she ought to at least offer to help in the kitchen. The moment she stepped out of the cat room, she saw Zhouyi sitting upright outside the kitchen door.

Zhouyi was black from head to tail, its coat sleek and glossy, carrying the calm laziness and quiet authority of a mature cat. It was already dark out. The kitchen light was on, and with its back half-turned, Zhouyi looked almost like some creature out of deep mountains and old forests, something feral hidden within those upright golden pupils.

When Mu Wan approached, Zhouyi let out a single cry—long and mellow, as though night itself had found a voice in a bamboo grove high in the mountains.

In older times, black cats were considered creatures that warded off evil. Only later did people begin to twist them into omens of misfortune and disaster, so few households kept them now.

Liu Qianxiu really was set apart from ordinary people.

At Zhouyi’s cry, Liu Qianxiu glanced back from where he stood in the kitchen. He was tall and straight, both hands lightly braced against the counter as he waited for the noodles to finish cooking. Steam rose in white ribbons. His black, gleaming eyes were half-veiled in the mist, and for one strange moment, Mu Wan felt a coolness like morning fog at daybreak.

Even in a kitchen, the place most full of worldly warmth and smoke, Liu Qianxiu somehow remained unstained by any trace of vulgarity.

He still looked like an immortal.

“It’s very gentle,” Liu Qianxiu said.

The man and the cat turned to look at her together—one pair of eyes black, the other gold.

Mu Wan looked back at them, and her lashes trembled faintly.

“I’m not afraid,” she said.

She braced her hands on her knees. The apartment’s air-conditioning was set low, yet she felt a little warm. She made no rash move to touch Zhouyi, only looked at it and asked, “How long have you had it?”

“One year,” Liu Qianxiu said. “Since it was born.”

Understanding flickered in her eyes.

“So the nursery in the cat room—that was originally for Zhouyi?”

“Mm,” Liu Qianxiu said.

“There are so many orphaned cats,” she murmured. Then she looked at Zhouyi again and asked, “Did you find it at the hospital too?”

Liu Qianxiu turned back toward the stove. Looking at Zhouyi on the floor, he said, “No. Beside a Taoist temple.”

Mu Wan had always known Liu Qianxiu was a Taoist believer, but hearing him mention a temple so plainly still sent a light shiver over her arms.

Faith always had a way of making people instinctively reverent.

She did not ask more.

Instead, she looked at the bamboo chopsticks in Liu Qianxiu’s hand and straightened.

“Do you need help?”

“No.”

After saying that, Liu Qianxiu turned back to the pot and stirred the long noodles once with the chopsticks. The motion was practiced, the posture almost elegant.

Liu Qianxiu’s kitchen was large—an island layout. Directly opposite the entrance was the sink area, to the left the storage side, and to the right the cooking space. At the center of the kitchen stood a marble dining island with high stools tucked neatly beneath it. Everything in the kitchen was complete, spotless, and arranged with almost severe order, revealing the owner’s discipline and restraint.

Even though Liu Qianxiu had refused help, Mu Wan still walked over.

The moment she reached the counter, her eyes lit up, and she smiled.

“Yangchun noodles. They smell wonderful.”

She really was hungry.

One hand rested at the small of her back, her elbow angled behind her. Beneath the dark green halter top, her shoulder blades opened like wings.

She stood not far from him. Beneath the rolling water were the slender white strands of noodles. Liu Qianxiu stirred them once with the bamboo chopsticks and said, “There’s no pork lard. I used sesame oil.”

Traditional yangchun noodles were made with pork lard—a spoonful of chilled lard in the bottom of the bowl, then hot broth poured over it until the fragrance rose full and rich.

Mu Wan looked up at Liu Qianxiu and smiled. She assumed he was explaining because of his own dietary restrictions.

“Sesame oil is fine too,” she said. “I’m easy to keep.”

The words came out, and then her voice caught.

Liu Qianxiu looked at her.

Their eyes met.

Mu Wan moved her gaze away first.

Steam drifted between them. She turned back to the broth, and beneath her faintly reddened earlobe, a few curved wisps of hair softened her into an unexpected quietness.

Liu Qianxiu looked away and turned off the heat.

“It’s ready.”

The moment he said it, Mu Wan reached over with a bowl.

The broth gleamed softly inside. Her long, pale fingers curved around the rim, white as carved jade. The movement was so natural that the two of them looked almost like people who had eaten together, as though this quiet coordination had already happened many times before.

Liu Qianxiu took the bowl. In the pale brown ceramic, the long noodles spread open like white blossoms.

Carrying the noodles, Mu Wan pulled out one of the high stools and sat across from him. She took up her chopsticks and stirred the noodles once. Then, through the rising steam, she took a bite.

The flavor spread across her tongue.

She lifted her eyes and looked at Liu Qianxiu on the other side of the counter.

Even the bowl of yangchun noodles he had made was like him—clean, light, and unexpectedly full of taste. Taoist Liu, who seemed so restrained and淡, suddenly felt more alive because of this one bowl of noodles.

“It’s delicious,” Mu Wan said.

The man lifted his eyes and looked at her once. In his hand, the bamboo chopsticks slowly loosened the noodles in his own bowl.

“Eat more,” he said evenly.

Mu Wan ate two bowls.

It had been a long time since she had shared a meal with anyone.

Her work schedule each week was never that full. If she counted it all up, she only filmed three or four days out of seven, and spent the rest at home. She rarely ate breakfast, ordered takeout for lunch, and ate at roadside stalls for dinner.

Lunch takeout was something she ate alone—cold, quiet.

At the night stalls, there were always people everywhere—loud, crowded, bustling.

The two extremes left very little room for something like this.

Someone was sitting across from her.

Two people, each holding a bowl of noodles.

A few quiet exchanges here and there.

The light accidental knock of chopsticks and bowls between them, like a long-silent set of bronze chimes being struck awake again.

Mu Wan finished even the broth. Her stomach was full.

Something else inside her felt full too, though she could not quite name what it was.

After dinner, she did not linger. She called a car and went home.

↞ Previous│❀ Table of Contents ❀│Next ↠

Continue reading Incurable Chapter 7 Part 1

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 205

~ LI YUANYI’S HEART STIRRING ~

On the second day, Yue Wang had left early. Before leaving, he warned Steward Qin that if anything happened in Bu Xian Luo, he must ensure Mu Yunyao’s safety. 

Naturally, Steward Qin agreed and arranged for people to set up in Jin Xiu Garden carefully. 

It was just as Mu Yunyao expected. Li Yuanyi did not come on the second day. Ming Yin followed Mu Yunyao’s instructions and directly pretended to fall into the water. After that, she said that she wouldn’t be entertaining the guests until recovering from her illness.

That night, Li Yuanyi sent his entourage to visit Ming Yin. He even sent in a lot of medicinal herbs and told her to recuperate well.

Ming Yin said thanks in a hurry, but she returned the medicine.

When Li Yuanyi heard his entourage’s report, he felt his mind shake and kept recalling the scene when he saw Ming Yin that day.

When Li Munian came to see him in this state, he could not help but advise him: “Bu Xian Luo is different from other places. Moreover, you came here to verify the salt tax, so It’s really not appropriate to have any further complications. If you really take a fancy to Ming Yin. When the matter is settled, I will think of a way to send her to your house.”

“Don’t worry, Nephew. Naturally, I know what I’m doing.” He loved beauties and enjoyed pursuing them. Otherwise, with his status, as long as he opened his mouth, people would send a lot of beauties straight to his bed. That would be much less fun. Li Munian is a bit unhappy. He knew Li Yuanyi, but he doesn’t like Li Yuanyi’s style of conduct and behavior. According to seniority, Li Munian should call this person ‘Uncle’, so he could not say many things unpleasantly: “I wonder when Uncle will be leaving for Yangzhou city?” Compared to Jingling City, those cities south of Yangzhou City and Suzhou City were the main points of verification. Li Yuanyi smiled unpredictably: “Right now, it will take some time to investigate the salt tax in the inner core of Jingling City. There are also salt merchants coming to Yangzhou City to take care of it, so I hope that we can examine it more carefully. Furthermore, I have heard some rumors, so I cannot rush to Yangzhou City and can only stay in Jingling City for more time.”

If the salt merchants had not gone crazy, they would not have wanted Li Yuanyi to examine them more carefully. Now that they said it this way, they only wanted him to stay in Jingling City for a while to give the salt merchants time to prepare comprehensively. It seemed like there must be a big problem with the salt tax this time.

Li Munian’s eyes lit up, “Uncle, what do you mean?”

“That’s right. I will check it out slowly and give the merchants some time to make perfect preparation. In other words, I’ll have sold the salt merchants for their blessings. In the future, we can say that their benefits are limitless.” His purpose this time was to help the First Prince rope in these salt merchants so that he could extract more from them in the future. He did not expect that he would be here just a moment, and there was good news coming from Jingling City.

Li Munian was very happy, so he reminded Li Yuanyi, “Although it’s good news, Uncle must also be extra careful, in case there’s any trickery involved. After all, the salt merchant is cunning, and the water in it is too deep. If you are careless, the ship may capsize in the gutter.”

“Nephew, don’t worry. I will come and discuss it with you if there’s any news. There definitely won’t be any mistakes.” Since this was an important matter, he naturally had to pull Li Munian along. It also meant that he had the support of Prime Minister Li behind him, and both he and the First Prince had huge advantages.

“Fine. If I can’t make up my mind, I will send a message to the Capital, asking Father for guidance.”

Li Munian and Li Yuanyi were happily chatting with each other. Before he left, Li Munian had left behind his two beautiful female attendants, but Li Yuanyi was worried about Ming Yin. He looked at the two female attendants in front of him again and felt that they were just ordinary women, not that elegant and refined aura that Ming Yin had.

“It seems that I’ll have to pay a personal visit tomorrow.”

The next day, Li Yuanyi bitterly waited until the afternoon before he packed up and headed to Bu XIan Luo. When he arrived, he did not see Ming Yin but was welcomed by Shopkeeper Qin, “Greetings, Lord Li. How about Yun Chun makes you some tea today?”

Yun Chun came forward and greeted, “Greetings, Lord Li.” Yun Chun has a delicate appearance, delicate eyebrows, with a trace of sassy air when he moves in a line. Under the contrast of her white clothes, she gave off a refreshing feeling. Usually, Li Yuanyi would definitely be touched by this, but with Ming Yin in front of him, he actually felt like there was nothing else in his eyes. This kind of feeling hasn’t appeared on him for a long time, and it made him even more curious about it. All these years, there had been a lot of beauties around him, but not many could truly move his heart. Ming Yin was the first one that had worried him so much, so he was increasingly unwilling to give up, “Shopkeeper Qin, I did not come here to drink tea. Instead, I heard that something had happened to Miss Ming Yin, and I hope to be able to visit her.”

Steward Qin appeared to be troubled, “About this... To tell Lord Li the truth, ever since Miss Ming Yin’s incident, there has been an endless stream of customers who have come to visit me, but Miss Ming Yin has not seen anyone. Although she is Si Cha’s Bu Xian Luo, she has signed a contract at the beginning, and I can’t force her to do it.”

“So that’s the case. Then, may I ask Shopkeeper Qin to ask Miss Ming Yin if she is willing to see me?”

Steward Qin was surprised for a moment before he nodded his head. With a smile, he said, “That’s fine. I’ll ask Yun Chun to go and inquire about it. If Miss Ming Yin is willing, that would be for the best.”

Looking at his expression, Li Yuanyi could not help but smile and secretly thought that Shopkeeper Qin would do something: “Then I’ll have to trouble you, Shopkeeper Qin. Consider this as me owing you a favor.” Naturally, he didn’t mind being indebted to Shopkeeper Qin as he was after Ming Yin.

The smile on Steward Qin’s face became even wider as he served the best tea to Li Yuanyi and waited with him.

After he has two cups of tea, Yun Chun came back with an awkward expression. “Greetings, Lord Li. Miss Ming Yin is not feeling well, so she doesn’t wish to see you right now. Please forgive me.”

Li Yuanyi frowned, feeling displeased in his heart. At the same time, he had a strong desire for victory. “Since that’s the case, I will come again another day.” After this, he walked out.

Yun Chun, however, quickly followed. “Lord Li, please wait a moment. Actually, Ming Yin wishes to meet you. It’s just that …”

Li Yuan stopped walking and said unhappily, “Since she wants to see me, are you trying to make things difficult for me?”

“Yun Chun would never dare to do so, and I am not to speak clearly. Follow me. I’ll show you, and you’ll understand.” Yun Chun clenched her teeth and brought Li Yuanyi to the backyard of Jin Xiu Garden.

At this moment, flowers were blooming in the backyard. The luxuriant purple and red flowers were looking extremely prosperous and beautiful.

At the end of a large garden, there was the sound of running water. A pavilion was built on the surface of the water, giving it an expressly elegant appearance. In the pavilion, near the water source, Ming Yin was leaning against the railing, one hand on her chin, lost in thought as she gazed at the water surface.

At this moment, she was wearing a white skirt that reached all the floors. As the wind blew past her, her sleeves gently fluttered, giving off the impression that she was riding on the wind. Li Yuanyi looked at her from afar. Looking at her pale but delicate face, he could only feel his heart worrying for her. “Miss Ming Yin …”

↞ Previous│❀ Table of Content ❀ │ Next ↠

Continue reading Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife Chapter 205