“Ningzhu.”
Mu Yao’s call had barely fallen when the young maid waiting outside the door pushed it open and entered.
“Have Uncle Wang come here. I have something to ask him.”
Uncle Wang had watched her grow up since she was a child, and he understood many matters in the capital far more thoroughly than she did.
Surely, he would know a great deal about the Chuwangfu.
Before long, Uncle Wang stepped respectfully into the hall and bowed to the person seated at the head. “Young Miss, you summoned this old servant.”
Though Uncle Wang had watched Mu Yao grow up since childhood, and though Mu Fu now had only Mu Yao left, he never overstepped his bounds.
This showed his upright character, and so Mu Yao trusted him.
“Uncle Wang, how much do you know about the Chuwangfu?”
Mu Yao’s words made Uncle Wang suddenly raise his head, surprise flashing through his eyes. “Young Miss, why do you ask about the Chuwangfu?”
“Just tell me. There’s no need to ask about anything else.”
Mu Yao’s voice was faint, as if she had brought it up casually, and she waved her hand to signal Uncle Wang to take a seat.
Though she had her own ideas, before she was certain of anything, it was best not to let too many people know, lest word get out.
“You know as well, Young Miss, that Chu Wang is a prince by special decree rather than by imperial blood. It was only through the emperor’s grace that the Chuwangfu came to be. However, since Chu Wang is not truly of the imperial clan, the emperor bestowed the title of Enci Gaoming upon Chu Wang’s birth mother, who is now known as Old Madame Xiao.”
“Old Madame Xiao does not often visit among the households of the capital. Rather, she is fond of poetry and song. Though she has a quiet temperament, if one displeases the old madame, no matter how much face one has, one will receive nothing but cold looks thereafter.”
Mu Yao had indeed heard something of this Old Madame Xiao.
Not for any particular reason.
It was all because, many years ago when she was still an unmarried young lady, she had witnessed Old Madame Xiao berating a secondary consort at the Jin Wangfu.
That secondary consort had been rather thoughtless, for she had insinuated that the old madame had become a widow early in life.
One should know that Yan Xun’s birth father had died on the battlefield for the country. Such words naturally enraged the old madame, who filed a formal complaint before the emperor.
Even though Prince Jin later dealt with the secondary consort, the old madame never gave him a kind look again.
She was quite alike in temperament to Yan Xun, actually.
“What else?”
Mu Yao took a sip of tea before continuing her inquiry.
As for the other relationships, they were not as complicated as she had imagined.
They were merely ordinary trifles, not worth dwelling on.
The most important one was Old Madame Xiao.
Seeing Mu Yao lost in thought, Uncle Wang, who had been about to leave, could not help but ask with concern, “Young Miss, though Chu Wang may be a good match, if you enter the Chuwangfu, I fear no one will be able to back you up.”
Meeting the worried gaze before her, a wave of warmth surged through Mu Yao’s chest.
“Uncle Wang, rest assured. I know what I’m doing. Do not speak of today’s discussion with anyone outside.”
“This old servant understands.”
Watching Uncle Wang’s figure disappear beyond the courtyard gate, Mu Yao slowly rose and walked toward the rear courtyard, her heart restless with unease.
Though she had come into contact with Yan Xun several times now, and though she always felt he seemed somewhat different toward her,
Mu Yao still could not be certain that Yan Xun would agree to her request.
But if she were to marry some other family so casually, she certainly would not be willing.
After thinking it over again and again, she could only take a gamble.
With this in mind, Mu Yao looked to her side. “Tomorrow is the fifteenth. I recall that Chu Wang goes to Qingshui Ge at this time every year, doesn’t he?”
Ningzhu nodded in acknowledgment.
“Young Miss, shall this servant go now to reserve a private room?”
“Go ahead, and buy some jujube cake on the way back.”
Placing the silver into Ningzhu’s palm, Mu Yao watched the figure leave.
She rose and went to the table, carefully writing down her thoughts on a sheet of paper.
By the time footsteps sounded from outside the courtyard, the ink on the paper had already dried.
Mu Yao unhurriedly folded it and placed it in the sachet she usually wore, only then raising her eyes to look at the young maid who entered carrying the jujube cake.
“Did you manage to book it?”
Qingshui Ge was the finest teahouse in the capital, and private rooms there were exceedingly difficult to come by.
“Young Miss, when this servant arrived, the room next door happened to still be available!” Ningzhu said with delight. “Wouldn’t you say heaven itself is helping you?”
Such a coincidence?
A flicker of surprise passed through Mu Yao’s eyes. For some reason, Yan Xun’s face flashed through her mind.
She quickly took a bite of the jujube cake to steady herself.
That man couldn’t possibly know what she was thinking. It must truly be a coincidence.
Suppressing her thoughts, Mu Yao carefully considered how she should broach the matter when she found the opportunity tomorrow.
Little did she know, that private room had been reserved long ago.
“Your Highness, you truly are prescient. Young Miss Mu really did send Ningzhu to Qingshui Ge to book a private room!”
The moment Changqing stepped into the study, he could not help but blurt out the news.
This caused Divine Physician Liao, who was taking Yan Xun’s pulse, to raise an eyebrow and cast a meaningful glance at the cold-faced man before him.
“Young Miss Mu? Could she be the orphan left behind by Zhongsu Gong?”
Yan Xun raised an eyebrow and glanced at him, then casually withdrew his hand. “And what of it?”
Seeing that he avoided the question, Divine Physician Liao’s smile deepened at the corners of his lips, though he did not press further.
“The toxin seems to have eased somewhat. Judging by your spirits today, you’ve slept well these past few nights.”
Hearing this, Yan Xun furrowed his brow slightly but did not continue along that line of conversation. Instead, he gave Changqing a look.
Changqing turned and placed an incense stick before Divine Physician Liao.
“Take this back and study its composition.”
Divine Physician Liao narrowed his eyes, sniffed the scent, and a trace of surprise flickered through his gaze. “Youlanxiang?”
Seeing Yan Xun nod, Divine Physician Liao carefully tucked the incense stick away before silently taking his leave from the Chuwangfu.
No one knew he had been there, not even the lookouts hidden in the shadows.
Seeing this, Changqing cupped his hands and left the study.
Only when the study was left with Yan Xun alone did he slowly rise and take out a somewhat creased scroll from the bookshelf.
As the painting slowly unfurled, a woman with a charming smile suddenly appeared before his eyes.
If Mu Yao were here, she would surely recognize this as a painting her mother had once created.
“Ungrateful little girl, you really have forgotten me.”
Yan Xun let out a cold snort, appearing to roll up the painting roughly, yet he was exceptionally careful.
Afraid of damaging the painting in his hands, and losing the keepsake.
…
Mu Yao calculated the time and arrived at the entrance of Qingshui Ge. Ningzhu handed over the voucher, and a servant led the two of them upstairs.
Before entering the private room, Mu Yao instinctively glanced at the room next door.
Seeing no one guarding the entrance, she furrowed her brows slightly.
Could it be that Yan Xun wasn’t coming today?
As the servant closed the door to the private room, Mu Yao sat by the window and happened to lock eyes with a man dismounting from his horse.
She felt an inexplicable sense of guilt and quickly averted her gaze, taking a sip of tea to steady herself.
“What’s wrong, miss?”
Ningzhu noticed her reaction and instinctively glanced downstairs. Seeing only Changqing’s robe, a hint of joy rose in her eyes.
“Miss, this servant will go guard the door!”
Before Mu Yao could speak, the young girl hurriedly rushed out.
Before long, the door to the private room was pushed open.
A tall figure of a man stepped in slowly, dressed in a light cyan robe, which made Yan Xun appear with a touch of youthful innocence.
Seeing this appearance, it seemed he had dressed up carefully?
Mu Yao felt puzzled inwardly, but dared not look any longer. She quickly lowered her eyes and rose respectfully, “Chu Wang, may you be well.”
Seeing her being so courteous to him, the smile at the corner of Yan Xun’s lips was subtly suppressed.
She truly had forgotten him.
Indeed, the saying that beautiful women have no conscience was true.
“Miss Mu, what business do you have with this king today?”