Chapter 187
Test Out
Zhou Ruihua, the wife of the Salt Transport Envoy Li Munian, was born in the Zhou family, which was the Minister of the Military Department . Many people said that when she reached her prime, she became acquainted with Li Munian at first sight, so she decided to marry him even at the risk of her reputation . This result made the Zhou family and the Li family extremely unhappy, and in the end, it was the Emperor who decided to marry Zhou Ruihua to Li Munian .
However, the royal marriage didn’t improve the relationship between the two families . Even after so many years, the two families still didn’t interact much .
Lady Zhou said gently, “I had the intention to go to Bu Xian Luo, but I did not make an appointment in advance . I was afraid that I would not be able to find a seat, so I took the liberty to invite Miss Mu . Could I make things difficult for Miss Mu?”
“There have always been some seats reserved in Bu Xian Luo for entertaining distinguished guests . Lady Zhou, of course, is one of the distinguished guests . If Madam does not dislike it, I will make a pot of tea for you personally . How about having a taste of it?”
“Of course, it’s good . In the Capital, I’ve heard that Miss Mu’s skills in making tea are exceptional, and even Eunuch Xu in the Palace has never stopped praising you . After hearing this, the Emperor said that if there is a chance, he would definitely recruit Miss Mu into the Palace and have a look at the amazing tea making techniques . ”
Mu Yunyao looked surprised: “Did the Emperor really say that? Then I will practice hard of my tea making techniques after I go back . If I am lucky enough to be summoned by the Emperor, I will certainly show it well . ”
Mu Yunyao got into the carriage and followed Lady Zhou all the way to Jin Xiu Garden . She then led the way to the peony seat .
Steward Qin walked over and greeted her . He then took people to arranged the tea set .
Mu Yunyao personally brewed tea and served it for Lady Zhou . Looking at the wondrous scene that conjured from the tea, Lady Zhou praised it for a long time, “In the earlier years, I heard that the Jiangnan Tea Ladies was able to make tea with unparalleled craftsmanship in the world . They also can transform the scenery in a small teacup . I thought it was merely bragging at first, but today, I’ve seen Miss Mu’s craftsmanship . and I realized that there was someone outside the world and what they said were true . ”
“Madam, you are too kind . ” Mu Yunyao’s face turned slightly red, and she looked a little embarra.s.sed, but her eyes carried a trace of pride and happiness .
Lady Zhou closed her eyes, and the smile in her eyes deepened . After tea, she strolled around Jin Xiu Garden a bit and left without a word .
Mu Yunyao accompanied Lady Zhou to the outside of the garden . Mu Yunyao waited for her to get on the carriage before turning around and returning to inside .
Steward Qin came over and greeted her with a solemn expression, “Miss, is that the wife of the newly appointed Salt Transport Envoy, Li Mu Nian?”
Mu Yunyao smiled and nodded . “That’s right . We met at the Cao family’s Full Moon Banquet . She specifically invited me over just now, saying that she didn’t want to come to Bu Xian Luo to having tea, so I brought her over . ”
Steward Qin smiled, “What does Miss think of this person?”
Mu Yunyao curled her lips into a smile . “He is gentle and approachable . Even though we haven’t known each other for long, it’s still so easy for people to have a good impression of him . ”
Hearing this, Steward Qin felt relieved . “Miss, you have seen through everything . I think Madam will wait for you anxiously . Please go home quickly, Miss . ”
“Alright, then I’ll take my leave . ”
Yu Yi was at a loss . After Mu Yunyao left, he asked Steward Qin, “Steward Qin, what did you mean by what you said to Miss Mu just now? Why can’t I hear any mystery behind it?”
“There’s no mystery behind it . How can you tell?”
“Then, is this Lady Zhou good or bad?”
Steward Qin shook his head . This person’s brain didn’t know how to react at all: “What about Lady Zhou? What about Miss Mu’s ident.i.ty?”
“Lady Zhou was Li Munian’s wife and was from the Zhou family in the Capital . She is the legitimate daughter of the current Minister of the Military Department . Besides, she was given marriage by the Emperor . Naturally, she has a different status . Although Miss Mu was now Lord Cao’s adopted daughter, her level of ident.i.ty was very shallow . It was unlikely that Lady Zhou would take her seriously . ”
Steward Qin nodded, “Didn’t you already say the crucial point?”
“A crucial point?” Yu Yi thought about it carefully and was suddenly stunned, “That’s right . Logically speaking, even if Lady Zhou was approachable, she shouldn’t have treated Miss Mu well! Furthermore, from what I’ve heard, this Lady Zhou has a calm appearance on the outside, and she is very arrogant on the inside . She even once said she was disdain for the royal family’s wife in the first place …”
“Looks like the wind is blowing again in Jingling City . ” Steward Qin thought for a moment and said, “Recently, get someone to keep an eye on Li family . After all, the Li family belongs to the First Prince’s lineage . Our current stall has not rolled out yet, and the First Prince must not be aware of it . Otherwise, I am afraid that all previous efforts will be in vain . ” Li Qingzhou’s eldest daughter had been in the Palace for many years, and she was now in the position of an Imperial Concubine . Besides, she had raised the eldest son of the Emperor, which was highly respected by the Emperor . Now, the First Prince had married the daughter of a branch of the Li family, which makes the relationship firmer . In the past two years, it has been supporting the development of the First Prince’s party affiliation, which is an important reason why the Emperor began to reduce Li Qingzhou’s power .
“Yes . ”
When Mu Yunyao returned home, Su Qing looked at her and let out a sigh of relief, “Yao’er, why did that Lady Zhou want to do with you?”
“It must be that Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Luo are too popular . She wanted to test it out, and I was just there to act with her . ”
“What’s the effect?”
“Mother, don’t worry . Lady Zhou has a n.o.ble background, and she married into a wealthy family like the Li family . Naturally, she disdains to make things difficult for me . Let alone a small thing like Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Luo, even the giants like Cai Yue Pavilion is nothing in their eye, but merchants . ”
“Sigh, I feel that I have lost some of my strength in my heart after Lord Cao and Lady Jin left . ” Su Qing couldn’t help but sigh . She had a calm personality . It was not easy for her to feel that everything was in order, but then she suddenly felt that something was off . She wouldn’t know what happen in the future?
Mu Yunyao took Su Qing’s arm and sat on the bedside . “Mother, you don’t have to worry . It’s good if the adoptive father and mother go to the Capital . This way, when we return to the Su family, we can meet with them in the Capital . ”
“Yao’er, I also heard from Steward Qin about some matters regarding Lord Li . His background is deep and profound, and he is not someone we can afford to offend . In the future, we should stay as far away from him as possible . ”
“Mother, I don’t want to have anything to do with him, but it seems impossible now . When Lady Zhou saw me today, she was probably trying to test out my character and personality . She might have some other motives . ” Mu Yunyao thought for a moment before deciding to tell Su Qing the truth . She would have been exposed to some things sooner or later, and she will be able to prepare for something if she knows it early .
“The Li family has lots of a.s.sets, and the father of Lord Li is the Prime Minister . We are just commoners . What can they possibly get from us?”
“Mother had known Lord Li’s father’s ident.i.ty . I presume that you know that he is the First Prince’s maternal grandfather . Ni Yun Fang and Bu Xian Luo have gained a great reputation in Jiangnan . If the First Prince could use them, it would be good . ”
Su Qing couldn’t help but be nervous . “Doesn’t that mean we’re in danger?”
“Mother, you don’t have to worry too much . Since they want to make use of us, I will naturally use some methods to win us over . Besides, do you think they’ll go overboard with the golden signboard that the Emperor personally gave us? We’ll only need to treat it as not understanding . ” If Yue w.a.n.g had not been there, their situation would have been much more difficult, but it was different now . If they had been able to get their hands on the salt policy according to plan, then Yue w.a.n.g’s power would have quickly expanded . With such a stable and reliable backer, she was not afraid of even a few princes!