Chapter 109
Chapter 109 Return of Fifty People
Mu Yunyao was peacefully recuperating at home, but the entire Jingling City was in an uproar.
All the shops in Ding Family sealed, and only when many citizens asked did they find out that the fire in Niyunfang most likely set by the people of Ding Family. All of a sudden, the commoners no longer had good impressions of Ding Family, and all of them began to spread the news. All of them were proclaiming that they had severely punished to giving Miss Mu an explanation.
The Ding Family captured and imprisoned. After a short interrogation, they told that they instructed by Jingling Tongzhi and Xuan fu. That was why they had the guts and decided to set the Niyunfang on fire.
The moment he said this, the entire city went into an uproar.
Jingling Tongzhi and Xuanfu’s reputation outside are still quite good, and many commoners were supporting them. Now that they heard that they were the ones who instructed people to set fire to Niyunfang, many people suspected that there was something wrong with the investigation.
Immediately afterward, Governor Zhang publicly interrogated the two people, which attracted a lot of people to go to the government office’s entrance and listen to the interrogation.
The two of them did not admit to burning Niyunfang, but after some investigation, they revealed other unbelievable secrets.
Jingling Tongzhi knew to use power to seek personal gain, and had embezzled more than two hundred thousand taels of silver from the river channel, so he used his own wife, Ding Yuexin, to flirt with Shangguan, to help him hide the evidence and conspire with others.
Hearing this news, Xuan Fu and Jingling Tongzhi both immediately fell into a battle. The scene was in chaos, and Governor’s gavel had broken before they were barely able to maintain the situation.
Later, the news that came out was even more shocking. Ding Yuexin was actually intimate with five men at the same time. The reason the Ding Family was able to rise to such heights so quickly was all because of her taking off her clothes and obtaining the strength of the Luo Hua City Mistress.
Immediately, the people of Ding Family started shouting and attacking. Even Ding Yuelan and the other daughters of Ding Family members affected, their reputations totally ruined.
Regardless of whether the fire on Niyunfang set by them or not, Jingling Tongzhi and Xuanfu never had a chance to make a comeback again.
Su Qingwu wrote a report about what had happened in Jingling City and reported it to the Imperial Court. Because of the urgency, he feared that it would cause a change in the hearts of the people. He sent the news to the capital through the night.
As soon as the news entered the capital, it attracted the attention of the public officials, who repeatedly requested that the Emperor severely punish this matter.
Mu Yunyao had naturally heard of the matters of Jingling Tongzhi and Xuanfu. She had even sent Jin Lan to find out more about Ding Yuelan. But unfortunately, she was unable to find anything after she had asked for a while.
After recuperating for seven or eight days, some of the small wounds on her body had fully healed. Only the wound on her palm was still faintly painful. After calculating the time, she reckoned that Liu Liang and others were about to return. She wanted to go to Jinxiu Garden.
Even if it was just going to the next door, Su Qing still did not agree to let her go out no matter what. Mu Yunyao used every means she had, making a series of promises before finally being able to bring Jin Lan and Jin Qiao to the next room.
When Steward Qin heard the news, he hurriedly came over to greet her. “Greetings, Miss Mu. What about Miss’s injury?”
“Thank you, Steward Qin, for your concern. Nothing serious has happened.”
“Seeing that Miss still looks haggard, I think it's better if you rest more. I have prepared some bird's nest and ginseng, but I don't dare to carelessly send them to Miss for fear of causing Madam to misunderstand. Miss, you must take them with you when you leave.”
“Then, I'll have to thank Steward Qin.”
Mu Yunyao sat at the side of the pavilion and waited. She had already agreed to wait here for the fifty people to return on the fifteenth day at the same time. Regardless of others, Liu Liang will return on time.
Just as she was deep in thought, a servant came forward to report, “Miss, Steward Qin, Wei Yi, Yun Chun, and the others have returned.”
Mu Yunyao's eyes lit up: “Please, bring them in.”
Steward Qin was also full of curiosity. He did not know if there were any changes to those people after staying on both sides of Qin Huai for half a month.
After walking in, Liu Liang took the lead and bowed to Mu Yunyao, then silently stood by her side. His eyes, however, were looking at quietly with an unreadable expression.
Wei Yi and Yun Chun were slightly behind, and the expressions on their faces were still light as if there was no difference from before. But after careful observation, their auras were a little different.
Mu Yunyao swept a glance across them, and a look of satisfaction flashed past her eyes: “Go and prepare some clothes, and then come over here to make some tea.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Very quickly, the fifty people finished changing and walked over. They sat at their respective tables and bowed towards Mu Yunyao and Steward Qin in unison. Steward Qin could not help but widely open his eyes. The people were still the same, but their auras were completely different. Previously, they had smiles on their faces, no matter how brilliant they were, they had an ice-cold look to them. But now it makes people feel comfortable and more natural.
Mu Yunyao slightly nodded: “Let's begin.”
The fifty people started to brew the tea at the same time. Their white sleeves began to move as they poured water into the tea, and the sound of water poured into sand teapot can be heard. Not long after, the fragrance of tea wafted through the air. The tea cup's lid lightly tapped against it, letting out a crisp sound, and then the fifty people saluted together once more, gathering their hands and sitting behind the table.
(Sand Teapot)
A look of pleasant surprise appeared on Steward Qin's face. These people already had the charm of Mu Yunyao when she was making tea, especially when all of them were moving at the same time. It was exceptionally shocking. “What do you think, Miss?”
The crowd also raised their heads to look at Mu Yunyao, hoping to gain her approval.
However, Mu Yunyao shook her head slightly, “It’s over.”
“It’s over?” The Steward Qin did not understand, “Please enlighten me, Miss.”
"Our teahouse is open to welcome guests. How many of those guests really love tea? "I think it's less than one-tenth. Among the many guests, some of them are just for social interaction, while some of them are just followers. If we are not able to be unique and there are so many teahouses, why would others choose to come to our place?"
As Mu Yunyao spoke, she got up and sat behind the table, and began to brew the tea.
Her face was pale and haggard, and the clothes she wore were all ordinary. However, the moment she moved, everyone's eyes focused on her movements. It was clearly the same tea brewing method, but her actions gave off natural beauty.
“Even without me saying so, you know that this teahouse is not only for the sake of earning money. If you can't attract as many people as possible to come here, then this teahouse will be meaningless. After you come back, your expressions are indeed much more vivid than before. However, you have to remember that we are a teahouse, and we need to wash away the lead dust and maintain our elegance. What you are displaying is not your own, but the tea in your hands. So your breath must be one with the tea."
Her voice was crisp and clear. As she made tea, she spoke slowly. The words that left her mouth seemed to drift away with the fragrance of the tea to the bottom of one's heart. She felt tranquil, but her words still echoed in her mind.
Mu Yunyao withdrew her actions and gently placed the teacup in front of Steward Qin. Her smile did not intentionally pursue gentleness and beauty. Instead, it looked a little light and distant. But the crowd felt that she should be like this, even unable to bear it. They couldn't help but yearn for and admire her.
Mu Yunyao raised her eyes and looked at the crowd, "All of you have to please the guests, but you can't be humble and flatter them. Instead, you have to make them lower their guard and take you all as their close friends so that you can get what you want.
This sort of thing could only be understood but not conveyed. She was also unable to use words to explain it clearly. Among these people, there were already people who had their first insight, just by practicing a little more, they would be able to achieve perfection.
Steward Qin could not help but secretly admire her. When it comes to mobilizing people, Miss Mu had her own methods that make him have to admire her. The fifty people she had picked out at that time couldn't be considered outstanding, but they were more loyal and honest. They were able to resolutely carry out the orders of the Prince. But now, he suddenly had a feeling that these fifty people will not be allowed to become great weapons and far beyond the Prince's expectations.