Translated by: Rize
Edited by: Larkspur
Ding Xian was nonplussed, he turned his head to look at Mu Yunjin who was following. Then shot Chu Li an 'are you sure Master?' look.
"This subordinate feels it may not work."
"Master Huaiyuan mentioned that she can break the s.p.a.ce Release Formation. Now, that she’s already broken half of it, perhaps she can break the other half." Chu Li faintly replied.
Ding Xian still felt apprehensive, just as he was about to speak again, Mu Yunjin and Zi Xiang were within earshot.
Mu Yunjin shot a knowing look at Chu Li and Ding Xian who seemed to be in a serious conversation. She slightly pulled the corners of her mouth and didn’t linger and went straight to her room.
Inside her room, Mu Yunjin automatically walked to her wardrobe to check on the cloak. It was intact. Then, she relaxed on the rocking chair at the side.
When she looked back at the recent turn of events, Mu Yunjin gave a long sigh.
......
The next morning, Mu Yunjin was awakened by Zi Xiang. She let Zi Xiang comb her hair into a bun.
"Xiaojie, today's tour on the lake, you have to be extra careful, Wu gongzhu, Si xiaojie and that Qin xiaojie will all be there." Zi Xiang was placing the hairpins.
At the mention of the trio, Mu Yunjin's heart was really unwilling to go. But when she thought of Shen Momo’s words, that she will be representing the Liu Huangzifu, she forced herself to go.
After dressing simply, Mu Yunjin and Zi Xiang walked out of the Huangzifu's gate.
The carriage headed to the suburbs. Zi Xiang was particularly worried, her small face wrinkled into a frown. She had an uneasiness that was hard to dispel.
A moment later, the carriage stopped at the Ying Guang lake in the suburbs. Mu Yunjin stepped out of the carriage and saw an exquisite wooden boat by the lakeside. On the side, there were already a lot of carriages parked. They belonged to the daughters of several officials and furens. Reluctant to step out in the heat, they’re waiting in the carriage.
After about a quarter of an hour, Rong w.a.n.gfu’s carriage slowly emerged in the distance.
When the carriage stopped, Mu Lingzhu was the first to step down with the help of a maidservant. Then behind Mu Lingzhu, a hand stretched out. She saw Mu Lingzhu help Rong w.a.n.gfei out of the carriage.
Once the others saw Rong w.a.n.gfei arrive, they stepped out of their carriages. Seeing Mu Lingzhu helping Rong w.a.n.gfei, their eyes showed a trace of ridicule and they covered their mouth to laugh.
Mu Lingzhu felt their stinging gazes, but from the beginning to the end she dared raise neither her head nor her eyes.
In the past, she was the most favored daughter of Mu Xiangfu and held the t.i.tle of the number one talented woman in Xi Yuan country. These women had once fawned over her, but now there's nothing but ridicule in their eyes.
Not far away, Qin Xiaojie and Chu Qingqiang got off from their carriage.
The two intimately accompanied each other, their arms intertwined. At a glance, one could see that their relationship was particularly good.
Chu Qingqiang and Qin Muyue neared, Chu Qingqiang's line of sight leisurely stayed at Mu Yunjin's body as she gave a mocking smile, and then turned to Rong w.a.n.gfei and bowed.
"w.a.n.g Shen."
"En, Qingqiang is here." Rong w.a.n.gfei glanced around as she continued, "Now that everyone is here, let us get on the boat and admire the lake first."
"Yes, Rong w.a.n.g Fei."
A crowd of official's daughters and Furen chorused after their greetings, Then, they went to the wooden boat.
......
In the cabin, everyone sat in succession, and a little maidservant served the refreshments and tea before retreating to the side.
Rong w.a.n.gfei sat in the main seat, slightly smiled as she looked at everyone, "It has been a while since we’ve come here, this part of Ying Guang Lake is still so beautiful."
"w.a.n.g Shen, this Ying Guang Lake is beautiful, we should go out and walk around. It will be good for the body." Qin Muyue drank a mouthful of tea then looked at Rong w.a.n.gfei.
Rong w.a.n.gfei nodded, her eyes shining as she looked at Qin Muyue.
"For this year's poem appreciation, there are many new people. Even the number one talented woman has come to partic.i.p.ate, we have to be careful." When Rong w.a.n.gfei's words fell, she swept a look at Mu Lingzhu.
Mu Lingzhu lowered her gaze and pursed her lips. Rong w.a.n.gfei, with this dubious woman around, all she could do was smile without daring to say a word. These days she was being tormented badly at the Rong w.a.n.gfu.
"Yunjin saosao, this is also your first time partic.i.p.ating, right?" Qin Muyue brought the focus to Mu Yunjin who was sitting right in front of her.
Mu Yunjin gave a sound of admission.
In response, Chu Qingqiang gave a light snort, her eyes full of disdain as she spoke, "Bengongzhu had initially thought that Liu Huangzifei would avoid today's poem appreciation. After all, she doesn’t know how to read books and so wouldn’t have the courage to come."
"Wu Gongzhu, these words aren't right, Mu Cefei is the number one talented woman. Liu Huangzifei and Mu Cefei are blood sisters so there would be a little influence." Yan Lingchan popped her two cents and indifferently swept a glance at Mu Yunjin.
"Yan Xiaojie's words are reasonable, bengongzhu spoke impulsively.” Chu Qingqiang gave a low laugh before switching the topic, "Oh right, Mu Cefei, they say you fainted a few days ago. There are people outside saying that w.a.n.g Shen is mistreating you. Today while we are all here, you might as well give an explanation, in order to avoid having the outsiders misunderstand w.a.n.g Shen.”
Mu Lingzhu was rejoicing when Chu Qingqiang and others were taking a dig at Mu Yunjin, but before she knew she'd suddenly become the target.
Mistreating? Wasn't it because Qin Shuning deliberately bullied her that she’d fainted? This Chu Qingqiang's provocation is truly ruthless!
How could she speak the truth? She could only clench her teeth and swallow her words.
"It is Lingzhu's own const.i.tution that is weak. How can it be possible for w.a.n.gfei jiejie to mistreat me? I do not know who spread such really outrageous rumors." Mu Lingzhu looked at Chu Qingqiang with a smile.
"Just say, aunt is a gentle a person, how can she be able to mistreat Lingzhu meimei." Qin Muyue replied.
Rong w.a.n.gfei slightly sighed before smiling, “Since it is a misunderstanding, it is good to say clearly. The time is not early, let's come up with a theme. Today let us use this Ying Guang lake as the topic, who shall start?"
"Let the number one talented woman come first." Qin Muyue suggested.
"En, then let meimei begin." Rong w.a.n.gfei glanced lightly at Mu Lingzhu next to her.
Mu Lingzhu nodded and pursed her lip, her eyes contained a hint of pride, her crowning glory was here! She had to do this well so that these ignorant women wouldn’t have a chance to beat her. And when that happened, tomorrow the whole b.u.t.terfly Flower City would know her, Mu Lingzhu's name once again.
"Blue mist filled the tossing billows, the lake water is like a mirror boasting its ripples." Mu Lingzu quickly started, her words contained a hard-to-hide self-confidence, she didn’t believe that someone could best her.
"The number one talented woman didn’t disappoint her famous reputation. Aside from having a position as an official's daughter, she is highly commendable. It is only natural. If not for her talent, how else could w.a.n.gye take a fancy to Mu Cefei and even let her marry into the household!" Rong w.a.n.gfei smiled
Puff! Mu Lingzhu's happy heart vanished like smoke in thin air.
"Who's going next?" Rong w.a.n.gfei asked.
" Yunjin saosao! This is Yunjin saosao's first time partic.i.p.ating. We should let her try first as consideration of her being new to this." Qin Muyue looked at Mu Yunjin with a bright smile.
It had to be said that Mu Lingzhu's literary talent was indeed impeccable. People were already racking their brains on how to answer Mu Lingzhu's verse. But then Mu Yunjin was thrust into the spotlight and they all heaved a sigh of relief.
Now that Qin Xiaojie had ‘requested’ Mu Yunjin for the next verse, the whole thing had certainly turned interesting. Who among them didn’t know that Mu Yunjin was nescient? Now she had to answer a difficult verse, what a good show it’d be!
"Good, then niece-in-law should go first." Rong w.a.n.gfei looked at Mu Yunjin. "Oh, that's right! We should establish some rules. If one loses, one will have to drink three cups of strong wine as a penalty."
Mu Yunjin tilted her legs and leaned on the chair. From the time she had entered until now, how could she not realize that these people were goading Mu Lingzhu and her? Just now, they’d let Mu Lingzhu speak the first verse and were letting her do the follow-up.
"Jiejie, you have to think carefully." Mu Lingzhu, originally, was very proud of her verse. Now, seeing Qin Muyue picking Mu Yunjin to continue the verse, she couldn’t contain her excitement. This time, she would watch Mu Yunjin suffer humiliation.
Mu Yunjin cast a side glance at Mu Lingzhu, she itched to ask her if her brain was damaged. These people were unanimously picking on them, how could this woman not see it? Indeed, truly stupid!
"Liu Huangzifei, hurry and compose a verse, you must not delay and spoil the beautiful scenery." Yan Lingchang urged her.
Mu Yunjin smiled, her eyes were ruminating, isn't it just a verse? Should she should just ‘compose’ the Tang and Song poetries that she has learned?
Just as she was about to open her mouth to speak, she heard Chu Qingqiang laugh, "Since Liu Huangzifei has not thought of anything yet, bengongzhu heard something interesting that should be said first."
"What matter?" Everyone was drawn to Chu Qingqiang's words.
"Actually, it is just a rumor, in the end, it is not true. Bengongzhu also doesn’t know the details but will just mention it. Liu Huangzifei, Mu Cefei, do not be angry."
(TL: If you know they will be angry then you should just not say it at all!!)
When she heard it pertains to herself, Mu Yunjin twitched the corners of her mouth, she knew that whatever came out of Chu Qingqiang's mouth, would not be anything good."
"A few days ago, bengongzhu heard a few palace maids gossiping. Bengongzhu thought it is laughable. They joked around and said that they heard that Mu Cefei married Rong w.a.n.g, because Liu Huangzifei instigated Liu Huangzi to speak to Rong w.a.n.g. Originally Shi Di* was interested in Mu Cefei. Who would have thought that Rong w.a.n.g Shu* was faster?"
(*Shi Di - Tenth Brother; Shu* - Uncle)
"What's funnier is that they say that Liu Huangzifei did this because Mu Cefei had told her from an early age that she liked men who are older than herself, what is this called ... Is it a fatherly fetish?"
(TL: Mu Lingzhu and Chu Qingqiang are of the same mind, Mu Lingzhu tried to instigate a fight between Rong w.a.n.gfei and Mu Yunjin through rumors and now Chu Qingqiang used 'rumors' to instigate a fight between the sisters. They must have enrolled at the same villain academy with the same teachers.)
"Haha, this is too funny!"
After Chu Qingqiang finished, the rest of the people could not help laughing, including the maids waiting upon them.
Mu Lingzhu was filled with indignation, she couldn’t stop trembling, she bit her lips, and her aggrieved eyes were scarlet.
Fatherly fetish! She didn't think that those people would spread such a slander about her who'd just come of age. It was simply a terrible humiliation.
"Mu Yunjin, as it turns out, all of this is because you played mischief behind my back!" Mu Lingzhu was furious as she pointed to Mu Yunjin.
The entire crowd was looking at the sisters.
Mu Yunjin naturally knew that Mu Lingzhu’s marriage to Rong w.a.n.g was Qin Muyue, that ghost's, doing. But now, with Chu Qingqiang's words, this dirty water was splashed on her.
"Lingzhu meimei, you really have a fatherly fetish?" Rong w.a.n.gfei laughed and raised an eyebrow as she asked in ridicule and looked at Mu Lingzhu.
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