nycdaug Chapter 243 Cousin-in-law
Chapter 243 Cousin-in-law
As soon as Murong Jing came out, he saw this fake and pretentious scene.
He frowned.
Seeing the turmoil brewing on Shen Muyue's face, he said directly, "I have already sent people. What else do you want?"
Seeing that Murong Jing remained unmoved, Shen Muyue felt both angry and resentful, and she also remembered how she had embarrassingly cried in front of him before.
She finally realized that Murong Jing was not a man who would show tenderness to women.
At least not to her.
So Shen Muyue straightened up by holding onto the pillar and started to steer the conversation toward Shen Murui.
"I noticed that Your Highness treated Rui Rui differently a few days ago. Now that Rui Rui is missing and her fate is unknown, I was worried that Your Highness might be upset, so I came to check on her."
His words were incredibly thoughtful.
Feng Yue laughed.
Of course, he was smiling to himself.
Murong Jing glanced coldly at Shen Muyue, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
"I haven't asked you yet what exactly happened last night? Why did Shen Murui, who was in the same carriage as you, fall off a cliff, while you were perfectly fine?"
"..."
Shen Muyue was both shocked and aggrieved.
Shockingly, these words were exactly the same as what Su Mowan had just said!
The injustice is that Shen Murui wasn't pushed off the cliff by her! Shen Murui had legs; it was Shen Murui who insisted on running towards the edge of the cliff, what business is it of hers!
Seeing that she was speechless, Murong Jing's eyes turned cold.
"I heard from my guards that the assassin last night accidentally revealed his identity as Miss Shen Murui. Are you aware of this?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Muyue's eyes darkened and her pupils shrank.
Of course she knew! She heard it clearly at the time, but it just didn't make sense!
How could a father send someone to harm his own daughter!
Moreover, Rui Rui is of great use! She is a very valuable chess piece!
Shen Muyue hurriedly explained, "Indeed, an assassin said that, but Your Highness, this is clearly a frame-up! How could Father allow someone to harm me and Ruirui!"
Murong Jing sneered.
"Whether it's a frame-up or not, I will personally ask the Left Prime Minister, and then we'll know if he's truly innocent."
This tone clearly indicated that he was very suspicious or even certain of the assassin's identity. Shen Muyue was furious. She felt that her father could not possibly do such a stupid thing!
Sending Shen Murui to the Prince of Qin's mansion was to help her deal with Su Mowan. Now that Shen Murui has finally gained Murong Jing's attention, her father should be happy. How could he possibly kill her!
The more Shen Muyue thought about it, the more convinced she became that someone was definitely trying to harm the Left Prime Minister's residence!
First get rid of Shen Murui, then throw this mud at the Left Prime Minister's Mansion. Such a despicable and vile tactic!
The most likely suspects for Shen Muyue were Su Mowan and the General's Mansion.
She had already decided it was Su Mowan.
Murong Jing said he would ask the Left Prime Minister, but she rolled her eyes and whispered, "Your Highness, I am very saddened by what happened to Rui Rui. I would like to return to the Prime Minister's residence for a few days. Please grant me permission!"
It just so happens that His Highness the King of Qin doesn't want to see such pretentious women.
"I grant your permission. You may stay for as many days as you wish."
These words sounded as if they couldn't wait for Shen Muyue to leave, making Shen Muyue's face burn with embarrassment once again.
Standing to the side, Feng Yue wondered if his master was planning to add, "It's fine if you don't come back."
After Shen Muyue left, biting her lip and limping slightly, Feng Yue finally couldn't help but ask, "Master, what about the Left Prime Minister's residence?"
"It's alright. I will find an opportunity to talk to him at the palace banquet tomorrow."
This "he" naturally refers to the Left Chancellor.
"On the other side of that cliff?"
"Just let them leave traces of their search."
"Yes."
-
Su Mowan took Yinshuang and went straight to the painting pavilion.
She thought that if Shangguan Qingqi had something important to do, he would definitely come to the painting pavilion to find her.
To everyone's surprise, upon arriving at the painted pavilion, they did not see Shangguan Qingqi, but instead met Young Master Yu.
Judging from his appearance, he had arrived quite some time ago. Seeing his imposing manner, the waiter served him tea.
Just then, Young Master Yu was holding a cup of tea, about to drink it, when he saw Su Mowan appear at the top of the stairs.
He put down his teacup and said loudly, "It's been quite a wait."
As he spoke, he looked Su Mowan up and down at her outfit.
Su Mowan was dressed in men's clothing and wearing a mask, which made him recognize her immediately.
She felt it wasn't her fault, but rather the fault of Yinshuang who was following behind her.
After removing the mask from her face, Su Mowan walked up to Yu Lin in a few steps.
She crossed her arms, looked down at him, and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Young Master Yu, what brings you here?"
Upon hearing her words, Yu Lin assumed she was still holding a grudge about his sneak attack the previous night, so he said, "I was wrong about what happened last night, but didn't I also suffer a loss at your hands? Let's call it even, shall we?"
Su Mowan's problem wasn't that; she simply didn't like her cousin Murong Jing.
As the saying goes, first impressions are very important. She still remembered what Yu Lin said when they first met.
"The more beautiful something is, the more toxic it is, especially women."
These words offended Su Mowan.
Su Mowan was a bit narcissistic, but she was indeed beautiful. However, she wasn't a bad person, so she didn't have a good impression of Yu Lin.
She replied dismissively, "Then let's call it even. Tell me, what is it?"
Yu Lin felt that sitting while Su Mowan stood made him seem less imposing, so he said indirectly, "Sit down and talk. Aren't you tired of standing?"
"Not at all. I'm young and healthy, I can walk this far, let alone just stand for a while. Or is it that Young Master Yu isn't planning to leave anytime soon? Or do you want to have a long talk with me?"
"..."
Yu Lin had never met a woman with such a sharp tongue before, and he was immediately at a loss for words.
It's not that he lacks eloquence; it's that he disdains using it on women. Young Master Yu considers himself very gentlemanly and doesn't bother arguing with women.
So even though Su Mowan's words stumped him, he just smiled.
"I suppose the King of Qin hasn't mentioned me to you?"
Su Mowan looked at him with a puzzled expression: "Why would I mention you when I'm living with the Prince of Qin?"
"..."
Young Master Yu pursed his lips and forced a smile: "You may not know, but the King of Qin is my cousin."
"I know, that's why I'm your cousin-in-law. Come on, say it to me."
"..."
Young Master Yu glanced at the man and said with some suspicion, "The King of Qin shouldn't like someone like you. Has his taste changed after not seeing you for several years?"
These words were rather unpleasant to hear. Su Mowan knew that Young Master Yu was unwilling to be verbally bullied by her and was going to retaliate.
Su Mowan sat down opposite Young Master Yu.
She laughed and said, "Taste? It seems you're not doing a very good job as his cousin. As for His Highness Prince Qin's taste..."
She paused, then lowered her voice slightly.
"His Highness the Prince of Qin has no taste at all, so how could his taste have changed? He told me personally that he had never liked another woman before. Could it be that His Highness the Prince of Qin liked... not women before?"
"..."
"If that's the case, then Murong Jing's tastes have really changed a lot. I will definitely convey Young Master Yu's greetings when I get back today. No need to thank me."
"..."
This woman!
Young Master Yu was shut down in just a few words.
Unwilling to continue the pointless argument, he finally said frankly, "Let me be direct with you. My return to the capital this time was at the Empress's behest. The reason for this has something to do with Prince Qin to some extent. My relationship with Prince Qin isn't very good—"
"So you and I are on good terms now? I don't think so. Why did you have to talk to me alone?"
"..."
Young Master Yu was almost internally injured.
Yinshuang, who was holding back her laughter, couldn't bear to listen any longer and went up to the balcony outside, leaving the two of them glaring at each other.
Su Mowan finally understood why Young Master Yu was waiting here. She guessed that the Empress was begging Young Master Yu to return to the capital, and the reason was related to Murong Jing. However, Young Master Yu and Murong Jing did not have a good relationship, so he wanted to break through her first.
After thinking it over for a while, Su Mowan stopped teasing him.
She composed herself, put on a serious expression, and said, "Okay, go ahead, I'm listening."
The change was so natural, so seamless, and so rapid that Yu Lin raised an eyebrow again.
However, he brought up the important matter first.
"The Empress told me to return to the capital to help Prince Qin, but she didn't explain why. She just told me I had to come back. Now that I'm back, I haven't heard from the Empress. For the sake of that slap yesterday, could you go and ask the Empress or Prince Qin what kind of help they want me to do?"
Yu Lin hadn't originally intended to do this, but what he had heard or experienced in the past two days made him feel that starting with Su Mowan was the most appropriate approach.
He's been back in the capital for three or four days now; he can't stay here any longer without a clear explanation, can he?
Actually, it's not as he said, 'the Empress has disappeared without a trace'; there is news, but only if he is allowed to enter the palace.
Young Master Yu has developed a deep-seated fear of the Yunmo Imperial Palace, and he is absolutely unwilling to set foot there again. Therefore, he is currently at a stalemate with the Empress.
Su Mowan was somewhat surprised. It turned out that the Empress had summoned Young Master Yu back to the capital, and the reason was to help Murong Jing.
Is there anything Murong Jing can help with?
Could it be to treat his leg? But Young Master Yu doesn't seem like someone who knows medicine.
Su Mowan couldn't figure it out either, so she agreed.
"I dare not ask the Empress, but I can ask Murong Jing for you, though I can't guarantee I'll get any information."
Young Master Yu nodded.
His intuition told him that if Su Mowan asked, Murong Jing would surely tell him, and he believed that with Su Mowan's quick wit, she would definitely get the information out of him.
Seeing that he had already agreed but showed no sign of leaving, Su Mowan raised an eyebrow and asked, "Does Young Master Yu have anything else to say?"
"..."
Upon hearing this, Young Master Yu, who was just picking up his teacup again, paused in an awkward position, his hand neither moving nor lifting.
Finally, his peripheral vision caught sight of the two paintings at the stairwell. He raised his chin and said, "Everyone says that Young Master Mo is a skilled painter. How about you paint one for me? I'm here in the capital to help out, so it's only right that I get some compensation."
"No way."
Su Mowan smiled and said bluntly, "The two paintings on the wall are worth 100,000 taels. Young Master Yu must know that I charge based on appearance. I think with Young Master Yu's appearance and demeanor, it should be at least 80,000 taels."
"What 80,000 taels? Can he even compare to half of what I have?"
A voice suddenly interrupted.
Su Mowan turned her head and saw a person dressed in red leaning against the stairwell, looking every bit the vixen.