E - T - T

Chapter Forty-Two: The Truth Was So...

Chapter Forty-Two: The Truth Was So...

"Did Wang Ye take Mu Tong to court today?" Hua Xi Wan touched the robe in her arms and looked with a smile at the junior taijian who was kneeling in front of her. Under her gaze, the other trembled, so she moved her eyes away.

"Wang Fei, Chief Steward Mu is on rest today and did not accompany Wang Ye to court." The young taijian did not understand what Wang Fei intended, but watching Wang Fei caress the robe that Wang Ye had worn out yesterday as though it was something beloved, his back felt cold.

"If that is so, go invite Chief Steward Mu over—say that I have something to ask him." Hua Xi Wan put down this outer robe and rubbed her forehead. She did not like the female arts, but the marquis fu had hired people to teach her all kinds of needlework methods. The sleeve of this robe clearly had been torn open and then sewn back together. Looking at the sewing method, it seemed to be from south of the river.

When Mu Tong heard that he was being summoned by Wang Fei, he was puzzled but he was not slow in his steps. He quickly rushed to the door, then adjusted his clothing before he said loudly, "This small one, Mu Tong, asks for an audience."

"Come in."

Mu Tong could not hear any emotion in this tone, so he buried his head and entered. After he made a bow, he found the robe in Wang Fei's arms. His heart skipped a beat. So Wang Fei knew?

Seeing Mu Tong change expression, Hua Xi Wan did not try to keep up the mannerisms expected of a wang fei, and had Mu Tong stand up to speak. "I saw that the sleeve of Wang Ye's robe does not seem to be hemmed. There are always people from the embroidery room who take care of Wang Ye's clothing, and a mistake like this should not occur. So I thought that someone outside had bumped into Wang Ye. After thinking for so long, I do not feel at ease, so I have summoned you to ask. You were serving Wang Ye yesterday. Do you know what occurred?"

What could Mu Tong say? If he said he did not know, then it was him, the servant, who was not fulfilling his duties. Fortunately, there was a solution. After slightly thinking, he narrated the matter in truth.

"Yesterday, when we came out of the palace, Wang Ye originally wanted to go to a shop to get something. But halfway along the road, a little miss' basket caught Wang Ye's sleeve and damaged it." Mu Tong saw that Wang Fei's expression was as usual, so he continued to speak. "The little miss' needlework shop was just nearby, so she used needle and thread to repair it."

What he said was the truth, but he had left out what he ought to leave out. For example, this little miss had a fresh face, and her body was thin like a willow, and her voice was like a songbird's. Or for example, when the little miss bent down to repair Wang Ye's sleeve, she accidentally revealed she was a widow.

Mu Tong was a taijian but had to admit that the little miss was a very good-looking woman even though there was no seductiveness to be found from her.

After Hua Xi Wan heard this, she nodded and handed the clothing to Bai Xia. She said, "Put this away. Wang Ye is someone who does not waste, but let us not have Wang Ye wear something that has been repaired."

"Yes." Bai Xia curtsied. After taking the outer robe, she looked at Mu Tong who was in a bent position before turning and going out the door.

There was fine sweat on Mu Tong's face. As a servant, he could not say to Wang Fei that this little miss' manner was suspicious. But standing here under Wang Fei's gaze, it was slightly frightening.