What does 御用の向きとは mean + usage of うぬ in the meaning of "you"


I have two questions:

  1. What's the meaning of a phrase: 御用の向きとは? Is it a set expression? I found a few examples where it was ended with a question mark, in some cases preceded by addressing an interlocutor by his/her name. Is it always used that way? 

Originally I found the phrase in a manga, it's said at the beginning of a new
scene, so it's hard to provide the exact context. The situation looks like an
audience, the speaker is saying the words to his host (and probably superior):

「小太郎様、御用の向きとは、」

After which the host speaks, offering him some wine.

2.What's the usage of うぬ in the meaning of "you"? Is it an obsolete form? Does
it imply some difference of status between interlocutors?




> What's the meaning of a phrase: 御用の向きとは?

go-yō means business. It is an honorific expression. muki, in this context,
means desire or wish. And towa is grammar that is being used here to express a
question. "What is it that you desire?" or "What is your business?". Depending
of the fuller context, you may be able to simplify this to "What can I do for
you?"

> Is it a set expression?

Not really. All of the parts express a specific meaning and can be separated
and used similarly in other expressions.

> I found a few examples where it was ended with a question mark, in some
> cases preceded by addressing an interlocutor by his/her name. Is it always
> used that way?

This is due to towa. It has various usages, but here you may think of it as to
(iu no) wa (nan desu ka).

> What's the usage of うぬ in the meaning of "you"? Is it an obsolete form? Does
> it imply some difference of status between interlocutors?

unu is typically a pejorative term that used to insult the recipient. As such,
it is not usually a matter difference of status. However, it sounds old and
may also be used for this reason without necessarily including the pejorative
sense.

