Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 298 - 298 299 Igniting from Both Sides_1

Chapter 298: Chapter 299 Igniting from Both Sides_1 Chapter 298: Chapter 299 Igniting from Both Sides_1 Jiang Hengyu had never dared to take a good look at Muniang because of Yu Ze’s presence, but now he couldn’t help but click his tongue and say, “Yu Ze really picked up a treasure indeed, to encounter such an untainted and absolutely stunning woman.”

“This humble official pays respect to His Majesty, may the Emperor live forever.”

Yu Ze spoke loudly, and immediately swept open the front of his robe to kneel on one knee, and Muniang also bent her knees to kneel down.

“Dispense with the formalities.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor closely examined Yu Ze’s complexion, seemingly not noticing anything amiss. A few days ago, he had sent people to silence him, which failed, but he still didn’t know if Yu Ze had guessed that it was he who sent them. If Yu Ze had discovered it, he shouldn’t be this calm, but if he hadn’t, that too seemed unreasonably calm, leaving the Emperor unable to fathom his thoughts at the moment.

Ultimately, the Emperor somewhat feared him in his heart.

“My subject, it’s been many days since we last met. I called for you, but to no avail. Is Qinghua City really so enchanting that you loitered and forgot to return?”

Yu Ze clasped his hands and said, “This humble official is frightened. This humble official thought there was no need for him in the Capital City, which is why he considered stepping back. But I didn’t know what urgent matter requires this humble official’s service.”

Yu Ze’s words were respectful, but the meaning behind them was essentially, ‘if there’s nothing important, don’t bother me.’

The Emperor ground his teeth before saying, “It’s rare for my subject to return this time, and I am deeply gratified. Despite my imperial orders, I could not call for you to return; and indeed, this occasion is quite rare.”

Muniang felt a shock in her heart. The Emperor was about to publicly settle old scores. If his clandestine tactics failed, he was going to act openly. She knew this would be a menacing banquet but hadn’t expected the Emperor to broach the matter so bluntly. It seemed the fury in his heart was indeed not to be underestimated.

The court officials suddenly began to murmur among themselves, looking at each other, completely unsure of what to do in this situation.

However, Yu Ze suddenly clasped his hands and said, “His Majesty’s great grace, this humble official is ashamed and dares not accept it. If Your Majesty insists on rewarding this humble official, I would like to ask Your Majesty for a reward.”

The Emperor was so angry he felt like his nose could smoke. Was he really shameless enough to ask for a reward from him now?

The court officials were also agitated, thinking that Yu Ze was too arrogant.

“What reward do you seek?” the Emperor asked directly, hoping he would recklessly ask for a higher reward. Then, he could just crush him with the cap of vainglory and contempt for the Emperor, saving himself the irritation of seeing him around all the time.

“This humble official requests His Majesty to grant me Qinghua City as my fief, to dwell there henceforth.”

The Emperor was stunned for a moment. What kind of reward was that? It was practically an exile. What kind of desolate place was Qinghua City? Yu Ze, forgoing the perfectly good Capital City, wanted him to grant Qinghua City as his fief—wasn’t that an indirect request to banish him?

The court officials were in an uproar, clearly not expecting Yu Ze to make such a move.

Muniang pursed her lips and naturally understood why he did this. To dispel the emperor’s suspicions, the only way was to demote her own status again and again. Being awarded Qinghua City might seem like a reward, but in reality, it was exile. Only by Yu Ze settling in that place far from Capital City could the emperor be at ease. But was it really worth it?

“You’re serious about this?” the emperor’s tone carried a trace of disbelief.

“Indeed! I implore Your Majesty to bestow the title,” Yu Ze declared resolutely.

“Very well! Since my loyal subject has said so much, I naturally have no other objections. Let it be known, Yu Ze guarded the border for ten years, his hard work and meritorious service are valued by me, and for this, I specially confer upon him the title of He’an Prince, and award him Qinghua City.”

Yu Ze bowed with his fist to his chest and said loudly, “I thank Your Majesty for your grand grace.”

Sitting below, He Suxue’s thin lips were tightly pursed, her hands clenched into fists inside her sleeves, her body shaking with rage. For that woman, he was willing to stay in such a place, but to avoid marrying her, he preferred to defy the imperial order without respect! What a joke!

“Oh, Suxue, look at Yu Ze. Out of so many places, why must he insist on staying in Qinghua City, that unknown small place? Could it really be that he’s taken a fancy to that village girl? Sigh, you two have shared affection since childhood, and in the end, he’d rather marry a village girl than marry you. Your reputation as Capital City’s number one talented woman, I’m afraid it’s about to be slapped in the face.”

The speaker was none other than Assistant Minister Liu’s legitimate daughter, Liu Yueman, her tone replete with mockery and sarcasm. She couldn’t stand seeing He Suxue putting on airs of superiority and claiming herself to be Yu Ze’s fiancée, when the engagement had been clearly called off four years ago, and she insisted it was only because Yu Ze didn’t want her to wait and miss out on other prospects. Well, now, what a wait—it had been in vain all these years.

Thinking this, Liu Yueman felt genuinely delighted.

He Suxue glared at her murderously.

At this moment, the emperor asked Yu Ze to take a seat. Since Muniang was not officially his wife, she could not sit beside him and instead had to go to the designated area for the ladies.

Seeing Muniang approaching, Liu Yueman, ever the instigator, “warmly” stood up: “Ah, Muniang, come and sit here.”

Liu Yueman was originally sitting next to He Suxue. By making room now, she was deliberately arranging for Muniang to sit next to He Suxue, keen on watching the drama unfold.

Muniang hadn’t intended to go near He Suxue, but now that Liu Yueman had explicitly risen to “invite” her, refusing would surely be inappropriate. So, Muniang had no choice but to walk over, offering a strained, unsmiling thanks to Liu Yueman: “I really appreciate it.”

For some reason, Liu Yueman felt a chill run through her, a tingling discomfort. How could this woman’s words always carry such a chill? Soon, she would understand how incorrect it was for her to have provoked Qiao Muniang.

Muniang sat down gracefully, without the slightest hint of awkwardness clashing with He Suxue. While those around them seemed eager for a show, Muniang showed no reaction, and He Suxue, too, bit her lip and said nothing. The expected spectacle of the two women tearing into each other had not materialized, and soon impatience set in among the onlookers.

All of a sudden, Liu Yueman said: “I haven’t congratulated Miss Qiao yet. Is this your first time entering the palace? Don’t be too nervous; it just makes it awkward for everyone else. Suxue, you know, she was once the Marquis Chen Prince Heir’s fiancée, right? How can you act as if you don’t know? I heard that Suxue originally wanted to marry into the Yu Family as a Consort, but why the sudden silence now?”

Her words were barbed, belittling Muniang for not being worldly and deliberately pricking He Suxue for not having the fortune to marry into the Yu Family—a truly inflammatory move from both sides.

He Suxue’s face darkened, and she laughed scornfully: “Where did Yueman hear such gossip? How could I possibly be willing to enter the Yu Family as a mere Consort? Especially under the circumstances of competing with a village girl as the principal wife. The Yu Family may not care about their reputation, but I do.”

(One more update coming at noon)