Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 543 - 543 544 The Potential to Be a Phoenix_1

Chapter 543: Chapter 544: The Potential to Be a Phoenix_1 Chapter 543: Chapter 544: The Potential to Be a Phoenix_1 Muniang snorted lightly, “Why should I care about a thankless wolf raised from a pup? Let her stay in the Laundry Workshop.”

Muniang could see right through Kelan’s intentions. She was trying to curry favor by selling out Bingyu, no doubt hoping to take a shortcut just as Nanny Li had. But Qiao Muniang especially disliked those who offered themselves up too easily; she preferred those she had to fight for.

Even though Kelan seemed harmless and naive, why would she keep a thankless wolf by her side just to make herself miserable? She was no saint!

Soon, Qingya came quickly.

“Lady, Bingyu has already been intercepted by this servant and locked up in the firewood shed. How she is to be dealt with is at the Lady’s discretion!”

Muniang said indifferently, “Just keep her locked up for now. It’s late today, and it would inevitably be troubling if the master came back and saw all this commotion. Let’s not create a disturbance.”

“Yes!”

It was a close call—had Qingya not acted so promptly, Bingyu might have actually run into Yu Ze. Barely had her words faded when a servant came to report that Yu Ze had already entered the mansion.

Muniang signaled Qingya with her eyes to go to the kitchen and bring up the warm dishes.

Winter had set in, and it was even snowing outside. Yu Ze, bringing in the cold with him, had his heavy cloak covered in snowflakes. Muniang felt chilled just looking at him, but fortunately, the charcoal fire inside was sufficient to warm the room quickly.

Muniang helped him remove his cloak and passed him a hand warmer to warm his hands.

Yu Ze gave a resigned smile, “What’s a grown man like me doing with this?”

Muniang glared at him, “Otherwise you’ll freeze!”

Yu Ze was about to say that a man who has been on the battlefield can’t even withstand this bit of coldness is finished, but when his wife showed concern, he gladly accepted it.

The table was laden with food, all to Yu Ze’s taste, but today he seemed to have little appetite.

Muniang noticed something was amiss and asked, “Is there trouble with the Guard? You seem rather unhappy to me.”

Yu Ze had planned to keep it from her, but to his surprise, she saw right through him. With resignation, he said, “I really can’t hide anything from you.”

Muniang hummed with pride, “So don’t even think about doing anything behind my back, anything shameful—I can spot it in an instant!”

Yu Ze pinched her cheek, “You heartless little thing, I’ve put you on a pedestal yet you suspect me of cheating.”

Muniang countered, “Just tell me, is something wrong with the Guard or not?”

Her heart was always anxious, fearing that any trouble could somehow implicate Yu Ze.

Yu Ze’s expression also became grave, “By now, the Guard has been mostly established; the foundation of power is in place. But suddenly, the Emperor sent Eunuch Li to inspect the situation. As the leader of the Guard, since when do I take orders from an eunuch? Eunuch Li said it was the Emperor’s will, implying through his words that the Emperor is suspicious and does not trust me.”

Muniang’s eyes grew cold, “If he doesn’t trust you, why would he entrust such a great responsibility to you? What exactly is the Emperor thinking?!”

“It’s not about what the Emperor is thinking, it’s what Lady Rong is thinking,” Yu Ze said, word by word.

A shock ran through Muniang’s heart, “Is Lady Rong stirring up trouble?”

Yu Ze furrowed his brows, “The Emperor’s favor for Lady Rong grows by the day. He even listens to her on such matters. What spell has that bitch cast on the Emperor? Lady Rong is no simple woman; I feel that she targets me in everything, and while she remains, there will be endless trouble. Yet now it’s impossible to take her down.”

Muniang suddenly said, “Was the Qilian Kingdom soldier from Qin Village who disguised himself at the Rong Mansion actually an indication that the Rong Family is now in collusion with the Qilian Kingdom?”

Yu Ze replied coldly, “If that’s indeed the case, Lady Rong’s current behavior is not surprising anymore. The goal of the Qilian Kingdom is to devour our Daqian Dynasty, and I am their biggest obstacle. No wonder they are so intent on sowing discord.”

Muniang’s heart turned cold in an instant, as she had not considered this possibility before, “Then who is the real mastermind behind the scenes? Nangong Qian?”

Yu Ze’s eyes darkened, “I’ve already sent someone to investigate thoroughly.”

He had already backed down time and again, wishing for nothing more than peaceful days, but it seemed the world wouldn’t allow him to withdraw as he pleased. The emperor had grown suspicious of him, and the power held by the Guard was the biggest hot potato.

“Given the situation, Lady Rong obviously cannot be spared,” Muniang said coldly.

“This woman is extremely cunning. I’ve sent assassins after her several times, but she has miraculously escaped each time. Now, the emperor has also noticed this matter and has increased the security in the palace, especially around Lady Rong. It’s become much harder to kill her now.”

“Who said she has to die?”

Yu Ze looked up in surprise, “Then what do you propose?”

Muniang’s lips curled into a smile, “Strip her of her favor.”

“How can we do that? She has the emperor so enchanted that he pays no attention to any other beauty in the palace.”

Muniang snorted, “I don’t believe that!”

The next morning, after Muniang got dressed up, she left the house. The carriage slowly made its way down the road. Overnight, a considerable amount of snow had accumulated on the roads, but fortunately, the snow in the middle had been mostly trampled down by the passing people and carriages.

The carriage stopped outside the gates of a mansion, on which hung a large plaque with two gilded characters: “He Mansion.”

Qingya helped Muniang alight from the carriage, while Nanny Li had already gone to knock on the door.

A servant boy cracked the door open, and Nanny Li immediately said, “Go inform your Madame, Lady Yu has arrived.”

The servant boy was still dazed but instantly woke up upon hearing the words ‘Lady Yu.’ Just a few days ago, he had heard that the Madame had been trying to win over Lady Yu. What need was there to announce her arrival now? He swung the door wide open and hurriedly said, “Lady Yu, please come in. I will inform our Madame right away.”

Muniang smiled and stepped inside.

As one servant boy led Muniang inside, another rushed off to deliver the message.

Muniang had only been seated in the parlor for a short while when Madame He walked in gracefully, still looking regal and magnificent, yet her eyes held a trace of anger as she looked at Muniang.

“Lady Yu seems to have a lot of leisure time, visiting me so early in the morning. I almost thought you were a rare visitor,” Madame He said with a feigned smile, obviously still angry about Muniang’s previous actions.

Muniang laughed, “I came here specifically to see Madame He, how could I be idle?”

Madame He glared and said, “You’re here to take revenge on me? I haven’t even done anything yet!”

Muniang just laughed lightly, “I’m here to see your daughter.”

Madame He looked suspiciously at Muniang, “Why do you want to see her?”

Muniang raised an eyebrow and gave Madame He a look before speaking leisurely, “If I don’t see her beauty for myself, how can I be sure if she has the potential to become a phoenix?”