Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 544 - 544 545 Why Choose Me_1

Chapter 544: Chapter 545: Why Choose Me_1 Chapter 544: Chapter 545: Why Choose Me_1 Madame He was stunned as she looked at Muniang, at a loss for words for a moment, “You, you, what do you mean by that?”

“I wish to collaborate with Madame He, and lend a helping hand to your cherished daughter.”

“But you clearly before…”

Muniang looked directly at Madame He and said in earnest, “I’ve changed my mind now. I want to send your daughter to His Majesty’s side to become a favored concubine who surpasses Lady Rong. If Madame He is not pleased with this, I could consider someone else for this opportunity.”

Why wouldn’t Madame He be willing? After hearing what Muniang had said, she was overjoyed and quickly said, “Willing, very willing!”

Then, turning to the young maid by her side, she said, “What are you waiting for? Go and fetch the young lady at once!”

Only then did Muniang take a seat, and Madame He hurriedly had the best tea served. It wasn’t long before a young girl came in, walking with grace and poise.

Her beautiful eyes roved playfully, and her cheeks were tinged with a smile. Her figure was willowy, as if swaying gently in the breeze, and her every step seemed to conjure lotuses underfoot. She emanated an aura of refreshing purity. Madame He had not exaggerated; He Fangfei was indeed a beauty.

He Fangfei approached Muniang and gave a graceful curtsy, “Young Miss He Fangfei, at your service, Lady Yu.”

Muniang took a careful look at her and then smiled in satisfaction, “Madame He has indeed raised a fine daughter.”

Pride flickered in Madame He’s eyes as she said with a smile, “When her brother achieved his scholarly honors years ago, I was already planning her future. Even the teaching nanny, who is a retired old nanny from the palace, was hard to employ. What do you think of her now, Lady Yu?”

Muniang smiled and shook her head, “Madame He might as well send the teaching nanny away for now.”

Madame He’s expression changed, “Why is that?”

Muniang looked at her coolly, “Does Madame He want to mold your daughter into a commonplace woman seen often in the palace, or do you want her to dazzle and astonish the Emperor?”

Madame He was taken aback and did not immediately grasp the implication of Muniang’s words, but then Muniang continued, “The Emperor has seen enough women who abide by the rules in the palace. If being favored were so easy, would it be Lady Rong’s turn today to enjoy such exclusive honor?”

Realization dawned on Madame He, “Indeed, Lady Yu has thought it through more thoroughly!”

Muniang moved closer to He Fangfei, taking her hand, “Leave your daughter to me. I have my methods. The Emperor’s visit this time is to experience something different in the palace. As for beauties, naturally, there should be a different kind of beauty.”

He Fangfei, unable to hide her excitement, gave a deep curtsy, “I’ll leave everything in Lady Yu’s hands!”

Muniang smiled and her lips curled slightly, “We’re close in age; you should just call me Muniang in the future. ‘Lady Yu, Lady Yu,’ sounds strangely distant.”

He Fangfei happily agreed.

Madame He still had some confusion and finally couldn’t help asking, “May I ask why Lady Yu has suddenly decided to support my young daughter?”

A hint of chill laced Muniang’s smiling lips, her eyes locked onto He Fangfei’s delicate face, “I want you to replace Lady Rong.”

Madame He felt a shock in her heart but couldn’t help feeling delighted, “Does Lady Yu truly have such confidence?”

“You seem to have asked the wrong person. Ultimately, it is your daughter who will be by His Majesty’s side.”

He Fangfei clenched her teeth, “Just give me the chance, and I’ll certainly surpass Lady Rong.”

She simply couldn’t accept it. Since childhood, she and Rong Suqing had always competed with each other, and now Rong Suqing had received imperial favor while she was still stuck in the same place—how could she be content with that?

Muniang had only stayed at He Mansion for a brief moment before she left with He Fangfei.

Because there was not much time left—roughly a month or two—before the emperor would come to Qinghua City, they must do all the preparatory work before the emperor’s arrival.

The carriage stopped directly in front of Mei Garden, where Muniang led He Fangfei inside, followed by a procession of servant boys and maids who bowed along the way.

At that moment, an opera performance had just concluded, and the actors were either resting backstage or rehearsing for upcoming scenes. Muniang went straight in, drawing the curtains behind her.

He Fangfei, puzzled, said, “Muniang, why have you brought me here?”

Muniang smiled and turned her head to give an order, “Bring Miss Chen here.”

The servant boy acknowledged and hurried to fetch the person.

Chen Yuhua had just come off the stage, not yet having changed out of her costume, when she gracefully entered.

He Fangfei was not unfamiliar with Chen Yuhua; Mei Garden was so famous in Qinghua City that she often accompanied her mother to the opera. She certainly knew of this woman whose fame spanned the whole city, and seeing her again, standing there in white, ethereal as ever, He Fangfei, though a woman herself, found it hard to look away.

Others said Chen Yuhua truly seemed like a fairy descended to mortal realms, and indeed, it was no exaggeration.

Muniang laughed and said, “Fangfei, you just asked me what you should do. I’m telling you what you must become—Chen Yuhua is the person you need to imitate.”

He Fangfei’s eyes widened in surprise, “What do you mean?”

“The emperor is surrounded by worldly women; no matter how beautiful or dazzling, he has grown weary of them. It’s time for a change,” Muniang explained.

Only then did He Fangfei turn her gaze to Chen Yuhua, “You mean, you want me to become her?”

Muniang nodded, “Yes, starting today, I want you to become her, to even surpass her. If you can do that, catching the emperor’s eye will be no problem.”

He Fangfei nodded absentmindedly.

Chen Yuhua did not quite understand Muniang’s words, but she did not interject, staying quietly by.

After glancing at Chen Yuhua, He Fangfei looked back at Muniang, seemingly hesitant to speak. Muniang, reading her doubt, sent Chen Yuhua away and took He Fangfei up to a private room on the upper floor.

“If you have any questions, just ask. We are in this together, and it’s best to have no reservations between us.”

This prompted He Fangfei to ask, “Why did you choose me?”

Cocking her head, Muniang replied, “Your mother came to see me before. At the time, I couldn’t think of anyone more suitable than you.”

He Fangfei shook her head, “No, you have someone—Chen Yuhua is obviously more suitable. She has already met your expectations. As long as she appears in front of the emperor and performs any scene, she can bewitch him. Why would you insist on me, an inexperienced young lady, to put in so much effort to become Chen Yuhua, and then present me to the emperor?”

Muniang laughed softly; He Fangfei was indeed astute, which was good. It would be more convenient to cooperate with someone intelligent.

“She is not suitable, not in the least,” Muniang declared.

He Fangfei looked at Muniang in astonishment, clearly not understanding.

“She can’t compare to you. Aside from the image that she has already established, you are in every way more suitable to enter the palace than she is.”