Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 548 - 548 549 Adding Fuel to the Fire_1

Chapter 548: Chapter 549 Adding Fuel to the Fire_1 Chapter 548: Chapter 549 Adding Fuel to the Fire_1 “You should stay put and manage the Guard dutifully. I won’t be in any trouble, and if you were to follow me around, the Emperor might think you’re neglecting your duties to loiter with me. Especially at times like this, you must be mindful of his mood.”

After some thought, Yu Ze agreed, “Alright, just be careful yourself. If anything happens, set off the fireworks, and I’ll come right away.”

Muniang’s heart was incredibly warmed by his words, and she hooked her arm around Yu Ze’s neck and sat down on his lap, “My dear husband, you’re so good to me, what should I do if I like you too much?”

Yu Ze tightened his hold around Muniang’s waist and laughed, “What can you do? Let me pamper you a few more times later on.”

Muniang pinched him in annoyance, “You lecher, always saying such mood-killing things!”

Yu Ze bit Muniang’s earlobe, his hands starting to wander again, “My wife is so beautiful, I can’t help but desire her.”

Muniang scolded him with a laugh before holding down his hands, “You’ll take a bath first later on. Don’t touch me until you’re clean.”

Yu Ze immediately let go and headed straight for the bathhouse.

Muniang was both amused and exasperated; this man was simply…

Early the next morning, Muniang was up before dawn and took her tools to head directly for the Rong Family.

Emperor Long Yi, examining Muniang’s painting supplies, found them rather novel, “No wonder you can produce such unique art. I’ve seldom seen these tools before, but this feather brush, I had heard that Yu Ze was scouring everywhere for it. I thought it was for some other purpose, but it turns out he was looking for something for his wife.”

His words were clearly teasing, but Muniang focused on a different message: Why would the Emperor take notice of Yu Ze going out of his way to find a feather brush for her? They must have been under surveillance quite often.

Long Yi also felt he might have misspoken, but fortunately, Muniang appeared not to understand, which eased his concern somewhat.

“If Your Majesty likes such embroidery, I will naturally prepare it for you, but painting your portrait might undermine your imperial dignity, so please forgive me in advance for any offense.”

With a grand wave of his hand, Long Yi declared, “I was the one who asked you to paint it; naturally, I won’t punish you for doing so. Once the embroidery is finished, it shall be kept in my bedchamber and not shown to others.”

“Why not have the Empress join Your Majesty? That way, it can better display the affection between you and my Lady,” Muniang deliberately suggested, “Such embroidery, when displayed in the bedchamber, looks best when it features both husband and wife. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be lonely for Your Majesty alone?”

Upon hearing this, Long Yi thought it made sense, but in his heart, he wasn’t keen on being portrayed with the Empress. After all, the Empress no longer possessed the charms of her youth, unlike Lady Rong, right?

The Empress had harbored some hope, but upon seeing the Emperor’s expression, she felt a chill in her heart and gracefully conceded, “I shouldn’t intrude on such matters. Lady Rong is a remarkable beauty and more fitting.”

The Emperor liked that the Empress knew her place, so he immediately summoned Lady Rong to come forth.

Muniang secretly curved her lips in satisfaction and started to unpack her painting tools. She hadn’t missed the Empress’s resentful expression. Stirring up trouble was something she did with ease.

This time, Lady Rong had finally come without a veil, allowing Muniang to paint her openly. However, Muniang couldn’t help but feel unnerved by the way Lady Rong looked at her. This woman was becoming more and more enigmatic.

Muniang completed the sketch, showed it to the Emperor, and then her job was done.

“I will send it to the Embroidery House immediately to have the best embroiderer work on it. If Your Majesty likes it, I can also have it made into pillows, handkerchiefs, or purses, at Your Majesty’s discretion.”

Emperor Long Yi readily responded, “Then make one of each kind. It’s always nice to have something new.”

Lady Rong also laughed and said, “His Majesty really isn’t at all afraid of troubling people.”

Muniang knelt in respect and said, “What are you talking about? Being able to serve His Majesty and Lady Rong is the fortune of Yuyang Embroidery House. How can it be considered trouble?”

Long Yi then said, “After the matter is accomplished, I will reward you handsomely.”

Muniang quickly expressed her thanks.

“By the way, I often hear in the Capital that, apart from Yuyang Embroidery House, you also own a theater troupe that is very famous. It’s a pity we cannot see their performances here; I have always been curious and have wanted to see for myself,” he said.

A sly smile curled the corners of Muniang’s lips as she responded, “If Your Majesty wishes to see, now that you’re in Qinghua City, there’s certainly ample time to watch. However…”

“However what?”

“However, our Mei Garden operates without interruption every day. If we were to suddenly halt the performances to bring the troupe to Rong Mansion, it would be inappropriate. There could be complaints from the patrons, and they might speculate about which important person has come to Rong Mansion…”

Before Muniang could finish speaking, Long Yi interjected, “You need not worry about that. Now that I am here in Qinghua City, I naturally want to experience civilian life firsthand. Why make it something special? It has been a long time since I entered a theater. This is a good opportunity to fulfill a wish of mine,” he said.

Muniang laughed, “I will obey Your Majesty’s orders.”

If she specially invited someone over, suddenly switching people would be a bit too obvious, but if the Emperor personally went to see the show, then everything would be seamless.

Muniang had specially crafted a new image for He Fangfei, a novel “wild flavor,” knowing that having seen enough of the women in the palace, only something fresh could truly captivate.

If Muniang directly presented her to him now, the effect would definitely be diminished. But if the Emperor himself discovered such a rare beauty and then kept her by his side, his sense of achievement would be that much stronger.

Muniang had already strategized carefully, and her smile grew even more radiant.

The Rong Mansion was indeed beautiful. Hearing that the scenery in the West Garden was even better, Long Yi simply took Lady Rong with him to West Garden.

The Empress was left behind alone. Although she did not show any signs of anger, her obviously tense demeanor suggested she was enduring something.

Muniang really didn’t mind adding fuel to the fire at all.

“My Lady, would you like me to make an embroidery piece for you as well? A purse or something similar would be nice. After all, His Majesty and Lady Rong now have theirs, but you, as the Empress, do not. It does not look good,” Muniang suggested with implication.

Her words clearly meant that if Lady Rong could have such things and the Empress could not, it made the latter seem less like the one in her rightful place.

The Empress immediately became furious, shouting angrily, “How dare you! How I conduct myself is none of your business!”

Muniang immediately knelt on one knee in a display of fear and respect, hurriedly saying, “Please calm your anger, my Lady. It was I who spoke out of turn. How could the Empress, precious as a thousand pieces of gold, be compared to Lady Rong?”

The handkerchief in the Empress’s hand almost crumpled to shreds in her trembling anger. Lady Rong?

With a cold voice and eyes red with anger, the Empress said, “No matter what, she is but a consort, of course she cannot compare to me!”