Chapter 168: A Royal Visit

Chapter 168

A Royal Visit

Ever since Kang Wang rescued Mu Rongying that day, he hadn’t left her side. He arranged for trusted people to move into the neighboring mansion that the Hou had purchased and even moved some of his personal belongings there. Every evening, after bathing, he would slip into her residence under the cover of darkness.

At night, Mu Rongying would sit reviewing accounts while he read reports beside her. Kang Wang would sneak glances at her, smiling with affection as he watched her focused expression. She had chosen this life of hard work over a more comfortable existence surrounded by servants, and if it weren’t for her stubbornness, the two of them might never have ended up together.

When it was time to extinguish the lantern, Kang Wang set down the scroll in his hand and spoke to her in a gentle voice.

"Yingying, it’s late. You should rest now."

"Just a little longer, please,"

Yingying replied, continuing to flick her abacus and brush through the accounts. She always worked like this. Kang Wang said nothing more, but moved closer, sitting behind her. He leaned in, his sharp nose brushing the soft skin of her neck.

"Ah!"

Mu Rongying gasped, her hand slipping, dropping the brush. Thankfully, it didn’t fall onto the documents; otherwise, she would have had to start over.

"Your Highness!"

Her cheeks flushing red as his hands encircled her waist, pulling her onto his lap.

"This isn’t urgent work. You should do it in moderation. When it’s time to rest, you should rest,"

He murmured softly into her ear. His strong hands slid inside her clothes, caressing the soft skin of her stomach before moving upwards. His lips rained kisses on her ear and neck, making her tremble. Her full red lips let out a sweet moan.

Kang Wang didn’t fully undress her. He simply lifted her skirt and teased her expertly. Her breasts were gently fondled in a playful manner. When she turned to protest, he silenced her with a passionate kiss. Overcome with desire, Kang Wang grasped her slender waist, lifting her slightly before entering her.

"Ah!"

Mu Rongying let out a soft, sweet cry, which only fueled his passion. He intensified his movements, causing her to melt completely in his arms. She leaned against his strong body, her lower half moving rhythmically under his control. Eventually, they both reached their peak. Her clothing was disheveled as she rested against his broad chest, which still heaved with heavy breaths.

"Didn’t Your Highness say Yingying should rest? Why do you keep teasing me like this?"

Mu Rongying asked innocently after her breathing had returned to normal.

"What we just did wasn’t restful? Your body is completely relaxed now, isn’t it?"

Kang Wang leaned down to whisper teasingly, nibbling her ear. His voice was deep and seductive. Her cheeks flushed a rosy pink, like ripe peaches. Seeing her like this, Kang Wang felt the urge to continue teasing her. He picked her up and carried her to the bed. Mu Rongying didn’t protest, thinking he was simply putting her to sleep.

As soon as he laid her on the bed, Mu Rongying moved further inside, removing the hairpin that had already begun to come loose and placing it by the bedside. Her long, silky hair cascaded down like ink, framing her already beautiful face, making her look even more stunning. Kang Wang was momentarily mesmerized. Mu Rongying busied herself with adjusting her clothes, and when she turned around, she was met with his burning gaze.

"Your Highness? Should I be the one to extinguish the lantern?"

She asked sweetly, her heart racing strangely.

"No need,"

He replied in a husky voice, climbing onto the bed. His large hands gently pushed her down, hovering over her. Their eyes met, full of affection, under the soft glow of the lantern. By the time Mu Rongying finally fell asleep, it was well past midnight.

Though their relationship had to be kept secret, they were immensely happy together. Kang Wang didn’t want Mu Rongying to participate in tea ceremonies anymore, and she herself was still shaken from the kidnapping incident. As a result, Chunmei had taken over the task. On days when her young miss couldn’t rise early, Chunmei would step in to help Wang Dongpo instead. If her young miss did visit the tea house, one could be certain Kang Wang would be there as well.

"A’You, has your mistress been unwell lately? You’ve been coming alone quite often these days."

Wang Dongpo often called Chunmei by his younger sister’s name. Chunmei looked up and smiled, evading the question.

"She just needs some quiet time to focus on her work. Don’t worry, Third Brother."

In truth, ever since Wang Dongpo had noticed Kang Wang frequently visiting the tea house on days when Mu Rongying was there, he had already guessed something was going on. He didn’t press Chunmei on the matter anymore. As long as he saw Chunmei’s face every day, he was content. He had no desire to meddle in Mu Rongying’s personal affairs.

"Third Brother, my young miss has said she won’t be available to perform the tea ceremonies from now on and has asked me to take over. Do you think that will be a problem?"

Since the kidnapping, Mu Rongying had wanted to stay out of the public eye, and Kang Wang wholeheartedly supported this.

Wang Dongpo furrowed his brows in thought.

"Are you skilled enough at performing the tea ceremony?"

Chunmei laughed, her dimples showing sweetly.

"Third Brother, ever since we were young, I’ve learned everything alongside my young miss. That includes the tea ceremony. In fact, I could be considered a top student. I’ve studied more closely than Teacher He Shangbian from the academy, who came to learn from my young miss."

Wang Dongpo couldn’t quite describe how he felt, but he knew he didn’t like the idea of others focusing too much on her. He chuckled, though there was a hint of worry in his voice.

"Mm, if she believes you’re capable, then it should be fine."

"Third Brother San, the weather’s getting colder. I made this winter coat for you. Try it on,"

Chunmei said as she took a coat from her basket and held it up to him. Then she moved behind him to help him put it on. Every stitch had been made with care. The fabric was of fine quality, and the embroidery was intricate and beautiful. Wang Dongpo felt a warmth in his chest, so overwhelmed with gratitude that he couldn’t speak for a moment.

"How is it? Does it keep you warm?"

Chunmei asked cheerfully, unaware that Wang Dongpo’s eyes had become misty.

"Thank you...A’You. No one has ever made a coat for me like this before."

Chunmei giggled.

"What nonsense. How have you managed to have clothes to wear all this time, then?"

"They’ve always been provided by the tailoring department."

Hearing this, Chunmei remembered that he had once been a eunuch, living a solitary life in the palace. She offered a few words of comfort.

"From now on, I’ll be the one to make your clothes. I just hope next year, when you see them, you won’t say you don’t want them."

Wang Dongpo laughed too.

"If A’You makes them, how could I not want them?"

Wang Dongpo was a desirable man in Huangjing City, admired by many women. Not only was he tall and handsome, but his position as the head manager of Xiangyun Tea House was highly regarded. The tea house was famous across the land, and Lady Boss’s connections with influential figures like General Song, Kang Wang, and Princess An Le were undeniable. Many young women, especially the daughters of wealthy merchants, often cast admiring glances at him. But Wang Dongpo never paid attention to any of them. Chunmei assumed it was because of his physical limitations that he didn’t think of starting a family.

In the capital, news of the Emperor’s visit to Xiangyun Tea House spread far and wide. The Emperor had participated in the elegant and refined tea ceremony, praising Zhang Liyong multiple times. It was said that he ordered tea brewing sets to be sent to the concubines of all three palaces and even requested that people be sent to learn the tea ceremony from Zhang Liyong.

This year, the weather in the north was colder than usual, worsening the Emperor’s lungs pain. While having someone prepare Mo Cha Fen for him, he had a thought.

"The first tea ceremony that everyone talks about was held at the tea house in Huangjing, wasn’t it?"

Eunuch Gao quickly responded,

"Yes, Your Majesty. It is said that Young Miss Nie, the younger sister of General Song’s wife, conducted that ceremony."

"The weather in Huangjing is warmer than here in the north, and I enjoy Mo Cha Fen. It would be nice to taste it at the source. The current tea ceremony practices have been passed down from Young Miss Nie, correct? I would like to see with my own eyes whether she performs the tea ceremony better than Zhang Liyong."

Eager to please, Eunuch Gao quickly replied,

"The court has no urgent matters at present, and the weather in the north is only getting colder by the day. Moving to the warmer city of Huangjing would certainly be beneficial to Your Majesty’s health."Upon hearing Eunuch Gao’s support, the Emperor commanded all relevant parties to secretly prepare for a secret royal visit to Huangjing City.