Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 1017 - 1015_1

Chapter 1017: Chapter 1015_1

Upon seeing that Xiao’er’s hand had stopped bleeding, the woman squatted down again to pick up the shards on the ground. The largest tile shard still bore a single drop of Xiao’er’s blood.

Observing her actions, Xiao’er said, "Yang Liu, go help this lady. It’s inconvenient for her to do this while holding a child."

The woman shook her head, rejecting the offer, "No need, I can manage with one hand. Kids at home always break things, I’m used to it. I won’t accidentally cut my hand. You two are obviously of noble status, better not risk getting injured again."

Xiao’er felt puzzled: What noble status? Would she have accidentally cut her hand if it weren’t for the child suddenly jumping off the stool?

By this time, the owner had noticed the situation and came over.

Xiao’er promptly said, "Shopkeeper, a child accidentally broke a teacup. Could you please clean up the shards on the floor?"

Hearing this, the shopkeeper replied, "Ma’am, please stand up, let me take care of it."

The woman, left with no choice, had to let go of the tile shards for the shopkeeper to clean up. If she insisted further, it would arouse suspicion. Fortunately, the handkerchief had already soaked up some of the blood.

This was a minor interlude and was quickly resolved. Xiao’er had injured her finger, which made it challenging to eat. Luckily, she was half full already. Thus, she bid Shen Chengzu and his wife goodbye and left the restaurant, heading back to where her carriage was parked.

The dragon boat race had ended, and most of the crowd on both banks had dispersed, leaving behind only a few individuals who were aimlessly strolling and enduring the hot sun along the riverside.

The pathway along the riverbank was littered with fruit peels, bamboo sticks, and other kinds of trash.

"Such a longstanding tradition!" Xiao’er couldn’t help but comment.

"What?" Yang Liu didn’t quite understand.

Xiao’er simply shook her head.

The air in ancient times was clean, unobscured by smog. Yet Xiao’er felt that the sun was especially harsh, and its ultraviolet rays were particularly strong. She wasn’t sure if it was her illusion, but the scorching May sun on her skin felt somewhat painful, compelling her to quicken her pace.

Upon returning to Prince Rui’s Mansion, Shangguan Xuanyi was already waiting inside the doors.

As Xiao’er got off the carriage at the second gate, Shangguan Xuanyi immediately took her hand to examine it. The wound had stopped bleeding, but the cut was still a bit reddened.

"It’s a minor wound with no poison, you don’t need to worry!" Xiao’er glanced at his worried expression and found it somewhat amusing.

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Xuanyi’s eyes became more solemn: Not being poisoned was even more dangerous than being poisoned!

He had already sent people to secretly follow that woman, waiting to find out who was behind her.

"Let’s go back to our room!" Having stood outside all morning, the girl must be tired. Moreover, he needed to apply ointment to her wound.

Xiao’er also understood that the matter was more complicated than it seemed, so she nodded in agreement.

Once in their room, Xiao’er said, "I assume, that woman wanted my blood. If that’s the case, then it’s definitely related to my dimensional space."

Shangguan Xuanyi nodded, "I’ve already sent someone to follow her secretly."

Neither of them discussed the matter further after that. Even if they didn’t speak about it, both of them could analyze the situation in their minds.

Now they were simply waiting for the person tailing the woman to return.

Shangguan Xuanyi took out some ointment, pulled Xiao’er’s hand toward him, and started applying it on her wound.

Xiao’er glanced at the wound on her finger. With the effect of the ointment, it had almost healed, but the blood that flowed out could not be recollected.

She formed the bond with the this dimensional space through her blood. The woman collecting her blood must be related to the space and was most likely working with the thieves who stole the radiation stone, right?

Who wanted to ruin her space? Who had such a large capability?

Shangguan Xuanyi remembered that they had to dine in the palace that evening. The Empress Dowager might not say very pleasant things to Xiao’er. Moreover, the purpose of tomorrow’s flower appreciation banquet was to select concubines for himself and Shangguan Ruixi. Not revealing it earlier was because he didn’t want Xiao’er to know so soon and have her mood affected. The lesser she knew about the unpleasant things, the better.

But now, he had no choice but to tell her.

"Last time, the people from Cining Palace reported that the Empress Dowager plans to..." Shangguan Xuanyi revealed the Empress Dowager’s plan.

"Help you two choose concubines? Then remember to choose well tomorrow!" Xiao’er imbued her words with a sour tone, "Next time, I’ll feed the good food to dogs instead of you!"

Looking at Xiao’er’s jealous expression, Shangguan Xuanyi felt an odd sense of satisfaction. He couldn’t help but pull her into his arms, "I have made my choice, it’s you whom I’m holding. From now on, whether it’s about concubines, empresses, maids, or courtesans, it will only be you! How is it? Don’t you think I have good taste?"

"Pfft, who wants to be your concubine, maid or courtesan? If I am not the empress, I will not do anything else!"

"Alright, then you will be the only empress for me! No concubine, maid, or courtesan, only you! Are you happy now?"

"Words mean nothing!"

"Then bind me to your side. If you go there, I will go there. Then, you will know whether I’m telling the truth."

"You wish!" He was already too clingy on regular days, and now he wanted to be tied to her? She doubted if she had married a fake man! What man would be as clingy as him?

"Hmm, indeed, I wish. But dreams are beautiful, reality is cruel." Shangguan Xuanyi nodded seriously. He loved the idea of looking at his girl for 24 hours a day!

Unfortunately, many duties called for his attention, rendering him unable to fulfill even such a simple wish. How cruel could reality be?

Such a man! Xiao’er affirmed that she could no longer have a proper conversation with him!

"Let go, I need to take a bath!" Xiao’er decided to ignore him. She had to freshen up and prepare to enter the palace. Having stood on the bridge in the hot sun for a morning, she was soaked in sweat and felt uncomfortable all over.

A bath? That’s a great idea!

"Let’s go together!"

"No!"

"Let’s go together!"

"Go away!"

...

Two hours later, An Shier returned.

"Master, I’ve found out that the woman is from a village near the Huai River. She has been married and living in the village for ten years. The villagers call her Big Sister Gui. The boy is her eldest, and the baby she was holding is her fourth child, born five months ago. After she returned home, she hasn’t left. I’ve asked Seventeen to continue monitoring her every move. This is the handkerchief she discarded halfway and some background information about her."

Shangguan Xuanyi glanced at the handkerchief but didn’t take it. He took the background documents instead. "Hold it up, let me smell."

Upon hearing that, Shier held up the handkerchief.

Shangguan Xuanyi leaned in to smell it, then a cold glint flashed in his eyes. Discarding the blood-stained handkerchief, he said, "Isn’t this just drawing attention to hide a bigger plan? Does she think that this will keep us from knowing what they’re after?"

Shangguan Xuanyi glanced through the background information in his hands. Everything seemed normal. "The blood on this handkerchief isn’t Xiao’er’s. Send more people to watch that family closely. Follow everyone who leaves, preferably without blowing our cover and drawing attention to ourselves. The best outcome would be to capture the puppet masters, but even if we can’t do that and our cover is blown, we must ensure Xiao’er’s blood isn’t exploited."

"Yes, sir."