Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 1042 - 1040_1

Chapter 1042: Chapter 1040_1

The ship was enormous, standing four stories high and capable of accommodating over five hundred people. As it was specifically built for Brother Ri’s wedding, there was no shortage of imposing luxury. Although the interior decoration and many other details were yet to be completed, the exterior alone was enough to stir astonishment in anybody who beheld it.

Over a hundred people were tirelessly working on it day and night.

"There is a lot of woodwork inside. We should remind everyone to be mindful of potential fire hazards when working by oil lamp at night. If feasible, it would be better to avoid night work. The days are longer now and the dark sets in late. We can ask everyone to start work earlier and finish later," said Xiao’er, as she walked around and addressed Brother Ri.

Most of the ship was made of wood. A fire not caught in time could easily bring a month’s worth of hard work to ruin, worse still, it could result in casualties.

"Everything is mostly finished now, and I’ve told the crew to avoid working at night. I’ve also arranged people to keep watch round the clock, so there is no need to worry," Brother Ri explained.

This was the ship he would sail for his wedding, the wedding he had been longing for years. Xiao’er had been married for over two years before it was his turn to marry Yun’er. He would guard against any mishaps at all costs to prevent anything jeopardising this event.

He wouldn’t tolerate any ill-omened occurrences to disrupt his and Yun’er’s wedding ceremony.

Xiao’er nodded. As far as thoroughness went, she knew Brother Ri was the most meticulous among the three brothers, a trait she had discerned since childhood.

The group ascended to the top floor of the ship.

"Sister, come and see. This is the room for you and brother-in-law. Do you like it? Is there anything you would like to change?" Yun’er took Xiao’er into a private room on the fourth floor.

Xiao’er looked around at the room’s layout and design. It adhered to her taste: simple yet sophisticated, coupled with an air of tenderness and warmth. The room, apart from a kitchen, was fully equipped and exceedingly convenient.

"I love it," Xiao’er nodded, and then the three of them proceeded to inspect the other rooms. The rooms on the fourth floor were all prepared for the masters. Each was thoughtfully designed by Brother Ri to match personal preferences.

After touring the fourth floor, they continued further down, ending up at the main hall on the first floor where Xiao’er offered some suggestions. Such was how the morning passed.

As they disembarked the ship, Xiao’er looked up at the scorching sun overhead. Then, without any warning, she suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed!

"Sister!"

"Xiao’er!" Yun’er and Brother Ri cried out simultaneously.

Yun’er reacted quickly, catching Xiao’er as her body began to buckle, preventing her from hitting the ground.

Looking at Xiao’er in her arms, Yun’er asked Brother Ri: "What should we do?"

Xiao’er’s eyes were tightly shut, her face drained of color, her lips unnaturally pale.

Without regard for propriety, Brother Ri scooped Xiao’er into his arms: "We must rush back to the city to find a doctor!"

Yun’er nodded, and the two ran quickly towards the carriage.

Yun’er’s eyes were welled up with tears. For all the years since she had returned home, Xiao’er had never so much as sneezed. Even after staying awake for three days and nights, she was always full of energy, let alone catching a cold or falling ill. She had never been in such a state before, which scared Yun’er.

Yang Liu and Zhao Yong were waiting in the carriage. Upon seeing Brother Ri carrying the unconscious princess, they both jumped out of the carriage and rushed over.

"What happened to the Princess?" they both asked in unison.

"She all of a sudden fainted. We must return to the city at once!" Brother Ri exclaimed urgently.

Yang Liu and Zhao Yong quickly got back into the carriage. As Yang Liu settled in, she extended her hand to Brother Ri: "Young Master Ri, please hand the Princess over to me!"

Brother Ri knew that Yang Liu was a martial arts adept. Given the differences between male and female, if he were to carry Xiao’er all the way back to the city, it could invite ire from onlookers. He nodded, gently and carefully passed Xiao’er into Yang Liu’s arms.

"Ready!" Once Xiao’er had been secured, Yang Liu notified Zhao Yong.

"Hold on tight!" Zhao Yong shouted, then vigorously snapped the horsewhip, urging the carriage to speed off!

Yun’er and Brother Ri also hastily climbed into their carriage and trails urgently behind Xiao’er’s carriage towards the Imperial City.

...

Shangguan Xuanyi staggered into the room.

When he heard the news about Xiao’er suddenly collapsing, he immediately left the emperor and the ministers without a word and rushed to the Luo Mansion.

The emperor and other ministers looked at each other in surprise.

Fortunately, the emperor was Shangguan Xuanyi’s father. And it was because the emperor was such an emperor, otherwise, Shangguan Xuanyi would already have lost his head for leaving abruptly in front of the emperor and showing him so little respect.

Upon seeing Shangguan Xuanyi rushing in, everyone in the room stood up.

"How is the girl? Why did she faint?" Shangguan Xuanyi asked Doctor Luo.

"Miss Xiao’er seems to have suffered from a heat stroke. And it seems that her period is late. I suspect she might be pregnant, but I cannot confirm it by reading her pulse yet," Doctor Luo hesitated.

Generally speaking, it would be evident if her period was late by seven days. He had never encountered a case he could not figure out.

She always had a regular menstrual cycle, Yang Liu had reported. But now, she was several days late while showing signs of dizziness. It’s usually an indication of pregnancy.

But it was puzzling that the child in her healthy body was developing slowly. So slow that he could not detect the fetus even after so much time had passed.

"We visited the ship with sister this morning. As soon as we disembarked, sister collapsed all of a sudden without any warning."

"With today’s heat, I shouldn’t have arranged for Xiao’er to be out," Brother Ri said, regretful.

"By the way, she is deficient of qi and blood. Her body was perfectly well last month, how did she suddenly suffer from such deficiency?" Doctor Luo wondered.

"Isn’t that something I should ask you?" Shangguan Xuanyi naturally knew that Xiao’er’s health has been somewhat abnormal because her ability had been sealed for some time.

He hypothesized that perhaps the special realm was now requiring Xiao’er’s essence to nourish it. That’s why her health suddenly deteriorated. However, he could not reveal this.

Leaving everyone behind, he strode into the inner room to see Xiao’er.

Xiao’er was already awake, her complexion returning to normal. However, they were insisting that she remain in bed.

Seeing Shangguan Xuanyi enter the room, Xiao’er quickly got up: "Brother Shangguan, you’re back!"

"Lie down!" Seeing Xiao’er’s movement, Shangguan Xuanyi barked.

Xiao’er obediently lay back down on the bed.

"You are not allowed to go anywhere in the next few days, you have to stay in bed, wait until your body stablises."

"Yes, but it’s too boring to just linger in bed all day!" Xiao’er certainly heard what the physician had said. She was indeed startled by the sudden blackout. For the next few days, she would absolutely not run around again!

"I’ll take a leave and stay in the mansion with you!"

Xiao’er: "..." Was there a need to be this dramatic?!

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