Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 1051 - 1049_1

Chapter 1051: Chapter 1049_1

Xiao’er had not left the house for over two months. The two hottest months of the year had passed and as she stepped out, a gust of autumn wind greeted her face. Xiao’er felt much more comfortable.

"Can’t believe I was cooped up inside for half the summer. Yun’er’s marriage is approaching, is big brother coming home today?" Xiao’er remembered asking Mrs. Liu a few days ago about when Jingrui would come home, and it seemed like it was today.

"Hmm, after we finish shopping, we’ll go back to Marquis Shengping’s Mansion for dinner to welcome big brother." Shangguan Xuanyi nodded, yet he was thinking that he should head to Shengping’s mansion early as he needed to cook for Xiao’er.

Xiao’er still only ate food cooked by Shangguan Xuanyi without getting nauseous.

When she asked how he did it and what he added, he chose not to tell her.

Xiao’er wanted the cook to prepare meals, instead of him braving the hot summer to make several trips back and forth from the mansion to prepare meals for her, which seemed strenuous too.

However, as Shangguan Xuanyi insisted, she gave in.

The carriage stopped outside a tea house.

Shangguan Xuanyi carried Xiao’er out of the carriage. The significant weight in his arms made the corners of his mouth curl up slightly.

Xiao’er was only three months pregnant now, but her belly was slightly protruding.

However, because her clothes were looser than usual, an unknowing person would simply think she’d just put on a little weight recently.

Shangguan Xuanyi led Xiao’er to a private room overlooking the street on the third floor of the tea house.

After they sat down by the window, a maid came in, silently bowed, and then sat at the tea table, starting to make the tea.

Xiao’er glanced at the sequence of actions the maid took to prepare the tea, which were pleasing to the eyes.

Xiao’er had never been to this tea house before, but had heard of it. Its business was not doing well, but all who frequented it were people of status.

Xiao’er took a look and then looked away, turning her head to continue looking out the window.

The window directly faced the main street of Imperial City and from Xiao’er’s position, she could even see the splendid and magnificent Imperial Palace gleaming in the sunlight.

It stretched as far as the eye could see.

The palace is so large, but in fact, only a few people lives inside, thought Xiao’er.

Shangguan Xuanyi waved the maid away when he saw her finish making the tea.

Without speaking, the maid respectfully bowed and stepped back.

Xiao’er turned around again and didn’t speak until the maid had left and shut the door. "She’s mute?"

Shangguan Xuanyi nodded, "All the maids here are deaf and mute."

"That makes it a good place to have a conversation." Xiao’er offhandedly made the comment and then moved her gaze back to the window.

Since Shangguan Xuanyi said he brought her out to enjoy herself, she naturally had to keep an eye on the view, in case she missed anything interesting.

Shangguan Xuanyi pointed in a certain direction.

Xiao’er looked in that direction and saw a ragged man squatting in the corner of an alley, staring intently at a jewelry shop across the street.

Xiao’er immediately recognized this person as Master Fang.

"Master Fang has been in the Imperial Capital for a long time without finding Mrs. Fang?" Xiao’er said in surprise.

"Did you know he’s been here?" Shangguan Xuanyi exclaimed, surprised. He hadn’t mentioned to Xiao’er that Master Fang had arrived; not because he deliberately didn’t tell her, but because he simply forgot as it wasn’t a big deal.

"Yes, when I was going to the Guanyin Temple to pray for a child, I happened to see him enter the city. He looked much better than he does now. Now he even has to beg for a living."

Shangguan Xuanyi didn’t respond after hearing this. It wasn’t surprising that Master Fang had fallen so low. The money he used to get to the Imperial Capital was deliberately lost by some of his own people. It was barely enough to get him here, and during these past two months in the Imperial Capital, he had been unable to find Fang Wanping and her mother, and he had no money and didn’t know how to find work. So, he resorted to begging during the day and sleeping in a broken-down temple at night.

Fortunately, it was summer when he arrived, or he would have frozen to death!

Mrs. Fang and Fang Wanping had a much better life in the Fang family than when they first arrived because Wanping saved the Empress Dowager. Plus, they said something to Master Fang which improved their treatment at home.

The Empress Dowager had always been frail after her return from the Guanyin Temple due to the rain and shock. She had to stay in bed. As she aged, she feared loneliness, so she often had Wanping, who had saved her life, summoned to the palace to accompany her.

Due to this, Wanping’s status in the Fang family rose higher, and Master Fang doted on her more. They were well off and could even afford to visit jewelry shops.

There were some legitimate children from well-off families who even proposed marriage recently. But having seen a prince, Wanping had her sights set on a higher goal. So, she turned them all down. Mrs. Fang also didn’t reject their proposals directly. Instead, she used the excuse that Fang Wanping was still recovering from her injuries from saving the Empress Dowager, so it wasn’t the right time to talk about marriage.

Master Fang watched the two women leave the jewelry shop, his eyes flashing with deep hatred.

The two women had schemed against others which resulted in him suffering the repercussions. They had even taken away all his wealth, leaving him to beg for a living.

What’s more infuriating was while he begged during the day and slept in a run-down temple at night, the two women lived in luxury, ordering servants around and sleeping in comfortable beds.

"Mother, didn’t you send someone to quietly keep track of the Crown Prince’s whereabouts? Why hasn’t there been any news?" It was preventing her from having a beautiful encounter with the Crown Prince of Eastern Jin Dynasty.

"It’s not that we don’t have any news. It’s just that he’s always out of the city when he leaves home. The people I sent can’t keep up with his movements!" Mrs. Fang looked helpless.

"Actually, the Crown Prince’s status is too high. Your father has found a good match for you. Although he’s a widower, Master Liang is a fourth-rank..."

"Okay, Master Liang is only five years younger than Dad, he can be my father!"

As Mrs. Fang and Fang Wanping spoke, they continued to walk forward. When they passed an alley, Master Fang suddenly rushed out, grabbed Mrs. Fang’s hand, raised his hand and slapped her, then slapped her again and again, not stopping after several slaps.

"Ah! Someone’s killing me! Help!" Fang Wanping was stunned for a moment before she started screaming in fear.

Master Fang heard Fang Wanping’s scream, immediately pushed Mrs. Fang to the ground, kicked her, and then switched his target.

Without giving both women a good beating, Master Fang wouldn’t be able to vent his hatred.

Sensing Master Fang’s intent, Fang Wanping was so scared that she immediately turned and ran, leaving Mrs. Fang who was curled up on the ground and crying out in pain.

Like mother, like daughter!

As she ran, Fang Wanping shouted for help.

Master Fang reacted swiftly and quickly captured her. "You bitch! Trying to run from your own father!"

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