Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 1167 - 1164_1

Chapter 1167: 1164_1

Prince Rui’s Mansion

Xiao’er and Shangguan Xuanyi were having dinner when Yang Liu walked in: "Master, Princess, Marquis Shengping requests an audience."

Xiao’er was extremely surprised by these words: "My father? What could he be doing here at this time?"

While speaking, Xiao’er stood up and walked out.

Shangguan Xuanyi also put down his chopsticks and followed Xiao’er out, equally curious about what could have prompted his father-in-law to visit at this time. Could there be some issue with the supplies in the imperial warehouse?

Shen Chengyao was led to the flower hall. As soon as he saw the two, he promptly stood up to pay his respects. Shangguan Xuanyi immediately stopped him: "Dad, there are no outsiders here, there’s no need for formality!"

"Exactly, dad, really, there’s no need for formality next time, Brother Shangguan isn’t so particular and I’m even less so! Isn’t this too much? Oh, by the way, it’s already late, dad, why have you come?"

Yang Liu pondered: True, the master seems to dismiss any formalities when it involves the princess! But it is not the same with anyone else.

"Xi’er left a note saying she went to the Grand Scholar Mansion to play with Miss Gu. But when your mother sent someone to find her at the Grand Scholar’s, they said she and Miss Gu had left early and have not returned. Both girls have been missing all day, we do not where they went. So, I thought I’d come to see if they’re here."

Hearing this, Xiao’er immediately guessed that they must have secretly followed Jinghao to assume his official post!

"Xi’er and her friend have not come here, I think they must have secretly followed Jinghao to his new post!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Chengyao’s eyes widened in shock: "Followed Hao’er to his post?! That’s impossible! This is outrageous!"

"Dad, don’t you know Xi’er? When has she ever done anything according to convention? There’s no need to look further, she’s definitely gone with Jinghao. I bet by tomorrow morning you will receive a pigeon post from Jinghao!"

When has she ever done anything according to convention?

"Cough, cough....." Upon hearing this, Shangguan Xuanyi coughed into his fist to conceal his amusement.

"Those two young ladies wouldn’t dare to be that bold! Zezhou is thousands of miles away from the Imperial Capital, what if something happens on the way?" Shen Chengyao found it a bit hard to believe.

"If it was just the two of them, they definitely wouldn’t dare! But aren’t they going with Jinghao and their cousin? There is nothing to fear about, right? Besides, Xi’er who has her own talent in handling poison, fears neither heaven nor earth!"

"..." Listening to Xiao’er’s words, Shen Chengyao was speechless. Xi’er seemed to be just like that, spoiled by indulgences!

"I’ll send people to bring Xi’er and her friend back." Said Shangguan Xuanyi.

Xiao’er shook her head upon hearing this: "There’s no need, Xi’er is the type who wouldn’t heed advice until she meets with disaster. Besides, Jinghao probably can’t convince them either. If they were brought back, what would happen if they find an opportunity to sneak away again? That would be even more dangerous. At least they are with Jinghao at the moment! I think it’s better to send two martial arts masters to protect them.

Once they reach the south and have seen what it’s like, Jinghao will arrange for them to be sent back. Moreover, isn’t Brother Shangguan coming back from the south in a few months? When he does, he can bring them back."

Xiao’er had indeed guessed Jinghao’s thoughts correctly. Jinghao knew that the girls were stubborn, so after reconsidering, he decided to just take them with him, let them see and experience things for themselves, and when Jingrui returned to the capital for his report at the end of the year, the girls could return with him.

Jingrui was due to return to the capital to report at the end of the year.

"But there is still war going on there, swords and blows make no distinction, what if they get hurt?"

"Dad, what’s meant to be will be. When a child grows up, they become impossible to control. Going out to see the world isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Once they get married, their husbands will be there to control them, and it will become a lot harder for them to venture out then!"

Shen Chengyao disagreed with this, Xiao’er also married, and two years ago, didn’t Shangguan Xuanyi accompany her to travel around Jiangnan? However, Shen Chengyao also knew that this was because Shangguan Xuanyi spoils Xiao’er that all this could happen.

He didn’t know what kind of man Xi’er will marry in the future, she might end up spending her whole life confined in a mansion.

"Fine, if she’s really gone with Jinghao to his post, we will have to rely on Jinghao’s arrangements!" Shen Chengyao was worried that they would interfere with Jinghao’s duties, but now that they had already left, he was helpless!

That child, really! Who does she take after?!

Shen Chengyao found raising a daughter far more worrying than raising a son!

In the past, Xiao’er also ran around everywhere when she was little. Why did his daughters like to roam around more than his sons?

"Don’t worry, no one can bully Xi’er, as long as she doesn’t bully others, we should consider ourselves lucky!"

"True!" Shen Chengyao nodded in agreement.

"Dad, you haven’t had dinner yet, right? I’ll send someone out to look for Xi’er once more, just in case. You stay here and eat first, don’t worry."

"No need, I need to go back and tell your mother, she went to the Grand Scholar’s Mansion, I don’t know if she’s found Xi’er."

"I’ll send someone to ask, won’t I?" Xiao’er led Shen Chengyao towards the dining hall.

Shangguan Xuanyi instructed Yang Liu to call Zhao Yong to look for Xi’er and meanwhile let Mrs. Liu know that Shen Chengyao would be dining here.

Before Yang Liu had gotten far, a maidservant from the second gate brought Mrs. Liu in: "No need to send people to look for Xi’er! That naughty girl went with Jinghao to his post! Tomorrow, I’ll send someone to drag her back, this time I must break her legs! She’s too audacious!"

Xiao’er: "Mom, isn’t it always the same case when Xi’er stirs up trouble? You always say that you’re going to break her legs, but aren’t Xi’er’s legs still intact? Otherwise, how could she dare to secretly follow Jinghao to his post this time?"

This is what they call "A coddling mother can do more harm than good!" Xiao’er thought.

Mrs Liu: "I won’t let it slide this time! I’m going to give her a severe lesson! Xi’er listens to you the most since she was little! Her habit of running around comes from you!"

Xiao’er: Does this involve herself?!

"I never taught her to run around! I didn’t run around before!"

She had always been dealing with proper business, how could she be compared to Xi’er!

"Anyway, now I just hope that Xi’er quickly grows up and gets married, then let her husband deal with her headaches! Just like you two, I can’t manage either of you anymore!"

Xiao’er: "..."

Shangguan Xuanyi: "..."

...

Shen Chengyao and Mrs. Liu left for home only after dinner.

The next morning, they found a homing pigeon on the window sill as soon as they woke up.

Upon reading the message from the pigeon, Shen Chengyao said, "Jinghao says Xi’er and Miss Gu are with him and asks us not to worry. Before the end of the year, he will send someone to bring them back to the Imperial Capital."

Mrs. Liu, not satisfied with this, said: "Xi’er is spoiled by Jinghao!"

Shen Chengyao: "Isn’t she just following Xiao’er’s example?"

Mrs. Liu glared at Shen Chengyao: "Both are to blame! And so are you!"