Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 1177 - 1174_1

Chapter 1177: Chapter 1174_1

"Brother Shangguan, actually, I sort of have the desire to go with you to Nangong Country to...deal with Gu Xuan and Gong Zixuan," Xiao’er said, making a throat-slashing gesture with her hand.

This was the real reason Xiao’er called back Shangguan Xuanyi.

Those two people were like ticking time bombs!

Xiao’er spoke this way because she thought that Shanguan Xuanyi would not agree to her request. After all, the child was still young, and it would not be safe to take her on the road, but that was from other people’s perspectives. For those who have space, it’s a different story.

After hearing this, Shanguan Xuanyi glanced at Xiao’er and then at the children, who were now asleep, "If that’s the case, should we leave the kids under the care of the Empress Dowager? Are you comfortable with that? Actually, I was thinking of going to Nangong Country alone."

"Of course I’m not at ease! The children have not been weaned off yet, but we can easily bring them along because we have space. If there’s danger, the children can stay inside. Anyway, they can help look after the children during the day. Besides, without venturing into a tiger’s den, how can one capture a tiger cub! If you go to Nangong Country alone, I believe they’ll be even more desperate to take my blood and kidnap the children."

Shangguan Xuanyi fell silent upon hearing this. He was just concerned about this, hence his indecision. One must always be prepared for all eventualities. If they do not bring the children, leaving them in the palace for the Empress to look after, who knows who else is a traitor lurking in the Imperial City, let alone in the palace?

Every country places their insiders in other countries’ palaces, and Nangong Country is no exception, with Minze Country’s insiders hiding deep and remaining unused for over twenty years.

Such insiders are generally not used until critical moments, such as the destruction of a country.

Shangguan Xuanyi believed that there was such a person in the palace who belonged to Nangong Country.

"Bringing the children will definitely cause some trouble. Even though we can put them into space, the children still need caregiving. What if they start crying when we encounter danger?"

"Even if they cry at that time, we can’t do anything about it. Which child doesn’t cry sometimes? Moreover, we cannot leave immediately; we must wait until after the Birth of Guanyin and the Sacrifice to Heaven ceremony. By the time we reach Nangong Country, the children will be almost seven months old, capable of eating even solid food and sitting up on their own. They should be able to entertain themselves and will not cry that much. If not, how could I manage without a wet nurse, taking care of everything alone?" Xiao’er began to strongly persuade Shangguan Xuanyi.

"Let me think it over. I will give you an answer after the 19th of June." The 19th of June is the Birth of Guanyin. Even if he goes to Nangong Country, it has to be after the Sacrifice to Heaven ceremony.

"Alright."

"I will send someone to Zhangxiang County first." After saying this, Shangguan Xuanyi stood up.

"Alright."

As soon as Shangguan Xuanyi left, Xiao’er began to list the items needed for taking the children on a journey.

Also, if she wanted to secretly leave with Shangguan Xuanyi, she needed to find an excuse to make everyone believe that they were still in the Imperial City, just out of sight.

Soon, the day of the 19th of June arrived.

On the day of the Sacrifice to Heaven ceremony, the weather was particularly hot. Xiao’er and Shangguan Xuanyi entered the palace with the children before dawn.

By the end of the morning, the sun was baking their skin to the point of severe pain.

Xiao’er glanced at the children, who were held by the wet nurse and Yang Liu and Yang Mei. Although they had been sheltered from the sun with an umbrella, and there was a maid fanning them on the side, the children still sweated quite a bit.

The Sacrifice to Heaven ceremony cannot end until noon at the earliest. How could the children endure several hours of heat? Xiao’er looked at them with a heartache.

Ancient people held the Sacrifice to Heaven in high regard. As long as they were in the Imperial City, nearly everyone from the royal family had to participate. Therefore, no one thought that these children should not participate in the ceremony. Even the emperor and empress wanted the children to participate in the Sacrifice to Heaven ceremony.

After all, celestial signs had appeared when the children were born. They should participate to express gratitude for the divine favor they had received.

However, the Empress Dowager was getting old this year, and her health had declined significantly. Therefore, she would not participate in the Sacrifice to Heaven ceremony this time.

At this time, Xiao’er couldn’t help thinking, why didn’t the Empress Dowager suggest to keep the children in Cining Palace to accompany her? They could be sent over when it was almost their turn to appear on the stage!

Xiao’er looked at the children with heartache. She let the children wear the Ice Soul Shangguan Xuanyi had once given her in turns, if only to avoid being overheated for too long.

Inside Cining Palace.

A nanny said to the Empress Dowager, "Your Majesty, the weather is so hot today and so stuffy, I expect there will be heavy rain this afternoon."

The Empress Dowager looked at the scorching sun outside and nodded, "Yes."

"It’s so hot. The adults might be able to endure the sun for the Sacrifice to Heaven, but the children...how can they bear it?" the nanny sighed.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager immediately remembered her five newly added great-grandsons, "I don’t know if the children are crying or fussing. They are only a few months old. It must be hard on them."

"Your Majesty, this servant thinks the children are too young to wait for the Sacrifice to Heaven under the sun. By the time it is their turn to appear, it will be the last segment, which is around noon. How could the children be willing to wait under the sun for so long? If they keep crying, it may disturb the Gods. What if it displeases the Gods?"

"Not really? Which child doesn’t cry?" The Empress Dowager was astonished upon hearing this.

"At such a devout moment, a child’s cry would be inappropriate. Moreover, it’s easy for children to get heatstroke from staying under the sun for too long."

"What should we do then? We can’t exclude the children from the Sacrifice to Heaven ceremony, that would be against the rules!"

"Not excluding them, but sending them just before noon! During the Sacrifice to Heaven ceremony, the Emperor needs to lead the royal family in thanking the heavens for blessing our dynasty last year, then pray for favorable weather, national prosperity and peace, and prosperity for our people in the coming year. Then we must pray for victory on the battlefield before finally extending thanks to the Gods once again for the new princes. This is a long process, and this servant thinks it would be better if the children could first come back to Cining Palace to rest. Then, towards the end of the morning, they can be sent over. Otherwise, if they get heatstroke, that would be even worse, wouldn’t it?"

The Empress Dowager agreed to this after hearing it. After all, the children were so young, if they fainted from the sun, they wouldn’t be able to participate in the Sacrifice to Heaven ceremony at all.

"You’re right. Go tell Princess Rui and the Crown Princess to bring all the children here. Then, around noon, I’ll have someone send the children to the Temple of Heaven. Hurry up, I don’t want the princes to suffer any longer."

"Yes, Your Majesty. The oldest maid will send the fastest palace girl to them now!"

The Empress Dowager nodded in approval.

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