Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 299 - 297

Chapter 299: 297

After Li Yunning and Shen Bao’er were carried home, the wife of the Prime Minister was terrified, assuming they had been maltreated in the Marquis Shengping’s Mansion.

However, after comprehending the actual incident, she claimed that what had transpired was even worse than maltreatment!

She quickly called for an imperial doctor. The doctor, after examination, confirmed that they had slightly contracted heatstroke and starvation but were overall fine.

After the tumult, under the maid’s service, Li Yunning took a bath, changed into clean clothes, ate some food, took medicine, and fell into a deep sleep.

"The Sixth Prince went too far. After all, Yunning is the daughter of the Prime Minister, and Shen Bao’er is part of our household. Even if he does not respect the nuns, he should respect the Buddha! How could he let people kneel under the sun without any water for the entire day! Isn’t that murderous?"

"Didn’t someone at Marquis Shengping’s Mansion advise them? Rui’an’s princess just had to disclose the prescription, and none of this would have happened! Even if she didn’t, they cannot punish by kneeling! What sincerity! The Sixth Prince is treating human life as a game!"

Prime Minister Li sat there thinking, ignoring his wife’s words.

The wife of the Prime Minister did not mind his silence, she continued regardless of whether he listened: "You once said that the Sixth Prince is a true king material. But I say that if he actually ascends to the throne, he will absolutely be a tyrant!"

"Enough! Is there anything you don’t just recklessly talk about!" cried Prime Minister Li, unable to restrain himself any longer when her words began to diverge from the point at hand.

"Did I say something wrong?! Forcing two weak girls to endure a day under the scorching sun, such a person has lost all humanity! We must never mention the idea of Yunning marrying him again! What if one day he decides to let Yunning kneel in a courtyard covered in snow all night? What will happen to my daughter’s life?" The wife of the Prime Minister spat out those words in extreme anger, but after speaking, she felt that the situation was highly plausible.

"The princess Rui’an is too wicked, the whole family of Marquis Shengping are narrow-minded. They couldn’t let go of trivial matters from the past! Peasants will always be peasants, always fussing over every single detail! I’ve never met anyone so obtuse. Does she think that having a good relationship with our Prime Minister’s Mansion would make her suffer! So many people want to serve us without a chance!"

Prime Minister Li was also frustrated. Having reached his position, it was impossible to ascend any higher. The only possible method lay with his children.

It was best not to mention his son, who was as incapable as a pig. His temperament was just like his mother’s.

Having one example before him, he had forsworn hope on his son, and thus turned his hopes to his grandchildren! However, it’s still uncertain.

With his son being useless, only his daughter was left. If his daughter became the Empress! He would be the Prime Minister and also the Emperor’s father-in-law. And in the future, his grandson would be the Emperor! Moreover, half his blood would flow in his grandson’s veins!

With his daughter, who would hopefully become an Empress, looking after his inept son, the Li family wouldn’t lose too much. Once his grandson was born, he would certainly educate him well, and then under the shelter of his aunt, the Empress, he would inherit his mantle!

Today, the Sixth Prince gave him no face by treating him this way. This showed that he did not covet his aid!

Humph! He knows nothing about gratitude! Since he does not yearn for it, then he would find another who does! The Emperor isn’t only left with one son!

"The weather is stifling now, and Ning’er shows signs of heat stroke. Tomorrow, you should take her to the villa at Li Mountain to escape the summer heat! In passing, bring some supplements to the Third Prince."

Since childhood, the Third Prince had a weak constitution. Lady Chang often took him to Li Mountain for convalescence.

Having heard these words, the wife of the prime minister who was combing her hair at the time paused momentarily, then nodded in agreement.

When Li Yunning woke up the next day and learnt that they were going to Li Mountain, she understood her father’s intent and resolutely refused!

Prime Minister Li was helpless, he could only request her to stop provoking Rui’an’s princess.

However, he had made up his mind to find another suitor for his daughter!

...

Just as Xiao’er returned home, she heard from the gatekeeper that guests from Shengping County had arrived.

Mrs. Lu and Mrs. Tan had just left and wouldn’t have returned so soon.

Xiao’er thought that it might be the village chief.

Walking into the room, she saw Mrs. Liu chatting enthusiastically with the village chief’s wife.

When Xiao’er entered, the village chief’s wife stood up ready to pay respects, but Mrs. Liu stopped her swiftly.

Xiao’er also avoided her, "Aunt, you’re killing me with your formalities!"

"It’s simply customary, we can’t break the rules."

"That’s for outsiders, not for us. We don’t need to be so ceremonious."

Once Xiao’er was seated, a maid served her a cup of rose flower tea.

Mrs. Liu continued the previous topic with the village chief’s wife.

The reason for the village chief’s wife coming over this time was to ask Mrs. Liu to help with arranging Shen Zixuan’s marriage to Lai Ruoqing.

Because Shen Zixuan was a classmate of Lai Zhewei, he was already acquainted with Lai Ruoqing.

Shen Zixuan knew that his background would be the biggest barrier in marrying Lai Ruoqing, so he had been working hard to gain academic honor. He finally succeeded and entered the Hanlin Academy.

The whole world knows that a position in the Hanlin Academy is prestigious, and it is a stepping stone to becoming a cabinet minister or a local official.

This time, he was assigned to Taiping County, and anyone with clear-sighted vision could see that the Emperor was starting to favor him, thus he had confidence to let his mother come to the Imperial Capital to propose a marriage.

However, the Emperor’s favor is actually a test of his ability.

After all, there was no need to publicize Xiao’er’s water conservation plan to the world.

Now, everyone in the world was aware that Taiping County had turned from a hot potato to sweet potato.

It all depended on whether he could withstand the pressure and create even greater achievements.

"I will go to Lai Mansion tomorrow to explore their intentions on your behalf. If they agree, in a few days when Zhewei moves to his new home and holds a feast for his guests, Zixuan can also return to the Imperial Capital for the banquet and the engagement can be set!"

"Good. Luckily you are here to help. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known who to turn to in an unfamiliar place like the Imperial Capital."

"Why are you being so polite? We’re family. By the way, I haven’t seen Nirui for a while since she went back to Shengping County after the New Year with Ming Zhijie. How is she doing now?"

Upon mentioning her daughter, the village chief’s wife looked quite unhappy.

"Speaking of Zhijie’s stepmother, she is really difficult to deal with. They took advantage of their return home during the New Year, she feigned illness, insisting that Nirui stay in Shengping County to accompany her. Nirui, being forthright, decided to wait till she recovered to return to the imperial city, so no one could accuse Zhijie of being unfilial to his stepmother."

"It’s hard to be an official. Every word and action is subject to societal constraints, for fear of bad-mouthing."

"Isn’t it? Otherwise, my daughter Rui wouldn’t have ended up this way. Why does she have the heart to do such a thing? ..." The village chief’s wife very explicitly stated the trouble caused by Mrs. Ming on Shen Nirui. Her heart had been stifled for a long time until she could vent.

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