Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 502 - 500

Chapter 502: Chapter 500

Li Mingfang and Princess Ling’er stormed into the Pinming Garden, followed closely by Chu Die.

Seeing their aggressive demeanor, the waiter quickly approached and asked, "Miss, have you reserved a private room?"

Chu Die, who was trailing behind, glanced at her maid, who immediately stepped forward, pulling on the waiter’s sleeve, "Our young lady has a reservation."

The waiter, suspecting they were up to no good and might cause trouble, asked, "’Which room have you reserved?"

"Biluo Pavilion, reserved by Mr. Zhao, with a deposit of two liang of silver," Chu Die’s maid answered.

Upon hearing this, the waiter let them pass, since Biluo Pavilion indeed had been reserved by Mr. Zhao with a deposit of two liang of silver.

Without further guidance, Princess Ling’er and Li Mingfang briskly made their way towards the Biluo Pavilion.

Once they saw that Yang Liu was indeed guarding the door of the Biluo Pavilion, the three women couldn’t help but feel a mix of satisfaction, annoyance, and grim pleasure.

Li Mingfang approached Yang Liu, who stood emotionless, staring back at her. Mingfang’s rationale suddenly returned, and she remembered the reprimands from Madam Li. She had said that whatever Zhao Youwei did was none of her business, not in any way. She must ignore him, or risk inviting disaster to the Li and Zhao families!

The Li family had earned its wealth and honor through many generations of loyalty and sacrifice; their status could not be destroyed by Li Mingfang’s personal affairs!

Madam Li’s words made sense. At this moment, everything was beyond the point of return. Li Mingfang forced her anger down, speaking in a somewhat stilted tone, "Is the Lady of Rui’an County inside? I need to speak with her. Could you inform her for me?"

Princess Ling’er, however, had none of Mingfang’s enlightened thinking. She directly pushed open the door, exclaiming loudly, "Lady of Rui’an County, what have you done that dishonors the Sixth Prince, that you need your maid to guard outside?"

Yang Liu remained still, not making a single move to stop them.

Inside the Biluo Pavilion, Zhao Youwei saw the door pushed open. He lifted his head towards the newcomers, his tone icy as he said, "Princess Ling’er, bursting into someone else’s private room uninvited - what is your business? If there is nothing, please leave immediately!"

"I’m here for the Lady of Rui’an County, not you. Lady of Rui’an County, are you having a secret meeting with Mr. Zhao, with Six Prince’s knowledge?"

The woman sitting across from Zhao Youwei kept her head down, calmly sipping her tea, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

Seeing Xiao’er calmly sipping her tea with her back to the door, Chu Die felt annoyed by this serene display. An icy smile flashed across her heart. She was keen to see if Xiao’er would still be able to sip her tea later.

Today’s tea party at Pinming Garden was primarily organized by Shangguan Ruixi. Those who came to attend were all from noble households. When this affair is exposed, all the major families in the Imperial Capital will know about her secret meeting with the eldest son of the Admiral’s manor. Chu Die wondered how Xiao’er would handle the upcoming disgrace. In some villages, people guilty of such conduct were drowned in a pig cage. Among the major families, however, they would be abandoned, often sent to a villa or family temple under the pretext of illness, and then several years later, news would come of their death.

Indeed, Chu Die saw several scholars appear, led by none other than the recently returned heir to Prince An’s mansion, Shangguan Ruixi.

Upon seeing this, Chu Die deliberately raised her voice, "Lady of Rui’an County, how could you do this? How can you be so unfair to the Sixth Prince who committed only to you?"

Princess Ling’er, wishing to create as much commotion as possible, spoke even more loudly, "Such lack of cultivation from someone born as a peasant! Committing such indecent acts! How could she ever be worthy of the Sixth Prince! It’s an utter disgrace!"

Shangguan Ruixi, who was on his way out, paused at the mention of the Sixth Prince, looked back as it did involve his cousin and the royal reputation. He thought about it for a moment before deciding to walk over, "What happened?"

The noble youths following Prince An stopped and followed him.

Seeing Shangguan Ruixi approaching, Chu Die and Li Mingfang hurriedly bowed and saluted.

"What has happened? I heard you mentioning the Sixth Prince?"

Chu Die had a hesitant expression, "Um... it’s... it’s too embarrassing for me to say. You should see for yourself."

Princess Ling’er had no such qualms. She stated directly, "Prince, it’s the Lady of Rui’an County who is having a secret meeting with the eldest son of the Admiral’s mansion, betraying the Sixth Prince. This is absolutely disgraceful!"

Shangguan Ruixi looked inside after hearing her words, and so did the appointed nobles and princes behind him. They saw indeed that Zhao Youwei and a woman were alone in the private room, drinking tea.

The woman did not turn around, so it was unclear whether she was Lady of Rui’an County or not. However, since Princess Ling’er and Chu Die identified her as such, it must be her. Those who had met Lady Rui’an County could not believe it. Some still held onto the idea that it must be some misunderstanding while others revealed a look of disdain, inferring that a person born into a peasant family could never understand the concepts of ethics.

However, she was indeed beautiful. They assumed that must have been what attracted the Sixth Prince. After meeting the Lady of Rui’an County, one could never forget her beauty.

Zhao Youwei saw them leading half the aristocratic young men in the Imperial Capital. He sneered inwardly but kept a neutral expression. He stood up, speaking to the woman opposite him, "The heir of Prince An’s Mansion has arrived, let’s greet him."

Zhao Youwei was the first to bow to Shangguan Ruixi.

Shangguan Ruixi nodded, "No need for formalities."

Zhao Minhua also stood up. As she turned around, Chu Die blurted out, "Why is it you? Where is the Lady of Rui’an County?"

"Why can’t it be me? How could it be the Lady of Rui’an County? Miss Chu, how did you come to think I was the Lady of Rui’an County?" Zhao Minhua saluted Shangguan Ruixi before answering Chu Die’s question.

"I clearly saw Lady Rui’an County enter Pinming Garden! Why are you wearing her clothes?" Chu Die leaned in to look inside the room, wondering if Xiao’er had edged away after hearing the commotion.

Princess Ling’er saw Chu Die’s actions and assumed that Xiao’er was hiding under the table. Unwilling to give up, she stormed in, searching the room. Upon failing to find Xiao’er, she angrily grabbed Chu Die’s maid’s hand, exclaiming, "Didn’t you say you saw Lady Rui’an County and Mr. Zhao entering the Biluo Pavilion?"

"I did indeed see Mr. Zhao entering the Biluo Pavilion, and at that time, Lady Rui’an County’s maid was standing outside the Biluo Pavilion, so I assumed... I assumed that Lady Rui’an County was also in the Biluo Pavilion." Chu Die’s maid was upset by her mistress’s murderous gaze and was close to tears.

"Yes, if Lady Rui’an County wasn’t in there, why would her maid be guarding the entrance!" Upon hearing this, Chu Die brightened.

"Lady Rui’an County’s maid was guarding the entrance to Biluo Pavilion?" Zhao Minhua looked outside and saw Yang Liu standing there, immobile, "I thought she was guarding the entrance to Yuehua Pavilion."