Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 514 - 512

Chapter 514: 512

The shopkeeper thought for a moment about the novelty Western item, then said, "Count Rui’an, please come upstairs. I’ll bring something for you to see if it counts as a novel Western item."

"Okay." Xiao’er followed the shopkeeper upstairs to the VIP room.

Soon, a maid served tea and snacks.

Xiao’er didn’t eat, but noticing the antique curios displayed on the shelf, she walked over and began to admire them.

It had to be said, a shop that has been passed down for generations certainly had a rich foundation.

At least, they couldn’t present so many antiques in their own shop.

Before long, footsteps sounded. Xiao’er turned around and saw the shopkeeper holding a violin.

"Countess Rui’an, this is a Western musical instrument. I don’t know what it’s called, but I call it a Western erhu, do you like it?"

Western erhu? Xiao’er nearly laughed, the shopkeeper’s description was indeed apt.

"This is a violin." Xiao’er took it, correcting with a smile.

"Countess Rui’an recognizes it, that’s wonderful. The name ’violin’ certainly sounds better than ’Western erhu’."

Xiao’er took it and looked at it carefully. This was an early violin, similar to what she had seen in modern European museums.

This violin was not yet fully designed. It was not yet perfect, despite being one of the world’s three major instruments, alongside the piano and classical guitar.

It had not yet gone through the refinement of master instrument designers.

Xiao’er couldn’t resist positioning the violin on her shoulder and began to play.

A rendition of "Meditation" flowed from the pulled strings.

The tranquil, undulating melody made one imagine a young girl, in the depths of despair, yearning for the vast, deep blue sky.

Less than ten minutes of performance left the shopkeeper and a few others who had just come upstairs completely stunned.

Xiao’er put down the violin, "Shopkeeper, how much for this violin?"

Her voice brought everyone back to reality.

They all came to their senses.

Regaining consciousness, the shopkeeper laughed and praised, "Countess Rui’an, you’re very talented. You played the tune so well that I was spellbound. Since you and the violin seem so meant for each other, I’ll only charge you a hundred taels."

"Manager Song, I’m buying this violin!" The moment the shopkeeper finished speaking, Princess Ling’er’s voice rang out.

Xiao’er looked at the few people at the entrance, raised her eyebrows in secret, then stood up: "Young Master, Princess Wanru, Princess Ling’er, greetings."

After greeting, Xiao’er looked at the two men behind Shangguan Ruixi.

Shangguan Ruixi pointed to the two men and introduced, "This is Gong Zixuan, the Crown Prince of Nangong, and this is Gong Qingnian, the third prince of Nangong."

Xiao’er curtsied again, "Crown Prince and Third Prince, I pay my respects."

Gong Zixuan nodded.

Gong Qinghua said, "Miss, we meet again. I never expected that in addition to having deep knowledge of jade, you also have such high accomplishments in Western musical instruments."

Xiao’er just smiled at these words and said nothing.

"You knew each other before?" Shangguan Ruixi was quite surprised.

"We met once." Xiao’er explained.

"More than just once, right?" Gong Qinghua said dejectedly.

"Didn’t we only meet in Yunshi County? Oh, and this time, so two times!"

Shangguan Ruixi looked at Gong Qingnian, then at Xiao’er, surprised, but didn’t say anything else.

Princess Wanru walked over to Xiao’er, somewhat excitedly asked, "How do you know how to play it? I’ve been learning from a Western tutor for a month and only understand the basics!"

Countess Rui’an’s violin playing sounded even better than her Western tutor’s!

Seeing Princess Wanru like this, Xiao’er sighed in her heart: alas, she couldn’t give this violin as a birthday present to Princess Wanru tomorrow, as she obviously already has one.

Xiao’er was worried about what kind of gift to give in her heart, but on her face was a proper smile, "I once travelled overseas and learned from Westerners."

"Did the Westerner play very well?"

Xiao’er nodded. Her violin teacher in her previous life was a world-renowned violinist, how could she not play well?

It must be that my Western tutor is unreliable, Princess Wanru thought after hearing this, then she seemed to think of something, walked up and grabbed Xiao’er’s hand and asked, "Do you know where that Western tutor who taught you is now?"

Xiao’er was startled by her sudden grasp, she subtly pulled her hand back, "I don’t know, just passing acquaintances, we’ve long since parted ways."

Princess Wanru was disappointed.

Seeing this, Princess Ling’er said, "Count Rui’an, since you know that Westerner, why don’t you send someone to find him and bring him back?"

Xiao’er cursed in her heart, separated by a time and space, how could she find him? If she could find him, she’d like to go back, rather than staying in this era where there’s no freedom!

"Westerners are not from our country, where would you find him in the vast sea?" Princess Wanru retorted.

Princess Ling’er, who had her nose out of joint, touched her nose, then she saw the violin Xiao’er had just put on the table, a cold light flashed in her eyes.

Regarding the vixen who stole her beloved man, Princess Ling’er was more than happy to do something to annoy her.

"Manager Song, here’s a hundred taels of silver! I’m buying this violin."

Manager Song looked at the silver banknotes in front of him, not knowing whether to take it or not! He glanced at Xiao’er, who was watching him quietly, not expressing her stance.

Princess Ling’er clearly wanted to make her uncomfortable, but she wasn’t stupid. She wouldn’t step forward to compete, wouldn’t that be exactly what someone wanted?

In business, everything goes by the first-come-first-served principle. So the shopkeeper is looking at her, hoping she would gracefully step aside? But why should she compromise like this?

Who should the violin be sold to? This was a problem for the shopkeeper of the Rare Treasure Pavilion to worry about. All she needed to do was watch quietly.

If the Rare Treasure Pavilion could stand tall for so many years, could it be because they’re afraid to offend people? He didn’t want to invite trouble, neither did she!

If the Rare Treasure Pavilion didn’t sell her the violin today, they would get a reputation for bullying the weak and being afraid of the strong, which would not only be despised by their colleagues, but also be regarded as easy prey by some bullies among the nobles, which would inevitably lead to more trouble in the future.

Seeing that Xiao’er didn’t care about Princess Ling’er and was just looking at him, Manager Song lamented in his heart: a princess, and a countess who is quite favored by the emperor and the prince, he really couldn’t afford to offend either!

God, could you send down lightning to knock me out? Being the filling in a sandwich was really not easy!

Could he just not sell to either of them?

Princess Ling’er was known for being troublesome and holding grudges! If he offended her, would he have a good time in the future?

Why didn’t Count Rui’an play by the rules? She could have put up a fight or given way out of respect for her being a princess and herself a countess!

He felt truly abandoned by the universe! The shopkeeper felt like crying but had no tears.