Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 515 - 513

Chapter 515: 513

"Manager Song!" Princess Ling’er frowned at him as he was hesitating to accept her silver banknotes and looked provocatively at Xiao’er.

Xiao’er responded with a faint smile, her good mood unaffected by Ling’er.

Manager Song grimaced and said, "Princess Ling’er, Countess Rui’an has already purchased this violin. You might want to ask her if she is willing to give it up. If she doesn’t want it, I can resell it to you."

Upon hearing the manager’s words, Ling’er glared and her words became sharp, "What did you say? Are you implying that I should beg her? Dare you repeat that?"

Hearing this, Xiao’er shot Ling’er a faint smile.

How appalling! It felt as if he had persecuted a mortal in a battle of the gods. Manager Song quickly tried to appease her, "Princess Ling’er, calm down. We were just enquiring. There was no intention to imply ’begging’. Our shop has its rules and we respect the principle of selling items to the first customer who shows interest. I was just following the rules."

"I don’t care about the rules of your shop. Today, I am determined to buy this violin," she retorted.

It appears this distinguished young lady is quite obstinate.

Manager Song glanced at Xiao’er and saw her leisurely sipping tea, appearing aloof to the ongoing dispute.

Feeling dejected, he wondered if Countess Rui’an had come to stir up trouble today. For whom was he bending over backwards? Countess Rui’an didn’t say even a word.

"Countess Rui’an, do you still want this violin?"

"Why wouldn’t I?" Xiao’er asked, placing her cup of tea down.

"Can you play the violin? Play something for us!" Princess Wanru, seeing this, asked Princess Ling’er.

"I can’t. I want to learn, that’s why I want to buy it," Ling’er, who did not dare to be disrespectful to Princess Wanru, replied.

"If you don’t know how to play, what are you arguing about! Only someone who appreciates the violin can bring out its value. Stop causing trouble! You’re not that young anymore, don’t you know about giving and taking?" Princess Wanru was straightforward and more blunt than most.

Ling’er’s eyes reddened as she heard this: why was she always the one being aggrieved?

Seeing this, Prince Ruixi came to Ling’er’s aid, "There’s another violin in my mansion. I also don’t know how to play, so it’s wasted on me. Since cousin Ling’er wants to learn, I will arrange for someone to send it over to you after this."

Unable to disrespect Prince Ruixi, Ling’er had no choice but to pout and nod in agreement.

Seeing this, the shopkeeper heaved a sigh of relief. After this, he would definitely have his wife to donate extra oil for the lamps lit in the temple, and to pray for the longevity of the prince and princess. They are his lifesavers indeed.

Xiao’er gestured to Yang Liu to make the payment, then stood up and said her farewells to the group.

Princess Wanru held onto her, "Countess Rui’an, come with us to the sightseeing boat, we can play a duet together."

Xiao’er was taken aback: Does Princess Wanru want to do everything her way? And Xiao’er didn’t really want to hang out with Princess Ling’er!

"Cousin, is a sightseeing boat a place where just anyone can go? Won’t our status be compromised?" Princess Ling’er stomped her foot.

The sightseeing boat was reserved for royal family members. She absolutely didn’t want to share it with commoners!

"If you don’t want to go, I won’t stop you. How could Countess Rui’an, my future sister-in-law, be unqualified?" Princess Wanru was displeased with her interruption.

Who did she think she was, dictating who she could invite on the sightseeing boat? No one asked for her opinion.

Ling’er stopped talking upon hearing this and just sulked on the side, looking as if everyone owed her a fortune in gold.

"Princess Wanru, you may proceed. I have some unfinished business at home and need to return to complete it," Xiao’er tactfully withdrew her hand and said with a smile.

To be honest, she wasn’t very familiar with these people, and she couldn’t fathom what was so fun about being on a sightseeing boat.

"What could you possibly be doing at home? Just some needlework? That’s the most tedious task; it doesn’t matter if you skip it! You can just let the needlework room do it. We are going together and that’s final," Princess Wanru insisted, pulling Xiao’er by the hand again.

When exactly did she agree to this? Xiao’er glanced down at Wanru’s hand holding onto hers. She really wanted to get her hand back!

The princess’s hands were a little too hot.

"Manager Song, I heard you have some foreign curiosities here, including foreign musical instruments. Bring them out for me to see. I’ll buy all of them and take them onto the sightseeing boat."

"There’s nothing left but this violin," the shopkeeper shook his head.

Princess Wanru didn’t look disappointed upon hearing this. She had everything she needed and had only come here to try her luck; the lack of stock was not a big deal.

Pulling Xiao’er along, she headed out, "In that case, let’s set off quickly."

Xiao’er was nearly dragged out by her.

As they left the Rare Treasure Pavilion, Princess Wanru turned to a bodyguard and said, "Go to the Sixth Prince’s Mansion and get the Sixth Prince. Tell him his fiancee is going on the sightseeing boat. I’m curious to see if he will come."

Xiao’er: ...

So, Princess Wanru was so insistent on having her come along because she wanted Shangguan Xuanyi to join as well.

...

At the pier, many guardsmen stood around a beautifully decorated sightseeing boat docked by the shore.

The group made their way towards the boat,

Xiao’er boarded the boat. Upon seeing her, Fu Ranhui looked rather astonished. She beckoned Xiao’er and asked, "I heard the Sixth Prince wasn’t coming?"

"I met Princess Wanru at the Rare Treasure Pavilion. It was hard to refuse her invitation!" Xiao’er stood by Fu Ranhui and they both admired the beautiful view of the lake.

Xiao’er couldn’t help but rub her reddened wrist. She felt as if she had been led up the garden path.

Thinking of Princess Wanru’s personality, Fu Ranhui appeared to understand.

"Why did you go to the Rare Treasure Pavilion? The Pohli Jewelry business you run has outcompeted them. Didn’t Manager Song chase you out with a broom?"

Xiao’er thought: Can she not talk about business for a bit? It’s the survival of the fittest! Their lack of business has nothing to do with her!

Besides, the Rare Treasure Pavilion has already found a much better way to make money, right?

Xiao’er kept these thoughts to herself. She pointed towards the violin in Yang Liu’s arms, "I actually went there to pay them. They were thrilled."

"Foreign musical instrument? Are you planning to give this as a birthday gift to Princess Wanru?" Once Fu Ranhui saw the violin purchased by Xiao’er, she came to a realization as to why Xiao’er had visited the Rare Treasure Pavilion.

"That was the initial plan, but Princess Wanru already has a violin. Now I need to come up with another gift for her," Xiao’er frowned slightly.

The time was indeed tight, and she didn’t know what would make the best gift.

"Wanru loves elegant and artistic things the most, and you’re really good at painting. I’m sure she would be overjoyed if you paint a picture for her."

A painting? That would save her quite a bit of trouble. She wouldn’t even have to spend any money.

But wait, isn’t that the kind of thought process that Zhou’er would have? When did she start caring about money? In Mrs. Liu’s words: she used to enjoy spending money lavishly! Among the two sisters, one was so frugal that she hated spending even a single coin, and one couldn’t wait to spend every coin she had. Why couldn’t they balance each other out?