Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 526 - 524

Chapter 526: 524

This was indeed a trap, and she’d fall into it headfirst! Upon hearing Xiao’er’s words, Fu Ranhui quickly lowered her head, worried that she might accidentally laugh.

Shangguan Wanru also realized what was happening. She said with a smile, "Then I have to thank Miss Chu. I do love that masterpiece by Master Shi at the Rare Treasure Pavilion very much."

Instead of slapping her and causing pain to both, she might as well do something practical to make her heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and stomach hurt. Every time she saw that masterpiece by Master Shi, she would definitely feel content!

Ruan Weizhen and Gu Qiqi exchanged a glance: The Countess of Rui’an really killed without shedding blood!

A painting she couldn’t afford even with 1,000 taels; she wanted Chu Die to lose her dowry as well!

Chu Die opened her mouth, but didn’t say anything. She had just said that she wanted to buy the painting to compensate Princess Wanru. If she went back on her words now, everyone would think that she wasn’t sincere! However, 1,000 taels! No, 1,000 taels wouldn’t be enough, where could she get that much silver?

Shangguan Ruixi noticed that everything had ended happily and there was no more unpleasantness, so he led the men back to the pavilion on the other side.

At this time, a maid came to report that the food was ready.

Shangguan Wanru then asked everyone to move to the dining hall for dinner.

The men, however, stayed in the pavilion on the other side, barbecuing, eating meat and drinking wine.

Halfway through the meal, a maid brought a plate of roast meat and placed it in front of Xiao’er. "Countess of Rui’an, this is the deer meat roasted by the Sixth Prince. He ordered me to bring a plate to you as an apology."

Upon seeing this, Xiao’er asked, "Has the Sixth Prince finished eating?"

"In reply to the Countess of Rui’an, the Sixth Prince left the pavilion after asking me to bring the roast meat here. He should’ve finished eating."

Xiao’er nodded her head, "Please help me deliver this bag to my elder brother and the Sixth Prince."

The bag contained olives which can help sober up.

The maid took the bag and left.

The ladies at the table were green with envy upon hearing this.

The Fifth Princess was the first to tease, "Xiao’er, I fractured my hand trying to catch the Sixth Prince when he fell from a tree when we were young! To think that this brat, after getting a wife, would forget about his sister! He only sent you a plate of roast meat and completely forgot about me, his sister who came from the same mother!"

Fu Ranhui also laughed, "In the eyes and heart of the Sixth Prince, there’s only the Countess of Rui’an. He doesn’t even remember that other people exist in this world!"

"I never knew that the Sixth Prince, who was as dull as a gourd, would be such a devoted husband! I thought he’d never get a wife in his life! Countess Rui’an, how did you make the Sixth Prince be so devoted to you?" Shangguan Wanru asked curiously.

Others, too, looked at Xiao’er curiously. Was there some kind of trick to controlling husbands?

As Chu Die watched Xiao’er’s happy face, she became even more determined.

Xiao’er, however, ignored their teasing. She generously placed the full plate of roast meat in the middle of the table for everyone to share. "Eat quickly! All this food can’t even shut your mouths!"

When they were about finished with the meal, Chu Die accidentally spilled her soup and stained her clothes.

Shangguan Wanru asked a maid to help her change clothes.

"Princess, are we going to watch the show in the garden later?" Chu Die stood up and asked.

Shangguan Wanru nodded.

"I’m full now. After I change my clothes, I’ll go directly to the garden and wait for everyone."

Shangguan Wanru didn’t have a good impression of her, but she was a guest in her house and had to treat her well. Even if it was for the sake of the painting by Master Shi which costs more than 1,000 taels, she had to save face. So she nodded again, "Then have a maid show you the way."

Having achieved her goal, Chu Die bowed to everyone and left the room.

Watching Chu Die’s departing figure, Xiao’er seemed to be lost in thought. Chu Die had purposely spilled the soup earlier.

This was the Prince An’s Mansion, and it should be her first time here. She had intentionally dirtied her clothes. What could she possibly do?

She had a feeling that Chu Die’s sudden change of attitude at the lake earlier on was due to Shangguan Ruixi’s arrival.

It was only after her fiancé’s cold departure that Chu Die had changed her attitude.

Was it because her fiancé had said she hadn’t mended her ways that she realized her mistakes? Xiao’er didn’t believe this analysis.

She probably doesn’t want to ruin her reputation in front of so many men.

She doesn’t care about her fiancé’s opinion of her, but once he’s gone, she’s trying to salvage her reputation in front of a crowd of men. Isn’t this getting the priorities backward?

If it were her? Xiao’er tried to put herself in that position: If Shangguan Xuanyi publicly reprimanded her like that and then stormed off, well, she would absolutely dump Shangguan Xuanyi!

Exactly! She doesn’t need a fiancé like that!

Over by the garden, the men have already set up a barbecue under the pavilion!

Yet, Shangguan Xuanyi has left the pavilion again and disappeared somewhere.

She was reminded of the glance Chu Die had cast at Shangguan Xuanyi earlier and had a vague suspicion in her heart.

She beckoned to Yang Liu and whispered a few instructions.

Yang Liu nodded and walked away.

Although she felt a bit unsettled inside, Xiao’er nonetheless finished her meal before standing up.

"Enjoy your meal, everyone. Please excuse me for a bit."

"I’ll come with you. I’ve finished eating too." Fu Ranhui thought Xiao’er was going to the toilet, so she spoke up.

"We’re finished too, we’ll head over to the garden and wait for you."

Shangguan Wanru also thought they were going to the toilet, so she instructed her maid to guide them.

"Princess Rui’an, just come find us in the garden when you’re done."

Seeing the situation, Xiao’er knew better than to rush, and nodded.

After the two of them had used the toilet, they headed towards the area where the theater tent was set up.

Before they even reached the garden, they noticed a crowd of people gathered around a building, curious about what had occurred.

Xiao’er: Has something gone wrong?

Fu Ranhui and Xiao’er exchanged glances and hurried over.

Xiao’er caught sight of Yang Liu standing not far away and looked over questioning with her eyes. Yang Liu shook her head.

Xiao’er felt relieved then.

Inside the Guanyu Tower, Chu Die was weeping behind her hands, her cries full of heartbreak. This was not an act; her tears were the result of genuine sorrow.

Fang Rong, the young master of Enbo Mansion, looked embarrassed.

"What happened?" Xiao’er asked Ruan Weizhen. Fu Ranhui also looked curious.

"Miss Chu was changing her clothes when Master Fang of Enbo Mansion walked in."

Fu Ranhui’s eyes widened at these words: "He saw her?"

Ruan Weizhen nodded.

"How could this happen by coincidence?" Xiao’er asked.

"The Princess and the Crown Prince are interrogating the maid right now."

The results of the interrogation were soon revealed.

It turned out that the maid was carrying a tray of wine to deliver to the pavilion. Seeing the Sixth Prince and Fang Rong from the Enbo mansion approaching, she quickly stepped aside and knelt down in greeting.

Unbeknownst to her, she stepped on a bead on the ground, lost her balance and the tray flew out of her hand. Some of the wine splashed onto Fang Rong.

Fang Rong was wet and went to the nearby Tingyu Pavilion to change clothes, not knowing that Chu Die was also inside changing hers.