Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 597 - 595

Chapter 597: Chapter 595

After Washing Three, many ladies went back and discussed with their husbands about marrying their daughters to the eldest son of Marquis Shengping, mentioning also the fact that Marquis Shengping didn’t have any concubines, and his backyard was clean and neat, with good family traditions.

Those ladies were implying something to their husbands, but unfortunately, the men scoffed at their suggestions. Which man didn’t like to have both sides to himself? Marquis Shengping was just a henpecked husband! Of course, they didn’t dare to utter these foolish words to their wives, only thought about it in their hearts.

The next day, after finishing at the court, several officials gathered and talked about how clean Marquis Shengping’s backyard was, and he dared not accept any concubines, nor dared to go to a brothel. His wife was pregnant for ten months, during which he chose to be a monk for those ten months, simply a henpecked husband.

Seeing the Third Prince approaching, they hurriedly held their tongues, paid their respects, and worried that the Third Prince might want to talk to them, so they quickly ran off.

Now, who didn’t know about the Third Prince’s debauchery, which had infuriated the Emperor to the point of bed-ridden illness. They didn’t want to be mistaken as being on the same path as the Third Prince. If the Emperor passed away accidentally, they would definitely be scapegoats!

The approaching Third Prince saw them avoiding him like snakes and scorpions, feeling anger swelling in his heart. But he couldn’t show it, knowing that arguing would be useless at this point. All he could do was to act humble, victimized, and upset, keeping a clean and innocent demeanor.

Suppressing his dissatisfaction, he nodded and then left with a lost look on his face.

He thought about their discussion about how clean Marquis Shengping’s backyard was, and an idea sparked in his mind.

His backyard was chaotic even before it was fully formed because of Shangguan Xuanyi and Rui’an’s princess.

Even the Emperor was so infuriated by his affairs that he suffered a stroke, causing everyone to avoid him like a snake or a scorpion. He was now under siege from all sides!

Perhaps if there were a fire in the backyard of Marquis Shengping’s mansion, Princess Rui’an would be annoyed. Shangguan Xuanyi has always been fond of his fiancée, so he would naturally be bothered as well.

If attacking the legitimate line directly was not working, then feinting to the east while hitting the west could be a good idea!

The Third Prince began to ponder strategies. He also believed that no man wouldn’t enjoy the company of multiple women, especially one who has been patient for so long. It would be even easier to make him slip up.

After Washing Three, Xiao’er’s family closed their doors to guests on the pretext that Mrs. Liu was confined after childbirth.

The day after tomorrow was the Mid-Autumn Festival. This dynasty didn’t have mooncakes yet. Since they had closed their doors to guests and should not move around, Xiao’er found a craftsman to carve several patterned molds to make mooncakes.

Jingrui and his siblings heard about this and wanted to help.

So Jingrui and Jinghao kneaded the dough for the mooncakes, Xiao’er and Yun’er prepared the fillings, and Xi’er helped out. Under Xiao’er’s guidance, they began to make mooncakes, a food they had never heard of or seen before.

The fillings Xiao’er prepared included lotus seed paste, mixed nuts, jam, and bird’s nest.

Like the mooncakes of the last life, there was a salted yolk in the lotus seed paste.

Sharing makes food more enjoyable, so Xiao’er intentionally used different colored vegetable juices for Jingrui to knead into the mooncake dough. The bird’s nest mooncakes were made both salty and sweet, and she sent them to a few familiar families and in the palace.

The molds Xiao’er designed were beautiful. The mooncakes they produced were green, yellow, ... and purple, looking like blooming flowers.

Seeing the mooncakes were so beautiful, Xi’er became more diligent in her work with her mold. She loved all beautiful things: "Big sister, these mooncakes are so beautiful. I want to make a few for father, mother and all of you. I also want to give a few to Brother Yao to try."

"What is Xi’er making for Daddy to eat?" Shen Chengyao heard his youngest daughter’s words as soon he walked in. His heart warmed, indeed, daughters were parents’ darling little cotton-jackets!

"We are making mooncakes, Dad, look, these are all made by me, aren’t they beautiful?"

When Shen Chengyao walked in, everyone quickly greeted him.

"Of course, whatever Xi’er makes is the most beautiful." Shen Chengyao came over, took a look and praised.

Xiao’er noticed a lady following behind Shen Chengyao. The siblings exchanged a glance.

Xiao’er: "Dad, who is this lady? How come I’ve never seen her before?"

Why would Shen Chengyao bring a lady back to the mansion for no reason?

The lady who was being referred to quickly curtsied: "This is Rou’er. Greetings to the two young masters and the two young ladies!"

Only then did Shen Chengyao remember that there was a woman standing behind him, and he said with some annoyance: "This is a woman I saved on the road, it’s a long story, first, someone should take her to the servants’ quarters."

The servant’s quarters? The woman standing behind Shen Chengyao was stunned at these words.

She’d said she was willing to repay him by being his servant, but he wouldn’t be serious enough to treat her as a maid, would he?!

Was this Marquis a bit dimwitted? He did not seem to act like an ordinary person.

Xiao’er didn’t miss the fleeting astonishment on Rou’er’s face, she smiled appropriately and said: "Oh, so it’s a maid my father bought home. Coincidentally, a laundry maid got married a while back, so she can take up the position. Yang Mei, take Miss Rou’er down first! Aunt Rong will teach her manners tomorrow."

Yang Mei bowed: "Yes, miss."

A laundry maid?! It was as if thunder had struck on a clear day! When had she ever washed clothes before?

Upon hearing this, Rou’er couldn’t help but look at Shen Chengyao, her soft voice held a trace of plea and timidity: "Master."

"Then become a laundry maid!" Shen Chengyao didn’t see anything wrong with this. Hadn’t she said that she came from a farming family, and because they were poor, her brother didn’t have silver to marry, her stepmother wanted to secretly sell her to a brothel under the guise of sending her to be a maid for a wealthy family? She had just managed to escape and pleaded for him to buy her as a maid.

Having heard her words, Shen Chengyao remembered what Xiao’er had suffered when she was young and decided to buy Rou’er.

If she came from a farming family, then she should be highly skilled in such simple tasks as washing clothes and cooking.

Then it wouldn’t mean that he had wasted ten taels of silver.

Rou’er almost fainted with anger upon hearing these words: How clueless could this man be?!

"Miss Rou’er, please come with me!" Yang Mei screened Rou’er from head to toe with an X-ray-like gaze.

Rou’er immediately fell silent. Since she was here, she thought, remaining patient and taking things one step at a time would be for the best.

When Rou’er had left, Jinghao immediately asked, "Father, why did you bring a maid home?"

Xi’er poured a cup of tea for Shen Chengyao: "Father, have a cup of tea first!"

Shen Chengyao: It’s still my little girl who has my heart, as my other older children treat me as if they are questioning a criminal.

Shen Chengyao accepted the tea, sat down with a smile and said, "Xi’er is always considerate of her father."

Xi’er: "Father, next time you buy a maid, please buy someone normal! That maiden reeks of body odor!"

Pft!

Shen Chengyao spat out his tea!

Xiao’er and Jingrui, the two brothers, couldn’t help but chuckle, Xi’er was too amusing.

Shen Chengyao composed himself: "Really? How come I didn’t smell it?"

"Of course a vixen would smell! Normal people can’t smell it!" Xi’er said solemnly.

Pft!

Jinghao: "Hahaha, Xi’er has sharp eyes!"

Shen Chengyao was shocked by Xi’er’s words, how could she know about vixens at such a young age.

He hastened to tell them what had happened.