Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 686 - 684

Chapter 686: Chapter 684

Seeing that her mother did not take her words seriously, Lin Miaoyan could only sigh and let it go. The days ahead were long, and her mother would eventually see her determination!

But how should she proceed to attract the notice of the Sixth Prince?

If she could make the Sixth Prince fall in love with her and seek her parents’ permission to marry her, her mother would no longer think that marrying the Sixth Prince was a misfortune.

Lin Miaoyan fell into deep meditation.

At this moment, the aroma of food wafted through the air, sparking an idea: she should start by dining with the Sixth Prince! This way, she could observe what he liked to eat and learn to cook it for him.

"Mother, I’m hungry. Let’s invite the Marquis Shengping’s wife and others to join us for the meal!" She said, knowing that the Sixth Prince would likely dine with the group from the Marquis Shengping’s Mansion.

However, the Sixth Prince may not think to invite her and her mother.

She would have to send someone to remind the Marquis Shengping’s wife.

In this manner, the Sixth Prince would naturally invite her and her mother to join them for the meal.

Her mother and she had been sharing meals with the Marquis Shengping’s wife and her group anyway, so it wouldn’t be imposing to ask them to dine together now.

Even if they followed the custom of gender-separated dining, she could at least get a good look at the Sixth Prince while dining at the same venue.

"Dong’er, go to the kitchen and sort things out. We just arrived at the inn, and they probably haven’t prepared our food yet."

Dong’er acknowledged her instructions and left.

Mrs. Lin knew what her daughter was planning and said, "The Marquis’s Wife and their party must be dining with the Sixth Prince. With his noble status, unless he invites us, we should not presume to dine with him. You better give up that idea! And don’t do anything that might be considered disrespectful to the prince!"

Lin Miaoyan glanced out, fully aware of this principle. She made her previous suggestion merely to remind the people of the Marquis Shengping Mansion, who have been dining with them all along, in hopes that they could mention it to the Sixth Prince and perhaps secure his consent.

As long as they dined together that night, for the remainder of their journey, they would surely eat together. That way, she could see the Sixth Prince more frequently.

What should she do to be remembered by them if they can’t dine together?

...

Shangguan Xuanyi arrived at the room that he had ordered to be thoroughly cleaned with Xiao’er and others.

Xiao’er’s room was right next to his.

"Have the maids arrange the luggage first. Let’s eat! We must be starving from traveling all day."

Xiao’er, indeed famished, nodded her agreement: "Mother, let’s eat. I’m hungry."

Mrs. Liu, upon hearing this, agreed: "Alright, let’s eat first."

Remembering Mrs. Lin and her group, Mrs. Liu asked, "Should we invite Mrs. Lin and Miss Lin to dine with us?"

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Xuanyi quickly objected, "We’re family having a meal, without outsiders, we needn’t separate tables."

Wasn’t inviting the two of them equivalent to separating tables by gender?

Shangguan Xuanyi despised the idea of not sitting right next to Xiao’er.

Shangguan Xuanyi turned to address Yang Liu, "Have the cook send over a portion of guppy fish for Master Lin’s family."

This way, they would know he was not inclined to dine with them.

"Yes," Yang Liu answered, bowing before excusing herself.

Hearing this, Mrs. Liu decided not to object.

The group settled into their meal, enjoying dishes that were Xiao’er’s favorites.

Mrs. Liu heartily approved. How could she not delight in a son-in-law who clearly prioritized her daughter?

Shangguan Xuanyi, desiring to fatten up Xiao’er, kept serving more food into her bowl.

The table had only just started their first dish when Xiao’er’s bowl was already piled into a small mountain.

"Enough, any more and the bowl won’t hold it. Plus, if you’re serving me everything, what are my mother and everyone else going to eat?" Considering the principle of not wasting food, the dishes Shangguan Xuanyi arranged were diverse but in small portions.

"There are plenty of dishes on the table. We can eat other things; if Xiao’er likes it, she should eat more," Mrs. Liu reassured.

"Yes, Xiao’er should eat more. Girls who are too skinny aren’t attractive," Jingrui added.

Xiao’er couldn’t argue against all of them, in the end, she just decided to focus on eating her meal.

Upon witnessing Shangguan Xuanyi presenting a plate of guppy fish,

Lin Miaoyan jumped up with joy. "Mother, the Sixth Prince rewarded us with a dish of guppy fish! Let’s send a dish to the prince too!"

Without a word, Lin Miaoyan picked up a plate of spicy pork lung slices from the table and headed out.

Mrs. Lin thought to stop her but let her go, reckoning that she wouldn’t listen until she hit a wall. Perhaps enduring a setback would help her wake up.

Lin Miaoyan, holding the dish, reached the door, where she was stopped by Yang Mei.

"Miss Lin, my master is having his meal now. May I ask what you need?"

"The Sixth Prince graced me and my mother with guppy fish and I’m here to express my gratitude. This dish of pork lung slices is reportedly a specialty of the cook’s. My mother encouraged me to bring it over as a return gift for the prince and the Marquis’s Wife."

Pork lung slices? Hearing this, Yang Mei threw Lin Miaoyan a knowing look, reaching out to take the dish from her. "I’ll take the dish and I’ll make sure to tell them of your intentions."

Lin Miaoyan subtly avoided her and said, "Please help me announce our visit, Yang Mei. If we present our thanks in person, it would be more sincere."

Having said that, Lin Miaoyan handed Yang Mei a purse.

Yang Mei glanced at the purse but declined to accept it, disguising the disdain in her heart with courtesy on her face. "I cannot accept this. Our prince dislikes being disturbed during meals. Miss Lin, if you wish to present your thanks, please come after the meal."

Lin Miaoyan frowned at this. Was she supposed to go back holding this dish?

How could she accept this?

Remembering the way Xiao’er interacted with the prince, she believed that the prince must like girls who are forward.

Lin Miaoyan gathered her courage, blushed, and loudly said, "Xiao’er, I heard you like spicy food. I brought a dish of spicy pork lung slices especially for you!"

Apart from Mrs. Liu, Yun’er and Xi’er, everyone else in the room was a seasoned courtier with sharp hearing. They could clearly hear the commotion outside but had chosen to ignore it.

But now, Xiao’er couldn’t pretend not to hear Lin Miaoyan’s loud declaration. They were guests gifting them food, it would be discourteous to keep them waiting outside.

"Yang Mei, go see what’s the matter," Mrs. Liu was the first to break the silence.

Xiao’er glanced at Shangguan Xuanyi. He was too good at attracting butterflies!

Yang Mei returned swiftly. She bowed at a respectful distance from the dining table and said,

"Sixth Prince, Miss Lin has brought a dish of spicy pork lung slices, wishing to express her thanks."