Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 690 - 688

Chapter 690: Chapter 688

"Ah!" Dong’er was so frightened that she covered her face and closed her eyes.

"Swoosh!" The sound of an arrow cutting through the air.

"Thud!" The sound of the arrow piercing flesh.

...

Time seemed to stand still.

With the anticipated pain failing to arrive, Dong’er cautiously opened her eyes, discovering a wolf writhing on the ground with an arrow struck through its neck.

She let her hands fall, her legs gave way and she collapsed on the ground: completely terrified!

Seeing this, Lin Miaoyan breathed a sigh of relief, leaning against a tree near her, refusing to lose her composure like Dong’er.

At this time, Xia Zhi also rushed over, helping Lin Miaoyan up while anxiously asking, "Miss, are you hurt?"

Seeing Xia Zhi’s appearance, Lin Miaoyan immediately grew angry and slapped her cheek: "Didn’t I ask you to distract the wolf? How did it end up chasing us again?"

She must have led the wolf here!

Xia Zhi covered her face as she pleaded, "Miss, please calm down, I didn’t know it would suddenly turn around and chase after us."

Lin Miaoyan wanted to berate her some more, but at that moment, Shangguan Xuanyi emerged with a bow and arrow in one hand and two wild rabbits in the other.

He looked emotionless, glancing toward them before quickly moving his eyes away.

Lin Miaoyan immediately dropped the fierce look on her face, turning with a joyful and softened voice toward him, "Thank you, Sixth Prince, for your timely intervention. I am deeply grateful."

"You’re not the one I saved!" Shangguan Xuanyi coldly responded, not even glancing at her once as he walked directly toward Xiao’er, "Are you alright? What were you doing on the mountain?"

Xiao’er stood holding her bow and arrow, looking at Lin Miaoyan, thinking: A typical aristocratic lady of the ancient times, no matter how kind they may appear, their nature is filled with disdain for common people.

Hearing Shangguan Xuanyi’s words, she took her eyes away from Lin Miaoyan, and looked at Shangguan Xuanyi, "I’m fine. I came to collect some firewood."

Only after giving Xiao’er a quick once-over did Shangguan Xuanyi relax.

"Miss Rui’an, your archery skills are impressive." Feng Xing sincerely praised while looking at the wolf that had given up struggling.

Even if he were to shoot, it may not be as accurate as hers.

Shangguan Xuanyi glanced at the wolf, handed his bow and arrow to Feng Yang behind him, then, without paying attention to anyone else, held Xiao’er’s hand, "Next time something like this happens, don’t meddle! You should run as far away as possible, understood?"

Lin Miaoyan: "..." So is he telling Miss Rui’an to just stand by and watch people die?

"Even servants have lives, we can’t just stand by and let them get eaten by wolves."

Upon hearing these words, Lin Miaoyan’s face turned beet red. Her actions just now were equivalent to sending her maid directly into the wolf’s mouth.

The cunning Lady Rui’an, she must be deliberately belittling herself in front of the Sixth Prince to elevate herself!

By saying this, doesn’t it make her appear to be ruthless and heartless, while Lady Rui’an is kind-hearted and brave!

Even as their servants, they strive to be loyal and protective, sacrificing their own lives to save their masters is their honor. How can the words of Miss Rui’an make her appear as someone neglecting the lives of others!

Indeed, the lives of servants are inferior!

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Dong’er listened to Xiao’er’s words. They are human beings too, they fear death just like everyone else. However, she couldn’t voice it out loud. Seeing Lin Miaoyan’s displeased face, she quickly spoke, "It would be our fortune to be able to save our young mistress’s life."

Seeing this, Xia Zhi also quickly said, "Protecting our mistress is our duty. If any harm were to come to the mistress, we would undoubtedly be at fault!"

After hearing these words, Lin Miaoyan’s face softened somewhat, accepting the doctrine they spoke of.

Xiao’er gave them a look and didn’t say anything, truly pitiful for their misfortune, and angry for their meekness!

But it had nothing to do with her anyway!

"Brother Shangguan, let’s quickly get back and cook these rabbits. I’m getting hungry."

"Alright!" Shangguan Xuanyi held two rabbits in one hand and tightly gripped Xiao’er’s hand with the other as they began to descend the mountain.

Seeing them leave just like that, paying no attention to her, Lin Miaoyan rapidly followed, calling out, "Sixth Prince, wait for me."

Lin Miaoyan planned to walk alongside Shangguan Xuanyi just like Rui’an County’s leader, shoulder to shoulder down the mountain.

As if having eyes in the back of his head, Shangguan Xuanyi coldly commanded, "Stay 100 feet away from me!"

Scared by his words, Lin Miaoyan stopped in her tracks, not daring to approach him any further.

The Sixth Prince must have misunderstood her because of something Rui’an County’s leader said, thinking she was a cold and heartless person.

But in her daily life, she was quite kind to servants, and she rarely lashed out.

Lin Miaoyan watched the two people walking side by side in front of her, their silhouettes harmonious and seemingly perfectly matched.

The leader of Rui’an County seemed to be saying something, and the Sixth Prince subtly leaned towards her to listen carefully, bowing his head.

The two of them held hands tightly, laughing and talking as they stepped forward, as if they could walk to the ends of the earth together.

Lin Miaoyan didn’t want to admit her jealousy, she longed to disrupt their harmony, to replace it.

But it seemed that the Sixth Prince disapproved more of her than ever. All she could do was trail behind them at a distance of about 100 feet.

Seeing Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao’er return, Mrs. Liu let out a sigh of relief. She rapidly approached them, asking, "Are you okay? I thought I heard a wolf howling and a wild boar.

"It’s all right, there was a fight between a wolf and a wild boar, but the wolf has been shot dead."

Hearing that the wolf had been shot, Mrs. Liu was reassured as she was terrified of wolves. "Next time, try not to venture into the mountains, it is far too dangerous."

"Don’t worry, ma’am. Our Rui’an County’s leader could hit a wolf’s throat with just a single arrow. Even I myself have to admire her skills. There will be no problems if she roams this entire mountain range!" said Feng Yang with praise.

Shangguan Xuanyi cast a cold glance at him.

Feng Yang instantly froze. What happened? Did he say something wrong? He was clearly praising the master’s future wife!

"Really, that amazing? Next time when I have some free time, I’ll test it out. Maybe I’ll become the queen of the mountains!" Xiao’er said triumphantly.

"If you dare go, I will break your legs!" threatened Shangguan Xuanyi, glaring at her.

Feng Yang:"..."

Okay, he had definitely turned the master against himself with his flattery! The master cared so much for Rui’an County’s leader’s safety, how could he be happy to see her roaming the mountains?

Xiao’er grinned appeasingly, "I was just joking, don’t take it seriously!"

Shangguan Xuanyi glanced at her, then handed the rabbits to Feng Yang without exposing her lie, "Go handle this. Don’t tell me you’re not hungry?"

Feng Yang hurriedly took them and ran to the riverbank.

At that moment, Mrs. Lin walked up to them, "Has anyone seen Yan’er?"

Just as Mrs. Lin finished asking, Lin Miaoyan and two maids appeared.

Lin Miaoyan’s clothes were slightly dirty due to a fall. Seeing this, Mrs. Lin was shocked and hurriedly rushed over, "Yan’er, are you okay?"

Lin Miaoyan glanced in Shangguan Xuanyi’s direction, seeing that he didn’t even spare her a glance, she felt even more aggrieved and couldn’t help but cry.

Seeing this, Mrs. Lin became even more worried, "What’s wrong, why are you crying?"

Lin Miaoyan just shook her head.

Mrs. Lin then looked at Xia Zhi, prompting an explanation.

"Blessing of the Buddha, we really should thank the master of Rui’an County."

Lin Miaoyan pursed her lips: She didn’t mean it, so why should we thank her?