Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 695 - 693

Chapter 695: 693

After Xiao’er’s coming-of-age ceremony, the wedding plans with Shangguan Xuanyi were on schedule.

Both Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao’er got busy.

Shangguan Xuanyi had already arranged the preparation of their necessities such as their wedding bed, wardrobe, and the furniture for their wedding room.

The wedding dresses for the couple were embroided by the imperial wardrobe department according to customs.

However, Xiao’er still had to embroider items like quilt cover, pillow cases, and their underwear herself.

The Marquis Mansion was bustling with palace maids coming in and out every few days.

Some were there to measure sizes, some brought items for Xiao’er to choose from, and some brought finished clothing and jewelry for Xiao’er to try on for fit.

Mrs. Liu was also thrown into an unprecedented hustle and bustle.

Mrs. Liu had started saving for Xiao’er’s dowry several years ago, but it was still not enough, and there was a lot more to prepare.

Relatives from Mrs. Liu’s side also set off from Shengping County to the Imperial Capital, and Mrs. Zhu, Zhu Jun and Zhu Yan, Shen Jingfu and Mrs. Ji were also on their way.

One day, the Imperial Wardrobe Department reported to Shangguan Xuanyi that the wedding garments for their big day were ready.

Under normal circumstances, the suits for the wedding would be sent to each of their homes for fitting.

However, Shangguan Xuanyi requested that the maids send all the clothes to the Sixth Prince’s Mansion, so that he and the Lady of Rui’an County could try them on together at the Sixth Prince’s Mansion.

The official in charge made no objection and did as instructed.

The wedding dress for a prince’s wife is very elaborate, layer upon layer, one on top of another.

Before she even put it on, Xiao’er felt headache just by seeing it.

Dear God, it’s June now, wouldn’t she die from the heat if she had to wear such a heavy wedding dress that is as thick as a down jacket?

It’s all Shangguan Xuanyi’s fault! She had suggested choosing a winter day for the wedding so that they would suffer less. With all the complicated wedding ceremonies, wearing heavy clothes under the scorching June sun, Xiao’er would be drenched in sweat just by thinking about it!

Two maids helped Xiao’er to dress up, and with each additional layer of clothing, her face turned darker.

The two maids who were helping her dress were uneasy, not knowing whether they were not attentive enough, or if the Lady of Rui’an County was unwilling to marry the Sixth Prince, hence the scowl even while trying on her wedding dress.

After finally getting fully dressed, the two maids, frightened by Xiao’er’s dark, gloomy face, felt their backs soaking with sweat.

Xiao’er was feeling hot all over. The palace maid from the Imperial Wardrobe Department took a look at Xiao’er from all angles and thought the dress fitted well, but she still gritted her teeth and asked: "Lady of Rui’an County, does it feel too tight anywhere?"

"No."

The maid breathed a sigh of relief.

"Lady of Rui’an County, do you feel any discomfort?"

"I feel uncomfortable all over! Better make a new one!" Xiao’er frankly stated.

Deadly hot, unbearably heavily, how could she possibly feel comfortable? Xiao’er suddenly missed her wedding gown from her previous life, the bare-chest, backless design was so cool!

"..." The face of the maid turned pale upon hearing this. All over discomfort and wishes for a redo?

Never mind about the embroidery, just the rhinestones alone were nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine pieces, not to mention other pieces of gems.

How could they manage to make a new one as per such request in time!

"I was just joking, the dress can stay as it is! Go and call the Sixth Prince over!" Xiao’er realized that it was not right to give the maids a hard time, she softened her tone, if she should vent her anger, it should be on the culprit.

Upon hearing this, the two maids breathed a sigh of relief and retreated quickly after giving a bow.

Shangguan Xuanyi had been waiting outside the door.

As soon as the door was opened, before the maids had time to speak, Shangguan Xuanyi walked in, casually saying, "Shut the door."

As soon as Shangguan Xuanyi appeared, Xiao’er glared at him and complained, "This wedding dress is just too heavy! I am already sweating even though it’s not so hot yet. In half a month, under the scorching June sun, I reckon I will become the first in history to have a heat stroke on her way to the wedding because of wearing such heavily layered clothes!"

Xiao’er was normally not too concerned about the heat due to her special abilities, but she was no match for wearing a down jacket in the peak of the hot season!

"Stop talking nonsense!" Shangguan Xuanyi couldn’t take his eyes off Xiao’er who looked so beautiful in her wedding dress that he couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was simply too beautiful.

"It’s the dress designed as per the customs, I can’t change it, just bear with it." Despite her angry look, Xiao’er was still so breathtakingly beautiful that Shangguan Xuanyi was completely spellbound, consoling her softly.

The design of a prince’s wife’s wedding dress must be multilayered, that’s been a tradition since the predecessors, he also had no way to change it, she just had to put up with it.

"You could have chosen a winter day for the wedding, why choose such a torturous day instead." Women tend to be a bit more irritable during certain days of the month, and Xiao’er was no exception.

"I can’t wait anymore!" He was suffering each and every day without consummating the marriage, let alone suffering a few more months, he might as well die! He couldn’t wait any longer! Shangguan Xuanyi moved to her side, extended his hand to unbutton the top of her dress.

On hearing his words and seeing his actions, Xiao’er was so scared that she quickly caught his hand, forgetting even to be angry, she terrifiedly asked, "What are you going to do!"

Xiao’er remembered that on the day of her coming-of-age ceremony, this man nearly lost control and left a hickey on her neck, which frightened her for several days, fearing that someone might accidentally see it!

It was alright at that time as the weather was still cool, and she could wear high-collared clothes. But now as the weather started to get hot, if he carelessly left a trace, she would be too embarrassed to face people!

Shangguan Xuanyi didn’t actually plan on doing anything, he just wanted to give her a gift and help her wear it, but Xiao’er’s reaction made him think that he should do something to live up to her "full expectations"!

Shangguan Xuanyi wrapped one arm around Xiao’er’s waist, pulling her entirely against himself, and with his other hand supporting the back of her head, under his strong control, Xiao’er didn’t even have a chance to struggle before her lips were sealed.

After what seemed a long time, Shangguan Xuanyi, panting for breath, buried his head in Xiao’er’s neck.

Both of them were sweaty, Xiao’er because of the thick, hot wedding dress.

And Shangguan Xuanyi, because of the unfulfilled desire and the torment of restraining himself!

"I’m so hot that I’m almost suffocating!" Xiao’er pouted her lips and pushed against Shangguan Xuanyi who was holding her tightly, complaining.

"Hehe..." Shangguan Xuanyi chuckled softly in Xiao’er’s neck, caught his breath, stood up straight, and then took out a crystal clear, droplet-shaped gem.

Xiao’er could clearly feel a hint of coolness emanating from it.

Shangguan Xuanyi helped Xiao’er put it around her neck, and then helped her fasten the button he had unbuttoned not long ago.

With the cool gem against her chest, Xiao’er immediately felt as if she had walked into a cold room from the scorching summer heat, feeling refreshed from head to toe.

"What is this?" Xiao’er asked in surprise.

As someone who had time-travelled a thousand years to this backward ancient time, endowed with five millennia of Chinese culture, and experienced things of the modern age that were unheard of and unseen by others, she was taken aback by the marvel of this item.