Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 699 - 697

Chapter 699: 697

The night deepened, and an unknown window somewhere within the room had been left ajar, letting the summer breeze sneak in, agitating the layers of bold red muslin curtains.

Red candles as thick as a child’s wrist, adorned with dragon and phoenix motifs, shed a few tears of joy. The candle flames danced and flickered in the breeze.

As the night grew darker and the human noises faded away, the summer insects began to whisper, and under the moonlight, the blooming Epiphyllum in the garden silently blossomed one by one, beautifying the entire night.

Everyone seemed to offer blessings to the newlywed couple.

The Epiphyllum bloomed and wilted, the moon showed its face and hid, and eventually the sun rose, its rays filtering through the window latticework and casting a golden carpet over the floor.

When Xiao’er woke up, the sky was already bright.

As she opened her eyes and stared at the unfamiliar muslin curtain, she temporarily forgot where she was.

Xiao’er’s expression was a bit dazed, a bit bewildered.

Seeing Xiao’er’s confused state, Shangguan Xuanyi couldn’t help but laugh: "Did the little pig wake up?"

Only then did Xiao’er realize that she had got married yesterday, and she was now in Wang Mansion.

Who was the pig?

Xiao’er held back her urge to roll her eyes at her husband first thing in the morning on their second wedding day, and said irritably: "Not yet, the pig is still sound asleep!"

Since when do pigs get up this early, they usually sleep after a full meal!

Since she’s awake, she clearly isn’t the pig.

"Hehe..." Shangguan Xuanyi chuckled under his breath.

Xiao’er still couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him.

The man’s laughter grew louder.

Yang Liu, who had been fretting outside the room, felt a wave of relief when she heard the laughter, "Princess, are you up?" she knocked on the door. If they don’t wake up soon, the sun might set! Not that she dared to voice this thought.

She was afraid to disturb the two and didn’t even dare to call Shangguan Xuanyi, just calling out for the princess.

The prince has a terrible temper!

Xiao’er was startled by these words, and glanced out the window to see the sky was already bright, the sun was out, she quickly sat up: "Get up quickly, we have to visit the palace!"

"Don’t worry, the Emperor granted us permission to be two hours late for the palace visit," Shangguan Xuanyi, reluctant to move, held on to Xiao’er.

Isn’t it normal to be late on the second day of a wedding? Who could object?

The Emperor himself has experienced the plot of the wedding day!

He didn’t believe that his father, the emperor, woke up early to pay respects on his wedding day!

Otherwise, why would he remind himself that he could be two hours late for the palace visit?

For many years, Shangguan Xuanyi would always wake up early to practice martial arts, except for today.

If we’re going to be late, might as well be a little later!

"Don’t worry? The emperor allowed us to be late, so should we really be late? Besides, other people are waiting too! Aren’t you worried about being laughed at?" Xiao’er didn’t want to be the object of ridicule.

Even if the emperor and empress won’t mind, what about the Empress Dowager?

Most importantly, both the Emperor and Empress were so kind to her, she couldn’t take advantage of their favor!

Of course, she must wake up early to serve tea to both of them, fulfilling her duty as a daughter-in-law.

"On the second day of a wedding, it’s normal to get up a bit late. Who dares to laugh? The emperor and empress are not unreasonable people." Although Shangguan Xuanyi said this, he still let go of Xiao’er.

They were indeed running a little late, but they would go to bed early tonight.

Xiao’er didn’t know his thoughts, but seeing that he no longer clutched her hand, she heaved a sigh of relief.

She quickly jumped out of bed and ran to the adjoining wardrobe, swiftly choosing a set of palace dress to put on.

Shangguan Xuanyi also got out of bed and headed towards the wardrobe, "My lady, shall I help you get dressed?"

"Get out!" Having already dressed, Xiao’er grabbed a set of Shangguan Xuanyi’s clothes and threw them at him just as he was walking in.

Shangguan Xuanyi caught the clothes, looking at his angry but adorable wife, he smiled and said, "If you don’t want me to serve you, then my lady can serve me instead!"

Xiao’er shot him an annoyed glance, "Dream on! Dress yourself!"

Shangguan Xuanyi laughed as he quickly put on the clothes she threw to him.

She left the dressing room just after saying that, letting Yang Liu and Yang Mei bring in her washing utensils. After she cleaned herself, she sat by the dressing table, ready to let Yang Liu help her arrange her hair.

Xiao’er didn’t know how to arrange the complex hairstyles of the ancient times. She brushed her black hair smoothly and was about to call Yang Liu for help when Shangguan Xuanyi came behind her and took the horn comb from her hand, "I’ll do it! You two can leave us alone!"

Yang Liu and Yang Mei curtsied before exiting the room.

They really wanted to hurry him a bit, but of course they didn’t dare to do so.

"Do you know how?" Xiao’er cast a doubtful look at him.

"Hmm, I only know how to do a simple one." Shangguan Xuanyi styled Xiao’er’s hair into a simple bun and put on a set of simple accessories for her.

Although it looked a bit plain, Xiao’er’s beauty made up for it!

With a woman’s hair bun, she seemed to carry a charm that she didn’t have as a young girl, appearing more noble and elegant.

Xiao’er took a look and felt that it was quite good, so she let it be.

After styling her hair, Shangguan Xuanyi also drew her eyebrows, added color to her lips, and applied a light makeup.

She looked simply breathtaking.

Shangguan Xuanyi looked at his beautiful wife, really wanted to hide her from other people’s gaze.

"Should I put a veil over your head?" In this way, no one else can see her.

Xiao’er shot him a ’you-must-be-crazy’ glance!

Why should she wear a veil when it was so hot? Besides, there was no need for her to hide from anyone.

Shangguan Xuanyi gave his nose a little rub. It’s not that she can’t be seen by others, it’s just that he can’t bear to let others see how beautiful she is!

Being too beautiful is a sin!

Xiao’er also helped Shangguan Xuanyi straighten his robes, secured his belt, brushed his hair, and put on a silver hairpin embedded with jade.

The couple were finally ready to go, Shangguan Xuanyi then opened the door of the room.

Yang Liu and Yang Mei had been anxiously waiting outside. Why were the two of them so slow? If they didn’t go to the palace soon to toast the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, they would be late.

Seeing the door finally opened, they quickly saluted, "Prince, Princess, the carriage is ready. Shall we go to the palace now?"

Shangguan Xuanyi: "There’s no rush, let’s have breakfast first."

Yang Liu: So the Prince wants the Emperor to wait for them to finish their breakfast?

More importantly, is it breakfast time now? It’s almost time for lunch!

Yang Mei gave Xiao’er a glance: What ’no rush’, they were almost out of time!

Xiao’er also thought that Shangguan Xuanyi was being unreliable. She rolled her eyes at Shangguan Xuanyi, "Stop making trouble!"

Then she turned to Yang Liu and ordered, "Let’s go to the palace now."

Shangguan Xuanyi: "...."

He wasn’t making trouble, he was just worried that she would be hungry by now!

"Yes!" The two of them, relieved as if they had received an amnesty, rushed to make preparations.

"Wait!" Shangguan Xuanyi voiced out to the two.

Yang Liu and Yang Mei stopped in their tracks, they looked like they were about to break into tears. What on earth was the Prince trying to do?

"Bring some pastries to eat in the carriage."

"Yes!" The two of them heaved a sigh of relief and ran to prepare.

It was a tough job, but Yang Liu and Yang Mei finally managed to get the couple on the carriage. Taking the coachman’s place, they drove the carriage towards the Imperial Palace at full speed!