Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 720 - 718

Chapter 720: Chapter 718

Buy beef jerky to poison rats? Not a single person present believed such a feeble excuse.

It was plain to see that this master and servant were as stubborn as mules!

"Then, why were you holding a bag of poisoned beef jerky, bypassing the guardrail, approaching the fence, and even trying to open the bag? Is it your hobby to eat poisoned jerky while watching a tiger?" Xiao’er, disregarding Princess Ling’er, asked Ruxue coldly.

Ruxue: "..." Who would have such a hobby of eating poisoned jerky while watching tigers!

She glanced at Xiao’er, then quickly looked away. She always felt that under the gaze of the Sixth Prince’s wife, all her thoughts would be seen through.

"Nothing to say, right? Take her to the prison, let Master Fu Yin interrogate her thoroughly. Why did she want to poison the tiger at the zoo!" When Xiao’er said this, she was looking at Princess Ling’er.

"Yes, Princess." Yang Liu obediently complied, stepping forward to grab Ruxue and drag her away.

Seeing this, Princess Ling’er became anxious. If Ruxue were handed over to the authorities for questioning, who knows what she might confess! She quickly extended her hand to stop Yang Liu, glaring at Xiao’er and said, "Why are you arresting my maid? Are we now poisoning tigers or people!"

"So failed attempts do not count as crimes? The mere act of attempted poisoning is a crime! If we don’t put a stop to such malicious individuals now using harsh means to expose the true culprit behind it all, isn’t it already too late when the poison is successfully administered!" Xiao’er insinuated.

Princess Ling’er was considerably offended by Xiao’er’s words! She was indeed implying that she was the mastermind behind all this.

Yang Liu lifted Ruxue, bypassing Princess Ling’er, and headed for the exit.

"Miss, save me!" Ruxue turned back to Princess Ling’er, begging for help.

Princess Ling’er gave her a reassuring look: As long as she didn’t confess, no one could do anything to her. She would do her best to rescue her soon.

"Let Master Ruan implement all ten of the most severe tortures! Even if a confession is made, none should be spared!" Shangguan Xuanyi finally spoke.

"Yes!" Yang Liu responded loudly.

Crowd: "..."

The ten severest tortures are meant for those who have committed heinous crimes.

Ordinary criminals would lose half their lives just from one, let alone all of them, their bones would be crushed, let alone their lives!

Princess Ling’er looked in disbelief, her maid’s only intention was to poison a few tigers, and that too failed! Was the crime really that severe?

Ruxue, hearing this, was so frightened she nearly wet her pants, all ten tortures!? That was more terrifying than killing her instantly. She broke free from Yang Liu’s grip, knelt before Shangguan Xuanyi, "Sixth Prince, I confess! I confess! It was indeed my doing!"

A cruel look flashed across Princess Ling’er’s eyes when she heard this, but she pretended to look utterly shocked on her face, "Ruxue, why would you do such a thing? I foolishly trusted you so! I defended you, how can you do this to me? How can you betray your parents’ upbringing! How are they going to live knowing about this!"

Princess Ling’er deliberately mentioned her parents to threaten her not to spill the beans and to consider her still serving parents and brothers.

Of course, Ruxue understood what her mistress meant, "Miss, I’m sorry, I have a brother who was eaten by a tiger before, so I hate tigers very much. When I saw this tiger, I wanted to poison it in vengeance for my brother."

"How could you be so foolish, this tiger might not be the one that ate your brother!"

"Slave..."

Xiao’er has no mood to listen to their melodrama of a loyal maid protecting her master and taking the blame. She interrupted their hypocrisy, "Since you’ve confessed, Yang Liu, hand this maid over to Master Ruan! Let him continue with the interrogation to find out if there are accomplices! Pick a few of the ten severest tortures to perform! There’s no need to use all."

Since she wanted to bear the guilt for her master, she might as well help her fulfill her loyalty!

"Yes, Empress." Yang Liu came forward to grab her.

Pick a few to punish! Hearing this, Ruxue was terrified. She quickly knelt down in front of Xiao’er and kowtowed, while covering her mouth, "Princess, I know I was wrong, I won’t do it again next time, please don’t send me to the government!"

Princess Ling’er also complained discontentedly, "Ruxue has confessed, hasn’t she? Why the necessity for stringent interrogation!"

"Because she started with a lie, I do not trust that what she says is true! Such people deserve to be beaten, you know! If they’re afraid of being beaten, they won’t dare to lie anymore! Right?"

Princess Ling’er: "..."

Why did she feel that Shen Xiao’er’s every sentence was aimed at her!

"Yang Liu, take her away. It’s getting late, the circus will start soon. Hurry back to see the circus!"

"Yes." Safe from Ruxue’s struggles, Yang Liu finally dragged her away and handed her over to the soldiers waiting outside.

"Miss, save me, I don’t want to die!" Ruxue turned back to beg Princess Ling’er for help.

"Princess, my maid made a small mistake, and you’re already using such harsh punishment, don’t you think you’re too cruel?"

"It’s not me who made her commit the crime, so the cruel one isn’t me!"

Princess Ling’er: "..." She was mocked and taunted again!

Yang Liu quickly dragged Ruxue away.

Doctor Luo also finished diagnosing the small boy: "The boy’s poison has been completely cured, and he is in good health."

Xiao’er nodded, "Thank you, Doctor Luo."

The boy’s mother, seeing that a high-ranking doctor was examining her son, was, of course, overflowing with gratitude!

As for claiming damages, she didn’t dare, nor did she think about it.

"Let’s go, the circus is about to start." Xiao’er called everyone to head towards the big circus. Turning back to Princess Ling’er, she said, "I remember you and your maid haven’t bought tickets yet, it’s a fine to be in the park without a ticket! Remember to buy a ticket at the ticket supplement counter! And pay a fine of 100 taels of silver per person! Also, if you want to see the circus, remember to queue up and buy a ticket! Otherwise, when you’re fined another 100 taels of silver, don’t say I didn’t remind you! Also, you haven’t paid for your stay at the hot spring resort, 100 taels a day, don’t forget! Otherwise, I will report it to the authorities!"

Listening to Xiao’er, Princess Ling’er was so angry that her lungs were about to explode, "Bah, who cares about your crappy circus!"

"If you’re not watching, then don’t. I’m afraid your body odour would disturb my audience! I’ll have someone take you to the front gate ticket counter to get a ticket, and pay the fine while you’re at it!" At the end, Xiao’er fanned her nose and added, "Tsk tsk...what kind of people are these two, master and servant, both of them always doing these petty things!"

"You stop pushing it too far! You’re the petty one!" Ling’er Princess pointed at Xiao’er, cursing.

She came with the Empress Dowager, and no one in the entire group was charged an entrance fee, and now she was being publicly humiliated!

A murderous look flashed in Shangguan Xuanyi’s eyes. He struck her hand with the handle of his fan, so quickly that nobody saw how he made his move.

"Ah!" Princess Ling’er held her hand and cried out in pain.