Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 733 - 731

Chapter 733: 731

The next day, Shangguan Ruixi woke up and went to the main courtyard to have breakfast with Prince An and the Princess Consort An.

After breakfast, Prince An went off to gamble on green-skinned walnuts.

Princess Consort An stayed behind and chatted with Shangguan Ruixi.

"The Qixi Festival is fast approaching, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten our yearly agreement! After Qixi, if you still haven’t found a woman you like, I’ll arrange a marriage for you." The Princess Consort An, who was gracefully opulent in her early forties looked like she was only thirty, not showing any signs of aging, instead displaying an indescribable charm.

"How could I forget!" Shangguan Ruixi, with the thought of her light dimple smile, showed a tenderness in his eyes that he hadn’t had before.

Being a mother makes her understand better. Upon seeing her son’s lovestruck look, Princess Consort An couldn’t help but wonder if he actually had a woman he liked.

When she thought about Ranhui, she had been coldly observing her ever since she returned to the capital and concluded that the girl was genuinely a good child. Moreover, she noticed that Ranhui had feelings for her son. Yesterday, someone from the Princess Mansion even came over to test the waters.

But as Qixi hasn’t arrived yet, she dared not say anything outright.

Unable to resist, Princess Consort An probed, "Have you seen Cousin Ranhui recently?"

"Yes, didn’t we just see her the day the zoo opened?" Shangguan Ruixi casually replied.

Seeing his indifference, the Princess Consort An was a bit disappointed. It seemed that the woman her son liked was not Ranhui.

However, she was also curious about who her son’s love was and he said: "Tell me, who is the woman you like? If she’s a good one, I’ll send someone to ask for her hand."

"How did you know, Mother?" Shangguan Ruixi was a bit surprised.

"With that ’I have a sweetheart’ look on your face, do I look blind to you!" The Princess Consort An rebutted him with a huff.

Is it that obvious? Shangguan Ruixi touched his face, feeling puzzled.

"That girl is pretty good, she even saved my life. There’s no need to go propose yet, let’s wait for half a year!" Shangguan Ruixi admitted outright.

Hearing her son’s words, the Princess Consort An became nervous. She stood up, pulling up her son to give him a thorough look, "What happened to you? Why did you need saving? Are you hurt?"

"Don’t worry, Mother, I’m fine. Yesterday, I passed by a villa and saw a hill nearby filled with walnut trees, so I went up to look for some fresh, green-skinned walnuts. I was bitten by a snake by accident. That girl saved me and helped me detoxify." Shangguan Ruixi spoken of Du Yijin with an unconscious hint of affection in his eyes. He refrained from giving details about how Du Yijin helped him detoxify, suggesting that her actions were too bold for a girl, but she had no choice but to save him.

Everything she said was true. If he had died there, her entire family wouldn’t be able to live well! Even if he was bitten by a snake.

This was the supremacy of the royal power! The royals were of utmost preciousness!

"You were bitten by a venomous snake?" The Princess Consort An turned pale with fright, "Is the poison gone from your body?"

"Don’t worry, Mother, Doctor Luo has already checked me, the poison is all gone!"

It was only when she heard those words that the Princess Consort An let out a sigh of relief: "Why didn’t you ask a servant to get the green walnuts instead of risking it yourself? There are so many snakes and insects in the mountains."

"Alright." Shangguan Ruixi gave a smile of agreement.

"Since the lady saved your life, it’s only right to thank her. Which family’s daughter is she? I shall personally thank her." Ah, she was also curious to see what the girl who had saved her son looked like and to whom her son was willing to betroth himself.

"No hurry, I already thanked her. Let’s talk about it in half a year." Half a year’s time should be enough to win the girl’s favor, right? It felt that she was avoiding any ties with him at present.

But he would not agree to that! From the moment she saved him, he had decided to be entangled with her for the rest of his life.

When Shangguan Ruixi said so, Princess Consort An thought he was planning to observe the girl’s character first.

It was also correct. With their status, there were so many people trying to associate with them. If they weren’t careful enough, they wouldn’t be able to manage.

Upon thinking of this, the Princess Consort An felt reassured.

"Yesterday, your royal aunt sent someone to feel out the situation, wanting to arrange a marriage between you and Ranhui."

Hearing this, Shangguan Ruixi’s face changed, "Mother, you didn’t agree, did you?"

"Look at you getting all anxious. If she had sent someone a few days later, I would have agreed. But since Qixi isn’t here yet, and since I promised you, I won’t accept the marriage proposal without your consent. Do you think I am someone who doesn’t keep her word?" The Princess Consort An said, irritated by her son’s nervousness.

"I knew Mother always keeps her promises! I was just worried. I regard Cousin Ranhui as a sister, not a lover, better reject the proposal, Mother!"

"Mmm. It’s just a pity. I think that child is quite good. It’s quite a pity that she can’t marry into our family."

"There’s no need to feel pity, Mother. The lady I like is also good."

Upon hearing this, Princess Consort An laughed, "Big words! I’ll be waiting for you to tell me how good she is!"

"Alright!" Shangguan Ruixi replied with a smile. And then, thinking that the Princess Consort An might have someone investigate Du Yijin behind his back, finding her social status too low to be considered a suitable marriage, he mentioned what he had inadvertently heard from Doctor Luo, "Mother, I heard from Doctor Luo that it’s best for cousins not to marry. The chances of them giving birth to sick children are quite high."

"Is that true?" Upon hearing this, Princess Consort An’s face turned, then she seemed to remember something, thinking that it might be true.

"Who can guarantee if it is true or not? Such things are never absolute, it’s only that the chances are relatively high! From last year, Doctor Luo started researching on this issue, if it turns out to be true, the Imperial Court will advise against marrying close relatives." He had inadvertently heard Doctor Luo and another imperial doctor mention this last year. They were carrying out an investigation and statistical analysis using household registrations and data from local governments.

This wasn’t considered a secret. Doctor Luo didn’t avoid anyone when discussing this.

If the Princess Consort An was still hoping that her son’s favoured girl wasn’t a good one, and at that time, expected to marry Fu Ranhui instead, after hearing Shangguan Ruixi’s words, she dropped her idea entirely.

Who wouldn’t want their descendants to be super healthy and intelligent?

Princess Consort An also let out a sigh of relief. She had been worrying about how to refuse the marriage proposal without spoiling both families’ relationship and displeasing the Empress Dowager, but now she had a good excuse.

She believed that once the eldest princess knows about this, she would also disagree.

Princess Consort An became restless. She had to summon Doctor Luo to find out whether it was true or false.

"Okay. I’ve got it. I will personally go to the Princess Mansion and explain the situation to your royal aunt. You go about your business now!"

"Thank you, Mother!" Shangguan Ruixi left feeling relieved.