Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 747 - 745

Chapter 747: 745

Almost a month had passed, and Shangguan Ruixi was growing desperate. He headed to Prince Rui’s mansion, only to find it empty. Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao’er had gone on a long trip.

Shangguan Ruixi wished he could send someone immediately to bind and bring back the couple who had made a fool of him!

If he couldn’t wed a bride, he wanted Shangguan Xuanyi to compensate him for it - with a bride!

Shangguan Ruixi returned to Prince An’s Mansion in low spirits, but ran into a distant cousin of Princess Consort An who was visiting with her children.

The cousin’s son was fair and handsome with bright eyes and white teeth. He had even better skin than his sister! If Xiao’er saw him, she would definitely call him a snack!

An idea seeped into the mind of Shangguan Ruixi. Heaven was indeed on his side! He strode forward, took the young man’s hand with delight and exclaimed, "Mother, who is this charming young man? He’s very handsome!"

The room fell silent.

The young man pulled his hand away uncomfortably and bowed respectfully, "Greetings, your highness. I’m Feng Haoyu."

"So it’s Haoyu. You don’t need to be so formal," Shangguan Ruixi eagerly reached out to steady him and then refused to let go of his hand.

Feng Haoyu glanced at his hand, which Shangguan Ruixi was firmly holding and not letting go. He felt a bit anxious.

There were rumours that the prince was attracted to men. His mother said it was a bunch of lies because they lived so far away from the Imperial Capital, and these rumors should not be taken seriously!

But now, to him, it seemed even truer than pearl itself.

Feng Haoyu tried to pull away his hand but he couldn’t.

Seeing her son in this predicament, the princess leaped up in shock and went over to Shangguan Ruixi, pulling away his hand, "Ruixi, this is your cousin Haoyu!"

Princess Consort An stressed the word ’cousin’, reminding him that it’s inappropriate to marry close relatives. Thank heavens, there was a decree.

How foolish! How could a man marry another man? Princess Consort An recoiled at her own thought.

"So it’s cousin Haoyu! Are you new to the Imperial Capital? Why not stay over at the mansion tonight? Let’s dine and make merry, drinking till we drop!" Shangguan Ruixi seized Feng Haoyu’s hand anew.

Overnight? And drinking? To Princess Consort An, the suggestion was outrageous!

She widened her eyes as she stared at their entwined hands.

"Cousin, it’s Feng Haozhen, you may call me Zhen’er," Feng Haozhen stepped forward with a blush on her face and bowed.

Shangguan Ruixi glanced back at her with a cold expression, "Cousin."

Then he turned back to Feng Haoyu enthusiastically, "Cousin, what would you like to eat? I will have the servants prepare it immediately."

At this sight, Princess Consort An felt like the sky was falling.

Lady Feng also felt something was terribly wrong. Could the rumor be true?

She hurried forward to rescue her son’s hand, "Your Highness, we must go back. We will not be dining or staying."

After speaking, Lady Feng turned to Princess Consort An, "Your Highness, we will take our leave. Let’s gather some other time."

The Princess Consort was embarrassingly silent, but she couldn’t bring herself to hold them back. Instead she just nodded, "We’ll meet again when there’s time."

Then the Princess signaled to the head maid to see them out.

Lady Feng, far from wishing to meet again, merely nodded abstractedly. She quickly grabbed her son with one hand and her daughter with the other, and beat a hasty retreat.

"Mother, I’ll go see cousin Haoyu out!" Shangguan Ruixi volunteered to follow them out.

"Stop!" Princess Consort An shouted, then, realizing she’d lost her composure, quickly softened her voice, "Sit down, Mother has something to ask you."

Hearing Shangguan Ruixi’s words, Lady Feng hastened her pace and fled with her son.

Princess Consort An felt utterly embarrassed.

Shangguan Ruixi turned around and looked at Princess Consort An with displeasure, "Mother, is there something you want to ask me?"

Princess Consort An rubbed her temples, she felt an intense headache coming on.

Seeing her state, Shangguan Ruixi stepped forward and helped massage her temples, "Is Mother troubled by something?"

After hearing him, Princess Consort An twitched at the corner of her mouth, then after a moment, she said, "Have you taken fancy to any girl recently? You’re not getting any younger; it’s about time you got married!"

Shangguan Ruixi suppressed the excitement in his heart and pretended to ponder, "No, I seem to have a particular aversion to women!"

Princess Consort An’s headache intensified, "Surely, there must be at least one woman you don’t dislike?"

As long as he doesn’t dislike her, getting married and spending time together would eventually breed affection. So reasoned Princess Consort An in her heart.

Shangguan Ruixi tilted his head slightly, his brows frowned in feigned deep thought, then uncertainly said, "There is just one young lady I don’t particularly despise, the one who once saved my life. But I merely don’t dislike her."

Upon hearing those words, Princess Consort An finally found a glimmer of hope. Not disliking was enough; she didn’t dare to hope for much more now.

"Which household does the lady belong to?"

"She is the daughter of Mr. Du from the Ministry of Justice."

Ministry of Justice? Their status seems a bit low, thought Princess Consort An, unconsciously furrowing her brows.

But then she recalled how all the high-born ladies and their mothers had been avoiding her like a snake due to the recent rumors, and decided that a lower status really didn’t matter at this point! It was certainly better than those opportunistic people!

Nevertheless, she must discuss this with the Prince.

Having been watching Princess Consort An’s expressions, Shangguan Ruixi noticed her initial furrowed brows relax.

A weight lifted off Shangguan Ruixi’s heart, but he sighed, "Ah, I have only recently learned that she too is unfortunate. Her reputation, tainted by her stepmother and...now she is injured by these rumors, it’s said that not a single suitor dares to come forward!"

Shangguan Ruixi shared what had happened to Du Yijin, hoping to evoke his mother’s sympathy. Once she saw Du Yijin as a victim, any future rumors would only further paint Du Yijin as a pitiful creature - a truth she couldn’t deny.

Upon hearing Shangguan Ruixi’s words, Princess Consort An suddenly felt a kinship with Du Yijin, both victims of cruel fate.

Did not her own son suffer the same, wounded by malicious rumors with no audacious brides coming forward?

"Mother, has Cousin Yu found a place to settle down in the Imperial Capital? Do you know where he stays?" Shangguan Ruixi abruptly changed the subject, his concern for Feng Haoyu plain.

Princess Consort An was startled by Shangguan Ruixi’s sudden query!

Why was he snooping around Feng Haoyu’s residence? No way, she needed to get him married off soon, mend her wayward son’s path.

"Mother isn’t sure either, they surely have a place to settle down in the Imperial Capital, you don’t have to worry. You better start considering your own issues! You can’t stay single forever! Alright, you may leave now!" She needed to call back the Prince as soon as possible for a discussion.

Her son appeared to be straying further and further from the righteous path! It was truly a nerve-wracking ordeal!

"I’m sorry for worrying you, Mother, I will try to better myself! I will try to make myself like women! Goodbye." With a bow, Shangguan Ruixi took his leave.

Princess Consort An waved him off, letting him retreat.

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