Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 828 - 826_1

Chapter 828: Chapter 826_1

After reading the contents of the paper, Shangguan Xuanyi’s stern gaze deepened even further.

Yet Xiao’er seemed bewildered after reading them, unable to comprehend their contents.

With only a few words, the text read: Beware of being framed.

Who would frame them? And why? Could it be due to the wealth they possessed? The thought wandered in Xiao’er’s mind.

"What should we do, Brother Shangguan?"

Crumpling the paper, Shangguan Xuanyi picked up a chicken wing and placed it in front of Xiao’er: "Let’s not worry about it for now. Drink your soup and eat your meal first."

"Aren’t you curious?" Xiao’er asked while sipping her soup.

"I am curious. But we should eat first." He harbored the thought, whoever set out to frame them must have the guts to do so.

Hearing this, Xiao’er pursed her lips and obediently went on to eat.

The shopkeeper had only brought them a plate of soy sauce chicken, a plate of vegetables, purple seaweed egg drop soup, and two bowls of rice.

Though the food was simple, it had a pleasing taste.

Shangguan Xuanyi picked out Xiao’er’s favorite parts for her to eat.

In reality, Xiao’er was not picky and would eat anything except fatty meat.

But even the least picky people have their favorite foods.

Xiao’er loved chicken wings.

Shangguan Xuanyi placed both chicken wings into her bowl.

Having happily devoured the two chicken wings, Xiao’er was offered a chicken leg by Shangguan Xuanyi. She lifted it up and said, "Brother Shangguan, could you take a bite and check if the chicken leg is fully cooked?"

Having immediately understood Xiao’er’s intentions, Shangguan Xuanyi replied without raising his head, "The bones are free of blood, indicating that the meat is thoroughly cooked. Eat quickly!"

Clustered, Xiao’er obediently finished the chicken leg.

After that, Shangguan Xuanyi served another chicken leg into her bowl.

She had consumed almost three quarters of the most delicious parts of a chicken, and the remaining chicken leg was something she would not eat under any circumstances. Moving the chicken leg to Shangguan Xuanyi’s bowl, she said with a wronged expression, "Brother Shangguan, are you serving me because you find the chicken unappetizing? I still prefer the chicken legs in our space."

Seeing her reaction, Shangguan Xuanyi paused while attempting to pinch the chicken leg, realizing Xiao’er had intentionally left it for him. Despite that, their current meal could not compete with the food in their other space. "After drinking the donkey-hide gelatin stew tonight, eat a bowl of bird’s nest before going to sleep."

Xiao’er: "..."

She was merely joking with the shopkeeper! Why did he have to be so serious! Having eaten so much meat, she was already full. Where was there any space left for bird’s nest and donkey-hide gelatin!

Xiao’er realized that ever since she’d lost a bit of blood, she’d been treated like a pig being fattened, all in the name of "blood nourishment"!

Having said all that, Shangguan Xuanyi focused on finishing the chicken leg, ignoring Xiao’er’s inner struggle. He thought that Xiao’er barely had any physical mass, and she couldn’t stay fit without eating properly.

After finishing their meal, Shangguan Xuanyi called over Zhao Yong to ask if he knew anything about the town from his early arrival.

Zhao Yong had arrived the night before, and was too busy cleaning the room that Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao’er were going to be staying in. In the afternoon, he waited for them at the city gate, not having a chance to explore even if he had spotted any anomalies.

He tried to inquire about the situation from the townspeople and the shopkeeper, but nobody dared to speak up.

Having heard all this, Shangguan Xuanyi instructed Zhao Yong with a few words. Afterwards, Zhao Yong left on his horse.

Then, Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao’er left the inn for an evening stroll to aid digestion and get a feel for the town.

Having had an early dinner, it was still light out despite the sun preparing to set.

There were more pedestrians on the streets than during the day, likely because people had completed their day’s work and were returning home for dinner.

Everyone seemed to be in a rush, taking an extra glance at Xiao’er and Shangguan Xuanyi as they passed by.

Despite the attention, the two strolled hand in hand down the street. Xiao’er initially wanted to find a jewelry store to make a show of wealth. However, after exploring several streets, she had yet to find a single one.

Not only was there a lack of jewelry stores, but many other shops were closed and covered with dust, indicating they had been in this state for quite some time.

This county, a picture of desolation.

After a full circle walk, it got dark.

There was not a single soul on the streets.

The innkeeper locked the front door after they came in, and retreated to his room for sleep.

Xiao’er felt uneasy, as if something would happen tonight.

Indeed

At dead of night, a dog’s bark came from afar.

Immediately following that, a scream of terror echoed from downstairs.

Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao’er sat up immediately from their beds. Both of them quickly dressed and dashed downstairs.

The voice they heard was unmistakably from the innkeeper.

As they came down, they saw a dark figure darting out of the front door.

The innkeeper slept in the first room on the ground floor, and now his room door was open.

Xiao’er wanted to chase that shadow, but Shangguan Xuanyi pulled her back by the wrist.

Then Yang Liu quickly chased after it.

Shangguan Xuanyi shielded Xiao’er behind him as they ventured into the innkeeper’s room.

Yang Mei held her sword at their back defensively.

Through the moonlight falling in from the window, they could see the innkeeper lying still on the wooden bed, donned in white sleepwear, with a dagger plunged into his chest.

Xiao’er quickly remembered the note the innkeeper had given her during dinner: Beware of false charges and entrapment!

The innkeeper was murdered because of them!

Guilt surged in Xiao’er’s heart. She quickly broke free from Shangguan Xuanyi’s grip and rushed over.

Hope it’s not too late! Hope he’s not dead.

Xiao’er checked the innkeeper’s breathing, he was still alive!

A glimmer of joy sparked in Xiao’er’s heart. She hurriedly took out a healing pill and fed it to him: "Brother Shangguan, pull out the dagger!"

Xiao’er took out a bottle of the Jinchuang ointment, getting ready to apply it to the wound and staunch the bleeding after Shangguan Xuanyi pulls out the dagger.

Shangguan Xuanyi walked over to the bed, quickly pulling out the dagger.

Xiao’er immediately sprinkled some Jinchuang ointment on the wound.

At this moment, a group of soldiers carrying torches flooded into the inn from the front gate.

The light from the torches instantly lit up the entire inn.

The leader sneered when he saw Shangguan Xuanyi holding a bloody dagger: Caught red-handed! He shouted: "Arrest these three murderers!"

Yang Mei raised her sword to block the door, sternly commanding: "How dare you!"

"Yes, you dare commit murder in Zhenyang County! Take them all! We’ll let the magistrate judge them!"

Dozens of soldiers heard this, rushed forward with their spears.

"Stop, we didn’t kill him!" Yang Mei shouted.

Xiao’er swiftly put the Jinchuang ointment back into her space, a long whip appearing in her hand as she stood up.

Shangguan Xuanyi drew his sword, swept his world-ruling gaze across those who rushed forward.

Frightened by his commanding presence, the advancing soldiers dared not move forward.

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