Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 850 - 848_1

Chapter 850: Chapter 848_1

Shangguan Xuanyi held Xiao’er’s hand as they stepped into the territory of Nangong Country. After traveling for two more days, Xiao’er began to smell a faint sea breeze. It had a bit of a fishy smell, but with a careful sniff, it seemed to disappear.

"Brother Shangguan, can you smell the scent of the sea?"

What does the sea smell like? Can one even detect such a scent? Hearing her words, Zhao Yong took a deep sniff but found no distinct smell!

"Madam, your nose is even sharper than a dog’s!"

"Are you comparing me to a dog?" Xiao’er pretended to be angry.

Shangguan Xuanyi glanced at him, and Zhao Yong immediately cowered: "I dare not!"

Seeing this, Xiao’er laughed. "I was just joking. You don’t have to be so scared! My nose is indeed sharper than a dog’s."

Zhao Yong glanced at Shangguan Xuanyi with a clear message - he wasn’t scared of him, but of her man.

"Half of Nangong Country’s territory is near the sea," Shangguan Xuanyi explained, ignoring Zhao Yong.

"They live off the mountains and sea. No wonder Nangong Country is so prosperous." Xiao’er nodded. She already knew that.

Nangong Country, located at the southern end of this continent, was a kingdom famous for its spices. The kingdom majorly cultivated rice, spices, fruits, and livestock; they also engaged in fishing, pottery-making, textiles, and shipbuilding, focusing on overseas trade.

There was a time when Nangong Country had the highest rice yield among the four countries, nearly five hundred catties per acre, making its people the wealthiest among the nations.

But ever since Minze Country cultivated super rice a few years ago, with yields increasing every year, their advantage no longer existed.

That’s why Nangong Country was so adamant about acquiring the method to cultivate this super rice! A nation that was once always in the first place, why would it willingly settle for second?

But rice wasn’t a big deal; it was only sufficient for self-sustenance.

The most famous product of Nangong Country was spices, attracting many foreign merchants for trade. With half of their territory facing the sea and their frequent overseas trade activities, Nangong Country was relatively wealthy.

However, most of Nangong Country’s territory bordered the sea, and they owned many islands. Thus, they were often affected by tsunamis and earthquakes, resulting in casualties every year and making their population the smallest among the four countries.

But no country was immune to natural disasters; they were all unavoidable.

Xiao’er looked at the attire of the people in Nangong Country and couldn’t help but sigh. As expected of a country that frequently interacted with open-minded foreign friends - their clothing was much more fashionable and liberal than the people of Minze Country.

Now that the Dragon Boat Festival had passed and the weather was getting hotter each day, the girls of Nangong Country had started wearing mid-sleeve and low-neckline clothes. Occasionally, one could spot a couple of blonde, blue-eyed girls wearing short-sleeved, backless tops.

Xiao’er looked up at Shangguan Xuanyi. She wondered if he had been distracted by the beautiful sights around, but to her relief, he had kept his eyes straight.

If he dared to glance somewhere he shouldn’t, she would gouge out his eyes, Xiao’er thought menacingly.

Noticing Xiao’er’s gaze, Shangguan Xuanyi lowered his head and asked softly, "What’s the matter?"

Xiao’er shook her head. She wouldn’t tell him that she was worried about his wandering eyes and that she considered gouging them out!

Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao’er led the group, followed by Zhao Yong and others. As for the rest of the soldiers and hidden guards, they spread out to provide covert protection.

On the border between the two countries, General Di had quietly mobilized tens of thousands of soldiers waiting there.

They came here for justice, but from Nangong Country’s perspective, this was an overt provocation, and Shangguan Xuanyi was naturally prepared.

Gong Qinghua, being incapacitated by Zhao Yong, was placed on a cart and wheeled along. Xiao’er had applied some makeup on him to make it difficult for people to recognize him.

As they approached the city gate, there were more and more people, and everyone on the road began to gaze at them.

Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao’er, being a handsome man and a beautiful woman, attracted many eyes.

But soon, everyone’s attention was drawn to the man behind them. He held his head low and had chains around his body. One could only see his profile, but the curiosity in everyone’s hearts made them whisper: "What crime did that man commit to be chained up and paraded around?"

"He must have committed a grave sin. Why else would he be paraded around like this?"

"Could it be murder or arson?"

"Even murderers and arsonists were not paraded through the streets. The crime this man committed must be worse than murder or arson!"

"Could it be rape and abduction?"

An old woman selling leftover vegetables passed by. Hearing these words, she stopped, raised her head, and looked at Gong Qinghua.

"It could be treason!"

"People like him deserve to die. His existence only brings harm to the common folk!" The old woman, seemingly irritated by something, dropped her load and began to throw the leftover rotten vegetable leaves at Gong Qinghua.

Some children found this amusing and began to pick up trash from the ground to throw at him, too!

Unable to speak or move, Gong Qinghua closed his eyes in humiliation.

Shangguan Xuanyi pulled Xiao’er aside, shielding her in his arms to protect her from the random objects thrown by the people.

Gong Qinghua, unable to move, opened his eyes and glared venomously at the people throwing things at him, cursing Shangguan Xuanyi over and over again in his heart.

A mischievous child threw a stone at his head, causing blood to flow down his face immediately.

At that moment, Gong Qinghua felt a surge of anger, wishing to destroy the whole world!

Being born as a dignitary, when had he ever faced such humiliation?

His whole body was in a terrible state. His heart was boiling with boundless hatred.

Shangguan Xuanyi! Wait for it! This hatred will not end until our death! We are not done!

Shangguan Xuanyi watched the whole incident unfold with an impassive expression. Sensing something, he slightly lifted his head, his gaze meeting Gong Qinghua’s full of hatred.

Shangguan Xuanyi, unfazed, curled his lips in a cold smile. The cold in his eyes seemed to freeze the world: This is the price you pay for snatching away my treasure! This is the price your men pay for harming Yang Liu in such a way! This is the price for the pain you caused the people of Zhenyang County! And this is just the beginning! Wait and watch!

When dealing with enemies, he always made sure to be ruthless and decisive, never showing mercy!

After the crowd had thrown all that they could, Shangguan Xuanyi finally said, "Let’s go."

Soon, they reached the city gate. Yang Liu handed over a token, and the city guards, realizing they were visiting envoys, immediately showed more respect.

Then they asked about Gong Qinghua. Yang Liu said, "This is a kidnapper from our nation who fortunately escaped here! We happened to cross his path when his rabies acted up, so we had to chain him up and bring him along."

Gong Qinghua blinked incessantly at the soldiers, the only movement he was capable of.