Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 868 - 866_1

Chapter 868: Chapter 866_1

Shangguan Xuanyi, holding Xiao’er’s hand, returned to the cabin. He felt uneasy, so he had not been much of a talker on the way back.

However, Xiao’er still sensed his dissatisfaction and squeezed Shangguan Xuanyi’s hand: "Brother Shangguan, you’re upset."

This wasn’t a question, but a declarative statement.

"Hmm." Shangguan Xuanyi didn’t deny it. He opened the door of the room, led Xiao’er inside, and they both sat down at a round table.

"Are you upset that I spoke to Mr. Zhao? Did Mr. Zhao do something to upset you?" Xiao’er took a bite of a watermelon slice off the table and speculated.

However, avoiding Zhao Youwei might be tricky, given that he was Fu Ranhui’s fiancé. Considering her bond with Fu Ranhui, who was the eldest princess’s daughter, they would inevitably meet at harem feasts. It wouldn’t be proper to ignore him completely.

"No, I am just upset about the way he looks at you." This displeased Shangguan Xuanyi, who didn’t like others coveting his girl, though it was beyond his power to stop it.

Moreover, he had already sent him a covert warning.

Since Zhao Youwei usually watched Xiao’er sneakily, she really didn’t know how he looked at her.

"What kind of look?"

"I don’t know, I just dislike it! Please keep your distance from him in the future! How can you not just be a plain girl!" Then no outsider would give her a second look!

Hearing this, Xiao’er rolled her eyes at him: "Can’t be ugly! Don’t you know that I have beautifying products in my space? If I were a plain girl, would you like me?"

"When I first met you, you looked malnourished and far from beautiful. But didn’t I still fall for you?! Am I that superficial?! I don’t just value physical appearance! I value depth!"

"But you didn’t like me back then!"

"..." Did he not? Shangguan Xuanyi had forgotten when he fell for this girl.

All he knew was that he couldn’t help but pay attention to her, liked being wherever she was in.

Earlier, when she was in Shengping County, he was always trying to visit Shengping County.

Later, when she was in the Imperial Capital, he didn’t want to leave the Imperial Capital.

Whenever she was by his side, he felt particularly happy and secure.

Seeing his silence, Xiao’er, unable to resist, leaned her head towards him and asked: "Brother Shangguan, when did you start liking me?"

Looking at her face up close, Shangguan Xuanyi couldn’t resist stealing a kiss: "I don’t know when I began to like you. By the time I realized it, I was already very in love."

Just as Xiao’er was about to ask how much he liked her, the ship came to a halt. It seemed they had arrived at Zhan’er Island, and the ship was docking.

Just then, Yang Liu’s voice came from outside: "Master, young lady, we have arrived at Zhan’er Island."

Hearing this, Xiao’er straightened up and stood: "Let’s go! Let’s see what the rumored deserted wilderness looks like."

Zhan’er Island is remote and desolate. Compared to the prosperity of the Central Plains, here is a hell for criminals, lacking in both water and food resources. Even if one worked hard to cultivate crops, there wouldn’t be enough freshwater for irrigation.

Furthermore, the Zhan’er Strait has strong winds and high waves, and in the eyes of many ancients, it is an insurmountable barrier. Those criminals exiled here are surrounded by sea, with no boats, escaping is nearly impossible.

Although it is an island, it’s a place where criminals are exiled, so don’t imagine it to be beautiful.

It is best described as stingy and desolate.

Shangguan Xuanyi, holding Xiao’er, descended from the ship and went ashore. Several officials and army generals from the Nangong country were already waiting on the shore.

They saluted Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao’er.

"Prince Rui of Minze Country, the emperor has decreed, Zhan’er Island belongs to Nangong country from now on, and we will retreat now!"

"Fine." Shangguan Xuanyi nodded.

The minister of Honglu Temple immediately came forward to sign the treaty documents with him.

The minister checked the contents of the document carefully, found no issues, and handed it to Shangguan Xuanyi: "Prince Rui, please have a look, if there are no problems, we shall sign."

Shangguan Xuanyi took them, glanced at them, found no problems, and nodded.

Everything went so smoothly that it felt somewhat unreal.

"Prince Rui, there aren’t ordinary residents on this island, only criminals exiled by Nangong country for their relentless wickedness, beyond all redemption! If you find them bearable, you can keep them here to suffer. If not, just annihilate them! We won’t take these criminals with us."

The Nangong officials, having said that, turned back to the criminals: "From now on, the island is under the jurisdiction of Minze Country. Your life and death depend on Prince Rui’s decision!"

Hearing this, all the criminals kneeled towards Shangguan Xuanyi: "Please spare us, Prince Rui! Please spare us, Prince Rui!"

Shangguan Xuanyi frowned at the sight of these exiled criminals. He looked at the Nangong country’s officials and coldly uttered two words: "Take them away!"

Who knew if there were spies intentionally arranged by Nangong country among these people.

Hearing this, the official from Nangong country quickly responded with an apologetic smile: "Prince Rui, it’s not that I don’t want to take them, but our ships are small and can’t fit so many people at once. This island needs some people to do the heavy lifting—any filth and toil can be done by them."

At this point, Xiao’er tugged at Shangguan Xuanyi’s sleeve, prompting him to keep these people.

Shangguan Xuanyi then nodded: "Since you all don’t want these people now, their life or death in the future will have nothing to do with you. You cannot use this matter to cause trouble!"

Although Shangguan Xuanyi didn’t know why Xiao’er wanted to keep these people, he decided to keep them nonetheless, following Xiao’er’s suggestion.

Hearing this, the officials from Nangong country quickly nodded and bowed: "Naturally, Prince Rui, rest assured!"

The soldiers and officials of Nangong country all left.

This went surprisingly smoothly.

The minister of the Honglu Temple, being a diplomat, knew exactly when to say what. After the officials and soldiers from Nangong country left, he laughed and said to Shangguan Xuanyi: "Prince Rui, you are remarkable, acquiring an island without a single soldier. This is truly unprecedented."

Shangguan Xuanyi knew that the minister of the Honglu Temple was fond of sugar-coating his words. He didn’t respond and simply instructed Zhao Youwei: "Arrange for soldiers to search around and see if there is any suspicious place."

"Yes!" Zhao Youwei quickly saluted and retreated.

Xiao’er, looking at the criminals kneeling on the ground, felt something was off but couldn’t put her finger on it.

As for why she wanted to keep them? It was because she had loyalty powder, so she wasn’t afraid.