Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 900 - 898_1

Chapter 900: Chapter 898_1

Shangguan Xuanyi turned his head, and upon seeing Xiao’er’s questioning gaze, he slightly shook his head: "It’s nothing."

Seeing this, Xiao’er understood he was uncomfortable discussing it. She quickly guessed what he was worried about and gave him a soothing smile: "It’s okay."

Even if there was a problem, she believed there would be a solution. They just needed to address it positively.

Besides, Bai Tian and the golden python had returned to her side. They knew more about the space than she did. She could ask them whether the radiation stone could threaten her space and then think of a way to prevent it.

Xiao’er kept this in mind, planning to ask about it when she entered the space in the evening.

"Brother Shangguan, I’ll go to the pier to pick up Sister Yan." Xiao’er glanced at the hourglass. Zhu Yan’s boat should be arriving soon.

She had received a letter from Zhu Yan a while ago saying she would be opening a shop here and that she would arrive before noon today.

Jingrui had official duties and couldn’t get away, so she was the one left to greet her future sister-in-law.

"I will accompany you." Upon hearing this, Shangguan Xuanyi put down the letter he was holding and stood up.

"No need, I’ll be back soon. You just continue with what you’re doing!"

"I’ll go with you anyway." Shangguan Xuanyi shook his head.

The work he had wouldn’t be completed in a short time, so he could bring it to Xiao’er’s space and continue there. He wouldn’t leave her alone for too long.

"No need, your status might scare Gentry Zhu and Sister Yan!" Xiao’er impatiently responded, even extending her hand in a gesture of rejection.

Since they had left the Imperial Capital, they had basically been constantly together, 24 hours a day. Now, she had finally found an excuse to have some time alone. Xiao’er thought it was a rare opportunity! She also wanted to eat something delicious!

Shangguan Xuanyi glanced at her. He naturally understood what she was thinking. However, he felt a bit irritated. He wished he could spend every possible moment with her, but she accused him of being clingy. How could he be pleased?

While these thoughts were swirling in his mind, Shangguan Xuanyi worried that if he kept pressing Xiao’er, she might run away from home. He reluctantly sat back down: "Be careful. Let Yang Mei and Yang Liu accompany you. Don’t eat too much stinky tofu!"

Recently, a stinky tofu stall had appeared on the street. Xiao’er always said that their tofu stank in a most authentic way. A few days ago, she had people buy it for her every day, eating it three times a day. She even complained that the portions were too small to satisfy her! Every time he kissed her, it tasted of stinky tofu!

Shangguan Xuanyi really couldn’t bear the taste of stinky tofu anymore, so he had to stop her eating so much! As a result, this ungrateful girl complained about him always being at her side.

"Don’t worry, I definitely won’t eat too much!" Upon hearing this, Xiao’er almost jumped with joy. The stinky tofu from that stall was truly the best she’d ever eaten, even better than what she’d had in her previous life.

Every day, there were a lot of people lining up at the stall to buy stinky tofu, which was the best proof of its taste.

With Shangguan Xuanyi’s permission, a delighted Xiao’er ran out, looking forward to finally being able to eat her fill!

As always, there were a lot of people in front of the stinky tofu stall. Xiao’er asked Yang Mei to queue up to buy some, while she and Yang Liu went to the pier to wait.

After arriving at the pier, Zhao Yong parked the carriage on the side. Xiao’er jumped out and stood by the pier, looking at the river in the distance, where an official boat was approaching.

"Miss, it looks like Miss Zhu is standing on the bow." Yang Liu pointed to a pink figure on the boat.

Xiao’er followed Yang Liu’s gesture and looked over, nodding, "That’s Sister Yan."

As Xiao’er noticed Zhu Yan looking over, she quickly waved.

Although they hadn’t seen each other for a while, they had occasionally corresponded, so they were quite familiar with each other.

Zhu Yan stood on the deck and waved happily when she saw Xiao’er’s gesture.

Standing not far from Zhu Yan was a girl named Fang Wanping, dressed in green. She frowned upon seeing Zhu Yan’s actions: As she suspected, she was just a merchant’s daughter, completely uneducated.

Then she turned her attention to Xiao’er: ’Birds of a feather flock together’, so that woman was probably also nothing more than an unrefined merchant’s daughter.

This time, she and her mother had accompanied her father to take up his new position here. Her father was a sub-prefect of this state, a fifth-rank official, second only to the magistrate in authority here.

At this thought, Fang Wanping held her head up high in arrogance and gave Zhu Yan a contemptuous look.

Zhu Yan ignored her. This woman had been enthusiastic in chatting with her at first, but after learning that Zhu Yan’s father was a merchant, she did not want to talk to her anymore. Instead, she often gave Zhu Yan this kind of look throughout the journey.

This woman was really full of herself!

The ship soon docked, and Zhu Yan said to her father, "Father, let’s disembark quickly. Don’t keep Xiao’er waiting."

"Alright! Let’s hurry, it’s just the beginning of autumn and the sun is still blistering. Don’t let the Miss suffer in the sun!" Master Zhu was aware of Xiao’er’s status as the revered Imperial consort of the Minze dynasty, and he dared not keep her waiting.

Zhu Yan, helping her father, was about to disembark.

Fang Wanping’s maid, seeing this, shouted, "Make way! Don’t you see that my lord, his wife and Miss are about to disembark?"

Zhu Yan turned to look and wanted to say something, but Master Zhu held her sleeve and shook his head at her.

She was Jingrui’s fiancée. If they were to conflict with them now, it would only appear as if they, being traders, were bullying others because of Jingrui’s position.

If they showed forbearance now, once these people got to know Zhu Yan’s status, they would certainly regret their actions and it would be like slapping their own faces.

Master Zhu, of course, won’t let his daughter compete with the others in such a meaningless way which could lead to a bad reputation for arrogance.

They should leave such a good reputation to others! His daughter didn’t need it.

"After you, please." Master Zhu, a plump man who loved to eat, gave off the appearance of being chubby and rounded. He showed a slight smile, with an expression that wasn’t ingratiating but also not cold. He maintained a neither humble nor arrogant attitude, which hit the perfect balance.

Zhu Yan stepped aside. Although she was unwilling inside, she was also looking forward to seeing the reaction of the other party when they learnt that she was the fiancee of the Magistrate. It would be fascinating!

Even though she had been studying for many years under her father and even took charge for a while when he was seriously ill, she did not show her displeasure on her face.

Fang Wanping looked at Zhu Yan smugly.

Zhu Yan responded with a slight smile.

Let’s see how long she can remain complacent!

Fang Wanping faltered: why did her smile seem meaningful?

She must be overthinking!

She had clearly stated on the boat earlier that her family had been traders for generations, so there was no way she could compete with Fang Wanping.

The other people on the boat, seeing Fang Wanping disembarking, secretly rolled their eyes behind her back.