Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 958 - 956_1

Chapter 958: Chapter 956_1

Xiao’er curtsied to Shangguan Wanru, then sneakily took a glance at her. She looked slenderer than their last meeting, with faint shadows under her eyes, indicating that she had also been having trouble eating and sleeping lately.

When had the once lively and energetic her started sitting quietly, sewing clothes?

Indeed, life could drastically alter a person’s character.

Shangguan Wanru looked up and saw her, then waved at her. "Ziwan, your needlework is good. You come and help make the Crown Prince’s gown," she said.

Xiao’er, on hearing this, walked over.

Shangguan Wanru observed Xiao’er’s posture as she moved and subtly furrowed her brows. Ziwan normally didn’t possess such a poised and elegant gait.

Then she seemingly casually glanced at Xiao’er’s hand: this was not Ziwan’s hand!

Ziwan’s fingers weren’t so beautiful! Shangguan Wanru’s heart raced. Who was this? Why was she impersonating Ziwan, and moreover, her appearance was impeccable!

If she hadn’t been familiar with Ziwan’s hand from watching her sew, she wouldn’t have noticed! Shangguan Wanru subtly picked up the scissors from the basket, pretending to trim fabric pieces.

Xiao’er caught Shangguan Wanru’s subtle changes, unsure of whom in the room she could trust and who she couldn’t. Hence she couldn’t directly confirm her identity with Shangguan Wanru.

She absolutely couldn’t expose her true identity in front of the two maids! Rapidly, Xiao’er thought of a plan in her mind.

She went to Shangguan Wanru’s side and suddenly she noticed the bracelet she had once given Shangguan Wanru, and she got an idea!

She wore a jade pendant gifted by Shangguan Wanru, and a moment ago had noticed a similar looking pendant on the maid— Ziwan.

She could use it as an excuse to reveal her jade pendant, then surely Shangguan Wanru’s maids wouldn’t suspect.

Xiao’er took out the pendant, clenched it in her fist, deliberately blocking the maids’ view and said in a hushed tone, "Princess, if I finish the young master’s clothes, may I ask for a favor? I’d like some silk threads to tie a talisman knot to go along with this jade pendant."

Once Xiao’er finished speaking, she opened her palm revealing the jade pendant, making sure that Shangguan Wanru saw it clearly. Then, pretending to be shy, she lowered her head and put the pendant away.

Shangguan Wanru noticed the pendant and her pupils constricted. Wasn’t this the pendant she gave Xiao’er?! She was so agitated that she almost cut her own finger with the scissors.

Seeing this imminent danger, Xiao’er instantly grabbed her hand, avoiding the potential injury.

Their heads were quite close at this moment. In a low voice only audible to the two of them, Xiao’er cautioned, "Princess, be careful."

Upon hearing this familiar voice and experiencing the soft touch on the back of her hand, tears filled Shangguan Wanru’s eyes.

Xiao’er was here!

Always clever, she quickly composed herself, making sure her voice didn’t waver before responding, "It’s just some silk thread, choose whatever you like! But you’d have to finish the Crown Prince’s clothes first! Otherwise, I won’t give you anything. Come and sit here to start sewing, the fabric has been cut."

"Thank you, Princess!" After expressing her gratitude, Xiao’er sat down and picked up the pre-cut pieces to start sewing.

Observing Xiao’er’s hands again, Shangguan Wanru was even more convinced it was Xiao’er. But how hadn’t her hands changed in all these years, still so tender and surprisingly soft?

For a while, the room grew quiet with only two maids sewing. Shangguan Wanru waited a bit, then finally spoke, "Yan Zi, go and check if the bird’s nest soup is ready. Zixin, go and see if the Crown Prince is awake. If he is, bring him here with the wet nurse."

The two maids bowed and left.

Once both maids had left, leaving only the two of them in the room, Shangguan Wanru finally spoke, "Xiao’er!"

This time, tears welled up in Shangguan Wanru’s eyes. God only knew how much she had wanted to cry these past days, but she couldn’t show her vulnerability. She had lots to say but didn’t know how to articulate it, so she simply called Xiao’er’s name.

Xiao’er knew that Shangguan Wanru had not been well lately, but this was not the time for reminiscing, so she whispered only loud enough for both of them to hear, "Princess, Brother Shangguan, the Crown Prince, and I are all here, we plan to bring you away."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Wanru hesitated. She didn’t want to leave. If she returned to Minze Country with her son now, everything she had built would be lost. She wanted to take back all that rightfully belonged to her son and also avenge her husband.

"Xiao’er, I don’t want to go. I want to avenge the Crown Prince," she said.

Xiao’er noticed Shangguan Wanru’s hesitation and her discontent. If she herself had experienced what Shangguan Wanru did, she would definitely destroy the entire Nangong Country!

But only if she had adequate power to do so!

Hence, Xiao’er advised, "Revenge is possible! But killing Gong Qinghua isn’t that easy. The reign of Nangong Country has been established, and Gong Qinghua has justifiably ascended the throne, inheriting all the military power of Nangong Country! In addition to his overt power, there is untold covert strength that you can’t imagine. If you try to assassinate him now, it would be a blatant rebellion! If you fail, he can justifiably eradicate you and your son! Moreover, are you sure your infantry, manpower, and resources can compete with the entire resources of Nangong Country? Besides, have we found any evidence of the Crown Prince’s death? If we find it, we can use it as an excuse to stand up for you!"

After listening to Xiao’er, Shangguan Wanru fell silent. She was well aware of these facts, but couldn’t come to terms with it: "If I leave Nangong Country, the ministers who previously supported the Crown Prince might end up in a miserable state, or I could entirely lose their support."

"Even if you don’t leave, Gong Qinghua has become the Emperor, and they won’t have good standings. If you insist on staying in the Nangong Country, you and the Crown Prince might end up in a worse situation. Your every move is now being monitored, what do you think you can still do? To me, it seems better to leave. As long as we are alive, there are endless possibilities. We don’t have much time left, consider it properly! We got here disguised as purchasers for the Wang Mansion, otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to enter!"

Just then, one of the maids returned with the bird’s nest soup, so Xiao’er stopped speaking.

Shangguan Wanru felt torn, unable to decide whether to go or stay.

Xiao’er didn’t rush her but remained worried about Shangguan Xuanyi and Shangguan Ruixi, wondering what they were doing right now.

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