Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 965 - 963_1

Chapter 965: Chapter 963_1

After getting up and eating, Xiao’er returned to the cabin to paint a picture.

Upon viewing it, Shangguan Xuanyi instantly understood her plan!

Xiao’er wasn’t drawing flowers, birds, fish, or insects; she was painting the scene when she was searched at the city gate.

"What was Gong Qinghua’s face like at that time, Brother Shangguan? Show me," Xiao’er lifted her head to look at Shangguan Xuanyi, who stood behind her watching her paint, and asked.

She didn’t dare to look at him directly at the time. She only saw his silhouette in her peripheral vision and knew he had noticed her.

Shangguan Xuanyi had also been paying attention to Gong Qinghua’s actions at the time, worrying that he might recognize Xiao’er. Naturally, he had a clear view of Gong Qinghua’s expressions and right away, he mimicked them, showing distaste on his face.

Xiao’er, looking at Shangguan Xuanyi’s face full of disgust, paused - how dare he bear such an expression! Knowing he was mimicking Gong Qinghua’s expression then, she couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch his cheeks, declaring dominantly, "You’re not allowed to look at me like that."

Shangguan Xuanyi’s expressions have always been doting when he looked at her. This disgusted expression was truly unbearable for Xiao’er!

Helplessly, Shangguan Xuanyi’s face was deformed by Xiao’er’s tiny hands, managing to speak unclearly, "That was Gong Qinghua’s expression, I was just copying him."

Xiao’er released her hands and coldly huffed, "Don’t imitate him again!"

Shangguan Xuanyi: "..." Wasn’t it at her request?

Thinking about Gong Qinghua’s disgusted face when looking at Xiao’er, Shangguan Xuanyi inexplicably felt it should be that way. He wished that the whole universe of men would view Xiao’er with that same disgusted expression, but unfortunately the world didn’t operate in his favor. Most men were astonishingly captivated by her, unable to look away.

Really wish she would disguise herself as an old woman every day!

Xiao’er imagined what Gong Qinghua’s disgusted face likely looked like then began to paint it. It wasn’t until the sun set that she finished her painting.

"Brother Shangguan, take this painting to Gong Qinghua in a couple of days. Let him be busy for a while before he realizes we escaped right under his nose, that’ll definitely infuriate him!"

Shangguan Xuanyi nodded in agreement.

"It’s a pity we can’t see Gong Qinghua’s angry face in person, it must be adorable!" Xiao’er shook her slightly sore hand and proposed playfully.

Shangguan Xuanyi reached out and ruffled her hair, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Gong Qinghua would surely be furious, after all, they were challenging his royal dignity and face!

The realism in Xiao’er paintings need not even be discussed, it’s just like a black and white photograph! Gong Qinghua would not receive it until half a month later.

Gong Qinghua was initially amazed at the skill of the artist when he saw the painting! However, the moment he understood what was being conveyed in the picture, his face became enveloped in dark clouds. In his fury, he tore the entire painting into pieces!

He had kept watch daily over people entering and leaving the city gate to catch them, but he never imagined they’d flagrantly escaped under his watch on the very first morning!

In recent days, he distinctly noticed some ministers expressing their opinions on the search for Princess Xuan and her worldly son. However, out of fear for his reputation, they could only express their fury in silence!

He thought he had laid an inescapable net, making it impossible for them to escape even with wings!

But the least likely suspect turned out to be his heart’s one true longing!

This was a great humiliation, a blatant slap to his face!

They surely felt quite smug at the time!

They were probably laughing at him for being such a fool!

Thinking about how he was made a fool of, Gong Qinghua was so infuriated that he wanted to immediately hunt them down and kill them.

The exalted ruler of a nation, so openly challenged and ridiculed, Gong Qinghua simply couldn’t contain his anger, sweeping everything off his desk in a rage.

The maid and eunuch serving at the side almost fainted in fear, they immediately lowered their heads, diminishing their presence, not daring to breathe heavily.

They wondered what could possibly have been painted that made His Majesty so angry!

Gong Qinghua was livid for a good half a month, everyone was cautious around him, which only made him even angrier!

.....

The boat moved north, a month came and went, and Xiao’er and her companions switched to travelling by land.

The Zhu family had purchased a house in the Imperial City long ago. Zhu Yan was marrying out directly from the Imperial City, otherwise, Jingrui’s vacation wouldn’t be enough. If they went to Shengping County for the wedding, it would take two months to go back and forth, there certainly wouldn’t be enough time.

When they returned to the Imperial City, Yangchun March had ended, and it was now a beautiful April.

Having been away from the Imperial City for a year, they returned. Instead of going back to Wang Mansion, they went straight to the palace to report.

The Emperor looked at his two unsentimental and unfilial sons, puffing up his beard and glaring at them. If Shangguan Ruixi and Shangguan Wanru weren’t present, he would have burst out swearing!

As for the merits of handling the earthquake, the Emperor expressed that several months had passed and he had long forgotten about it! All he knew was that on Lunar New Year’s Eve, the family wasn’t able to have a reunion dinner together!

The Empress Dowager mentioned this countless times in front of him! His ears were practically callused!

Thinking of the Empress Dowager’s nagging, the Emperor immediately waved them away, "You guys should go and pay your respects to your Empress Dowager and Empress. The Empress Dowager has been thinking about you!"

Hearing this, Xiao’er sullenly wondered if the Empress Dowager had been harbouring a year’s worth of anger and was just waiting to vent it on her!

She really didn’t want to pay her respects, but in this world, even the Emperor had to pay his respects daily, let alone a little queen like her!

Shangguan Xuanyi knew what Xiao’er was thinking. He squeezed her hand and reassured her that he would not let her suffer any grievances.

They arrived at Cining Palace to pay their respects. The Empress and Princess An had received news that they would return today, so both were waiting in Cining Palace, eager to see their children as soon as possible.

Once the formalities were completed, the Empress Dowager could see her two grandsons looking weary but finally consented to being seated.

As the four of them sat down, the Empress Dowager looked at Xiao’er’s belly. She had been out for a year and was still not pregnant. Among her grandchildren, besides the underage Seventh Prince, who didn’t have children yet? It was only Shangguan Xuanyi!

The Empress Dowager asked discontentedly, "Princess Rui, is there still no sign of life in your belly?"

Just as Xiao’er was about to speak, Shangguan Xuanyi put a hand on hers, signaling her not to say anything. He would speak.

"Imperial Grandmother, it’s because I didn’t want to have children so soon. As the saying goes, pregnancy lasts ten months. We were after all, out and about. If we were to conceive, it wouldn’t be suitable to travel. If we were to give birth outside and then return, that wouldn’t be right either. The child wouldn’t be able to travel long distances right after birth, so we wouldn’t be able to go home for over a year. That’s why I thought we could wait to plan for children once we got back."

This was the longest speech the Empress Dowager had ever heard from Shangguan Xuanyi! But it was entirely for the sake of coming to another woman’s defence!

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.