Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 990 - 988_1

Chapter 990: Chapter 988_1

Ming Jingya was feeling some regret. She should’ve trusted her intuition and stormed out earlier.

Di Shaowei looked at Xiao’er, his eyes filled with reproach: How could you say such things out loud!

Xiao’er gestured dismissively. "Brother Di misunderstood. That girl was there that day too! She saw everything! It wasn’t really my fault! "

"So, you lack restraint, and now you want to shift the blame onto others?" Shangguan Xuanyi retorted sarcastically.

Lack... of... restraint?!

Since when was it indecent for him to kiss his own wife!

"Shangguan Xuanyi, let’s step outside and have a friendly chat!" This man deserved a good thrashing for his foul mouth! Without giving Shangguan Xuanyi a good beating, Di Shaowei felt unable to swallow his anger!

Having not seen each other for a year, Shangguan Xuanyi was curious about Di Shaowei’s martial arts progress!

Watching the two men who were enthusiastically fighting outside the courtyard, Xi’er, realizing belatedly, asked, "Sister Xiao’er, did I say something wrong?"

Xiao’er nodded, "You’re just realizing this now? Didn’t I say before, ’understood but don’t expose’?"

"But I felt like sister also wanted to say these things out loud? Plus, I was answering my brother-in-law’s question! I couldn’t just ignore or lie to him! That would be so impolite and dishonest, don’t you think?" Xi’er earnestly explained.

Xiao’er felt a bead of sweat forming on her forehead. Did she really make it that obvious? Even a ten-year-old maid like Xi’er could tell! Was this maid too sensitive?

Mrs. Liu didn’t know how to discipline her daughter! Sometimes she was too precocious, and sometimes she said things that drove people mad!

"Don’t blurt out just anything!" Mrs. Liu gave Xi’er a warning look. She would punish her when they returned.

Xi’er pouted and stopped talking. It seemed that honesty wasn’t always appreciated. Good people always got the short end of the stick!

Ming Jingya had actually gotten used to Xiao’er’s occasional teasing. Having not seen her for over a year, she’d momentarily forgotten how to react. Now she had gathered her wits, realizing she had to divert the conversation from this awkward topic quickly!

"Xi’er, why don’t you take Xiaoxiao to go play outside? Teach her about the different types of fish, okay?" Ming Jingya suggested before instructing the maid holding Xiaoxiao. "Take care of them both and don’t let them fall into the fish tank!"

Upon hearing this, Xi’er looked displeased. Wasn’t that underestimating her intelligence?

"Sister Jingya, we won’t fall into the fish tank! I can even teach Xiaoxiao to recognize all the fish in there! Don’t worry, if Xiaoxiao does fall in, I can fish her out! I know how to swim, you can relax!"

Ming Jingya felt a little regretful after hearing this: Why did I suggest Xi’er teach Xiaoxiao about fish? Seems like I brought this worry upon myself!

Listening to this, Xiao’er couldn’t help but ask, "Are you sure the fish tank is big enough for you to swim in?"

Xi’er: "..."

It took Xi’er a second to recover before she responded, "Even without swimming, I can still get Xiaoxiao out!"

Ming Jingya: "..."

Can’t her Xiaoxiao stay away from the fish tank? Does she really have to be fished out?!

"Alright, Xiaoxiao let’s go. Aunt Xi’er will take you to see the fish!" Xi’er no longer insisted on holding Xiaoxiao and headed towards her.

Ming Jingya, worried that Xi’er might throw Xiaoxiao into the fish tank to "teach her about fishes", quickly stopped her: "Xi’er, let Yingluo hold Xiaoxiao! She’s grown bigger now and is quite heavy!"

Xi’er looked at the chubby Xiaoxiao, who was indeed cute, but there was nothing gorgeous about her. Consequently, she didn’t insist on holding her anymore: "Well, let’s go then!"

"Take good care of lady Xiaoxiao. Do not let her fall into the fish tank!" Ming Jingya reiterated to her maid.

Mrs. Liu also didn’t trust her daughter, "Xi’er, don’t let Xiaoxiao get too close to the fish tank!"

"I got it!" Xi’er replied without looking back as she walked out of the door.

"Brother Di, Sister Yan, let’s continue the rehearsal. We can dine after we’re done!"

Ming Jingya, unfamiliar with the term rehearsal, inquired, "What’s a rehearsal?"

Xiao’er briefly explained a wedding ceremony that combined Eastern and Western elements. Although Ming Jingya didn’t fully understand, she was satisfied that it would still involve the traditional Chinese wedding rite of bowing to Heaven and Earth.

"Sister Ming, sit here and watch. Then give us some feedback." Xiao’er pointed to a seat and asked her to sit.

By then, Di Shaowei and Shangguan Xuanyi had returned from their "friendly chat", with Di Shaowei looking somewhat unsteady on his feet.

Di Shaowei felt extremely aggrieved! Shangguan Xuanyi was absurdly good at martial arts. Although he was known as a martial arts prodigy and had made great progress in the past year, he’d still ended up on the receiving end of a beating!

He almost had internal injuries, not from the fight, but from holding in his frustration and dissatisfaction!

Xiao’er knew this would be the outcome from the very beginning. She tossed Di Shaowei a pain-relief pill and signaled both men to sit down.

Jingrui and Zhu Yan nervously walked to their designated positions.

The music began, and Zhu Yan, arm in arm with her father, slowly walked forward...

...

After reciting their vows, the couple exchanged rings.

Throughout the ceremony, Jingrui and Zhu Yan were incredibly serious and solemn.

When it was all over, Xiao’er asked Ming Jingya what she thought of this kind of wedding ceremony.

"Very dignified, very serious, very touching! It feels like they are making a very significant promise to each other!" It made her want to get married again, to have Di Shaowei make such promises to her.

Though that was one sentiment she was too embarrassed to voice out!

"Do you think people would want to have this kind of wedding?"

"Yes, I would! Since we had to perform the ancestral rites at home anyhow, adding one more ceremony doesn’t mean we’re disrespecting our elders! Plus, it’s such a touching scene! The bride wouldn’t have to sit alone in the bridal chamber. She could be on the female guests’ side to welcome guests, which is nice!"

"I also think it’s not bad. This kind of wedding should soon become popular. Xiao’er, you sure have many crazy ideas!" Di Shaowei also voiced his opinion.

"If this wedding manages to attract a lot of guests, I have even more creative wedding concepts! We can set up the wedding venue on a pasture, or even on a large boat!"

"Set up on a boat?" Ming Jingya was moved and excited just pondering the idea.

"Yes! Host a wedding on a large boat, while inviting guests to tour the riverside or seashore scenery. "

Upon hearing this, Yun’er also wanted to have her wedding in this manner. However, she was to marry into the royal family of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, so this was not a possibility.

After the rehearsal was over, it was time to sample the dishes. Di Shaowei stared at dish after dish of new cuisines on the table, almost drooling, "Xiao’er, why didn’t I have this kind of wedding or these types of dishes when I got married?"

"I didn’t think of these things back then! It was only after my trip south that I gained this inspiration!" Of course it wasn’t just the trip south that made Xiao’er think of these ideas. She simply felt the time wasn’t right then!

Now that many girls liked clothes with a hint of Western elements, Xiao’er felt that it was the right time!