Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 1293: Extra - Xi’er Volume 4_1

Inside the Imperial Palace, the Emperor finally felt relieved when he heard the news that Shangguan Xuanyao had returned on time and won the contest!

"You rascal! You scared me to death! If you hadn’t returned, my Imperial Guard would have been wiped out! You’ve absolutely lost me face!"

The leader of the Imperial Guard felt a little embarrassed and lowered his head after hearing this.

He didn’t dare to say that the Emperor’s Imperial Guard had already been annihilated by the time Shangguan Xuanyao had arrived.

"By the way, how did the Seventh Prince win against the young man in white?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, the Seventh Prince was so brave, he..." The leader of the Imperial Guard vividly described how Shangguan Xuanyao defeated the young man in white!

The Emperor was delighted after hearing this: "Haha, great! Indeed, he is my own son! Now, I don’t need to arrange a royal marriage for that kid!"

The Imperial Guard replied: "Although the Seventh Prince won, he still has to win over Second Miss Shen to become the son-in-law of Marquis Shengping’s Mansion."

"What do you mean?"

The Imperial Guard explained the rules of the martial arts matchmaking event.

After hearing it, the Emperor immediately realized that this was a trap set by Xi’er!

If she did not like the final winner, she would just reject him in the last round!

It appears it was unnecessary for him to intervene! Even if he did not deploy the Imperial Guard, the second daughter of Marquis Shengping would probably not get married.

She held this martial arts matchmaking event probably to reject those who came to propose marriage!

With this thought, the Emperor felt completely relieved.

"Your Majesty, to avoid any surprises, perhaps you should authorize the marriage?" the leader of the Imperial Guard suggested softly.

"No need! If my son is not as successful as his own wife, why should he get married at all! He might just as well stay single! Hasn’t the Emperor got enough on his plate recently? I’m not going to interfere anymore!"

Of all his sons’ marriages, this youngest one was causing him the most headaches!

Once the youngest son was married, he would start going on trips with the Empress! No, not just sightseeing, they would go incognito to see how the country was being run by the brothers!

In a few more years, he would see how well they managed the nation! If it was good, he would abdicate!

Thinking about the free and easy days ahead, the Emperor couldn’t help but laugh!

The Imperial Guard said: "Given that the second daughter of the Marquis Shengping seems to be a bit unconventional, what if the Seventh Prince wins and she doesn’t keep her word?"

"Dare she!" the Emperor snorted.

But on second thought, it seemed that Xi’er was capable of doing anything!

"Forget it, I’ll authorize the marriage after all!"

Better to be safe than sorry!

On the stage:

"Miss Shen, please set the challenge!" said Shangguan Xuanyao, his eyes fixated on Xi’er at the top of the stage.

Everyone who heard Shangguan Xuanyao’s words echoed: "Miss Shen, please set the challenge! Miss Shen, please set the challenge!..."

"Miss Shen, come down and compete with him!"

"Miss Shen vs. him in composing poetry! The men above are obviously brutes who definitely can’t compose poetry."

"Miss Shen play the guqin, he certainly can’t play the guqin!"

"Miss Shen, dance! He definitely can’t dance!"

"Miss Shen, sing! He definitely can’t sing!"

...

The spectators were all throwing out their own suggestions to help Xi’er.

Everyone loved a good spectacle!

The person who ultimately wins the martial arts matchmaking event must pass Xi’er’s challenge to be successful!

What this challenge would be, was up to Xi’er!

This was a rule set by Xi’er to avoid ending up with an unbearably ugly winner that she couldn’t accept!

Xi’er glanced at Shangguan Xuanyao, this "Black Lion," and figured he was a simple-minded, brawny man.

She didn’t dare to compete with him in martial arts, and she didn’t want too many people to know that she understood venom either.

What should she compete in then?

As for the suggestions from the common people like composing poetry, she couldn’t either!

Singing and dancing, she was even worse at!

Other than martial arts and knowledge of venom, she didn’t excel at anything else!

So what should she compete in?

Xi’er’s eyes darted around: Got it!

Xi’er leaned towards her maid and gave some instructions.

The maid then left to make preparations.

Before long, a servant brought a long table onto the stage.

Another maid followed behind the servant with a tray, on which there were a couple of glasses of wine, a small bottle, a bowl, and a piece of raw meat in the bowl.

Everyone was curious about the challenge Xi’er had set.

After the servant had set up the long table, the maid placed a tray on it, she bowed to Shangguan Xuanyao: "Young Master, the challenge set by my mistress is, a test of bravery! My mistress believes that her husband cannot be a cowardly, life-fearing man, so she has deliberately set this test."

A test of bravery? How exactly is it tested? The crowd was extremely curious!

"Here are two cups of wine, one of them is poisoned, the other is a fine wine! The poisoned cup is extremely toxic, even a small touch can cause one’s intestines to rupture and death to ensue!"

The maid finished speaking and picked up a bottle from the tray, and opened it.

She first tilted the bowl, letting the crowd see the raw meat inside.

Then she poured a drop of venom into the raw meat.

As soon as the venom touched the raw meat, white bubbles began to form. In a blink of an eye, the raw meat turned into a pool of blood.

The maid poured out the bloody liquid, onto the ground!

The entire scene fell silent!

The maid looked at Shangguan Xuanyao: "Young Master, dare you to accept the challenge?"

His long beard hid Shangguan Xuanyao’s expression, Xi’er couldn’t see his face, couldn’t guess his thoughts. All she heard was his steadfast voice, without hesitation he said: "I am willing to accept the challenge!"

Hearing this, Xi’er couldn’t help but curse: "Damn! Isn’t this man afraid of death? Can’t he be scared off!"

Xi’er was uneasy! She didn’t want to marry this bearded man!

What to do?

If only the Seventh Prince was here! He would definitely help her find a way!

That jerk said he would be back soon in his letter! How come he hasn’t arrived yet?

However, having said that, Xi’er did admire the man’s courage and decisiveness!

If this man didn’t have a beard all over his face, and was handsome and dashing, she might consider it!

Unfortunately... In Xi’er’s opinion, most men grow beards because they are too ugly! That’s why they wear so much beard to cover their faces!

So, let’s forget about it!

Upon hearing Shangguan Xuanyao’s response, the maid was taken aback: didn’t the mistress say, he definitely wouldn’t dare to accept the challenge?

A normal person would dare not attempt this, right?

Is this man not normal?

The crowd that was stunned!

After hearing Shangguan Xuanyao’s words, they broke out into thunderous applause!

"You’re brave, Young Master!"

"Young Master, you indeed have courage!"

"Young Master, good luck! Hope you win the beauty!"

"Go Young Master!"

"Keep it up!"

...

Shangguan Xuanyao calmly walked to the table, glanced at the two cups of tea, then at Xi’er.

Then he boldly picked up one cup of wine, raised his head, and drank it in one gulp!

His action was swift and elegant!

Many of the onlookers were so scared that they covered their eyes with their hands!

Only after a while, they secretly uncovered their hands and took a peek!

They saw the bearded man standing there perfectly unharmed, raising his empty cup towards the direction of the Four Seasons Restaurant!

Cheers and applause erupted again!

"Congratulations, Young Master!"

"Best Wishes, Young Master!"

"Young Master, you’re amazing!"

...

Darn it! This man’s luck is too good!

Xi’er couldn’t help it, she stood up and ran out!

The maid: "Mistress, where are you going?"

"Elopement!"

"But mistress, going back on your word like this, isn’t it ungentlemanly? Won’t it disgrace the Marquis Mansion?!"

"I am not a gentleman! I am but a helpless maiden!" Xi’er didn’t care about all that!

She didn’t want to marry the bearded man!

If she doesn’t escape now, when will she!

Shangguan Xuanyao noticed Xi’er’s intention! He took a step forward, and quickly chased after her!

Xi’er, you can’t hide this time! I won you fair and square in front of everyone!

(End of Book)