Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 221 - 219

Despite how much Xiao’er didn’t want to perform, she accepted reality.

There was no need to offend the Emperor because of her reluctance, and things had not yet come to that.

"When is the Longevity Festival?" Xiao’er asked resignedly.

"At the end of November," Shangguan Xuanyi answered, giving Xiao’er a strange look.

"How come I didn’t hear about the Longevity Festival last November?" She had been in the Imperial Capital during that time as well. They were preparing to return to Shengping County around mid-November, and the Emperor’s birthday, a grand celebration, had arrived without any rumors.

"You didn’t know?" Shangguan Xuanyi looked even more surprised.

He had assumed that everyone in the dynasty knew about this grand occasion. It only happened once every five years, and all the princes from different fiefdoms would come to the capital to wish the Emperor a long life. Other countries would also send ambassadors to pay tribute. It was a grand and splendid affair.

But upon second thought, Shangguan Xuanyi realized that it was normal for Xiao’er to not know about it as she was too young during the last Longevity Festival.

"I don’t know." She was not a local, so why would she know?

So Shangguan Xuanyi simply briefed her about the Longevity Festival.

"So grand?" Xiao’er had planned just to casually play a song and get it over with, but after hearing this, she knew she couldn’t do that. It would be too perfunctory.

Seeing her frown, Shangguan Xuanyi couldn’t help but reach out and smooth her brow.

"Don’t worry, even if you just sit down and play a song, you’re still better than the rest of them."

"I have to think carefully about what I’m going to perform." Xiao’er did not believe his words and went back to her room after speaking.

She was thoroughly depressed and needed to take a nap and restore her mood.

----

Because Xiao’er was going to perform at the Longevity Festival, the family moved into the Imperial Capital earlier than planned.

With no annoying company on the trip and with Shangguan Xuanyi by her side, taking meticulous care of every detail, Xiao’er felt not merely pleased but thoroughly relaxed and not a bit fatigued from the journey.

The trip went so smoothly that they reached the Imperial Capital in just half a month.

However, as soon as they returned to the Imperial Capital, they received some disastrous news.

Shangguan Xuanhao, with Shangguan Xuanyi and Di Shaowei in tow, excitedly came to their door. "Girl, ambassadors from Japan and Korea will be attending the Longevity Festival."

"Oh." So what if they came? One or two more wouldn’t increase the number, and one or two less wouldn’t decrease it. She would perform the same way regardless.

"Girl, I know you are highly talented, stunning, clever, and extraordinarily perceptive. You have a broad vision and unparalleled intelligence..." Shangguan Xuanhao spoke word by word with a flood of endless praises.

"Stop, get to the point!" Xiao’er held up her hand to stop his tirade of accolades and thought to herself: You’re the unparalleled one!

If it hadn’t occurred to her that Shangguan Xuanyi and he were from the same family, she would definitely have added, ’your entire family is unparalleled!’

However, conscience demanded that she not curse Shangguan Xuanyi in such a manner.

"You see, you are like this..." Shangguan Xuanhao tried to curry favor with her.

"Get to the point and stop the nonsense!" freёweɓnovel.com

"Didn’t I help you sign up for this? A lot of people wanted to participate but didn’t have a chance. Look at how much I care for you, right? I really think highly of you." Shangguan Xuanhao knew from Shangguan Xuanyi that Xiao’er hated what he had done this time.

"Thanks for the honor! But no thanks!" Xiao’er sensed his bad intentions getting stronger and stronger.

"My sixth brother is like an ice block..." His words trailed off as Xiao’er responded, making it hard to continue. He eventually circled back to find a way to bring up the topic again.

Shangguan Xuanyi cast a cold glance at Shangguan Xuanhao.

"Get to the point!" She didn’t have time to listen to his nonsense. She wanted to go and see the flower field. She was curious about the current state of the flowers.

She wanted to add more flowers to it; the Longevity Festival was coming. Surely they should add some more fresh flowers to decorate the Imperial Palace, lest foreigners find it plain.

"Our father said that with so many foreign ambassadors visiting for the Longevity Festival, we simply cannot afford to be looked down upon and must entertain them well. We must prepare some unique and inventive performances to showcase our great nation’s splendor, therefore..."

"So you sold me out!" Xiao’er interrupted his forthcoming words.

"Yes!" Upon realizing what Xiao’er meant with her words, he hurriedly corrected himself: "It’s not like that. Saying that I sold you hurts feelings. I just appreciated your talents and recommended you to our father." Shangguan Xuanhao’s voice gradually faded.

The truth was Xiao’er’s gaze was too intimidating. He felt as if he was being cut to pieces by those sharp eyes!

"Don’t be like that! We never had feelings for each other in the first place! Also, I appreciate your appreciation, but really, I don’t need it, thanks!" Xiao’er practically spat those words out, seething with anger. She hated it when people made decisions for her.

Di Shaowei burst into laughter hearing Xiao’er’s words.

Shangguan Xuanhao shot him a hateful glance. These two were supposed to help him convince Xiao’er, but they hadn’t said a single word on his behalf. They’d rather mock him.

However, he still had business to deal with and thus he pleaded pitifully:

"You know, apart from having an interest in medicine, I know nothing about these matters. Moreover, all the proposals made by the Ministry of Rites have been rejected. I have no option but to trouble you. I haven’t been able to eat well or sleep well with all the pressure."

"I can’t help you either. I haven’t even figured out my own performance!" Xiao’er shrugged, implying her own powerlessness. If she went to help him, she would be the one losing sleep and appetite.

"I’ve learned that the ambassadors from other countries have prepared some performances for entertainment. The performances we prepare ourselves can’t be outdone! Otherwise, where would we put our pride and honor!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao’er furrowed her brow.

People from other countries carried programs for fun? If their true intention was to entertain, then it was fine. If not, the Longevity Festival could become a calamity.

Xiao’er glanced at Shangguan Xuanyi, and he nodded.

"Who’s in charge of security?" Xiao’er asked, and in doing so, she was also hinting something.

Shangguan Xuanyi looked at Xiao’er, full of appreciation, as she always knew how to identify the crux of the matter from tidbits of conversation.

Development ambassadors from other countries were coming to offer birthday wishes and had prepared performances for entertainment. Even if there were hidden intentions, they had to be treated warmly on the surface. After all, it was a sincere gesture, but they would need to be extremely cautious behind the scenes.

Upon hearing her words, Di Shaowei immediately laid down on the stone table and raised his hand in a resigned way, "Me, Huang Wei, and the two gentlemen from the commanding officer’s house."

"Congratulations!" Seeing his expression, Xiao’er couldn’t help but smile.

"Girl, you have no sympathy at all! I’ve been running around like a headless chicken these days. I finally got a brief respite coming here, and you’re laughing at me!"