Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 222 - 220

"I believe Brother Di can absolutely handle this minor matter."

"Young lady~," Shangguan Xuanhao, seeing Xiao’er’s attention was entirely drawn to Di Shaowei, called out pitifully.

Xiao’er got goosebumps all over her body from this cloying voice. She didn’t expect this man to have such potential to be a gigolo.

The other two also looked at him with a bit of discomfort. This man really would resort to any means for his aim.

"Young lady~," Shangguan Xuanhao called out again.

Xiao’er shivered from hearing it, couldn’t stand it any longer: "Stop calling, isn’t it enough that I agree!"

If he keeps calling her like this, she’ll have nightmares.

"No need to force yourself, you’re not obligated!" Shangguan Xuanyi saw his emperor brother pressuring her and wasn’t happy about it.

Hearing these words, Shangguan Xuanhao was so angry that he almost fell over backward. This man is a bridge-burner! Not helping a brother in trouble, he will remember this. For now, the most important thing to do is to win over Xiao’er.

"Young lady, thank you, I knew you were the best. So, I’ll have to ask you to take care of preparations for the welcoming ceremony and talent show for this Longevity Festival," Shangguan Xuanhao decided that in the future, he would prioritize Xiao’er in any good things. At critical moments, his sister-in-law was more reliable. As for relying on those out-of-touch people from the Ministry of Rites, Minze Country could embarrass themselves as far as Japan!

As for his younger brother, well, boys are extroverted, forget their mothers after getting married and forget their brothers even more! It’s better not to mention it at all.

"It’s fine. I actually have some ideas, why don’t we discuss them?" Xiao’er would never reject a request from a friend that she could help with. She was just teasing Shangguan Xuanhao just now.

"Whatever difficulties you encounter you can just bring them up. It doesn’t matter if you can’t handle it, those people from the Ministry of Rites also can’t draw a salary for doing nothing!" Shangguan Xuanyi didn’t say anything else when he heard Xiao’er say this.

Shangguan Xuanhao, hearing Xiao’er’s words, had a spark in his eyes!

"Quick, quickly share what you’re thinking?"

"Don’t rush. Before I say it, I need to understand the situation?"

Xiao’er then asked where the venue of this performance was, how big it was, how many delegations had prepared programs, and whether the performance time was during the dining time or there was a separate time for it.

Shangguan Xuanhao answered all of them one by one.

"Do you think Japan and Korea’s coming this time is just to congratulate the birthday or there are other intentions?" Xiao’er thought for a while and asked.

"Probably they heard about the consecutive natural disasters in our country a few years ago, the people living in dire straights, and they want to make trouble!" Di Shaowei was disgusted with these people to the bone.

Recently, hearing that the activities of pirates were frequent, his father has already submitted a letter, planning to lead the army to give them a profound lesson after the year!

Three days without beating they’d cause havoc!

"Hmph! The weasel paying a New Year call to the chicken, it’s not well-intentioned!" Shangguan Xuanhao huffed coldly.

"Who are you calling a chicken!" Xiao’er couldn’t help joking.

"I... misspoke in the heat of the moment!" Shangguan Xuanhao gave Xiao’er an aggrieved look.

Xiao’er couldn’t help but get goosebumps again. Shangguan Xuanhao definitely took some wrong medicine today! He was not normal!

"The birthday wishes are fake, the real intention is to probe!" Shangguan Xuanyi slowly uttered.

Xiao’er kept silent for a while, then she shared her thoughts.

...

"Good, this is the style of a great world power." Shangguan Xuanhao listened and praised.

"Just hearing you speak makes me look forward to it. In the past, I used to doze off at such occasions. I bet this year, even my eyes won’t be enough to see it all!" Di Shaowei also didn’t hold back his praises.

"Good." Shangguan Xuanyi listened and the sparkle in his eyes couldn’t be concealed. He obviously also thought it was very good!

Xiao’er, seeing that they all thought it was good, happily said: "Then it’s settled! We must try our best to select people tomorrow, and then conduct concentrated training. We don’t have much time left."

The three of them nodded.

"I will come to fetch you tomorrow morning. What time shall we set off?" Shangguan Xuanyi tenderly looked at Xiao’er, who was radiating confidence. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

It was still late summer, the days still began early and ended late.

Xiao’er thought for a while and then said, "At the start of Mao hour, perhaps!"

Hearing this, Shangguan Xuanyi furrowed his brows. That was too early a start. After all, she was still growing and waking up too early would not be beneficial to her health.

"How about the end of Mao hour? Waking up early is not good for your health!"

The end of Mao hour is around seven in the morning. Setting off at seven, the meal would have gone cold!

"I usually get up at the end of Yin hour. So, let’s stick with the start of Mao hour!"

"Alright, it’s settled then!" Shangguan Xuanhao decided once and for all. He had no choice, Shangguan Xuanyi was unreliable! Setting off when the sun was already high in the sky would mean they’d spend the whole day traveling instead of doing anything else!

In the following days, Xiao’er started to leave the house before dawn and only returned when it was dark. Shangguan Xuanyi accompanied her every day, his heart aching at the sight of her face growing increasingly thin. He showed his displeasure towards Shangguan Xuanhao.

Shangguan Xuanhao didn’t mind him, usually, he also displayed a similar cold expression.

By the time Xiao’er’s plump cheeks became sharp and her fair skin turned a wheat color, the Longevity Festival was finally about to arrive.

All the royal princes and imperial officials who came to greet the Emperor in the Imperial City arrived days in advance.

Even the ambassadors from other countries had arrived a day or two in advance.

The streets in the Imperial City were heavily guarded, with soldiers stationed every three steps and sentries every five steps.

That was only what could be seen on the surface. More guards were hidden in the shadows.

In this serious atmosphere, petty thieves did not dare show their faces.

However, the local people of the Imperial City were accustomed to this and did not stay indoors out of fear of offending nobles.

In fact, at this time, even if a commoner offended a noble, the noble would try to overlook it as much as possible.

The Emperor had issued an amnesty for the whole Empire, so who would dare to keep holding on to past grudges!

One sunny day, the gate of the Forbidden City was wide open to welcome the ministers.

The ministers were expected to queue up for admission to the palace according to their ranks before Yin hour.

The long procession had to be subjected to a routine inspection before entering the palace, and it took four hours to complete the inspection of all officials and their wives.

Under the guidance of Xiao Fuzi who was carrying a token, Xiao’er and Shen Chengyao walked the green pathway all the way.

Xiao Fuzi directly led the two to their seats, then immediately a maid brought up a tray of food.

"This was specially prepared by my master. County Lady and Marquis, please eat something to fill your stomachs. There’s still a long time before the royal banquet begins!" Xiao Fuzi looked at the maid who neatly laid out the food and spoke.

Xiao’er glanced at the tables of other officials. They all had some food laid out, but only pastries and other snacks that weren’t hot.

The food in front of her was still steaming hot, attesting to Shangguan Xuanyi’s thoughtfulness.

"Thank your master for me." Xiao’er felt her heart warming up like the food in front of her at that moment.

"Alright, Lady and Marquis, please hurry and eat! The food needs to be cleared before the Emperor arrives. I’ll leave you to it." Xiao Fuzi then withdrew.

Shen Chengyao and Xiao’er nodded and then began to eat.

The food comprised of all of Xiao’er’s favorites and it tasted really good.

Many saw this scene and filled with different emotions – admiration, jealousy, surprise... the list went on.