Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 228 - 226

Shangguan Xuanyi was in the room talking to the emperor and empress. With his sharp senses, he had been keeping his attention divided, waiting for Xiao’er’s arrival.

When he heard the anxious voice of Aunt Rong coming faintly from outside, he walked out, just in time to hear her words.

"Where is that girl?" He rushed to stand in front of Aunt Rong.

Shangguan Xuanyi had never seen Aunt Rong so panicked before, and he couldn’t help but feel a wave of dread rising in his heart.

"The Meridian Gate direction. The girl went to track the Japanese envoys. They have smallpox virus on them," Aunt Rong tersely stated.

But Shangguan Xuanyi was clever and quickly caught on to what was happening. Without saying a word, he utilized his Qinggong skills and chased after them.

Along the way, he wished that he had wings so he could fly.

That girl was too bold. The Japanese were brutal and violent. The pirates raided and burned villages, committing all sorts of atrocities at the border. He couldn’t imagine what would happen to her if the Japanese envoys found out she was tracking them and discovered their secret!

What if they used the smallpox virus on her? Smallpox was incurable!

Damn it, why was the Imperial Palace so big!

Shangguan Xuanyi chased them all the way to the Meridian Gate, but he couldn’t find them.

"Did you see the Lady of Rui’an County and the Japanese envoys?" Shangguan Xuanyi grabbed a guarding soldier and asked.

A group of officials nearby saw him and saluted, but he paid them no heed.

"They both left the palace over a quarter of an hour ago."

"Which direction?"

The soldier hastily pointed out a direction.

Once again, Shangguan Xuanyi employed his Qinggong and gave chase.

The officials and guardsmen near the palace gate looked at each other in confusion. What exactly happened that made the usually composed Sixth Prince so panicked?

Soon after, Huang Wei, leading a squad of elite soldiers hurriedly arrived, "Did any of you see the Japanese envoys?"

Having witnessed the scene before, the gate guards readily pointed in a particular direction.

Huang Wei immediately led his men in that direction.

Was something significant about to happen? The onlookers wondered.

Xiao’er followed the three Japanese envoys, noting that they were heading towards the river, not the post station. She guessed their intentions; they probably planned to release the smallpox virus upstream in the river.

She couldn’t let them reach the river. That was the only thought in Xiao’er’s mind.

As it turned out, the Japanese had the same idea. The Imperial City was heavily guarded, with soldiers stationed every few steps. They decided not to risk their plan within the city and chose to find a location near a water source upstream, release the virus, and then promptly leave.

It had been a few days since they introduced the virus. Smallpox had an incubation period of about ten days, but there was no guarantee that some wouldn’t show symptoms earlier than others. In case any infected people made their way to the Imperial City and they had accidental contact with them, it would spell their doom as their own country had no cure as well.

Xiao’er approached them:

"Yoshida Shoichi, I only competed with one other gentleman at the tournament earlier, I have not competed with you. Shall we find a place and test our skills against each other?"

Upon hearing her words, the three exchanged looks. Had this girl been following them all this while?

Perhaps they were already feeling guilty about their plan, and finding someone following them put them on high alert.

Could it be possible that she had overheard their conversation and knew what they were planning to do?

But that’s impossible; they had been very careful about this mission and had only spoken in their native language on the way.

This girl was so young; there was no way she could understand their language!

However, they felt it was better to avoid any unnecessary complications.

"Perhaps another time. We have urgent matters and need to return to our country."

"It’s almost dark, there’s no need to rush this. You could be on your way tomorrow. Could it be possible that you’re afraid of losing face if you lose? Yoshida Shoichi, could it be that your title of number one is just empty talk?" Xiao’er had no choice but to provoke them.

No matter if they were willing or not, they would have to compete! If they didn’t want to, they’d still have to!

She needed an excuse to disable them one by one.

As Japan’s top warrior, Yoshida Shoichi couldn’t stand such provocations, especially when they came from a young girl!

Just as Yoshida Shoichi was about to accept the challenge, the Japanese envoy pulled him back.

"We’re in a hurry, we must leave!" The Japanese envoy felt a bit uneasy, he grabbed the other two men and tried to take off.

Yoshida Shoichi was completely enraged by her words, and despite the other two men trying to hold him back, he charged towards Xiao’er.

This little runt, daring to show off in front of him!

With one hand, he could throw her out of the city!

Xiao’er knew that all three of the Japanese envoys carried the source of the smallpox virus on them, hidden in bottles tucked inside their clothes.

She had to secure the three bottles of smallpox virus first. After that, catching the three men would be comparatively easy.

Otherwise, if any of them got desperate and decided to release the virus, the situation could turn disastrous!

Thanks to her photographic memory, she remembered some information about smallpox which she perused unintentionally on the internet in her previous life. She knew that the smallpox virus reproduced quickly and could spread through the air at an astonishing speed.

If approximately 3000 people were infected with smallpox in one U.S. state, the virus would spread across the country within twelve days, infecting millions!

Yoshida Shoichi lifted Xiao’er with one hand, and Xiao’er, in response, grabbed his clothes but was thrown away before she could take anything.

Her original plan was to grip his shirt as he lifted her, reach into his clothes, and take what she could. But his strength was simply too great! Her small stature didn’t provide her with enough force, and Xiao’er was thrown to the ground. The fall hurt so much that she grimaced in pain.

One more time! Wincing from the pain, she quickly rose to her feet and rushed towards him.

"Ha! Courting death!" Yoshida Shoichi sneered when he saw her coming at him again.

This girl had caused them great humiliation in front of so many people. Now that she was asking for it, it would be completely justified if he happened to kill her accidentally!

As Xiao’er charged towards him, he once again grabbed her clothes with one hand, intending to throw her onto a large rock at the distance.

Xiao’er, in turn, grabbed his clothes tighter and bit down hard on his arm. At the same time, she slipped a hand into his clothes and successfully snagged one of the bottles of the virus.

Yoshida Shoichi didn’t notice her movements due to the unexpected pain in his arm. He exerted even more force and threw Xiao’er away.

While she was being thrown, Xiao’er grabbed the clothes of one of the Japanese envoys and pulled him towards her. It hurt so much that she needed someone to cushion her fall.

The Japanese envoy wasn’t a martial artist and was rather feeble. He was easily pulled down by Xiao’er and ended up being her human cushion.

Xiao’er landed hard on him, so hard that it took his breath away for a moment.

"Oops, sorry, are you okay? I didn’t mean to. It was just a reflex," Xiao’er quickly stood up and moved her hands over him. In the pretense, she managed to snatch another bottle of the virus.