Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 244 - 242

"Could Consort Yang have been saved by the First Prince? Isn’t it said that the most dangerous place is the safest? Could she have gone to Puning Temple with the First Prince?" Mrs. Liu was mulling obsessively.

Xiao’er shook her head: "I don’t know. Why are you so concerned about them?"

"How could I not care? Consort Yang, with whom we had no feud from the past nor resent in the present, tried to entrap our family. Of course, I hope for such a spiteful person to be caught soon, otherwise, it’s too risky for her to be out there!" She was almost fainting from terror after hearing the First Prince defamation towards their family in the palace.

Xiao’er couldn’t help but laugh and cry hearing this. If Consort Yang were to see them now, she would first and foremost seek to avoid them! At present, she could only take care of her own safety with no time or energy to harm others.

"We blocked their way." Xiao’er remembered what Shangguan Xuanyi had said and thus, explained.

"Blocked what way?" Mrs. Liu asked, puzzled.

"Brother Shangguan told me that the First Prince also wanted to ask for the Emperor’s decree to take me as his concubine."

"What?! Luckily, the Emperor has appointed you to the Sixth Prince." Upon hearing this, Mrs. Liu was taken aback. They were already unhappy that Xiao’er was marrying the Sixth Prince. Despite the Sixth Prince being a good man, his family was too influential, and their daughter probably wouldn’t be able to hold her own, over there!

After hearing this, she now felt extremely lucky! If Xiao’er married the First Prince, even falling into eighteen layers of hell wouldn’t encapsulate the tragedy!

"Why does the First Prince want to take you as his concubine?" Mrs. Liu had already heard from others that the First Prince wanted to marry Li Yunning.

"Because Sister can make money!" Yun’er pointed out bluntly. freewёbnoνel.com

Mrs. Liu: "..."

Since when did the ability to make money become a factor in selecting a wife?!

This First Prince wanted to forge alliances and amass wealth simultaneously. His ambitious intentions, akin to Sima Zhao, were plain for everyone to see! The Emperor is still young!

His petty mindset doesn’t allow for others to possess what he can’t obtain himself!

After understanding the situation, Mrs. Liu shook her head and sighed! It was fortunate! Very fortunate, that Xiao’er wasn’t promised to the First Prince!

Lantern Festival on the 15th of the first lunar month

Shangguan Xuanyi had made a pact with Xiao’er to take her out for the festivities on this day.

He arrived early in the morning at Marquis Shengping’s mansion to pick up Xiao’er, Yun’er, and his three brothers.

During the Lantern Festival, aside from evening activities such as lantern displays, lantern riddles, fireworks, drama performances, and songs and dances, there were horse racing activities at the royal horse racing field during the day.

The Minze Dynasty advocated for sports, hence throughout the year there were several sports-related competitions held, such as horse racing, cuju (a type of football), dragon boat races, bicycle races, and even hunting competitions!

Every three years, they also organized a martial arts competition.

The first competition of the New Year was horse racing.

This horse racing event catered specifically to the sons and daughters of the Imperial Capital aged between ten and twenty.

Xiao’er knew beforehand that they were going to attend a horse race today. She was so excited last night that she could hardly sleep.

When they arrived at the horse racing field, Di Shaowei, Shangguan Xuanhao, Shangguan Xuanjun, Lai Zhemin, and Lai Zhewei had all arrived already.

"Why are you guys so slow? It’s about to start!" Di Shaowei had been waiting for them for a long time.

"If we’re any later, all the good horses are going to be picked!" Shangguan Xuanhao couldn’t help but complain.

This competition includes both individual and team races.

The individual races are divided into male and female teams, while the team competitions are mixed-gender.

The horses to be raced are all provided by the royal horse-racing field, and it is stipulated that the competing athletes themselves must personally choose their horses.

Xiao’er gave him a look, "Hasn’t it not even started yet? What’s the hurry?"

"Do you think everyone really waits until it starts to choose their horses? Isn’t everyone already looking now, ready to go directly and lead away their selected horses once it begins! If you wait until it starts and then slowly pick, all the good horses will have been taken away! Come! I’ll tell you which good horses I’ve set my eyes on!" After speaking, Shangguan Xuanhao wanted to pull Xiao’er forward.

Shangguan Xuanyi glared at him once, taking the initiative to hold Xiao’er’s hand.

"Stingy!" Wasn’t he simply treating Xiao’er as a non-outsider or a little sister that he hadn’t noticed! Shangguan Xuanhao mimicked the look Xiao’er had previously given, glaring at Shangguan Xuanyi.

Di Shaowei silently laughed on the side, he had long grown accustomed to this and learned to mind his manners.

The stables were kept at a distance, but everyone could still see the tall horses inside.

Although they could not look in detail, anyone familiar with horses could choose a good horse based on the overall vigor and spirit of the horse.

"Girl, what do you think about that jujube-red horse over there? That horse won’t be too tall or robust, it should be the most suitable for you to ride with your small frame." Shangguan Xuanhao pointed to the only red horse among the row of black and white horses.

The horses in this row were not too big in size, it seemed they were specially prepared for women.

"Girl, I also think that’s a good choice, you’re the shortest among them, this horse should be the best for you." Di Shaowei chimed in.

Earlier, they had already gotten a good look at the horses in the stables, understanding which ones were good and which ones not so much.

After hearing the two of them saying ’small frame’ and ’shortest’, Xiao’er’s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot!

"No way!"

Shangguan Xuanyi amusingly watched her rare, puffed-cheeked face, unable to resist ruffling her hair.

Whenever she was called short, this girl would always get unhappy.

"This young lady, the horse in question is the best among those prepared for you ladies. Don’t judge this horse by its size, sure it may be the shortest among the horses, but a thorough look over its spirit clearly shows that it is absolutely a good horse. My golden eyesight won’t make a mistake!" Shangguan Xuanhao said in a tone suggesting that she didn’t know a good thing, trying to suppress his laughter.

Xiao’er glared fiercely at Shangguan Xuanhao, not even blinking her eyes! This rascal must be doing this on purpose! What similarities between her and the smallest horse!

"Girl, I am kindly helping you choose a horse! Why are you giving me that deadly look! Close those cow eyes of yours quickly!" Shangguan Xuanhao, tapping his chest, was genuinely scared.

"If you dare to utter another word about my appearance or figure being not good, I will poison your filthy mouth and blind your dog eyes!" Xiao’er threatened viciously.

"Shangguan Xuanyi, control your woman, she’s even daring to commit insubordination now." Shangguan Xuanhao put on a fierce face.

Shangguan Xuanyi pulled Xiao’er to his side, "Ignore him, I’ll help you choose. How about the second horse in the third stall on the left? That horse is the most attractive."

Xiao’er took a look, her temper vanished, it would be better if she just sat and watched the race.

"Pfft! Ha ha, what kind of horse did you choose, it’s the weakest one!" Upon counting and discovering that the horse Shangguan Xuanyi had picked was so laughable, Shangguan Xuanhao couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

That horse was simply the worst of the lot! It merely looked good, but probably could only walk the remaining distance after running half of the race.

"I’ll choose my horse myself, without your help! Brother Di, is it obligatory for a woman to choose her horse from the line-up in these stables?" Xiao’er couldn’t help but look over at the imposing tall horses on the other side.

Once Shangguan Xuanyi heard this, seeing the gleam in Xiao’er’s eyes, he couldn’t help but pinch the bridge of his nose. He just knew this girl was an ambitious one!

"No, it isn’t, you can choose any, it’s just that because women are shorter... ahem, these horses are smaller, more suitable for women to ride." Receiving Xiao’er’s almost murderous look, Di Shaowei quickly revised his words.