Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 251 - 249

After spending most of the day at the horse racing venue, the group was starving.

"I’m so hungry. Let’s go to the Four Seasons Restaurant. I’ll treat everyone," Xiao’er called out to everyone.

She had a wonderful day and had even won 2,000 taels. Xiao’er felt her mood was even better than the weather today.

"Inviting us to your own restaurant, you’re really not sincere, Xiao’er!" Shangguan Xuanhao couldn’t hold his tongue once he bumped into Xiao’er.

"Then you treat us!" Shangguan Xuanyi retorted plainly.

"Thank you, Second Prince." Xiao’er immediately accepted. Yes, saving money on a meal truly lifted her spirits.

"Serves you right! You can’t resist using your mouth even when there’s food to eat!" Di Shaowei said with schadenfreude.

"Inviting you to my own restaurant shows double sincerity! It’s like adding affection to affection. Let’s move it, Xiao’er! I’m starving! I accept your sincerity!" Shangguan Xuanhao immediately changed his tune.

Di Shaowei shook his head, "Shameless, too shameless."

"What do you know? I initially thought that if Xiao’er personally cooked for us, she’d be insincere! Now, I just don’t want to reject Xiao’er’s kindness. If you don’t understand, don’t stir up trouble!" Shangguan Xuanhao glared at Di Shaowei.

Di Shaowei wasn’t afraid of him; after all, Shangguan couldn’t beat him.

But Xiao’er cooking? This stirred something in Di Shaowei’s heart: "That’s a pretty good idea. Xiao’er?"

"In your dreams!"

Shangguan Xuanyi dropped this comment and started walking forward, quietly holding Xiao’er’s hand, indifferent to the others stroking his ego.

His long sleeve draped down, hiding their clasped hands.

The tall and the short figure walking shoulder to shoulder appeared so harmonious and beautiful.

The others quickly caught up.

Outside the horse racing venue, they ran into Shangguan Xuanjun, the two Lai brothers, the three sisters from the Di family, and the Li siblings waiting.

Seeing them finally come out, Shangguan Xuanjun said, "Shall we all go to the Four Seasons Restaurant for dinner?"

"That’s exactly what we were planning. Let’s all go! Xiao’er is treating us! Her family owns the shop, so don’t hold back!" Shangguan Xuanhao happily announced.

Li Mingfang disdainfully looked at Shangguan Xuanhao: "You actually have the cheek to let a young girl treat you?"

"Why be so formal? You can treat us instead!" Shangguan Xuanhao was a quick learner.

Li Mingfang lightly pulled on the reins of her Red Hare Horse, signaling it to turn around. "If I’m treating, then I’m treating! But I’m not treating you!"

...

Today, the Imperial City was brightly lit, and the streets were bustling with activity.

Almost all the restaurants were packed.

The group finally arrived at the entrance to the Four Seasons Restaurant.

Seeing the Princess and some nobles coming over, the innkeeper enthusiastically greeted them and led them upstairs.

Suddenly, a voice called out behind them, "Miss Rui’an, please wait."

Xiao’er turned around to see Miss Li, Chu Die, Princess Ling’er, and other people. She casually asked, "Miss Li, what can I do for you?"

"We also wanted to dine here, but the innkeeper told us all the rooms are full. At this time, all other restaurants are also full, so I was wondering if we can join you?"

She had heard their conversation earlier when they were outside the horse racing venue and had calculated it carefully.

With so many of them, they wouldn’t fit at one table. If they separated by gender, there would be a few extra spots at the women’s table, just enough for them to sit. That’s why she brought Chu Die to eat here.

She was actually thinking about sitting at the same table? Their relationship wasn’t that good yet, was it?

"Innkeeper, the private room my father previously reserved, the Spring Garden, should be given to Miss Li and her party for use now. When my parents arrive, please guide them to my room."

This was an indirect way of refusing to eat at the same table with them.

"Why would we want to occupy the top room reserved by the Marquis Shengping? Just eating a meal with Miss Rui’an would make it much more exciting."

"But I don’t like it when it’s too noisy," said Shangguan Xuanhao, extremely annoyed.

Li Yunning’s face turned pale after hearing this.

"Miss Li, don’t be polite. My dad had previously reserved it for when he took my siblings and me out to eat, but now that all of my siblings are here, it’s naturally not needed. Shopkeeper Yang, bring Miss Li and her party upstairs!"

"It’s good that there’s room available. I wouldn’t want to share a table with someone anyway." Princess Ling’er glanced at Xiao’er disdainfully. It was obvious who she was referring to.

"Then scram!" Shangguan Xuanyi coldly responded.

After hearing this, Princess Ling’er was on the verge of tears. She looked at Shangguan Xuanyi with red eyes.

It was as if Shangguan Xuanyi was her unfaithful husband.

"Thank you, Miss Rui’an. We’ll accept your generous offer." Li Yunning immediately said with a smile when she saw this.

She came here to make good relations and didn’t want to leave a bad impression in front of the one she loved.

Xiao’er nodded and then led everyone to the largest private room, ’Fanghua Jinlan’.

Peace brings wealth, and while she wasn’t afraid of trouble, she didn’t want to cause a scene in her own restaurant.

No one mentioned this interlude; no one cared much about Li Yunning and the others.

The menu with its exquisite dishes was quickly delivered.

Xiao’er let them choose the dishes themselves, while she sat at a small tea table, preparing to serve tea for them.

Being the host here and having nobles as her guests, she naturally couldn’t let the staff help. Even the accompanying servants and maids were sent off to have a meal.

The Four Seasons Tea House had an intricate and beautiful tea table and a premium tea set in each of its high-end private rooms.

Just as Xiao’er was about to pick up the bronze kettle on the stove to rinse the tea set with boiling water, Shangguan Xuanyi held her hand, "It’s too hot. Let me do it."

Xiao’er smiled, "I’m not afraid. I’ll be careful."

Shangguan Xuanyi kept holding Xiao’er’s hand, looking at her without any intention of letting go.

Xiao’er relented, "Alright!"

"Xiao’er, don’t argue. I, as her elder prince, have never tasted his tea. You sit up and let him make it," Shangguan Xuanhao called out to Xiao’er seeing the situation.

"Miss Rui’an, I heard that this restaurant is owned by your family. Come here and tell us what are the best dishes to try," Li Mingfang said, looking at the menu. She wanted to taste everything.

The men and women sat at two tables without any partition. The men group unanimously decided to have hotpot.

At the women’s table, they looked at their long sleeves and decisively shook their heads.

After asking a few people about their preferences, Xiao’er introduced a few signature dishes. Li Mingfang added a few more that she really wanted to try.

They had dinner until the sun set.

As they walked out of the restaurant, many shops on the street were full of lantern riddles.

Jingrui’s three brothers and Yun’er had never guessed lantern riddles before, but they all wanted to try.

Shangguan Xuanhao and his group shook their heads, indicating that they weren’t interested. Everyone then split up at the entrance to the restaurant.

The street was teeming with people.

Xiao’er was concerned about Jingrui’s group, so she naturally went with them.

Shangguan Xuanyi, concerned about Xiao’er, naturally stayed by her side.

After all, to him, no bustling atmosphere or spectacle was better than being by her side.