She Holds the World After Being Reborn-Chapter 377 - 376: Summer Sacrifice, Concentric Gu

Yan Wanqing gracefully approached from behind, her arm naturally looping through the Crown Prince’s. The handsome man and the beautiful woman stood together, indeed a pleasing sight to behold.

Seeing this, Huai Xinmei silently clenched the palm of her hand.

"Your Highness, Crown Prince, may peace be with you," she stepped forward undeterred, presenting herself before the crowd, eyes full of charm, radiant as peach blossoms.

Xiao Pingfeng subconsciously tightened his grip on Yan Wanqing’s tender wrist and even gave it a few shakes.

This won’t do, the smell of makeup is too overwhelming, he felt a sneeze coming on.

Yan Wanqing turned her hand to hold his, giving it a squeeze.

Hold it in!

Taking half a step back inconspicuously, Xiao Pingfeng waited until his breaths were filled with Yan Wanqing’s scent before he finally began to breathe freely.

"Today..." He paused, looking into Huai Xinmei’s hopeful eyes, his thin lips trembling twice, "Miss indeed looks dazzlingly beautiful, a beauty that would overshadow the heavens."

Being complimented, Huai Xinmei’s eyes lit up with joy, "Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. I dressed up specially today to see you."

With the tone of her voice slightly rising, she shyly glanced at Xiao Pingfeng. Their eyes met, and she quickly withdrew her gaze, her face full of demure shyness.

Xiao Pingfeng: "..." If it weren’t for Yan Wanqing by his side, no amount of explanations would clear things up!

"Goodness, is she having a muscle spasm in her eye?" he murmured softly into Yan Wanqing’s ear.

Yan Wanqing simply rolled her eyes at him, "She’s flirting, you must perform well for me today."

Xiao Pingfeng: "... Got it."

"Miss Huai, please come stand beside me, there’s plenty of room here." He purposely raised his voice so everyone could hear him, watching Huai Xinmei lift her skirt and stand excitedly by his side, Xiao Pingfeng took a deep breath and held it, choosing not to speak again.

At this time, the elders of the Marquis Residence had already ascended the circular platform.

The platform was filled with various offerings, including heads of pigs, cows, and deer, as well as a cylindrical object covered with a red cloth, which was firmly bound with hemp ropes at the center.

They bowed respectfully towards Xiao Pingfeng’s direction, then began to dance and sing around the red cloth-covered cylinder.

Taking the opportunity, Huai Xinmei began to explain, "The elders are now expressing gratitude to the heavens for their blessings. This prayer dance will last about an hour, and all these offerings are meant to please the gods. After the heavenly offerings, it will be time for the earth offerings, followed by the ancestral offerings, in a methodical and orderly process."

"What’s inside the red cloth? It looks like it’s moving," Yan Wanqing murmured, frowning.

Huai Xinmei glanced at her indifferently, her tone very calm, "It’s a person."

"A person?!"

Huai Xinmei nodded, her expression nonchalant, "Every year, the Summer Sacrifice selects a human offering, which must be either a virgin boy or girl. This year is special, only one girl was chosen. Do you not know, Your Majesty, that humans are the deities’ favorite offerings in the sacrifice?"

Yan Wanqing did not hide her red lips, her eyes clear and yet naive, "Will she die then?"

"No," Huai Xinmei immediately answered, "Your Majesty, do not think the people of the Northern Border to be so bloodthirsty. This girl is just part of the ceremony; once the dance is over, she will be let down."

Whether she would truly be sent back home or not, Yan Wanqing kept a vigilant eye.

She signaled to someone hidden in the shadows to keep a close watch on this girl.

Yan Wanqing had not a shred of goodwill towards the Northern Border.

Everyone finally endured the various processes of the dancing and offering rituals, and time had passed from early morning to evening.

Standing there, Yan Wanqing felt dizzy and blurred, and if not for Xiao Pingfeng holding her up, she would have laid down to sleep right there. frёeωebɳovel.com

This Summer Sacrifice was truly exhausting.

The elders on the platform continued their sacrificial dance, and when they descended, Yan Wanqing noticed their legs were trembling.

"Now, we have come to the most important part of the sacrifice, where we will select the most beautiful woman to unveil the red cloth and untie the ropes for the virgin girl," the elder said aloud while stroking his beard.

Yan Wanqing sensitively noticed Huai Xinmei holding her head high with an air of determination.

She herself was not interested in unveiling the red cloth, so she lounged lazily by Xiao Pingfeng’s side, her mind wandering.

However, some busybodies had no intention of letting her be idle.

As soon as the Elder finished speaking, Chen Di immediately opened his mouth and said, "In the competition of the most beautiful, who could possibly surpass the Crown Princess? Her Majesty is so graceful and luxurious, even just standing there she becomes the center of everyone’s attention."

"Miss Huai, dressing up with such care every day, is also a sight that one cannot look away from, this..."

The two voices rose and fell, until finally, everyone stared expectantly at Xiao Pingfeng, waiting for him to make a decision.

Xiao Pingfeng was expressionless.

You people know exactly how to offend someone.

If he were to speak out, would he even be able to have a pleasant evening?

As he pondered, Yan Wanqing let out a cold snort and stood up, "You people really have no sense of propriety. How dare some greenhorn girls compare themselves with me? I did not stoop to your level before, but now you dare to critique my appearance, presuming upon the face I gave you before. Do you really think me so weak that you can manipulate me as you please?"

"Crown Princess!" Xiao Pingfeng immediately scolded her in a stern voice as soon as she finished her remark.

With the Crown Princess suddenly lashing out, the crowd fell silent, and the entire Summer Sacrifice fell into a deathly stillness.

The Crown Prince’s face was dark as he said, "Crown Princess, you have gone too far."

"Your Highness..." Yan Wanqing’s eyes reddened, and turning to Xiao Pingfeng, she said, "Does Your Highness also think that your consort is making an unreasonable fuss?"

"Mind the occasion. If it were a trifling matter at any other time, I would indulge you, but to behave petulantly now, not even looking at where you are. Look at yourself now, you don’t even measure up to the so-called greenhorns you mention!" Xiao Pingfeng bitterly rebuked, though his heart wasn’t in it.

As he spoke, his heart was racing.

Watching Yan Wanqing dab at her tears, he felt his knees going weak.

"Crown Princess, you may step down," Xiao Pingfeng spoke again.

Yan Wanqing looked at him incredulously, her eyes full of disappointment, then she left without looking back, accompanied by her maids.

Now, only Huai Xinmei remained by Xiao Pingfeng’s side.

"Your Highness, please don’t be angry. The Princess simply does not understand the customs of the Northern Border, it’s not her fault," Huai Xinmei said softly, trying to soothe his anger.

Xiao Pingfeng responded with a faint hum.

His gaze fell on Chen Di, who was following Yan Wanqing as she left, a glint of murderous intent flashing in his dark eyes.

Such a relentless scoundrel. Just wait a little longer and I will make sure this son of the Chen Family realizes what he is – unfit to covet the woman of Xiao Pingfeng.

"Now that the Miss of the Marquis Residence has become the choice of the crowd, the task of removing the red cloth naturally falls upon you. Please," Xiao Pingfeng said slowly.

Overwhelmed by his tender and affectionate gaze, Huai Xinmei stammered her gratitude, "Thank... thank you, Your Highness."

She went toward the altar.

Once the virgin sacrifice was sent off, she too had to dance upon this stage.

She had practiced long for this day.

Huai Xinmei was full of confidence; anyone who saw her dance would fall in love with her.

After the dance, she would coax His Highness to take the Concentric Gu, and thereafter let that Crown Princess roll as far away as possible.

With pride in her heart, Huai Xinmei approached the red cloth, helped by her maids.

"Miss, please," the Elder stepped aside.