Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 509 - 507

When Xiao’er returned home, a maid rushed over and informed her that the Sixth Prince had arrived.

"Where is the Sixth Prince now?"

"He’s in the flower hall playing chess with the eldest young master."

Having heard this, Xiao’er headed for the flower hall, asking in passing, "Has my father come back from the office yet? And my mother?"

"The master has not returned yet, but your mother is in the kitchen."

It must be because Shangguan Xuanyi is visiting. Mrs. Liu, despite her burgeoning belly, would go into the kitchen herself out of concern.

Mrs. Liu, like any mother-in-law scrutinizing her future son-in-law, found herself more and more satisfied. Every time Shangguan Xuanyi visited the mansion, she would personally oversee the meal.

Xiao’er entered the flower hall. Seeing her walk in, Shangguan Xuanyi came over and gave her a smile. Then he placed a black chess piece on the board, immediately clinching victory.

Jingrui was incredibly frustrated. Shangguan Xuanyi had kept him playing chess all afternoon, constantly scraping wins from an increasingly anonymous Jingrui. He felt like he had no chance of surviving this!

The feeling of being toyed with like a chess piece was unbearably stifling.

Jingrui was reminded of Xiao’er telling him how frustrating it was playing chess with the Empress. It appeared that the Empress and Shangguan Xuanyi are indeed mother and son!

When Xiao’er returned, Shangguan Xuanyi stood up and poured her a cup of tea, "Where did you go today?"

Mrs. Liu came out of the kitchen after setting things. Seeing Xiao’er had finally returned and kept the Sixth Prince waiting, she asked, "Weren’t you supposed to be out only for a short while? Why are you back only after so long?"

"I was teaching Minhua and the princess how to make latte art milk tea at the teahouse. They were so enthusiastic about learning that they spent an entire afternoon at it, which caused the delay."

Xiao’er drained the tea in her cup and continued, "After that, I went to the cloth shop to choose some fabrics as I’m planning to make summer robes by hand for my great-grandfather and grandmother."

Mrs. Liu’s face fell into dismay upon hearing that, "Thank goodness you remembered, I had forgotten all about it. The weather will get hotter soon, and we need to start preparing everyone’s summer clothing. Yes, Xiao’er, pick out a couple of suitable fabric pieces for the Sixth Prince as well. I notice he has grown taller this year. Last year’s clothes will surely not fit him now. Around the Dragon Boat Festival, the weather will be unpredictable, sometimes cold, sometimes hot. It’s better to get the summer robes done early. Then we wouldn’t worry about not having proper clothes when the heat unexpectedly spikes."

"There’s no need to go through all the trouble. The Imperial Wardrobe Department will take care of my clothes." The Sixth Prince quickly interjected upon hearing.

He had heard that needlework could be harmful to the eyes. What if Xiao’er ruins her eyes?

"That’s different! Nothing is as comfortable as wearing the clothes made by oneself. This girl is always running about. She’s idle and needs to be kept busy. Let her stay home and make the clothes, instead of trotting all over the place." Mrs. Liu’s intentions were well-meaning. Xiao’er was not the type to stay home all day. In fact, she went out more frequently than most men did.

Today, she had even kept Shangguan Xuanyi waiting half the day at their house before finally returning after dark. No other woman in the Imperial Capital behaves this way. Mrs. Liu was worried that the Sixth Prince might feel upset. Hence, she said all this.

Xiao’er threw a glance at Shangguan Xuanyi, thinking, "You must be my biological mother, right?"

Shangguan Xuanyi couldn’t help laughing at Xiao’er, who looked jealous, "Too much needlework isn’t good for the eyes. It’s actually better to move around more. Xiao’er is not like other girls who fell ill whenever the season changes. Likely, this is because she is more active."

Mrs. Liu, reassured by Shangguan Xuanyi’s words, added, "Indeed, Xiao’er is very healthy. I’ve not seen her sneeze for years. Even during that time of the month, unlike other girls who become listless, she is still full of energy, bouncing all over the place!"

How could Mrs. Liu talk about such things as her period in front of Shangguan Xuanyi? Xiao’er felt awkward.

Hearing this, a thought struck Shangguan Xuanyi. Could it be that her period happened to fall around this time every month? ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

Just a few days ago, he had passed a few auspicious dates selected by the Imperial Observatory to Shen Chengyao with a suggestion for an early marriage.

Shangguan Xuanyi glanced at Xiao’er’s abdomen. The first auspicious date happened to fall on the day she was on her period. If that were the case, their wedding would be postponed again for nearly two months?!

This was certainly disheartening news! Shangguan Xuanyi couldn’t help but cast another gloomy look at Xiao’er’s belly.

Xiao’er was mystified. She was the one pregnant, not him, so why was he staring at her belly?

After dinner, Xiao’er saw Shangguan Xuanyi out.

"Cough, cough, are your periods always on time?" Still unable to let it go, Shangguan Xuanyi asked.

Xiao’er nodded, "They arrive punctually, every time."

Xiao’er had figured out why Mrs. Liu brought up her monthly cycle.

"Heavens must hate me!" With his last hope extinguished, Shangguan Xuanyi could not help but cast a resentful look at the sky.

Splat... Xiao’er laughed unsympathetically.

Shangguan Xuanyi tightened his grip on Xiao’er’s hand, this ungrateful little thing! Her life was just as vibrant without him around!

"Are you very happy?"

"No!" Seeing the frustrated look on the Prince’s face, Xiao’er was worried that he might crush her hand by holding it too tight. She couldn’t help but try to withdraw her hand.

Shangguan Xuanyi, however, loosened his grip a little but when he saw her trying to withdraw her hand, he tightened his grip again, "These days are really dragging like years!"

"Pfft... haha..." Xiao’er couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Shangguan Xuanyi’s face darkened!

"Is it that funny I feel like I’m dragging each day? Do you not feel the same way?"

Xiao’er laughed until her belly hurt and she was unable to speak. All she could do was shake her head and nod at the same time.

"If you keep laughing, I’ll order the state tutor to find the earliest possible date this year and marry you in!" Shangguan Xuanyi threatened with a grievous look.

"Haha... I won’t laugh, I, hehe... just think your frustrated look is hilarious! Hehe, I can’t help it, I laughed until my belly hurts, can’t stand properly, help me up."

Shangguan Xuanyi reluctantly reached out and held her in his arms, his face turning from dark to helpless.

"You laugh at me when you know I’m frustrated!"

Xiao’er had stopped her laughter, but upon hearing his words, she clung to his clothes, buried her face in his chest, and resumed laughing until tears streamed down her face.

Helplessly, Shangguan Xuanyi reached out to soothe her back, lest she choked from laughter.

"If you continue to laugh, the servants will see and think that I made you cry." Shangguan Xuanyi still couldn’t figure out what was so funny about this.

Hearing this, Xiao’er released her grip on Shangguan Xuanyi’s clothes, "Don’t say such funny things next time."

Shangguan Xuanyi reached out to wipe her tears, "I spoke the truth."

Damn it! Xiao’er had to laugh again. She almost suspected that Shangguan Xuanyi had tickled her laughing point.

"Brother Shangguan, you better leave quickly. If you don’t leave now, I will die laughing!" Xiao’er couldn’t help but push him away.

"Nonsense! Don’t say such things indiscriminately! I have nothing to do tomorrow, I will bring you to a place." Shangguan Xuanyi reached out and pinched her nose as a punishment.

Upon hearing this, Xiao’er shook her head, "I can’t go tomorrow. I have an appointment with Miss Du to visit a villa in the suburb."

Shangguan Xuanyi’s face darkened upon hearing this. The wife of Marquis Shengping was right, Xiao’er was always hopping around and should be kept at home doing needlework.

"I only need two sets of summer robes."

Xiao’er thought: What happened to ’too much needlework is not good for the eyes’?