Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 525 - 523

"Qiqi didn’t say that you bumped into her. Why are you yelling? You didn’t even wait for her to finish speaking. Are you feeling guilty?" Fu Ranhui took the opportunity to speak.

"You’re the one who’s guilty. Weren’t you also standing next to her just now? Maybe you bumped into her and now you’re trying to pin it on me!" Chu Die snapped back immediately after hearing this.

"You’re completely unreasonable!" Fu Ranhui grew exasperated.

At this point, the painting had been retrieved. Shangguan Wanru picked it up, and upon unrolling it, she found it had not suffered the anticipated damage - there was no sign of any color leakage?!

"Princess Rui’an, what did you use to make this painting that it can withstand being submerged in water? I knew you wouldn’t be giving me anything ordinary, but I didn’t expect it to be this extraordinary!" Shangguan Wanru said joyously.

Nothing could be more precious than a treasure recovered after a loss!

"This is an oil painting. Oil paints have a certain degree of water resistance, so they don’t lose color when exposed to moisture. Dry the surface first with a clean, soft cotton cloth and then let it air dry. Normally, oil paints are not affected by water, but the linen canvas I used may shrink when moistened, causing the paintings to crack. If that happens, bring it back to me for repair," Xiao’er explained, all the while observing everyone’s reactions in secret.

She was interested to see who would be disappointed.

Chu Die’s fleeting expression did not escape Xiao’er’s eyes. Hmph! She deserved that slap!

The commotion on their side drew the attention of the men. They all came over.

"How could you be so careless?" Shangguan Ruixi, upon seeing the maid carefully drying the painting and to his relief, the painting could still be salvaged.

"We don’t know who bumped into Wei Zhen causing the painting to fly and fall into the lake."

"Oh? No one admits it, and no one saw who bumped into her?" Shangguan Ruixi looked at the few so-called noble ladies with a meaningful gaze.

These women were the ones his mother wanted to select as his own bride, but their character... he did not know what to say!

"Indeed, those who commit actions but won’t accept responsibility are simply shameless!" Shangguan Wanru responded with indignation. freeweɓnøvel.com

Fang Fang, the legitimate daughter of Enbo Mansion, discerned the meaning behind Shangguan Ruixi’s gaze. Her mother had told her that she was the favourite pick to be Princess Consort An. This gathering was astonishingly a competition, with all the attendees as mere accessories.

Marrying the Wang Mansion would constitute marrying above her station.

Initially, she did not want to get involved in this turmoil, but as the future head of the Wang Mansion, they wouldn’t choose a girl who shied away from problems, would they?

She gritted her teeth and spoke, "I saw Miss Chu bumping against Miss Ruan earlier."

The moment Fang Fang’s words fell, Fu Ranhui sneered coldly, "I knew someone was feeling guilty!"

Hearing this, Chu Die raised her hand intending to slap Fang Fang, "You’re lying! Who told you to frame me!"

"I was merely stating the facts," Fang Fang responded. She stole a glance at Shangguan Ruixi and seeing his expression soften slightly, she couldn’t help blushing, thinking that she must have done something right!

Quick as lightning, Xiao’er caught her hand, "Stop this! If you did it, own up to it!"

"Still denying everything even after being caught! Someone has even testified, yet you still want to argue? Good upbringing, Chu family! I’m glad you’re already betrothed, otherwise, I don’t think anyone would dare marry a girl raised in such a household!" Shangguan Wanru scoffed.

Chu Die withdrew her hand in anger, "It wasn’t me."

Chu Die caught the look in Fang Fang’s eyes earlier. This girl was pushing her out, trying to win the prince’s favor!

"Chu Die, I know you didn’t do this on purpose. You were just worried that the princess would blame you. Fortunately, the painting wasn’t ruined. Just apologize to the princess, and this matter will be over," Li Mingfang advised, gently tugging at Chu Die’s sleeve. She had indeed noticed Chu Die’s hand movement earlier, but as a friend, she didn’t think it was right to reveal it.

Now that someone else had brought it into the open, she could only advise Chu Die to admit her mistake to lessen the embarrassment. After all, she couldn’t guarantee that no one else saw it.

"She feels no remorse at all!" Chu Die’s fiancé, infuriated, turned away and left after leaving these words. He bid goodbye to Shangguan Ruixi.

Having a betrothed wife like this, he felt he had lost face.

Chu Die felt a chill. Was such a man, who wouldn’t even speak a word in her defense and only considered her an embarrassment, really worth trusting for the rest of her life?

She then looked at Shangguan Xuanyi. Now there was a real fiancé, who always defended Princess Rui’an no matter what.

Compared with him, her own fiancé seemed extremely incompetent.

Watching the figure walking away, Chu Die thought: you think I’m embarrassing you? Well, I don’t like you either.

Having made up her mind, she couldn’t allow her reputation to be ruined over this matter.

Chu Die quietly pinched herself, wincing in pain, her eyes welling up with tears, "I’m sorry, Princess. I was the one who inadvertently bumped into Miss Ruan, causing the painting to fall into the water. But before I could admit it, you...," she paused to touch her swollen face, the implication clear, "I was just too frightened to confess."

Having said that, she gently touched the other unblemished side of her face.

After hearing this, the men glanced at Chu Die’s swollen face, coupled with her pitiful look, and they started to understand why she had not confessed earlier.

If she had confessed, would her other cheek end up swollen as well?

As the old saying goes, it’s not okay to hit people in the face, and all girls love beauty, after all, who would have the courage to lose face in front of so many people?

When Shangguan Ruixi saw Chu Die’s state, he looked at Shangguan Wanru with disapproval.

Sympathy and understanding flashed in Gong Zixuan’s eyes.

However, Shangguan Wanru only felt angrier when Chu Die confessed!

She really wanted to walk over and slap the other side of this two-faced woman’s face until it was swollen as well!

Observing Chu Die’s rapid change of face, Xiao’er felt a sense of caution towards her. Her past experiences told her: when things feel strange, there’s usually something worth investigating!

Chu Die scanned the crowd, then continued, "I’m truly sorry for ruining the birthday gift that Princess Rui’an gave to Princess Wanru. Princess Rui’an, what if you paint another one, and I’ll buy the paint for you, and then give it to Princess Wanru as an apology?"

Xiao’er pulled Shangguan Wanru back, preventing her from speaking. This person was trying to provoke Shangguan Wanru, using her argumentative nature to highlight her own superiority!

"The painting wasn’t completely destroyed. If there’s a problem, I’ll fix it for Princess Wanru. Princess Wanru loves paintings, and Rare Treasure Pavilion has a painting from Master Shi, doesn’t it? If Miss Chu really wants to make an apology, give that painting to the princess. My paintings are not for sale."

Upon hearing this, Chu Die was so angry, she gritted her teeth.

The painting in the Rare Treasure Pavilion was Master Shi’s masterpiece, which the owner refused to sell even for a thousand taels.

A thousand taels of silver! Even the entire dowry her mother had prepared for her was worth only a thousand taels.