Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 1088 - 1085_1

"Princess, the Laba congee is ready, should we deliver it outside the city now?"

"Yes, deliver it now, and tell everyone to be careful not to get burnt." Xiao’er cautioned.

"Alright." Yang Liu went to arrange it.

On the Laba Festival, wealthy households would distribute congee outside the city every year, which had become a major custom of the Imperial Capital.

Not only on Laba Festival, it’s unclear from which year, from the first snowfall to the last snowfall, there would be families distributing congee and donating old clothes outside the city gate every day.

The Imperial Court had even specially built a shed to facilitate these donations.

Because of that, no one within several miles of the Imperial Capital was starving or freezing in recent years.

Seeing that Shangguan Wanru was sullen all day, the Prince’s wife took her to distribute congee.

Now, because of the high yield of crops, the price of grain has been dropping year by year, thus the Laba congee has become thicker and thicker each year.

Many households have stored grains, but because the Laba congee made here is thicker and sweeter than what they make at home, everyone is willing to receive a portion.

Therefore, there was a tumultuous crowd in front of the soup kitchen, with several bailiffs patrolling and maintaining order around.

Among all, there were the most people lining up in front of the soup kitchens of the Prince Rui and Marquis Shengping’s mansions.

The Laba congee made by Rui’s Mansion was cooked with spatial water, and a precious medicinal pill made of three elements - Ashoka fruit, leaves from Ashoka tree, and an antidote - was added to it. The purpose was to help the poor people to recuperate their bodies, treating those who were sick and strengthening those who were not.

Those who were ill felt much better after eating the congee from Prince Rui’s Mansion and Marquis Shengping’s Mansion. Knowing the mysterious effect of the congee, naturally more people lined up each year.

Shangguan Wanru watched the people gathering near Prince Rui’s and Marquis Shengping’s soup kitchens to receive Laba congee and couldn’t help but curiously ask, "Mother, why are there so many people in front of Prince Rui’s and Marquis Shengping’s soup kitchens?"

"Because it’s delicious! Of all the people who sent Laba congee to our mansion, I only eat the ones from Prince Rui’s and Marquis Shengping’s mansions! Even your father and Xi, who both don’t like sweet food, will have a bowl or two."

"Indeed, the food made by Xiao’er is very delicious. It’s not just that, I always feel that she has a mysterious power that can attract people unconsciously." Shangguan Wanru agreed after hearing this.

"Indeed, Princess Rui is a very affable person."

Shangguan Wanru wanted to say something more, but the raggedly dressed man standing in front of her winked at her.

Shangguan Wanru was slightly stunned, but quickly regained her composure. She received the empty bowl from him, her fingertips touching something like a scroll which she quickly secured.

Shangguan Wanru casually scooped two large spoonfuls of Laba congee into the bowl, and then returned the bowl to him.

As the man received the bowl, the small scroll smoothly fell into Shangguan Wanru’s hand.

Shangguan Wanru quickly clenched the note, then pretended to reach into her sleeve to fetch a handkerchief, while surreptitiously placing the note into her sleeve.

The man took the Laba congee and walked away nonchalantly, as everyone else did, before finding a place to eat.

Shangguan Wanru took a glance at his retreating figure. She had seen him once, he had been to the Crown Prince’s Mansion to find Gong Zixuan before. She didn’t care about him then, nor did she know his name, but she knew that Gong Zixuan trusted him as he wouldn’t have had the privilege to appear at the Crown Prince’s Mansion otherwise.

Was he here to discuss the revenge for the Crown Prince again?

In fact, she had thought about it all night. If Minze Country were to wage a war against Nangong Country and kill Gong Qinghua, that would be vengeance for Gong Zixuan!

As for who would become the emperor of Nangong Country in the future, it didn’t really matter to her as Zhuan’er was no longer there!

It would be better if Nangong Country was occupied by Minze Country as Minze was her family, and Minze Country had many superior seed cultivation methods, especially rice, which was the staple food of Nangong country’s people. In this way, the people of Nangong Country would have enough to eat and live a better life!

Isn’t Gong Zixuan’s dream to make the people of Nangong Country live a better life? So indirectly this also realized his wish!

No matter who it is, Gong Qinghua, the enemy, cannot be the one! The position that originally belonged to her husband and son, she wouldn’t give it to him!

Seeing Shangguan Wanru standing there without moving, and the people in front of her had been stretching out their hands for a quite a while, the Prince’s wife couldn’t help but remind her, "Wanru, what are you daydreaming about?"

Shangguan Wanru came back to her senses, quickly received the bowl from the people in line, filled a bowl of congee, and then returned it.

Afterward, Shangguan Wanru said, "Mother, I’m a bit tired and want to go home. Let the servants distribute the rest of the congee."

The Prince’s wife had no objection to this, as they couldn’t be expected to stay for the entire congee distribution process, just showing up at the beginning was enough.

"Alright, let’s go back home!" The Prince’s wife gave some instructions to the servants, then left with Shangguan Wanru.

When Shangguan Wanru returned to the Prince’s Mansion, she hurried to her courtyard. After entering the room, she asked her maids not to disturb her, under the pretext of resting. Then she closed the door, took out the note, and began to read it.

The content of the note was a score, implying that although the Crown Prince Heir had been killed, they would definitely seek revenge for the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince Heir. Then they left a contact method, saying that if she needed to find them, she could write it down in the form of a score and leave it with the owner of a store named Ruyi Grocery Store.

Zhuan’er’s death was a heavy burden on Shangguan Wanru’s heart, she wasn’t sure who really caused Zhuan’er’s death!

She refused to believe that Xiao’er would do such a thing!

No, Shangguan Wanru decided to ask, otherwise, this matter would become a knot in her heart.

...

In the past, Xiao’er would go out and check the situation of the congee distribution on Laba Festival, but this year, due to the freezing weather and her feeling like a penguin waddling, she didn’t go.

After having the Laba congee and having nothing to do, she and Yang Liu and Yang Mei began to sew some small rattles and bed bells in preparation for the child soon to be born.

"Princess, everything you’ve prepared is for the Little Princess, what if it turns out to be a Little Prince?"

For the child’s clothing, Xiao’er had prepared many, but all are in the style for girls. Yang Liu and Yang Mei did not understand why Xiao’er was so sure. What if a boy was born?!

"Then let him cope with it temporarily! There’s no distinction between the things for an infant!" Xiao’er said indifferently.

The reason Xiao’er was so confident that she was having a girl was because she had asked Bai Tian!

Yang Liu and Yang Mei were speechless. So, this is okay?!

Just as they were considering secretly preparing some boys’ clothes, a maid announced that Princess Wanru from the Prince’s Mansion had arrived.