Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 1134 - 1131_1

"Really? But the aphrodisiac is still on your bed, shall I fetch it?" Mrs. Fang and Fang Wanping shared a room with Zhang Yanqing, and so they’re well aware of her secrets."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yanqing fell silent.

Everyone was even more shocked by this revelation. What a vile group of people!

The nanny was livid: "Never did I think my sightseeing boat would attract women like you. Luckily, I discovered your deceit early, or my reputation would’ve been ruined. The women on my boat have always been kind and talented. I’ve never seen people like you before. Princess Rui, such people should be handed over to the government and imprisoned! They’re dangerous if they don’t learn their lesson and refuse to change their ways."

"Indeed." Xiao’er nodded. Some people refuse to change, and they only end up harming others."

"Yang Liu, take them away and hand them over to Fu Yin!"

"Shen Xiao’er, we didn’t commit any crimes. By what right can you hand us over to the government? Is there no justice anymore?"

"You’ve already conspired to harm others, how is that not committing a crime? Besides, don’t you know that the laws are decided by my family, so if I say you’ve broken the law, then you have. Take them away!"

"Yes!" Yang Liu, being one person, couldn’t handle all three on her own. She paralysed their acupoints and tied them up with a rope. Once the sightseeing boat reached the shore, they’d be handed over to Fu Yin at the Government Office.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Fang erupted in curses: "Shen Xiao’er, you damned wretch! Always ruining our plans, you’ll certainly meet with a bad end!"

Hearing this, Yang Liu quickly silenced her, too.

Everyone on the boat who heard her cursing Princess Rui admired her audacity.

Xiao’er gave Mrs. Fang a cold look: "Don’t silence her. Let her go on. And then tell Fu Yin exactly how she cursed and slandered me, word for word. They shouldn’t reduce her punishment at all!"

Hearing this, Yang Liu released Mrs. Fang’s silence, but Mrs. Fang dared not speak again.

The others looked at her with contempt.

Xiao’er paid no further attention to her. After a few words with Jinghao, Liu Zhiwen, and Liu Zhiwu, she returned to Fifth Princess’s sightseeing boat.

Fang Wanping was despondent. She somewhat regretted listening to her mother’s advice, trying to attach herself to Liu Zhiwen in hopes of marrying him and avenging her past.

After her recent release from prison, she should have stayed on the boat, waiting for someone who’d appreciate her to appear.

That was her plan after getting out. How could she have been so stupid?

But there was no use crying over spilled milk now!

Those on the boat paid no further heed to them and retreated to their cabins.

After these events, Jinghao had no desire to stay on the boat. He bid everyone farewell and left with Liu Zhiwen and Liu Zhiwu.

Once Xiao’er arrived back on the boat, Fifth Princess immediately came to her and asked, "Is everything all right?"

Xiao’er shook her head, "Nothing’s wrong, just ran into a shameless mother and daughter."

"What happened?"

Xiao’er then briefly explained the matter surrounding Fang Wanping and her mother.

"Are they the same mother-daughter pair who are concubines of Master Ruan? Weren’t they recently caught in the streets by her ex-husband, who claimed that they had sold all his property, taken all his silver, and reported them to the government office, right?" Ruan Weizhen added, already somewhat familiar with the situation since her father was the presiding official at Shuntian Mansion and had judged their case.

"Yes." Xiao’er nodded, not wanting to spare another word for Fang Wanping and her mother.

Fifth Princess, who hadn’t heard about this, urged Ruan Weizhen to share everything she knew.

After hearing the whole story, Fifth Princess shook her head: "Such people shouldn’t be released at all. Without a proper lesson, how can they realize their mistakes and change their ways? From now on, I’ll suggest my father to stop granting amnesty to everyone. Some people just shouldn’t be set free."

"Exactly, those who do wrong and break the law should be punished accordingly. Otherwise, how is that fair to the victims?" Xiao’er concurred.

"So frustrating! If I knew that Fang Wanping was the one who fell into the water, I definitely wouldn’t have run over," Xi’er grumbled.

Xiao’er glanced at her: "I haven’t asked you yet, why were you masquerading as a man on that boat?"

"It was my second brother who took us to the boat! Right, Qiqi?" Xi’er pulled Gu Qiling into the conversation to enhance her credibility.

"Yes, our senior brother did take us to the boat. We ran into him on the way. He said he and the newly graduated scholars were going to the sightseeing boat, so we simply followed him since we were also invited by the Fifth Princess."

Although their explanation was plausible, Xiao’er felt they were hiding something. She examined the two girls, making them feel uneasy.

"Why not confess what you really did?" Xiao’er suddenly demanded.

If Xi’er hadn’t lied, she wouldn’t have needed Gu Qiling to vouch for her.

Incredibly, every time Xi’er lied, in order to make her lie more believable, she would rope someone else in.

Xi’er couldn’t understand why she can fool everyone else but not Xiao’er. Feeling frustrated, she revealed her trip to the brothel with Gu Qiqi.

The news left everyone both awestruck and admiring.

Fifth Princess admitted to considering going before, but has not had anyone to accompany her. Now hearing their stories, she spontaneously queried: "What was it like in the brothel? I’ve always wanted to visit, why didn’t you invite me along?"

Ruan Weizhen and Gu Qiqi were also curious. "Yes, I’m also curious about what it’s like. Why are so many men fond of going there?"

"Yeah, I’ve always been curious, but never had the courage to go. You guys are truly brave!"

Xiao’er: "...."

Am I the one who is out of touch, as a person from another time? I’ve never even thought about visiting a brothel!

Upon hearing everyone’s interest, Xi’er and Gu Qiqi started sharing their experiences at the brothel.

"My goodness, so that’s what it’s like! No wonder so many men like going there!"

"So, that’s why they call it paradise!"

"Hearing your experiences makes me want to see for myself how those women could be so forthright that it’s frightening!"

Seeing how they passionately discussed and appeared to be eager to witness it firsthand, Xiao’er felt a bit speechless.

Had times changed too quickly, or had I fallen behind?