Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 423 - 421

Xiao’er slept soundly, and by the time she awoke, the sun was high in the sky.

The quiet surrounding her was so absolute that she felt like something was missing, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

Xiao Fuzi, stationed outside the door, rushed to ask when he heard the stirrings within, "Have you awakened, miss?"

"Hmm." Xiao’er replied absentmindedly, still contemplating what felt odd to her.

Upon hearing her response, Xiao Fuzi signaled to the maids, who were waiting nearby with a washbasin and other items, to go in and help Xiao’er freshen up.

He still had to go to the kitchen to order food and go to the study room to inform the master that the lady was awake.

Shangguan Xuanyi had returned from the Imperial Palace, and was currently meeting with a guest in his study. He had instructed Xiao Fuzi to inform him as soon as Xiao’er had awoken.

"Lady Rui’an, we’re coming in," the leading maid announced, knocking on the door.

"Come in!" Xiao’er replied.

The door opened in response, and several maids filed in procession, some holding a copper basin, others carrying clothes, jewelry, and the like.

The lead maid kneeled to pay her respects, "My lady, I am Zining, the maid assigned by the Empress Dowager to attend to the Sixth Prince. Zining pays her respects to Lady Rui’an, may Lady Rui’an be blessed with good fortune."

The personal attendant of the Sixth prince, sent by the Empress Dowager? This self-introduction seemed a tad long and carried deep implications!

Xiao’er gave Zining an inscrutable smile, recognizing that Zining had successfully piqued her interest. However, she didn’t dignify her with a response. This type of individual who flaunts her connections would surely come to rue her actions of her own accord.

Xiao’er averted her gaze, instructing everyone else, "Put the items down and withdraw."

On hearing her words, the maids complied, silently leaving the room after a proper bow, except for Zining, who stood deferentially to one side after setting down her things.

Xiao’er, noticing this, repeated, "Zining, is it? Leave. I don’t require attendance."

Xiao’er picked up a robe handed to her by one of the maids and began to wear it.

"Allow me to assist you, my lady. The Sixth Prince ordered me to take care of you," Zining didn’t retreat but stepped forward to help Xiao’er.

"Impudent!" Xiao’er sidestepped Zining’s extended hand and immediately noticed a suspicious substance under Zining’s nails—the sparkle of itching powder! A unique kind which, once in contact with skin, wouldn’t be activated until ingesting food like seafood.

So, the exact activation time was unpredictable. Some people experienced it months after exposure, only realizing what happened when the itching became unbearable, making them scratch until their skin was bloody raw! A fate worse than disfigurement! Even though there’s an antidote, it’s difficult to obtain.

Xiao’er recalled seeing Zining in the palace with Chang Guiren, and began to question—was Zining serving the Empress Dowager or Chang Guiren?

After weighing her options, Xiao’er decided to keep her suspicions to herself and simply administer a mild punishment as a hard lesson, perhaps even turn her into a pawn.

It would be better than exposing her and not knowing who would replace her.

"The Sixth Prince instructed you to serve me well, but didn’t I say that I don’t require service? I don’t think the Sixth Prince would instruct you to ignore me!" Calmly, Xiao’er took a seat at the round table made of white jade inlaid with gold-threaded Phoebe zhennan wood. She looked up at Zining and spoke in a cold voice.

Although she was seated, Xiao’er exuded such an aura of dominance that it seemed like she was looking down on all others from on high.

"I don’t dare to disobey. I was just following the usual customs. It’s unheard of for a lady to groom and bathe herself. Please don’t make it difficult for me, Lady Rui’an. It would break palace rules!" Zining was a little taken aback by the intimidating aura Xiao’er was emitting, and immediately knelt to plead her case.

Even at such a young age, Lady Rui’an had such an imposing demeanor. It was no wonder the master had advised not to underestimate her.

"Palace rules? So it seems that palace servants can now disobey their masters? This is my first time experiencing such audacity! But Zining, this is the Prince Mansion, not the Imperial Palace. You speaking of palace rules, do you mean to bully your master using your palace status? Or do you think that because of my humble background, I’m ignorant of custom? Are you planning on teaching me what customs are? Or has the Empress Dowager granted you power to deliberately show me my place?"

Bullying the master? A maid teaching the mistress the rules? Trying to assert dominance recklessly? These allegations were severe! Zining turned deathly pale at hearing these charges and hurriedly knelt, "I dare not, my lady. I only wanted to help Lady Rui’an groom and bathe. I have no idea how I offended Lady Rui’an to such an extent that she is accusing me so harshly. ’If one wishes to condemn someone, one could always trump up a charge!’ How could you falsely accuse me, Lady Rui’an?"

From the corner of her eye, Zining spotted Shangguan Xuanyi approaching briskly as she knelt down. She quickly wiped away a teardrop, looking aggrieved.

"Falsely accuse you? Are you accusing me of slander?" Xiao’er slapped the table, her voice filled with fierce indignation.

"I dare not!"

At this point, Shangguan Xuanyi entered. Xiao’er stood up to pay her respects.

Shangguan Xuanyi stopped her, glanced at the kneeling maid on the floor, then took Xiao’er by the hand and guided her back to her seat. "What’s going on?"

"Brother Shangguan, your personal servant girl has been disobedient and is accusing me of slandering her! ..." Xiao’er briefly recounted her story, placing heavy emphasis on the term ’personal servant girl’.

Xiao’er played the situation as if she was jealous which resulted in her giving Zining a hard time.

On hearing this, Shangguan Xuanyi frowned. "I have never allowed any maid near me, let alone a personal one. Those with too many thoughts and disobedience are not worth keeping. Give her a few beatings and sell her!"

"Master, please spare me! Your servant only wanted to serve Lady Rui’an according to your instructions. I thought Lady Rui’an was only being polite when she declined so I insisted on staying. Your servant won’t dare do it again. Lady Rui’an, please forgive me, don’t sell me out. Your servant begs you!" Zining immediately kowtowed and begged for forgiveness.

She had just arrived at the Prince Mansion, and if she were to be sold right away, would there be any hope for her? With hindsight, she regretted her earlier thoughtless actions.

"Brother Shangguan, this maiden is given by the Empress Dowager to serve you personally. There’s a saying, ’out of respect for Buddha, pay respect to the monk.’ It isn’t right to undermine the Empress Dowager’s goodwill or embarrass her, a slight punishment should suffice."

Personal maid! Girl, could you stop emphasizing that, it’s disgusting!

All this while, Shangguan Xuanyi had held Xiao’er’s hand under the table. As Xiao’er gradually withdrew her hand, she traced out a word on the palm of Shangguan Xuanyi’s hand: ’Stay’.

The tingling sensation in his palm stirred up an unusual feeling within Shangguan Xuanyi.

Suppressing his emotions, he gripped Xiao’er’s hand again, spared a cold glance at the wretched girl on the ground, and ordered, "Go and receive twenty beatings. Leave!"

"Wait!" Xiao’er saw a bird fly by the window and finally realized what was unusual when she had just woken up.