Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 1243 - 1240_1

Shangguan Xuanyi drove the carriage, with Xiao’er and Shangguan Wanru inside, back to Er Dong County. Upon their safe return, Xi’er and the others breathed a sigh of relief.

Shangguan Xuanyi asked Zhao Yong to find a broker and purchase a maid to take care of the injured unconscious Shangguan Wanru and Princess Ling’er’s child on the journey!

They simply couldn’t expect Xiao’er and Xi’er to take care of them!

Then, the group split up into two carriages back to Zezhou.

Shangguan Wanru, Princess Ling’er’s child, and the freshly purchased maid occupied one carriage, driven by Zhao Yong.

Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao’er in another carriage, driven by Fang Shun.

Xi’er and Shangguan Xuanyao traveled directly on horseback.

Shangguan Wanru woke up halfway through. Seeing that Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao’er’s carriage was ahead, and knowing she was awake, they continued without stopping to meet her.

Shangguan Wanru asked Zhao Yong how Gong Zixuan, Xiao’er, and the Empress Dowager were doing. Zhao Yong feigned ignorance to all questions, after which she realized Zhao Yong was deliberately not answering, so she gave up.

Zhao Yong was looking down on her! Hence the lack of desire to deal with her.

Before leaving, Shangguan Xuanyi sent a Pigeon Post letter to Li Guzi, mentioning the severe injuries of Gong Qinghua and Gu Xuan.

Upon receiving the letter, Li Guzi immediately packed some precious medicinal ingredients that could save lives, and announced in front of many people that he was about to take his daughter overseas to find medical treatment. He then left Li Valley.

He was hiding, so as to avoid people who might come to seek his medicine!

As for where to go after leaving? Li Guzi had a good plan! He sailed out to sea, then went to Wanli Shitang and from there to Zezhou to seek refuge with Shangguan Xuanyi.

Shangguan Xuanyi, who was on his way back to Zezhou, had no idea that his simple letter had brought in trouble!

He was just trying to block the path for Gong Qinghua and Gu Xuan to find medicine.

Because the Li Clan had existed for over a hundred years, they had numerous poisonous substances, and an equally vast array of precious medicines.

...

When they arrived back in Zezhou, the weather had become much colder.

When Xiao’er got off the carriage, a gust of cold wind blew by, and she couldn’t help but shiver.

Jinghao and Gu Qiling knew of their arrival and came out to welcome them. After exchanging greetings, Jinghao asked, "Did everything go smoothly? Did you secure the position of the Li Clan chieftain?"

Xi’er excitedly said, "Of course we did! Could such a trivial matter stop me? My sister and I have both become elders of the Li Clan! It just doesn’t look like we’ve gained any benefits!"

When Shangguan Xuanyi saw Xiao’er shiver after stepping out of the carriage he said, "Let’s discuss it inside the house, the wind is strong outside."

And so, the group went back inside the house.

Gu Qiling chased after Xi’er, asking about the poison contest.

Shangguan Xuanyi and Jinghao discussed Imperial Court matters.

Xiao’er found an excuse to go back to her room to take care of the child.

The child was already nine months old, could stand up with assistance, loved to crawl around in her space, and had started to babble! The child was very cute.

In a little while, Xiao’er planned to find an excuse to introduce the child to everyone.

The child was no longer in the age where they’d sleep right after eating -- their waking hours were becoming longer and they loved crawling around, grabbing and playing with various things.

Xiao’er spread out a thick blanket on the floor in the space and placed some wooden blocks on it, playing with the children.

She romped around with them in the space for half a day, feeding them full to the brim before finally stepping out of the space.

At this moment, Zhao Yong’s carriage had arrived!

Zhao Yong’s carriage was a step behind theirs. Xiao’er instructed Zhao Yong to confine Shangguan Wanru and the child together in Princess Ling’er’s room.

Zhao Yong quickly understood Xiao’er’s intentions.

She wanted to reveal the truth to Shangguan Wanru through the mouth of Princess Ling’er.

They said that Shangguan Wanru might not believe it!

But Princess Ling’er was a victim - a self-inflicted victim!

To learn the truth from Princess Ling’er’s mouth - would that clear Shangguan Wanru’s affection-clouded mind?

The existence of Princess Ling’er and the child was as solid a fact as a mountain!

Shangguan Wanru had no choice but to believe!

Zhao Yong brought Shangguan Wanru to Princess Ling’er’s room, then said to Shangguan Wanru, "Princess, you and Princess Ling’er will live together in this courtyard! This courtyard has two rooms, one for each of you. When the young master arrives, he’ll take you back to the Imperial Capital."

Locking both of them in the same courtyard would be easier to manage. If they were restrained separately, it would be too wasteful of manpower.

Shangguan Wanru kept silent. She was too astonished by the sight of Princess Ling’er. How did Princess Ling’er come to look like this - she appeared to have aged by ten years!

Princess Ling’er was staring intently at the child in Shangguan Wanru’s arms.

Zhao Yong then spoke up, "Princess Ling’er, your child, the master has saved him!"

Her child! Her child was saved!

Upon hearing these words, Princess Ling’er lunged towards Shangguan Wanru, snatching the child from her arms!

Princess Ling’er held the child in her arms. Looking at its pallid complexion and frail figure, it hadn’t grown much in the span of nine months. She couldn’t help but burst into tears, "My precious! My darling babe, you have finally returned to your mother’s side!"

Shangguan Wanru, shaking in shock watched Princess Ling’er, "What... what did you say? This child... is yours?"

Princess Ling’er disdainfully glanced at Shangguan Wanru, and proudly declared, "What, didn’t you know? This child is the child I bore with the Crown Prince of Nangong Country! Look, the child’s eyes look just like Gong Zixuan’s, and his lips resemble mine!"

Hmph, hasn’t the legitimate Princess Shangguan Wanru always been so superior, looking down on me, an illegitimate princess without royal bloodline?

Now, her husband has betrayed her and fathered a child with me. Let’s see how she still acts all high and mighty in front of me!

At this moment, it seemed that Princess Ling’er had forgotten about her own tragic experience!

This was an absolute bolt from the blue!

Shangguan Wanru shook her head, "It’s impossible! This child is the child Gong Qinghua had with a woman from the brothel. The child’s mother’s name is Hua Qing!"

Prince Ling’er looked at her as if she was an idiot, "Do you think I wouldn’t recognize my own child? No, this child can’t even be considered as mine. Gong Zixuan had my belly slit open and took her out! She was only seven months into gestation when she was born, hadn’t fully developed. My poor child! She was forcibly taken out of my body! Hence, she was born weak and often fell ill! Gong Zixuan is not a human! He’s a beast, may he not die a good death! To treat his own child so cruelly..."

Speaking up to here, Princess Ling’er finally remembered her own plight, and she couldn’t help but weep and curse out loud.

Shangguan Wanru shook her head repeatedly while retreating, her face full of disbelief, "No, this is not possible! You’re lying to me! You all must be tricking me!"

Seeing Shangguan Wanru’s pale face covered in tears, Princess Ling’er couldn’t suppress a sense of satisfaction. Why should she be the only one living such a miserable life in this world? She had to drag someone down to accompany her in this hell!