Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 388 - 386

The "they" Xiao’er referred to were Shangguan Xuanjun and others who took a shortcut on horseback and got to the Post Station earlier.

Seeing them leaving directly, Gu Hongxia became anxious. If they left, and with their carriage broken down, are they supposed to walk back?

"You can’t just leave us behind. You have to take us with you, no matter what!"

"Take you with us? On what grounds?" Xiao’er turned her head back and looked at her.

Xiao’er did not say "you all", but addressed her singularly.

"Because my uncle is the Assistant Minister in the Imperial Court!"

"Oh! The Assistant Minister of the Imperial Court? But what does that have to do with me? The Assistant Minister of the Imperial Court isn’t my uncle! Why should I take you?" Xiao’er responded casually, her expression suggesting she found Gu Hongxia’s words perplexing.

Feng Yang could not help but laugh when he heard this.

"Aren’t you afraid that my uncle will come to settle scores with you?" Does this person have some kind of problem? Can’t she understand what is an obvious threat?

"Settle scores with me? Isn’t it new to me that there is a law that requires taking relatives of the Assistant Minister along if you come across them on the road. Feng Yang, is there such a rule? My, my, the world is truly degenerating, and people’s hearts are inscrutable!" Xiao’er exclaimed with both surprise and resignation.

"Never heard of such a thing," Feng Yang responded with suppressed laughter, admiring the talent of their future mistress.

Hongxia’s face stiffened. Of course, there wouldn’t be such regulating provisions in the law! However, ordinary people would surely choose to curry favor, seek approval, avoid offending officials, or getting into trouble by taking her along!

Du Yijin was truly getting angry now. Her father, an upright official who remains incorrupt throughout his career, due to which their carriage was so easily damaged.

The words spoken by Gu Hongxia, would they not tarnish the image of her father’s virtuous and upright life as an official?

"Miss, don’t misunderstand. We can return back by ourselves. We met by chance and do not know each other. It is we who should not impose on you to give us a ride on your journey. We are sorry for the delay we have caused on your journey," Du Yijin apologized again with a bow to uphold her father’s reputation.

She had never apologized this much in her life!

After hearing Du Yijin’s words, Xiao’er felt that she was a decent person and said, "Miss, we are heading in the opposite direction. But, I can take you to the nearest town on carriage."

Du Yijin sighed in her heart. This lady was clear about what was right and wrong. She understood what she meant and wanted to leave, but she didn’t want to leave Gu Hongxia alone in this uninhabited place. If she went back, her stepmother would definitely make her suffer, and even her father would blame her.

She was the host here, and her cousin was the guest, and it was against her upbringing to abandon her guest! Moreover, with her cousin’s troublesome character and unchecked remarks, she was nervous about the trouble she might cause for her father if she weren’t there to supervise.

With these thoughts, she shook her head, "Thank you for your kindness, miss, but I can’t abandon my cousin."

Xiao’er did not insist, but she gained a higher opinion of her.

At that moment, Zhao Youwei came riding in on horseback. Shangguan Xuanjun had sent him to check as both Xiao’er and Shangguan Xuanyi had not yet arrived at the Post Station.

Now, seeing them all standing by the roadside and a carriage that had broken down a tree, he quickly galloped over, dismounted, and bowed, "Sixth Prince, Lady Rui’an, are you okay?"

"Fine." Shangguan Xuanyi replied briefly.

Zhao Youwei took a quick sidelong glance at Xiao’er. Seeing her as usual, he was relieved that she didn’t seem injured.

After paying his respects, he nodded to Du Yijin, "Miss Du."

He was acquainted with Du Chun’an, so he had met his sister, Du Yijin, before.

Du Yijin quickly returned his salute, "Mr. Zhao, thank you."

Then she bowed again to Shangguan Xuanyi and Xiao’er and said, "I did not know earlier that you both were the Sixth Prince and Lady Rui’an. I apologize for my earlier behavior."

Shangguan Xuanyi simply nodded.

"Miss Du, no need to be so formal." Xiao’er replied with a smile.

Six... Sixth Prince?

Gu Hongxia’s cute face turned pale instantly: Who had she just offended? Who’s face had she just tried to show off in front of?

Du Yijin was just too terrible! She did not even remind her about the dignified identity of this man. She had made her lose face in front of the noble people and did something disrespectful.

No wonder she got slapped!

She could not help but rearrange her beaded hairpin, and then she imitated Du Yijin and bowed, "Commoner Gu asks the Sixth Prince and Lady Rui’an for forgiveness. I did not know of your high status earlier, and I might have been disrespectful. As the saying goes, ignorance is not a crime. I hope the Sixth Prince will forgive me."

By her words, did she mean if they were not of high status, she could disrespect them?

"I really didn’t know that whether a person speaks or behaves disrespectfully depends on the status of the person they’re dealing with!"

Xiao’er despised these kind of people the most.

Shangguan Xuanyi did not even glance at her. He lowered his head to Xiao’er and asked, "Shall we go?"

"Okay!" Xiao’er nodded. She felt chilled standing outside for a while.

Gu Hongxia bit her lower lip when she heard this. She felt somewhat wronged and unwilling, but when she thought about Shangguan Xuanyi’s cold expression and how he wordlessly let someone slap her, she did not dare to speak up again.

Du Yijin breathed a sigh of relief in secret, she really feared that her cousin would not understand and say something unexpected!

Seeing Shangguan Xuanyi and the others leave, Du Yijin and Gu Hongxia stood by the side of the road, watching their carriage ride away.

"Cousin, the Sixth Prince really does not know how to pity the fairer sex. He just left us two weak women in this sparsely populated wilderness without any concern," Gu Hongxia watched the departing carriage with a fascinated look in her eyes.

This did not bother Du Yijin. Worry? Who were they to the Sixth Prince? Why should the Sixth Prince worry about them? Absurd!

Du Yijin ignored her and turned to the coachman to inquire, "Old Zhao, can this carriage be repaired?"

The coachman shook his head, "I am afraid not, Miss. The carriage is too old. The axle between the wheels is broken. I am helpless."

Du Yijin looked down and indeed, it was beyond repair. They had no other option but to walk.

"Miss, you and your cousin can ride on the horses. I will lead the horse to take you back to the manor," the coachman suggested.

After a glance at the injured horse, Du Yijin shook her head firmly, "We’ll walk back."

"Walk back?!" Upon hearing this, Gu Hongxia screamed in disbelief.

"The horse is wounded. If we ride it now, it will only get worse!" Mrs. Gu was not good at managing the household, and she particularly favored her maternal family. The family’s coffers were running low. The horse was newly purchased and she could not bear to hurt it again! She would rather suffer herself than let it be hurt again!