Chapter 121

The Princess Consort of Qi's thoughts are very simple; I may not understand, but praising is right.

Children should, after all, grow up being praised.

Especially Sui Sui; she has endured too much hardship and received too many contemptuous looks.

So, the young lady now needs more praise and encouragement.

Thinking of this, the Princess Consort of Qi spread her arms and gestured: "Sui Sui, you are so——smart!"

After saying that, the Princess Consort of Qi probably felt it wasn't enough; she shook her head and strained to widen the distance between her arms: "No, Sui Sui is even smarter than all that——!"

Sui Sui was still shaping the charcoal balls when she heard Mother Consort's words; she lifted her head, the little girl's face had black and yellow patches, looking like a little flower‑cat fallen into a mud puddle, but her eyes were unusually bright.

It was as if, in the mire‑filled pond, a new moon was reflected.

Elsewhere it was dark and chaotic; only that reflected new moon was bright and beautiful.

The Princess Consort of Qi watched from the side, feeling both relieved and amused.

Sui Sui laughed happily, holding up her charcoal ball to Mother Consort: "Mother Consort, look, I've rolled it into one again!"

After gesturing, Sui Sui then placed it on an empty spot to the side and carefully poked small holes.

Sui Sui didn't forget what the system said: these holes are important and must be poked well.

So, when making the holes, she kept a straight face, especially earnest.

Her short, cute little hand reached over, poked once, kept poking until she couldn't anymore, then pulled it out and continued poking.

Looking at the coal ball, after she had poked it full of holes, Sui Sui set it aside and moved on to the next one.

Seeing the little girl happy, the Princess Consort of Qi also joined in making the coal balls.

Although, when she first touched the yellow clay, she felt strong resistance and discomfort both physically and psychologically.

The Princess Consort of Qi tried to ignore these as much as possible, and also kept herself under control.

Once you get addicted to making them, you can actually forget the initial discomfort.

After the first coal ball failed, the Princess Consort of Qi's unwillingness to lose surged.

For the second one, she tried to make it better.

Moreover, from time to time she would discuss with Sui Sui: "Sui Sui, Mother Consort thinks we should use less of this yellow clay, otherwise it won't burn."

"But it can't be too little, or it won't stick."

"Mother Consort thinks your proportion is pretty good."

……

The Princess Consort of Qi went from discomfort to being adept in about five coal balls.

Moreover, she is an adult with good embroidery skills, so her handicrafts are also fine.

The sixth coal ball turned out nicely shaped.

Moreover, she roughly figured out the proportion, feeling that using less yellow clay would make the ball sturdier and more burn-resistant.

The mother and daughter were especially happy making them.

Feng Xuanrui's side, however, was not very happy.

Today they didn't practice horseback archery, but physical fitness.

Either standing like a stake, or squatting in horse stance.

It depends on each young master's own choice.

Moreover, after the basics, they also need to squat in horse stance while holding a basin with both hands.

……

Various weight-bearing training is not at all enjoyable.

Feng Xuanrui used to be unable to sit still, and also couldn't endure the practice.

Originally he thought his sister would come to watch, and he wanted to show off his abilities as an older brother, so that when his sister followed along to learn later, he could act as a little teacher.

He waited on the left, but his sister didn't come.

He looked to the right, but his sister still didn't come.

So, where is the sister?

Feng Xuanrui gradually became irritable.

Unfortunately, Master Shen doesn't care about these.

As soon as they saw he couldn't stand, they gave him extra practice.

Feng Xuanrui: ……

Wuu wuu, so, where is the sister?

Feng Xuanbin could not stand still even more, a half-grown child, where would he have any steadiness?

So, while watching the sixth brother being scolded, Feng Xuanbin quietly moved his feet and ran off……

Yes, he skipped class again.

When Master Shen discovered it, he had already run some distance away.

Seeing this scene, Master Shen's anger surged wildly.

He first gave a slight smile, then loudly shouted: "Seventh Young Master, where are you going? Come back for extra practice!!!"

Feng Xuanbin's fleeing leg twitched slightly, then he turned a corner, and honestly came back.

After coming back, he still hehe-laughed while making an excuse for himself: "Master, I went to the restroom, the restroom."

Master Shen gave him a sideways glance, then mercilessly added weight.

Feng Xuanbin: ……

Wuu wuu!

Really want to escape!

The other three young masters, however, were honestly training.

Although they actually also wanted to skip class.

However, Feng Xuanbo is quite scheming.

He usually watches the other brothers to see if anyone is testing the master's bottom line.

If someone tests it and finds it unworkable, then he honestly accepts his fate.

If he finds it feasible, he will surely make some small moves secretly.

At this point, Feng Xuanbin had tested it and found it unworkable, so Feng Xuanbo gave up his thoughts.

Feng Xuanjie is simply timid and dare not.

As for Feng Xuancang, being the eldest among those present, as the older brother he must shoulder the responsibility.

Even if he is unwilling to practice, he must still honestly play a leading role.

So he gritted his teeth and tacitly allowed the master to intensify his conduct.

When the brothers were enduring wind and rain, Sui Sui was still happily kneading mud.

A lot of mud has been kneaded, but not many truly meet the proportion.

However, there are still quite a few that are usable.

Those with less yellow clay proportion are actually all usable.

But the highest cost‑effective one is still the three‑to‑seven ratio type.

Sui Sui has also kneaded quite a bit of this, and the holes she punched are quite decent.

Now the system is worried about……

Princess Consort of Qi obviously doesn't take these seriously, just treating them as toys to pacify the child.

Moreover, even if Princess Consort of Qi discovers the use of these honeycomb coals, she probably won't take them to heart.

Rich mansions reek of wine and meat, while on the road lie frozen corpses.

This, in a class society, is a most true‑to‑life depiction.

They live in abundance and would not easily understand what affordable, good‑quality coal briquettes mean for ordinary people.

So even if Princess Consort of Qi discovers that this coal burns better than usual and is low‑cost, she probably won't think much of it.

Sui Sui actually doesn't understand these either; she just finds them fun.

The system, however, has some concern for the country and the people.

Soon it realized it was a system—worrying about these things, is that reasonable?

Forget it, don't think about it.

It still wonders whether it can draw a cute and reliable lullaby‑singer tonight.

By the way, it also checks if there are any children's lullabies or the like to sing for Sui Sui.

The little girl has recently been humming 'one sheep in the east, one sheep in the west'.

Just as the mother and daughter were happily playing, Aunt Qiu came with news that the Marquis Protecting the State was coming to pay a visit.

Earlier, on the road, the other party had exchanged simple thanks and pleasantries; upon hearing that Sui Sui would come to knead coal briquettes, they showed a bit of interest, saying they would come along to join.

The other party works at the Ministry of Works and also cares about these matters.

Princess Consort of Qi thought the other party's earlier words were just polite talk, not expecting them to actually come.

Taking another look at her current appearance, she indeed seems somewhat impolite.

She hurriedly rose, ordering Aunt Qiu to receive the guest while she took Sui Sui to change clothes.

Second watch.