Chapter 123: Physical Training

Princess Consort of Qi saw Sui Sui agreed, then she raised her head, smiled at the Marquis Protecting the State: "Really sorry, after all it's the child who worked hard all morning to make the charcoal ball, so I had to ask her."

The Marquis Protecting the State usually doesn't discipline his children much; although he doesn't understand many things, he still grasps their deeper meaning.

He felt that the Princess Consort of Qi's approach was quite good for the child.

The Marquis Protecting the State felt he had learned something, and he smiled and waved his hand: "Of course, of course."

The charcoal ball hasn't dried yet, so it's not convenient to move it for now.

However, the Marquis Protecting the State has already arranged with this side; later he'll send someone over to pick it up, and that will be fine.

Although this charcoal ball isn't really like the ones they have nowadays, it's precisely because it's different that the Marquis Protecting the State has become interested.

He thought…

Maybe there will be a surprise?

He had originally come to give guidance, but the little girl had already finished making the charcoal ball, so the Marquis Protecting the State didn't speak further; besides, he had other things to attend to, so he soon took his leave.

The Princess Consort of Qi politely kept him for a moment, then saw him off.

After seeing off the Marquis Protecting the State, the Princess Consort of Qi then brought Sui Sui back to the rear courtyard.

The little girl had lost interest in making charcoal balls; she no longer wanted to do it herself and wanted to go watch her brothers' lessons.

The Princess Consort of Qi naturally went along with Sui Sui, taking her hand to look at the lessons ahead.

Today there's no need for archery or horseback riding, so everyone's lessons are relatively quiet.

But it's also more tiring.

All the young masters are doing weight-bearing training.

Leg strength needs to be strengthened, arm strength also needs to be increased, and every part of the body needs to be enhanced.

A good physique is the foundation of archery and horsemanship, right?

So, basic training must keep up.

When Sui Sui passed by, the brothers were doing arm-strengthening extra training.

Each person held their arms level, carrying a stack of books in their hands.

Master Shen held a ruler, strolling among the young masters, occasionally correcting their nonstandard movements.

"Raise your arms."

"Don't move your wrists randomly."

……

Master Shen's voice wasn't loud, and his tone still carried a smile.

But the young masters all feared him.

The students' fear of the teacher seems to be a habit.

Feng Xuanbin, who previously fussed about wanting to skip class, is now honestly training.

He is young, so his load is lighter.

On each arm, he carries three thin books.

Actually the weight is ordinary, but the difficulty lies in persevering.

Feng Xuanrui and the others had originally found it hard to persist, each gritting their teeth and saying: "I'm tired, I need a rest."

But as soon as they saw Sui Sui arrive, each one refused to lose, striving to straighten their backs and make their arms even straighter.

The result was……

Even more tired!

Wuu wuu!

The extra training is so hard!

Sui Sui looked at her brothers' state and couldn't help but reveal envious starry eyes.

The little girl, admiring and impressed, whispered: "Brothers, you're so amazing!"

In Sui Sui's eyes, brothers who can lift such a thick stack of books are all strongman brothers!

The Princess Consort of Qi looked at the young young masters; their spirits were still good, though their expressions occasionally twisted, she knew they weren't exhausted and could keep practicing, so she felt reassured.

Moreover, she trusted Master Shen.

At most, he would push the young masters to the limit of their stamina, and wouldn't really engage in mindless training that harmed the children's foundations.

So the Princess Consort of Qi gently patted Sui Sui's head: "Sui Sui needs to eat more rice, to strengthen her body, and then she can train together with her brothers."

Sui Sui is still too thin.

If the physical foundation is lacking, forced training is not beneficial for a child's growth.

Furthermore, there's no companion for her, so the Princess Consort of Qi hasn't let Sui Sui train with her brothers for now.

Hearing the Mother Consort's words, Sui Sui nodded solemnly: "Mm, Mother Consort, don't worry, I will definitely eat more rice and grow bigger!"

The little girl became serious, puffing out her cute bun-like face.

Actually, calling it a bun face isn't accurate; Sui Sui's little face hasn't truly become like a bun yet, but when puffed out it's cute and lovable, soft and squeezable.

However, the Princess Consort of Qi believes it will happen soon.

After a while of nurturing, Sui Sui will be able to have a truly cute and squeezable bun face.

Sui Sui's arrival let the brothers persist a little longer.

Soon, Master Shen had them rest first, adjust their arm strength, and move their whole bodies.

Then it was time to move on to leg-strength training.

Weighted running.

Feng Xuanrui and the others, whenever they had a moment, would come over to Sui Sui's side.

"Little sister, little sister, did you make the charcoal ball?"

Is it fun?

You've kneaded the dough well, bake it for brother; brother's been a bit cold these past two days.

……

Feng Xuanrui was the first to squeeze in; just as he spoke a sentence, before he got Sui Sui's reply, Feng Xuanbin successfully pushed him out using his weight advantage.

Feng Xuanbin hadn't even spoken when Feng Xuanjie and Feng Xuanbo together pushed him out as well.

A group of children squeezed the weak Sui Sui into the middle; although the brothers were impolite to each other, either squeezing or pinching, causing the crowd to shout 'wa la la'.

But they all tacitly avoided squeezing Sui Sui, leaving enough space for the cute little sister.

In response to the brothers' question, Sui Sui tilted her head and obediently replied: 'I've made it, it's fun!'

I've made a lot, but I need to give some to Uncle Su; if you brothers like it, I'll make more tomorrow!

……

When the little girl said she'd make more, everyone also became interested.

Especially the youngest, Feng Xuanbin, who was at the age when he loved to play the most.

So, upon hearing they could play with mud, he immediately turned his head, looking pleadingly at Princess Consort of Qi: 'Mother Consort, can I also make some?'

Princess Consort of Qi was amused by his look, raised her hand and pointed to Master Shen not far away: 'Ask Master Shen to see if he can give you leave; no skipping class, okay.'

Feng Xuanbin skipped class the day Feng Xuanrui returned home, and the next day Master Shen punished him.

Now he still remembers the taste of being punished.

So, when it came to not skipping class, he shrank his head guiltily, his voice lacking confidence: '... Okay, okay.'

Though he said that, Feng Xuanbin didn't dare to really go ask Master Shen.

Wu wu!

If he says something wrong, he will definitely be punished again.

Feng Xuanbin felt he needed to think of another way.

A way to skip class without being punished.

Their break time was short, and Master Shen soon gave a light cough.

Even if Feng Xuanrui and the others were unwilling, they had to honestly return to class.

Carrying weight while running was already routine for them, not considered difficult.

But to Sui Sui, it was still quite novel.

She looked at her brothers with curiosity and longing, running lap after lap around the field.

In the process, Feng Xuanrui and Feng Xuanbin started fighting.

They really came to blows, the two brothers even fell to the ground, pulling each other's hair!

Watching this scene, Sui Sui's eyes widened especially round.

She couldn't help but lift her foot and rush over there, but she forgot her hand was still in Mother Consort's hand.

With that lunge, she didn't actually run, and Princess Consort of Qi instinctively pulled her back.

After Sui Sui turned half a circle in a daze in front of Princess Consort of Qi, she returned to Mother Consort's side.

She looked blankly at her brothers' side, then at Mother Consort, and said somewhat aggrieved: 'Seventh brother is beating brother, I want to go help brother!'

Second watch