Chapter 127: Sui Sui Has a Hat Now!

Sui Sui played and roughhoused with her brothers for a while, then the brothers had to return to the east courtyard, and Sui Sui also had to follow her mother consort back to the rear courtyard to sleep.

Although Aunt Xiang wanted to soothe the child to sleep, Princess Consort Qi was now bursting with maternal affection and could not bear to hand the little girl over to someone else.

So, she came to do the soothing!

As for the process of soothing a child, Princess Consort Qi considered herself quite practiced.

Today Sui Sui played with charcoal, and she got a bit dirty.

So, before sleeping, she still needed to take a bath.

After washing until she smelled fragrant, she was changed into clean nightclothes, and Princess Consort Qi held her as they went back to sleep.

The mother consort's embrace was warm and also fragrant.

Sui Sui, clinging and delighted, smelled and pressed close.

Princess Consort Qi liked Sui Sui's clinginess; she gently patted the little girl, soothed her for a while, then laid her on the bed.

Sui Sui was a little sleepy, yet she still wanted to snuggle against the mother consort.

Seeing the little child like this, Princess Consort Qi felt moved and wanted to smile; she raised her hand and gently stroked the girl's head: "Go to sleep now, we'll play again when you wake up. In a while, the fruit will ripen over at the villa, and our villa's cherries are especially delicious—let Sui Sui have the first taste, okay?"

Hearing the mother consort say that, Sui Sui obediently nodded and whispered, "Do you like to eat them, Mother Consort?"

As for the fruit, Princess Consort Qi still liked it, after all, seasonal things aren't always available.

So, she nodded.

Seeing that, Sui Sui quietly slipped into the blankets, squinting her eyes and smiling as she said, "Then at that time, Sui Sui will accompany the mother consort to eat together."

Princess Consort Qi still smiled and nodded, lightly patting the child's blanket.

In the mother consort's gentle patting, Sui Sui slowly drifted into dreamland.

Seeing the little girl asleep, Princess Consort Qi finally felt at ease and had Aunt Xiang put out the light.

After sitting a while longer, seeing that the little girl showed no sign of waking, Princess Consort Qi then rose and left.

As for Sui Sui's side, Aunt Xiang had arranged things, so Princess Consort Qi didn't need to worry.

She was angered by what the Chen Dalang family had done before, to the point of being unable to sleep.

After leaving the courtyard this time and calming down a bit, she summoned Aunt Qiu over.

Actually, Sui Sui really wanted to hold on a bit longer, waiting to hear a new story.

She had learned how to make coal balls; what's next?

She wanted to learn a new skill and then show it to the mother consort!

But a child's energy is actually limited.

After a day of exertion, she was truly tired.

So, the mother consort's warm hand lightly patted the blanket, and Sui Sui's eyelids began to flutter, unable to stay open.

The system watched this scene, its comforting data almost melting away.

Its voice was soft, conveying tenderness: 【Sui Sui, good night.】

The route to Qingzhou is far away; many things, if one wants to carry them out, are actually rather troublesome.

Princess Consort Qi summoned Aunt Qiu close, preparing to discuss with her how to handle this matter.

Since Xu Yue Yao is still in Jing Cheng, it would be inconvenient for them to simply wipe out the Chen Dalang family altogether.

Wouldn't that just be giving Xu Yue Yao what she wants, so she would have no scruples thereafter and could openly enjoy her current status?

We must let her have something to worry and fear about, constantly dangling before her.

So, the lives of the Chen Dalang family must be spared.

After careful consideration, Aunt Qiu slowly said, "I recall that the prince previously mentioned there being a coal mine over in Qingzhou?"

This matter, Prince Qi had indeed mentioned it before.

His Majesty's side had intended to develop it, but due to other affairs it was temporarily delayed, and thereafter it was never brought up again.

If the coal mine were to be mined, it would require manpower; thus, a portion of this year's corvée laborers would need to be assigned there.

Mining a coal mine is not a good livelihood.

Besides being dirty and exhausting, it also constantly carries a threat to life.

As soon as Aunt Qiu brought it up, Princess Consort Qi understood what she meant.

However, this matter, as a woman she is not suited to bring up much; it still requires the prince's side to act.

The prince……

Thinking of the prince, Princess Consort Qi began to get a headache.

I don't even know whether the result of the person-making he wanted has come out yet.

However, the news of a pregnancy can only be known after more than a month.

When the prince left the residence, he said he'd be back in three or four days; by now, calculating, he should be back, right?

Princess Consort Qi was uncertain, and she kept thinking……

Or, should we ask Prince Qing for help?

Considering how he came and went in a hurry today, it seems he still has official duties, and seems not very convenient.

Princess Consort Qi thought back and forth, feeling that nothing seemed quite right.

If it weren't for the fact that tomorrow she still needs to receive the Grand Princess at the residence, she would truly want to return to the residence to seek help from her brothers.

If it really won't work……

Going to ask an aunt would also do.

There will always be someone who can help.

Even in Princess Consort Qi's view, these people are more reliable than her own prince.

However, no rush for now; we'll talk about it after tomorrow.

Princess Consort of Qi did not sleep well that night.

The next morning, she specially let Hai Tang do her makeup properly, so that no one would notice her fatigue.

Sui Sui woke up very early; after Xiang Gugu helped her wash and dress, she put on the newly sewn square hat for her, saying, "Young lady, try it on; if you don't like it, I'll sew another style for you later."

Xiang Gugu's hands were still skillful; the simple square hat was sewn neatly, but two pieces of different-patterned, different-colored shimmering brocade were spliced together in contrasting colors, giving it a somewhat bold and adventurous feel.

To make the square hat sit more securely, Xiang Gugu also sewed two straps so they could go around the ears and be tied directly under the chin to fix the hat.

At the same time, to make the hat look nicer, Xiang Gugu also sewed two strings of decorative tassels on each side.

On the tassels were delicate little floral nets, with two small pearls inlaid as decoration, and more tassels hung below.

Xiang Gugu also controlled the length of the tassels well, so the ends just rested at the ear position.

The tassels would sway gently with the wearer's movements, adding a touch of lively and pretty beauty.

The hat's main color was lilac, embroidered with lovely floral and grass patterns, looking also quite fresh.

Although the spring wind was not cold, Sui Sui's hair had not yet grown out, and wearing a hat gave her a sense of security.

Sui Sui had never worn a hat before, yet this one was so gorgeous and pretty.

She moved her head a little in surprise, turning her eyes to look.

Xiang Gugu put the hat on properly, carefully tied the straps, neatened the tassels, then examined it and said, "Not bad; my needlework hasn't declined—I'll sew you another style later."

Hearing Xiang Gugu's praise, Sui Sui happily shook her head: "It's lovely, thank you, Aunt!"

Seeing the young lady's bright brows and eyes, Xiang Gugu smiled, eyes crinkling: "No need to thank me, Sui Sui—come, I'll take you to the mirror."

Xiang Gugu took Sui Sui's hand and led her to the mirror.

The bronze mirror was clear enough to show the little hat's playful cuteness.

Sui Sui happily shook her head, and the tassels on both sides swayed with her.

Xiang Gugu watched from one side, smiling satisfactorily, thinking she would sew another style later.

After the Princess Consort of Qi had freshened up and came over, she saw Sui Sui wearing a cute little hat, shaking her head and swaying, full of childlike playfulness and liveliness.

The patchwork-colored hat carried a hint of bold experimentation.

However, the finished product was quite good.

The Princess Consort of Qi liked it very much: "Add two gems to the forehead; we certainly don't lack those."

The Princess Consort of Qi had also added a lot of silver and jewelry to Sui Sui's private treasury, and various raw stones were available as well.

Xiang Gugu listened from the side, nodding repeatedly: "Yes, I'll add them next time I sew."

Although the hat's decorations were few, the workmanship was fine, showing that some thought had been put into it.

Seeing this, the Princess Consort of Qi felt satisfied and more reassured about Xiang Gugu.

Seeing Sui Sui still swaying before the mirror, delighted, the Princess Consort of Qi couldn't help but smile: "Sui Sui, let's go have breakfast first, then we can look again later, all right?"

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