Chapter 155: Meng Ce Fei

Feng Xuanrui, while listening to Sui Sui, said there was nothing he wanted and felt a bit disappointed.

But he thought, it's fine; when giving a gift, how could one ask the recipient?

He had to think carefully about what to give his sister.

He must not be outdone by the fourth brother!

The fifth brother would be even worse!

Don't think he didn't see; the fifth brother was sneakingly perking up his ears to listen, probably brewing something nasty in his heart.

The children returned with earthworms, and after coming back they each prepared to go to their own rooms to sleep.

Feng Xuanrui and the others kept looking back every few steps, and Feng Xuanjie, unusually bold, said, "Sister, I will carve it as soon as possible."

Sui Sui waved a hand while obediently nodding, "Alright, fourth brother, I'll wait for you."

"Third brother, take care."

"Older brother, good night."

Then tonight they'll send someone to inform them that I'm not at the Residence; someone has to preside over the relevant matters.

Princess Consort of Qi was very scared; the fragrant little girl was covered in the smell of earthworms!

Having seen the storm, looking at the gentle drizzle now, she even thought it rather elegant and helpful for cultivating sentiment.

As for Ren Ce Fei's side?

No news so far; the problem seems minor, so tomorrow they'll send someone to ask.

The maids and aunties obviously also recalled the grand scene of those years.

Tonight, they must definitely wash and groom.

Having thought it through, Princess Consort of Qi also thought of the incense offering.

Although Sui Sui is young, she is already a qualified water-serving master.

The scene back then when the green snake slapped the face, huh…

Sui Sui obediently let Xiang Gugu take her to wash and groom.

Considering the earthworm matter, if Ren Ce Fei is unwilling, let Meng Ce Fei handle it.

Now thinking back, it's both infuriating and funny.

Tomorrow probably won't work; I have to go offer incense myself!

Except toward Feng Xuanrui, she treats the other brothers fairly and doesn't show double standards.

However, compared with earlier years, when her own second brother molded a green snake and almost slapped it onto his own face, Ren Ce Fei thought, these are just minor incidents now.

On the other side, in the east courtyard, Ren Ce Fei had already seen the earthworm gift.

At most, the first visual impression wasn't that great.

The young masters all returned, and Princess Consort of Qi also had Xiang Gugu take Sui Sui to wash and groom.

She remained completely calm throughout, even laughing and teasing the maid beside her, "Look, the young lady is so thoughtful, giving such a little trinket. It looks kinda gross, but it's the child's sincere heart, and it's not scary."

……

At that time, Ren Ce Fei actually cursed with every profanity she knew in her life.

When the outburst happened, Ren Ce Fei even jumped up and gave the second brother two slaps.

What was the result?

The second brother, that silly kid, thought his mother was playing with him, molding the snake and chasing his mother for several rounds.

That scene, Ren Ce Fei felt she never wanted to experience again in this life.

Never again!!!

By comparison, the earthworm is far more Gentleness than that snake.

However, the visual effect is lacking, and after seeing it repeatedly, it feels especially sticky.

Thinking of this, Ren Ce Fei waved her hand, "Alright, throw it into the garden, let it grow for now; I heard this thing is good for nurturing Flower."

Sun Gugu mustered courage and went to deal with the thing.

After handling it, she saw Hai Tang coming from the Princess Consort's courtyard.

Hai Tang came to mention the matter of the Princess Consort going to Lanruo Si tomorrow.

Since the Residence has no supervising master, at least one of the two Side Consorts must step out to temporarily manage affairs.

Upon hearing this, Ren Ce Fei waved her hand, "Ah, no, no, my head's fuzzy, my eyes are dizzy, it's over, I'm falling ill…"

Ren Ce Fei said that and collapsed onto the couch, unmoving no matter who called.

Hai Tang: ……

If she didn't know the temperaments of these masters in the Residence well, Hai Tang might have been scared half to death.

Now Hai Tang, already accustomed, thought of the Princess Consort's instructions and smiled, "Since the Side Consort is ill, I'll go ask next door."

Next door lives Meng Ce Fei.

Ren Ce Fei, upon hearing that, almost couldn't help but nod.

Better let Meng Ce Fei manage affairs; she is too lazy to listen to these Trivial matters.

However, thinking that she's still feigning illness, she didn't nod for now.

Hai Tang left quickly, and Sun Gugu felt helpless, wanting to persuade but not knowing what to say.

In response, Ren Ce Fei fidgeted with her delicate fingers and laughed, "Auntie, what are you afraid of? That child Sui Sui gave such a gift, the Princess Consort surely feels guilty. At this moment I pretend to be ill; she can't say anything, didn't even look at Hai Tang, and just told her to go ask next door."

Sun Gugu's helplessness wasn't solely because of that.

What she wanted to say was, Master, you should fight a little.

If you stay this lax every day, will others think you're easy to bully?

We still have the second and fifth young masters to protect!

However, the words were already at her lips, but Sun GuGu didn't know what she had thought of, and she sighed heavily again; in the end she still didn't speak.

Haitang went to tell Meng Ce Fei about the Princess Consort's plans to leave the residence tomorrow.

Meng Ce Fei's first reaction was……

Why not let Ren Ce Fei handle it, but instead make me do it?

She doesn't want to manage it either!

However, thinking that Haitang had gone next door earlier, she must have asked them, and they weren't willing, so she came to ask me instead.

Meng Ce Fei didn't mean to make things difficult for the Princess Consort's maid; she cursed Ren Ce Fei a few times in her heart, then reluctantly agreed.

After Haitang left, Meng Ce Fei said angrily, "Will Ren Xiu be going too far? She neither manages it nor pushes it onto me, and I don't want to manage it either."

Ren Xiu is Ren Ce Fei's boudoir name.

Who wants to manage the petty squabbles where one concubine pulls another's hair flower and another pinches fingers with yet another?

Just hearing about it is annoying.

Yet one cannot ignore it.

She and Ren Ce Fei are two consorts listed in the imperial jade register; their status differs from that of ordinary concubines, and they have the duty to assist the Princess Consort in managing the household.

If the Princess Consort is not in the residence, household affairs are entrusted to them—that's within the rules, and they cannot easily refuse.

The problem is, when the Princess Consort is present, those concubines are all as honest as quails.

When the Princess Consort is away, hearing that she and Ren Ce Fei are managing the household, those concubines start pulling each other's hair flowers.

Even a trivial matter like a handkerchief can stir up trouble before them.

However, Ren Ce Fei is straightforward and harsh in rebuttal, so those concubines can still restrain themselves a bit.

Meng Ce Fei is somewhat gentler, and those concubines are used to giving people the cold shoulder; sometimes they even start fighting right in front of her.

Thinking of these things, Meng Ce Fei feels annoyed.

Her attendant Tian GuGu said helplessly, "I heard that today Ren Ce Fei, together with the newly arrived young lady, went to the pond to watch the fish for a while; I suppose the Princess Consort is indulging her out of consideration for this matter."

If we don't mention it, it's fine; but as soon as we do, Meng Ce Fei gets angry again: "It's hard enough that she's so blunt, yet she still has scheming—she's really going too far!"

What could Tian GuGu say? She could only smile and reply, "Yes, yes, yes."

"She even uses a child—if that's not over the line, what is?"

"Yes, yes, yes."

"Xiao San really likes that child; I think that young lady is fine—why don't we go keep her company?"

"Yes, yes, yes."

"I'm not scheming either; I just simply want to see the child."

"Yes, yes, yes."

"Auntie, are you just humoring me?"

"No, no, no."

……

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