Chapter 164: All the Debt

He Er Guniang stubbornly stiffened her neck and grabbed Sui Sui's hand.

Feeling the sister's released goodwill, Sui Sui obediently let herself be led, shifted her hips slightly, and moved a few steps closer to He Er Guniang.

Feeling the little sister's approach, He Er Guniang couldn't keep her lips from curving.

She also leaned toward Sui Sui and whispered, "Little sister, I'm Shuran, you can call me Shuran sister."

He Shuran finished stating her name and curiously asked, "Little sister, what's your name?"

Silently noting the sister's name, Sui Sui also whispered, "Hello Shuran sister, I'm Sui Sui; the Sui Sui of year after year—doesn't that sound super nice?"

Brother said her name is the most beautiful in the whole Jing Cheng!

Sui Sui believes brother, and it's that mysterious kind of belief.

He Shuran, aside from her own sister, almost has no friends and rarely goes out.

Having never interacted, she naturally doesn't know much.

Tang Youqing is tall and the Tang family is prestigious; He Shuran doesn't want to cause trouble for her family.

When He Shuran said this, her expression was extremely sincere.

Tang Youqing, already restless, found his mind even more irritated by the children's tiny voices.

He Shuran nodded in agreement, "Nice."

Sui Sui proudly wanted to shake her head, but remembering she was listening to the sutra, she restrained herself.

But if Sui Sui says it's nice, it should be nice, right?

However, this clearly isn't the time for jealousy.

So she pursed her lips, only protecting Sui Sui, and didn't dare glare back.

She previously didn't think her name meant anything, just a code; others only knew who she was.

Children also don't understand whether this name is good or that name is pleasant.

But after having brother, Sui Sui feels her name now has meaning.

Sui Sui was startled, instinctively flinched, and pressed against He Shuran.

Noticing the child's movement, Princess Consort of Qi turned her head and saw the child somehow getting farther away from her?

After saying that, fearing Sui Sui might think her praise wasn't sincere, He Shuran thought a moment and added, "Especially nice."

Thinking Sui Sui was within her peripheral vision, she wasn't afraid of losing her.

The two little girls whispered to each other and became familiar in no time.

She couldn't control herself and glared at the two children.

She blamed herself for focusing on the sutra and not noticing the kids.

As a result, the child ran off to play with other kids.

Sui Sui didn't need to look closely; she knew her sister's words were certainly true.

At this moment, hearing the pretty sister also say her name is nice...

Princess Consort of Qi clearly noticed Tang Youqing's unnatural expression.

The other probably didn't act, just his expression looked off.

This displeased Princess Consort of Qi quite a bit.

She shifted her position and leaned toward Sui Sui.

Noticing Mother Consort's movement, Sui Sui whispered to He Shuran, "Mother Consort is coming."

The children's actions were naturally noticed by Lady He.

She even saw Tang Youqing glare at the child.

But...

Sometimes, in such an environment, some things are clearly unsatisfactory yet helpless.

Lady He even regretted choosing this day to offer incense and listen to the sutra.

But in previous years, at this time, she hadn't encountered Lady Tang and her party.

Why did it happen this year?

She has anger she can't voice, and a fire she can't let out.

Lady He felt a bit suffocated with anger.

Princess Consort of Qi was also displeased; she gave Tang Youqing a cool glance, showing no emotion.

However, one could tell she wasn't in a good mood.

Lady Tang kept watching the surroundings, completely unable to focus on the sutra, how could she not notice this scene?

She did notice, got so angry she clenched her teeth, glared at Tang Youqing with resentment, and then wanted to make amends to the two ladies.

But Princess Consort of Qi raised her hand and gently patted Sui Sui's back, then bowed her head to soothe the little girl.

Lady He also gently embraced He Shuran, lowered her head and remained silent.

Lady Tang:...!

It's all her debt, it's all her debt!

Lady Tang finally could only glare at Tang Youqing with resentment.

As a result, Tang Youqing also felt displeased, turning her head away.

This scene made Lady Tang even more furious.

The sutra recitation lasted about half an hour.

After it ended, everyone gradually headed back.

The pilgrims who went up the mountain to dig wild vegetables, some having tried it, were tired and returned.

The monks hadn't returned yet, but from afar they seemed to be considering descending.

Lady Tang thought back to what had happened; after the gathering broke up, she hurriedly put on a smile, saying inside and out nothing more than: "Fourth Daughter is still a child, doesn't understand, letting the two kids suffer injustice—I'm sorry."

Never mind what trouble the children have gotten into.

Anyway, Lady Tang's attitude was so good that people really couldn't find fault with it.

It felt like punching cotton, only to discover hidden steel needles inside that pricked the hand.

It was both unpleasant and stiflingly angry.

Lady He's smile was much fainter than when she arrived; the He family's background originally couldn't compare to the Tang family's, so at this point it really wasn't worth quibbling over—she could only say she didn't mind.

Princess Consort of Qi simply didn't show a smile.

Her good nature doesn't mean she's easy to bully.

Moreover, she had to consider the face of the Qi Wangfu.

Although it was just a scuffle among children, Princess Consort of Qi was displeased and lost face directly.

In the end, Lady Tang's smile froze stiff; everyone barely maintained decorum and temporarily parted.

After returning, Lady Tang raised her hand and punched Tang Youqing twice: "Who am I doing this for?"

"Isn't it for you?"

"Do you think being a concubine or a principal wife is that easy?"

"You've never been suppressed, so you don't know how bitter it is!"

"Mother does all this for your own good—how can you not understand her painstaking efforts?"

"Being comfortable as the principal wife, managing the household without anyone thwarting you—isn't that good?"

"When you can no longer run the household yourself and have to bow to others in everything, don't come crying back to us!"

……

Lady Tang was truly furious to the point of being snarky.

She was putting on smiles here and there, all just to draw closer to the Qi Wangfu so that Tang Youqing could marry in and become the heir's consort.

"A proper wedding, entering through the main gate as the heir's consort—isn't that better than going to the Eastern Palace as a concubine?"

As a result, Tang Youqing didn't appreciate it at all!

Lady Tang felt that all her sincerity and plans had been fed to the dogs.

The problem is, they're her children, her responsibility; even if she's angry, she has to grit her teeth and swallow it.

Turning back, she still has to put on a smile and help her children plot these matters!

Tang Youqing wanted to retort, but Tang Lingheng rushed in at that moment and threw a not‑long green snake onto her.

"Ahhhh..." a piercing scream shattered the quiet of the fasting hall.

Sui Sui had just followed Mother Consort into the room, hadn't even gotten to eat the refreshments, when she heard that scream.

She shrank back in fright, instinctively pressing close to Mother Consort, clutching her thigh, too scared to speak.

The second watch was at 19:00.