Chapter 169

The child bravely expressed their liking.

To Princess Consort of Qi, Sui Sui had made progress again and also become brave.

This made her very relieved.

At this moment, let alone an earring, even if there were a pit ahead, she felt she could bravely charge forward.

Princess Consort of Qi struggled to suppress her joy, stroked Sui Sui's back, and said softly, "Sui Sui likes it, then thank sister, okay?"

Mother Consort's meaning is that we can accept it?

Sui Sui turned her head, her brows and eyes clear, looking at Mother Consort with a surprised expression.

What met her eyes was Princess Consort of Qi's gentle, faint smile.

Mother Consort is really too good, too gentle!

Whimper!

At this moment, a slight lowering of the head reveals the little girl's appearance right before her eyes.

Thinking of these, her heart felt like it was soaked in honey water, somewhat sweet, with an indescribable wrinkled feeling.

The child's liking is muffled, with a hint of a wronged tone.

But Princess Consort of Qi knows this is not resentment, it is moving, joy, pleasure.

Lady He did not understand and also looked over.

However, what's with this hint of a crying tone?

After hearing that, He Shuran was not entirely reassured; although she was older than Sui Sui, she wasn't much taller than Sui Sui.

However, she still remembered the gift she liked.

I really like Mother Consort!

I want to like her for a lifetime!

She gently stroked the child's back again, soothingly saying, "Mother Consort also likes Sui Sui, likes Sui Sui the most."

So, the little hand reached out, obediently took the gift, voice soft, with a hint of a crying tone: "Thank you, Sister Shuran."

Lady He watched from the side, couldn't help laughing and teasing: "Childish words, nothing cuter; Princess Consort, you're blessed henceforth, with both son and daughter, and they're both good children, how wonderful!"

The child's meaning is simple: she likes Mother Consort encouraging and protecting her this way.

Upon hearing this, Sui Sui felt even more embarrassed, burrowing into Mother Consort's skirt and refusing to come out.

He Shuran knew her younger sister wasn't resentful, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Sui Sui, being watched by so many people, still felt a bit embarrassed.

No, I want to like her even in the next life!

Sui Sui's heart felt both sour and sweet; the child doesn't know how to hide emotions, pursing her lips, wanting to cry a little.

She lightly leaned against Princess Consort of Qi's thigh, her whole face buried in Mother Consort's skirt, voice muffled, with a hint of embarrassment: "I like Mother Consort."

Princess Consort of Qi also looked over with concern.

Seeing Sui Sui lightly pursing her lips, not looking resentful, He Shuran asked with some worry: "Sui Sui, what's wrong?"

The little girl's soft voice made people's hearts soften as well.

Lady He herself also had both son and daughter, and they were good children.

But He Shuran's body had always been a stone weighing on her heart.

Not hearing the doctor say that the day this child completely stands firm, her heart would be like seaweed drifting on water, forever unable to truly settle.

Princess Consort of Qi, having been teased, also rarely felt a bit embarrassed, smiling as she said a few words to Lady He.

Sister Shuran gave a gift, and Sui Sui remembered that she should return the favor.

Even if she didn't return it then, she would still have to return it later.

After Sui Sui rummaged through her belongings, she then took off a beautiful gold bracelet from her wrist.

Children's bracelets are made with even more flashy craftsmanship.

Besides various floral patterns, it is also inlaid with various beautiful gemstones.

Red, green, purple, blue…

Colorful and vibrant, it perfectly matches children's fondness for bright colors.

Sui Sui's bracelet is multicolored, looking flashy as well.

This bracelet was selected from the box of jewelry that Princess Consort of Qi had kept for Sui Sui as a treasure.

Xiang Gugu picked a flashy style that children like and put it on Sui Sui.

Sui Sui, having just woken up groggy, didn't look closely.

Now looking at it, she still feels somewhat reluctant.

However, Sister Shuran is nice, and Sui Sui also likes the earring.

So, setting aside her last bit of reluctance, Sui Sui handed the beautiful bracelet to He Shuran, saying, "Sister Shuran, this is for you; may you be safe and sound, live a hundred years."

Sui Sui knows only a few blessing phrases.

She already knew just one: "peace and safety."

In order to better thank Sister Shuran, Sui Sui had just secretly asked Le Le.

Le Le taught her that the blessing He Shuran most desires is probably: safety, health, longevity.

Therefore, "live a hundred years" is the most sincere and best blessing for He Shuran.

He Shuran doesn't know how many times she has heard the blessing "live a hundred years."

But hearing it from Sui Sui always feels somewhat different from hearing it from others.

Sui Sui's eyes bright, with an innocent and sincere expression, she looked at her and said: "Live a hundred years."

He Shuran felt something wonderful: after hearing Sui Sui's blessing, it seemed as if she could truly live a hundred years.

Before, she had never felt this way.

Now, it is rare to have such an experience.

That is a feeling that is hard to describe, mysterious and profound.

This left He Shuran stunned for a moment.

By the time she reacted, Sui Sui had already slipped a bracelet onto her wrist.

Realizing she had zoned out, He Shuran gave an embarrassed smile, pressed her lips, her voice trembling slightly: "Thank you, Sui Sui; elder sister will live a hundred years."

He Shuran wanted to say: she would live a long life, protecting the adorable Sui Sui, year after year without worry.

For such a lovely little sister, she too must live bravely and strongly!

At this moment, the torment and discomfort brought by illness seemed to have dissipated.

For the first time, He Shuran firmly resolved her thought: she wants to live, she must live, she shall live!

Not only for herself, but also for those who love her.

Sui Sui's blessing was simple yet sincere.

Lady He's eyes reddened upon hearing it.

What she most hopes for is that her daughter may live a hundred years.

Actually, not living to a hundred is normal; after all, nowadays few people truly reach a hundred years.

Lady He felt she wasn't being greedy; at the very least, living to the age of coming-of-age would be nice, to see more of this world.

The two little girls happily exchanged gifts and then played together for a while.

Sui Sui told He Shuran about the flowers she had seen in the village, the grasses, the wild vegetables she had dug up, and the chickens and ducks she had fed.

To He Shuran, it was a completely unfamiliar yet wondrous world.

She sat there, chin propped on her hands, beside the flickering candlelight, occasionally widening her eyes: "Wow, really?"

"Do chickens run that far?"

"Can they still fly?"

"Good heavens, what flower is that? I've never seen it!"

……

Lady He and Princess Consort of Qi sat aside chatting, watching her daughter's lively expression, unable to help turning away, her eyes reddening again.

Princess Consort of Qi, watching from the side, soothed her gently: "The child is happy; you should be happy too."

Upon hearing this, Lady He kept nodding: "Yes, happy, happy."

She ought to be happy.

Her child, rarely so lively and joyful; if she were sad, the child seeing it might also become sad.

Lady He kept telling herself, and her mood gradually calmed.

Second watch.