Chapter 184: This Is Father King

Everyone present, except the little Sui Sui, wasn't foolish; they could tell that Ren Ce Fei was being sarcastic there.

Car Maid, hearing that, became displeased, swaying as she tugged Prince Qi's sleeve, her voice a bit softer: "Prince~".

Prince Qi was originally looking at Sui Sui and, for the time being, was not ready to attend to anything else.

But Car Maid kept tugging his sleeve, shaking him, leaving Prince Qi no choice but to stand up.

After standing, Prince Qi first looked at Ren Ce Fei.

Aside from when Princess Consort of Qi entered, at which she would stand and bow, she otherwise sat there leisurely sipping tea.

At this moment, Prince Qi looked over, Ren Ce Fei hadn't even lifted her head.

Prince Qi thought, had he ever taken advantage of this side consort before?

The answer is no!

Thinking that, Prince Qi withdrew his gaze and looked at Princess Consort.

Princess Consort's gaze was on Sui Sui; noticing his gaze, she lifted her head and looked at Prince Qi with a puzzled glance.

Prince Qi: …

Alright, the Princess Consort didn't notice anything amiss at all.

Finally, Prince Qi, helpless, could only turn his head, furrowing his brows slightly as he looked at Car Maid: "Can't you be quiet for a while?"

Car Maid, feeling aggrieved by his words, wanted to say a few more sentences, but Prince Qi had already withdrawn his gaze and squatted down again.

At this moment, Princess Consort of Qi hadn't taken a seat yet; Sui Sui stood by her leg, one hand gently holding Mother Consort, her big round eyes looking puzzled and curious at the chubby uncle right before her.

Prince Qi had a somewhat middle‑aged, slightly plump look; he wasn't excessively fat, but his belly did have a noticeable curve.

When he squatted down, it took some effort; after adjusting his posture a bit, he finally smiled kindly.

His face was fleshy; when he smiled, the flesh gathered, squashing his round eyes into crescent shapes: "Don't be scared, don't be scared, tell Uncle, how old are you?"

Sui Sui didn't understand why Mother Consort said this was Father King, but Father King called him Uncle.

She anxiously lifted her head and glanced at Mother Consort.

Princess Consort of Qi gently touched her little hat and said warmly: "Sui Sui, rest assured, Father King is listening."

After saying that, Princess Consort of Qi glanced at Prince Qi again.

With that glance, Prince Qi subconsciously wanted to pull his foot back, but quickly restrained himself.

He reacted swiftly and quickly corrected himself: "Yes, yes, it's Father King; Father King was confused just now. You call Sui Sui? How old are you?"

Father King gave Sui Sui a completely unfamiliar feeling, but Mother Consort said so, and Sui Sui obediently greeted: "I am Sui Sui, five years old."

After the introduction, feeling perhaps a bit impolite, she quickly added: "Father King, greetings."

She then performed a bow.

It was a crouching bow that, within propriety, carried a hint of awkwardness.

Prince Qi didn't mind these; he just found the little girl rather pleasant to look at.

Although he still didn't understand the situation, since the Princess Consort liked her, he accepted it.

He wasn't carrying anything else at the moment, so he casually unfastened the jade pendant at his waist and handed it to Sui Sui: "This is a gift from Father King for meeting."

While speaking, he also tried to raise his hand to touch Sui Sui's little hat.

When Sui Sui saw that broad hand reaching out, she thought Father King was going to hit her, and, frightened, stepped back a pace and curled up behind Mother Consort.

Prince Qi:?

His hand was halfway out, while his other hand still held the jade pendant; the whole scene looked comical and awkward.

Princess Consort of Qi didn't want to embarrass Prince, so she gently pulled Sui Sui out, softly saying: "Father King only likes Sui Sui's little hat and wants to touch it; Sui Sui, don't be afraid."

While speaking, Princess Consort of Qi lifted her hand, took the jade pendant, and temporarily handed it to Xiang Gugu.

Upon hearing that it was to touch her head, Sui Sui mustered courage, stepped out, hesitated, then stuck out her little head: "Father King, you, you may touch."

Prince Qi had only acted out of habit, wanting to touch the little girl's hat.

Now seeing the little head offered to him, with a bright‑colored little hat, Prince Qi's hand was quicker than his mind and reached out first.

Touching the hat didn't reveal much, only that the material was indeed good.

Beyond that, it was probably just a close‑up observation of the child.

Seeing what seemed a pitiful child, at first glance Prince Qi noticed that the child's hair seemed problematic.

However, fearing the hair issue might upset the child, he didn't ask on the spot.

Now that Sui Sui had moved closer, Prince Qi also saw a clear scar on the back of her neck.

The scar appeared to be an old one.

A child so young, with an old scar?

Who would do such a cruel thing?

Prince Qi guessed that this was probably related to Sui Sui's past, or rather her origins.

But with the child present, it wasn't appropriate to ask further.

Seeing Prince Qi give the jade pendant to Sui Sui, Car Maid pouted unhappily.

A sense of crisis rose in her heart; she touched her flat belly, her voice soft: "Prince, I feel a bit unwell; shall we go back?"

Hearing her say that, Prince Qi slightly furrowed his brows and naturally replied: "Princess Consort has a good temperament and won't hold your rudeness against you; your legs are attached to you, so if you want to go, just say so."

Thinking she said she felt unwell, Prince Qi quickly added: "If you're unwell, remember to call a Doctor."

Car Maid:???

This reaction is wrong, huh?

Shouldn't she now be the Wangfu's golden glutton?

Car Maid was directly rebuked on the spot, and Ren Ce Fei laughed, giving her no face.

This made Car Maid both embarrassed and angry; she gritted her teeth, her eyes flicked, and she came up with an idea: "Prince, I see this child is also pitiful; our Wangfu currently has no young lady, so how about I bring my natal family's lingzhi over to keep the child company, as a companion."

When Car Maid first entered the Wangfu, she once brought her Niece from maternal side, the six‑year‑old Che Lingzhi, to stay at the Wangfu for a short time.

The child was young and full of sly thoughts; later Ren Ce Fei grew annoyed, snapped at the Prince a few times, and the girl was sent back.

Now Car Maid, watching Sui Sui, still harbors a thief's heart and again devises a scheme to bring someone in.

The sole motive is simply the wealth of the Wangfu.

When Che Lingzhi, that girl, arrived at the Wangfu, her words were sweet, praising this as beautiful and that as never having seen before.

After the compliments, she herself fell into sorrow and began to cry.

Prince, though not taken in by this trick every time, in three attempts there is usually one or two occasions when his heart softens and he bestows a gift.

Those who know say it's the concubine's Niece from maternal side coming to stay; those who don't say it's a poor relative knocking at the door—both are said by someone.

After Car Maid finished speaking, Prince Qi fell into thought, evidently weighing the feasibility of the matter.

Watching this scene, Princess Consort of Qi slightly tightened her brows.

The second watch at 19:00.