Chapter 201: The Tempted Meng Ce Fei

When the two concubine maids came over crying, Ren Ce Fei was accompanying Sui Sui as she read.

After discovering the child couldn't read, Ren Ce Fei's motherly heart was moved.

So, she held Sui Sui and sat by the window, opening the window just a crack, while enjoying the gentle spring breeze and flipping through the book.

Ren Ce Fei was flipping through the simplest Hundred Family Surnames.

She read each character and sentence to Sui Sui, and after each sentence she had Sui Sui repeat it.

The character "Feng" appears near the end in the Hundred Family Surnames.

Only after reading for a long time could she reach the corresponding line: "Yang ju xu feng."

The problem is, there are four characters total, and each looks rather complex.

Nowadays the character "Feng" is still written in traditional form, with many strokes!

The character "Yang" also isn't simple; among them, the character "Xu" actually looks the simplest.

But adding up all the strokes, it's still not few.

After Sui Sui finished looking, she only felt darkness before her eyes, over and over.

Learning to read is really too hard!

Originally, she wanted to remember her older brother's surname.

As a result, Sui Sui has now retreated.

She thought, she's still a child; not knowing how to read is fine!

Just as Sui Sui was torn about whether to persist, she heard someone coming over crying.

The two concubine maids didn't dare to come in directly, but stood outside the courtyard and began to sing and recite.

These two people, one came from a theater troupe, the other from the market streets.

Upon hearing their voices, Ren Ce Fei only felt her head throbbing again and again.

So, since the Princess Consort isn't at the residence, you've come to mess with me, right?

Ren Ce Fei helplessly could only temporarily entrust Sui Sui to Xiang Gugu: "You keep Sui Sui company playing, I'll go check."

Even if Ren Ce Fei is unwilling, when faced with matters she still needs to confront and resolve them.

The door to Ren Ce Fei's room opened, and the windows were all fully thrown open.

Meng Ce Fei originally wanted to go out to the residence for fun.

She had made plans with her sister-in-law to go out and pick a birthday gift for her young nephew.

Although the child is young, the family values these things, so she wanted to pick some gifts that would please them.

Before they even left, they heard movement from Ren Ce Fei's room.

Meng Ce Fei still remembers how the other party previously sneaked away, pushing everything onto her.

Originally Meng Ce Fei wanted to just walk away.

Don't blame her for being heartless.

Ren Xiu had previously treated her that way.

But when Meng Ce Fei turned her head, she discovered Sui Sui and Xiang Gugu.

Meng Ce Fei couldn't resist her curiosity for a moment and stopped again.

At first Meng Ce Fei thought of greeting Sui Sui.

This little girl looks adorable; she'd like to get close a bit before leaving.

She had been curious about this little girl last time, and had originally held this thought.

Now that she has the opportunity, she naturally wants to act directly.

Sui Sui noticed another familiar-looking aunt, and hurriedly gave a polite greeting: "Pretty aunt, hello, I'm Sui Sui."

When the little girl praises people, her eyes are clear and her expression sincere.

Unlike some children who say auspicious phrases just to please adults and get things, with no sincerity at all, purely perfunctory.

Sui Sui seems to have been well taught by adults; when she speaks, she looks earnestly at the other person's eyes, and her words also appear very sincere.

Meng Ce Fei liked her at first glance.

She thought, to be favored by someone as picky as Ren Xiu, she must indeed be a lovely child.

Moreover, the Princess Consort also likes her, so this child surely won't have any problems.

Thus, Meng Ce Fei also approached Sui Sui reassured: "Hello Sui Sui, I'm Aunt Meng."

While speaking, she also took off the jade seal ring from her hand and placed it into Sui Sui's sachet.

Sui Sui felt embarrassed to accept, but Meng Ce Fei pressed her hand, forcing her to take it: "Good child, this is the gift from your aunt; just keep it."

Aunt Meng held her still, and Sui Sui obediently followed her movements, sincerely thanking: "Thank you, Aunt Meng; may Aunt Meng live a hundred years."

The child's blessing is abrupt and strange.

After hearing it, Meng Ce Fei couldn't help but laugh.

Everyone likes to hear auspicious words; she is no exception.

Although Sui Sui said it somewhat abruptly, it's fine.

Meng Ce Fei felt she liked it, so she didn't pick the timing.

She raised her hand and gently stroked the little tassel on Sui Sui's hat: "Thank you, Sui Sui; Aunt likes your blessing."

Upon hearing Aunt Meng's liking, Sui Sui felt embarrassed, pressed her lips, lowered her head, and her ears turned red.

Looking at the little girl's cute appearance, Meng Ce Fei's smile grew richer.

She thought, Ren Xiu's liking really isn't without reason.

This little girl really looks fun to play with.

Joyful and sincere.

Cute and soft.

At this moment, Che Lingzhi happened to walk over.

Seeing the child, Meng Ce Fei's brows involuntarily furrowed slightly.

Sometimes, without a contrast, there is no hurt.

If, before seeing Che Lingzhi, Meng Ce Fei only thought Sui Sui was cute.

After seeing Che Lingzhi, Meng Ce Fei thought: Sui Sui is more than just cute!

She is practically a child sent by the heavens, the most considerate one.

A child untouched by the adult world, so simple and pure—who wouldn't like that?

The two concubines have already started arguing over the hair ornament.

Ren Ce Fei's headache made one speak while the other kept interrupting, clearly not wanting the other to finish, or perhaps fearing she was falling behind.

Ren Ce Fei, unwilling to listen, snapped back a couple of lines, and the two could be quiet for a moment.

But the pause didn't last long; soon it started again.

Ren Ce Fei: …

Destroy!

This wretched side consort doesn't even want to be one for a day!

Watching Ren Xiu look dejected, Meng Ce Fei couldn't help but smile, but fearing the other would notice, she flared up, then after a moment gently stroked Sui Sui's head and said, "Sui Sui, be good; auntie still has things to attend to. When I return, I'll bring you Suya Zhai's snacks."

The Suya Zhai snacks are light and delicious.

Princess Consort loves them, and Meng Ce Fei, when she leaves the residence daily, habitually brings some back for the Princess Consort.

Now that there's an extra child, she'll select a few more, so the child can eat them easily together.

Knowing Aunt Meng has things to attend to, Sui Sui hurriedly nodded, "Auntie, go quickly; be careful."

After saying that, she pursed her lips and stared eagerly at Meng Ce Fei as she left.

Over there, the two concubines' arguing voices were sharp and a bit fierce; Sui Sui was actually quite scared.

Even with Xiang Gugu nearby, she was still scared.

When Meng Ce Fei was originally by her side, Sui Sui barely felt a Sense of security.

Auntie's hand was gentle; when she touched her tassel, the palm's warmth brushed Sui Sui's ear, which steadied Sui Sui's heart a bit.

At that moment, the warmth left, and the little girl became uneasy again.

Seeing the little girl's pitiful look, Meng Ce Fei softened, first sending a maid to tell her Sister-in-law that the appointed time should be later.

Then she stayed for a while, gently lifted Sui Sui, and smiled, "Auntie isn't in a hurry to go out; shall I stay with Sui Sui for now?"

Second watch.