Chapter 261: Snatching the Little Sister

Sui Sui obediently followed Mother Consort to the clean room.

After returning, she quickly washed, put on the little hat, and only then went to pay respects to Grand Empress Dowager.

By now it was already afternoon; if it got any later, Prince Qi's family would have to stay in the palace for dinner.

If they planned to return to the residence at night, they had to set out early, lest the night road be difficult and full of bumps.

Therefore, Princess Consort of Qi took Sui Sui to greet Empress Dowager, chatted a while, then led the entourage, along with a batch of gifts, to head back to the residence.

Prince Qi had also finished most of his talks with the Emperor.

When the three of them arrived, it was only a single carriage.

On the way back, another carriage followed, loaded with Empress Dowager's and His Majesty's gifts, as well as presents from the various palaces.

There were many items, including some that Prince Qi shamelessly demanded.

The three of them returned to the residence in high spirits.

Having slept for an hour, Sui Sui was full of energy and played bamboo‑leaf dragonflies with Father King on the carriage.

The carriage was cramped, so the father‑daughter pair couldn't play much.

But a child's happiness is what matters most.

Even just sitting there, Sui Sui found twirling the bamboo‑leaf dragonfly with her hands very amusing.

The carriage rocked gently and soon arrived at the residence.

After returning, Prince Qi took Sui Sui out to play.

Princess Consort of Qi needed to sort the palace's gifts and store all the items.

These all belonged to Sui Sui; Princess Consort of Qi had no intention of putting them directly into the residence's storage, and the Prince agreed to the arrangement.

Of course, the gifts the Empress Dowager gave Ren Ce Fei still had to be delivered to her personally.

However, thinking that Ren Ce Fei would receive the gifts, her mood was unlikely to be good, leaving Princess Consort of Qi feeling helpless.

Nevertheless, the gifts had all been bestowed; the Empress Dowager sent people conspicuously to accompany the deliveries to the residence, and then left conspicuously again.

Now it would be improper not to deliver; if the Empress Dowager later found out, Princess Consort of Qi would have no way to explain.

In the end, Princess Consort of Qi sent Aunt Qiu to handle this matter.

Today the young masters didn't go to Zhuangzi's place to practice riding and archery.

So, after Prince Qi and the others returned, the young masters, hearing the commotion, also knew.

Then, they could no longer sit still.

Little sister is back!

Ah ya, who can sit still here?

Moreover, the matter they had previously discussed—reworking the little wooden horse—has now progressed almost to completion; many detailed parts and such have been jointly finished by Feng Xuancang and Feng Xuanjie, with only the final assembly left.

Thinking that tonight they could assemble it, each of them grew more excited and could not sit still.

At this moment, Sui Sui was scooping ornamental Fish together with Father King.

These Fish are not tasty, but they are fun.

So, Prince Qi used a net to lift them out, then put them back, in order to get Sui Sui to clap and praise: "Father King is so impressive!"

"Wow, Father King is awesome!"

……

Prince Qi got lost in one exclamation after another of "Father King," almost losing control of himself!

The ornamental Fish in the Pond were scooped again and again.

Unfortunately, they have no mouths; otherwise they would probably thank Prince Qi, this living dad.

Not killing, just playing.

A Fish's life is still a life!

Unfortunately, no one cares.

Prince Qi was especially delighted, while Sui Sui didn't understand, only feeling that Father King was too impressive.

So, she kept clapping, and then fell into a vicious cycle.

At this moment, Ren Ce Fei had just smiled and seen Aunt Qiu off.

Watching Aunt Qiu walk away, Ren Ce Fei's expression changed.

Her expression stayed complex for a while, then she whispered incomprehensibly to Sun Aunt behind her: "What does Empress Dowager mean? What does she want? Haven't I been honest lately? Is this a reprimand? It must be a reprimand!"

"Ah ya, so annoying!"

"Their previous generation's affairs have nothing to do with me!"

"I'm still feeling aggrieved!"

……

Ren Ce Fei's uncontrollable muttering.

Sun Aunt actually didn't quite understand either.

She thought over and over, and after a long while said uncertainly: "…maybe it really is a reward? You protected the little princess; that can't be denied, Empress Dowager must have heard about it."

Even if Empress Dowager didn't inquire, Princess Consort of Qi would certainly speak highly of her own lord.

Hearing Sun Aunt say that, Ren Ce Fei was a bit reluctant to believe, thought for a moment and whispered: "Is it really a reward? Not a reprimand?"

After asking, she let out a long sigh: "So annoying, isn't it fine that she ignores me? Why does she bring me up out of nowhere? It hurts!"

Sun Aunt also didn't know how to soothe her own lord, and could only say things to ease her mind.

Ren Ce Fei, because of Empress Dowager's sudden reward, didn't eat the dinner well.

Sui Sui and Father King scooped Fish for a while, and seeing those Fish wilted, Prince Qi then temporarily spared them.

Just as dinner time approached, Prince Qi quickly took Sui Sui back, washed his hands, and ate.

Feng Xuanrui and the others could hardly wait any longer.

After school let out, they all came rushing in with a hustle and bustle.

Even Prince Qi's sturdy build was nearly unable to stay standing from being squeezed.

In the end, Sui Sui was ruthlessly grabbed by the brothers; Feng Xuanrui and the others directly took Sui Sui and assembled the small wooden horse from the ready parts.

This time the assembled wooden horse was nothing like the previous rocking kind.

This time…

It has wheels and can run.

Pushing it back and forth takes little effort.

Apart from its somewhat odd shape, everything else is actually fine.

The brothers worked together, and the speed was still extremely fast.

Although Sui Sui didn't understand, watching the scattered parts piled together being assembled by the brothers' skillful hands, it quickly turned into the wooden horse she had seen before, and the little girl exclaimed in amazement: "Wow, brothers, you're amazing!"

"Third brother is the most amazing!"

"Fourth brother is also really amazing!"

……

The child is still young, but her skill at carrying water is already impressive.

Sui Sui had praised the brothers, and then from the third brother to the seventh brother, she left no one out, giving another round of praise.

The brothers were dazed from the praise, and Feng Xuanrui happily lifted Sui Sui up.

During this time returning to Jing, Feng Xuanrui ate well and slept soundly, so he gained quite a bit of weight.

Moreover, since he didn't neglect his daily training, his stamina is good.

Although he still can only hold Sui Sui upright, after all his height baseline is set there.

However, compared to before when it was somewhat strenuous, now he handles it with great ease.

Saying he can swiftly scoop someone up is not an exaggeration.

Prince Qi was squeezed to the side, with basically no room to seize a spot.

He even thought of stepping forward to help the sons assemble the wooden horse, but he couldn't push through.

Feng Xuanbo, being scheming, came over, saying, "Father King long, Father King short, Father King you're the best, Father King, look what's over there, Father King, Father King…"

Prince Qi felt dizzy and light-headed from Xiao Wu's chant-like words.

Finally unable to bear it, he found a place to sit down, smiling as he watched the children frolic.

Prince Qi thought, he is a mature adult; he can't possibly be competing with the children.

Moreover, having spent a day with Sui Sui, he now just wants to slightly yield to the sons…

Just reluctantly give in.

Prince Qi gritted his teeth in thought.

Second watch.