Chapter 27

Prince Qing has been busy these past days, his feet never touching the ground; now the affairs are finally more or less settled, and he can come back to see the two children.

Upon entering the Gate, before seeing anyone, he heard Feng Xuanrui's vigorous voice.

Without waiting for Prince Qing's response, Feng Xuanrui had already grabbed Sui Sui's hand and rushed over.

Seeing this, Prince Qing furrowed his brows, opened his arms to shield the two, and then warned in a low voice: "Watch your step."

These past few days, not going out, Feng Xuanrui's foot has mostly recovered.

However, Liu Dafu said that careful care is still needed, lest a lingering illness remain.

After being reminded by Prince Qing, Feng Xuanrui slowed his pace.

Sui Sui has short legs, keeping up is especially tiring; right now she is panting heavily.

Watching this scene, Prince Qing furrowed his brows again: "Your sister is still small; don't always pull her like this when you run."

Feng Xuanrui had just been thinking only of excitement, thus forgetting this matter; turning his head and seeing Sui Sui panting heavily, he then realized.

He gave a somewhat guilty smile, raised his hand and patted Sui Sui's head: "Sorry, sis, I'll be careful next time!"

He will pay attention, becoming a qualified, caring older brother.

Sui Sui doesn't mind these things; being with her brother makes her very happy!

So, after hearing Feng Xuanrui's words, she obediently shook her head.

The sister is obedient and soft; Feng Xuanrui couldn't help but pat her several more times until Sui Sui felt embarrassed, then he withdrew his hand.

But children have short memories; Feng Xuanrui turned his head and started thinking of something else: "Uncle Wang, can we release the river lanterns today?"

Prince Qing looked at the weather, then considered that the city had already been orderly, plus he had companions, so safety was no problem, and he nodded.

Seeing Uncle Prince Qing nod, Feng Xuanrui happily grabbed Sui Sui and began to spin around.

Sui Sui had just caught her breath, then was pulled into running and jumping.

She didn't feel tired; instead, she was swept up by Feng Xuanrui's mood and also felt happy.

Since the family was going to release river lanterns, dinner naturally had to be prepared early.

Feng Xuanrui had little appetite; he just wanted to go out and play sooner.

Still, Liu Dafu advised from the side: "Releasing river lanterns should be done at night to have atmosphere, and it looks brighter at night."

Upon hearing that, Feng Xuanrui agreed, and reluctantly took a few more sips of porridge.

By contrast, Sui Sui's obedient appearance is utterly heartbreaking.

Dinner was still minced meat porridge.

Liu Dafu intended to let them adjust first, then gradually change to other foods.

Especially Sui Sui, such a young child, has heavy internal cold; if not properly nurtured, later...

She will probably suffer quite a bit!

Sui Sui had never eaten white rice or minced meat before.

So, at this time she eats especially carefully.

Each bite is chewed slowly and swallowed slowly.

Each bite is eaten especially cleanly.

She cherishes every grain of rice, every mouthful of meat, every drop of rice broth.

By contrast, Feng Xuanrui only gulped a few sips and then refused to eat more.

After eating, the two children went back to get their own river lanterns.

Feng Xuanrui's is only a pink little rabbit river lantern.

Sui Sui's is a pink-and-yellow small flower.

Feng Xuanrui's leg is not fully healed yet, and Sui Sui is also very young.

Therefore, Prince Qing arranged a carriage to take them there.

Within Qingzhou Prefecture City there is a river that cuts across the entire prefecture city.

It is also because of this river that the security in Qingzhou Prefecture City has not been good in recent years.

Because the Chengmen was closed and guarded, yet there are still people with decent swimming skills who enter by swimming through the river.

In the dead of night, taking advantage of the guards' laxness, they silently swim in, really not easy to detect.

Now the mountain bandits have been wiped out clean; the city's security, Prince Qing also together with Magistrate Sun, carefully cleared once.

In the short term, the city's safety issues do not need excessive worry.

A few days ago, a daughter of a wealthy family in the city brought her sisters and released river lanterns.

Releasing river lanterns can be for remembrance, or for praying for blessings, dispelling calamity, warding off evil, etc.

Feng Xuanrui simply thinks it's lively and wants to come play.

Prince Qing and company just think the children are young and want to come pray for blessings.

For Sui Sui, it's more about dispelling disaster.

To sincerely bid farewell to the difficult, suffering past.

In the future, although we don't know if it will be smooth sailing, at least life will get better and better.

Regarding Sui Sui's placement, Prince Qing did not accede to Liu Dafu's request.

Because Feng Xuanrui likes this sister, Prince Qing plans to first take Sui Sui back to Jing Cheng, then see whether Feng Xuanrui's enthusiasm remains, i. e., whether he still likes this sister.

If the other party continues to like her, Prince Qing could arrange for Sui Sui to enter the Qi Wang Fu.

As for himself...

His precious daughter is one of a kind; even though she is gone, he will not let anyone take her place.

Therefore, he can only apologize to this little girl.

Staring at Sui Sui's bald little head, Prince Qing let out a soft sigh.

There were many in their party; Zhan Yuan went ahead to clear the path, and once the two children reached the spot, they bolted forward like untamed horses.

Of course, Feng Xuanrui was the one charging ahead, while Sui Sui was being pulled along to run.

However, Feng Xuanrui would run a stretch then stop a stretch.

One reason is that his foot isn't fully healed, so he doesn't dare to exert himself.

Another reason, naturally, is that he still remembers Sui Sui is small and can't keep up.

"Sister, this way, this way the river is wide!"

"Coming, brother!"

"Sister, my little rabbit is the cutest!"

Because it was a gift from my sister, it's absolutely adorable.

Feng Xuanrui proudly puffed out his little belly.

Sui Sui hadn't even had a chance to praise her brother when she heard a disapproving voice from not far away: "That rabbit is almost ugly—where's the good looks? Nonsense!"

Feng Xuanrui had been proudly waving his little rabbit, but hearing that voice, he instantly flew into a rage.

Following the direction of the voice, he saw the speaker was a little chubby kid about his age; Feng Xuanrui strode two steps forward, gritted his teeth, and said: "Look, look—where is my lamp ugly? It's a rabbit, a rabbit, it's lovely—you don't understand!"

The chubby kid had merely been muttering to himself.

But he was born with a loud voice, thinking his own wasn't loud, yet everyone nearby heard it.

Feng Xuanrui walked straight up to him, and the chubby kid took it as a provocation.

Then the chubby kid also refused to back down, hands on hips, thrusting out his belly—rounder than Feng Xuanrui's—and retorted: "I say it's ugly, it's ugly, it's hideous, nyah nyah nyah!"

Feng Xuanrui had been the little tyrant of the Wangfu for so long that even his own younger brother was often beaten by him to tears, crying for his parents.

Now, being provoked by a strange chubby kid, and in front of his sister—could he tolerate that?

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

Feng Xuanrui flew into a rage on the spot; if he didn't cherish the river lantern his sister made, he would have wanted to smash it into the chubby kid's face.

But since he couldn't do it to his own, maybe he could do it to the chubby kid?

Feng Xuanrui swiftly stepped forward, snatched the other's river lantern, and shoved it into the chubby kid's face: "Yours is the ugly one, yours is the ugliest, so ugly it's disgusting!"

(End of chapter)