Chapter 320: Bedtime Story

In the afternoon it began to rain, so the outdoor sutra recitation was moved indoors.

Inside, sandalwood incense wafted, calming the mind, and Prince Qi held Sui Sui, listening while dozing.

Fortunately, the master did not mind their rudeness.

Buddha ferries those with affinity.

Truly, one crosses the river according to fate.

If they refuse to listen, it's fine to bathe in Buddha's light.

Prince Qi …

Slept very soundly.

When they woke up, the scripture had already reached its conclusion.

Prince Qi did not understand, but was more concerned about Sui Sui: "How well did you listen, my dear?"

Sui Sui actually could not understand either.

Those scriptures were too obscure and difficult for her.

However, the child thought the crowd was lively, and the master lecturing all afternoon was truly impressive.

So, when Father King asked at that moment, Sui Sui quickly nodded: "Nice, nice!"

Even if they don't understand, it's still lively!

Sui Sui loves the bustle!

Sui Sui listened well, and Prince Qi was pleased.

Feng Xuanrui and Feng Xuanbin couldn't stay seated and ran out to play early.

Although it was a rainy day, when the morning was clear, some people still came to offer incense.

Feng Xuanrui, with his younger brother, began frolicking with the children from the other mansion.

Having found playmates on the spot, when they separated at dusk, no one was too sad.

After eating the vegetarian meal and freshening up briefly, Princess Consort of Qi first coaxed the three children to sleep.

This time they still stayed in the outer wing of the Hui-shaped room.

A house with three large rooms and two small ones was enough for them.

Because a child from He Mansion had been kidnapped, they did not reduce the attendants this time and even brought two Wangfu guards.

The children shared a room, guarded by Xiang Gugu.

Prince Qi and his spouse occupied a room, watched over by Aunt Qiu.

The other servants lived in the remaining room, plus two small rooms.

A drizzle fell for the whole afternoon.

In the evening it cleared a little.

After freshening up, it began to drizzle again slowly.

The two small rooms leaked a bit, but the servants patched them up themselves, and they were still livable.

Prince Qi asked a few questions, realized it was no trouble, and stopped meddling.

At this moment, he was sitting on the kang, telling the three children a bedtime story.

He had never done such a thing before.

Prince Qi didn't even know what a bedtime story was, but Sui Sui wanted to listen.

Prince Qi replied, "Alright, I don't know, but I'll learn!"

So it's just reciting a storybook that children can understand?

Then he understood.

Prince Qi actually does not like reading.

How many underachievers are there that they like?

He doesn't like reading storybooks, complaining they have too many characters.

However, for Sui Sui, to be a kind father, he painstakingly fetched a storybook.

After sifting through, the unsatisfactory ones left him with a strange, supernatural fox‑spirits storybook.

Regarding this storybook, Prince Qi was dissatisfied: "Actually this isn't very good either; how can we let a child listen to this?"

Feng Xuanrui, displeased, sprang up and shouted, "How is that not allowed? My sister wants to hear this, hear this, just hear this!"

Prince Qi, headache from the noise, met Sui Sui's round big eyes, and helplessly waved his hand: "Alright, alright, listen to this, lie down nicely, close your eyes, Father King will tell you a story."

……

Prince Qi's voice was deep, with a hint of hoarseness.

Nevertheless, it carried strong paternal love. So Sui Sui listened to Father King's voice, to the story in the book that was hard to understand, to the drizzle outside, and gradually fell into a dream.

Feng Xuanrui and Feng Xuanbin fell asleep even faster than she did.

No kidding, this storybook…

It's full of characters; listening for long really puts you to sleep!

At first Prince Qi truly was unwilling to read this storybook; he didn't even want to read books.

But as he kept reading, to see how it would develop, he forced himself to finish the whole book.

So much so that the Princess Consort could no longer stand it; she sat on the kang's edge, propped her head, and dozed off.

When his voice ceased, his words still lingering, Princess Consort of Qi suddenly jolted awake.

Prince Qi looked at the scene, somewhat speechless: "Why are you still sleeping?"

After asking, feeling the question was perhaps improper, he thought and asked again: "Shall we also go to sleep?"

The rainy day was gloomy, the air humid; it would be a pity not to sleep.

Princess Consort of Qi was indeed tired, hearing the Prince's words, she nodded lightly.

The two of them simply tidied up, then went next door quietly.

Aunt Xiang guarded this side, so the two could feel at ease.

The two guards, at night, still took turns keeping watch; under normal circumstances, no danger would arise in the temple.

So they could sleep peacefully.

Perhaps because they slept too soundly during the afternoon sutra listening.

So, when Prince Qi lay in bed, he found it somewhat hard to sleep.

But the Princess Consort was tired, so she fell asleep shortly after.

He tossed and turned there several times, still unable to sleep, and finally simply sat up.

Aunt Qiu thought he had something to do, and hurriedly asked in a low voice: "Your Highness, do you want some water?"

Prince Qi was not thirsty, so he waved his hand: "Go to sleep, don't worry about me."

"Is that what you mean—no need to fuss over me?" Aunt Qiu understood after hearing that, and returned to the bamboo mat bed on the floor.

The conditions for the night watch to sleep were a bit harsh, but at least they could sleep.

Aunt Qiu also dared not sleep soundly, and from time to time she still had to listen for any movement.

But the gentle raindrops tapping outside were really soporific.

So much so that she didn't even realize whether the Prince had slept, and just fell asleep directly.

Prince Qi tossed and turned until midnight, and finally fell asleep.

The result was that he couldn't get up in the morning.

Sui Sui had finished washing up, changed clothes, and was ready to go have breakfast.

As a result, the Prince still hadn't gotten up.

Hearing from Aunt Qiu that the Prince likely hadn't slept well the previous night, the Princess Consort also decided not to wake him.

However, since they weren't having breakfast, but worried the Prince would be hungry, after thinking, the Princess Consort instructed Hai Tang: "Have Sui Si go down the mountain in a while to buy some snacks; I remember there's a place downhill with quite good pastries."

Their pastries are mostly steamed; even if some are fried or more elaborate, they use oil pressed from beans.

So there's no need to worry about violating the temple's taboo again.

Upon seeing Hai Tang's pastries, the Princess Consort then held Sui Sui and took the two children to the dining hall.

They arrived a bit early, and there weren't many people in the dining hall.

Breakfast was relatively simple—just plain congee, mixed-grain steamed buns, and small dishes.

However, the small dishes were tossed to be very refreshing; the Princess Consort found them crisp and refreshing, and she quietly told Aunt Qiu: "When we return to the manor, let's eat like this—I think this way of mixing is quite good."

Light and refreshing, in summer it's also comfortable to eat.

Aunt Qiu listened and nodded lightly.

After hearing the Mother Consort's words, Sui Sui thought for a moment, then swallowed what was in her mouth and voiced her agreement: "I also think this is delicious."

Feng Xuanrui had originally been disdainful, but upon hearing his sister say it was tasty, he thought it over and tried taking a bite.

Then he swallowed it with a blank expression.

He thought, although for his sister he was willing to endure hardship,

but some bitter hardships are not absolutely necessary to endure.

The second watch is at 19:00.