Chapter 324: Lifesaver

After comparing fried grasshoppers and deep-fried grasshoppers, Sui Sui found the deep-fried ones tastier; compared to her former way of eating, they were more rich and fragrant, so she wanted to bring some over for Mother Consort to try.

She, together with her older brother and Seventh Brother, fried a plate, then rushed over here impatiently.

Prince Qi followed behind her all the way, arms outstretched to protect her, afraid she would run poorly and fall.

Prince Qi wanted to hold her, but he feared the child would never walk if her legs grew worse, so he reluctantly put Sui Sui down.

Feng Xuanrui and Feng Xuanbin also ran at full speed; Feng Xuanbin, this little fatty, worked up a sweat along the way.

However, sweating did not affect their speed.

The two brothers even ran faster than Prince Qi.

Prince Qi:? physique, weak physique?

No, he could still run! However, it's fine for a child to run, but for an adult to run seems a bit like bullying.

So, let's just walk slowly.

Walking is good; it can protect Sui Sui very well.

Otherwise, if he really started running, Sui Sui's short legs would definitely not keep up.

Prince Qi watched Sui Sui flipping about quickly, and couldn't help but smile, his eyes crinkling.

His obedient little one is really lovely!

Princess Consort of Qi was about to say a few words to Wei Yongmei when she heard Sui Sui's voice.

Her originally gentle expression became even softer.

At that moment, she truly radiated warm kindness and maternal feeling.

Wei Yongmei genuinely felt this change.

To be honest, she truly felt envious in her heart.

She had of course seen Sui Sui before, and knew her brother could be rescued so promptly from the Jiashan, or it was Sui Sui who dug in and pulled him out.

Wei Yongmei turned her head, her gaze gentle as she looked at the benefactor who had saved her brother.

Wei Mingqiao had originally lowered his head, not speaking further.

At this moment, however, he uncontrollably lifted his head to look behind.

He…

He remembered that voice.

That day in the Jiashan, he was burning up, dazed and nearly unconscious.

Then a clear, ringing voice entered his ears.

Someone.

In that sea of fire, as he drifted up and down, he faintly heard those two words.

After that, he actually couldn't recall what happened; his mind was a complete blur.

Wei Mingqiao also seemed to have smelled a faint, elegant fragrance, though he now only vaguely recalls it.

But what he clearly remembers in his mind is that voice.

He only learned afterward that the one who saved him that day was the little princess of Qi Wangfu.

She is said to be a fortunate child.

After all, being able to become the sole princess of Qi Wangfu is indeed fortunate.

At least it's far better than his own days.

Just now he hadn't seen the little lifesaver, and Wei Mingqiao felt a bit disappointed.

Now hearing Sui Sui's voice, his heart rose with a certain indescribable anticipation and joy.

He quietly turned his head and saw Sui Sui with a sweet smile, carrying a small plate as she ran in; behind her was warm, gentle sunlight, falling slowly along the child's silhouette, as if a luminous heavenly path stretched out behind her.

Wei Mingqiao couldn't say what he felt at this moment.

He only felt……

The lifesaver seemed especially radiant.

She stood in the light, as if she could also illuminate him, hidden in the shadows.

Wei Mingqiao felt his heartbeat quicken; he quietly raised his hand and gently pressed it.

Sui Sui happily hugged the plate as she came in.

After entering, she only then noticed that Mother Consort had guests.

This made her a little embarrassed, but she still happily carried the plate over: "Mother Consort, try it—it's delicious, crisp and fragrant!"

Princess Consort of Qi had originally been quite pleased upon hearing Sui Sui's voice.

But when she saw the plate the child held before her, filled with fried grasshoppers, her vision darkened.

The reason she hadn't thought of looking for the children was to avoid these bugs! This this this…

She really couldn't eat them!

But meeting Sui Sui's expectant gaze, the Princess Consort of Qi thought……

Or perhaps, just go for it? Prince Qi also knew the Princess Consort wasn't very brave; he guessed she couldn't eat these grasshoppers.

So he strode in, gently lifted Sui Sui, helped her adjust her breathing as quickly as possible by patting her back, and said softly: "Sui Sui, don't rush; we'll have vegetarian meal soon. If Mother Consort eats now, she won't be able to eat later and will be hungry by afternoon."

Upon hearing that, Sui Sui indeed realized that was the case.

Before each meal, Mother Consort never lets them eat too many snacks, fearing they won't eat properly.

After hearing Father King's explanation, Sui Sui nodded obediently: "I know; this afternoon I'll fry some more for Mother Consort."

Princess Consort of Qi: …… No need to be so filial!

Princess Consort of Qi drew a sharp breath; Prince Qi watched, wanting to laugh but restrained himself.

He one hand soothed Sui Sui while the other looked toward the Wei siblings.

When Wei Yongmei saw the prince looking over, she quickly pulled Wei Mingqiao to bow.

Wei Yongmei, upon noticing the Prince looking over, hurriedly pulled Wei Mingqiao to pay respects.

When Wei Yongmei noticed the prince looking over, she hurriedly pulled Wei Mingqiao to bow.

Prince Qi didn't make things difficult for the child; he quickly waved his hand for them to rise.

Prince Qi didn't make things difficult for the children, and quickly waved his hand for them to rise.

Translation: "Prince Qi didn't make things difficult for the children, and quickly waved for them to rise."

Wei Mingqiao, however, after getting up, knelt down heavily again and kowtowed three times to Prince Qi.

Wei Mingqiao, however, after rising, knelt down heavily again and kowtowed three times to Prince Qi.

Translation: "Wei Mingqiao, however, after rising, knelt down heavily again and kowtowed three times to Prince Qi."

This display startled Prince Qi, but thinking back to that day, he realized the boy was trying to thank him for saving his life, so he didn't stop him.

This posture startled Prince Qi, but thinking back to that day, the boy was thanking him for saving his life, so he didn't stop him.

Translation: "This posture startled Prince Qi, but thinking back to that day, the boy was thanking him for saving his life, so he didn't stop him."

Sui Sui didn't understand; she tilted her little head and stared at Wei Mingqiao. After a while, she exclaimed, "That's the brother from that day!"

Sui Sui didn't understand, tilting her little head to look at Wei Mingqiao; after a while, she exclaimed, "That's the brother from that day!"

Translation: "Sui Sui didn't understand, tilting her little head to look at Wei Mingqiao; after a while, she exclaimed, 'That's the brother from that day!'"

Wei Mingqiao was surprised that Sui Sui recognized him, which filled him with a hint of joy. He didn't dare to speak, simply rose politely, stood to one side, and didn't dare lift his head.

Wei Mingqiao was surprised that Sui Sui actually recognized him, which filled him with a bit of joy; he didn't dare to respond, merely rose properly and stood to one side, not daring to lift his head.

Translation: "Wei Mingqiao was surprised that Sui Sui actually recognized him, which filled him with a bit of joy; he didn't dare to respond, merely rose properly and stood to one side, not daring to lift his head."

Because of Sui Sui's words, Prince Qi glanced at Wei Mingqiao again, saw that the boy hadn't raised his head, and wasn't surprised. He gently patted Sui Sui's back and said, "Father didn't lie to you, did he? Brother is fine; now he can even go out."

Prince Qi, because of Sui Sui's words, glanced at Wei Mingqiao again; seeing the child not raise his head, he wasn't surprised, and gently patted Sui Sui's back: "Father King didn't deceive you, did he? Brother is fine; now he can even go out."

Translation: "Prince Qi, because of Sui Sui's words, glanced at Wei Mingqiao again; seeing the child not raise his head, he wasn't surprised, and gently patted Sui Sui's back: 'Father King didn't deceive you, did he? Brother is fine; now he can even go out.'"

However, looking at his frail build, one could tell his life in the mansion hasn't been easy.

However, looking at his frail build, one could tell his days at the residence were not easy.

Translation: "However, looking at his frail build, one could tell his days at the residence were not easy."

Despite that, the capital still widely praises Lady Xiao Xu's virtue.

Even so, the capital still widely spread the virtuous reputation of Xu Shi.

Translation: "Even so, the capital still widely spread the virtuous reputation of Xu Shi."

I really don't know which people are blind.

Who knows which people are blind?

Translation: "Who knows which people are blind?"

Or perhaps Lady Xiao Xu's tactics are superb, having built her own influence?

Or perhaps Xu Shi's methods are formidable, having built up her own influence?

Translation: "Or perhaps Xu Shi's methods are formidable, having built up her own influence?"

Even if that's the case…

Even if that's the case…

Translation: "Even if that's the case…"

Lady Xiao Xu's biological son wants to seize the heir apparent's position, but it's not that easy.

Xu Shi's biological son wanting to seize the heir apparent's position is not that easy.

Translation: "Xu Shi's biological son wanting to seize the heir apparent's position is not that easy."

After all, the heir apparent's position requires imperial investiture, and when the time comes, the emperor will need to consider it carefully.

After all, the heir apparent's position requires investiture, and at that time His Majesty will still need to consider carefully.

We need to keep punctuation. The Chinese line ends with a period. We'll translate: "After all, the heir apparent's position requires investiture, and at that time His Majesty will still need to consider carefully."

Wei Mingqiao is both the legitimate eldest son; unless he's gone, no one else gets a turn.

Wei Mingqiao is the eldest legitimate son; unless he's gone, no one else gets a turn.

Translation: "Wei Mingqiao is the eldest legitimate son; unless he's gone, no one else gets a turn."

Lady Xiao Xu is probably thinking along those lines, right?

Xu Shi probably has this idea in mind, right?

Translation: "Xu Shi probably has this idea in mind, right?"

Realizing this, Prince Qi furrowed his brows and unconsciously thought of Lady Che, still imprisoned in the heavenly jail.

Realizing this, Prince Qi furrowed his brows and unconsciously thought of Che Shi still in Tianlao.

Translation: "Realizing this, Prince Qi furrowed his brows and unconsciously thought of Che Shi still in Tianlao."

He wondered, "I don't even know if that poisonous woman is dead." Wei Yongmei also didn't want to bother the Prince's family any further, so she quickly offered her farewell.

He thought, I don't know if that poisonous woman is dead? Wei Yongmei also felt awkward to disturb the Prince's family further, so she quickly proposed to take her leave.

Translation: "He thought, I don't know if that poisonous woman is dead? Wei Yongmei also felt awkward to disturb the Prince's family further, so she quickly proposed to take her leave."

Princess Consort Qi smiled and had Aunt Qiu see them out.

Princess Consort of Qi smiled and had Aunt Qiu see them out.

Translation: "Princess Consort of Qi smiled and had Aunt Qiu see them out."

Watching the brother and sister walk away, Prince Qi finally withdrew his gaze and, lowering his voice, told the consort, "That Wei family boy… doesn't seem like someone with simple thoughts."

Watching the brother and sister walk away, Prince Qi finally withdrew his gaze and softly told the Princess Consort: "That Wei family boy… he doesn't seem simple-minded."

Translation: "Watching the brother and sister walk away, Prince Qi finally withdrew his gaze and softly told the Princess Consort: 'That Wei family boy… he doesn't seem simple-minded.'"

As he spoke, his brows and eyes slightly drooped, and he subtly glanced at Sui Sui.

As he said that, his brows and eyes slightly lowered, hinting at a glance at Sui Sui.

Translation: "As he said that, his brows and eyes slightly lowered, hinting at a glance at Sui Sui."

The meaning was clear: don't let Sui Sui play with those deep-thinking children.

The meaning was clear: don't let Sui Sui play with those deep-thinking children.

Translation: "The meaning was clear: don't let Sui Sui play with those deep-thinking children."

If they harbor ill intentions and either corrupt or harm Sui Sui, they'll regret it too late.

If they harbor ill intentions, they might corrupt or harm Sui Sui, and then it would be too late to regret!

Translation: "If they harbor ill intentions, they might corrupt or harm Sui Sui, and then it would be too late to regret!"

The second watch is at 19:00.