Chapter 326

When Prince Qi entered the palace, the Emperor had just returned from his nap in Noble Consort He's palace to work in the Taihe Hall.

Hearing that Prince Qi had entered the palace, the Emperor jumped: "I thought he went to Lanruo Si to fulfill a vow? Is he back?"

The Emperor felt it shouldn't be like that.

He's back; shouldn't there be timely news from his side? Or could it be a sudden decision?

Although he didn't understand, he was still tolerant toward his younger brother and soon had someone summon Prince Qi in.

After Prince Qi entered, he first quietly observed his elder brother's expression.

Actually, there wasn't much to see, but his brows weren't furrowed, and he didn't look angry; Prince Qi boldly guessed that his elder brother's mood was probably still good.

Thinking of this, Prince Qi first asked after his well-being, then tentatively voiced his bold guess.

Emperor:??? After hearing that, the Emperor was somewhat amused and exasperated: "I know you're uneasy, but put your mind at ease; even if the Jin Yang Marquis's manor really comes knocking later, if you stubbornly deny it, they can't do anything to you. If they act high-handed, then I will punish them and strip their titles."

Saying this, the Emperor softened his tone and slowly said: "Since I have acknowledged Mingxi, she is my niece; no one can change her identity, and no one should think they can take her away from the jade register of our Feng family!"

Those words from his elder brother made one's heart feel warm and steady.

But Prince Qi's curiosity was aroused, so he soon asked: "Elder brother, you really won't help me investigate? What if? What if we truly have no connection to the Jin Yang Marquis's manor? That would be great; if they come knocking later, we'll be in the right and confident!"

Saying this, Prince Qi clicked his tongue lightly and continued: "I always feel that the Chen family's attitude doesn't seem like how they'd treat their own biological child; perhaps Chen San Niang really stole him!"

The Emperor was left both laughing and exasperated by Prince Qi, yet he couldn't resist his younger brother's coquettishness.

However, it's just checking a child's background; the child isn't old, so there likely isn't much to investigate, and it wouldn't be troublesome.

The Emperor thought, might as well do it to cheer up his brother.

Thinking of this, the Emperor nodded: "All right, if you want to investigate, I'll have someone do it."

Upon hearing his elder brother's agreement, Prince Qi happily thanked him: "Thank you, elder brother; I knew you treated me best, I am deeply grateful, I..."

The thanks of the poor student association are just a couple of sentences.

After listening to his nonsensical chatter for a while, the Emperor waved his hand helplessly: "You, having returned from Lanruo Si, will you stay tonight?"

Prince Qi's purpose for this trip has already been fulfilled, yet he still misses Sui Sui in his heart.

Hearing his elder brother ask, he raised his hand in salute: "I'll take my leave now, brother; there's still someone waiting to fulfill a vow over there."

Emperor: ……

Feeling like he'd just been used and then discarded.

However, his younger brother has always been so straightforward, with no scheming; the Emperor is already used to it, and merely gestured for him to retreat, adding: "Remember to pay respects to the Empress Dowager."

He didn't need the Emperor's reminder; Prince Qi also remembered.

But, having just gotten his wish, Prince Qi was sweet-tongued now and didn't contradict the Emperor, hastily agreeing.

The Emperor watched Prince Qi's cheerful back, shook his head helplessly: "When will he grow up? He's still like a child."

The attendant Zhongquan, the chief steward, following the emperor's mood, said a few auspicious, pleasant flattering words, making the Emperor burst into laughter a few times before he returned to work.

Prince Qi paid his respects to the Empress Dowager, then left the palace directly.

As soon as he stepped out of the palace, it started to rain.

Sui Si took a look and thought this situation wouldn't do.

If they went by horse, it would be fast, but both would get soaked; so they temporarily changed course and returned to the manor, and only when the rain lightened did they switch to a carriage and head back to the temple.

The two were lucky; although the road was muddy, it didn't rain again.

Upon arriving at the temple, Prince Qi had just entered the fasting hall and hadn't yet seen Sui Sui when flower-like rain began to fall outside.

Seeing this, Prince Qi burst out laughing: "Even Heaven pities this old father of mine!" He thought he must be borrowing the brilliance of his precious, obedient one.

Hehe, happy! After the rain stopped, Sui Sui and her two brothers went again to catch mountain water buffalo.

The pitch-black huge creature frightened the Princess Consort of Qi so much her soul flew out several times.

Once, Feng Xuanrui even shoved the mountain water buffalo right up to her mouth, scaring the Princess Consort of Qi so much her scream got stuck in her throat.

After reacting, she really wanted to give her son a good beating.

The Princess Consort of Qi kept telling herself: "He's my own, my own!"

She barely suppressed her fear and anger.

As a result, Feng Xuanbin, failing to catch it properly, let a mountain water buffalo escape, which then leapt onto her skirt.

Princess Consort of Qi: "…… She's about to break, really about to break! Save her, who will come save her!"

Just then, the Prince returned.

How wonderful! The Princess Consort of Qi couldn't stay another second; she hurriedly told Prince Qi, "I'm going to change clothes," and left.

Prince Qi had just entered, still completely bewildered.

He looked puzzled at the three children in the room, then at the ten-odd pitch-black mountain water buffalo on the ground, and involuntarily shuddered.

Ah this...

He seemed to understand why the consort's face had just turned pale.

These kids are really mischievous.

However, Prince Qi wasn't really afraid; he had played with these as a child too.

Now seeing the children play, he also wanted to join in.

As Prince Qi joined, the herd of mountain water buffalo grew larger.

With adults helping them catch, Sui Sui happily clapped her hands.

She isn't afraid of these insects.

After all, many insects had once saved her life.

Without those things to eat, Sui Sui would have starved to death long ago.

So, pinching earthworms barehanded, catching water buffalo barehanded? No problem; Sui Sui can still make them jump in her palm for a while.

The children's playing and roughhousing filled an entire afternoon.

In the evening, because it was raining, Prince Qi didn't want to trouble the children, so he had someone fetch vegetarian food from the dining hall to eat.

Sui Sui had played all afternoon and was already hungry; now she eats with gusto.

The little ones ate heartily, and Feng Xuanrui and Feng Xuanbin also ate very well.

Xiao Pangzi Feng Xuanbin is a meat lover; even without meat now he can eat with gusto, thanks to Sui Sui's tempting way of eating, so Feng Xuanbin was also brought along and soon forgot his intention to eat meat.

After the meal, Prince Qi took the three children to play in front of the house to aid digestion.

Right now the rain has just stopped, the ground is still very muddy, they didn't go far, just playing on this slab of blue stone in front of the house.

After Hai Tang and the others returned the utensils, when they came back they brought news: "Prince, Princess Consort, the Third Prince encountered rain and came to lodge at the temple; he is now on his way here."

The second watch is at 19:00.