Chapter 328: Letter from Qingzhou

Feng Xuanshang wasn't in a hurry to leave, chatted with Prince Qi for a while, then went to play with Sui Sui and the others at a spot.

Feng Xuanshang had none of the prince's airs, was very gentle, and was good at coaxing children.

Sui Sui was initially a bit shy about approaching the Third Prince, but soon was coaxed by Feng Xuanshang's soft, slow speech into calling out repeatedly, "Third Brother!"

Feng Xuanrui, listening nearby, couldn't help but say sourly, "Sister, you should call the Third Prince."

Sui Sui, puzzled, replied, "But brother said we could also call him Third Brother; there's no outsider right now."

The little girl was a bit bewildered.

Feng Xuanshang saw at once that Xiao Liu was a little jealous.

He couldn't help but smile, "No outsiders, it's okay, Xiao Liu; we're all family here."

As he spoke, Feng Xuanshang also raised his hand and patted Feng Xuanrui's head.

Feng Xuanrui:.

Alright, the Third Prince's Gentleness is just too much; he felt embarrassed to argue.

The children played for a while, then grew sleepy.

It was raining outside, so Feng Xuanshang quickly took his leave.

He has to go to the royal annex early tomorrow.

Feng Xuanrui, thinking of the various little animals there, couldn't help but say, "How about we go too!"

Sui Sui was actually quite curious, but she listened to Father King and Mother Consort.

Where they go, she goes.

Prince Qi was not planning to go.

If elder brother's side has no activity to go to the royal annex, that place is actually rather quiet.

Besides some serving palace attendants, you see no one else; at most there are a few deer, sheep and the like, kept for amusement, which isn't much.

However, Prince Qi soon thought, Sui Sui has never been there!

Then this place…

…does warrant a visit.

Only, their vow here hasn't been fulfilled yet.

Thinking this over, Prince Qi discussed it with the Princess Consort.

Feng Xuanshang also thought that a trip there would be fine.

The annex is built around the mountains, and remains quite cool in summer.

When Jing Cheng is at its hottest, His Majesty often goes there to escape the heat.

Although the rain has been heavier these two days, a short stay after going there would be nice.

Prince Qi and the Princess Consort discussed and decided to perform incense offering tomorrow, fulfill the vow, and go there early the day after.

Feng Xuanshang is going to gather medicine, likely staying three to five days, which coincides with Prince Qi's visit; they still need to petition the palace for an edict, giving them a day's interval, sufficient for their use.

After everyone agreed, they each returned to their own meditation rooms to sleep.

Sui Sui had played all day and fell asleep quickly.

Feng Xuanrui's brother even began to emit a faint snore.

The slightly cool rainy night let everyone sleep soundly.

When Sui Sui got up the next day, the sky was already bright.

After a night of rain, today's air became especially fresh.

After getting up, Sui Sui tidied up briefly, ate a snack, and went to offer incense.

Prince Qi and his wife, with their three children, solemnly offered incense and listened to the sutras.

They were busy until noon, only then did they have leisure.

Feng Xuanshang got up early and rode his horse to the annex.

He left in a hurry after briefly greeting Prince Qi.

Sui Sui felt a bit sad after hearing that the Third Prince had left.

She likes this Third Brother.

And the gifts from Third Brother were also beautiful. Feng Xuanshang gave two exquisite jade pendants, one of green jade, the other of ivory jade.

Two lovely sachets, filled with herbs that calm and steady the spirit.

Also a pair of very beautiful gold bracelets.

Whatever it was, Sui Sui liked it.

Today she wore one of the Third Prince's sachets; its fragrance made the insects stay far away from her.

Sui Sui, curious, told her brother about it.

Feng Xuanrui, upon hearing, proudly lifted his head and said, "The Third Prince is indeed impressive, though I've heard that Consort Jing is even more so; but the Third Prince's sachet is enough— with it, mosquitoes never bite us, hehe!"

Feng Xuanrui received a small box of sachets, a full six of them!

Thinking that his sister received fewer, after all there were other gifts as well.

So Feng Xuanrui again lifted his head, magnanimously declaring, "I'll give all mine to my sister; sister, don't be afraid, no bug will dare bite you!"

Feng Xuanbin, seeing this, didn't want to fall behind; after a moment he whispered, "I'll give half of mine to my sister!"

It's not that he's stingy and unwilling to share.

It's just that he really attracts mosquitoes.

So he gives half, keeps half.

Although the sachets made by Doctor Liu are also very useful.

But Feng Xuanbin always feels that the Third Prince's are more effective.

So, he isn't very willing to part with it.

Sui Sui still doesn't know the marvelous nature of this fragrant sachet.

But when the brothers gave it, she gladly received it and thanked them.

After lunch, Sui Sui and the others played for a while before resting.

Prince Qi entered the palace again to request a decree to tour the royal annex.

The Emperor, busy at that moment, waved his hand and directly approved his request.

Prince Qi went to the Grand Empress Dowager's Inner Palace to pay his respects, and on the way back he grabbed some items.

When passing the mansion Gate, he also took some items from the gatehouse to bring back.

When Prince Qi came back, Sui Sui and the others were playing with something made of fresh grass.

Of course, none of the three children could.

But that doesn't hinder their creativity.

Can't they learn? So they surely can! The three children wrestled for half a day, their hands covered in grass juice and their heads with grass clippings, looking both disheveled and adorable.

Prince Qi couldn't help but pick up Sui Sui, carefully cleaned her hair, and then said to the child, "By the way, a letter arrived from Qingzhou; do you want to read it?"

A letter from Qingzhou—do you want to read it yourself? Whose letter is it?

Sui Sui didn't understand, tilting her cute little head.

That made Prince Qi melt.

His sweetie is truly adorable! Prince Qi held back his urge to press Sui Sui's head flat, smiled, and explained, "It's a letter from Brother Ronglin and Sister Ruoyi over in Qingzhou."

Sui Sui had previously written them a letter, and the Princess Consort of Qi had Xiang Gugu prepare some gifts to send over.

The letter wasn't sent expedited, just the regular delivery, so counting the days it probably hasn't arrived yet.

If the other side sent a letter now, it's probably not a reply but a note thinking of Sui Sui, written early and only arriving now.

When Sui Sui heard it was a letter from Brother Ronglin and the others, she was a bit surprised, but mostly thrilled: "Brother Ronglin? Sister Ruoyi? They wrote?"

The child brightened, eyes sparkling, softening everyone's heart.

Prince Qi lifted his hand, gently stroked the child's little head, smiled and nodded, "Of course—shall Father King help read it?"

Sui Sui now knows few characters, so she probably can't read the letter.

She was about to nod when Feng Xuanrui squeezed over, "No need to trouble Father King; it's a letter from my sister's friend and me, I'll read it for my sister!"

Prince Qi:? I'm your father; what can you make me do?

Second watch at 19:00