Chapter 331: Finger Bone

Sui Sui pointed in a direction, Feng Xuanrui and Feng Xuanbin followed behind, charging forward mindlessly.

"Charge charge charge!"

"Haha, a great adventure, we're here!"

…

The children had eaten and drunk their fill, and had slept enough; now was the time when their energy was abundant.

So, each of them had a high-pitched voice and moved nimbly.

Prince Qi followed behind anxiously, trying to catch up but failing to! Princess Consort of Qi saw him drenched in sweat and, smiling, advised him: "Slow down, slow down, someone is following, nothing will happen."

Moreover, this is the royal villa; ordinary people wouldn't think of causing trouble here, so compared to other places, safety is still assured.

Prince Qi still couldn't relax.

He panted, waving his hand: "I must watch over the obedient ones, otherwise my heart keeps thumping."

Princess Consort of Qi, hearing this, almost rolled her eyes: "You're just running too fast."

Prince Qi was choked speechless, yet still had to keep up.

The children didn't know that the old Father King, dragging his frail body, was still following them behind.

The three little kids, with a few servants, rushed especially fast; in a moment they charged toward the northwestern corner.

Prince Qi looked far off, saw clearly what it was, and couldn't help sighing in relief: "Good, good, that place was where the Empress Dowager used to grow flowers years ago; later the trees grew taller than the flowers, she didn't like it, so it was left abandoned, without walls or water, safe."

Princess Consort of Qi glanced in that direction, then withdrew her gaze, lowered her eyes slightly, and nodded in response: "That's good."

At most the grass is a bit taller, with some mosquitoes and such.

That area, years ago, was where the Late Emperor's Noble Consort grew flowers.

The Noble Consort back then enjoyed favor in the six palaces, her nature being even more spoiled and indulgent than Noble Consort He's today.

The royal villa has a place specially for raising fish and another for growing flowers.

However, after the Late Emperor passed away and the Noble Consort's faction fell, the Empress Dowager had those places divided among the people of the inner palace.

That plot, the Empress Dowager also had people plant flowers there for two years; the result was that the trees grew even more lush than the flowers, and she thought it was because that spot was inauspicious, tainted with the Late Emperor's Noble Consort's demonic aura.

So, in the end, she abandoned it as well.

Being associated with the Late Emperor's Noble Consort is nowadays considered nothing good.

Therefore, that plot has lain empty for many years, and no one has mentioned wanting to plant or raise anything there.

Everyone seems to have deliberately forgotten that plot.

Princess Consort of Qi actually knows that everyone is wary of the Empress Dowager's feelings, and besides, there's no need to upset her over a small patch of land.

So, no one mentions it, no one speaks of it, and that plot remains deserted there.

Sui Sui and the others were just running around; Princess Consort of Qi saw that the Prince didn't stop them, so she didn't urge further.

Prince Qi didn't think as much as the Princess Consort did; although that place had once been unwelcoming, …

How many years have passed since then? I estimate the Empress Dowager will soon forget all this.

So, no need to overmanage; letting the children play happily is most important.

Sui Sui and the others originally wanted to look for river buffalo.

Perhaps because it had been sunny for two days straight, the river buffalo had all run off; even if they rummaged through the grass piles, they only found one.

One pitch-black river buffalo, split among the three children, was far from enough.

Although the two brothers looked after Sui Sui, they would surely give her the first turn to play.

But Sui Sui isn't a selfish child who only thinks of herself.

Sui Sui circled in the grass several times, saw no new river buffalo, didn't want to disappoint her brothers, and her little head turned: "How about we dig for earthworms instead?"

Earthworms are not bad!

They can also help loosen the soil in Mother Consort's flower field.

Feng Xuanrui quickly responded: "Good, let's dig this first; Qing Shan, go get the tools." Qing Shan and Feng Xuanbin's servant Qing Shun went together to fetch the tools and returned.

On Sui Sui's side, no special person needs to be assigned; the two brothers' attendants will naturally bring something back for her as well.

Qing Shan and the others returned shortly; the three children lifted their long robes, pulled up their skirts, rolled up their sleeves, and began working.

Princess Consort of Qi watched from afar, her heart couldn't help but jump.

But thinking that the children's happiness is most important, she soon stopped thinking too much.

Dirt can be washed off.

The children's joy, however, isn't easily found again elsewhere.

And the joy found again, is it still the original joy?

So, as long as the children are happy, it's fine; we adults watch over them, and surely nothing will happen.

Feng Xuan Shang had also finished his work in the medicinal field; he decided to check the situation the next morning and then collect the herbs.

Now free, he also came over to watch the excitement.

After all, he's just a teenager in his teens; even though he appears mature and steady, deep down he still has a youthful heart, yearning for play and fun.

Feng Xuan Shang watched the excitement without joining in.

Being closer, Prince Qi saw him and also walked forward a bit.

The uncle and nephew occasionally said something to each other.

Sui Sui and the others initially dug quite seriously, even kneeling on the ground to look for earthworms.

Several servants knelt there helping to search, but later the three kids got carried away, directly launching into a frenzied digging mode, after digging they flung the soil to one side.

Seeing the three little laborers working with great enthusiasm, extremely happy, Prince Qi couldn't help but laugh heartily: "My obedient ones, you're the best at work!"

"Little Six isn't bad either; this arm has strength, follow me."

"Little Seven won't do; he's just grown a bunch of flesh, later we must have the teacher give them proper training."

……

Feng Xuan Shang watched his younger brothers and sisters' cute appearance, and also felt an urge to join in.

But, he was after all an elder prince; although there weren't many people in this detached residence, he still had some reservations, so it wasn't proper to really join in, and could only watch enviously.

The three little kids were having too much fun digging.

As they were digging, Feng Xuanbin suddenly let out a sharp scream, startling Prince Qi, who was talking with Feng Xuan Shang.

Princess Consort of Qi, who had been sitting not far away, heard the commotion and quickly rose to rush over.

Feng Xuan Shang also jumped in fright, turning his head to look at the situation.

As soon as another scream rang out, the group had already rushed over.

Then everyone was dumbfounded.

Perhaps because of the recent heavy rains, or perhaps because the three kids had gone crazy playing, they had dug somewhat deep.

They actually dug up a small section of a finger bone.

It was just a small segment, nothing but stark white bone; if placed normally in grass or the like, it wouldn't be particularly noticeable.

However, placed in the black-and-yellow mottled soil, that segment of white bone stood out clearly.

Sui Sui actually didn't see it, and Feng Xuanrui was happily digging away.

It was Feng Xuanbin who struck it with a shovel swing, and the finger bone even bounced onto the top of his shoe.

Feng Xuanbin was so frightened his mind went blank, and he instinctively let out a scream.

By the time Prince Qi and the others rushed over, Feng Xuanbin could no longer bear it, his eyes rolled back and he fainted.

When Prince Qi got a clear look at the situation, he swiftly scooped up Sui Sui and Feng Xuanrui, and before they could turn their heads, he covered their eyes with both big hands.

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