Chapter 39: Sui Sui, be happy

Seeing Sui Sui getting ready to sleep, the system hurriedly asked in a warm voice, "Do you want to hear a story now?"

"Okay."

After receiving Sui Sui's response, the system began to summon someone.

Then it discovered that the person summoned today was actually Zhuangzi!

The new environment let Zhuangzi think for a while; he felt that upon returning today, he would have some new insights to write down.

Having reacted, Zhuangzi greeted Sui Sui with a cheerful laugh.

"Sui Sui, good evening, I am Uncle Zhuang Zhou."

Sui Sui obediently called out, then cautiously asked, "May I ask, Uncle Zhuang Zhou, can you help me solve the Nine Linked Rings?"

Zhuang Zhou:?

After asking, Sui Sui felt a bit embarrassed: "My brother's Nine Linked Rings has always been unsolvable; I want to help my brother, but I don't know how."

Zhuang Zhou:??

Before Zhuangzi's bedtime story could even begin, he had already accepted a challenge.

The Nine Linked Rings is quite similar to the jade linked rings that Zhuang Zhou has come into contact with, and the principle is also roughly the same.

Zhuangzi thought this challenge was not bad, so he cheerfully agreed to it.

However, solving the Nine Linked Rings does not interfere with his storytelling.

So, soon a gentle yet firm voice sounded in Sui Sui's ear: "When the time is right, act accordingly; sorrow and joy cannot enter."

……

At first, Sui Sui could still force herself to stay awake.

But she was too sleepy.

Uncle Zhuang Zhou's voice was also very low, carrying a hypnotic quality.

Sui Sui quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Zhuangzi spent the whole night solving the Nine Linked Rings.

Unlinking, restoring, unlinking again, restoring again.

Previously, Zhuangzi did not think small trinkets had any appeal.

But today, he seemed to gain some insight from this.

He did not leave until near dawn, still feeling unsatisfied.

Looking at the adorable sleeping Sui Sui, Zhuangzi gently set down the Nine Linked Rings and lightly touched the little girl's head.

"To bear the heavens, and not be cut down by them, only then can one now plan to journey south."

"Sui Sui, be happy~"

The next day, it was overcast.

Because the road was rough and hard to travel, they rested another day in the town.

In the morning, the outside was damp with mist, so Liu Dafu did not let them go out to play.

When afternoon came, Feng Xuanrui started insisting on going out to play.

As for the Nine Linked Rings?

Feng Xuanrui had long forgotten about it, while Sui Sui, not yet knowing how to solve it, felt guilty and dared not mention it.

The two siblings, in tacit understanding, neither spoke of this matter.

The two children were clamoring to go out and play; Liu Dafu, helpless, could only go ask Prince Qing and then make arrangements.

Liu Dafu had Di Jiao go out to inquire, and only then learned that tonight someone in the town would be releasing river lanterns and someone else would be setting off fireworks.

It was said to be the birthday of a wealthy merchant's son; they had already celebrated during the day, and they would continue celebrating at night.

The town is not exactly prosperous; it is rare to have such an event, so the crowd grew.

Before heading out, Liu Dafu carefully instructed those accompanying them: "You must keep a close watch, don't let your eyes wander, and don't cause a disturbance."

"When there are many people, hold onto the children's hands!"

……

Qing Shan and Qing Shui were specifically named.

The two, who had previously made a mistake and almost lost the young master, nodded solemnly.

Only as evening approached did they set out.

Along the way, they walked and stopped, watching the liveliness, and the sky grew dark.

Perhaps because there was an event tonight, the town looked extremely lively.

The merchants were not in a hurry to close their shops, all hanging up beautiful red lanterns.

Many people heard the commotion and also came out to watch the liveliness.

Looking not far away, someone was releasing river lanterns; Feng Xuanrui pursed his lips: "What's so special about releasing them, as if nobody had ever done it before."

The young boy's river lanterns from before had been smashed to pieces; when he got the news today, he didn't have time to prepare.

At this moment, naturally, there were no river lanterns being released.

In the city, there were actually finished products for sale, but Feng Xuanrui refused.

Since it wasn't handmade by him, how could it be worthy of his sister?

However, as more people released river lanterns, Feng Xuanrui couldn't help feeling wistful: "Actually, the finished products are also quite good."

Sui Sui nodded obediently: "Brother is right!"

Receiving his sister's response and support, Feng Xuanrui's spirits rose: "Actually, I, the young master, am not that picky either."

"Homemade and store-bought aren't really that different."

"Sometimes, you just have to make do."

……

The young lad spoke while casting a suggestive look at Prince Qing.

Having received his little nephew's hint, Prince Qing felt both annoyed and amused; he helplessly shook his head and brought Zhan Gao over to look at the river lanterns.

Today, when going out, he hadn't brought many people; those who were injured among his entourage were resting at the inn.

With Liu Dafu following, Prince Qing felt more at ease.

Not long after Prince Qing left, a crowd surged in, young men and women together with half-grown children, all watching the bustle.

But it instantly filled this narrow street.

Liu Dafu and his two disciples were directly squeezed to the side.

After they finally managed to find a little space in the crowded throng, Di Jiao exclaimed, "Where are the Sixth Prince and the young lady?"

Hearing that, Liu Dafu instinctively began looking around.

There were plenty of men and women around, some young, and a few children.

But those two children were nowhere to be seen.

Qing Shan and Qing Shui, the two brothers, weren't there either.

Just a moment ago, they got squeezed away?

Thinking of the possibility that they had been lost in the crowd, Liu Dafu's face turned pale instantly and his legs went weak; Di Jiao supported him from the side.

The group of four children who had been squeezed to the other side of the crowd now ran into a troublesome matter.

They picked up a child.

A little girl who was crying especially bitterly.

Feng Xuanrui's obsession with his sister had eased considerably with the arrival of Sui Sui.

However, upon seeing the poor little girl, he said aloud not to meddle, that it had nothing to do with us.

But his eyes couldn't help looking over.

Qing Shan, the eldest of the four, seeing the Sixth Prince like that, quickly laughed and said, "That child probably got separated from us in the crowd, just like us; he looks pitiful, let's go ask."

Qing Shan had already handed over the ladder; Feng Xuanrui naturally took it, pretending to be nonchalant: "Fine, he looks pitiful too—just consider it an act of kindness on my part."

The little girl looked to be about the same age as Sui Sui.

After Feng Xuanrui walked over, he didn't rush to speak, but gestured for Qing Shui to do so.

Qing Shui was young, with a baby face, and usually quite skilled at coaxing people.

The little girl, upon first seeing the four of them, was a little frightened and stepped back.

Finding no way to retreat, and surrounded by strangers, she was so scared her face turned deathly pale and she collapsed onto the ground.

In the end, Qing Shui laughed and coaxed her for a while before she finally spoke: "I got separated from my older sister; I can't find anyone, waa waa!"

Seeing the child start to cry, Qing Shui hurriedly began to comfort her again.

Finally having calmed the little girl, Qing Shui gently said, "Would you like the brothers to take you home?"

Afraid the little girl wouldn't believe him, Qing Shui pointed to Sui Sui and said, "Look, we also have a sister about your age; we're not bad people."

The fifth watch.

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(End of chapter)