Chapter 67: Shadow Puppet Show

Sui Sui didn't know that after her brother returned to the mansion, he would go to cheer up their mother's heart.

After finishing sorting the potatoes, the two children were tired, washed up and went to sleep.

As for bedtime stories?

They simply couldn't hold out until then!

Next day, the weather was fine.

They got up early, packed up, and then continued on their way.

In the evening, they arrived at the next county town.

The new county town had a particularly prevalent acrobatic culture.

After entering the town, Sui Sui's eyes could hardly keep up.

Almost every three steps there was an acrobatics stall, every five steps a small stage.

The simpler ones might just be selling strength.

Like breaking stones on the chest or lifting heavy objects.

The more complicated ones were things like balancing bowls or stacking arhats.

With many acrobatic acts, there were also many spectators.

The calls of vendors and cheers were nonstop.

From the moment they entered town, Liu Dafu had Di Jiao and the others watch the children; he and Prince Qing didn't even glance at the acrobatics, but kept a close watch on the two children.

They arrived safely at the inn, got a room, and thinking it was crowded outside, Liu Dafu suggested not going out to eat but having food brought back.

The inn they had booked tonight was putting on a shadow‑puppet show.

"Our host's birthday, specially invited back — not only does the manor have a performance, but the guests of our inn can also watch on the first floor. Thank you for your patronage!"

……

The proprietor explained why there would be a shadow‑puppet performance.

With a show, buying food outside and eating it back in is fine too.

The inn's first floor happened to be a spacious hall with a total of eight tables.

After the staff tidied up, quite a few people could be seated.

Liu Dafu and company arrived just in time to get good viewing spots.

Sui Sui had never seen such a thing before; when the candlelight dimmed, all the light focused on the shadow‑puppet stage, and she was so engrossed she forgot her food, craning her neck to watch.

A little world of its own, it seemed like a self‑contained universe.

As the candlelight flickered, the story behind the screen rose and fell unpredictably.

Sui Sui didn't really understand it, but that didn't stop her from following the crowd, gasping or sighing along.

Feng Xuanrui rarely saw such things in the capital, and now he was also quite amazed.

When Sui Sui expressed wonder, Feng Xuanrui couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, amazing!"

"Great!!!"

Their voices blended with the cheers of others, so they weren't particularly noticeable.

For this reason, Sui Sui also gathered courage and shouted loudly twice.

But that was just two shouts; any more and Sui Sui wouldn't dare.

Sui Sui was eating her food while watching the shadow‑puppet show.

The Chen Yue Yao far away in the capital — no, she has now formally changed her name to Xu Yue Yao.

Xu Yue Yao was sitting on an embroidered stool, her back straight, shoulders naturally relaxed and drooping, chin slightly tucked, holding a piece of peach‑wood board in her mouth.

The peach‑wood board has a slight curve; biting it with the upper and lower teeth just right makes the lip shape turn up, looking like a smile.

Xu Yue Yao placed her hands folded in front of her abdomen, arms slightly raised, matching her drooping shoulders.

This is a dignified, elegant lady's seat cushion.

Xu Yue Yao had been sitting there for half an hour, with four other young ladies beside her.

It had been three days since returning to the capital, and Xu Yue Yao had not yet seen her biological father, the Marquis of Jin Yang, let alone the grandmother who had doted on Sui Sui in her previous life.

After entering the Marquis of Jin Yang's manor, the highest‑ranking person Xu Yue Yao had seen was Aunt Ning, who was currently teaching them etiquette.

After returning to the manor, food and drink were no longer their concern, but etiquette training was extremely strict.

Aunt Ning said, "As daughters of the marquis manor, your manners and etiquette must be excellent when you go out; don't disgrace the marquis manor."

The first thing Xu Yue Yao and the other young ladies did after returning to the manor was to be taken by Aunt Ning to the separate courtyard for etiquette training.

During the process, Xu Yue Yao had not thought of playing tricks, wanting to sneak out to try her luck, hoping to encounter her father, the Marquis of Jin Yang, or her grandmother, the old lady.

Xu Yue Yao thought, "If that lowly Sui Sui could do it in her past life, why can't I?"

The result was that this was the separate courtyard; outside the capital, once they went out, all they saw were other people's side‑court manors, and they couldn't see anyone from the marquis manor at all.

Because of that, she was also made to stand as punishment for an hour.

Aunt Ning would not beat them, nor would she deprive them of food and drink.

Only, the demands for etiquette were especially strict.

After it grew dark and they had finished dinner, they continued the training.

Xu Yue Yao actually couldn't sit still, but she also knew that if she didn't practice the etiquette well, she would likely not be allowed to see the masters of the marquis manor.

So, she gritted her teeth and persisted.

Before coming to the capital, Xu Yue Yao had imagined many things: that she was more capable than Sui Sui, that she could win over her father and grandmother, and live a life more glorious than Sui Sui's in this lifetime.

But only after truly arriving in the capital did she realize that people like her — lost jewels of the marquis manor scattered abroad — numbered five.

Besides that, there was also a young lord.

The young lord did not train etiquette with them; Xu Yue Yao's companions were four young ladies, the eldest being Xu Yueying, who is ten years old.

After that comes Xu Yuexiu, seven years old.

Xu Yue Yao, Xu Yueying, and Xu Yuenong are all five years old.

Xu Yue Yao originally thought that, with the experience from her previous life, how could she still lose to a few kids?

Reality proved that she really couldn't win!

Xu Yue Yao was even, because she lacked scheming, given extra training by Aunt Ning several times.

This made Xu Yue Yao feel increasingly frustrated.

But she must not lose!

Xu Yue Yao thought, why can a little brat like Sui Sui get away with it, but she cannot?

She intends to go proudly to Sui Sui's grave and show her.

Look, she clearly can do better.

Better than Sui Sui!

This belief makes Xu Yue Yao grit her teeth and persist, straightening her back even more.

Aunt Ning, after seeing it, coldly reminded, "Relax, keep your back straight; what's needed is a naturally relaxed state, not making you stiff like a board, frozen in place."

Being singled out for criticism made Xu Yue Yao's nose tingle with grievance.

Unfortunately, no one here would pity her helplessness and sorrow.

Human joys and sorrows are not shared.

At this moment, Sui Sui had watched a wonderful shadow puppet show, eaten the county's specialty foods, and happily drank a bowl of honey water.

After washing up, she went back to the bed with her brother to sleep.

Earlier, Feng Xuanrui was lying inside while Sui Sui was outside.

Today, having learned a bit about being considerate to a younger sister, Feng Xuanrui thought and let Sui Sui sleep inside: "If anything happens, call brother; brother will be with you."

Sui Sui, though not understanding, wondered why she had to sleep inside.

But she is willing to obey her brother.

Seeing his sister's obedient demeanor, Feng Xuanrui couldn't help but pat her head: "Sister, if you don't like lying inside, you can speak up."

The system also encourages Sui Sui.

【Sui Sui, when you encounter something you dislike, be brave and say no~】

Shadow puppet show, so fun.

— Sui Sui's notebook

Cute second update