Chapter 83: The Princess Consort's Changing Face

Feng Xuanbo, with a single remark, pulled the hatred of the other two brothers onto himself.

Feng Xuanbin no longer mentioned the matter of going back to look for his sister.

Feng Xuanrui's mood had also brightened considerably.

Aunt Qiu watched from the side, and the lingering anxiety finally settled.

As the three brothers tussled back toward the South Yard, Sui Sui was washing her face and brushing her teeth.

Mother Consort said, "After dinner tonight we even had dessert; if you don't brush your teeth, your teeth will decay later!"

How could a child stand such a fright?

So, obediently go brush your teeth.

In fact Sui Sui could brush herself, but Princess Consort of Qi couldn't resist wanting to help.

Sui Sui let her awkward motions brush her teeth, then wipe her face, change into clean nightclothes, and only then went back to the bed.

The main courtyard had many rooms, and Princess Consort of Qi picked one nearest the main house.

Hai Tang and the others had already cleaned the room early.

The blankets and the like had been sun‑dried, making them soft and comfortable.

After Sui Sui was clean, Princess Consort of Qi lifted her onto the bed and tucked her into the warm quilt.

The quilt was warm and also soft.

The silk‑draped fabric felt smooth to the touch.

Sui Sui's hands were still slightly rough.

She constantly felt that, with a slight slip, she could mar the fabric.

Frightened, Sui Sui dared not move much, honestly curled up in the quilt, exposing only a pair of eyes, and looked obediently at Princess Consort of Qi.

Although Princess Consort of Qi had raised two children, she truly lacked experience coaxing children to sleep.

Children had wet nurses from infancy, and as they grew older, they had servants and pages.

As Mother Consort, most of the time she was merely a decorative companion, needing to do nothing.

Now truly confronting the task of coaxing sleep, Princess Consort of Qi felt somewhat at a loss.

Sui Sui, obediently saying little, just lay there, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Mother Consort.

Maid Shao Yao watched from the side, unable to suppress a smile.

A moment later, Shao Yao gently blew out the inner lamp, leaving only an outer candle flame, dimly flickering.

The dim atmosphere made the already weary Sui Sui gradually grow sleepy.

Princess Consort of Qi couldn't coax sleep, nor knew what to do, so she could only rely on instinct, raising her hand to gently pat Sui Sui's quilt.

She recalled that when she was a little six, the wet nurse seemed to pat the child to sleep in that manner?

As the child grew, many of the past things were not clearly remembered.

Especially things she had never truly experienced or touched.

Princess Consort of Qi's motions were light; even through the thick quilt, she feared hurting Sui Sui.

The dim room, the soft quilt, and Mother Consort's gentle patting.

Sui Sui's eyelids quickly clashed; she fought the drowsiness, tried to say something, but it only became a garbled byte: "Good night…"

The voice behind was too faint and too fuzzy.

Princess Consort of Qi didn't hear it clearly, but that didn't affect her good mood.

She gently helped Sui Sui adjust the quilt corner, then smoothed her hair, and only then softly said, "Sui Sui, good night."

Princess Consort of Qi didn't hear the byte behind clearly, but the system sharply captured it.

Mother.

The last two characters Sui Sui said were "mother".

After the system captured it, it felt somewhat bittersweet.

Originally, it was still worried that Sui Sui, arriving in a new environment, might be uneasy, and silently prayed in its heart that tonight it must summon a gentle and reliable sleep‑coach.

As a result, Sui Sui fell asleep, making it unnecessary.

But actually this was also quite fine.

It's fine that fewer people dote on Sui Sui in the virtual world; it's better to have more such people in reality.

Princess Consort of Qi wasn't at ease; after watching the little girl's breathing steady, she didn't hurry to leave.

She sat a while longer, watching Sui Sui's sleeping face, becoming more relaxed, then quietly slipped out.

Seeing the Princess Consort emerge, Shao Yao lifted a lantern and walked ahead of her.

Princess Consort of Qi, still uneasy, told the night‑duty Hai Tang a few words, then slowly walked out.

The night was slightly cool; Princess Consort of Qi gently gathered the cloak on her arm and softly asked Shao Yao, "Has the person already arrived?"

Shao Yao nodded in response, "Yes, already waiting in the Side Hall."

Hearing this, Princess Consort of Qi lightly nodded; her previously gentle expression gradually grew cold.

In the Side Hall, Concubine Zhou was now standing there anxiously.

Maid Fang Xing let her sit for a while; she also didn't dare, placing both hands in front of her body, repeatedly clasping them back and forth.

No matter how she clasped them, it was uncomfortable.

Finally she simply gave up, placing them at her side.

Yet, without holding something, she couldn't settle her tangled heart.

This made Concubine Zhou even more anxious.

During the Princess Consort's dinner, someone was sent to ask her, saying they had finished eating, checking the time, and when the young masters returned to the South Yard, she would come to wait.

Princess Consort of Qi had a gentle temperament, and was always tolerant toward the concubines and chambers of the Residence.

As long as they don't cause trouble or make a fuss, the Princess Consort is often willing to indulge them.

Concubine Zhou never imagined what the matter could be, but she couldn't wait until morning and had to come over that night.

By the time Princess Consort of Qi arrived, Concubine Zhou's mind had already turned over several bad thoughts, and she had broken out in a cold sweat.

But when she heard the Princess Consort of Qi's footsteps, Concubine Zhou still carefully used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead, afraid that if her composure was seen she would be scolded again.

As soon as the Princess Consort of Qi entered, not only was Concubine Zhou nervous, but her maid also grew nervous.

If her master really encountered something, how could she, as a servant, be alright?

Fang Xing kept comforting herself, 'It's fine, it's fine, they still have the Seventh Young Master.'

Even a major matter, looking at the Seventh Young Master's face, should perhaps be eased a little, right?

After the Princess Consort of Qi entered and took her seat at the head, Concubine Zhou performed a proper salute and greeting.

The Princess Consort of Qi didn't call for her to rise; she simply sat there, quietly sipping tea.

Concubine Zhou didn't hear the summons to rise, and thought to herself, 'It's over!'

The Princess Consort of Qi deliberately kept her waiting; only after drinking a few sips of tea did she raise her hand.

Shaoyao, standing to the side, laughed and said, 'Concubine Zhou, please get up quickly; the spring ground is cold, take care of your knees.'

Concubine Zhou didn't dare to have Fang Xing help her up; she trembled as she rose, and didn't dare to sit, merely standing honestly to one side with her head lowered, not daring to speak.

Seeing her like that, the Princess Consort of Qi let out a soft sigh: 'I recall, your ancestral home is in Wen Prefecture, is it not?'

Hearing the Princess Consort mention her ancestral home, Concubine Zhou's heart gave another jolt, her face showed a hint of panic, and her voice trembled: '... Yes, Princess Consort.'

After saying that, the Princess Consort of Qi said nothing more.

She deliberately kept her waiting; Concubine Zhou didn't dare to make a sound, nor to lift her head to look.

After a while, the Princess Consort of Qi finally let out a soft sigh: 'You are Little Seven's mother; besides conducting yourself properly in the manor, you must also remember to restrain your maternal kin, lest you cause trouble for Little Seven. He is a son of the Wangfu, of noble status; if there is some outsider who holds him back, how will he ever manage among his brothers in the future?'

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