Chapter 221: Is Xiao Fu Bao Disliked? The Whole City Loves Me With Their Lives
**Chapter 221: Fondness for Suisui**
Since Concubine Meng had already delivered her gifts, it was clear she had made up her mind and was determined to give them. She smiled and waved her hand. "Your Highness, you shouldn’t say that. Our Suisui deserves to have fine things. Although my resources are modest, as long as she calls me ‘Aunt,’ I must certainly add to her dowry."
After speaking, Concubine Meng looked at Suisui with a smile and asked, "Suisui, do you like those fabrics? They’re for making new clothes."
Suisui had just popped a longan into her mouth, her cheek puffing out in a round arc. Hearing her Aunt Meng mention her name, she looked over at the open chest.
The colors of the fabrics were soft and vibrant, suitable for both young adults and children. Although Suisui had tried on quite a few new clothes that morning, and while she found them beautiful, she wasn’t overly greedy.
Moreover, whether or not to accept the gifts depended on her mother’s decision, so Suisui turned obediently toward her mother.
The longan in her mouth was still not swallowed, so one side of her little face was still puffed up, making her look like a tiny squirrel nibbling away—utterly adorable.
The Priness couldn’t resist reaching out to poke that cheek, plumped up from the longan inside. It was soft and smooth, almost like a boiled egg white.
After noticing her mother’s gesture, Suisui leaned her face forward, her words muffled by the fruit in her mouth. "Mother, touch…"
Watching from the side, Concubine Meng felt a pang of envy and, unable to hold back, moved closer to Suisui. During the moment when Qi Wangfei’ hand was withdrawn, Concubine Meng quickly reached out and poked Suisui’s cheek as well. Soft and slightly fragrant from the longan, children’s cheeks truly felt wonderful to touch.
She recalled how pinchable her son Xiao San’s cheeks had been when he was little, but he had grown and no longer allowed such things, a fact she always felt somewhat regretful about.
When she had given birth to Feng Xuancang, it had been a difficult delivery that nearly took her life. She hadn’t conceived since then and figured she must have hurt her body. But at least she already had a son, and he had been formally recognized, so there weren’t too many regrets.
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This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com
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As for Prince Qi’s obsession with having a daughter, Concubine Meng wasn’t particularly concerned. She figured that if she couldn’t have any more children, then it was fine for Prince Qi to have one with someone else.
Now, watching Suisui and touching her soft little face while looking into her pure, deer-like eyes, Concubine Meng suddenly thought—Heavens! The doctor only said it would be difficult for her to conceive, not that it was impossible!
If she had tried harder back then, wouldn’t her child be Suisui’s age by now?
Considering that she wasn’t yet thirty, Concubine Meng thought she might still have a chance. Then again…
The situation with Concubine Che was naggingly suspicious. Especially since Prince Qi’s face had remained gloomy since he returned yesterday, and after Physician Liu checked on Suisui, Prince Qi had called him aside for a private consultation.
Was there something hidden here?
Concubine Meng, thoughtful by nature, sensed something amiss. Recalling the rumors from Concubine Ren about apricot kernels and safflowers in Concubine Che’s case, she formed a daring hypothesis—that Prince Qi might not be able to father children anymore!
If that was true, then her efforts would indeed be futile.
Moreover…
Concubine Meng looked down at Suisui’s innocent face in front of her and thought: even if she managed to have a daughter, there was no guarantee she’d be as cute as Suisui.
Even if she did have a daughter, there was no assurance she’d be as charming as Suisui. If she had one more like the unruly girl from the Grand Princess’s household…
Concubine Meng, who preferred peace, doubted she could handle the chaos!
Suisui, having swallowed the longan, obediently leaned her face toward Concubine Meng. "Aunt Meng, you can touch too."
The previous conversation was thus sidestepped, and Concubine Meng pretended that Suisui liked the fabrics and agreed to accept them. She gently patted Suisui and, not wanting to disturb her snack, smiled and said, "Go ahead and eat before it gets cold; cold food might upset your tummy."
Hearing Concubine Meng use childlike words, Qi Wangfei was taken aback. She never imagined such a tone from Concubine Meng but noted that it suited children well.
Just as expected, Suisui’s eyes lit up after hearing it, and she nodded obediently.
The Princess felt she had lost to Concubine Meng this time but thought it didn’t matter; she could easily make a comeback!
After speaking, Concubine Meng sat back down with a smile. "Although I don’t have much wealth, I can still add a little to Suisui’s dowry."
The Princess could guess that Concubine Meng’s generosity wasn’t solely out of fondness for Suisui but also out of gratitude for yesterday’s incident. It was a debt of life-saving gratitude.
The events at Suya Pavilion yesterday were chilling, as she had heard from her servant Aunt Qiu. Apparently, a vengeful madman had entered and killed seven people in one blow! Over a dozen others were injured; three innocent guests were fatally wounded, and four or five who managed to flee suffered minor injuries.
Concubine Meng had barely missed being among them by staying behind a bit longer yesterday.
Reflecting on the harrowing situation, both Concubine Meng and Qi Wangfei felt a lingering sense of fear. The Princess asked gently, "Did you have Physician Liu check you today? Let’s not ignore any aftereffects; we’ll treat it if there is an ailment."
Concubine Meng had, of course, seen Physician Liu in the morning, and he had advised that she needed rest and exposure to sunlight and nature to help her recover from the shock. Watching beautiful things, he suggested, would help her forget the horrible events.
Concubine Meng thought… beautiful things? Beautiful people also counted, didn’t they? So she had come to see Suisui.
Looking tenderly at Suisui, who was now sipping sweet soup, Concubine Meng felt that this child was so endearing it made her want to pull her into a big hug and never let go.
Originally, she had intended to reply, “I’ll be fine after a few days of rest.” But seeing Suisui, she changed her mind. "Physician Liu advised me to look at beautiful things or people to lift my spirits."
With that, Concubine Meng turned to Qi Wangfei with a smile. "How about letting Suisui stay with me tonight, Your Highness, as a small gesture of pity for my nerves?"
At these words, Qi Wangfei’s expression shifted.
Suisui, not understanding, looked up, glancing from her mother to Aunt Meng.
She thought she didn’t want to be apart from her mother, but since Aunt Meng had been through something frightening yesterday and was always kind to her, wouldn’t it be good to keep her company?
Yet… she didn’t want to leave her mother!
End of chapter
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