Chapter 245: Is Xiao Fu Bao Disliked? The Whole City Loves Me With Their Lives
Chapter 245: The Rascals
Unable to dissuade the children, the servants had no choice but to rally the young servants. They formed two circles beneath the tree, keeping a close watch on the situation. In case one of the children fell, they hoped to catch them, or at least soften the fall to prevent any serious injuries.
Everyone was on edge, their eyes fixed on the tree. The children, on the other hand, were thrilled. Even the usually quiet Shen Huatang couldn’t keep her excitement in check. Especially Liu Hemeng, who was great at rallying the others. With a few encouraging words, Shen Huatang, who had been hesitant, followed Suisui up the tree.
Shen Huatang still cared about appearances, knowing she was in the royal residence, so she didn’t go too far. She stayed close behind Suisui, ready to catch her if she fell.
The crabapple tree was large, but the number of children scrambling up it made it look crowded.
When Feng Xuancang reached the tree, he was quickly pushed aside and descended, staying below to keep watch in case anything went wrong.
But Feng Xuanrui and his brothers continued to climb, getting stuck halfway up. Feng Xuanrui and Feng Xuanbin were in the front, and both struggled to move any further. Suisui, right behind Feng Xuanrui, couldn’t advance because he had stopped.
Liu Hemeng and Shen Huatang, who were behind her, also couldn’t move. They were like little bears clinging to the tree, afraid to make any sudden movements.
Feng Xuanbin, exhausted, almost lost his balance and nearly collapsed onto Suisui’s head. And her servant, Aunt Xiang, watched in sheer panic, her heart in her throat. She couldn’t scream out, fearing it would startle the children. If Feng Xuanbin fell, the others would likely follow.
Climbing trees was far too dangerous.
Aunt Xiang thought to herself, *From now on, we’ll walk around the tree with Suisui. She mustn’t be allowed to face danger again.*
The events of the past had left a lasting shadow in her heart, and she could never allow it to happen again. The Princess trusted her, and though the previous incident had only been mentioned briefly, Aunt Xiang had taken it to heart and kept a close watch on Suisui ever since.
Aunt Xiang’s thoughts were consumed with worry as her eyes stayed glued to the children.
Feng Xuanbin, too, knew that his sister was right behind him. He couldn’t let go, no matter how hard it was. He clung to the tree with all his might, grunting, and calling out to Feng Xuanrui, “Sixth Brother, hurry up! I can’t hold on much longer!”
Climbing was fine, but once they stopped, it took a lot of strength to stay steady and avoid falling.
Rather than wait, they needed to climb higher.
Feng Xuanrui wanted to continue, but the branches were too high, some too thin to step on, and others too far to reach. He couldn’t decide which way to go.
He was stuck, and the others had no choice but to wait. But the longer they waited, the more exhausted the children became.
When Qi Wangfei hurried over after hearing the news, she found the children hanging from the tree in a line.
Feng Xuanbin’s voice was tinged with a sob, “Sixth Brother, you have to climb!”
Feng Xuanrui, his voice hoarse from strain, replied, “I... I can’t move anymore!”
Suisui said nothing, simply clinging to the tree with a serious yet endearing expression. If they weren’t in such a precarious situation, Qi Wangfei might have admired the sight for longer.
But they were in the tree!
"Oh my goodness, you little troublemakers! What are you all doing up there?" Qi Wangfei’s heart leaped as she saw the children hanging from the tree. She didn’t dare shout in alarm, afraid it would startle them into letting go.
She gently instructed the household servants to help and soothed the children before carefully helping each one down.
As soon as Suisui got to the ground and saw her mother, her eyes lit up. She happily dashed over, calling out, “Mother!”
Qi Wangfei had initially planned to scold them a bit, but seeing Suisui’s bright and cheerful expression, she just couldn’t bring herself to ruin the mood. Smiling warmly, she picked up the little girl and held her close, saying gently, “Let’s go eat.” The lecture could wait until later.
Meanwhile, Prince Qi was with Concubine Guo, exchanging polite conversation. The two of them didn’t really know each other well; Concubine Guo had been in the residence for over five years but had spent more time interacting with the Princess than with the Prince. The Princess treated everyone with kindness and never looked down on Concubine Guo, which reassured her deeply.
Though her background was modest, Concubine Guo felt fortunate. At least, with a benevolent mistress like the Princess Qi, as long as she behaved herself, she could live in relative peace. Even though Concubine Ren had a bit of a domineering streak, she generally left people alone if they didn’t cross her.
Concubine Guo had thought that a quiet, stable life in the royal residence was as much as she could hope for. With the backing of the household, her family’s business ran more smoothly as well. But who could have imagined that one day she would have a child? It was an unexpected joy in her otherwise uneventful days.
All morning, Concubine Guo had been too excited to sleep, lost in her thoughts. She wasn’t particularly stirred by Prince Qi’s visit; after all, they were almost strangers. Prince Qi’s attempt to make conversation felt awkward, but they kept up the small talk out of necessity.
Prince Qi hoped to reassure Concubine Guo and encourage her to care for her health during the pregnancy. And although the interaction felt strained, Concubine Guo, knowing her place in the household, did her best to reciprocate. After all, her future life and her child’s standing depended on the Prince’s favor.
At one point, the Prince even awkwardly asked, “Are you hungry?”
Concubine Guo, understanding that he was simply out of topics to discuss, smiled and nodded, “Yes, I am.”
Instead of leaving, Prince Qi had a meal arranged in her quarters. They shared a rather harmonious meal, with Feng Si assisting in serving the dishes to spare Concubine Guo any discomfort. She felt slightly embarrassed, but Prince Qi brushed it off with a casual wave.
Still, Prince Qi’s thoughts were on his beloved daughter. After lunch, he said a few more comforting words to Concubine Guo, then took his leave.
As soon as he left, Concubine Guo felt the tension leave her body; the sky seemed brighter, the water clearer, and her heart lighter. The short time with the Prince had reminded her of the gulf between them, making her feel on edge.
Now, with only her familiar maid Liang’er by her side, Concubine Guo let out a long sigh of relief. Liang’er watched, amused and a bit exasperated, but wisely kept her thoughts to herself, quietly tending to her work.
After his meal, Prince Qi strolled back to the main courtyard, looking forward to spending some time with his darling daughter.
But upon his return, he only saw Qi Wangfei, with no sign of Suisui.
Raising an eyebrow, he asked softly, “Where’s my little sweetheart?”
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