Chapter 182: Confidence from Her Maternal Family
Chapter 182: Confidence from Her Maternal Family
Song Bi didn't understand why her brother reacted that way.
Perplexed, she glanced at Song Kuan and then shook her head. "Second brother, I didn't corrupt my little sister. She really smells wonderful. Come and take a sniff."
Song Kuan: ...!!!
Even as a child, he knew better than to casually sniff a young lady.
He was a boy...a boy!!!
Song Kuan felt too embarrassed to face the two little girls.
Nonetheless, he obediently walked over to the pond.
The weather was pleasant, and the area by the pond wasn't chilly. Song Kuan soon waved his hand, signaling for the two girls to join him and witness the spectacle.
Song Bi literally carried Sui Sui upright all the way to the pond.
Upon reaching their destination, she carefully set Sui Sui down and then proactively held her hand. "Little sister, look, we've raised quite a few fish here. They're really fat, but not very tasty."
Song Kuan: ...!!!
They were merely ornamental fish. Please, spare them!
Song Kuan was left speechless.
Song Bi continued, "However, the fish in the manor's estate are much more delicious. How about we go there after noon and catch some fish so we can eat them for dinner tonight?"
Before Sui Sui could respond, Song Kuan interjected from the side, "You'll need to ask Aunt for permission first."
After all, Sui Sui was just a child herself; how could she make such decisions?
Hearing this, Song Bi sighed with some disappointment. "Oh, what a pity. But it's still nice to look at these fish, isn't it?"
As she spoke, Song Bi shook Sui Sui's hand and even helped wipe the sweat from her brow. From time to time, she would ask if Sui Sui was thirsty or wanted something to eat.
Song Bi's care and concern extended to every little detail, and she would occasionally suggest carrying Sui Sui to avoid tiring her out.
Sui Sui was thoroughly doted on and even fed two honeyed dried fruits by Song Bi.
The sweet and chewy texture made for a delightful snack as Sui Sui chewed for quite some time before finally swallowing it down.
Watching Sui Sui eat, Song Bi couldn't help but reach out and gently poke Sui Sui's cheeks as they puffed up in turn.
Each time she poked, Sui Sui would squint and smile involuntarily.
Sui Sui's smile made her look even softer and more pokable, causing Song Bi to lose control of her hands.
The two little girls, who had initially intended to watch the fish, ended up poking each other playfully.
Song Bi felt that it would be unfair if she were the only one poking Sui Sui.
Hence, she also allowed Sui Sui to poke her.
Song Bi believed that she ate well, grew up healthy, and had a robust body.
Consequently, she also had plenty of chub on her face.
Song Bi extended her face forward and invited Sui Sui to poke it. "Little sister, poke me. I'm so soft and chubby; it's quite fun!"
Sui Sui, with eyes wide in curiosity, gently poked Song Bi's face. Upon feeling the fleshy sensation, she couldn't help but burst into laughter.
While the children played merrily outside, the Princess of Qi had already dismissed all attendants and shared Sui Sui's background with her mother.
Upon hearing that Sui Sui was connected to the Marquis of Jin Yang, the elderly Madam Song furrowed her brows.
Evidently, the Jin Yang Marquis wasn't well-liked in the capital, and the Song family was no exception.
However, thinking of the unfortunate child, the elderly Madam Song ultimately sighed. "Then take good care of her. Since the Jin Yang Marquis already has their own child, Sui Sui is now our child. If the Prince isn't willing to acknowledge her, she can take our family name, Song. Our Song family has few daughters, so having one more is a blessing we couldn't ask for!"
Among the younger generation, there were only two girls, and the elderly Madam Song genuinely felt that it was insufficient.
Now, she wished she could have three to five more grandchildren overnight to fill her heart with joy!
Hearing her mother's words, the Princess of Qi heaved a sigh of relief, knowing that she now had the support of her maternal family.
"Your father still hasn't returned to the mansion?" Madam Song inquired softly, her brows furrowed with concern.
She felt that the older the Prince of Qi became, the more unpredictable his behavior seemed to be. Of course, she couldn't voice these thoughts aloud, especially since her son-in-law was a royal prince. Despite being the mother-in-law, she had to be mindful of her words.
It had been over a month since her sixth grandson had left the capital, and now that he had returned safely, she found it excessive that the Prince of Qi hadn't even bothered to show his face.
Over the years, the Princess of Qi had gradually become accustomed to her husband's behavior and no longer paid it much mind. If she had continued to dwell on it, she would have worn herself out with frustration.
So, when her mother brought it up, she simply smiled and shook her head. "Not yet, but I expect him to return within the next day or so."
She understood that her husband's long-standing desire for a daughter had perhaps affected his mental state.
Seeing the concern on Madam Song's face, the Princess of Qi quickly reassured her, "Don't worry, Mother. I'll take good care of Sui Sui, and if Father truly doesn't want to acknowledge her, I'll have the confidence to stand my ground thanks to your support."
As the Princess of Qi and her daughter were about to depart, Madam Song made sure they were well-prepared with gifts from the older generation of the Song family. Their luggage for returning to the mansion, including their belongings from Lanruo Temple, was now accompanied by several additional items.
To facilitate the transport of these gifts, they temporarily added a carriage from the Song family estate, driven by one of their coachmen. There was no need to worry about the return trip, as the coachman could simply take the carriage back after dropping them off.
At the time of their departure, Song Bi wept loudly, and Song Kuan pouted with tears welling in his eyes. If not for his sense of pride as a young man, he would have joined his sister in crying openly.
Zhou Shi bustled about, comforting the two children and keeping a close eye on the mischievous Song Bi to ensure she didn't sneak off with the carriage to the Prince of Qi's mansion.
This kind of situation was not uncommon, as the young masters of the Song family had attempted similar escapades in the past.
Zhou Shi's efforts left her forehead beaded with sweat, but she eventually managed to keep the two children in check.
In her heart, she silently prayed: "Sister-in-law, please recover your health soon. I can't handle all of this!"
Sui Sui also found it difficult to part with her new friends, boarding the carriage with a bag full of tears, which she shed quietly as she snuggled into her mother's embrace.
The little girl's sorrowful expression evoked a sense of tenderness and compassion.
The Princess of Qi held her daughter close, gently patting her back to soothe her.
Before long, the soothing motion lulled the tired child to sleep, her tear-stained face now relaxed in slumber.
Seeing Sui Sui's sleeping face, the Princess of Qi felt a mix of heartache and relief.
Raising children was no easy task, and she was now experiencing the challenges of caring for a young child firsthand.
In the past, she had rarely been directly involved in caring for her two sons, and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt toward them.
She made a mental note to sew a pouch for her sixth son and ask Autumn Auntie to look for rare books or items that her eldest son might need.
(End of Chapter)
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