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Chapter 201: The Enticing Meng Cefi
Chapter 201: The Enticing Meng Cefi
As the two concubines wept and wailed their way towards her, Cefi Ren, a concubine with a gentle disposition, was spending time with Suishu, reading a book.
Upon discovering that the young girl was illiterate, Ren's motherly instincts kicked in.
She cuddled Suishu by the window, leaving it slightly ajar to let in the soft spring breeze as they delved into the book.
Cefi Ren had chosen the simplest book possible—a collection of common surnames.
She read aloud, enunciating each word, and prompted Suishu to repeat after her.
In the list of surnames common among the commoners, the surname 'Feng' appeared quite late.
It took a while before they reached the corresponding phrase: "Yang Ju Xu Feng."
However, the problem lay in the complexity of the four characters that comprised the phrase.
The character 'feng' in its traditional form had an abundance of strokes, making it challenging to write.
The character 'yang', meaning 'to nourish', also looked intricate, and surprisingly, the simplest character in the phrase was 'xu'.
Nevertheless, when all the strokes were counted, it still amounted to a considerable number.
Suishu's vision darkened as she felt overwhelmed.
Learning to read seemed like an insurmountable task.
Initially, she had wanted to learn her brother's surname, but now she felt discouraged.
"It's okay," she thought. "I'm still a child, and not knowing how to read isn't the end of the world!"
Just as Suishu struggled with her decision to persist or give up, she heard the sounds of crying and wailing approaching.
The two concubines didn't dare enter the room directly but stood outside the courtyard, creating a ruckus.
One of them had a background in theater, while the other was from a humble market town.
As Cefi Ren listened to their voices, she felt a throbbing headache coming on.
"Are you here to bother me because the Princess isn't at the mansion?" she thought, resigned to her fate.
With no other choice, Cefi Ren temporarily entrusted Suishu to her cousin, Xiang:"Please keep Suishu company while I go and see what the matter is."
Although Cefi Ren was reluctant, she knew that when issues arose, she had to face and resolve them.
With the door to Cefi Ren's chamber open and the windows flung wide, Meng Cefi, another concubine, had been preparing to leave the mansion.
She had planned to go out with her sister-in-law to choose a gift for her young nephew's upcoming birthday.
Even though the child was still young, the family placed great importance on such occasions and wanted to select thoughtful presents.
However, before Meng Cefi could even step out, she heard the commotion coming from Cefi Ren's room.
Meng Cefi hadn't forgotten how Cefi Ren had quietly slipped away, leaving her to deal with the consequences of their shared secret.
Initially, Meng Cefi had intended to turn a blind eye and walk away.
One couldn't blame her for being cold-hearted.
After all, this was how Cefi Ren had treated her in the past.
But as Meng Cefi turned around, she caught sight of Suishu and Xiang.
Curiosity got the better of her, and she paused in her tracks.
Meng Cefi's initial intention was to greet Suishu, as the little girl seemed adorable and she wanted to be friendly before leaving.
She had been intrigued by Suishu ever since their last encounter and had been looking for an opportunity to interact with her again.
Now that the chance had presented itself, she was determined to seize it.
Suishu, recognizing the familiar face of the aunt, greeted her politely: "Hello, beautiful Aunt. I am Suishu."
The little girl's eyes shone with sincerity as she paid the compliment, devoid of the insincerity sometimes seen in children who flatter adults solely to receive treats.
Suishu's demeanor reflected good manners and a genuine heart.
It only took a glance for Meng Cefi to develop a strong liking for the child.
She thought, "If someone as discerning as Cefi Ren has taken a liking to this child, she must be truly special."
Furthermore, the Princess also favored her, which assured Meng Cefi that Suishu was indeed extraordinary.
Thus, Meng Cefi approached Suishu with a sense of ease and warmth: "Hello, Suishu. I am Aunt Meng."
As she spoke, she took off the tourmaline ring from her finger and placed it into Suishu's purse.
Suishu felt embarrassed and tried to decline, but Meng Cefi held her hand firmly and insisted, "Take it, my dear. It's a gift from your aunt. Please keep it safe."
Meng Cefi gently restrained Suishu's hand, and the little girl obediently allowed her to place the ring in her purse, sincerely expressing her gratitude. "Thank you, Aunt Meng. May you live a long and healthy life."
The blessing from the child was somewhat abrupt and peculiar.
Meng Cefi couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this.
Everyone enjoyed hearing auspicious words, and she was no exception.
Although Suishu's words were a bit sudden, it didn't matter.
Meng Cefi decided to embrace the moment since she was enjoying herself.
She lifted her hand and gently caressed the little tassels on Suishu's hat, saying, "Thank you, Suishu. Auntie likes your blessing."
Hearing that Aunt Meng liked her blessing, Suishu felt shy and nibbled on her lower lip, lowering her head as her ears turned red.
The adorable expression on the little girl's face deepened the smile in Meng Cefi's eyes.
She thought, 'It's no wonder Ren admires this child so much. She truly is delightful.'
Suishu's demeanor was endearing, sincere, and genuine.
Just then, Che Lingzhi walked over.
Seeing this child, Meng Cefi's eyebrows knitted slightly, and a hint of displeasure flashed across her face.
Sometimes, it is the contrast that brings out the true extent of one's feelings.
Before seeing Che Lingzhi, Meng Cefi had merely found Suishu adorable.
But now, after seeing Che Lingzhi, she thought, 'Suishu is more than just adorable. She's like a precious gift sent by the heavens, a child with a pure and untouched soul, uncorrupted by the complexities of the adult world. Who could resist loving such innocence?'
The two concubines were now tugging at each other's hair ornaments, their voices growing louder and more aggressive.
One of them would try to speak, only to be constantly interrupted by the other, who seemed determined to prevent her from making her point or perhaps fearful of falling behind in this bizarre competition.
Annoyed by their bickering, Ren Cefi would snap at them from time to time, which would momentarily silence them.
But it never lasted long before they started up again.
Ren Cefi: ...
'I want to destroy this wretched existence as a concubine! I'm sick of it!'
Watching Ren Cefi's frustration, Meng Cefi struggled to contain her amusement, fearing that her laughter would be discovered and provoke further drama. Finally, she gently stroked Suishu's head and said, "Be a good girl, Suishu. Auntie has some matters to attend to, but I'll bring you some snacks from Su Ya Zhai when I return."
The snacks from Su Ya Zhai were renowned for their delicate and delicious flavors.
The Queen particularly enjoyed them, and whenever Meng Cefi went out, she would make it a habit to bring some back for her.
Now that there was a child to consider, she would carefully select a few more varieties that would be gentle on a young stomach.
Understanding that Aunt Meng had matters to attend to, Suishu nodded obediently. "Please go, Aunt Meng, and take care."
After speaking, she nibbled on her lip, her eyes following Meng Cefi as she left, reluctant to part ways.
The quarrel between the two concubines was growing louder and more intense, and Suishu felt genuinely afraid, despite having Xiang by her side.
Aunt Meng's presence had provided her with a sense of security, and the warmth of her hand as she stroked Suishu's tassels, her palm gently brushing against the girl's ear, had offered a momentary calm.
Now, with that warmth gone, Suishu felt anxious again.
Seeing the worried look on the little girl's face, Meng Cefi's heart softened, and she asked a maid to inform her sister-in-law that she would be a little late for their appointment.
Then, she temporarily stayed behind, gently picking Suishu up in her arms, and said with a smile, "I'm not in a hurry to leave just yet. Let me stay and keep you company for a while, alright?"
Second Watch
(End of Chapter)
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