Chapter 236: An Unexpected Incident
Chapter 236: An Unexpected Incident
Concubine Ren was carefully selecting an assortment of snacks, intending to choose several varieties that the two Princess Consorts and Concubine Meng would enjoy. As she was making her selection, she heard Suisu's voice.
Concubine Ren followed Suisu's gaze and noticed a teahouse on the street corner. To be honest, Concubine Ren felt somewhat disdainful of the teahouse.
However, Suisu seemed to like it, and the Prince was already walking in that direction while carrying her. Although Concubine Ren was reluctant, she eventually turned and followed them toward the teahouse. As she walked, she said to the maid beside her, Aunt Sun, "I only want what's best for the child. I'm not interested in drinking that stuff. That teahouse... it just doesn't look appealing to me..."
Before she could finish her sentence, a loud bang sounded from behind them. The noise was so loud that Concubine Ren felt as if it had exploded right next to her ear. Startled, she flinched, then jumped, and finally spun around to look.
Maintaining the dignified demeanor expected of a royal concubine, Concubine Ren managed to restrain herself from screaming. Perhaps when one is too scared, they lose their voice.
Concubine Ren's face was filled with terror as she stiffly turned around. Then she saw a person lying on the ground, right where she had just walked past. At that moment, the person's head was already bleeding from the impact of the fall.
The gory red blood slowly flowed onto the bluestone slabs, a sight that was both bloody and frightening. Concubine Ren had never encountered such a scene before. She had never even seen a chicken being slaughtered.
As the blood flowed, the sight of it caused Concubine Ren to reach her limit. She let out a brief, sharp scream, then her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
Aunt Sun was so startled that her face turned pale, and she subconsciously reached out to support Concubine Ren. Her breathing quickened noticeably.
However, being older and having experienced more in life, Aunt Sun soon recovered from her initial fear. "Quick, quick, quick! Help Her Ladyship over to that side to rest!" she urged.
The maids and servants finally snapped out of their shock and worked together to support the fainted Concubine Ren, leading her to the teahouse and helping her sit down in a nearby seat.
Prince Qi was also startled by the incident. He had been playing with Suisu, promising to slaughter a sheep for her in the afternoon so that she could have its soft wool. Suisu had then suggested dyeing the wool pad pink, a beautiful color that would match her clothes.
How could Prince Qi disagree? He readily agreed, even intending to suggest dyeing it in additional colors instead of just one.
But before he could finish asking, a loud bang sounded from behind them, and Prince Qi instinctively turned his head to see someone falling from the upper story of the snack shop.
Then came Concubine Ren's scream! Prince Qi's face paled in genuine fright. His health had been weak lately, and this sudden scare made his complexion even paler.
However, his hands firmly held onto Suisu, ensuring her stability.
Regaining his composure, Prince Qi lifted his hand to gently cover Suisu's eyes, not wanting the child to witness such a gory scene. At the same time, he turned away and said, "Suisu, don't look. It's not something pleasant. By the way, Suisu, wouldn't it be too monotonous to only have one color on the wool pad? How about we also add some snow-blue or bamboo-green? Actually, any shade of blue would be nice."
Prince Qi spoke as much as he could, both to alleviate his own anxiety and to distract Suisu's attention, afraid that the child might pay too much attention to what was happening nearby.
As he shielded Suisu, he also signaled to those around him to protect the young children, not wanting them to witness such a bloody scene.
Suisu heard the commotion but couldn't see what was happening. Being held in her father's arms, her small stature limited her view.
She only saw something fall from the upper story, and after that, she knew not what happened.
However, she did witness Concubine Ren fainting.
At that moment, Suisu forgot about the wool pad and anxiously tugged on her father's hair. "Father, what's wrong with Aunt Ren?"
Not wanting to frighten the child, Qi Wang instinctively lied, "She ate too much and felt weary, so she's taking a nap. She'll wake up soon."
Concubine Ren, or Aunt Ren, had just been revived by Aunt Sun after being secretly drugged by her. As she regained consciousness, she heard the king's words.
She wanted to refute his claim, but the words caught in her throat.
Yes, Suisu! They had the children with them. She must not scare them.
Realizing this, Concubine Ren opened her eyes and glared at the king. However, her thoughts remained focused on Suisu.
She thought, "If not for Suisu's sudden desire for tea, we might have still been standing there. That person falling from above could have landed on either me or the king!
Being struck by such a large person could have caused serious injuries. I shudder to think about it."
Suisu, reassured by her father's words, felt relieved. She shyly hugged the king's neck and buried her head in his shoulder. "I understand, Father."
The king's heart melted at the sight of his little girl's affectionate gesture. How could he not adore his only daughter, the apple of his eye?
Oh dear!
She was his little cuddle bug!
How endearing! The king's heart softened even more, but he couldn't ignore the situation at hand.
So, after soothingly patting Suisu, he carried her into the tea house and joined Concubine Ren at their table. Then, he signaled to his attendant, Sui Si, to go and inquire about the matter.
Someone had fallen from above and suffered a head injury with blood flowing out.
The onlookers were startled by the incident, and the nearby shop owners were equally shaken.
Everyone instinctively gathered around, and even the snack shop sent out their staff to take a look.
Upon seeing who it was...
It turned out to be their young master!
The manager and the staff cried out in concern as they rushed to offer assistance.
Sui Si observed the situation and then glanced back at the king. The king raised his hand, indicating that Sui Si should also go and see if they could lend a helping hand.
If it were in the past, the king would never have bothered with such matters.
He was well aware of his own shortcomings and typically stayed away from mundane affairs, be it commoners or high-ranking officials.
"Stay away from all of it!" he would think. "I don't like it!"
But now...
The king lifted his hand and gently caressed Suisu's soft cheek. His heart had turned so soft that he couldn't bear to ignore it.
He thought, "Let's just consider it as a blessing and good deed for the sake of my precious daughter."
How could Concubine Ren not understand the king's thoughts? With a glance, she saw right through him.
However, her attention was solely focused on Suisu at that moment.
She thought, "If not for Suisu's sudden suggestion to come for tea, we might have still been standing there. That person falling from above could have landed on either me or the king!
With their large build, the impact could have been severe. I shudder to think what might have happened to us."
Having recovered from the initial shock, Concubine Ren opened her eyes, only to glare at the king. However, her attention immediately shifted to Suisu.
Suisu, reassured by her father, felt relieved. She shyly hugged the king's neck, burying her head in his shoulder. "I understand, Father."
The king's heart melted further at the sight of his little girl's affectionate gesture. How could he not dote on his only daughter, the apple of his eye?
Oh, my dear!
She was his little cuddle bug!
How endearing! The king's heart was so touched that he couldn't help but express his joy. However, he signaled to his attendants to go and inquire about the matter.
Someone had fallen from above and suffered a head injury, with blood flowing out.
The onlookers were startled by the incident, and the nearby shop owners were equally shaken.
Everyone instinctively gathered around, and even the snack shop sent out their staff to take a look.
Upon realizing it was their young master, the manager and the staff cried out in concern as they rushed to offer assistance.
Sui Si observed the situation and then glanced back at the king. The king raised his hand, indicating that Sui Si should also go and see if he could be of any help.
Sui Si followed the king's gesture and approached the gathering crowd. As he stood there, the king asked about the situation and inquired if there was anything they could do to assist.
(End of Chapter)
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