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Chapter 275: Viscount Public Mansion
Chapter 275: Viscount Public Mansion
The residences of the royal relatives are all on Zhuque Street.
The Qi King's mansion is in this area, and so is the Viscount Public Mansion.
The two mansions are not far from each other, but it took the carriage about an incense stick's time to get there.
As expected, many people attended the crown ceremony of the Grand Prince of the Viscount Public Mansion today.
Those with connections wanted to solidify their relationships.
Those without connections still hoped to forge new ones.
...
The Qi King's mansion and the Viscount Public Mansion are related by marriage, and the two families have a very close relationship.
So, the Qi King and Queen, along with their children, had left early.
Even so, the journey was not without its challenges.
They were not the only ones who wanted to arrive early.
The Qi King even spotted the distinctive carriage of the Jinyang Hou Mansion.
Upon seeing this familiar carriage, the Qi King's expression turned sour, and he abruptly dropped the curtain in his hand, muttering under his breath, "What...what are they doing here?"
The Qi Queen had been speaking softly with Sue when she heard the King's voice. Puzzled, she attempted to take a peek but found the curtain lowered. She could only ask softly, "What's wrong?"
The Qi King had the words on the tip of his tongue, but when he saw Sue also looking at him, he swallowed them back down. "...Nothing," he said.
He felt a bit guilty about the child he had taken.
He didn't dare to mention it in front of Sue, fearing that she might have some kind of blood connection with that family and would find them amiable and familiar.
And then, would his precious darling be snatched away from him?
That was absolutely unacceptable!!!
Although the Qi King claimed nothing was wrong, the Queen didn't quite believe him. However, since he didn't want to talk about it, she refrained from pressing the issue further. Instead, she lowered her head and continued chatting with Sue about the flower decoration she had done for her.
Today was Sue's first time adorning a flower decoration, and her aunt had personally drawn it for her—a cute little bird taking flight, free and unrestrained.
It was quite different from the usual flower and grass designs but unique and full of character.
Moreover, the Queen found the symbolism of the free and unfettered little bird very fitting. She had even specially chosen a small pearl to stick on the bird's forehead as an accent.
Curious about this new adornment, Sue kept wanting to lift her hand and touch it during the ride, but the Queen stopped her each time, worried that she might smudge the design or dislodge the small pearl. She kept her occupied by talking to her and distracting her attention.
Not only did Sue want to touch the flower decoration, but Feng Xuanrui was also itching to do so.
He fidgeted throughout the journey, glancing left and right, touching his sister's clothes, and then her little hat.
He, too, wanted to touch the flower decoration but received a deadly glare from his mother.
Feng Xuanrui: ...
If he wasn't allowed to touch it, why was she looking at him like that?
It scared him!
Although Feng Xuanrui was afraid, he understood that a lady's adornment was delicate, and if he smudged it, his sister might very well burst into tears.
That was not permissible!
So, Feng Xuanrui restrained his restless hands and directed his attention to Sue's sleeves instead.
As he stroked the fabric, he thought to himself, "When I first saw Sue, I knew that my sister deserved only the finest silks and garments."
"Sue truly belongs with the most exquisite clothes in the world."
"My sister is the cutest in all of Jingcheng!" he thought.
Despite the brief encounter with the Jinyang Hou Mansion, the carriage eventually arrived at its destination.
The grand gates of the Viscount Public Mansion stood wide open today, ready to welcome guests.
The Viscount's eldest son, the Left Minor Judge of the Dali Temple—Lu Xingming, stood at the entrance with his own eldest son, today's birthday boy—Lu Yinchen, greeting the arriving guests.
Upon seeing the Qi King's carriage, Lu Xingming gestured to his son before walking over with a smile on his face. "Your Highness, it's good to see you."
The Qi King was the first to disembark from the carriage, followed closely by the Qi King and Queen. As they needed a stepping stool for the children, the Qi King maintained a vigilant watch over their surroundings while engaging in pleasantries with Lu Xingming.
The relationship between these two men was... intricate. While there was a close familial connection, the appropriate form of address proved elusive, as they struggled to find a suitable balance.
If one considered the Qi King's perspective, Lu Xingming's wife was the youngest daughter of the Grand Princess. She was a few years older than the Qi King and thus, his elder cousin. In this case, the Qi King ought to address Lu Xingming as "brother-in-law."
However, from the Qi Queen's perspective, Lu Xingming was her cousin, which meant the Qi King had to refer to him as "elder cousin."
Ultimately, they settled on a solution that circumvented the thorny issue of conflicting addresses. Like others in a similar predicament, Lu Xingming addressed the Qi King as "Your Highness," while the Qi King referred to him as "Lord Lu."
When such conundrums arose, it was often prudent to devise a compromise that avoided awkwardness while maintaining mutual respect.
After exchanging pleasantries, the Qi King and Queen descended from the carriage. Lu Xingming had, of course, been well aware that the Qi King's Manor now boasted the presence of a young princess.
As the Qi King had been speaking with him, his attention abruptly shifted to his daughter, and he instinctively reached out to take her from her aunt's embrace.
The young princess, Sue, wrapped her arms around her father's neck as she gazed at Lu Xingming.
Lu Xingming's eyes met with those of the little princess. In that moment, he thought to himself, "She's the spitting image of the Qi King. How could anyone deny it?"
It was no wonder that his wife had muttered about the possibility of the Qi King having an affair, resulting in this child.
However, he doubted that was the case. Given the Grand Princess's temperament, it was unlikely that she would have sent gifts after receiving the imperial decree bestowing a title upon the young princess, unless there was a prior life-saving debt.
Despite his inner musings, Lu Xingming revealed none of his thoughts, quickly donning a loving smile. "This must be little Sue. What an adorable child."
Lu Xingming was exceptionally generous, even though this was not a formal occasion, and as the host, he ought to have been the one receiving gifts.
However, with the two families already so closely intertwined, he didn't fret over such matters. He untied the lamb fat jade pendant from his waist and offered it to the young princess. "I don't have anything else on me, but please, little Sue, take this and play with it."
The jade pendant was pristine, without a hint of wear, clearly prepared specifically for this occasion. Before presenting it, he had even wiped it with a handkerchief to ensure it was spotless.
Lu Xingming hesitated briefly, contemplating the most appropriate form of address to use with the young princess.
He thought... using the term "aunt" would foster a closer connection with the child.
So, he decided to side with his wife on this matter. "Aunt" it was!
Indeed, this word continued to strike a nerve with the young princess.
However, she had come to realize that this "aunt" was different from the one who had abused her. This new "aunt" bestowed gifts upon meeting, which was a pleasant surprise.
Though hesitant about accepting the gift, she ultimately turned to her father, deferring to his judgment.
Sue retracted her gaze from Lu Xingming and turned her head towards her father, awaiting his decision.
(End of Chapter)
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