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Chapter 376: Chasing the Ball
Chapter 376: Chasing the Ball
June 16th marked the birthday of Lu Yinsheng.
Due to his unique circumstances, he preferred not to interact with outsiders.
As a result, the Lu family didn't hold a grand celebration. They sent out invitations only to close relatives and set up a few tables at their residence for a simple gathering. It was more of a casual meal to mark the occasion.
Su Su dressed up prettily and accompanied her mother, the Consort, to the Viscount's residence.
As expected, Feng Youdan also attended, bringing He Dai along with her.
It had been a while since He Dai last saw Su Su, and his eyes lit up as he rushed over to her.
He still remembered how his careless words had once tarnished Su Su's reputation.
So, this time, he refrained from shouting, "Fiancee, I'm here!"
However, when he drew closer, he couldn't help but whisper, "Fiancee, I'm here!"
Feng Youdan, walking right behind him, overheard and promptly smacked the back of his head. "Don't be silly!"
He Dai rubbed his head, feeling wronged, and muttered, "Can't I even say it quietly?"
Feng Youdan let out a soft hmmph, then proudly tilted her chin, gesturing for He Dai to look in another direction.
Puzzled, He Dai followed her gaze and found himself staring into the face of the Qi King, who wore a half-smile that could mean anything.
He Dai was instantly frightened, and after quickly averting his gaze, he dared not utter another word.
It was Lu Yinsheng's birthday, and Feng Youdan naturally wanted to see her second brother in person.
However, Lu Yinsheng clearly had no intention of meeting anyone. He was unwilling to see even his own family, let alone other relatives.
When Feng Youdan heard that her second brother refused to come out, her cheerful mood instantly deflated.
She gently tugged at Su Su's sleeve, her eyes brimming with tears as she said, "Su Su, wuwu, Second Brother is so heartless. I miss him so much, and I'm worried about him. I just want to see him."
Su Su didn't know how to comfort her, so after some thought, she softly suggested, "Why don't you order him to come out and see you?"
Feng Youdan looked at her, confused. "Huh?"
Seeing Feng Youdan's bewildered expression, Su Su felt perplexed as well. "But you're a princess!"
So, wasn't it normal for a princess to give orders?
Feng Youdan pouted. "I can't do that. Second Brother is Second Brother. How can I use my status as a princess to pressure him?"
Su Su couldn't understand. "But regardless of whether you pressure him or not, you're still a princess."
Feng Youdan: ...
Oh no, she was tempted.
Should she give it a try? But she just couldn't bring herself to do it.
Second Brother had it hard enough already.
Feng Youdan struggled internally, but not for long. Soon, He Dai came over with a small ball, inviting them to play. "Come on, Feng Youyou, you're not falling behind in your skills and feeling too embarrassed to play, are you?"
Although the tactic was cliched, it worked.
Feng Youdan was already in a sour mood, and He Dai's provocation was like a spark to a powder keg. She placed her hands on her waist, stuck out her little belly, and laughed. "Me? Afraid of you? Do you think my skills are that bad?"
Feng Youdan marched forward in a huff, and Su Su struggled to keep up, her little legs working double-time.
Feng Xuanrui, standing by, quickly reached out to protect his sister as she rushed forward.
The adults watched as the group of children played together, chasing a small ball. The Qi King's wife felt relieved to see Su Su getting along well with the other children.
"The children are having so much fun," Lady Lu remarked with a smile.
Hearing the hint of sadness and regret in her voice, the Qi King's wife gently reassured her, "Things will get better. They will."
Lu Yinsheng refused to leave his chamber to meet with guests, and although Lu Yinxiao was young, he carried a heavy burden and rarely played with children his age.
Lu Xinglan was concerned about her sister, Lu Xuerou, who had caught a cold a few days prior. Thinking of her, Princess Qi couldn't help but ask with a hint of worry in her voice, "How is Lu Xuerou feeling? I hope her health has improved."
In response, Lady Lu gently nodded and said, "She's actually doing quite well. It's just that she's worried about passing on her illness to others, so she insists on staying indoors."
Listening to this, Lu Xinglan nodded in understanding. "I see, children often recover quickly from such ailments." She then lowered her voice and asked, "By the way, I noticed that He isn't around in the mansion anymore. Has she perhaps left?"
The last time they had all gathered for Lu Yinchen's birthday, He had caused a stir by confronting Feng Youdan. They hadn't inquired about the specifics of how the Lu family had dealt with the situation, but they knew that it had been handled discreetly.
Lu Xinglan had heard some rumors but wasn't sure, so she decided to ask discreetly.
Lady Lu didn't hide the truth and replied with a smile, "She's been spending time with my mother, reading Buddhist scriptures, seeking a quiet place away from the hustle and bustle of the city."
He had indeed been sent away to a distant estate outside the city. This decision had been made largely due to her role as the birth mother of Lu Yinchen's children.
After all, if her son were to rise to prominence in the future, it would be unwise to create further tension with the Duke's mansion over her life.
While taking He's life would bring little benefit, keeping her alive could prove useful in the future.
The three women chatted casually for a while longer, keeping a watchful eye on the children at play. Eventually, they began to make their way back. After all, there were other relatives from both the Lu and Feng families whom Lady Lu needed to attend to.
Particularly when it came to the Lu family, there were numerous relatives, and if they felt they had been slighted in any way, future troubles could arise.
However, for Su Su and the other children, such concerns were far from their minds.
They continued to chase after the small ball, running and jumping with abandon.
The ball was slightly smaller than a standard cuju ball, making it perfectly sized for their little hands.
Feng Youdan, deep in thought about her older brother, almost subconsciously began to steer her path toward Lu Yinsheng's courtyard.
He Dai, noticing her intentions, tried to dissuade her from acting on impulse, fearing that she might inadvertently anger Lu Yinsheng once more. He did his best to distract and deter her, pulling her back whenever she veered too close.
Feng Youdan's frustration grew with each attempt by He Dai to redirect her, and she eventually huffed and pouted, sitting down on the ground in protest. "I won't play anymore! I'm tired of you messing with me, He Dai!"
Upon seeing her big brother's attempts to calm Feng Youdan, Su Su came to a stop, looking confused as to why her playmate was so upset.
Feng Xuanrui, feeling for his little sister, took a few steps forward and gently stroked Su Su's head. "It's alright, she's just tired."
Feng Youdan wanted to refute and declare that she wasn't tired, but one stern look from Feng Xuanrui was enough to make her reluctantly concede with an unconvinced ah. "I'm...tired. I just want to take a break, that's all. I didn't say I don't want to play anymore."
She climbed to her feet with clear reluctance, shooting an unhappy glance at Feng Xuanrui before turning her attention back to Lu Yinsheng's courtyard.
Seeing this, He Dai quickly rushed over and tugged at Feng Youdan's sleeve, pulling her away as he spoke, "Come on, stop looking over there. Even if you look, he won't like you back."
(End of Chapter)
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