Chapter 70: Mother, this is my sister.
Chapter 70: Mother, this is my sister.
As the capital's city gate loomed before them, Feng Xuanrui heaved a sigh of relief.
Though a tinge of anxiety lingered from the prospect of returning to his hometown, the excitement of a child prevailed, and his worries soon faded.
Before long, he was cheerfully chattering away, holding Suisui's hand as they walked: "Once we're inside the city, we head east. Not far from there is our princely mansion. I wonder what Mother is up to right now?"
"I wonder if Fifth Brother's head injury has healed?"
"I wonder if Seventh Brother still wets the bed?"
...
With their imminent return to the princely mansion, Feng Xuanrui had no shortage of concerns on his mind.
Suisui didn't quite understand, but she sat quietly, listening to her brother.
It was only because of him that she had seen anything of the world.
So, her little mind couldn't fathom what the princely mansion, Fifth Brother, or Seventh Brother would be like.
But that was alright—she had her brother with her! Suisui whispered reassuringly to herself.
With Prince Jing's escort, they smoothly entered the city.
Both Prince Jing's mansion and Prince Qi's mansion were located on Zhuque Street in the east of the city.
The residents of that street were all members of the imperial clan.
After entering the city, Suisui's eyes were everywhere at once, taking in the sights.
Feng Xuanrui pulled aside the curtain of the carriage, and Suisui peeked through the gap, her eyes never leaving the bustling scene outside.
The capital's splendor far surpassed that of Wenzhou and Xinzhou, which they had passed through earlier.
Especially since they were headed for Zhuque Street, it only became more vibrant as they went along.
If the cobblestone roads had been a little bumpy when they first entered the capital, now, as they traveled east, the roads became smoother and more stable.
The surrounding scenery and architecture only grew more magnificent.
When they finally arrived at Prince Qi's mansion, the carriage came to a stop, and Suisui followed Feng Xuanrui out. As she looked up at the mansion, she froze in awe.
The grand, crimson gates of the princely mansion exuded an air of dignity and commanded respect, giving off an aura of noble inaccessibility.
Suisui's initial apprehension now transformed into fear and panic.
It was the overwhelming sense of the unknown that filled her with dread.
Sensing the trembling of his little sister's body, Feng Xuanrui gently took her hand, his voice soft and comforting: "Don't be scared, Suisui. We're home!"
With the return of the young master of the mansion and the visit of Prince Jing, the princely mansion naturally opened its main gate to receive them.
The gatekeeper, overjoyed to see the Sixth Young Master, couldn't stop beaming, leading the way while sending word to the masters of the house.
"The Sixth Young Master is back!"
"And Prince Jing has arrived as well!"
The opulence within the mansion only added to Suisui's unease.
The saying, 'five steps bring a view, and ten steps bring a corridor,' was no exaggeration here.
Prince Qi's mansion...
It was vast and lavish.
Every detail exuded an air of aristocratic luxury.
Suisui thought the scenery was beautiful, the artificial mountains lovely, and everything else she saw equally captivating.
Just walking from the main gate to the front courtyard where guests were received, she spotted two ponds that were meticulously cleaned, and from a distance, she could even smell the faint fragrance of plants.
This place was enormous and seemed incredibly expensive.
So, would they really accept her, a little beggar girl, as one of them? Suisui wondered anxiously, her small hand unconsciously curling tighter within Feng Xuanrui's palm.
Her eyes dared not wander, for fear of inviting disdain.
Dr. Liu, standing behind them, saw Suisui's nervousness and felt a pang of sympathy.
However, there had to be a period of adjustment.
Slowly, over time, it would get better, he silently reassured himself.
After a long walk, they finally reached the guest reception area of the mansion.
The area was bright and spotless, filled with the pleasant aroma of incense.
Suisui quietly wrinkled her nose, sniffing cautiously twice before lowering her head again, not daring to look or smell anymore.
As soon as Prince Jing entered, he found that the one standing in the hall was Princess Qi. He hurriedly bowed and greeted her, "Greetings to your Royal Highness, Princess Qi."
After exchanging greetings, Princess Qi's gaze turned to the figure standing behind Prince Jing. Seeing Feng Xuanrui return unharmed, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Feng Xuanrui had been eagerly waiting, and upon seeing his mother, he rushed forward and exclaimed, "Mother, I'm back!"
He had indeed missed his home, longed for his father and mother, and even the familiar faces of the manor.
At that moment, seeing his mother, he could no longer hold back his tears.
He rushed forward, sobbing uncontrollably.
Throughout this outburst, Feng Xuanrui never let go of Suisui's hand, holding tightly onto the little girl.
As a result, when Princess Qi embraced her son, she ended up with an additional little tag-along.
Princess Qi extended her hand, pulling Suisui gently towards her, and patted her in a comforting manner.
Although she didn't understand why her eldest son had brought a young child with him, she decided it was best to leave those questions for later.
For now, she was relieved that her son had returned safely.
At that moment, Princess Qi gently stroked her son's neck, soothing him, "It's good that you're back, my child. It's good that you're back. Next time, you mustn't frighten your mother like this again."
With Prince Jing still present, Princess Qi maintained her composure, forcefully holding back her tears, which slowly retreated.
Feng Xuanrui's sobbing resembled a duck whose neck was being wrung, not particularly pleasant to hear, but one could discern the depth of his sorrow and homesickness.
The once stubborn young boy, now choked out, "I was wrong, Mother. I was wrong. I won't... I won't do this again, sob, I promise!"
"I'll behave now that I'm back, wail!"
......
Dr. Liu, standing by, listened to Feng Xuanrui's words, stifling the urge to roll his eyes. He thought to himself, "Young Master Feng, how many times have you said those very words? This lesson will perhaps keep you in check for a few more days, but nothing more."
"Change? That's impossible!"
Dr. Liu was adamant in his disbelief.
"There's no credibility with such a grown child. Their words are meaningless; we shouldn't pay them any heed."
Princess Qi, with a mother's loving filter, perceived her son's words differently. She believed he had genuinely endured hardship, recognized his mistakes, and it pained her to see him so distraught.
Feng Xuanrui sobbed for what felt like an eternity, his voice growing hoarse, before he finally turned to face his mother...
Yes, and there was also his sister! With that realization, Feng Xuanrui wriggled free from his mother's embrace.
As he pulled away, Princess Qi instinctively loosened her hold, and with that, the tiny tag-along, Suisui, also slipped out.
Suisui now stood there, feeling quite lost.
She had been swept up in this embrace unintentionally, and now she was at a loss.
She had never experienced such a thing before. What if... what if this graceful and beautiful aunt were truly her mother?
Suisui knew she had a mother, but her memories of her were faint, as she had left when Suisui was very young.
Suisui understood that such thoughts were greedy.
She dared not hope for it to be true, but she couldn't help herself from secretly wishing for it.
After freeing himself from his mother's hold, Feng Xuanrui pulled Suisui closer to him and wiped away his tears. Then, he proudly proclaimed, "Mother, look, this is my sister, Suisui. Safe and sound, she is, isn't she adorable?"
(End of Chapter)
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