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Chapter 90: The Princess of Qi's Unease
Chapter 90: The Princess of Qi's Unease
The carriage swayed as it exited the city gates, leaving the bustling city behind and venturing into the natural beauty of the outskirts. With the rising temperature, the sky was a vibrant blue, and the grass a lush green, creating a refreshing and pleasant atmosphere.
Suisui gazed upon the awakening of spring, her eyes drifting to the distant fields where farmers toiled. A sense of surrealness washed over her as she recalled the previous year, when she had been out in those very fields, lending a helping hand.
Even though she had been young and unable to contribute much, her aunt had not shared the same sentiment. Whenever Suisui claimed a task was too difficult or that she couldn't lift something, her aunt would pick up a nearby twig and strike her, chastising her for being a lazy good-for-nothing.
As the blows landed, her aunt would berate her, claiming she was inherently lazy and only wanted to shirk her duties. Suisui had felt wronged and misunderstood, for she had truly tried her best. The seeds had been too heavy for her to carry, and the earth too hard for her to plow.
Unfortunately, no one had believed her. Everyone had thought she was simply being lazy and trying to avoid work.
Those memories were still vivid, as if they had happened just yesterday, and they sent a shiver down Suisui's spine whenever she recalled them.
Noticing the child's slight shudder, the Princess of Qi asked with concern, "Are you feeling cold?" Without waiting for a reply, she removed her own silk scarf and draped it gently around Suisui's shoulders.
Suisui obediently allowed her mother to tend to her, inhaling the familiar scent of her mother's perfume and relishing the warmth that enveloped her. She couldn't deny that she was a greedy child, reveling in her mother's warmth even though she wasn't truly cold.
The little girl's docile demeanor was irresistible, and the Princess of Qi found herself unable to resist reaching out and gently caressing Suisui's cheek with the back of her hand. Suisui's skin was still delicate and free of the chubbiness that often comes with childhood, but it felt incredibly soft and smooth.
The Princess of Qi couldn't help but touch her daughter's face again and again, reveling in the delightful sensation. Suisui sat quietly, accepting her mother's affections and even leaning forward slightly to facilitate her mother's touch.
Witnessing this, the Princess of Qi felt her heart melt. Had Little Six been this adorable when he was young? No, he would only rush to her with sweat-drenched clothes, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Mother, wipe me down quickly! The sweat is getting into my eyes!"
Holding the soft and obedient Suisui in her arms, the Princess of Qi thought, "So this is what it's like to have a daughter." It was a novel and wonderful feeling.
Afraid that she might accidentally hurt Suisui's delicate skin, the Princess of Qi eventually stopped caressing her face and simply held her close, gazing out at the passing scenery through the carriage curtains.
As they rode along, the Princess of Qi's eyes narrowed slightly, and she casually turned Suisui's face towards her, asking gently, "Suisui, would you like a snack?"
Suisui, who had been admiring a beautiful courtyard they were passing, had her head turned away from the view by her mother. Far from being upset, she smiled sweetly.
Not feeling hungry at the moment, she shook her head gently and replied, "Mother, I'm not hungry yet."
The Princess of Qi nodded and asked another question, "Are you feeling cold?"
"Are you comfortable sitting like that?"
"Should we add a couple more cushions for the return trip?"
...
The Princess of Qi continued to ask questions, and Suisui, nestled in her mother's arms, answered each one obediently.
The little girl's endearing behavior made her utterly endearing, and the Princess of Qi couldn't help but feel a surge of affection. Of course, her sudden attention to Suisui wasn't solely out of maternal concern.
It was also because...
They had just passed the Marquess of Jin Yang's manor.
This area was filled with the secondary residences and manors of dukes, marquesses, and earls from the capital.
Although the Marquess of Jin Yang had acknowledged Xu Yuyao as his daughter, the Princess of Qi still felt uneasy whenever she encountered anything related to their manor.
Even without any emotional attachment, the Princess of Qi couldn't bring herself to be cruel.
Now that they were slowly cultivating a relationship, it was even harder for her to let go.
After all, Xu Yuyao was truly the Marquess of Jin Yang's biological daughter!
If things escalated and came to light, the Princess of Qi knew she wouldn't be in the right.
Moreover, the Princess of Qi was uncertain if there was some sort of connection between blood relatives. She feared that upon seeing something related to the Marquess of Jin Yang's manor, Xu Yuyao might suddenly develop strange feelings and want to return to her biological family...
Alright, the Princess of Qi admitted that she was being selfish.
She didn't want Xu Yuyao to fall into the quagmire of the Marquess of Jin Yang's manor, and her excuse for keeping Xu Yuyao by her side was just a way to assuage her guilt.
The Princess of Qi thought to herself: In this lifetime, how many times have I been selfish?
Please, Heaven, just this once.
I promise to eat vegetarian meals and chant Buddhist scriptures for the rest of my life!
Xu Yuyao, who was completely unaware of the Princess of Qi's inner turmoil, snuggled obediently in her mother's embrace, soaking in the warmth and the scent of her perfume. She quietly rubbed her cheek against the Princess of Qi's sleeve.
Having a mother felt so wonderful! Xu Yuyao marveled to herself.
The little girl had no idea about the anxiety and uncertainty that filled her mother's heart at that moment.
The extravagant carriage slowly made its way through the area.
Having been disciplined and taught proper manners in the secondary residence, Xu Yuyao now had a rare moment of respite.
After experiencing setbacks and punishments, Xu Yuyao had become wiser.
She no longer resorted to her inferior tactics and instead decided to infiltrate the group of girls (...), observing and learning their usual strategies.
Xu Yuyao thought, "If my own methods aren't effective, why can't I learn from others?" So, she calmed down and focused on learning.
After daring to compete with Suishu for her identity, there was nothing she wouldn't do.
Because of Xu Yuyao's change in attitude, and the fact that the girls in the secondary residence were all young, even if they had some schemes, they weren't deeply entrenched in them yet.
As a result, the tension between them eased significantly.
Now that they had some free time, the girls huddled together, chattering away.
This was a rare opportunity when their etiquette teacher wasn't constraining them, so they had to make the most of it.
Taking advantage of their location, they spotted the carriage passing by.
The older Xu Yuxiu, who had lived in the outskirts of the capital for a long time, exclaimed, "That's the carriage of the Qi Kingdom's royal family! It's so gorgeous!"
The carriages of the young masters and ladies of the Marquess of Jin Yang's manor were also quite luxurious.
However, due to their lower rank, they couldn't compare to the prince's carriage.
Upon hearing that it was the royal family's carriage, Xu Yuyao took a few more curious glances.
From a distance, it was hard to make out any details.
Recalling her memories from her previous life, Xu Yuyao casually asked, "The royal family's carriage is so grand. I assume they must have a large number of people in their household?"
Among the girls present, everyone knew more about the royal family than Xu Yuyao, who had lived in the village and was largely isolated from outside information.
The one sitting next to Xu Yuxiu, Xu Yueying, glanced at Xu Yuyao with a sense of superiority and smiled as she replied, "Of course! There are seven princes in the royal family, and I heard that the Sixth Prince recently returned to the capital. I wonder if he'll come out to the outskirts. It would be amazing if we happened to meet him... Wow!"
(End of Chapter)
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