Xiaosuisui widened her eyes, blinking in confusion. She looked up at Uncle, then tilted her head to look at Aunt, and scratched her little head with a chubby hand. The world of adults is so strangeâwhy canât they just be straightforward?
"Uncle! Aunt, why do you have to worry so much about everything?
Canât you just be direct?
Whatâs the big deal? Isnât there an old saying, âThe boat will naturally straighten when it reaches the bridgeâ?
If weâre happy and open each day, isnât that good enough?"
Once Xiaosuisui said this, Ji Youyuan and Wang Dongxue couldnât help but feel their faces flush. At this moment, their flushed cheeks were telling them that as adults, they were living less transparently than a child!
What a wasted few decades in life!
"Suisui is right; the boat will naturally straighten. We should be happy and live each day well!"
Ji Youyuan and his wife exchanged a smile, and everything became clear in their hearts.
"What a wise little treasure! Itâs Uncle and Aunt whoâve lost themselves!"
Ji Youyuan gave Xiaosuisui a smacking kiss on the cheek!
Xiaosuisui disdainfully wiped the saliva off her face with her chubby hands, muttering softly.
"Uncle, donât kiss me in the future, itâs all saliva!"
Seeing himself despised by the little girl, Ji Youyuanâs face fell, but Wang Dongxue burst into laughter.
A maid came to report, "Young master, madam, and the eldest princess! The third lady and the second lady have returned and are currently headed to the old ladyâs courtyard to pay their respects!"
"Third Aunt and Second Aunt are back!" Xiaosuisuiâs eyes widened, her shiny black eyes blinked rapidly, and she was overjoyed.
"Letâs go! Weâre off to Motherâs courtyard to pay respects!" Wang Dongxue said, standing up from the soft couch and speaking to Ji Youyuan.
Ji Youyuan nodded, asking the maid to support Wang Dongxue while he carried Xiaosuisui, making their way towards the courtyard of Old Lady Ji.
Before reaching the courtyard, they heard Zhu Xiuxiuâs voice from a distance, "This trip was thrilling, but we managed to bring back a few Eastern pearls! Princess Ata is also heading back from Dongyue.
Those lively Eastern pearls are hard to find, but if we all combine our efforts, we should be able to find two or three to use for Sister-in-law!"
"Suisui already has two; weâre just one short. When Suisui arrives, weâll let her take a look! Hopefully, heaven will bless us to find one more!"
Old Lady Jiâs tone was as calm as usual, and Ji Youyuan breathed a sigh of relief.
He was worried his mother would be upset after seeing his father, but he didnât expect her to take it so well!
As long as everythingâs fine!
With these thoughts, Ji Youyuan arrived in front of Old Lady Ji.
Xiaosuisui called out from a distance, "Grandmother, Third Aunt, Second Aunt!"
"Suisui!"
Everyone responded, calling out Xiaosuisuiâs name joyously, reaching out to hold her!
Ji Youyuan held onto Xiaosuisui tightly.
"Big Brother! Canât you be more perceptive?
We havenât seen Xiaosuisui for so long.
Why are you still holding onto her?"
Following Zhu Xiuxiuâs words, Huo XingâEr added, "Big Brother! Better be careful; if you keep holding her, those two little ones in Sister-in-lawâs belly might get jealous!"
Ji Youyuan chuckled at their words.
"You two are really something!
Youâre both reaching for her at the same time. Who do I give Suisui to?
In my opinion, for fairness, not letting either of you hold her is the best. Otherwise, one of you can hold her and the other canât, and if a fight breaks out, it wouldnât be good!"
Ji Youyuanâs words were full of twisted logic!
"Big Brother! Clearly, you are..."
"Alright, neither of you should hold her. Suisui, come to Grandmother."
The ultimate winner, of course, was Old Lady Ji. Knowing she wasnât in a good mood, Ji Youyuan let go as soon as she expressed the wish to hold Xiaosuisui.
"Second Aunt, Third Aunt, did you bring back the Eastern pearls?
How many?"
"We brought them back. Xilingâs royal palace is really poor. Such a large palace, and there were only three Eastern pearls!
Xilingâs national treasury is almost empty, yet they dare to wage war against our Great Han. I wonder if that Emperor of Xiling has lost his mind!"
As Zhu Xiuxiu handed the Eastern pearls to Xiaosuisui, she criticized the poverty of the Xiling royal family!
"Xiling is in a barren land, and the Xiling royal family has never been wealthy. The common people over there suffer from hunger due to climate and soil conditions!"
Old Lady Ji sighed and said lightly.
"With such national circumstances, itâs unbelievable that the Emperor of Xiling wonât think of governing properly for the sake of the people and still wages wars!
Such an emperor is destined for downfall!"
Recalling the miserable life of the Xiling people she saw along the way, Zhu Xiuxiu felt no goodwill towards the Emperor of Xiling!
Wang Dongxue was quite surprised upon hearing this and couldnât help but ask with confusion.
"Isnât it said that the war between Xiling and Great Han was caused by that Xilingâs Prince Yu being manipulated by Xun Heng?
Prince Yu is dead, didnât the Emperor of Xiling have any intention to repent?"