Chapter 67: Is Xiao Fu Bao Disliked? The Whole City Loves Me With Their Lives
Chapter 67: Shadow Puppetry
Suisui didn’t know that after returning to the mansion, her brother would be dealing with their mother’s heartache.
After finishing with the potatoes, the two children were exhausted, and after washing up, they went to bed.
As for bedtime stories?
They were too tired to think about that!
The next day, the weather was nice.
They got up early, packed, and continued their journey.
By evening, they arrived at the next county.
In this new county, street performances were all the rage.
Once they entered the city, Suisui's eyes were almost overwhelmed by the sights.
There were street performances every few steps, and small stages every five steps.
The simpler acts were feats of strength, like breaking stones with the chest or lifting heavy objects.
More complex acts included balancing bowls and acrobatics.
With so many performances and spectators, the noise of shouting and applause was constant.
Physician Liu, from the moment they entered the city, had instructed the servants to keep an eye on the children. He and Prince Qing paid no attention to the performances, focusing solely on the two children.
They arrived safely at the inn, booked their rooms, and with the crowd outside, Physician Liu suggested they stay in and have food delivered.
Tonight, the inn had a shadow puppetry performance.
“Our owner’s birthday is today, and we’ve specially invited a troupe to perform. Not only will there be a performance at the residence, but our guests can also watch on the first floor today. Thank you for your patronage!”
...
The innkeeper explained the reason for the shadow puppetry.
With the performance coming up, buying some food and eating in seemed like a good idea.
The inn’s first floor was a spacious hall with eight tables.
After the staff set things up, there was ample space for many people.
Physician Liu and his party arrived just in time for good viewing spots.
Suisui had never seen shadow puppetry before. When the candlelight dimmed and all the light focused on the performance, she was so captivated that she forgot to eat, stretching her neck to watch.
The small stage seemed to create its own world.
With the flickering candlelight, the story unfolded behind the screen, rising and falling.
Though Suisui didn’t quite understand what was happening, it didn’t stop her from joining in the crowd’s gasps and exclamations.
Feng Xuanrui, who rarely saw such things in the capital, was also quite amazed.
Whenever Suisui expressed her awe, Feng Xuanrui couldn’t help but exclaim, “Wow, amazing!”
“So good!!!”
Their voices blended into the crowd’s cheers and were not particularly noticeable.
Encouraged, Suisui gathered her courage and shouted twice.
But that was all; she didn’t dare shout more.
While Suisui enjoyed the food and the shadow puppetry, far away in the capital, Chen Yueyao—now officially renamed Xu Yueyao—was sitting on a cushioned stool, her back straight, shoulders relaxed, chin slightly lowered, and a piece of peach wood held in her mouth.
The curved wood piece helped her lips curl up slightly, giving the appearance of a smile.
Xu Yueyao’s hands were folded in front of her abdomen, her arms slightly raised to complement the relaxed shoulders.
This was a dignified and graceful sitting posture for a young lady.
Xu Yueyao had been sitting like this for a while, accompanied by four other young ladies.
Having returned to the capital for three days, Xu Yueyao hadn’t yet met the Marquis of Jinyang, her father, nor the grandmother who had doted on Suisui in her previous life.
Since returning to the Marquis of Jinyang’s residence, the highest-ranking person Xu Yueyao had seen was the etiquette instructor, Aunt Ning.
Upon their return, they didn’t need to worry about food or drink, but etiquette training was very strict.
Aunt Ning said that as daughters of the Marquis’s household, their manners and conduct had to be exemplary to maintain the family’s reputation.
The first task for Xu Yueyao and her peers after returning was to be taken to the side courtyard by Aunt Ning for etiquette training.
During the process, Xu Yueyao had considered scheming, thinking of sneaking out to see if she could meet the Marquis of Jinyang or the old lady.
She thought, if that little vixen Suisui could achieve such things in her past life, why couldn’t she?
However, the side courtyard was outside the capital, and once she went out, all she saw were other people’s villas and estates, making it impossible to see the Marquis’s family.
As a result, she was punished and had to stand for an hour.
Aunt Ning didn’t abuse them or deprive them of food but was very strict about etiquette.
After dark, they had dinner and continued with their training.
Though Xu Yueyao struggled to sit still, she knew that if she didn’t master the etiquette, she would probably never see the Marquis’s family.
So, she gritted her teeth and persevered.
Before coming to the capital, Xu Yueyao had fantasized about being better than Suisui, winning her father’s and grandmother’s favor, and living a more glorious life than Suisui had in her past life.
But upon arriving in the capital, she realized that there were five such abandoned pearls of the Marquis’s family like herself.
In addition, there was one young master.
The young master did not train in etiquette with them. Xu Yueyao’s companions included four other young girls, the oldest being Xu Yueying, ten years old.
Then came Xu Yuexiu, seven years old.
Xu Yueyao and Xu Yueying, Xu Yuexiu, were all five years old.
Xu Yueyao initially thought that with her experience from her past life, she should easily outdo a few children.
The reality proved otherwise.
Xu Yueyao found herself unable to compete, even being reprimanded by Aunt Ning for her lack of guile.
This made Xu Yueyao feel increasingly frustrated.
But she couldn’t give up!
Xu Yueyao thought, why should that little vixen Suisui be able to succeed, but she can’t?
She wanted to triumphantly visit Suisui’s grave and show her that she could do better.
Better than Suisui!
This belief made Xu Yueyao grit her teeth and sit up straighter.
Aunt Ning noticed and coldly reminded, “Relax, keep your back straight but stay naturally relaxed, not stiff like a wooden plank.”
Being called out made Xu Yueyao’s nose feel sore with grievance.
Unfortunately, no one here would pity her helplessness and sorrow.
Human suffering is not shared.
At this moment, Suisui had enjoyed the shadow puppetry, tasted the county’s specialty foods, and happily sipped on a bowl of honey water.
After freshening up, she went to bed with her brother.
Previously, Feng Xuanrui had slept inside while Suisui slept outside.
Today, having learned a bit about caring for his sister, Feng Xuanrui decided that Suisui should sleep inside: “If you need anything, call for brother. I’ll stay with you.”
Though Suisui didn’t understand why she had to sleep inside again, she was willing to listen to her brother.
Seeing his sister’s obedient demeanor, Feng Xuanrui couldn’t help but pat her head: “Suisui, if you don’t like sleeping inside, you can tell me.”
The system also encouraged Suisui.
[Suisui, if you don’t like something, you should bravely say no~]
Shadow puppetry was so interesting.
—Suisui’s journal
The next chapter will feature the cousin's role!
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