Wang Dongxue and Ji Youyuan had been in the Illusion Sect for some time and, in their hearts, deeply missed the Ji matriarch and Xiaosuisui. Although they kept in touch through letters, the inability to see or touch them made their yearning grow with each one they read.
"Don’t worry, Suisui will be fine," Ji Youyuan quickly reassured her, patting her belly, which was significantly larger than that of a typical three-month pregnant woman. "She has Seventh Brother, Second Brother, Eldest Brother, and Third Brother protecting her. She’ll be safe." He quickly added, "Don’t get too agitated, or our little daughter in there might kick you!"
Only then did Wang Dongxue calm down.
"It’s strange, isn’t it?" she said. "Most people don’t show at three months. But look at me, my belly is already prominent, like I’m five months along."
Ji Youyuan’s lips curved into a slight smile as he gently shook his head. There are some things best left unsaid until there’s certainty. Anyway, Second Brother is already on his way to the Illusion Sect.
"If you’re tired, go back to your room and rest. I’m going to write a reply to Seventh Brother."
「Meanwhile, at the Ji Mansion」
Xiaosuisui stood at the entrance of Ji Youlin’s courtyard, holding two curved blades. The Ji Mansion was vast. Everyone had their own courtyard, and the master of each courtyard enjoyed absolute freedom within it. Of course, whether they were in their courtyards or not usually depended on if they would be accompanying the Ji matriarch for dinner in her courtyard that evening.
Xiaosuisui had been waiting here for more than two hours, but Ji Youlin still hadn’t returned.
Xie Pan’Er and she had each moved a small stool to sit by the entrance, cracking sunflower seeds.
"Can’t you just go back to your room and have Yunxiang and the others wait here for your Uncle Six, then notify you when he returns?" Xie Pan’Er asked.
Xie Pan’Er knew there were seven princes in the Ji Family. She knew the seventh prince, the second prince, and the eighth prince.
As for the third prince... could she even say she knew him? The third prince of the Ji Family always wore a veil, and she had never seen him remove it.
As for the other princes, she had met the eighth prince, but they weren’t very well acquainted. She knew the sixth prince of the Ji Family was in Capital City. She had been at the Ji Mansion for quite some time but had never seen him. It was rumored that since arriving in the capital, the sixth prince hadn’t shown himself publicly, always elusive.
Now, Xiaosuisui sat at the entrance of this seemingly uninhabited courtyard, holding two curved blades, saying she was waiting for her Uncle Six.
Xie Pan’Er felt that Uncle Six, who was never home, was unlikely to return anytime soon, meaning Xiaosuisui was probably waiting in vain.However, Xiaosuisui sitting here waiting was far safer than her wielding those two curved blades that looked taller than she was. So Xie Pan’Er indulged her and kept her company.
While cracking sunflower seeds, Xie Pan’Er started to worry about her brother again. Although the seventh prince had repeatedly assured her that her brother was fine in the Celestial Prison and that he would uncover the truth, she couldn’t help but feel anxious.
"This is Uncle Six’s courtyard, so he has to come back eventually!" Xiaosuisui declared. "As long as I wait here, I’ll definitely get to see him!"
Xiaosuisui finished the last sunflower seed in her hand. As she turned to grab more from Xie Pan’Er, she suddenly noticed Xie Pan’Er repeatedly cracking open the same sunflower seed shells. Puzzled, Xiaosuisui asked, "Are these sunflower seeds that delicious, pretty sister? You’re even eating the shells!"
Xie Pan’Er’s hand trembled, and her face darkened. She wished a hole would swallow her up!
"I... I was just lost in thought," she stammered an explanation and then fell silent.
Xiaosuisui finally realized that her ’pretty sister’ wasn’t her usual self. "Pretty sister," she asked, "are you worried about Brother Xie Si?"