chsdbacks Chapter 159 Sister Huiyi, how could you do this!
Chapter 159 Sister Huiyi, how could you do this!
In the long corridor of the Water Kingdom's palace, Uchiha Sanfeng walked with extremely light steps.
Because a little girl, just over three years old, was sleeping soundly in his arms.
Princess Xue Qianhui was waiting at the palace gate when she saw the figure of Uchiha Sanfeng in the distance, and a gentle smile appeared on her face.
But when he saw the tiny figure he was holding in his arms, his smile faltered slightly.
Xue Qianhui stepped forward, her gaze lingering on the girl's pale face for a moment, her tone tinged with doubt: "Husband, who is this child...?"
Uchiha Mitsunori gently stopped, looked down at Fu sleeping soundly in his arms, and lightly brushed the stray hairs on her forehead with his fingertips.
"Her name is Fu, and she is the Jinchūriki of the Seven-Tails. But don't worry, I've already extracted the Seven-Tails from her."
Xue Qianhui's eyes widened in surprise; she had also heard about the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.
The four great nations were previously locked in a fierce battle because of her.
"Then her family..." Xue Qianhui's voice softened considerably as her gaze fell on Fu's chapped lips.
Uchiha Mitsunori looked up at Yuki Chie and said in a deep voice, "She is an orphan, Chie. I want you to adopt her and let her grow up peacefully in the Land of Water."
Xue Qianhui's heart felt as if it had been gently bumped by something.
She looked at the seriousness in Sanfeng's eyes, then at Fu, who was completely unguarded in her arms, and gently stroked the girl's hair. The touch was so soft that it made her heart ache.
When she took Fu, she deliberately cushioned her arm to make it steady and light: "Since you've already asked, how could I refuse? Don't worry, from now on I'm her mother, and the Land of Water is her home."
Just then, a series of light footsteps came from the end of the corridor, and Bai Qi rushed over like a small cannonball.
Upon seeing Fu in Xue Qianhui's arms, she immediately stopped and curiously leaned closer to look: "Mother, is this my little sister?"
Xue Qianhui smiled and nodded: "Yes, from now on she will be your younger sister, her name is Fu."
She deliberately had Bai Qi stand next to Fu, and the height difference between the two children immediately became apparent.
Bai Qi was only seven months older than Fu, but he was a head taller and had more sturdy shoulders, clearly showing that he had been carefully taken care of.
Seeing this, Uchiha Mitsunori's tense lips finally softened.
The suffering Fu endured in the Land of Fire may never be fully compensated, but at least here, she can have a warm home and a peaceful childhood, just like Bai Qi.
"Let's go inside."
Xue Qianhui carried Fu into the palace, with Bai Qi following closely behind, occasionally stealing a glance at his new sister.
Uchiha Mitsunori followed behind, watching their backs, and the worry that had been hanging over him because of Anfu finally subsided.
Dinner was served in a side hall overlooking the water, with all six carved windows open, offering a view of the water lily pond outside.
The six princesses sat around a low table. Xue Qianhui had just settled Fu and Bai Qi and returned with a plate of candied plums in her hand.
Princess Sara spoke first, stirring the silver fish soup in her bowl: "The war in the Land of Fire has finally subsided. However, I've heard that the envoys of the four great nations have been exchanging messages, which suggests there might be new developments."
Uchiha Mitsunori paused, his hand holding the chopsticks still, his gaze sweeping across the night outside the window: "Their eyes will soon fall on the Land of Water."
Under his rule these past few years, the Land of Water has indeed changed a great deal.
The silted-up port was dredged, three new shipyards were built, and even watchtowers were erected in the fishing towns on the border.
In addition, he established numerous new schools, dozens of garment factories and seafood processing plants, eighteen department stores, and wholesale markets.
The country, once known as the "fishing island," is now bustling with merchant ships and is no longer the easily overlooked entity it once was.
Mei Terumi rested her chin on her hand. She was seventeen years old this year, and her eyes already showed the brilliance of her future. Her fingers unconsciously twirled the pearl bracelet.
Uchiha Mitsumine had always loved playing with it, so she snatched it and took it as a token of their love from him.
Also, they're getting married next year, and Terumi was lost in thought, her mind wandering.
Princess Sarah lowered her gaze to her youngest daughter: "So... how do you plan to deal with this?"
Uchiha Mitsunori put down his chopsticks and said calmly, "I need to do something 'outrageous.' A daimyo of the Land of Water who is too 'shrewd' will only become a target for the four great nations."
"What... ridiculous thing?" Xue Qianhui blinked curiously.
Uchiha Mitsunori's gaze swept over the crowd: "For example, summon two female secretaries. Shizune and Kurenai Yuhi are both capable people. To the outside world, just say... it's to 'assist in handling paperwork'."
He deliberately emphasized the last few words, and the princesses in the hall were taken aback at first, then they all covered their mouths and laughed.
Princess Sarah joked, "This isn't absurd at all; it's clearly trying to create some kind of red scandal. It'll make outsiders think that our great names are preoccupied with romantic relationships."
Amidst the laughter, Mei Terumi suddenly put down her chopsticks, her cheeks puffing out like a little pufferfish.
She glared at Sanfeng, her fingers tightening their grip on the pearl bracelet: "I disagree!"
Everyone was stunned when they heard Mei Terumi's voice.
Mei Terumi herself realized her voice was too harsh, and her cheeks flushed instantly, but she still stubbornly insisted, "They can be secretaries, so can I! I know your documents better than they do..."
Uchiha Mitsunori looked at her reddened ears, unable to hide the smile in his eyes.
He reached out and gently patted the back of her hand.
Seeing Mei Terumi's lips purse even more, he added, "You can't be my secretary, but I allow you... to come and 'cause trouble' as my fiancée."
"make trouble?"
Suppressing a laugh, Uchiha Mitsunori explained, "For example, 'accidentally' spilling an ink bottle while delivering snacks, or standing by and staring at me while I'm talking to my secretary. Royal scandals are much more interesting when you add a 'jealous fiancée,' aren't they?"
The laughter inside the hall grew even louder.
Mei Terumi's face flushed red from her ears to her forehead. She grabbed a candied plum from the table and tossed it into Uchiha Mitsumine's bowl: "Who, who's jealous! I'm just... just worried you'll be fooled!"
The evening breeze outside the window carried the fragrance of water lilies.
Uchiha Mitsunaga looked at the plums in the bowl, then at Mei Terumi across from him, her head bowed low, her eyes as soft as moonlight in a pond.
Some schemes need to be hidden in the everyday world so they won't be blown away by the wind.
Princess Huiyi's eyes lit up as she thought of something amusing.
She turned to look at Terumi Mei beside her, taking her small hand: "Mei-chan, why don't you stay overnight? You're getting married next year anyway. I'll give you Mitsuho tonight; I know you've been craving his body for a long time!"
Mei Terumi blushed instantly, gently shaking off Megumi Uzumaki's hand: "Megumi-nee, how could you do this!...I...I'm not talking to you anymore..."