Chapter 12: Where is her hair?

Prince Qing, having been on the battlefield, reacted more swiftly than Doctor Liu.

His action outpaced his thought; he scooped Sui Sui up in one grab, neatly rewound the scattered cloth, and laid her back on the bed.

Doctor Liu also came to his senses, cursing inwardly while putting on a smile to coax Sui Sui: "Sui Sui, don't be afraid, I, Grandpa Liu, just came to see— are you hungry? Want to get up for breakfast?"

Thinking that Sui Sui had just spoken those words before waking, Doctor Liu felt a sour ache in his heart and quickly said: "Sui Sui, being here means you don't have to work; at your age, what use is there for a little child like you?"

When Sui Sui opened her eyes and saw the familiar Grandpa Liu, her anxious heart gradually calmed.

She was held somewhat tightly by Prince Qing, yet she dared not move, sitting obediently and whispering: "Hello, Grandpa Liu."

After greeting Grandpa Liu, Sui Sui raised her head and timidly glanced at the tall, sturdy, fierce-looking Prince Qing.

At a glance, Sui Sui recognized him as the uncle who had rescued her and her brother the previous night.

But Sui Sui did not know him.

She pursed her lips, then carefully shrank her neck back, saying nothing.

Hearing Sui Sui call out, Doctor Liu broke into a beaming smile like a brilliant dahlias, and hastily replied: "Hey hey, Grandpa's here— are you hungry, Sui Sui?"

Hungry?

Actually she was hungry, but she could still endure.

Sui Sui feared that if she ate too much she would be driven out; at her uncle's house, even drinking an extra sip of water could earn her a scolding chase from her aunt.

Realizing this, Sui Sui gently shook her head: "I'm not hungry."

Gurgle.

But at that moment her stomach gave two uncooperative growls.

Doctor Liu laughed upon hearing it, laughing until he almost wanted to cry.

He thought: "Indeed, I practiced too little sword last night!"

This resentment has not yet been vented.

Now it's stuck in his chest, feeling uneasy.

Prince Qing stood to the side, looking at the pitiful little child, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter.

Last night he still had official business to attend to, and with the candlelight dim, he hadn't examined closely.

Now looking at this child again, recalling Doctor Liu's words: a five-year-old with bone age over three, this child's uncle's family has utterly abandoned conscience, born defective!

Hmm, Doctor Liu's scolding is quite right.

Either don't raise them, or since you have, raise them properly as a person.

Now Sui Sui's head is bald, a bandage wrapped around her forehead, her little face thin with no flesh, at first glance resembling a moving skeleton.

The person Prince Qing sent to investigate the information has not yet returned, so the specific situation remains unknown.

But at this moment he has already felt compassion.

Sui Sui made Prince Qing think of his own daughter.

If that child were still alive……

Thinking of his daughter, Prince Qing slightly closed his eyes, hiding the darkness in their depths.

Upon hearing Sui Sui's stomach growl, Doctor Liu couldn't help but laugh again: "Sui Sui, you should speak up when you're hungry, you know? Grandpa Liu has plenty of food here— eat as you like, Sui Sui, don't be afraid."

While speaking, the medicine boy Di Jiao's voice came from outside: "Master, the clothes have been bought."

Hearing that, Doctor Liu softly soothed Sui Sui: "Sui Sui, wait a moment for Grandpa, I'll be right back."

As he rose, Doctor Liu finally glanced at Prince Qing: "Trouble, Prince, please look after the child for a while— thank you for your effort."

Those last three words carried a hint of personal feeling.

Prince Qing: ……

He hasn't done anything, has he?

Originally they weren't his children; by normal thinking, they should just be sent back.

Otherwise, their family must be terribly worried, right?

As for the details, we should wait until the investigation is clear before speaking.

Prince Qing was utterly speechless; turning his head, he met Sui Sui's timid, pure eyes like those of a newborn fawn.

Those eyes were clean and clear, capable of exposing all the world's filth with nowhere to hide.

This made Prince Qing feel somewhat embarrassed; looking at the little girl's head almost shining, he furrowed his brows and asked: "Where is your hair?"

He had wanted to ask earlier, but Doctor Liu kept talking and he found no chance.

Prince Qing's voice was deep and hoarse, matching his aura of lethal coldness, which directly frightened Sui Sui into shrinking inward.

Sui Sui withdrew her gaze, ostrich-like pulling her head back, wishing she could shrink her whole body into the cloth to hide.

Doctor Liu hurried out to fetch the clothes, then came back running, and saw exactly this scene.

Doctor Liu, bursting with resentment, on the spot broke down: "Prince!!!"

His status prevented Doctor Liu from truly acting against Prince Qing, so after calling out he stepped forward with a dark face, using his slightly plump body to block Prince Qing's view.

Prince Qing:?

He felt he was truly innocent!!!

However, he is not the type who likes to over-explain on such trivial matters.

He was merely a bit curious.

Watching Doctor Liu change Sui Sui's clothes, Prince Qing endured and endured, finally unable to hold back: "Where is her hair?"

Even if he hadn't looked closely yesterday, he still remembered whether she had hair!

Doctor Liu complained while the ready-made clothes were none too good, and he answered Prince Qing testily: "They were shaved, dry as straw, and tied in dead knots; if not shaved, should we wait for lice to grow?"

Prince Qing was rebuked into speechlessness; seeing Sui Sui stripped bare, he instinctively turned his head away.

Doctor Liu swiftly changed Sui Sui into fresh clothes, then pulled her aside and applied a ginger-yellow ointment to her head.

Ointment's smell is not strong, but the color is not very nice. Liu Dafu was afraid the child would mind this, so he especially explained to Sui Sui: "Sui Sui ah, this is used for growing hair; we'll first apply it for a period of time, then apply five-black powder; when the hair grows out, it will be thick and glossy, although the color is not very nice and you must not touch it with your hands, understand?"

Sui Sui hadn't yet recovered from the shock of the new clothes; her big eyes were almost insufficient, constantly gazing at the beautiful and soft new outfit.

Hearing Liu Dafu's words, Sui Sui shook her head slightly flustered: "No, no, no, Liu Ye Ye."

Sui Sui also couldn't say any flattering words; all she could do was sit there more obediently, motionless, letting Liu Dafu fuss over her.

The system, however, knows some speaking techniques and can also teach children how to use their own advantages to gain more benefits for themselves.

But they are joyful systems, mainly aimed at accompanying children to grow up happily.

Moreover, the simplest sincerity of children is the most moving.

So they do not scribble randomly on this blank sheet.

Their task is: to accompany, to encourage, to let adorable children not deny their whole lives because of past shadows.