Chapter 38: Nine Linked Rings

After hearing Feng Xuanrui's words, Sui Sui felt a little nervous: "……Is it very valuable? Brother?"

After she finished asking, she thought for a moment, then whispered softly: "I'll have a future and will repay Auntie."

Feng Xuanrui didn't think the gift was that extravagant; seeing his sister uneasy, he shook his head directly: "The thought is good, other……just so-so, the matter of repayment, we'll talk about it later."

Originally Feng Xuanrui wanted to say: You are my sister, you don't need to worry about repayment.

They give gifts, not just because you're cute.

But, the words reached his lips and he swallowed them back.

These things are too complicated; it's better not to let the sister know for now.

Feng Xuanrui felt that his sister's eyes were clear and bright.

And he wanted to protect this brightness.

Hearing his brother say that, Sui Sui felt somewhat relieved.

Qingzhou is over seven hundred kilometers from Jing Cheng.

They brought the two children, traveling slowly by carriage and horse, which would take about ten days.

Fortunately it's the return journey, so they don't fear delaying official duties.

On the way there, while rushing, Prince Qing also took care of Feng Xuanrui.

But Feng Xuanrui still ended up with a sore butt from the jolting.

On the return journey, not in a hurry, going slower, it could be somewhat better than the outward trip.

But when they arrived at Xiao Zhen in the evening, Feng Xuanrui still felt sore all over.

Sui Sui was also jolted enough to feel choked.

At night, they had not yet left Qingzhou's territory.

It was a small town under Qingzhou Prefecture, where they temporarily rested.

Xiao Zhen wasn't prosperous; by evening, the streets were very deserted.

They found an inn and settled in.

After eating, the two children were so sleepy they kept nodding off.

Liu Dafu chuckled as he led them back to the room.

Feng Xuanrui didn't want to be separated from Sui Sui, insisting on staying together no matter what.

Liu Dafu summoned the older Qing Shan, and together they watched over the two children as they slept.

When Feng Xuanrui insisted on sleeping together with Sui Sui, he was in high spirits, full of vigor.

After washing up and returning to bed, Feng Xuanrui spoke no more than five sentences before falling into a deep sleep.

Sui Sui fell asleep even faster; in the time it took Liu Dafu to turn around, he glanced over and saw……

The little girl was already sleeping in a carefree, unrestrained manner, utterly adorable.

The system felt both helpless and heartbroken.

The helpless part was that the bedtime story hadn't even been told yet, and Sui Sui missed another one.

The heartbreaking part was that such a young child had to endure the fatigue of the slow carriage journey.

However, for Sui Sui, this fatigue carried a unique sense of belonging and security.

Because she hadn't been abandoned!

The next day, a light rain made traveling unsuitable.

Prince Qing didn't rush the journey, so he let everyone rest and adjust at the inn for a day.

Liu Dafu had originally wanted to discuss with Prince Qing slowing down today's schedule, as the two children couldn't handle such intensity.

As it turned out, they didn't need to rush today; Liu Dafu chuckled as he took the ointment to find Sui Sui.

After a few days, a faint patch of green stubble had already grown on Sui Sui's head.

After eating, while applying the ointment, Liu Dafu casually touched it, then carefully examined the color of the hair roots, nodding repeatedly: "Not bad, not bad; the hair that grows back will be black and shiny."

Feng Xuanrui had originally been fiddling with the toy sent by Sun Ronglin.

Since they couldn't travel today, he and his sister needed to find something to play with to avoid boredom.

Hearing Liu Dafu say that, Feng Xuanrui hurried over: "Really? Let me look, let me look."

As he spoke, he moved over, lightly moving his finger on the spot on Sui Sui's head where the ointment hadn't been applied yet.

Feeling a slight prickle, Feng Xuanrui's eyes lit up with surprise: "Eh? It really grew out, sister, you have hair now!"

Sui Sui originally didn't know what counts as good hair.

But since Brother said it's good, it must be the best, right?

She didn't understand, so she foolishly laughed along with Feng Xuanrui.

These past few days, following Feng Xuanrui's routine of brushing teeth twice daily, Sui Sui's teeth have become much whiter and brighter.

The children's baby teeth haven't fallen out yet; although they hadn't been cared for finely before, their overall shape looks quite nice.

When Sui Sui smiles, she shows a small mouthful of baby teeth, looking like a little fool who could be tricked away with just a piece of candy.

Looking at such a sister, Feng Xuanrui still felt a bit worried.

His sister must not be tricked away!

After eating, the two each used the medicine again.

Feng Xuanrui's foot had healed, but for better care, Liu Dafu didn't let him walk or stand for long periods.

Feng Xuanrui also feared leaving some lingering ailment, so he honestly followed Liu Dafu's instructions.

Today it's raining, so they can't go out.

Although the damp weather makes one feel uncomfortable.

However, being able to rest a little for a day is not bad.

Then...

Feng Xuanrui spent a day with Sui Sui solving the Nine Linked Rings.

The problem is, it hasn't been solved yet.

In the middle, there were several times Feng Xuanrui couldn't bear it, wanting to smash it directly!

But when he turned his head and met Sui Sui's puzzled gaze, Feng Xuanrui again showed a strong smile: 'Sister, don't worry, brother will solve it soon.'

Sui Sui couldn't tell her brother was irritable, only thinking her brother was amazing!

With such a complicated toy, he could play with it for a long time.

Sui Sui even listened several times, but still didn't quite understand how to play with it.

At that moment, hearing her brother's words, Sui Sui nodded heavily, her eyes shining black, full of admiration: 'Brother is the most amazing!'

'I believe in brother!'

'Brother will be able to solve it soon.'

Feng Xuanrui got lost in the repeated cries of 'brother'.

Then, his hands solving the Nine Linked Rings became even more earnest.

Feng Xuanrui thought: Today, there is no Nine Linked Rings that Young Master Feng cannot solve!

As it turned out, there really was.

Even until dinnertime, Feng Xuanrui still hadn't solved it.

He bitterly bit into his rice, thinking: 'Tomorrow, tomorrow, he will definitely be able to!'

In the end, Feng Xuanrui fell asleep holding the Nine Linked Rings.

Sui Sui fell asleep a bit later than him, gently taking away the Nine Linked Rings that Feng Xuanrui was holding in his arms, afraid that in the process of sleeping, when turning over, she would bump into brother again.

Sui Sui didn't understand the wonder of the Nine Linked Rings, but she knew that her brother probably valued it greatly.

So, she placed the Nine Linked Rings at the head of the bed.

Liu Dafu saw that the two children had slept together, and quickly gestured to Sui Sui: 'Hurry up and sleep; if it's sunny tomorrow, we still need to continue our journey.'

Sui Sui obediently nodded, then lay down.

The conditions at Ke Zhan were simple, so Sui Sui slept together with Feng Xuanrui.

However, they asked the attendant for an extra blanket, and each covered themselves.

Even so, this was also the closest Sui Sui had ever been to her brother while sleeping.

She cherished this warm, reassuring moment.

After Liu Dafu blew out the candle, Sui Sui lay in the blankets, looking through layers of darkness toward the direction where Feng Xuanrui lay, and softly said in her heart: 'Brother, good night.'

May you have a sweet dream as sweet as candy.

May you also be able to solve the Nine Linked Rings tomorrow.

Fourth watch

(End of chapter)