Chapter 72: Milk and Red Date Soup

While Princess Consort of Qi was listening to Feng Xuanrui recount his experiences over this period, Sui Sui had already gone to wash up with Feng Xuanrui, following Aunt Qiu.

Doctor Liu had previously let the two children be, and when they washed up, they could be separated by a screen.

But at Aunt Qiu's place, she would not allow such a thing to happen.

Hearing Feng Xuanrui say that, with a screen between them, the brother and sister washed together, Aunt Qiu laughed and shook her head: "How could that be? It's bad for Sui Sui's reputation; before, conditions were crude outside, but now that we're back, they must wash separately."

Hearing that it was bad for his sister's reputation, Feng Xuanrui, not very happy, followed Qing Shan and Qing Shui to another clean room.

Aunt Qiu brought two maidservants to help Sui Sui bathe.

Aunt Qiu had already guessed that Sui Sui must be a pitiful child.

But after truly taking off her clothes, Aunt Qiu was still startled.

Her gaze involuntarily showed pity and tenderness.

Looking at those wounds on Sui Sui's body, Aunt Qiu gestured to the two maidservants who were attending, then she herself stepped in, her movements unconsciously becoming much gentler.

Sui Sui had many old wounds on her body; Aunt Qiu thought: "How old is this child, to have so many injuries?"

This family……

Are they heartless?

Aunt Qiu gently and carefully washed Sui Sui all over with bath beans.

The fragrant scent was very familiar; Sui Sui quietly sniffed it.

It was the scent she had just encountered, from Pretty Aunt's body.

It was a very sweet fragrance; she……

She liked it very much.

Because she liked it, when Aunt Qiu helped Sui Sui put on her clothes, she quietly lowered her head to sniff it several times.

The residence had no young ladies of suitable age, so there were no clothes to use; thus Sui Sui still wore the ready-made garments she had brought back earlier.

Aunt Qiu was dissatisfied with the clothes, feeling the fabric wasn't soft enough, the style not fresh enough, and everything about them was unsatisfactory.

With all those wounds on the child, she needed to wear softer silk or fine cotton.

While helping Sui Sui dress, Aunt Qiu wondered in her mind: "I don't know what kind of arrangement the master has."

If it really won't work, could she not raise her herself?

For this pitiful child, if she were to be pushed out again, Aunt Qiu dare not think about how Sui Sui would grow up.

Obediently, Sui Sui let Aunt Qiu dress her; after she was dressed, she didn't forget to say, "Thank you, Aunt."

A well-behaved, sensible, and very polite child.

Hearing that thanks, Aunt Qiu felt both sour and soft in her heart.

She raised her hand and affectionately rubbed Sui Sui's head: "Good child, are you hungry?"

Before washing up, Aunt Qiu had already had someone prepare the milk and red date soup.

Afraid it would delay the evening meal, Aunt Qiu didn't have any other food prepared, only some drinks for the two children to have a sip.

Sui Sui had eaten only an average amount at noon, and now she was a little hungry.

But she wasn't familiar with Aunt Qiu, her brother wasn't by her side, she dared not say, and only gently shook her head, her voice small: "I'm not hungry."

Children's bellies are all sunken; Aunt Qiu could tell with a touch that she was somewhat hungry.

Seeing Sui Sui dare not speak, Aunt Qiu helplessly shook her head: "Sui Sui, you must tell the truth; lying is not what a good child does."

Cannot lie?

Hearing that, Sui Sui became a little flustered, she shook her head: "I won't lie!"

After saying that, she curled her toes and said even more softly: "I'm a bit hungry."

Seeing Sui Sui's timid appearance, Aunt Qiu felt sour again in her heart.

She gently rubbed Sui Sui's head, then stood up, took the child's hand, and walked outside: "Aunt will take you to drink milk."

Milk?

Sui Sui, having grown this big, has only drunk milk once.

That was the last time at the inn, when her brother had Qing Shan bring it back from the outer room.

Back then, there were some snacks, and there was milk.

Her brother said that the milk had been poorly processed, giving it a goaty smell.

Her brother also said then that, upon returning to Jing Cheng, he must try the residence cook's skill; that milk was well prepared, and with red dates or stewed fruit, it would taste delicious.

After drinking it that time, Sui Sui developed food stagnation and fever.

After that, she never drank it again.

Now, hearing Aunt Qiu mention it, Sui Sui felt a little curious, wanting to ask but not daring to.

Feng Xuanrui had already finished washing up; after tidying himself, he also hung the jade pendant and cords he had been wearing discreetly along the way.

He also added a forehead band, with purple jade on it, noble and shining.

The moment Sui Sui saw him, she couldn't help exclaiming: "Brother, you're so handsome!"

Feng Xuanrui's appearance on the road and at the residence are two completely different images.

If on the road, it's merely the image of an ordinary young noble.

Then, after returning to the residence, on top of that nobility, a layer of wealth must be added.

A wealthy little noble!

Hearing his sister praise his looks, Feng Xuanrui strode ahead with bigger steps, his belly puffed out, proudly lifting his chin: "It's fine, it's fine!"

Seeing that Sui Sui was still wearing the old ready-made clothes, Feng Xuanrui felt a bit disdainful: "Later, have Mother Consort find someone to come to the residence to take your measurements and make new clothes; then you'll also be beautiful, all right?"

Sui Sui dared not imagine that she herself could wear such luxurious clothes.

At this moment, hearing her brother say that, she couldn't help but look forward to it, her eyes shining bright, even more dazzling than the noble, imposing jade on Feng Xuanrui's person: "Mm, I'll listen to brother."

The well‑behaved look really makes people unable to resist wanting to pat the head, then pat the head again.

Aunt Qiu watched from the side; the Sixth Prince's kitten‑like patting made him want to correct it, but after hesitating several times and seeing Sui Sui enjoying and cooperating, he finally gave up the idea.

Forget it, as long as the child likes it.

She then didn't have to be that bad person.

After seeing her brother, she finally felt it for real.

Looking again at the luxurious Wangfu, Sui Sui wasn't so afraid anymore.

She was still thinking about her own clay pot.

Because Le Le said, if you plant these things well and later transplant them outside, you might be able to harvest some surprises in summer.

Le Le said surprise, so there should be a surprise, right?

Sui Sui didn't know either, but the joy of planting had just been enlightened for her; now is exactly the time to be interested.

So, while walking on the road, she didn't forget to ask Feng Xuanrui: "Brother, what about our flowers? Should we water them? Why aren't they sprouting? Is it too cold?"

Sui Sui had many questions, and Feng Xuanrui showed no impatience at all.

For things he didn't know, he turned his head to ask Aunt Qiu: "Aunt, how should we handle this?"

"What about that?"

"It's cold; should we light a fire for it?"

……

Aunt Qiu listened attentively from the side, patiently answering the children's doubts.

When she encountered something she also didn't know, she would say to wait a moment and then ask someone else.

Sui Sui listened carefully to Aunt Qiu's answer, doing her best to memorize the answers in her mind.

Just as she was listening attentively, she heard a pat‑pat‑pat of running from not far away, together with a child's loud shout: "Sixth brother!!!"

The second watch is at 19:00.