Chapter 152: Is Xiao Fu Bao Disliked? The Whole City Loves Me With Their Lives
Chapter 152: Loquat
After sorting the gifts, Liu Hemeng and Suisui washed their hands and tidied up. Playing in the dirt all afternoon had left them both dirty.
Having been prepared earlier by Aunt Xiang, the kitchen served them Chenpi Snow Pear Juice with rock sugar, sweet and refreshing, perfect for the young girls.
Suisui sat obediently, swinging her legs as she took her first sip, exclaiming, "It's so sweet!" Liu Hemeng, also sipping, nodded in agreement, but covered her cheek, concerned about her teeth. "It's sweet, but our teeth can’t handle too much of it, so don’t overindulge, Suisui."
Suisui, knowing the importance of teeth, nodded earnestly, promising not to overeat. As she drank, her small hat was removed, revealing her soft, fluffy hair, which looked irresistibly touchable. Unable to resist, Liu Hemeng reached out and began to pet Suisui's head. Suisui leaned in, rubbing her head against Liu Hemeng's palm, saying, "Sister, it's nice to touch, isn't it? I washed it last night and even put on some fragrant stuff."
The fragrance Suisui mentioned was a bath powder, which she didn’t recognize but knew made her smell as lovely as her mother.
Liu Hemeng, thoroughly satisfied with petting her head, thought to herself how nice it felt. She even entertained the idea of secretly cutting her brother’s hair when she returned home. Recalling how he once threw mud mixed with urine at her face, Liu Hemeng felt justified. He deserved a little payback.
After finishing their sweet soup, the two girls played a game called Five Woods until evening approached. Liu Hemeng’s grandfather, Physician Liu, waited to escort them home, not wanting to leave Suisui unattended. When Qi Wangfei returned from the palace with Feng Xuanrui, only then did Physician Liu take Liu Hemeng to bid farewell.
Before leaving, Qi Wangfei sent them a small tray of loquats. These were newly arrived tributes from Nanzhou, fresh in the capital and yet to reach other households. The loquats were among the extra gifts given to Qi Wangfei and Feng Xuanrui by the emperor and empress dowager.
Qi Wangfei, worried about Suisui throughout her time in the palace, went straight to her upon returning, embracing her tightly. "My dear Suisui," she whispered.
Suisui snuggled in her mother's embrace, saying, "Mother, I missed you."
Hearing this, Qi Wangfei couldn’t resist her daughter’s sweet affection, feeling her heart melt completely. She decided to gift her daughter some of the vibrant materials bestowed by the empress dowager, suggesting they make beautiful outfits together.
Qi Wangfei carried Suisui to the vibrant display of fabrics, ornaments, and perfumes. Suisui’s eyes sparkled, overwhelmed by the variety. Feng Xuanrui also helped Suisui pick items, his aesthetic sensibilities still sharp despite his young age.
With Feng Xuanrui’s encouragement, Suisui agreed with every suggestion, nodding happily, fully trusting her brother’s choices. Seeing the strong bond between her children, Qi Wangfei felt slightly envious. However, she reminded herself that Feng Xuanrui would be back at his studies the next day, and then Suisui would be hers again.
After setting aside most of the gifts in Suisui’s private storeroom, Qi Wangfei also showed her a new fruit—loquats. Feng Xuanrui peeled one, removing the seeds before feeding it to Suisui, who was amazed by its taste. Tangy and sweet, with soft and delicate flesh, Suisui devoured it so quickly that she felt it was gone before she had a chance to savor it.
Suisui stared at the loquats, visibly longing for more, almost drooling. Qi Wangfei, amused but careful not to embarrass her daughter, instructed Haitang, "Select a few loquats and prepare a sweet loquat and lily soup tonight. Have it sent to the other courtyards for everyone to taste."
Haitang promptly set off to fulfill the task. Meanwhile, Shaoyao hesitated, unsure how to present the unique gift Suisui had prepared—boxes containing lively, wriggling earthworms. Although the gift was rather unconventional, Shaoyao wondered how best to remind Qi Wangfei of its contents delicately.
Before Shaoyao could figure it out, Suisui happily ran up with her box, her face glowing with pride. "Mother, I prepared a gift for you!"
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