Chapter 143: To Pierce or Not to Pierce
Chapter 143: To Pierce or Not to Pierce
Upon hearing Mother Empress' explanation, SuSu realized that the earrings wouldn't be pierced directly through her ears with the hooks, and she felt much relieved.
The purple jade earrings were indeed very beautiful, and SuSu admired them. Thinking that Sister MengMeng had graciously accepted her gift, she believed that she could ask for them as well.
With these thoughts in mind, she hugged Mother Empress' thighs and softly said thank you, her little voice truly holding a healing power.
Hearing this, Princess Qi wished to pluck all the stars from the heavens for SuSu!
Princess Qi selected the earrings, as well as a jade pendant and a peace buckle. She chose items with colors and designs suitable for a child.
It was evident that the Grand Princess' manor had considered SuSu when preparing these gifts.
Among the jewelry were two beaded necklaces with very small hoops, clearly intended for a child. The color combination was unique, featuring emeralds paired with amber and accented with agate stones.
The colors were somewhat exaggerated but were indeed very popular among children who usually favored bright and vivid hues.
Princess Qi tried these accessories on SuSu, and then she directly added them to SuSu's private collection.
Aunt Xiang, following Aunt Qiu's example, held the newly acquired account book of the young lady's private collection and efficiently recorded the items.
After examining the jewelry, they moved on to inspect some ornaments.
Currently, SuSu didn't have her own separate room, but it was only a matter of time before she got one.
The ornaments delivered today featured more muted colors.
Princess Qi felt that they weren't vibrant enough, so she planned to select some items of different colors from the collection to decorate SuSu's future room.
However, among them was a gilt incense burner that caught her eye, and she set it aside to be included in SuSu's possessions.
Finally, they turned their attention to the fabrics.
Princess Qi glanced at the other colors and instructed Aunt Qiu to record them.
But when she saw a light pink and a moon-colored soft silk, her eyes lit up. "These are perfect for SuSu! They're just what she needs for her nightwear. Soft and body-hugging, warm in winter and cool in summer, they'll make her feel comfortable."
As she spoke, Princess Qi held the two bolts of fabric and continued to gesture with them toward SuSu.
The little girl's skin was becoming fairer, and these vivid colors would look wonderful on her.
The more Princess Qi looked, the more pleased she became, wishing she could transform into a tailor and immediately turn the fabric into garments.
Alas, Princess Qi's sewing skills left much to be desired.
It was better to just admire the fabric.
Thinking of her lacking sewing abilities, Princess Qi's excited mood gradually calmed down.
She asked Aunt Xiang to put away the two bolts of fabric and inquired about her sewing skills.
Aunt Xiang's skills were evident in the hats she had sewn, so Princess Qi could rest assured that she was capable.
Even so, Princess Qi still felt uneasy and wanted to ask more.
If Aunt Xiang's skills weren't up to par, she would have HaiTang handle the task.
HaiTang was indeed quite skilled in sewing.
Princess Qi didn't intend to send SuSu's nightwear out to be made by others.
Aunt Xiang remained calm when suddenly questioned by the Princess, and she promptly replied, "My skills are decent, and I will dedicate myself to making the young lady's clothes with utmost care."
Aunt Xiang's humble attitude pleased Princess Qi, who nodded in approval and gestured for her to put away the fabric.
After inspecting all the gifts, Princess Qi took SuSu and Liu HeMeng to find Doctor Liu.
Doctor Liu had just prepared some medicines, mainly for SuSu's medicinal bath.
The little girl had quite a few scars on her body, some old and faded, and Doctor Liu wasn't sure if they could all be removed.
However, they had to try.
It would be a pity to give up without attempting.
The doctor shouldn't give up on a patient without trying all possible options.
He had been busy all morning, preparing a month's worth of medication.
Of course, the medicinal bath wasn't meant to be taken every day but rather three times a week, with each session lasting at least as long as an incense stick burned.
While the process was tedious, the potential for a positive outcome made all the hardship worthwhile.
When the Queen Consort arrived with her entourage, Doctor Liu greeted her respectfully before explaining the details of the medicinal bath.
Upon hearing about the bath, Princess Qi listened intently, her interest piqued.
Aunt Xiang also pricked up her ears, not wanting to miss a single detail.
However, Doctor Liu was meticulous and made sure to record the instructions on paper, making it easy for them to refer to later.
As Aunt Xiang could read, Princess Qi entrusted the instructions to her, confident that they would be followed accurately.
After discussing the medicinal bath, Princess Qi inquired about the matter of ear piercing.
Now, this was a delicate task...
It was not only challenging but also prone to earning the child's resentment.
After hearing the princess's request, Doctor Liu hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is Susu willing to go through with it? It will be painful."
Ear piercing would undoubtedly be painful, and the subsequent care involving the removal of the thread could also cause discomfort for several days.
Therefore, it was essential to be mentally prepared before making the decision.
It wasn't like Susu was too young to remember the pain; she would likely recall it for days to come.
Doctor Liu's mention of the potential pain made Princess Qi hesitant as well. She lowered her head and asked Susu gently, "It will hurt a little, Susu. Do you still want to do it? You can wear beautiful earrings afterward."
Princess Qi believed that a little pain was a small price to pay for beauty.
However, a child's perspective differed from that of an adult.
Upon learning that it would hurt, Susu felt afraid.
Yet, as she looked at Mengmeng's swaying earrings, she couldn't help but feel envious.
She wanted earrings, too.
But her courage wavered, and she asked the system in a soft voice, "Lele, should I do it? Will it hurt a lot?"
In the absence of modern technology, the process involved applying anesthetic cream and then piercing the ears with a needle.
Considering the crude method, the system chose to be honest.
"If you want it, go for it, Susu. But it will be very painful, and you'll have to endure it for a few days. After that, you'll look gorgeous!"
A few days of endurance, and she could wear all sorts of beautiful earrings.
Susu thought that she could probably manage it.
The conflict played out on her face, her eyebrows knitting together in a cute display of indecision.
Princess Qi wanted to hug and kiss her, and even Doctor Liu found the display endearing.
However, with his granddaughter still present, he didn't want to appear too enthusiastic.
Children could be jealous, and soothing them afterward could be challenging!
Doctor Liu turned around and began preparing the necessary tools.
As a doctor, he naturally had them on hand.
Although the royal family had no daughters, the king had always longed for one, so he had asked Doctor Liu to prepare such tools in advance.
Doctor Liu had once doubted the king's willingness to let his daughter go through with ear piercing, given his fervent desire for a girl.
Now that the young princess had arrived, would he really bear to see her in pain?
Susu hesitated for a moment before nodding bravely to her mother, "Mother, let's do it. I'm ready!"
Although Susu was afraid of the pain, she had seen Mengmeng and the other girls with ear piercings, and she knew that many beautiful ladies in the capital had them, too.
She thought that perhaps ear piercings were a mark of identity for the girls and ladies of the capital.
Susu didn't want to be the odd one out or bring shame to her mother and brothers.
She didn't want to be a source of embarrassment for her family.
So, a few days of pain seemed like a small price to pay.
Let's do it!
(End of Chapter)
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