In the bronze fire basin, a few pieces of charcoal smoldered faintly, in a state of partial extinguishment.
The White Jade Pot filled with milk was placed on the perforated copper lid above the fire basin.
Yun Wanyao reached out to tentatively touch the milk pot; her fingertips felt warm, neither cold nor scalding, but just the right temperature.
Satisfied, she picked up the milk pot and took out Yun Wanqingâs specially designated jade bowl, preparing to pour the milk into it.
[Sister, isnât there that kind of uniquely shaped baby bottle in this era? Why havenât you ever given me one to use?]
[Drinking milk with a spoon is really troublesome.]
[And you can all hear my telepathic thoughts, right? Iâve mentioned straws a lot of timesâwhy donât you make some?]
The sudden telepathic voice startled Yun Wanyao, and her hand trembled, almost spilling the milk.
She turned to Yun Wanqing and softly explained, "Youâre still too young; those bottles are for bigger kids. Mother was afraid youâd choke, so she hasnât given you one."
Baby bottles of this era are mostly made of ceramic or copper and iron. Wealthy families might use jade, gold, or silver.
The shapes resemble narrow-mouthed wine jugs somewhat, yet differ slightly.
The milk outlet, or nipple, is located towards the bottom, resembling a birdâs beak, sharp-looking but smoothly polished, its top sealed with scattered drilled holes.
Because the outlet is hard, it can be uncomfortable for babies to suckle, so the holes cannot be too small, allowing for a generous amount of milk, reducing the risk of choking for very small children.
"Besides, we donât lack people to nurse you, so we donât really need one."
Yun Wanqing: "..."
[Itâs true there are enough people to nurse me, but itâs really troublesome. Ah, sister, please find me a bottle; I want to drink by myself.]
[You know Iâm different from other babies, so surely I wonât choke.]
Hearing this, Yun Wanyao glanced out the window before quickly looking back, appearing a bit troubled.
"Uh, little sister, I donât have a bottle here. Letâs feed you like this for now. Next time you drink milk, Iâll have someone find a bottle for you, okay?"
Yun Wanqing then realized she rarely visited Yun Wanyaoâs place before; how would a young girl like Yun Wanyao have a baby bottle ready?
Besides, it wasnât daybreak yet; many servants in the house hadnât gotten up. Asking Yun Wanyao to find something like this was indeed difficult.
It seems she really has been foolish to ask without considering these issues.
[Okay, okay, thatâs fine.]
[But make sure you remember what you just said, okay? Next time I drink milk, have someone bring me a bottle.]
"Yes, donât worry, Iâll definitely remember."
Yun Wanyao carried the milk bowl, walked over, and sat on the bed to feed her.
While drinking milk, Yun Wanqing chatted with her.
[By the way, sister, have you really never had anyone make straws?]
[Straws are quite useful, hmm, and making them is fairly simple. Just use fine, straight bamboo branches with a good appearance. Of course, if conditions allow, ones made of gold or silver would be better.]
"No, I havenât."
Yun Wanyao replied with a chuckle, "Although Iâve heard little sister mention them a few times, I thought they wouldnât be much use and couldnât offer them to little sister, so I havenât made them."
"Hmm, back then we hadnât confessed to little sister. If we showed her the straws, wouldnât it have given us away?"
[Sigh, just thinking about how you all tricked me for so long makes me feel awful...]
She couldnât remember how many potentially embarrassing or mortifying thoughts sheâd had subconsciously. Given her personality, she must have had plenty, just not knowing to what extent.
She dared not think; just recalling it made her embarrassed beyond measure, feeling deeply ashamed, wishing desperately to erase all their memories of her.
Sigh, mother and fatherâs past worries were indeed not unfounded.
Sometimes she really thought they might as well have kept deceiving her, so she wouldnât have such pressure now.
"Iâm sorry, little sister, truly sorry."
[Forget it, letâs not talk about it. Sister, why am I in your room?]
To diminish her shame, Yun Wanqing decisively changed the topic.
[Mother wouldnât feel comfortable letting me sleep with you, so how did you convince her?]
[Also, your complexion is terrible, clearly showing you hadnât slept all nightâwhyâs that?]
[If someone does need to look after me, it doesnât have to be you, right? The house has servants, which suggests you must have something to say to me alone?]
[So, did you bring me here without permission?]
Hearing this, Yun Wanyaoâs face changed drastically, her expression becoming awkward, her hand holding the spoon trembling, almost spilling milk on Yun Wanqingâs face.
[Ah, such a big reaction, sister?]
[Was I spot on?]
[So sister, you stayed up to guard me because you really have something to say?]
Seeing her appearance, Yun Wanqingâs eyes widened in disbelief.
"Ahem..."
Yun Wanyao turned her head away, awkwardly cleared her throat, not knowing how to continue.
Little sister is indeed too clever; she always manages to deduce the truth from small details.
[Speak up, sister, donât feel embarrassed or be polite with me.]
[As long as I can do it, Iâll definitely help you.]
"Well, Iâll just say it. First, little sister, promise you wonât tease me after I say it."
Yun Wanyao turned her head, her moist eyes exceptionally beautiful, looking weakly at Yun Wanqing, almost melting her heart.
Sister is so beautiful, need to adore and love sister!!!
[I wonât tease you, sister, hurry up and say it.]
[Morning is coming, you donât want to waste time, do you?] She added.
Yun Wanyao: "..."
Little sister is not only clever but also adept at handling situations.
Ugh, with just slight maneuvering, sheâs already got her cornered.
"Iâll say it, Iâll say it..."
Yun Wanyao closed her eyes, steeled herself, and said, "Little sister, um, you bumped into the Emperor visiting my room the night before last, right?"
"Could you not bring this up and let father and mother know?"
Yun Wanqing hesitated briefly before quickly regaining composure.
[I thought it might be something else, turns out itâs this.]
[Sister, Iâm more curious about how you know I stumbled upon this situation?]
[I sensed it with my spiritual power; you knew that too?]
[Do you mean not only do you hear my telepathic thoughts, but you can detect my spiritual power too?]
This is too strange, isnât it?
How could her spiritual power be noticed by those who havenât cultivated it?
Yun Wanyao gently clarified, "Itâs not really detecting little sisterâs spiritual power, but rather, as long as weâre within its field, we can hear little sisterâs telepathic thoughts."
[Oh, I see.]
[That means, if I want to chat with you all later or have urgent matters, I can rely on spiritual power completely.]
[Although I donât know why itâs like this, it seems quite convenient.]
[Uh, letâs set that aside for now, back to the topic. Sister, do you like the Emperor?]