As soon as Bai Qingyan arrived at Mrs. Dong’s bedchamber, she heard the cheerful and hearty laughter of the aunts inside, and Bai Qingyan’s mood brightened as well.
Hearing the eunuch outside announce that Bai Qingyan had arrived, the Fifth Lady, Mrs. Qi, turned her head and looked at Bai Qingyan, smiling as she waved at her, "Kid, come and see! These two little fellows are here eating their hands, not paying attention to anyone, eat so focused, come and see!"
Bai Qingyan passed through the hanging curtains and bead curtains, circled around the screen, and saw the aunts with Xiao Ba and Brother Wang all sitting on soft cushions covered with a blanket on an ivory mat below.
The two little babies, dressed in clothes made by their fourth aunt, were in the middle, back to back, eating their hands, truly looking so earnest.
Surrounding them were palace maids and nannies, and the wet nurses of the four children, all laughing so hard they couldn’t close their mouths.
Mrs. Dong teased the two children with the golden bell in her hand, softly coaxing them, "Xile, Kangle, Grandma has shaken the bell for half a day, you two also take a look at Grandma!"
But the two children continued eating their hands, paying no heed, prompting another round of laughter from the aunts.
Xiao Ba, however, pouted, "Little nephew and little niece aren’t fun, none of them play with Xiao Ba!"
"Xile and Kangle are still small, and cannot play with Xiao Ba yet. Wait another year or so, when Xile and Kangle can walk, they will certainly chase Xiao Ba to play!" The Second Lady, Mrs. Liu, smiled as she patted Laughing Wang Geer on the head, who was focused only on her snack, "But it’s alright, now Brother Wang is here to play with Xiao Ba!"
Xiao Ba, looking at Little Wang Geer with a mouthful of snack crumbs, was about to reach out for Little Kangle when Xiao Ba hurriedly crawled over to slap Little Wang Geer’s hand away, somewhat disdainful of her little nephew’s slobber, putting on an adult-like demeanor, sternly admonishing Little Wang Geer who looked up at her, "Brother Wang, you must not touch little brother or sister, little brother and sister are still small, and you have slobber on your hands..."
"Ah! Our little eight already knows to protect the younger nephew and niece!" The Third Lady, Mrs. Li, laughed as she covered her mouth with a handkerchief.
Bai Wanqing earnestly said, "Kangle and Xile were born prematurely by Eldest Young Lady, they must be protected. The nanny has told me so!"
Mrs. Liu laughed out loud, receiving a warm towel from the nanny to wipe Little Wang Geer’s hands, "Our Xiao Ba already behaves like a little adult! No wonder you are Xiao Ba’s little aunt to Brother Wang and Kangle and Xile."
Seeing this, Bai Qingyan’s eyes were full of smiles, remembering how when they were young siblings, and they too behaved like this... the older ones bullied and disliked the younger ones. But no matter how they bullied their siblings at home, they would not allow others to bully and dislike them outside. If anyone dared to bully or dislike their siblings, they would fight!
Nanny Tong stepped forward with a smile to assist Bai Qingyan in taking off her shoes, helping her sit down next to Mrs. Dong. She reached out, touching Little Ba’s head, who sat beside the Fifth Lady, Mrs. Qi, and pinched Little Wang Geer’s cheek, then turned to see Kangle and Xile contentedly eating their hands, the laughter in her eyes deepening.
These days, thanks to Doctor Huang, mother, all the aunts, and the nannies, Kangle’s body was gradually getting better day by day, though still not as robust as brother Xile, but at least she can nurse without spitting up and no longer lethargically unwilling to move.
Gazing at Xile and Kangle, Bai Qingyan thought about writing a letter to Xiao Rongyan when she returned, to draw this scene for him to see.

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