Bibi Dong Learns to Bathe

Bathing.

Another level of soul power.

From level eighty-four to level eighty-five.

If she could level up once more today, she would have jumped two levels in a single day, stepping directly over the threshold of level eighty-five.

This speed was terrifying.

Bibi Dong's breathing hitched for a fleeting moment before returning to normal.

However, this... bathing.

Bibi Dong's brows furrowed imperceptibly.

She had never bathed a child before.

All of Qian Renxue's daily care was handled by the nurse.

She rarely even had physical contact with her, let alone performed such a task herself.

What should the water temperature be? How should she hold the Infant?

What should she watch out for while washing? Which areas required extra caution? She had absolutely no concept of it.

She could not afford to make a mistake.

This child was too important.

Not just as a means for her to grow stronger.

Most importantly, that smile from just a moment ago had caused a frozen corner of her heart to loosen for an instant.

Regardless of the reason, she could not let this child suffer any mishaps due to her negligence.

After a moment of thought.

Bibi Dong bent down and gathered Luo Dong back into her arms.

She turned and pushed the door open to leave.

The corridor of the side hall was long and quiet.

Candlesticks embedded in the stone walls cast dim, yellowish halos onto the polished stone floor.

Bibi Dong's footsteps echoed softly through the empty corridor.

Luo Dong was held securely in her arms, watching through the gaps in his swaddling clothes as the murals on both sides receded one by one.

The architecture of Martial Soul Hall was magnificent and grand, with intricate angel totems carved into every pillar.

The shadows of those angels, poised as if to take flight, cast mottled shapes in the candlelight that swept across Bibi Dong's shoulders.

She did not spare those angel statues a single glance.

She walked straight through the corridor, turned a corner, and stopped in front of an ordinary wooden door.

This was the living quarters of the nurse who looked after Qian Renxue—Nurse Zhou.

It had been three years.

The number of times she had come to knock on this door of her own volition could be counted on one hand.

Each time was due to an "order" from the Pope, requiring her to bring Qian Renxue to certain events, forcing her to come here to notify the nurse to prepare.

But this time was different; she was here of her own accord.

Bibi Dong raised her hand and knocked on the door.

A sound of slippers shuffling against the stone floor came from inside, and the door was pulled open immediately after.

Nurse Zhou stood at the doorway, dressed in simple grey cloth garments, her hair pulled into a neat bun, and her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, looking as if she had been washing clothes.

In her early forties, she had a gentle face and clearly possessed a good temperament.

Seeing who was standing outside, Nurse Zhou was visibly stunned.

"Your Highness?"

Her voice was filled with undisguised surprise.

Bibi Dong stood at her door, holding an Infant in her arms.

The Infant was wrapped in brand-new swaddling clothes, revealing a rosy little face, his eyes wide open and quietly looking around.

Was this the child the servants had been whispering about all day?

Brought here personally by the Saintess?

Thoughts raced through Nurse Zhou's mind, but having stayed in this deep palace for over three years, she knew best what should be asked and what should not.

Just like the fact that Bibi Dong, the Saintess of Martial Soul Hall, was Qian Renxue's mother.

She quickly composed her expression, wiped the water from her hands onto her apron, and stepped aside.

"Does Your Highness have business with me?"

Bibi Dong got straight to the point: "I would like to ask you for some advice regarding how to take care of a child."

Nurse Zhou was stunned again. Looking at the woman before her, an indescribable complex emotion welled up in her heart.

The words "taking care of a child" coming from Bibi Dong's mouth were in themselves an extremely rare occurrence.

Qian Renxue had lived in this side hall for three years, and Bibi Dong had never once asked about her.

Whether she ate well, slept soundly, or was sick, she knew nothing.

And now, for a foundling infant, she had personally come to ask for advice.

Nurse Zhou suppressed the thoughts in her heart and said respectfully, "Your Highness, please ask. I will tell you everything I know."

Bibi Dong was concise, "How do I bathe a baby?"

Nurse Zhou nodded and began to explain seriously, "The skin of a newborn infant is very tender. The water temperature must be strictly controlled. The inside of your elbow is the most accurate way to test the temperature; it should feel similar to body temperature."

She gestured with her hands as she spoke.

"When bathing, one hand must support the baby's head and neck. A baby's neck bones are weak, and their head cannot be shaken. If you don't support it properly, it will tilt back, and they can easily choke on water. This is the most crucial point."

Bibi Dong nodded slightly, memorizing every word.

"Also," Nurse Zhou continued, "prepare everything before bathing—clean clothes for changing, a soft towel for drying, and a dry blanket for swaddling.

All these items should be within reach. You must never leave the baby alone in the bathtub, not even for a blink of an eye. Newborns are slippery and prone to accidents."

Bibi Dong asked again, "How often should I bathe him?"

"In this weather, bathing him every other day is about right. Too often is actually not good. Newborns have a layer of natural protective oil on their skin, and bathing too frequently can damage it."

Nurse Zhou thought for a moment and added, "Start with the face when bathing, gently wiping with a soft towel dipped in warm water. Then wash the head. When washing the head, cup your hand over the ears to prevent water from flowing in.

Then wash the body. Pay special attention to areas like under the neck, armpits, and the folds of the groin, as they can easily accumulate dirt. Wrap him in a dry towel immediately after bathing to prevent him from catching a chill from the wind."

Bibi Dong noted down these details one by one, her expression focused.

Nurse Zhou looked at her serious demeanor, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She couldn't help but add a few more words, "Madam, this young master is still very small. You can often gently rub his belly clockwise to help with digestion and prevent gas.

Also, after feeding, hold him upright for a while and gently pat his back to help him burp, which will reduce spitting up."

Bibi Dong nodded, "I understand."

Nurse Zhou opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately swallowed her words.

At the other end of the corridor.

A small figure peeked out from the doorway of her room.

Qian Renxue was three years old, slightly taller than children her age, with short golden hair softly framing her cheeks.

She was very beautiful, with delicate and cute features, especially her eyes, which sparkled as if they held two little stars.

At this moment, those eyes were filled with unease.

She heard her mother's voice.

Her mother's voice was as usual, faint and without much inflection.

But her mother was now in Nurse Zhou's room.

Nurse Zhou was the one who took care of her. Why was her mother going to Nurse Zhou?

Qian Renxue tiptoed out of her room.

She didn't dare to get too close.

The last time she had run to her mother's door and cried, her mother had coldly told her to go back to her own room. That voice had been so cold, so cold. She didn't want to hear that voice again.

But she couldn't help but want to take a look.

Just one look.

Qian Renxue stood on her tiptoes, pressed against the wall, and slowly approached Nurse Zhou's room.

The door was not fully closed, leaving a gap.

She leaned against the door, holding her breath as she listened.

She heard Nurse Zhou say, "When bathing a baby, you must first test the water temperature..."

She heard her mother ask, "How often should I bathe him?"

Her mother's tone was one of seriousness and focus that she had never heard before.

Her mother was learning from Nurse Zhou how to bathe the little brother...

Listening, Qian Renxue felt something fiercely clench her heart.