In the third month of the fifteenth year of Xianning, the flowers in Xianyang were in full, competitive bloom, filling the entire city's air with their fragrance.
At the doorstep of a dilapidated courtyard in the northwest corner of the Song Manor, Duoduo sat on the threshold, chin resting in her hands, listening intently to the distant sound of music and singing.
Her red dress had been washed until it was faded and had also become much too short, revealing slender wrists and ankles.
Hearing footsteps behind her, Duoduo revealed a sweet smile.
"Lüdou, listen, they're performing opera again!"
A trace of sympathy flashed in the maid Lüdou's eyes as she crouched down.
"Second Young Miss, today is the eighteenth of March, your and the Eldest Young Miss's fourth birthday. There are so many guests up front!"
"Earlier, while the kitchen was busy, I secretly took a few pastries. You won't have to go hungry today, Miss."
As she spoke, she unfolded a handkerchief in her palm, revealing several flower-shaped pastries.
Duoduo's eyes lit up with wonder. "Wow~ Such pretty cakes!"
The next moment, she anxiously pulled at Lüdou, looking her up and down.
"Did you get beaten? Don't go again next time! I don't want you to disappear too!" Duoduo's face was full of fear.
Lüdou forced a smile. "Don't worry, Second Young Miss. Even if the cooks saw me today, they'd scold me at most. They wouldn't dare make a scene."
"Besides, I'm clever. They won't catch me."
"Quick, try one! They're still warm from the oven!"
Lüdou said, picking up a pastry and bringing it to Duoduo's mouth.
Duoduo took a careful bite. A wave of sweetness spread in her mouth, making the corners of her eyes crinkle happily. A pair of tiny dimples flickered faintly by her lips.
She smiled at Lüdou. "Delicious! Lüdou, you have some too."
Knowing her young mistress's nature, Lüdou broke off a piece the size of a fingernail and put it in her own mouth.
As Duoduo ate the pastry, her little hand grabbed at the air.
"Young Miss, what are you grabbing at?" Lüdou asked curiously.
"Words." Duoduo tilted her head and gave Lüdou a sweet smile.
Lüdou hurriedly covered Duoduo's mouth with her hand. "Second Young Miss, don't say that! If the Old Madam hears, she'll lock you in the dark room again!"
Duoduo looked bewildered. Why was it that a row of words clearly floated before her eyes, yet no one else could see them?
She didn't know when it started, but one day a line of golden characters had suddenly appeared before her eyes.
Unfortunately, she didn't recognize the characters.
But every time she reached out her little hand to grab at the words, the characters in front of her would transform into a shower of golden light and fly into her body, making her feel very comfortable.
Once, she had accidentally scraped her knee. When the golden light flew into her body, she saw the scraped spot heal rapidly.
This was something she didn't even dare tell Lüdou, afraid that the only person who was kind to her would also think she was a monster.
Duoduo nodded, and then she saw a matron with her hair meticulously combed hurrying towards them.
As the matron approached, she held a handkerchief over her nose and mouth, looking down her nose with a haughty air as she glanced at Duoduo on the threshold.
"The Old Madam summons the Second Young Miss."
Having said that, the matron hurried away as if a ferocious beast were chasing her.
A hopeful light appeared in Duoduo's eyes.
"Wonderful! I'll do your hair and change you into a pretty dress right away!" Lüdou was so excited her eyes welled up with tears.
Duoduo tilted her little head. "Lüdou, you forgot. This is already my best dress."
Because it was Duoduo's birthday, Lüdou had rummaged through their belongings first thing in the morning and finally found this one dress without any patches.
Lüdou was on the verge of tears. What should they do?
"Lüdou, let's go. If we're late, Grandmother will be angry!" Duoduo said, toddling on her short legs towards the main courtyard.
In the main courtyard, the performers on the opera stage had already stopped singing.
Duoduo heard a girl's crying coming from the flower hall. "Grandmother, Yu'er won't go! Yu'er refuses to be adopted into that short-lived prince's household!"
"Alright, alright, we won't go! We won't let you go!"
The maid at the door saw the curious-looking Duoduo and called inside, "Old Madam, the Second Young Miss is here."
The voices inside instantly fell silent.
The maid at the door lifted the curtain, and Duoduo walked in.
She kept her head down, cautiously walked to the middle of the room, and knelt.
"Duoduo pays her respects to Grandmother, to Mother."
"Hmph." Old Madam Song, seated at the head, looked on with disgust.
Duoduo tried to stand up, but her vision went dark and she fell flat on the floor.
The maids in the room all lowered their heads, pretending not to see.
Finally managing to get up, Duoduo saw her twin sister, Song Shuyu, nestled in the Old Madam's arms, looking at her with disdain.
"So clumsy!" Song Shuyu's expression was identical to the Old Madam's.
Duoduo timidly glanced at her mother. Madam Song also held a handkerchief to her nose and mouth, her face equally displeased.
Old Madam Song affectionately tapped Song Shuyu's nose. "Let her go in your place to be adopted. Now you must stop crying."
"What a bargain for you!"
Duoduo saw Song Shuyu gloat and raise her chin at her. A nameless panic stirred in Duoduo's heart.
Adopted?
What did that mean?
"Goodwife Li, take her away and change her out of those rags," the Old Madam ordered.
"Yes."
Duoduo saw the same matron who had delivered the message approach, using a handkerchief to pad her hand as she pulled Duoduo away with a look of distaste.
Not long after, Duoduo, now wearing an ill-fitting dress, walked in again.
Duoduo was too thin; the clothes hung loosely on her, and she nearly tripped over the overly long pant legs.
The embroidered shoes on her feet were also too big, tied onto her ankles with a ribbon.
With every step Duoduo took, her heels slipped out.
"Grandmother, those are my clothes and shoes!" Song Shuyu exclaimed, unhappy the moment she saw.
She ran up to Duoduo and gave her a hard shove. Caught off guard, Duoduo fell to the ground.
"These are my clothes! Who said you could wear them? Take them off right now!"
Seeing her elder sister's furious expression, Duoduo was too scared to make a sound.
"I'd rather throw my clothes away than let a jinx wear them! She mustn't taint my good fortune!"
"There are no other children her size in the manor. Only Yu'er's clothes can barely fit her," Madam Song said helplessly, looking at her mother-in-law.
The Old Madam's face darkened. "Yu'er, let her share in your good fortune this once. Otherwise, what if Prince Pingyang insists on taking you?"
"Our Song family's good fortune is not for some down-and-out prince to covet. It's perfect to send this jinx over to bring him a lifetime of bad luck!"
"Later, I'll have your mother make you several even prettier dresses. Be good!"
Duoduo lowered her head, pressed her lips together, and picked at a hole in her dress with an aggrieved expression.
Song Shuyu stamped her foot in frustration and pushed Duoduo again. "Jinx!"
The frail Duoduo fell to the ground, a sharp pain shooting through her palm.
"Enough. Goodwife Li, take her to the front hall."
Old Madam Song waved her handkerchief as if shooing away something dirty.
Duoduo looked up and glanced at her mother, only to find Madam Song gazing lovingly at her sister, not looking at her at all.
She followed Old Woman Li through the inner gate and arrived at the front hall.
As Duoduo entered the room, she saw her father, Magistrate Song, standing respectfully before a man seated in a wheelchair.
Old Woman Li gave Duoduo a sharp tug, and with a "thump," Duoduo fell to her knees.
A piercing pain shot through her knees, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"This old servant pays her respects to Your Highness and to the Master!" Old Woman Li fawned, prostrating herself to kowtow.
Duoduo saw the man at the head of the room frown slightly as he slowly set down his teacup.
His hawk-like eyes swept over her, scrutinizing her intently.
"Magistrate Song, so this is the daughter of yours who was born amidst a hundred flowers in bloom, the one blessed with great fortune?"
