The Prince of Pingyang's heart was filled with complex emotions.
He began to recall who had first alerted him that the estate manager might be deceiving his superiors and bullying his subordinates.
It was Duoduo!
Later, the person who suggested coming to the estate.
It was also Duoduo!
The one who made him break the rules and drink soup at night.
Was still Duoduo!
All of this was connected to Duoduo.
The Prince of Pingyang carefully recalled every word Duoduo had said to him, as well as every expression she had made.
Ultimately, he was certain: Duoduo must have known something in advance.
The Prince of Pingyang's thoughts then drifted to the matter of the throne.
His imperial father was fifty years of age, and aside from some minor ailments, his health was fine.
This was likely the reason he had delayed appointing a crown prince.
However, it was precisely because of his imperial father's actions that the other princes were beginning to stir with ambition.
There were eight adult princes who were qualified to fight for the throne, including the Prince of Pingyang himself.
Not to mention, there were also some who had not yet come of age.
Counting the underage princes, there were fifteen in total.
If one excluded a few princes whose maternal families lacked power, there were still eleven contenders left.
Of course, this did not include the Prince of Pingyang himself.
Originally, the most contentious figures were the several adult princes.
Over the years, the covert struggles and open rivalries between the princes had been brought to the surface.
Yet, the Emperor acted as if he knew nothing.
Since ancient times, the victor has always been crowned king.
Only the most capable person had the right to sit in that position everyone dreamed of.
Now, there was actually an iron mine on his wife's dowry estate!
For the Prince of Pingyang, this was a tremendous source of support.
Weapons could make him like a tiger with wings in the battle for the throne.
Not a single word of this could be leaked to anyone.
As the Prince of Pingyang thought of this, a murderous aura flashed in his eyes.
The sound of a rooster crowing came from outside.
Dawn was approaching.
The Prince of Pingyang forced himself to close his eyes.
There were still many things to attend to tomorrow, and he absolutely needed to rest well.
Duoduo climbed out of bed early in the morning.
Last night, she had dreamed all night long.
In her dream, she saw her older sister, Song Shuyu, dressed in magnificent clothes, kneeling and bowing to a kind-looking man.
The man's face was full of smiles, but his eyes were completely icy.
Duoduo felt very uncomfortable.
However, her sister Song Shuyu smiled very sweetly at the man.
She even called the man "Father!"
Duoduo saw clearly that the man was not Magistrate Song.
Could Song Shuyu have recognized the wrong person?
The woman beside him was also smiling, but the corners of her mouth were turned downward.
Duoduo saw Song Shuyu stand up and speak cheerfully to a few young boys and girls.
But those people completely ignored her.
Duoduo also saw her grandmother standing to the side, smiling obsequiously at the man seated in the place of honor.
Duoduo had never seen her grandmother wear such an expression.
In the Song residence, Old Madam Song always held her chin high and looked down her nose at people.
Only her sister, Song Shuyu, could win Old Madam Song's favor.
Even toward the several young masters of the Song family, Old Madam Song was extremely strict.
Duoduo saw that a banquet had been set up in that beautiful mansion.
Many people came over to toast the man, all wearing flattering expressions.
Among them was a person who looked remarkably similar to Magistrate Song.
Duoduo guessed that person must be her Second Uncle, Song Jiang.
Duoduo sat on the bed, unable to understand why she would dream of her sister Song Shuyu and her grandmother.
She had clearly never even been there.
Could this be the connection between twins?
"Duoduo, you're awake? What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"
The Princess of Pingyang sat up beside her and gently asked Duoduo.
She reached out to feel Duoduo's forehead to see if she had a fever.
Because time was too rushed yesterday, Lianxin had only managed to prepare one room.
The Princess of Pingyang was also worried that Duoduo would be frightened in a strange place.
So, last night, the mother and daughter had shared a bed.
The Princess of Pingyang had slept very soundly, not even tossing or turning once.
Therefore, she had not woken up when Duoduo did.
Duoduo obediently let the Princess of Pingyang touch her forehead.
She revealed a bright smile.
"Mother, I was just a little unaccustomed. I thought I was still in the manor."
"But when I opened my eyes, it was a strange place."
The Princess of Pingyang gently stroked Duoduo's head.
"Don't be afraid! Mother is right here with you!"
Duoduo buried her head in the Princess of Pingyang's embrace.
"Mhm! With Mother here, Duoduo isn't afraid!"
In a mansion in Fengcheng, Song Shuyu lay in bed, currently gnashing her teeth.
"Why! Why!"
The maid guarding the door heard the noise inside and immediately pushed the door open and entered.
She walked to the bed and, seeing Song Shuyu's distorted expression, was so frightened that she hurriedly reached out to shake her.
"Miss? Miss, what's wrong?"
Song Shuyu was shaken awake by the maid, and without thinking, she shoved the maid away.
"What are you doing? I didn't call for you, why did you come in?"
The frightened maid fell to her knees.
"Miss, this servant heard that you were having a nightmare, so I took it upon myself to enter. Please forgive me, Miss!"
A nightmare?
Only then did Song Shuyu recall the dream she just had.
This was the first time she had dreamed of that jinx.
Song Shuyu found it very strange. Why would she dream of that jinx?
Seeing Song Shuyu sitting blankly on the bed, the maid didn't dare to get up.
Song Shuyu was still agonizing over why she would dream of Duoduo.
Could it be because she had now become Prince Ling's daughter, and in her heart, she was eager to show off to Duoduo?
At yesterday's banquet, many family members of high-ranking officials and nobles had attended.
Every single one of them had given her generous meeting gifts.
Those gifts were currently being kept by the Princess Ling, who was now her adoptive mother.
Her adoptive mother had said that when she married in the future, those would be her dowry.
At the banquet, Song Shuyu had finally learned that Prince Ling was highly likely to be the future emperor.
If so, she would be a princess in the future!
Song Shuyu had been so excited that she couldn't fall asleep until very late.
Hmph!
She had been the chosen one since childhood; what could that jinx possibly use to compare with her?
She was nothing but the daughter of a fallen prince. Once her adoptive father became the emperor, she would have him kill the Prince of Pingyang.
When that time came, she wanted to see how that jinx would cry and kneel down to beg her!
To dare to reincarnate together with her, she would make that jinx suffer terrible luck to the very end!
Thinking of this, Song Shuyu had happily rolled around in bed.
As the saying goes, what you think about during the day, you dream about at night.
As a result, she ended up dreaming of Duoduo.
Song Shuyu had originally assumed that after being adopted by the Prince of Pingyang, Duoduo would definitely live a miserable life.
Busy sweeping the floors every day, emptying chamber pots, and going without food.
However, in her dream, she saw that Duoduo was not sweeping floors or emptying chamber pots.
Instead, Duoduo was being affectionately coddled by a woman.
Song Shuyu heard a maid call the woman "Princess."
Song Shuyu actually even saw that the Princess of Pingyang and Duoduo were sleeping in the same bed.
Song Shuyu simply could not accept this!
