Baihe nodded. "Nanny Li is an old nanny from the palace, and she pays special attention to rules and etiquette. So, you all must be careful."
"Will Nanny Li dislike me?" Duoduo asked, very worried.
Baihe was momentarily taken aback. "In this Prince's mansion, it's the Prince who has the final say."
Duoduo tilted her head, digesting the meaning of Baihe's words.
Duoduo remembered that in the Song household before, the Old Madam was the eldest, and both her mother and father had to listen to the Old Madam.
So, in the Prince's mansion, the Prince is the most important, so everyone must listen to him.
Duoduo seemed to understand something. She secretly made up her mind that she must make the Prince like her.
Baihe called a few maidservants, and they all went together to the Bamboo Pavilion.
The Bamboo Pavilion was where Nanny Li used to live. After Nanny Li left, although the courtyard had been cleaned, it still needed a thorough cleaning from top to bottom.
The bedding on the bed also had to be completely replaced with new ones.
Duoduo was too young, and Lüdou didn't want her to do any work, but she was also worried about people gossiping.
She gave Duoduo a feather duster and told her to dust.
Duoduo took the feather duster and, following Lüdou's instructions, began to dust.
She was short, so for places she couldn't reach, she would jump up to dust them.
When she used to live in the courtyard with Lüdou before, she often helped Lüdou with cleaning.
So, Duoduo was actually quite used to doing this.
Baihe had originally been worried that Duoduo might have a young lady's temper and wouldn't follow arrangements.
Seeing Duoduo working happily was quite a surprise.
Just as they finished cleaning, Nanny Li arrived.
Seeing Nanny Li, Baihe immediately signaled everyone to put down what they were holding and bow to the nanny.
After paying their respects, Baihe affectionately stepped forward and linked arms with Nanny Li.
"Nanny, why have you come so quickly? The room just needs a final touch, please have a seat for a moment."
Nanny Li smiled. "What? Do you think I came too soon?"
Baihe hurriedly begged for mercy. "How would I dare have such audacity? I thought you wouldn't arrive until tomorrow morning!"
"How is everything at home? Your grandson must be five years old now, right?"
Nanny Li patted Baihe's hand.
"All is well, all is well. You all carry on, I'll first go pay my respects to the Prince and Princess Consort, and we can chat later."
Nanny Li placed her bundle on the bed.
"Alright, take care on your way, Nanny."
Seeing how much older Nanny Li looked, Baihe felt somewhat puzzled.
The nanny from before had a completely different energy and spirit; she walked with a sense of purpose.
But now, more than half of Nanny's hair had turned white, and the wrinkles on her face had increased a lot.
And it had only been a little over half a year since they last saw each other.
Baihe shook her head and directed the maidservants to sweep the courtyard clean, then sprinkled water around to settle the dust in the air.
Then, Baihe took a piece of incense from a box, placed it in the incense burner, and lit it.
A wisp of blue smoke slowly rose from the incense burner. After arranging for attendants, Baihe led the others away.
Baihe brought Lüdou and Duoduo back to the Princess Consort's courtyard.
Because Lüdou and Duoduo were both low-ranking maidservants, they could not enter the rooms and could only serve outside.
"You two go rest for a while. If there's anything, I'll have someone call you."
"Yes, Sister Baihe."
Seeing Baihe lift the curtain and enter the room, Lüdou happily led Duoduo back to her own resting quarters.
The maidservants in the Prince's mansion slept in a large communal bed, while Baihe and Lianxin each had their own separate rooms.
"Miss, this is your servant's bed. Please lie down for a while."
Duoduo tugged at Lüdou's sleeve. "Lüdou, you need to change how you address me. I am not a young lady anymore."
Lüdou squatted down and gently hugged Duoduo.
"Miss, your servant believes that you are the one with great fortune. Heaven will surely protect you!"
Duoduo raised her arms and hugged Lüdou around the neck.
"Thank you, Lüdou. If it weren't for you, I would have surely died long ago."
Lüdou felt that being hugged by Duoduo filled her whole body with strength.
The fatigue from the earlier work vanished completely.
"This servant was originally meant to serve you. Protecting you is what I should do."
"Lüdou, you just promised Sister Baihe to change how you speak."
"From now on, call me by my name. I don't want you to be punished by the nanny!"
Lüdou nodded.
"Don't worry. From now on, I will call you... Duoduo!"
"Yes!"
Duoduo responded very clearly.
Lüdou looked at Duoduo, and they both smiled.
From now on, they could rely on each other for survival again!
Duoduo covered her mouth and yawned.
"Duoduo, let me help you take off your shoes. You sleep for a while."
Duoduo nodded weakly, letting Lüdou remove her clothes and shoes.
She climbed onto the bed and quickly fell asleep.
Lüdou then got up to find Lianxin, as she wanted to get some fabric.
The clothes Duoduo was wearing were bought by the Princess Consort, who had sent Baihe to an outside shop.
Now that Duoduo was not a young lady of the mansion, these clothes were no longer suitable to wear.
And the maidservant's clothes did not have Duoduo's size.
So, Lüdou wanted to work overtime to make two sets of clothes for Duoduo.
After hearing Lüdou's request, Lianxin took her to see the steward and obtained the cloth.
"Make two sets first, so she has something to change into."
"Alright."
Lüdou returned to the room and saw that Duoduo had kicked off the covers. She pulled them back up.
Because all of Duoduo's clothes from childhood until now had been made stitch by stitch by Lüdou,
she knew Duoduo's measurements by heart.
Lüdou quickly cut the fabric pieces and, threading a needle, began sewing them together.
The clothes for servants were simple, without troublesome embroidery or other crafts, so Lüdou worked quickly.
By the time Duoduo woke up, Lüdou had already finished the top.
Duoduo rubbed her eyes and sat up on the bed. She saw the new clothes at the bedside.
"Lüdou, are these the new clothes you made for me?"
Duoduo took the clothes and immediately recognized Lüdou's handiwork.
"Yes. Didn't Sister Baihe say that Nanny Li values rules the most?"
"The clothes you are wearing now don't suit your current status. So, I got some cloth from the steward and rushed to make you a set."
"Wait a little longer, the pants will be ready soon too."
Duoduo happily held the clothes up against herself. "I like them very much, thank you, Lüdou!"
"No need to thank me. It's all what I should do."
Lüdou smiled and continued sewing the fabric pieces in her hands.
Finally, Lüdou finished the last stitch, tied a knot, and bit off the thread.
"Come, Duoduo, try them on. See if they fit."
"Okay!"
Duoduo happily got up and put the clothes on.
"Hmm, not bad, a perfect fit. I left extra fabric at the cuffs, hem, and pant legs. When you grow taller, we can let it out."
Lüdou tugged at the hem, quite satisfied.
"You must be Lüdou, right?" A maidservant walked in.
Lüdou turned around. "Hello, sister. Yes, I am Lüdou."
"Her Ladyship says for the two of you to move to the Bamboo Pavilion."
