Duoduo ran next door and knocked.
"Come in!"
Nanny Li's authoritative voice came from inside.
Duoduo hesitated for a moment, then pushed the door open and walked in.
Nanny Li was reading a book. Seeing it was Duoduo who entered, she set the book down.
"Do you need something?"
Seeing Nanny Li's stern demeanor, Duoduo felt like retreating.
"I... I..." She picked at her palm.
"Since you've come, you must have already thought about what to say. Speak, don't waste time."
Worried Nanny Li might misunderstand, Duoduo asked, "Nanny Li, do you know medicine?"
A glint flashed swiftly in Nanny Li's eyes.
"Why do you ask?"
"I want to study medicine. I want you to teach me!" As Duoduo spoke, the look in her eyes grew resolute.
Perhaps it was just a whim earlier, but now she was firm in her decision.
Nanny Li looked at Duoduo with interest.
Earlier, she had gone to pay her respects to the prince, who explained the reason for inviting her into the mansion.
The Prince of Pingyang wanted her to properly teach this child named Duoduo.
Moreover, the prince's requirement was for her to teach Duoduo using the same standards she had used when teaching the princess.
After giving these instructions, the Prince of Pingyang had dismissed her.
She later went to pay her respects to the Princess Consort.
Through careful probing, she finally understood Duoduo's background.
"What exactly is the prince thinking? If this child is a jinx, she should be sent away immediately."
"Why keep her by his side and even have me instruct her?"
Nanny Li did not tell the princess consort the prince's subsequent words.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang sighed.
"Nanny, have you forgotten? In the past, the prince was also rumored to be a curse!"
"I think the prince must empathize. Perhaps seeing that child reminds him of himself, hence his actions."
As the prince's closest companion, the princess consort could guess a thing or two about his thoughts.
"Ah, it's all because of those gossipmongers. If it weren't for the prince back then, could the emperor's throne have been secured?"
"Watch your words, Nanny!" The princess consort hurriedly stopped Nanny Li.
Having understood the origin of the matter, Nanny Li naturally had a clearer picture in her mind.
"Nanny, I'll have those two children sent to you."
"The prince probably wants to temper the child's character. Right now, I'm uneasy placing Duoduo anywhere else. Only by your side will do. I'm afraid I must trouble you, Nanny."
"You honor me too much, Princess Consort. This is merely my duty."
Seeing Nanny Li staring at her, seemingly distracted, Duoduo shifted her feet uneasily.
"Why do you want to study medicine?" Nanny Li snapped back to attention.
Duoduo opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but didn't dare, fearing Nanny Li would scold her.
Back in the Song residence, all the doctors were white-haired old men. By the time her own hair turned white, would the Prince of Pingyang still be alive?
Duoduo twisted her fingers, feeling restless and awkward.
Nanny Li noted Duoduo's earlier expression.
"Studying medicine is very hard. Are you sure you want to learn?"
Duoduo suddenly looked up, her eyes shining brightly.
"Nanny, I'm not afraid of hardship!"
Nanny Li gave Duoduo another deep look.
"I'll start by teaching you the basics. If you can persevere, I will later report to the prince and have him hire a proper master for you."
"In that case, we'll add half an hour of medical study daily. Are you afraid?"
Duoduo shook her head. "I'm not afraid! I want to learn!"
Nanny Li rather admired Duoduo's spirit.
Although the child was somewhat timid, she was still young. With proper guidance, there would be no issue.
If this child truly possessed the patience and resilience she showed now, with careful polishing, she might yield unexpected surprises.
"Alright. Is there anything else you want to learn? Say it all now, so you don't disturb my rest again later."
Nanny Li's tone was brusque, but Duoduo found she was no longer afraid of her.
Duoduo tilted her head, thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"Nothing else."
"Mother said, one shouldn't be too greedy. I'll learn this one thing well first."
"Oh? Your mother taught you such principles?" Nanny Li was somewhat surprised.
She had heard from the princess consort that this child was practically invisible in the Song residence.
And judging by the child's temperament, she didn't seem to have been properly raised.
Duoduo bit her lip.
She used to not understand why her elder sister had endless new clothes, while her own clothes couldn't even cover her hands and feet?
Why her elder sister had endless pastries to eat, while she went hungry all day?
One day, ignoring Lüdou's attempts to stop her, she ran to her mother and voiced her confusion.
"One should not be greedy and covet things that do not belong to them."
"The fact that I didn't have you strangled at birth and allowed you to live safely in this residence is already the greatest mercy."
At that time, Duoduo didn't fully understand her mother's words, but she remembered them firmly.
Because after speaking, her mother had a servant woman escort her back.
And Lüdou was given ten strokes with the rod, lying in bed for three full days before she could get up.
Duoduo was terrified Lüdou would die. As she cried, sprawled over Lüdou, a golden light descended and enveloped them both.
From that moment on, Duoduo knew the golden light could cover anyone she touched.
And from that moment on, Duoduo never left that courtyard again.
Her parents, too, seemed to have forgotten they had this daughter.
If not for the Prince of Pingyang's advisor suggesting the adoption of Magistrate Song's daughter, if not for the old madam's malicious intent...
Perhaps, Duoduo's entire life would have ended in that dilapidated little courtyard.
That was why Duoduo bore no resentment towards the Prince of Pingyang.
On the contrary, she was deeply grateful to him. Because of him, she had flown out of the cage that confined her, like a little bird.
Therefore, she wanted to repay the Prince of Pingyang!
Nanny Li, having come from the palace, guessed the source from Duoduo's expression.
"It's about time. You and Lüdou go fetch the evening meal."
"Yes." Duoduo bowed respectfully and left.
Just then, Lüdou opened her door and came out. Seeing Duoduo, she immediately smiled.
"Duoduo, come on, let's go get the evening meal."
"Okay!"
Duoduo happily walked over and took Lüdou's hand.
"You look so happy. Did Nanny agree?"
"Mhm! Nanny Li is really nice. I asked, and she agreed right away."
"She even asked me if I thought it would be hard, and if there was anything else I wanted to learn?"
"How did you answer?" Lüdou was actually somewhat afraid of Nanny Li.
Whether speaking or her expression, Nanny Li was very much like the prince, clearly not an easy person to get along with.
But was the person Duoduo described the same Nanny Li she knew?
"I said, mother said one shouldn't be greedy."
Duoduo skipped along happily.
But Lüdou's heart sank.
