Duoduo and the Princess Consort both looked at the Prince of Pingyang with confused expressions.
"Father, how will you teach Mother? Mother really wants to learn!"
Duoduo thought her father didn't believe her mother's words.
The Princess Consort nodded.
"Your Highness, I promised Duoduo that I will definitely learn well."
The Prince of Pingyang's face darkened.
"My wife, of course, will be taught by me! How could I leave it to someone else?"
The Princess Consort suddenly understood what he meant.
Her face turned red.
Duoduo didn't understand. She looked at her mother, then at her father.
The Prince of Pingyang kept a straight face and looked at Duoduo.
"I heard that you knew the flowers were poisonous, yet you still went to pick them?"
"You knowingly violated the rules. Do you know your mistake?"
Duoduo lowered her head and picked at her palm.
"I know I was wrong. Mother has already punished me!"
Hearing this, the Prince of Pingyang looked at his wife in surprise.
The Princess Consort pursed her lips and smiled faintly.
"Your Highness, it is all my fault. I have already asked the butler to handle it."
Hearing his wife take all the blame upon herself, the Prince of Pingyang calmly glanced at Duoduo.
"How were your morning classes?"
As soon as studying was mentioned, Duoduo's eyes instantly lit up.
"Father, Master Li is so knowledgeable! He knows so much!"
The Prince of Pingyang looked at Duoduo's excited expression.
"Oh? And how does he compare to me?"
Duoduo shook her head without hesitation.
"Father is more amazing!"
Duoduo's words pleased the Prince of Pingyang.
The sharpness in his eyes softened a bit.
"Today, I spoke with your teacher."
"Li Jin will not only teach you academic knowledge, but you will also learn martial arts from him."
Duoduo blinked.
"Father, what about Ling Feng?"
"He is busy with other matters and has no time."
"Then will my older sister also stay in the manor with the teacher?"
"She is your study companion, so naturally, she will."
"Of course, on your rest days every month, they can go back."
Duoduo picked at her palm again.
"Father, what if my sister misses her mother?"
The Prince of Pingyang stared at Duoduo.
"In three months, it will be His Majesty's birthday, which means your imperial grandfather's birthday."
"As His Majesty's descendants, we must go to the capital to celebrate his birthday."
Duoduo widened her eyes, listening earnestly to her father's words.
"The journey to the capital is far, so we will set off in half a month."
The Prince of Pingyang paused here.
Duoduo thought about the meaning behind her father telling her this.
"Father, will the teacher and the others go to the capital with us?"
The Prince of Pingyang shook his head.
"No."
Duoduo understood.
Li Jin and Yingniang would only stay in the manor to accompany her for this half month.
Duoduo felt a bit disappointed.
She liked Yingniang as an older sister; when they went to the capital, she would be alone again.
The Prince of Pingyang saw the disappointment on Duoduo's face.
"Do you know what kind of situation we will face when we go to the capital?"
Duoduo looked up with a confused expression.
"Father, what are you saying?"
"Your Highness..."
The Princess Consort tried to stop the Prince of Pingyang.
Duoduo was still a child. Why tell her those cruel realities?
Duoduo turned her head and saw the worry on the Princess Consort's face.
She turned back and saw the Prince of Pingyang's serious face.
"Father, I don't know. Please tell me!"
Duoduo put on a serious face and sat up straight.
The Prince of Pingyang's fingers twitched.
"For the Emperor's birthday, all the princes will bring their families back to the capital to celebrate."
"Song Shuyu, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Song family and the current Commandery Princess Funing, will also return to the capital with the Prince of Ling!"
This was the first time Duoduo heard news of her twin sister from the Prince of Pingyang's mouth.
"Commandery Princess Funing?" she muttered to herself.
"Yes! The Commandery Princess Funing, personally titled by His Majesty!"
"When the time comes, we will all live in the palace. Have you thought about how you will face her?"
"Furthermore, her adoptive father, the Prince of Ling, has always been at odds with me."
"As the adoptive daughter of the Prince of Ling, Song Shuyu will definitely target you."
The Prince of Pingyang stopped there and did not continue.
Because Duoduo's face looked terrible at this moment.
Ever since she heard the Prince of Pingyang say she was about to meet Song Shuyu, Duoduo was stunned.
In her mind, bad memories of Song Shuyu came swarming back.
Song Shuyu insulting her, saying she shouldn't be alive and should die to avoid dragging down their parents.
Song Shuyu deliberately framing her for stealing, leading to Old Madam Song punishing her by making her kneel for an hour.
The bruises on her legs took a full month to fade.
Song Shuyu also ordering the servant women to snatch her things and throw them into the pond.
Saying she didn't deserve to eat the Song family's food, and that it was better fed to the fish.
At least the fish were more useful than her after eating it.
Moreover, the parents who loved her now originally belonged to Song Shuyu too.
If the Prince and Princess Consort of Pingyang saw Song Shuyu, would they regret adopting her?
When the time came, they would surely be like everyone else and think Song Shuyu was better than her.
Duoduo's face turned pale.
The Princess Consort heartachefully pulled Duoduo into her arms.
"Your Highness, when the time comes, I will definitely protect the child well."
The Prince of Pingyang didn't speak, just stared at Duoduo.
"I told you, only when you become strong yourself can you not fear any unknown. Have you forgotten?"
Duoduo timidly raised her head.
"I haven't forgotten!"
"But you are afraid! You are shrinking back!"
"The battle hasn't even started, and you are already prepared to raise the white flag?"
"My daughter, even if she loses, must beat the enemy until they are looking for their teeth all over the floor!"
The Prince of Pingyang's voice, like his face, was cold and sharp.
Looking into the Prince of Pingyang's eyes, Duoduo slowly sat up from the Princess Consort's embrace.
"Father, your daughter knows her mistake!"
"I beg Father to guide me. What should I do?"
The Prince of Pingyang looked at little Duoduo. Although her eyes were slightly red, they revealed a desperate, do-or-die determination.
He held back the hand he wanted to reach out.
"For this half month, besides eating and sleeping, spend the rest of your time studying fiercely with your teacher!"
"Find where your limits are, and break through them!"
"No rest, no playing. Can you do it?"
Duoduo nodded without hesitation.
"I can do it!"
"In ten days, Nanny Li will return. You must make time then to learn palace etiquette from her."
The Prince of Pingyang's tone had unknowingly softened.
"After fifteen days, no matter how much you have learned, we will set off."
"Once we arrive in the capital, it will be the day you and Song Shuyu meet again."
"Will you win, or will you lose? It all depends on what kind of result you want!"
Duoduo nodded affirmatively.
"Father, I want to win!"
"Just talking is useless. Go study. Master Li is already waiting for you in the room."
"Yes, Father, Mother, I'll be going now!"
Duoduo stood up and bowed to her parents.
Then, like a warrior about to march onto the battlefield, she walked out valiantly and spiritedly.
