"Father most likely went to make something for you."
Yingniang had a rough guess.
"Sir is making something? Making what?"
"Is he making clothes for me? Sir also knows how to sew?"
Duoduo was very curious.
Yingniang shook her head.
"Father's needlework is terrible!"
"Ah?" Duoduo immediately lost her anticipation.
"Then I'll let Lüyi do it, her embroidery is good."
"I was just guessing. We'll know once Father comes over."
Yingniang put down Duoduo's left hand and started to rub her right hand.
"Sister, after you rub it like this, my hand doesn't hurt anymore!"
Duoduo moved her left hand and found it felt much better than before.
"Mhm, every time you finish practicing, you must relax like this. Otherwise, your hands will become very ugly."
Yingniang told Duoduo the method while rubbing.
By the time Yingniang finished rubbing Duoduo's hands, Li Jin returned holding two strange cloth bags.
Duoduo stood up from the ground and looked curiously at what was in Li Jin's hands.
"Teacher, is there food inside this?"
Li Jin shook his head.
"There is rice inside, but you can't eat it."
"Come, Yingniang, tie this onto the Princess's legs."
Li Jin handed the bags to Yingniang.
Yingniang took the bags and squatted down in front of Duoduo.
Duoduo took one of the bags.
Uh, this needlework was even uglier than what Pangya used to embroider.
She glanced at Li Jin.
It turned out that the omnipotent Teacher actually had things he wasn't good at too.
Thinking of this, Duoduo couldn't help but giggle secretly.
Li Jin, standing to the side, immediately saw Duoduo's smile.
"Cough!"
He cleared his throat lightly.
"This is a prototype I made. Later, the Princess can have the maids make an identical one based on this."
"Okay."
"Teacher, what is this used for?"
Duoduo curiously lifted her leg, which was now tied with the bag.
Ugh, so heavy!
"This is a weight for your legs. Once you get used to this weight, we will add more to it."
"Ah? Add more weight? Then wouldn't I be unable to walk at all?"
Duoduo found it hard to imagine what she would look like dragging two such heavy bags around.
"Except when sleeping, these bags must be tied to your legs at all times."
"Until you get used to their presence and can walk as fast as if you were flying, and then we will add more weight."
Li Jin explained to Duoduo.
"I can still walk as fast as flying while tied to this? Teacher, you aren't lying to me, are you?"
Duoduo felt that the Teacher was just tricking a child!
Yingniang stood up.
"Duoduo, I have them too."
Yingniang pulled up her trouser legs, revealing the bags tied to her calves.
However, the bags on Yingniang's legs were larger than Duoduo's.
Duoduo squatted down curiously and squeezed the bags.
"Sister, don't you feel tired every day?"
Yingniang smiled.
"Once you get used to it, you won't even feel its presence."
Hearing Yingniang say this, Duoduo began to believe Li Jin's words.
"Alright, today is the Princess's first time wearing them, so just get used to them first."
"Come, walk three laps around this courtyard first."
Li Jin pointed at the courtyard and drew a circle in the air.
"Ah? That big?" Duoduo was speechless.
"Let's go, I'll hold your hand."
Yingniang reached out, took Duoduo's hand, and started walking in circles.
Duoduo only felt as if her legs were filled with lead.
With every step she took, she wanted to throw away the bags on her legs.
"Keep going! Good, another step forward, Duoduo is so amazing!"
Yingniang pulled Duoduo along, cheering her on.
With great difficulty, Duoduo finished one lap.
"Teacher, can I rest for a bit?"
Duoduo really couldn't hold on any longer.
She was still just a baby!
"Alright! Yingniang, help the Princess relax a bit."
Li Jin instructed his daughter.
Yingniang squatted in front of Duoduo, but Duoduo hurriedly pulled her legs back.
"Sister, teach me, I'll do it myself."
"Okay, rub it gently like this, and after rubbing, tap it lightly."
Yingniang demonstrated the method on her own legs.
Duoduo opened her small hands and rubbed the flesh on her legs.
But her hands were too small.
There was a lot of chubby flesh on her legs, and her small hands couldn't grasp it.
What was meant to be rubbing felt more like tickling.
Duoduo tilted her head and thought for a moment, then simply switched to pounding her legs with her fists.
"Wow! So comfortable!"
Feeling the soothing relief in her legs, Duoduo couldn't help but laugh out loud happily.
Yingniang beside her was infected by her joy and started laughing too.
Looking at the two children laughing together, Li Jin's mood couldn't help but become joyful as well.
In just a short day or two, Li Jin's impression of Duoduo had undergone a world of difference.
Duoduo was not only smart, but she could also endure hardships exceptionally well, without the slight squeamishness of a noble young lady.
Moreover, her resilience was extremely strong.
When encountering difficulties, she didn't cry like other children.
She would cheer herself on and insist on solving the problem.
With a child like this, what could she not succeed in?
"Alright, continue walking the next lap." Li Jin looked at the sky.
Duoduo and Yingniang giggled, supported each other to stand up, and continued walking.
Sure enough, having gotten used to the bags, Duoduo's speed in the second lap was noticeably faster.
She was no longer crawling slowly like a little turtle.
After finishing the second lap, Duoduo rested for a while again, then continued.
After three laps, Duoduo was already able to adapt to it.
"Now, practice the fist technique I just taught you again."
Li Jin sat on the stone bench, drinking tea.
Duoduo and Yingniang stood in the open space and started practicing the fist technique.
This time, Duoduo became flustered.
She was supposed to kick, but her legs wouldn't listen to her commands.
Duoduo got a little anxious, and her two legs tripped over each other.
Seeing that she was about to fall face-first onto the ground.
"Careful."
Li Jin rushed over from the side and scooped Duoduo up in one swift motion.
Duoduo's face turned red.
"I'm sorry, thank you."
"Princess, when practicing martial arts, your mind must be calm. You cannot rush."
"If you are impatient, it's easy to make mistakes."
"Teacher, I was wrong."
Duoduo lowered her head, looking ashamed.
"You are not wrong. It's normal to make mistakes."
"Who among mortals is free from error?"
"When Yingniang first started, she fell even harder. You are already doing very well."
Duoduo showed a pained expression.
"Sister, falling must have hurt a lot, right?"
Yingniang nodded, her face full of lingering fear.
"Mhm, it hurt!"
"Back then, Father watched me fall and didn't even pull me up. He even laughed."
Yingniang looked at Li Jin with an accusing expression.
Li Jin touched the tip of his nose.
"Wasn't Father testing you? Look, you are doing very well now."
"Hmph!"
Yingniang snorted and ignored her father.
"Teacher, how could you treat Sister like that?"
Duoduo widened her eyes in surprise.
"Well, back then, Teacher had no experience and didn't know she would fall."
"Alright, you two continue. Practice for another incense stick of time, and then you can go back to rest."
Hearing this, Duoduo said, "Can't we practice a little longer?"
"I haven't mastered this fist technique yet."
"No, just one incense stick of time. If the Princess keeps talking, the time will be even shorter."
Li Jin reminded her.
Just as Duoduo was about to continue practicing, she suddenly saw the Prince of Pingyang not far away.
