When he first saw Duoduo's appearance, it inexplicably reminded him of his own background.
He hated his own soft-heartedness, so he spent silver to buy Duoduo.
He had originally planned to just raise her like a kitten or a puppy.
However, his imperial father issued an edict.
With Duoduo's appearance, his legs healed, and he could even walk normally.
Later, he also obtained a rare iron mine.
He saw hope and his fighting spirit was rekindled.
But then, he almost died in a pond.
And Duoduo just happened to appear and save him.
Everything was always so coincidental that he couldn't help but suspect someone was manipulating things behind the scenes.
The Prince of Pingyang placed his hand on Duoduo's neck.
Duoduo's skin was fair, and the blood vessels on her neck were clearly visible.
The Prince of Pingyang felt the neck beneath his hand, so fragile that it seemed it would snap with a single squeeze.
The Prince of Pingyang saw Duoduo's eyelashes flutter, and he withdrew his hand.
Duoduo felt a chill, and she uneasily nuzzled against the Prince of Pingyang's body again.
Once she felt warmth, Duoduo quieted down again.
The Prince of Pingyang looked at Duoduo, and Li Jin's words came to mind.
Father and daughter connected by heart?
Could Duoduo sense his heart?
The Prince of Pingyang's eyes flickered, and he once again placed his hand on Duoduo's neck.
The previously sound asleep Duoduo suddenly became restless.
Her small hands groped around on the Prince of Pingyang's body.
The Prince of Pingyang hastily grabbed her small hands.
Duoduo revealed a smile, looking sweet and innocent.
The Prince of Pingyang looked at Duoduo's smile, somewhat stunned.
"She is but a child, how innocent is she?"
Li Jin's words rang in the Prince of Pingyang's ears once more.
"Father, I will protect you!"
The Prince of Pingyang remembered what he heard Duoduo say when he was unconscious.
"Trust her once!"
"Trust her one more time!"
"If she dares to deceive this prince, then kill her!"
The Prince of Pingyang convinced himself and made a difficult decision.
A trace of white appeared on the horizon; dawn was breaking.
The Prince of Pingyang closed his eyes, but messy footsteps echoed through the manor.
The Prince of Pingyang opened his eyes.
He saw that Li Jin, who was sleeping on the chair, had also woken up.
"Go out and take a look," the Prince of Pingyang ordered.
Li Jin nodded. He carefully opened the door and walked out silently.
The Prince of Pingyang sat up, carefully picked up the sleeping Duoduo, and hid behind the bed.
Before long, the door opened.
"Your Highness? It's me," Li Jin's voice came.
The Prince of Pingyang stepped out from behind the bed and saw only Li Jin.
"What's going on outside?"
The Prince of Pingyang carefully placed Duoduo back on the bed, and Li Jin blinked.
"Lingfeng and the others have been rescued."
The Prince of Pingyang was a bit surprised and turned to look at Li Jin.
"Have they all been rescued?"
"I'm not sure about that. I only went out to take a quick look. I'll go check again right now."
After speaking, Li Jin left again.
The Prince of Pingyang sat back on the bed, leaning against the headboard in thought.
He remembered that when the mountain collapsed, Lingfeng pushed him away.
He had glanced back at the time and saw Lingfeng and the others being buried under the mountain.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
A knocking sound came from outside the door.
"Enter!" the Prince of Pingyang raised his head.
The door opened, and Ling Yu walked in briskly and bowed.
"This subordinate greets Your Highness! Lingfeng and the others have been rescued."
The Prince of Pingyang nodded. "Have you called for a doctor?"
Ling Yu nodded. "When this subordinate returned, I called for a doctor."
"This subordinate heard that Your Highness is ill. The doctor is right outside the door. This subordinate will have him come in to examine you first."
As soon as Ling Yu returned to the manor, he heard the guards report the Prince of Pingyang's condition.
Ling Yu didn't even care to change his clothes and brought the doctor straight over.
The Prince of Pingyang glanced at Ling Yu.
"There's no need. This prince has already recovered."
"Have the doctor go examine Lingfeng and the others. You have worked hard too. Go wash up and rest."
Because of rescuing people, Ling Yu was covered in muddy water from head to toe, and his clothes were filthy.
Ling Yu bowed gratefully.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Ling Yu retreated, and the Prince of Pingyang's hand stroked his legs.
Just now, he clearly felt that his legs were already exactly as they had been before the accident.
He couldn't let anyone else know.
However, if he entered the capital, his legs definitely couldn't be kept a secret.
The Prince of Pingyang's gaze stopped on Duoduo.
"Your Highness!"
At the door, Li Jin walked in.
His gaze darted back and forth between the Prince of Pingyang and Duoduo.
The Prince of Pingyang looked at Li Jin. "Did you find out?"
Li Jin walked over and sat down on a chair.
"Yes, out of the dozen or so guards you brought, only six were found."
"According to the guards who went to dig, these few were close to Lingfeng, which is why they were found."
"Lingfeng was hit in the head by a rock and is unconscious."
"The other five all have various severe injuries, but they are all still alive."
"Ling Yu said it was too dark, and because it was still raining."
"The mountain is still experiencing landslides, and the risk of continuing to dig is too great, so Ling Yu had to bring the rescued people back first."
The Prince of Pingyang lowered his eyes.
After a day and a night, if they hadn't been dug out, they were most likely beyond saving.
Natural disaster coupled with human malice, he had lost half of his men.
He would not let this matter go!
"You worked hard last night. Go back to your room and get some good rest."
He had a fever yesterday, and Li Jin took care of him all night.
Li Jin nodded.
Sleeping and waking intermittently last night, he indeed hadn't slept well.
Now that the Prince of Pingyang's guards had returned, he should also bow out.
"Then I'll head back. By the way, the princess..."
The Prince of Pingyang looked at Duoduo beside him.
"Take her away if you want." His tone was cold, as if he didn't care at all.
Li Jin raised an eyebrow.
"I meant that Your Highness should cover the princess with some blankets, she might catch a cold."
As Li Jin finished his last word, he had already retreated out the door.
The Prince of Pingyang glanced at the closed door and raised his hand to pull up the blanket.
Duoduo was awakened by hunger.
She buried her face in the blanket, not wanting to get up.
The next second, Duoduo jumped up like a spring.
"Oh no! I'm late! I'm late!"
Duoduo muttered with her small mouth, preparing to get out of bed.
Then, Duoduo was dumbfounded.
Because she saw her father sitting on a chair, holding a book and reading.
"You're awake?"
The Prince of Pingyang heard the sound and glanced at Duoduo.
"Mhm, good morning, father."
Duoduo obediently slid off the bed.
She had now recalled the events of last night.
Duoduo walked up to the Prince of Pingyang, raising her small hand to touch his forehead.
The Prince of Pingyang remained motionless, seemingly very calm.
However, his knuckles gripping the book's spine were nearly white.
"Oh, you really don't have a fever anymore!"
Duoduo touched the Prince of Pingyang's forehead, and then touched her own.
"It seems the teacher's method yesterday was very effective."
The Prince of Pingyang put down the book in his hand.
"What did Li Jin do to this prince last night?"
