Yesterday, Mother let Yingniang and Master Li go back.
It has been raining continuously for the past few days, and who knows what the situation is like at their homes.
Mother told Yingniang and the others to come back tomorrow.
And Master Zhang asked for a leave of absence, so you can have a good rest today.
You have worked hard these past two days!
After the mother and daughter finished playing, the Princess of Pingyang explained the arrangements to Duoduo.
Duoduo felt a little disappointed.
But I did not study yesterday, and if I do not study today, I will not be able to finish the tasks Father assigned me!
The Princess of Pingyang stroked Duoduo's head.
Did you not tell Mother that you need to rest well to be able to go further?
Duoduo smiled. Master Li told me that!
The Princess of Pingyang nodded.
So, you should listen to your master.
Haste makes waste. Besides, you are not quitting your studies, just taking a temporary two-day break.
Maybe after you are well-rested, you will learn even faster!
Duoduo tilted her head and thought for a moment.
Mhm! Mother, you are right!
Grumble!
A sound rang out.
The Princess of Pingyang could not help but laugh.
Are you hungry? You fell asleep as soon as you got back yesterday.
Mother saw you sleeping so soundly and did not have the heart to wake you.
Duoduo patted her flat, hungry belly and nodded like a little chick pecking at rice.
I am hungry.
Then let us get up and eat!
The Princess of Pingyang sat up, and Baihe and Lianxin walked in from outside the room.
After breakfast, the Princess of Pingyang began to handle the estate's affairs.
Duoduo was bored, so she sat nearby and listened.
The butler reported the arrangements to the Princess from behind a folding screen.
Summer was approaching, and according to custom, the royal estate needed to prepare ice blocks in advance.
This was a significant expense.
Your Highness, should we prepare as we have in previous years?
The Princess of Pingyang thought for a moment.
We will spend this scorching summer in the capital, so the estate will not be purchasing any this year.
I recall the estate still has ice blocks stored; it should be enough for the summer.
The butler paused in surprise.
Yes, Your Highness.
As the butler bowed and prepared to leave, Lianxin hurried in.
Your Highness, Nanny Ni says she has an urgent matter to report.
The Princess of Pingyang glanced at Lianxin. Let her in.
Soon, Nanny Ni appeared at the door.
In Nanny Ni's hands, she held a booklet.
This servant greets Your Highness.
Rise. What is the matter?
The Princess of Pingyang picked up the teacup beside her and took a small sip.
Duoduo, with her sharp eyes, clearly saw that the booklet in Nanny Ni's hand was the very one she and Yingniang had found that day.
Your Highness, today while cleaning the flower pots, this servant found this underneath one of them.
After Nanny Ni finished speaking, she raised the booklet above her head.
The butler nearby, who had been absentmindedly thinking about other things, suddenly felt his heart skip a beat upon hearing Nanny Ni's words.
Ever since Nanny Ni took charge of the greenhouse, she had been eating and sleeping there.
He had tried to retrieve his belongings several times but never succeeded.
However, he figured he had hidden it well enough that it would definitely not be discovered.
Furthermore, the Prince had gone missing, and the Princess had ordered him to search for him.
He had been busy with other matters these past two days, so he had set it aside.
Now, with Nanny Ni saying this, a sense of dread instantly washed over him.
The butler fixed his gaze on it.
Lianxin had already taken the booklet from Nanny Ni's hands.
Lianxin flipped through a couple of pages, and her expression changed.
Your Highness, please look.
Lianxin placed the booklet on the table next to the Princess.
The Princess of Pingyang took the booklet and flipped through it page by page.
The more she read, the uglier her expression became.
Butler, do you know your crime!
The butler's knees went weak, and he fell to the ground.
Your Highness, this has nothing to do with me!
It must be Nanny Ni finding someone to frame me! Yes! That must be it!
Your Highness, you must see clearly and restore my innocence!
The butler had already thought of a countermeasure just moments ago.
His main strategy was pure denial; after all, the Princess had no way to prove that he was the one who wrote the booklet.
How can you prove this booklet has nothing to do with you?
The Princess of Pingyang scolded coldly.
The butler heavily kowtowed, making a loud thud.
Your Highness, I have always been absolutely loyal to the Prince and to you. I would never do anything to betray you!
This booklet must have been written by someone Nanny Ni found to imitate my handwriting!
Perhaps she is in cahoots with the gardener!
The butler raised his head and glared at Nanny Ni with great indignation.
Since you are so skilled at tending to plants, why did you say absolutely nothing when poisonous plants were grown in the royal estate?
The gardener disappeared, and just as the estate is looking for a new one, you deliberately pointed out that poisonous plants were planted here.
Tell me, what exactly are your intentions?
Also, did you already know the previous gardener?
What exactly were you two scheming to do to the Prince and the Princess?
Nanny Ni, confess immediately!
Speak, who is the person behind you?
Who exactly sent you to the royal estate?
Guards, tie up Nanny Ni's entire family and send them to the magistrate!
The butler stood up and called out toward the door.
Nanny Ni was terrified.
She kowtowed heavily to the Princess of Pingyang three times.
Your Highness, I am wrongly accused!
Even if you gave me the courage of a hundred bears and leopards, I would never dare frame the Prince and you!
The butler is falsely accusing me. I beg Your Highness to seek justice for me!
The Princess of Pingyang calmly put down the booklet in her hands.
Butler, I have not yet spoken!
The butler stepped back with a face full of panic.
Forgive me, Your Highness. I am guilty. It was my negligence that allowed a traitor to infiltrate the estate.
Please rest assured, Your Highness. Once I have dealt with Nanny Ni, I will come back to bear the rods and ask for punishment!
The Princess of Pingyang pinched the booklet in her hand and shook it.
It is merely a booklet, how is it so serious?
Butler, you are making too much of a fuss. How did this suddenly get linked to spies?
The butler was greatly shocked.
Your Highness, Nanny Ni harbors malicious intent and must not be let off lightly!
If the Prince finds out, he will once again blame you for being too soft-hearted!
Hearing the butler bring up the Prince, the Princess's gaze fell upon the butler's face.
The butler immediately lowered his head.
His expression remained the same as usual, honest and simple-minded.
Then, Butler, how do you think I should handle this matter?
If it is not handled well and the Prince lays down the blame, you will also suffer the consequences, will you not?
The butler felt a secret joy in his heart.
He cupped his hands in a bow toward the Princess of Pingyang.
Your Highness, I believe we should send Nanny Ni's entire family, who made false accounts to frame others, straight to prison!
The Princess of Pingyang looked at Nanny Ni kneeling on the ground, then looked at the butler, seemingly hesitating.
Your Highness, you cannot be indecisive! The Prince dislikes indecisive people the most!
The Princess of Pingyang picked up the booklet in her hand.
It is just a storybook, how did it become a book of false accounts?
