Duoduo tilted her head and studied Xu Jinxin, seemingly pondering the truth of her words.
"That just means you are a very smart person, Aunt Xu. Whatever you say makes sense!"
Xu Jinxin was amused by Duoduo's words.
She pulled Duoduo into her arms and planted a big kiss on her cheek.
"Oh my, Auntie just loves you so much!"
"You are the very first person to praise me for being smart!"
Duoduo's face instantly turned red.
As soon as Xu Jinxin let her go, Duoduo turned and threw herself into the arms of the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
"Look at you, making the child all shy!" the Princess Consort of Pingyang chided affectionately.
Xu Jinxin pulled Yingniang into an embrace. "Mother will give you a kiss too."
Yingniang looked completely resistant. "Mother!"
Xu Jinxin let go of Yingniang. "Even you are rejecting your mother?"
"I am not, it is just that Father said we must be mindful of our manners when we are out," Yingniang said with a straight face.
Xu Jinxin put on an exaggerated look of despair, which made both the Princess Consort of Pingyang and Duoduo laugh.
"Alright, you two hurry along to your lessons, or the tutor will send someone looking for you soon."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang patted Duoduo's back.
"Okay! Mother, when I am done with my lessons, I will come have lunch with you."
"Aunt Xu, we are leaving now!" Duoduo took Yingniang's hand and waved.
"Go on, do not run, walk slowly."
"Okay."
Watching the two children skip away hand in hand, the Princess Consort of Pingyang and Xu Jinxin both smiled.
"Yingniang actually takes after you, while Duoduo takes after me," Xu Jinxin said, looking gleefully at the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
"Now that you mention it, it really is true." The Princess Consort of Pingyang found it quite amusing.
"By the way, when are you planning to set off for the capital?" Xu Jinxin remembered the main topic.
"We still have a few days." The Princess Consort of Pingyang calculated the time, feeling a bit melancholy.
"Have you packed everything properly? Is there anything else you need help with?"
"I came over specifically to keep you company. If you need any help, just say the word." Xu Jinxin also could not bear to see her best friend leave.
"I need help with embroidery," the Princess Consort of Pingyang said, pressing her lips together in a smile.
Xu Jinxin hurriedly waved her hands.
"Spare me, please. Asking me to help you with that is worse than killing me with a knife."
"Is it really that exaggerated? I think Yingniang's embroidery is quite good," the Princess Consort of Pingyang could not help but chuckle.
"Did I not just say it? Yingniang is like you, not like me."
"But Duoduo's embroidery is also very good." The Princess Consort of Pingyang smiled.
"That is different!" Xu Jinxin dramatically widened her eyes.
"Duoduo is smart. She learns everything the moment she is taught. In this aspect, she is very much like Li Jin."
"Sigh, why do they have to be so smart? It just makes the rest of us look foolish."
"Comparing oneself to others is just asking for frustration! It makes me mad!"
Xu Jinxin sighed and changed the subject.
"By the way, when is your prince coming back?"
"If he comes back a few days later, I can keep you company for a few more days."
At the mention of the Prince of Pingyang, a look of worry appeared on the Princess Consort of Pingyang's face.
"I do not know either."
"Duoduo said she saw her father, but the prince has not sent anyone back with a message."
"I do not know how the prince is doing at all. Is he safe?"
Xu Jinxin found it strange.
"Did Li Jin not say that the Prince of Pingyang is fine? He was just delayed by some matters and will be back in a few days."
"Yes, he told me that too. But without seeing him in person, I just cannot put my mind at ease."
Xu Jinxin nodded.
"I understand how you feel. However, since Li Jin said he is fine, then the prince must definitely be fine. Do not worry."
"Right, your current steward has left. Do you want me to help you find a new one?"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang thought for a moment.
"I am planning to wait until the prince returns to discuss this. I want to see if he already has arrangements in mind."
"That works too. The Prince of Pingyang will surely be back in a few days anyway."
"If you need any help these next few days, having Li Jin step in will be just as good."
Hearing this, the Princess Consort of Pingyang could not help but laugh.
"You certainly are comfortable bossing people around."
Xu Jinxin waved her hand. "Thank you for the compliment."
Baihe hurried in from outside.
"Your Highness, Nanny Li has returned. She will arrive at the estate shortly."
"So fast? Baihe, go to the entrance and welcome her," the Princess Consort of Pingyang said, somewhat surprised.
"Yes." Baihe turned and left the room.
"Nanny Li? Is that the nanny who came from the palace?"
"Yes! The prince specially invited her back to teach Duoduo palace rules and etiquette."
"Jinxin, do you want Yingniang to learn alongside Duoduo? That way, Duoduo will have a companion," the Princess Consort of Pingyang suggested.
Xu Jinxin looked down and thought for a moment.
"That will depend on Yingniang. If she is willing, I have no objections. It never hurts to learn a bit more."
"Alright, since you say so, I will ask Yingniang later."
"Will the nanny agree? I heard that those nannies are very strict about the rules."
Xu Jinxin was a little worried.
"Nanny Li is indeed quite strict. However, since Yingniang is nominally Duoduo's study companion, Nanny Li will definitely agree."
As they spoke, an older woman with her hair combed flawlessly walked in.
Nanny Li walked to the center of the room and knelt down to pay her respects.
"You may dispense with the formalities, Nanny. Quick, Baihe, get a chair for Nanny."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Nanny Li finished her bow before standing up and taking a seat.
Xu Jinxin studied Nanny Li, noticing that as she stood there with her head slightly bowed, she appeared incredibly respectful.
"Nanny Li, have things at home been settled properly? Are your children well?"
"To reply to Your Highness, everything has been settled, and they are doing very well."
Saying this, Nanny Li knelt down toward the Princess Consort of Pingyang once again.
"This old servant is deeply grateful to the Prince, Your Highness, and the Princess. Otherwise, my son's family would have been ruined!"
Xu Jinxin looked at the Princess Consort of Pingyang, her face full of gossipy curiosity.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang stepped down from her seat and personally helped Nanny Li up.
"Nanny, you are treating us like outsiders with such words."
"The prince and I view you as an elder; you do not need to be so polite."
Nanny Li's eyes grew hot. If it were not for the strict rules ingrained in her bones, she might have shed tears right then and there.
"It is all thanks to the favor of the Prince and Your Highness. However, this old servant does not dare overstep. The kindness you both have shown my family is something I will remember in my heart for the rest of my life."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang quietly observed Nanny Li.
She noticed that Nanny Li's hair had turned much whiter, and her complexion was not as good as when she had left.
It felt as though she had aged significantly all at once.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang patted the back of Nanny Li's hand.
"Nanny, you have had a long and exhausting journey. You have worked hard."
"Baihe, guide Nanny to her room so she can get some rest."
"Yes. Nanny Li, please follow this servant."
Baihe stepped forward and took the bundle from Nanny Li's hands.
Nanny Li bowed to the Princess Consort of Pingyang and left with Baihe.
Once the two were out of sight, Xu Jinxin could no longer control her gossipy curiosity.
"Su Xian, what exactly happened to this Nanny Li's son?"
