"Your Highness!"
Ling Feng rushed over from a distance, quickly righted the wheelchair, and helped the Prince of Pingyang back into the chair.
Just moments ago, the Prince had suddenly remembered an urgent official document he hadn't reviewed.
He had sent Ling Feng to fetch it from the study, waiting here for his return.
However, as soon as Ling Feng left, he saw Duoduo running towards him as if chased by a ghost.
The Prince of Pingyang had assumed that upon hearing his call, and given how afraid of him Duoduo usually was, she would surely stop.
Instead, not only did she not stop, she ran straight into him, knocking him and the chair over.
Sitting back in his wheelchair, the Prince of Pingyang studied Duoduo kneeling on the ground, a doubt forming in his mind.
Was this child truly a magnet for misfortune?
Why did it seem that every time he saw her, something unfortunate happened?
Today wasn't too bad; he had only scraped his hand a little while trying to catch Duoduo during the fall.
Still, it was bad luck.
Duoduo hung her head low, filled with guilt. She had caused trouble again!
What should she do?
Apologize, of course!
Duoduo kowtowed once towards the Prince of Pingyang.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."
The Prince of Pingyang stared coldly at Duoduo. "Why are you running around the manor instead of attending to Nanny Li?"
Duoduo picked at her palm, silent.
"This prince is asking you a question. Why don't you answer? Isn't Nanny Li teaching you all manners? What have you learned?"
Duoduo lowered her head further. "I'm sorry, this servant won't dare again."
The Prince of Pingyang frowned. "Has someone bullied you?"
Duoduo shook her head. "No."
"Ling Feng, go to Nanny Li. Find out if anything happened today."
Ling Feng acknowledged and was about to leave when Duoduo looked up.
"Don't go!"
Ling Feng's steps didn't falter, passing by Duoduo.
"It's... it's because earlier, I saw... I saw Magistrate Song."
After saying this, Duoduo bowed her head again, tears falling.
The Prince of Pingyang's eyebrow arched. His hand unconsciously began to stroke his jade thumb ring.
"How did you see him? Where did you see him?"
"A sister gave me a message, saying someone wanted to see me."
"I went, and then I found out he was locked in the woodshed."
After finishing, she looked up.
"He begged me to plead with you to release him. I didn't agree."
The hand stroking the jade ring stopped.
"He was once your father. Why didn't you agree?"
Duoduo bit her lip, tears streaming down pit-a-pat.
"The day he sold me, he said from then on, I had nothing to do with him anymore."
"Nanny Li says, whoever's bowl you eat from, you must be loyal to that master. You can't be of two minds."
The Prince of Pingyang's eyebrow arched again. He glanced at Ling Feng, who turned and left.
Duoduo was stunned.
"I didn't plead for him..."
The Prince of Pingyang raised a hand. "Come here."
Duoduo hesitated, then stood up and walked in front of him.
"Hold out your hand."
Somewhat fearfully, Duoduo extended her hand, looking timidly at the Prince.
Her long eyelashes fluttered rapidly like the wings of a butterfly poised for flight,
as if ready to take off at the slightest fright.
The Prince of Pingyang tossed a handkerchief into Duoduo's palm.
"Didn't Nanny Li teach you to always carry a handkerchief?"
Duoduo didn't react at first, staring blankly at the Prince.
Now, from crying, her eyes were like the sky after rain—clear, clean, and very beautiful.
Yet, because she was dazed, she also looked a bit foolish.
"Disgusting. Your snot is about to drip into your mouth."
Duoduo instinctively sniffed, then realizing it was wrong, quickly exhaled.
As a result, a large snot bubble puffed out.
Duoduo's face instantly flushed crimson.
Seeing the Prince of Pingyang's look of astonishment, Duoduo grabbed the handkerchief and wiped her face roughly.
Then, she blew her nose hard into it.
The Prince of Pingyang silently pushed his wheelchair back a few steps.
Once sure her face was clean, Duoduo, clutching the soiled handkerchief, felt somewhat awkward.
"This handkerchief... I'll wash it clean and return it to you."
The Prince of Pingyang looked disdainful.
"Don't bother. Throw it away!"
Duoduo ignored him, instead tucking the handkerchief into her clothes.
"Such a fine handkerchief! Washed clean, it could be traded for dozens of coppers!"
"Dozens of coppers can buy lots of steamed buns."
"Has the Prince's manor let you go hungry? Or is someone withholding your meals?"
The Prince of Pingyang frowned.
Duoduo tilted her head.
"No! I eat my fill every day! I'm so happy now!"
Duoduo patted her full belly, a blissful smile on her face.
The Prince of Pingyang recalled how Duoduo ate. "Starting today, come to taste the food at every mealtime."
Duoduo thought of the breakfast she had eaten that other day and nodded happily.
"Okay."
Then she realized it wasn't quite right. "This servant obeys the command!"
Hearing Duoduo's words, the Prince of Pingyang frowned slightly but said nothing.
For a moment, neither spoke, and the atmosphere grew quiet.
Duoduo picked at her palm, stealing occasional glances at the Prince.
"What is it? Speak."
How could the Prince not notice Duoduo's fidgeting?
Summoning her courage, Duoduo walked over and placed her hand on the Prince's knee.
The Prince's body stiffened.
Apart from the Princess Consort and Ling Feng, no one had ever been this close to him.
He was of a cold temperament, having fought his way through bloody battlefields.
His intimidating aura, enough to make children cry, was no exaggeration.
So, initially, Duoduo's fear of him seemed perfectly normal.
But now, this child who clearly grew afraid at the sound of his voice, had actually placed her hand on his knee.
For some inexplicable reason, the Prince felt a warmth at his knee, as if wrapped in sunlight.
The Prince immediately dismissed the thought.
Imperial physicians from the palace had taken turns diagnosing him. He had lost all sensation below the waist.
It must be an illusion!
The Prince grabbed Duoduo's hand. "What are you trying to do?"
Duoduo raised her eyes. They were incredibly clear, sparkling like stars in the sky.
"Please wait. When I learn medicine, I will definitely cure your legs!"
Duoduo's radiant, beaming smile made the Prince release her hand.
The Prince of Pingyang lowered his head, lost in thought for a long moment, then looked up.
"Are you trying to curry favor with this prince?"
Duoduo shook her head.
"I heard from Nanny Li that you are a great general who protects the people of the realm."
"So, I want to heal you. That way, you can protect even more people."
The Prince of Pingyang's gaze deepened as he studied Duoduo.
"Did Nanny Li teach you to say that just now?"
Confusion flickered in Duoduo's eyes. Why did people always think someone taught her what to say?
Nanny Li thought so, and now the Prince of Pingyang did too.
Ling Feng returned.
"Your Highness, Nanny Li is looking for her."
Duoduo stuck out her tongue. "Then I'll go back now! This servant takes her leave!"
Duoduo bowed to the Prince of Pingyang, then turned and left.
The Prince of Pingyang watched Duoduo's retreating figure, his expression somewhat distant.
Ling Feng began to report his findings, but the Prince was staring at his own hand, lost in thought.
Just earlier, his hand had been injured. Now, how was it that the wound was gone?
