Princess Consort of Pingyang found Xu Jinxin's words very strange.
"Duoduo is already the only child The Prince and I have. What is there for me to regret?"
Xu Jinxin knew that her best friend definitely hadn't understood what she meant.
She decided to just spell it out.
"What I mean is, looking at The Prince's stance, he is treating Duoduo as his heir, raising her as if she were a son."
"If, one day in the future, he ascends to the highest throne, then Duoduo will be the future heir."
"Will you regret it then?"
Princess Consort of Pingyang burst into laughter.
"What is there to regret? What belongs to The Prince and me belongs to Duoduo."
"If we don't give it to Duoduo, could it be that we'd want to let someone else benefit?"
Xu Jinxin looked at Princess Consort of Pingyang with a complicated expression.
"Su Xian, you know perfectly well that I am talking about your own future children."
Princess Consort of Pingyang looked down and gently stroked her stomach.
"I have actually thought about what you're saying a long time ago."
"I thought about it the moment I noticed that The Prince's attitude towards Duoduo was different."
As Princess Consort of Pingyang spoke, she looked up and gave Xu Jinxin a gentle smile.
"With the state of my body and The Prince's, it is impossible for us to ever have a child in this lifetime."
"Fortunately, Duoduo came into our lives."
"If, in the future, heaven blesses us and I am able to have a child of my own,"
"It will definitely be because of Duoduo that we received such a blessing!"
"Therefore, whatever Duoduo wants, The Prince and I will give her our all."
"We would teach any other children the exact same way."
Seeing that Xu Jinxin still wanted to say something, Princess Consort of Pingyang raised a hand to stop her.
"Jinxin, you are my closest friend. I know that everything you do is for my sake."
"I am different from you. My whole life is lived for The Prince."
"As long as The Prince lives, I live. If The Prince is gone, it would be very hard for me to keep living."
"Duoduo has already saved The Prince, and more than once."
"A life-saving grace should be repaid a thousandfold. In other words, Duoduo has saved my life more than once as well."
"I have no way to fully repay such kindness."
"It is just a throne. If Duoduo wants it, she can sit on it. It is no big deal."
"It's just that she is a girl, and I would rather she live happily than live a hard life."
"She is living very happily right now. She and The Prince are both happy, and when they are happy, I am naturally happy too."
"Since it is something that makes everyone happy, why should I stop it?"
Xu Jinxin had not expected that Princess Consort of Pingyang, whom she thought was completely in the dark, was actually very clear-headed.
She nodded.
"What you say makes sense. As long as you have thought it through and won't regret it in the future, that's fine!"
Princess Consort of Pingyang shook her head firmly.
"Of course I won't regret it! No matter how many children I have in the future, they will all come after Duoduo!"
Outside the door, a small figure was tiptoeing away.
The people in the room didn't notice a thing.
Xu Jinxin pondered for a moment.
"What about Duoduo's parents? What if one day, seeing that Duoduo is wealthy and noble, they want to claim her back?"
Princess Consort of Pingyang smiled helplessly.
"I already said, as long as Duoduo is happy, I am fine with anything."
"You might be willing, but The Prince definitely won't be!" Xu Jinxin said with absolute certainty.
"That is true. The Prince dotes on Duoduo so much. I have never seen The Prince care so deeply about anything before!"
"You don't know, but at first, The Prince was very depressed. He stayed in his study all day, and I wouldn't see him for days on end."
"Since Duoduo arrived, I have been able to dine with The Prince every single day."
"The Prince even personally teaches me martial arts. These are all things I never dared to imagine before!"
"The Prince even gave me flowers. Whether it was before our marriage or all these years after, I had never received anything from The Prince."
As Princess Consort of Pingyang said this, two blushes crept onto her cheeks.
"The current Prince has returned to how he used to be. It's like a dead tree sprouting new buds and coming back to life."
"The Prince was paralyzed, and my health was poor. I truly thought Xianyang would be the end of the line for The Prince and me."
"But ever since Duoduo came, Xianyang has become the starting point for our new beginning."
"Tell me, if I didn't cherish Duoduo in the palm of my hand, wouldn't I be condemned by heaven?"
"Pah, pah, pah! What nonsense are you spouting!" Xu Jinxin hurriedly stopped her.
Princess Consort of Pingyang was amused. "Don't you not believe in these things?"
Xu Jinxin glared at Princess Consort of Pingyang in displeasure.
"Children's words carry no harm, let the wind blow them away! Alright, as long as you have thought it through, that's enough."
"I was just worried that you dote on Duoduo now, but if one day you happen to have a child of your own, you might start to resent her."
"That kind of love is worse than having none at all from the start!"
"Giving someone hope and then giving them despair is the most destructive thing you can do to a person!"
Xu Jinxin had heard too many cases of geniuses turning into monsters.
She just didn't want such an adorable child to have a bad ending in the future.
"Su Xian, I'm going to say one more thing you might not like hearing. I'll only say it this once, so please don't be angry!"
Princess Consort of Pingyang looked at Xu Jinxin curiously. "Go ahead!"
Xu Jinxin hesitated for a moment.
"If, and I mean just if!"
"If one day, you and The Prince change your minds and don't want Duoduo anymore."
"Give Duoduo to me. Li Jin really likes Duoduo, and we will definitely treat her well!"
Princess Consort of Pingyang stared intently at Xu Jinxin.
Xu Jinxin felt a little nervous, worried that her best friend would get angry.
Princess Consort of Pingyang grabbed a fragrant sachet by her hand and threw it right at Xu Jinxin.
"Ha! You beat around the bush for so long, and it turns out you just wanted to steal my daughter!"
"Xu Jinxin, don't even think about it!"
Xu Jinxin's suspended heart finally settled down.
She caught the sachet and leaned back in her chair.
"Oh my, you saw right through me!"
"Su Xian has gotten smart, it's no fun teasing you anymore!"
"Get out of here!" Princess Consort of Pingyang smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.
Joking aside, Princess Consort of Pingyang understood very well in her heart.
Xu Jinxin was truly thinking of her!
She lowered her head, holding back the sourness in her eyes.
How lucky was she?
Just because of a momentary act of kindness in the past, she had made such a devoted best friend who was completely dedicated to her.
"Jinxin, from now on, please don't bring up this topic again."
"If these words were to reach Duoduo's ears, she would be heartbroken!"
Princess Consort of Pingyang felt uneasy, worried that if Duoduo heard this, the child would overthink it.
"That child has never felt a sense of security!"
"Alright, alright, I was wrong! You and The Prince are both absolute slaves to your daughter, and I'm the big bad wolf trying to kidnap Little Red Riding Hood!"
Xu Jinxin half-lay in her chair, holding the sachet up to her eyes.
"Hey, this sachet is embroidered quite nicely. I'm taking it!"
Princess Consort of Pingyang gave her a reproachful glare.
"That won't do. I embroidered this for The Prince. If you want one, embroider it yourself!"
Xu Jinxin sat up and looked at Princess Consort of Pingyang with a serious face, leaving Princess Consort of Pingyang utterly baffled.
