Nanny Li nodded. "If it were just about the Prince wanting to transfer Lüdou away, this old servant wouldn't be so sure."
"But since he also wants to transfer Pangya over, this old servant is quite certain now."
"My Lady, have you heard of the eagle? To teach its young to fly, the mother eagle will carry the eaglet to the cliff's edge and drop it, forcing it to learn to soar."
Princess Pingyang nodded in understanding. "So, transferring Lüdou away is to leave Duoduo with no one to rely on, forcing her to grow up quickly."
"Correct."
"But then why transfer that maid Pangya over? I heard Pangya even had a conflict with Duoduo today."
"If they are on duty together, wouldn't Duoduo be bullied terribly?"
Princess Pingyang's face showed a trace of pity.
Duoduo is only four years old, while Pangya is already ten—the difference is not small.
Nanny Li looked at Princess Pingyang. Because she had never borne children and, moreover, had not been worn down by tedious chores, the Princess appeared somewhat naive.
"My Lady, hardship is the most potent medicine for rapid growth," Nanny Li replied.
Princess Pingyang was stunned for a moment. "Why would the Prince go to such pains for her?"
Nanny Li lowered her head. "This old servant dare not presume to guess the Prince's thoughts."
Princess Pingyang came to her senses, realizing she had spoken carelessly.
She smiled to cover her embarrassment. "Well then, Nanny, let's proceed according to the Prince's arrangement."
"Swap Lüdou and Pangya. Duoduo will remain by your side. I must trouble you to take extra care of her."
Nanny Li stood up. "It is this old servant's duty."
Princess Pingyang summoned the steward and instructed him about swapping the two maids.
"This old servant will take her leave now." Seeing the matter settled, Nanny Li bowed and withdrew.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Song had just dashed out of the Prince's mansion when he heard shouts from behind.
"Hurry! That man ran out! The Prince ordered he must be caught!"
Magistrate Song was terrified. He summoned every ounce of strength and ran forward desperately.
He didn't even dare turn back to retrieve his shoe when it fell off.
When he finally stumbled back to his own residence, he immediately ordered the gatekeeper to shut the gates and not open them for anyone.
Hearing from a servant that the Magistrate had returned, Madam Song rushed out at once.
"Master, you're back!"
"Where have you been? I had the constables turn Xianyang City upside down but couldn't find you!"
Seeing Magistrate Song, Madam Song cried out as she rushed towards him.
"Ouch, that hurts!"
Magistrate Song pushed his wife away. Only then did Madam Song see clearly that both of her husband's shoes were missing.
One sock was also gone, and the sole of that foot was scraped bloody.
Magistrate Song looked as if he had been fished out of water, drenched in sweat.
He was panting heavily, his hair disheveled, and his official robes crumpled.
"Master, were you attacked by bandits? Heaven strike them dead! How could there be bandits in Xianyang City?"
Madam Song wept as she called for servants to carry Magistrate Song into the house.
She then directed the attendants to bathe him and change his clothes.
After much fuss, Magistrate Song finally lay clean and refreshed in bed.
Madam Song had a maid bring ginseng soup and personally fed it to him spoon by spoon.
After finishing the bowl, Magistrate Song finally regained his composure.
"Master, where exactly were you last night?"
Seeing her husband's color had improved, Madam Song couldn't help but ask again.
"Don't ask about things you shouldn't," Magistrate Song's tone was impatient.
Seeing his wife's hurt expression and recalling the earlier scene, he softened.
"You've had a hard couple of days, my dear. But don't ask about yesterday's events. It's for your own good."
"Also, make sure Mother doesn't find out about this."
"If she asks, say I slept at the yamen last night, delayed by official business."
Hearing this, Madam Song felt a pang of bitterness in her heart.
"Master, your mother..." Her voice caught, and she couldn't continue.
Magistrate Song thought his mother had fallen ill from worry over his absence and anxiously tried to get out of bed.
"Quick! Help me to see Mother! Has a physician been summoned? Is it serious?"
Madam Song grabbed his arm.
"Master, Mother left for Xianyang with Shuyu yesterday."
Magistrate Song thought he had misheard.
"What did you say? Mother isn't ill?"
"Mother set off with Shuyu first thing yesterday morning. I suggested she wait for your return before leaving."
"But without a word, she departed directly."
"I sent people to find you. The clerk said you had gone out and weren't at the yamen."
"I thought you must be busy with official duties, so I didn't search further."
"But I waited until evening, and you still didn't return."
"I grew frantic. I had the clerk take the constables to search everywhere possible in Xianyang, but there was no trace at all."
"I was beside myself. If you hadn't returned, I was about to have someone dredge the moat."
Madam Song spoke through her tears.
She had been truly terrified yesterday.
After listening to his wife, Magistrate Song fell silent, looking at her noticeably haggard face.
He hadn't expected his mother to leave just like that, showing no concern for his safety at all.
Magistrate Song lay back. "Ouch!"
He bumped the large lump on the back of his head and cried out in pain.
Madam Song hurriedly turned his head to look.
Seeing the pigeon-egg-sized lump on the back of his head, she was startled.
"Master, where did you knock this? Such a big lump?"
Magistrate Song groaned with pain.
"Hurry, have someone discreetly fetch a physician."
"Remember, find one who can keep his mouth shut," Magistrate Song instructed.
Madam Song didn't understand why her husband said this, but his return had been shrouded in strangeness.
She hurried out to instruct the steward to fetch a physician, then returned.
I have an ointment that promotes blood circulation and resolves blood stasis. Let me apply some for you first.
Remembering she had the ointment, Madam Song quickly turned to rummage through a box.
Finally finding it, she rolled up her sleeves, ready to apply it to Magistrate Song.
Seeing his wife's look of heartfelt concern, Magistrate Song felt a slight stir within.
But then, remembering how the lump on his head came to be, his heart filled with revulsion.
"Enough, don't apply it. Wait until the physician has seen it."
Madam Song looked surprised. "This ointment is from the Sage's Hand Pharmacy in the capital. It's best at promoting blood circulation and dispelling blood stasis."
"Do you know how I got this lump?"
Madam Song looked at Magistrate Song, puzzled.
"Master, I didn't hit you on the back of the head. How would I know?"
"It's all because of that jinx you gave birth to!"
