A bitter expression appeared on Xu Jinxin's face.
"Duoduo, it is not that Aunt Xu will not tell you, but I truly cannot find the way there either."
Duoduo sensitively picked up on the sorrow radiating from Xu Jinxin.
She reached out and comfortingly patted the back of Xu Jinxin's hand.
"Aunt Xu, it is okay. Maybe one day, you will suddenly find it!"
Xu Jinxin was comforted by Duoduo's words.
She raised her hand and touched Duoduo's cheek.
"Yes! Duoduo is right!"
"If that day really comes, I will definitely take you with me and show you where the electricity in the power plant comes from, alright?"
Duoduo's entire little face lit up.
"Aunt Xu, a word spoken..."
"...cannot be taken back even by a team of four horses! We can pinky promise!"
Xu Jinxin extended her little finger toward Duoduo, looking at her with a beaming smile.
Without hesitation, Duoduo held out her little finger and hooked it around Xu Jinxin's.
"Cannot be taken back!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang and Yingniang both laughed.
Releasing her finger, Duoduo asked another question that had been on her mind.
"Aunt Xu, is there an elixir of immortality in that place?"
"Do you know its prescription? Can you tell me?"
Xu Jinxin paused for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"In this world, probably no one has been able to invent an elixir of immortality yet!"
"Is there really none? Since there is an inexhaustible supply of electricity, why isn't there an elixir of immortality?"
Duoduo refused to give up.
Xu Jinxin did not know why Duoduo wanted an elixir of immortality.
She simply assumed that Duoduo was interested in it because she was studying medicine.
"Anyway, Aunt Xu has never heard of it. But who knows, maybe you will be the one to find the prescription for immortality, Duoduo!"
Duoduo tilted her head.
After thinking for a moment, she nodded firmly.
"Yes, I will definitely find it!"
Xu Jinxin was amused by Duoduo's earnest demeanor.
"Alright, when that time comes, you must save a few pills for Aunt Xu, okay?"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang spoke up with a smile, "You certainly aren't shy, asking for several pills right off the bat?"
Since ancient times, wanting to live forever had been the dream of many.
However, from the past to the present, no one had ever heard of anyone successfully developing an elixir of immortality.
Even if Duoduo did develop the prescription, the medicine would surely be incredibly difficult to obtain. Who knew how many precious medicinal ingredients would have to be invested in it?
"Can't I pay for them? One for me, one for Li Jin, and one for our Yingniang. Three pills, that's not too much to ask, is it?"
Reminded by the Princess Consort of Pingyang, Xu Jinxin suddenly realized what she had said.
Duoduo pursed her lips seriously.
"Aunt Xu, if I find it, I will definitely give it to you all for free!"
Xu Jinxin was taken aback for a second before pulling Duoduo into her arms.
"Oh my, why aren't you my daughter? I just love you to death!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang smiled gently as she watched her close friend and her daughter being so affectionate.
"Isn't it enough that you have Yingniang? You still want to steal my daughter? That's going too far!"
Duoduo rested in Xu Jinxin's embrace with a beaming smile. She also really liked Aunt Xu and her sister.
However, she loved her mother and father even more!
Compared to Duoduo's happiness, Song Shuyu's situation seemed somewhat miserable.
She had been unconscious for a full three days before finally waking up.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Princess Consort Ling dozing off by her bedside.
"Mother?"
Song Shuyu called out softly and hesitantly.
Princess Consort Ling was awakened. She opened her eyes, her gaze incredibly sharp.
However, when she saw Song Shuyu looking at her, a kind smile instantly appeared on her face.
"You're finally awake? Do you still feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
Song Shuyu was confused by Princess Consort Ling's enthusiasm.
She glanced around the room.
"Mother, why don't I see my grandmother?"
The smile on Princess Consort Ling's face froze. "Old Madam Song disregarded your cold and took you out of the manor, causing you to fall unconscious."
"Prince Ling was furious and ordered Old Madam Song to be sent back."
Song Shuyu felt very disappointed.
"Mother, my fainting had nothing to do with Grandmother."
Princess Consort Ling's face hardened.
"You are now the daughter of the Prince and me. Your grandmother is the Noble Consort in the palace!"
"You need to remember your identity clearly. Do you wish to defy the imperial decree?"
"Since you have entered the Prince Ling's Manor, from now on, you must make a clean break with everything from your past."
"Otherwise, not only will you bring a fatal disaster upon the people of the Song Manor, but you will also implicate the Prince and me!"
Looking at Song Shuyu, Princess Consort Ling felt highly dissatisfied in her heart.
Because Song Shuyu had remained unconscious, Prince Ling had flown into a terrible rage.
Even she had been scolded by Prince Ling.
She had defended herself, saying it was caused by Old Madam Song forcefully taking Song Shuyu out of the manor, and that she had tried to stop it.
But Old Madam Song had insisted on having her own way, completely disregarding her as the Princess Consort.
In the end, Prince Ling ordered his men to send Old Madam Song away overnight.
And she was ordered to come and watch over Song Shuyu until the girl recovered.
Even though Princess Consort Ling hated it so much that her teeth itched, she had no choice but to come and take care of Song Shuyu.
Now, seeing that the very first person Song Shuyu asked about upon opening her eyes was Old Madam Song, Princess Consort Ling's dislike for the girl deepened.
No matter how arrogant and willful Song Shuyu was, she was ultimately just a child of a few years old.
Coupled with the fact that she had been sick for several days.
Even if she missed her relatives, she could only admit her mistake.
Song Shuyu said listlessly, "Yes, Mother, I understand."
Princess Consort Ling forced a smile.
"Someone, go tell the Prince that the Princess has awakened."
"Also, bring over the brewed medicine."
A maid acknowledged the order and immediately went out.
Princess Consort Ling used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Song Shuyu's forehead.
"The Prince was so heartbroken over your illness this time. He hasn't closed his eyes for days and nights."
"Honestly, Old Madam Song is something else. What could possibly be so important that it couldn't wait until you recovered from your illness?"
"Even the most important matters in the world cannot compare to your health, right?"
"You haven't closed your eyes for days and nights either, Your Highness," a maid interjected from the side.
"Commandery Princess Anning has cried outside the door several times, but you haven't gone back to accompany her."
"Hold your tongue! Isn't the Princess sick right now? As an older sister, she shouldn't be jealous over this!"
When mentioning her daughter, Princess Consort Ling seemed quite displeased.
Song Shuyu looked at Princess Consort Ling's concerned face and noticed two large dark circles under her eyes. It seemed the maid's words were not false.
A warm and soft hand gently touched her forehead.
"Hmm, the fever is finally gone, thank Buddha!"
Song Shuyu's eyes turned red. "Mother, I'm sorry!"
Princess Consort Ling was taken aback for a moment before revealing a smile.
"Good child, we are mother and daughter. Why are you apologizing?"
"Even though you are not my biological daughter, I am willing to treat you just the same as Anning!"
"It's just that you, child, are unwilling to be close to me."
Song Shuyu's tears flowed out.
She threw herself into Princess Consort Ling's embrace. Princess Consort Ling's body stiffened, and then she heard footsteps approaching from behind.
