"Lüdou's transfer is only temporary."
"As long as you behave well, I will find a way to plead with the prince and ask him to agree to bring Lüdou back."
Duoduo turned around and looked at Nanny Li.
"Really?"
Nanny Li saw the hatred in Duoduo's eyes disappear.
"Of course it's true! Now you hurry up and tidy yourself up. What a mess you look like!"
Nanny Li said as she walked back to her room.
Duoduo looked in the direction Lüdou had left, secretly clenching her fist.
"Lüdou, wait for me! I will work hard to get you back."
Duoduo entered the room. Lüdou's things were already gone.
She threw herself onto the bed, covered her head with the quilt, and started crying again.
Only after she had cried her fill did she sit up.
Duoduo looked at the vast room. She wanted to cry more, but her eyes felt so sore.
Her eyes seemed to have swollen into slits, making it difficult to see.
What should she do?
Duoduo tried hard to remember, how did Lüdou handle it when she was here?
From crying too much, Duoduo's head now felt like mush.
Her tears flowed again.
She missed Lüdou!
She wanted Lüdou!
Duoduo tilted her head back and suddenly saw golden characters before her eyes.
That's right! She could try this!
Duoduo reached her hand into the characters, and they all dispersed into specks of golden light.
The golden light enveloped Duoduo, spinning from slow to fast, before finally disappearing into her body.
Duoduo rubbed her eyes, feeling much more comfortable.
She climbed onto the bed and folded the quilt she had messed up.
The first thing Nanny Li required was a tidy room.
After much effort, Duoduo finally folded the quilt. She slid off the bed and went to the washstand to wash her face.
Duoduo looked down and saw that her clothes were dirty from sitting on the floor.
She pattered over to the cabinet, stood on tiptoe, and tried to lift the lid.
But the lid was too heavy; she couldn't push it open.
Duoduo felt a bit discouraged. She was still too young and not strong enough.
Duoduo saw herself in the mirror, with disheveled hair. No wonder Nanny Li said she was a mess.
But she didn't know how to do her hair either.
Duoduo scratched her messy hair and went to fetch a stool.
She climbed onto the stool and pushed the cabinet lid with all her might.
Finally, she managed to lift the lid a crack.
In her excitement, Duoduo's strength instantly faltered, and the lid slammed shut again.
"Ai!"
Duoduo rolled her eyes and went to push the lid again.
Seeing a crack appear, Duoduo lifted her foot and placed it in the opening.
Whew!
Duoduo let go, and the lid immediately pressed down on her little foot.
Grimacing in pain, Duoduo took another breath and lifted the lid again.
As the gap grew wider, she wedged her foot further inside.
Bit by bit, Duoduo finally managed to open the cabinet lid.
Whew!
Duoduo let out a long sigh, but a satisfied smile appeared on her face.
See, she did it!
The chest was a bit deep. Duoduo leaned over, bending down to reach inside.
She almost tumbled in headfirst.
Duoduo grabbed the cabinet's lock to steady herself.
She thought for a moment, climbed down from the stool, and went to fetch a branch.
She climbed back onto the stool and carefully used the branch to hook the clothes out.
Duoduo slid off the stool, panting heavily.
So tired. Why did Lüdou make it look so easy?
Duoduo sat for a while, then got up and started changing her clothes.
After finally changing, she faced a new difficulty.
She had never done her hair before. How should she manage it?
After studying it for a long time, Duoduo finally just tied her hair up haphazardly with a red hair string.
Then, she took the clothes she had just changed out of to wash.
But then she encountered another new problem.
The wooden bucket was too heavy; she couldn't lift it.
Faced with one difficulty after another, Duoduo lost heart.
Usually, watching Lüdou do these things didn't seem hard at all, so why was it so difficult for her?
Thinking of this, Duoduo secretly wiped her eyes.
Nanny Li, who had been observing Duoduo from outside, walked away.
A moment later, Pangya came over.
She first glared fiercely at Duoduo. "Nanny wants you to come over."
Pangya left. Duoduo put down the clothes in her hands and wiped her eyes again.
She had to be strong!
She had to work hard!
She had to get Lüdou back!
Clenching her small fists, Duoduo went to the next room.
She first bowed to Nanny Li and stood a little distance away from Pangya.
"From today on, you two are my maidservants."
"There isn't much work here, just some errands to run."
"But if you want to stay here, the first requirement is unity."
Nanny Li paused here, looking at Pangya and Duoduo.
"What happened today is over. I won't pursue it."
"But if you two continue to fight and squabble later, don't blame me for punishing you!"
Nanny Li's voice was very stern, making Pangya shiver.
"Also, Duoduo is young. Starting today, Pangya will wash her clothes."
"We're both maidservants. Why should I wash her clothes?" Pangya protested.
"What? Unwilling? Then I'll have the steward send you back and get another willing maidervant to replace you."
"I believe there's more than one maid in the mansion who would be willing."
Pangya pouted, not daring to argue further.
She couldn't be sent back. Otherwise, the aunties in the kitchen would drown her with their gossip.
"Also, Duoduo doesn't know how to do her hair. You will do it for her."
Pangya was about to object when she saw Nanny Li's warning look.
"Fine, I'll do it," Pangya said insincerely.
"Do it for her now," Nanny Li ordered directly.
Pangya reluctantly took out a comb and untied Duoduo's hair.
Because she was unhappy, her movements were very rough.
Duoduo's hair was pulled, and she couldn't help but cry out.
Nanny Li immediately struck Pangya's hand with a ruler.
"If in the future you are to do a young lady's hair and you are this rough, you wouldn't have ten heads enough to be chopped off."
Pangya rubbed her stinging hand and muttered under her breath.
"The princess consort can't even have a child. Where would a young lady come from?"
"Kneel!"
Nanny Li flew into a rage.
"A servant daring to gossip about her masters! You really have a death wish!"
Nanny Li raised the ruler in her hand and struck Pangya several times fiercely.
Pangya, scared by the beating, hurriedly begged for mercy.
Only then did Nanny Li stop.
"This time, since it's your first offense, I'll let you off."
"But if next time I hear you say such things again, I'll have the steward sell you straight to the brothel!"
"Please, Nanny, no! This servant won't dare again!"
Hearing Nanny's words, Pangya was terrified.
She had heard the kitchen women say that if a woman enters a brothel, it's a dead end.
Nanny Li sat down, calming her breath. She had been truly angered just now.
If Pangya weren't still useful, she really would have had the steward take her away.
"Go! Continue! If you dare harbor any more wicked thoughts, watch your clumsy paws!"
Trembling, Pangya walked over to Duoduo and started tying her hair.
Her hair-styling skill was indeed good. Even a simple double-bun hairstyle looked much prettier than usual when she did it.
"Thank you," Duoduo said, lowering her head.
Pangya didn't make a sound.
Nanny Li rapped her ruler sharply.
Pangya hurriedly replied, "You're welcome!"
"Nanny, this servant is off to wash the clothes," Pangya said, then darted away in a flash.
