Duoduo grinned at Xu Jinxin, giving her a little smile.
Xu Jinxin asked Yingniang to take Duoduo to play in the garden, lest the child study herself silly.
Yingniang nodded and led Duoduo away by the hand toward the garden.
Duoduo, somewhat absent-minded, allowed herself to be pulled along by Yingniang.
Every time content appeared above the golden words, it would later happen in reality.
Duoduo pondered: how should she tell her father?
Should she say she saw it in a dream again?
The Prince of Pingyang had taught Duoduo the Art of War, so she understood that the same trick could only be used once.
If she wanted to quietly warn her father, she had to find another way.
Meanwhile, the Prince of Pingyang was listening to a guard's report.
"She lost all sensation for the time it takes an incense stick to burn?" A flash of pleasant surprise crossed the Prince of Pingyang's heart.
"Yes. Based on your subordinate's observation, it took exactly that long for the maid to regain feeling."
The Prince of Pingyang thought for a moment.
"Alright, you no longer need to follow the Princess."
"Yes, sir."
"Regarding this matter, you must not breathe a word to anyone!" the Prince of Pingyang commanded sharply.
"Yes, your subordinate obeys!"
The guard shivered and hastily lowered his head.
"Ling Yu, where is the Princess?"
Ling Yu, standing to the side, quickly stepped forward. "To answer Your Highness, the Princess and Miss Li are playing in the garden."
Playing?
The Prince of Pingyang froze for a second, suddenly remembering that Duoduo was still just a child.
He waved his hand.
"Alright, you may all withdraw."
Ling Yu and the guard retreated, leaving the Prince of Pingyang alone to look through his official documents.
As he read, his gaze could not help but drift toward the window.
Looking out through the window, he could see a corner of the garden.
However, from his angle, he could not catch sight of the two children.
The Prince of Pingyang forced his eyes back to the desk.
The document on the desk was a secret letter sent from Fengcheng.
The letter detailed Prince Ling's recent series of movements.
A cold sneer curled the corners of the Prince of Pingyang's lips.
Did Prince Ling really think he was the only clever person in the world?
What was even more amusing was that the other princes had all coincidentally resorted to the exact same methods.
They truly were sons born of the same father; even their tactics were practically identical.
Prince Ling, I have gifted you so many advantages. This time, it is only right to collect a little interest.
Thinking of this, the Prince of Pingyang called out toward the door.
"Someone come!"
Ling Yu pushed the door open and entered. "Your Highness, what are your orders?"
"Pass down the order: we are changing our route to the capital."
"We will first detour to Shuocheng, and from there, we will take the waterway straight up to the capital."
Ling Yu was somewhat taken aback.
The Prince of Pingyang had originally planned a direct route that included some waterways but was much shorter.
If they detoured to Shuocheng, it meant taking a massive loop to a place even farther than Xianyang before taking the waterway to the capital.
Such a detour would not only take much longer, but it would also present far more dangers.
Furthermore, spending a prolonged time on the water would make the journey even more uncomfortable.
"Your Highness, if we do that, the detour will be far too long. Might we miss His Majesty's birthday?"
The Prince of Pingyang shook his head.
"No, the waterway is faster. We might even arrive earlier than our scheduled time."
"Alright, remember to notify our men to hurry to Shuocheng and wait for us there."
"Also, arrange for a squad to continue heading to the capital along our original route."
"Make sure they are all highly skilled guards, and have them bring the weapons we forged!"
"Additionally, send men to wait along the return routes of the other princes."
"If they encounter life-threatening danger, our men will step forward to save their lives."
"If it is not a matter of life and death, turn a blind eye to everything else."
Ling Yu did not understand.
"Your Highness, why save them? Wouldn't it be better to wait for them to slaughter each other while we reap the spoils?"
"Moreover, the other princes have also laid ambushes on our route!"
"None of them are easy to deal with. They have bullied you so much, why would you still save them?"
Ling Yu felt it was unjust.
The Prince of Pingyang closed the document.
"What do you know? Since they are being bullied, it is only right to let them seek justice from their father!"
"Their abilities are insufficient. As their eldest brother, I must help them out."
"Besides, I am only saving their lives. As for broken arms or missing legs, we don't need to interfere!"
Ling Yu's eyes lit up; he seemed to grasp the Prince of Pingyang's intentions.
"Your Highness, are you trying to borrow the strength of the other princes to bring down Prince Ling?"
A flash of approval appeared in the Prince of Pingyang's eyes.
"Not bad, you've improved. Since you know my intentions, why aren't you hurrying to carry them out?"
The Prince of Pingyang waved his hand, and Ling Yu happily withdrew.
Currently in the court, Prince Ling's family background held the greatest advantage.
He also had the highest number of supporting ministers.
Relying on any single prince alone, it would be difficult to bring him down.
However, if all the princes banded together to impeach Prince Ling...
The Emperor would have no choice but to take the matter seriously.
After all, these were all his sons.
Thinking of this, a cold smirk lifted the corners of the Prince of Pingyang's mouth.
Giggle, giggle... A burst of laughter drifted in from the garden.
The Prince of Pingyang looked toward the garden again, catching sight of Duoduo and Yingniang.
The two were squeezed together by the edge of the pond, playfully feeding the fish.
As they sprinkled the fish food, the fish in the pond scrambled over, fighting to be the first.
Duoduo watched the fish in the water, looking extremely delighted.
She opened her small hands, and the fish food slipped through her fingers.
One fish flicked its tail and unexpectedly leaped out of the water, snatching the food in mid-air.
Giggle, giggle... Duoduo got a face full of water splashed by the fish.
The fish fell back into the water, then jumped up once more, leaping right toward Duoduo's embrace.
Duoduo immediately caught the fish in her arms.
"Why did you jump into my arms? I don't have any more food in my hands!"
"Hurry back! You won't survive if you leave the water!"
Carefully holding the fish, Duoduo tossed it back into the water.
But the very next second, that fish leaped up again.
Yingniang found it amusing and reached out to catch it.
Unexpectedly, the fish flicked its tail in mid-air and plunged back into the water.
"Huh? It actually ran away!"
Yingniang rolled up her sleeves and prepared to crouch down to catch it.
Duoduo bounced up and down happily, pointing the way for Yingniang.
"Sister, there's one over here!"
"Quick, it's going to run!" Duoduo stomped her feet anxiously.
Yingniang carefully took off her shoes and rolled up her trouser legs, preparing to step into the pond to scoop it up.
"What do you two think you're doing?" The Prince of Pingyang's warning voice rang out from behind Duoduo.
Duoduo's small body stiffened, and she hastily turned around.
Hearing the Prince of Pingyang's voice, Yingniang quickly stood up.
"Father, Sister and I are feeding the fish!" Duoduo bowed to the Prince of Pingyang.
The Prince of Pingyang stared coldly at the two children.
"Feeding the fish? How do you plan to feed them? By falling into the pond to feed them yourselves?"
