Xiao Yi raised his hand, but before he could even touch Duoduo's cheek, two sparkling tears fell onto his fingers as she blinked.
Xiao Yi felt as if his hand had been burned, and he pulled it back.
"Other people's destinies have nothing to do with us!"
"If their lives are cut short, it is because they committed wicked deeds, which is why the King of Hell took them away."
"Those who blame other people's fates on you are simply harboring malicious intentions."
"Why should you care about the thoughts of those who harbor malice?"
"When you encounter such people, you must fight back. Make them fear you so they won't dare to spread rumors about you ever again, understood?"
Duoduo sniffled and nodded obediently.
"Understood!"
Xiao Yi frowned. He took a handkerchief from his robe and impatiently stuffed it into Duoduo's hands.
"Stop sniffling!"
Duoduo smiled sheepishly.
She used the handkerchief to wipe her face clean, then pinched her nose and blew hard.
Xiao Yi turned his face away, an expression of utter disgust on his face.
Having cleaned herself up, Duoduo looked at the soiled handkerchief and blushed.
"Father, I will wash it clean before returning it to you!"
Xiao Yi saw that Duoduo's mood had already improved significantly.
Children were just like that; their emotions came and went quickly.
Duoduo looked at the handkerchief in her hand. "Eh? Father, is this handkerchief newly embroidered for you by Mother?"
Xiao Yi turned his head back, his face expressionless.
"I recall that you still owe me a handkerchief."
Duoduo blinked curiously.
Because she had just cried, her eyes were as clear as the sky right after a rain.
Xiao Yi lowered his gaze, looking at his own hands.
"Father, I asked Mother, and she said she embroidered many handkerchiefs for you."
"Yes, and so what?" Xiao Yi replied indifferently.
"You aren't short of handkerchiefs at all, so why did you tell me you didn't have any to use?"
Xiao Yi lifted his eyelids, looking at the thoroughly confused Duoduo.
"Are you trying to go back on your word? A person must be trustworthy and cannot break their promises..."
A sly smile appeared in Duoduo's eyes.
"But Father, you said back then that you didn't have a handkerchief, which was why I agreed to embroider one for you."
"Since you lied first, the promise that followed doesn't count."
Xiao Yi stared at Duoduo for a moment before suddenly breaking into a smile.
"Not bad, you've made progress! You know how to talk back now!"
Duoduo also smiled. "It's all because of your good teaching, Father!"
The smile on Xiao Yi's face grew even wider.
"Sophistry! I punish you to run away immediately!"
As soon as Xiao Yi finished speaking, the smile on his face vanished in a flash.
Duoduo froze for a moment, then gathered her things and walked toward the door.
Halfway there, she quickly ran back.
Hearing Duoduo's voice, Xiao Yi looked up at her.
Duoduo ran up to Xiao Yi and paused for a second.
The next second, she swiftly threw her arms around Xiao Yi.
"Daddy, thank you!"
After saying that, Duoduo planted a quick kiss on Xiao Yi's cheek, turned around, and ran off.
The pitter-patter of her footsteps was supposed to be fading into the distance, but Xiao Yi felt as though he could hear them right next to his ear.
Xiao Yi raised his hand, touching the spot where Duoduo had kissed him. He couldn't suppress the smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
After a long while, Xiao Yi finally realized that what he was hearing was the sound of his own heartbeat.
Thump, thump, thump!
Each beat was louder than the last, as if his heart were going to leap out of his chest the very next second.
He was doomed!
He had actually been stirred by a child!
In the past, he knew his imperial father intended to make him the Crown Prince, so he had studied the ways of an emperor.
The very first thing one had to learn in the ways of an emperor was to be ruthless and unfeeling.
To never easily let anyone or anything sway one's emotions.
Because, as an emperor, one's heart should be filled only with the state and the common people.
Xiao Yi felt that he had mastered the ways of an emperor very successfully.
Whether it was in manipulating people's hearts or being unfeeling.
Back then, buying Duoduo was merely a whim for Xiao Yi.
He never imagined that there would come a day when Duoduo's every move could so easily sway his emotions.
Just now, when Duoduo was sad and upset, he had wanted nothing more than to kill everyone who had ever hurt her.
All just to coax a smile out of Duoduo!
It turned out that this child, the child he had guarded against for so long, had unknowingly found her way into his heart.
Xiao Yi lowered his hand, deep in thought.
It seemed he wasn't repulsed by this current situation; on the contrary, he was growing fond of it.
In the past, no matter how successful he was, he had never felt particularly happy.
But now, watching that once timid and cowardly little girl slowly grow into a lively, cheerful, and clever child...
He felt an immense sense of accomplishment in his heart.
It was exactly like planting a seed with his own hands and watching it take root and sprout.
That vibrant vitality influenced him, filling him with hope for life as well!
Xiao Yi looked at the talisman paper on the table. He had never believed in such mystical things.
Xiao Yi picked up the talisman paper and held it over the nearby candle flame.
Just as the candle's flame was about to lick the paper, Xiao Yi suddenly pulled it back.
He checked it somewhat nervously. Fortunately, he had pulled it back quickly, and the paper wasn't damaged in the slightest.
The Prince of Pingyang pondered for a moment, then pressed a hidden switch under the table.
The wall behind him suddenly began to rotate, revealing a small door.
The Prince of Pingyang stood up from his wheelchair and walked inside.
A moment later, the Prince of Pingyang walked back out. The small door closed silently, fitting perfectly and seamlessly merging back into the wall.
Duoduo ran happily back to her room, startling Lüdou and the others who were making clothes.
"Princess, why have you returned so early today?"
Lüdou and the other maids hurriedly put down their work and curtsied to Duoduo.
Duoduo handed her things to Lüdou and spread her arms, allowing Lüyi to take off her outer garment.
"I didn't train today. Have you all not finished yet?"
"The lighting is poor at night, so stop working on it."
Lüdou smiled and said, "We were just bored, so we chatted while working."
"Lüluo, you and Lüzhu go fetch some hot water for the Princess."
"Right away!" Lüzhu and Lüluo acknowledged and went out.
Lüyi and Lüdou attended to Duoduo as she changed into her indoor casual clothes and soft embroidered shoes.
Having changed, Duoduo sat down and let out a long sigh of relief.
"Did Mother not send anyone over?"
"Not yet. The Princess Consort probably didn't expect you to return early either."
Lüdou placed Duoduo's clothes into a basket on the side.
"Then I'll go pay my respects to Mother, and I'll come back to take a bath!"
Duoduo was always quick to act. She hopped off the chair and headed toward the Princess Consort of Pingyang's courtyard.
"Mother! Mother!"
Duoduo called out as she walked into the room.
As soon as she walked in, Duoduo saw the Princess Consort of Pingyang staring blankly at a letter in her hands.
"Mother, what's wrong?"
