Hearing Duoduo's voice, the Princess Consort of Pingyang put down the letter in her hand and turned around.
"Duoduo, why are you back so early today?"
Normally, Duoduo's martial arts practice would last until quite late.
And she would come back dripping with sweat every time.
This was the first time the Princess Consort of Pingyang had seen her looking so refreshed.
Duoduo snuggled into the Princess Consort of Pingyang's embrace.
"Today, Father and I had something to discuss, so I took a leave of absence!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang recalled how the Prince of Pingyang had sent her away during dinner.
Had the Prince of Pingyang and Duoduo really been talking for this long?
She examined Duoduo but didn't notice anything unusual on her face.
"Did your father test you on your lessons again?" the Princess Consort of Pingyang asked tentatively.
Duoduo thought for a moment and nodded.
"Yes! Father gave me an assignment before."
"But I hadn't been able to figure out the solution."
"Fortunately, I handed in a satisfactory answer today, otherwise, Father definitely wouldn't have let me off so easily!"
As Duoduo spoke, she stuck out her tongue playfully.
The Prince of Pingyang asking her to find a way to numb his legs could indeed be considered an assignment.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang was amused by Duoduo's playfulness.
"Your father is very reasonable. He isn't nearly as strict as you make him out to be."
For example, when she said she wanted to learn medicine, the Prince of Pingyang agreed.
Later, when she realized she truly lacked talent and wanted to give up, the Prince of Pingyang agreed to that as well.
At first, she had been a little worried that the Prince of Pingyang would be angry.
But after she brought it up, nothing seemed to change.
"Mother, what were you looking at just now?" Duoduo peeked at the letter paper on the table.
At the mention of this, the smile on the Princess Consort of Pingyang's face vanished.
"It's a letter from your maternal grandmother," she said mildly, handing the letter to Duoduo.
Duoduo took it and skimmed through it rapidly.
"Grandmother wants to send cousin over so she can go to the capital with us?"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang nodded, took the letter back, and folded it up.
"Yes," she replied to Duoduo.
Duoduo was very happy and clapped her small hands.
"Mother, I like Cousin Yunxi and Cousin Yunjing!"
"It'll be so great to have them go out and play with us!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang was amused by Duoduo's words.
"Do you really want them to follow us to the capital that much?"
Duoduo tilted her little head. "Mother, don't you want them to?"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang rubbed Duoduo's head.
"The future of this trip to the capital is uncertain. Mother is just worried that if something unexpected happens to your two cousins, how could I ever face your uncle?"
Duoduo thought about it for a moment, then patted the Princess Consort of Pingyang's arm comfortingly, like a little adult.
"Mother, you don't need to worry."
"When the cousins arrive, we will clearly explain the risks to them."
"If they are still willing to come with us, we will take them along."
"If they aren't willing, you can just have someone send them back."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang shook her head gently.
"Since your grandmother rushed to send your cousins over at a time like this, she must have already told them the specific circumstances."
Confusion appeared on Duoduo's face.
"Since the cousins already know and still want to go with us, is it because the capital is really fun?"
Looking at tiny Duoduo, the Princess Consort of Pingyang didn't know how to explain it to her.
Yunxi was already ten years old; in a few years, after her coming-of-age hairpin ceremony, she would be ready for marriage.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang knew her mother's intentions perfectly well.
It was nothing more than wanting her to help find a marriage match for Yunxi with a wealthy and prestigious family in the capital.
However, her mother had forgotten how miserable it could be for a woman to marry far away in the capital without the backing of her brothers.
If it were any other niece, the Princess Consort of Pingyang wouldn't have minded as much.
But whether it was Yunxi or Yunjing, both were good children, and she truly didn't want to push them into a fire pit.
Yet, she had no way of saying these things out loud.
Since her eldest brother and sister-in-law had agreed to send their niece over, it meant they approved of this as well.
As a mere aunt, how could she object?
"Since you came back early today, you should rest early."
"Mother is going to find your father to discuss this matter with him."
After saying this, the Princess Consort of Pingyang sighed.
She really didn't want her maiden family to cause trouble for the Prince of Pingyang.
Duoduo knew this was a major matter.
She obediently stood up and curtsied to the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
"Mother, then I will head back first. You should rest early too."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang stood up. "Let's go, Mother will walk out with you."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang held Duoduo's hand and didn't let go until they reached Duoduo's courtyard.
"Go on, sleep early. Don't continue studying tonight."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang instructed.
The candles in Duoduo's room usually burned late into the night before being extinguished; the Princess Consort of Pingyang was well aware of this.
Duoduo stuck out her tongue. "Okay!"
Duoduo curtsied to the Princess Consort of Pingyang and happily returned to her room.
"Princess, you're back. The bathwater is already prepared."
Lüluo bowed as soon as she saw Duoduo.
"Great!" Duoduo walked into the side room, and Lüluo hurriedly grabbed her change of clothes and followed her in.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang watched Duoduo enter the room before continuing on her way to the study.
Xiao Yi had been exercising in his room when suddenly, he heard footsteps.
Xiao Yi hurriedly sat back in his wheelchair and adjusted his breathing.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang arrived at the study, feeling a bit curious.
Why were there no guards stationed outside today?
She stepped forward and knocked gently on the door, and Xiao Yi's cold voice came from inside.
"Who is it?"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang felt very anxious, but she put a smile on her face.
"Your Highness, it is me. Are you asleep yet?"
The door opened, revealing Xiao Yi sitting in a wheelchair.
"It's so late. Why hasn't the Princess Consort rested yet?"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang hurriedly curtsied to Xiao Yi. "Greetings, Your Highness."
Xiao Yi did not invite the Princess Consort of Pingyang inside. "Is there something the matter, Princess Consort?"
A trace of bitterness welled up in the Princess Consort of Pingyang's heart.
Ever since Xiao Yi became paralyzed, she hadn't stepped through the doors of the study at night.
She was the Princess Consort of Pingyang, yet when she sought out her own husband at night, she had to be questioned about her business?
The Princess Consort of Pingyang handed the letter in her hand to Xiao Yi.
"Just now, I received a letter from home. My mother wants to have my niece follow us to the capital to play for a few days."
Xiao Yi took the letter, opening it as he wheeled himself into the room.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang quickly followed him in and closed the door.
Xiao Yi skimmed the letter rapidly, then folded it back up and returned it to the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
"Princess Consort, what are your plans?"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang was taken aback for a moment.
"I haven't made up my mind yet. I wanted to hear Your Highness's opinion."
Xiao Yi pondered in silence, making the Princess Consort of Pingyang feel increasingly uncertain.
"Your Highness, how about this: when Yunxi arrives in a couple of days, I'll just send someone to escort her back?"
Xiao Yi raised his eyes and looked at the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
"Your mother's letter didn't specify which niece she is sending over."
