Lüdou froze for a moment; this was the first time Duoduo had ever spoken the three words "Song Shuyu."
Her eyes grew wet, and she nodded vigorously.
"Princess, this servant believes you!"
Duoduo flashed a bright smile at Lüdou.
"Lüdou, don't worry, I'm super amazing now!"
Lüdou wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "Yes! You are the most amazing, Princess!"
Duoduo skipped and bounded back.
"Let's go, let's go see Mother."
Duoduo led Lüdou through the garden.
The servants in the manor were hurrying about. With their masters leaving, some were anxious, while others were excited.
Those who were excited were naturally the ones following them to the capital, while the anxious ones were the ones staying behind.
Princess Consort Pingyang was currently considering who to leave behind.
They were only going to the capital to celebrate a birthday; they couldn't possibly bring everyone along, right?
Moreover, Xiao Yi had said that for this long journey to the capital, they should travel as lightly as possible.
Therefore, Princess Consort Pingyang planned to take only one maid.
As the maids closest to Princess Consort Pingyang, both Lianxin and Baihe naturally wanted to go.
As soon as Duoduo entered the room, she saw Lianxin and Baihe kneeling on the floor and grew very curious.
"Mother, did the two of them do something wrong?"
Princess Consort Pingyang rubbed her temples. Hearing Duoduo's voice, she looked up and forced a smile.
"Duoduo, you're here. Are your things all packed?"
"I asked the maids to pack them. I'll go back and check in a bit."
"I just came over to ask Mother, did the pills I gave you have any effect?"
Duoduo reached her hand out toward Princess Consort Pingyang.
Princess Consort Pingyang waved her hand at the two maids on the floor. Lianxin and Baihe stood up and stepped aside.
"I only took them last night, how could it be that fast?" Princess Consort Pingyang smiled and offered her hand to Duoduo.
"However, Mother slept very soundly last night, straight through until dawn."
"More than that, the Princess Consort's complexion is visibly much better today, looking rosy and fair," Lianxin chimed in from the side.
Duoduo quietly checked her pulse. After finishing, she withdrew her hand.
"Mother, continue taking these pills exactly as I told you."
"Let me know when you run out, and I'll make more."
Princess Consort Pingyang nodded. "Mother wants to share some of these pills with Jinxin. Next time it's convenient for you, how about making an extra bottle?"
Duoduo nodded. "I have extra over there. I'll just have Lüdou deliver it to Aunt Xu in a little while."
Princess Consort Pingyang gently patted the back of Duoduo's hand. "Thank you."
Duoduo flashed a row of little white teeth at Princess Consort Pingyang. "You're welcome!"
Duoduo looked at Lianxin and Baihe. "Mother, you should just take both of them with you this time."
"I've thought about it. I'm only taking Lüdou with me this time. Lüyi, Lüzhu, and Lüluo will all stay at the manor."
The eyes of Lianxin and Baihe filled with gratitude as they looked at Duoduo.
"But your father said we need to travel light," Princess Consort Pingyang hesitated.
"Father meant we should travel light where possible."
"As a Princess Consort, if you only bring one maid, others will laugh at Father."
Hearing Duoduo's words, Princess Consort Pingyang immediately made her decision.
"Then they will both go!"
Lianxin and Baihe knelt down joyfully, kowtowing to Princess Consort Pingyang and Duoduo.
"Thank you, Princess Consort! Thank you, Princess!"
Princess Consort Pingyang smiled and waved her hand. "Alright, hurry up and go pack your things."
The two maids smiled and retreated.
Princess Consort Pingyang held Duoduo's hand. "Taking only one maid is too few for you. Take another one."
Duoduo shook her head.
"Mother, I'll just bring Lüdou. We'll also have Nanny Li, which is more than enough."
"For running errands, Lüdou is fine. As for other things, Nanny Li alone is worth many people."
Duoduo's words were indeed true.
Princess Consort Pingyang had many things to do and couldn't focus solely on talking with Duoduo.
In just a short while, several matters required her attention.
Seeing this, Duoduo bid her farewell and left.
"Princess, are you really only taking this servant? How about taking Lüluo along? She is quick-witted and might be able to help."
Duoduo walked toward her own courtyard.
"I have already made my decision," she simply said.
Lüdou closed her mouth. Duoduo was very assertive now; she was no longer the Second Miss who could be easily persuaded.
Duoduo returned to her room, called the maids over, and told them her decision.
Lüyi and the other maids immediately knelt down, begging to go along.
"What did I say on your first day here?"
"To be my maid, the first rule is loyalty, and the second is obedience."
"What? Are you trying to back out now?" Duoduo pursed her lips, her face completely serious.
Seeing Duoduo looking exactly like the Prince of Pingyang, the maids lowered their heads.
"This servant wouldn't dare."
"Alright, we are just going to the capital for a birthday celebration and will be back soon. You all need to stay behind and guard the manor well."
"If there's anything you want to eat or buy, tell Lüdou."
"When the time comes, I'll have Lüdou bring it back for you."
Duoduo's words instantly made the maids beam with joy.
"Thank you, Princess!"
They kowtowed and happily discussed what they wanted, while Lüdou smilingly took out paper and a brush to write it down.
Duoduo was very satisfied. She really liked the current atmosphere; it was so nice to be harmonious.
She skipped over to the window and looked at the two seedlings that had already bloomed.
"Lüdou, remember to pack these two pots of flowers later."
"Yes, I will remember!" Lüdou replied.
"By the way, have the pulse records given by the teacher been packed?" Duoduo asked.
"Not yet. Does the Princess want to bring all of them, or just one or two volumes?"
Lüdou put down the brush, let the other maids write for themselves, and walked over.
Duoduo walked to the desk and flipped through the pulse records the teacher had given her.
She had read half of these records and still had half left to read.
She took out a few books and handed them to Lüdou. "Just take these few; there's no need to bring the rest."
Lüdou took a small box and placed the books inside.
"Princess, what other books are you bringing? I'll put them together so they'll be easy to find later."
Duoduo thought for a moment. She had a good memory and could basically recite any book she had read.
"Just bring that map book. You don't need to bring anything else."
"Yes." Lüdou found the map and put it into the box.
Then, she placed the small box into a large trunk.
Duoduo walked over to take a look and found that there were actually two large trunks.
"Why is there so much? Lüdou, clear some out; we only need to bring one trunk."
"Mother said that as we go north, it will get hotter. We'll wear summer clothes when we arrive, so just bringing one or two sets of spring clothes is enough."
Duoduo looked at the two large trunks and frowned.
Lüdou hurriedly called the other maids to help repack together.
While the whole manor was busy, a carriage arrived at the manor's entrance.
The carriage stopped, and a young girl stepped out.
