Duoduo looked at Xu Jinxin curiously. "Aunt Xu, what are you laughing at?"
Xu Jinxin smiled and shook her head.
"I am not laughing at you. I am laughing because I used to say the exact same things you just said, Duoduo."
Duoduo's interest was piqued. "Then did you achieve them?"
Xu Jinxin tilted her head and thought for a moment.
"No," she explained to Duoduo.
"Being a woman in this era comes with a lot of inconveniences."
"For example, using the restroom, bathing, and the risk of your identity being exposed."
"Anyway, there are many things that just aren't as simple as you would imagine."
After hearing this, Duoduo looked thoughtful.
Would it really be that hard?
Duoduo remembered her father once saying that one should always hold a bit of doubt about the things they hear.
You always have to experience things for yourself to know what is true and what isn't.
The carriage in front of them came to a halt.
Duoduo and the others' carriage stopped as well.
"Lüdou, what's wrong?" Duoduo looked out the window.
"To answer the Princess, the Prince said we will eat before continuing, and let the guards rest for a while."
Hearing Duoduo's question, Lüdou hurried over to answer.
"That's great! Mother, Aunt Xu, Sister, let's get off."
Duoduo jumped up.
Duoduo was the first to lift the carriage curtain and step outside.
"Wow! It's so pretty!"
Duoduo was stunned by the scenery before her.
The place Xiao Yi had ordered them to stop was a flat clearing at the top of the mountain.
The guards were digging pits to build stoves; some went to nearby areas to forage for food and answer the call of nature while they were at it.
Duoduo hopped out of the carriage and suddenly felt a pain in her stomach.
She clutched her tummy. "Mother, I..."
Seeing Duoduo's expression, the Princess Consort of Pingyang anxiously jumped down from the carriage.
"What's wrong?"
Xu Jinxin pulled Yingniang along as they got off the carriage together.
"Don't worry, she probably just needs to go potty, right, Duoduo?"
Duoduo blushed and nodded shyly.
"Out here in the wilderness, how do we handle this?" The Princess Consort of Pingyang had no experience with this at all.
"Fortunately, I came prepared. Wait here."
Xu Jinxin climbed into the carriage, grabbed a piece of cloth, and stepped back down.
"Let's go. We will find a place with no people."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang hurriedly supported Duoduo, following behind her close friend and her daughter.
Xu Jinxin found a few trees growing close together and wrapped the cloth around them to form a circle.
"Alright, Duoduo, you go first."
Duoduo looked at the crude makeshift restroom with a face full of curiosity and walked inside.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang stood stiffly outside. "Jinxin, this is far too troublesome."
Xu Jinxin rested her hand on Yingniang's shoulder. "Doesn't the old saying go: A thousand days at home are easy, but one day out on the road is hard?"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang glanced at the cloth behind her, still feeling a lingering apprehension.
"It's a good thing you brought this, otherwise it would be so awkward!"
"It can't be helped. We can't just be as casual about it as men are," Xu Jinxin shrugged.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang nodded in agreement.
"No wonder you said those things earlier. It seems it really is true."
"Actually, this isn't too bad. Prince Pingyang ordering us to stop here must have been a considered decision."
"If we were in an endless, flat plain, it would be even more awkward."
Hearing this, the Princess Consort of Pingyang instantly lost all anticipation for this journey.
Last time they traveled from the capital back to Xianyang, she hadn't dared to drink much water or eat much food.
Every time she needed to relieve herself, she waited until they reached a post station or an inn.
But Duoduo was a child; she certainly couldn't be that disciplined.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang couldn't help but feel incredibly thankful that Prince Pingyang had changed their route to travel by water.
At least on the water, they wouldn't have to worry about these awkward situations anymore.
Duoduo finally squeezed her way out, her face completely red.
"Aunt Xu, I'm done. But what about... that?"
Xu Jinxin covered her mouth and smiled. "It's fine. I'll get some dirt and bury it in a bit."
Watching Xu Jinxin busy herself, Duoduo started to ponder what she had said earlier.
"Duoduo, there's a wild pheasant!" Yingniang pointed at a nearby bush.
"Really?" Duoduo immediately grew interested, tossing everything else to the back of her mind.
"Mhm, I saw it fly in there," Yingniang whispered, leaning in close to Duoduo.
"Let's go catch it!" Duoduo broke into a run, and Yingniang hurried after her.
"Don't you two run off too far!"
Seeing the two girls whispering with their heads together and now running off, the Princess Consort of Pingyang quickly called out to them.
"We know!" Duoduo replied without looking back.
Duoduo pulled Yingniang over to the bush she had mentioned, and the two crouched down carefully.
"There it is!" Sharp-eyed Yingniang spotted the wild pheasant in the bush.
Duoduo saw it too, and she tugged excitedly at Yingniang's hand.
"I'll take the left, you take the right. We'll flank it," Duoduo signaled.
"Okay." Yingniang nodded, her face full of uncontainable excitement.
Duoduo moved to the left, and Yingniang moved to the right.
Hearing the noise, the wild pheasant in the bush alertly raised its head.
Flap flap flap!
Sensing danger, the pheasant flew out.
Quick as lightning, Duoduo leapt forward and grabbed one of the pheasant's wings.
Terrified, the pheasant flapped its wings frantically and kicked its claws.
The moment Duoduo caught the pheasant, Yingniang grabbed it as well.
Yingniang was older, after all, and with a swift motion, she snapped the pheasant's neck.
Duoduo watched Yingniang's clean movement with admiration on her face.
"Sister, you're amazing!"
Yingniang felt a bit shy. "My mother taught me."
"Come on, let's take it back. We're having chicken today!"
Duoduo happily prepared to head back and show off their prize, but Yingniang pulled her back.
"Wait, Duoduo. Check if there are any eggs in the bush."
Duoduo looked surprised. "Eggs?"
"Yes, in that bush. Have a look. If there were no eggs, the pheasant would have run away long ago."
Following Xu Jinxin, Yingniang had a bit more experience.
Duoduo squatted down to search, and soon her delighted voice rang out.
"Sister, there really are eggs! But how do I carry them out?"
"Use the hem of your clothes to hold them. Be careful not to break them!" Yingniang warned her worriedly.
"Okay!"
A moment later, holding up the hem of her clothes, Duoduo carefully crawled out.
"Sister, look, there are ten eggs!"
Yingniang peeked over to look. Ten delicate wild pheasant eggs were resting in the folds of Duoduo's clothes.
"Great, let's head back. But you need to be careful."
Yingniang held Duoduo's hand, and they walked back cautiously.
Halfway there, they saw Xu Jinxin coming to meet them.
"Oh my! You two have quite the haul!" Xu Jinxin smiled brightly.
Duoduo happily opened out her hem. "Aunt Xu, look! Wild eggs!"
"Wow, there are even eggs. You're amazing, Duoduo!" Xu Jinxin took the pheasant from Yingniang's hand.
"Sister is the amazing one. She's the one who saw it," Duoduo said, not taking any of the credit.
"Duoduo caught it first, and she gathered the eggs too," Yingniang deferred.
Xu Jinxin took the two little ones by the hand and, along with the Princess Consort of Pingyang, returned to their resting spot.
"Father, look what Sister and I found!"
Duoduo was the first to run up to Xiao Yi. She pulled open her clothes, eagerly awaiting Xiao Yi's praise.
