"Duoduo was practicing acupuncture just now and was worried she would ruin my legs."
"Even the imperial physicians in the palace can do nothing about my legs, so it doesn't really matter if they get better or not."
Xiao Yi's deep voice made Su Xian feel terrible.
"Your Highness, your legs will definitely recover!" Su Xian comforted Xiao Yi, speaking against her own doubts.
"It's fine. I have already given up hope."
"Let's go. We are returning to the estate." Xiao Yi waved his hand.
Su Xian pushed the wheelchair toward the door.
Duoduo secretly stuck her tongue out behind them.
Fortunately, her father reacted quickly; she had almost confessed everything.
Duoduo knew that Su Xian loved her dearly.
Therefore, she couldn't bear to hide things from her mother.
When she saw her mother worrying about her father's legs, she really wanted to tell her the truth.
However, her father had said that her mother was soft-hearted and too naive.
If she knew the truth, she might not be able to hide it from others.
In that case, the Pingyang Prince's Estate might face great turmoil, allowing certain people to reap the benefits.
Not only could they not afford to lose, but they also had to strive to win!
Since that was the case, they couldn't reveal their trump card.
A white lie could save their lives, or at the very least, keep them out of the center of the storm.
The carriage left the restaurant, and along the way, no one spoke.
Duoduo was worried about letting something slip, and Xiao Yi was a man of few words to begin with.
As for Su Xian, she was simply tired.
The carriage soon arrived back at the estate. Yunxiao and the driver carried Xiao Yi's wheelchair down.
No sooner had they stepped into the estate than Ling Yu ran over to report that people from the palace had arrived!
Xiao Yi and the others turned around to look at the newcomers.
Duoduo saw that the person walking at the very front was none other than the eunuch who served by the Emperor's side.
Behind him were attendants carrying many items.
The eunuch walked up to them with a face full of smiles and bowed first.
"Princess Changle, receive the imperial decree!"
Su Xian pulled Duoduo along and knelt down.
"The Emperor declares: Princess Changle is beautiful and intelligent, and her filial piety is commendable. She is specially rewarded with two hundred taels of gold, one thousand taels of silver, and a pair of auspicious jade pendants!"
"A pair of jade bracelets, a set of gold hairpins and jewelry, and various fine silks and satins. Respect this!"
After reading the imperial decree, the eunuch looked at Duoduo with a beaming smile.
"Princess Changle, please receive the decree!"
Duoduo kowtowed toward the decree. "Changle thanks Imperial Grandfather. Long live the Imperial Grandfather!"
Duoduo straightened up, raised her hands above her head, and accepted the decree.
Xiao Yi's eyes flickered, and he looked at the eunuch.
"Eunuch Li, why not come inside for a cup of tea?"
Eunuch Li smiled and bowed slightly.
"This servant still needs to return to serve the Emperor. Thank you for your kindness, Prince of Pingyang."
Xiao Yi glanced at Ling Yu. Ling Yu stepped forward and slipped a light purse into Eunuch Li's hand.
Eunuch Li did not decline; he tucked it into his sleeve.
"Prince of Pingyang, Princess Changle is blessed with good fortune."
"His Majesty is very happy today."
After saying this, Eunuch Li took his leave, and Ling Yu escorted him out.
Duoduo stood up from the ground and glanced at the trays in the servants' hands.
The gold on the trays emitted a brilliant golden light.
The silver next to it seemed to lose its luster in comparison.
Duoduo looked over them one by one, and then, as if in a dream, she looked at Xiao Yi.
"Father, why did Imperial Grandfather reward me with so many things?"
Xiao Yi pursed his lips, a faint smile appearing on his face.
"Pingting, put these things away for Duoduo. These will be her little treasury."
Duoduo's confused eyes suddenly lit up.
"Father, are they all for me?"
Xiao Yi nodded.
"These are rewards from His Majesty to you. Without your permission, no one is allowed to touch them."
In an instant, Duoduo suddenly felt like she had struck it rich.
With so much silver, she wouldn't be able to spend it all even if she spent it for a lifetime!
Even after entering the study, Duoduo still felt as if she were dreaming.
"Father, why did Imperial Grandfather reward me with so many things?"
Duoduo still felt it was unreal.
Xiao Yi picked up the teacup next to him and blew on the tea leaves floating on top.
"It is the Emperor's meeting gift for you," he said calmly.
Duoduo couldn't help but open her mouth wide.
"Imperial Grandfather is so generous!"
The corners of Xiao Yi's lips curled up. "Only your meeting gift is this substantial."
Duoduo blinked.
"Eunuch Li said just now that Imperial Grandfather is very happy today. Could it be because of the painting I gave him?"
Xiao Yi nodded.
"There is another reason. You forgot what happened at the shop just now."
Duoduo suddenly realized.
"So, Imperial Grandfather is compensating me!"
Xiao Yi nodded.
Duoduo beamed with joy. "To think a single painting could be exchanged for so many things. It was totally worth it!"
Looking at Duoduo's money-grubbing appearance, the corners of Xiao Yi's lips curved up.
Such a Duoduo was very childish.
Duoduo rested her chin on her hands. "Father, do you think Great-Grandmother will also reward me with things?"
Xiao Yi paused his movement of holding the teacup.
"Do you have no confidence in your own painting?"
Duoduo shook her head.
"I have confidence in my own painting, but I have no confidence in the human heart."
Xiao Yi nodded.
"It will come. It should be very soon."
Because the Empress Dowager worshipped Buddha every afternoon.
In the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, the Empress Dowager walked out of the Buddhist hall, and the mama waiting outside quickly stepped forward to support her.
The mama softly told the Empress Dowager about the conflict that had occurred between Princess Consort Xian and Princess Consort Pingyang.
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager said not a word.
"His Majesty rewarded Princess Changle with many meeting gifts," the mama added softly.
The Empress Dowager sat down on her chair. She picked up the teacup beside her and was just about to drink.
"Bring me the painting that Princess Changle gave today."
"Yes." The personal mama walked to a nearby cabinet and took out the painting drawn by Duoduo.
The mama held it up with both hands and presented it to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager put down her teacup and took it.
She slowly unrolled it, and the first thing she saw was a lotus pedestal.
The Empress Dowager was somewhat surprised, and she sped up her movements.
As the painting was fully unrolled, it revealed a statue of Buddha sitting on the lotus pedestal, looking down at all living beings with a compassionate face.
The Empress Dowager abruptly stood up.
Her personal mama was startled. It was the first time she had seen the Empress Dowager lose her composure like this.
"Quick! Take it to the Buddhist hall! ...No, I will go hang it up myself!"
The Empress Dowager rolled up the painting, raised it above her head with both hands, and respectfully carried it into the Buddhist hall.
The mama supported the Empress Dowager, her eyes also filled with shock.
If she hadn't known that this was a portrait painted by Princess Changle, she would have thought it was the true manifestation of the Buddha.
The moment she saw the Buddha image, she wanted to kneel!
No wonder the Empress Dowager had lost her composure.
The Empress Dowager took the portrait to the small Buddhist hall and personally hung it above the altar table.
Then, she burned three sticks of incense and kowtowed.
The Empress Dowager sincerely kowtowed several times before finally walking out of the Buddhist hall.
"Go get the keys. I haven't cleared out the storehouse in a long time."
"Those useless things are just taking up space, and they are an eyesore to me."
"Yes." The personal mama went to the head of the bed to fetch the storehouse keys, and then supported the Empress Dowager as they headed to the storehouse.
