"That is right, Your Highness. These things must be the Empress Dowager's beloved treasures."
"Could the servants have brought the wrong chest?"
"How about I send someone to the palace to ask?"
"If it was sent by mistake, we can take the opportunity to return them to Her Majesty," Su Xian said, her face also full of confusion.
Since these were things the Empress Dowager had prepared for her child, they must have been kept for decades, right?
How could she bear to give them away?
Moreover, if it was not a mistake, what did the Empress Dowager mean by doing this?
Could it be that Her Majesty had taken a liking to Duoduo and wanted her to enter the palace to accompany her?
Su Xian did not dare to ask this last question out loud.
Xiao Yi looked at his wife, then at Duoduo.
"I do not know why either. Perhaps only Grandmother knows."
"However, if I am not mistaken, this chest of things is indeed for Duoduo."
"These things were delivered by Grandmother's personal momo."
"She is a personal momo who has served Grandmother for many years. How could she make such a huge mistake?"
Xiao Yi felt it was absolutely impossible.
Items taken from the palace to the outside world had to go through layers of inspection.
If they had truly taken the wrong chest, the people delivering it would have realized and taken it back long ago.
Duoduo looked at the large pile of things on the table, blinking her eyes.
"Lüdou, pack all these things back exactly as they were."
"Mother, it is better if you keep this chest of things for safekeeping."
"Just in case Great-Grandmother realizes later that she gave them by mistake, we can return them untouched."
"Right!"
Su Xian agreed. She joined Lüdou in carefully putting the items back one by one, exactly as they were.
When it came to the last piece of fabric, Su Xian was a bit reluctant.
"If we use this fabric to make an outfit for Duoduo, when she wears it to His Majesty's birthday banquet, she will definitely outshine everyone."
Su Xian used a phrase that Xu Jinxin often said.
Xiao Yi thought for a moment and gave a firm nod.
"Then make it!"
Su Xian looked worried. "Your Highness, what if the Empress Dowager..."
"There are no 'what ifs'!" Xiao Yi said decisively.
"Duoduo, let Father ask you. What was the gift you gave to Grandmother?"
Duoduo blinked. "I drew a portrait of Buddha."
Su Xian interjected, "Your Highness, it was the first time I saw Duoduo's painting, and it looked so real."
"Even I loved it very much when I saw it! The Empress Dowager must have loved it dearly."
Xiao Yi nodded.
"Ever since Grandmother lost her child, she began to believe in Buddhism."
"Duoduo's painting must have touched her heart."
"That is why she gave these things to Duoduo. So, do not worry. Just go ahead and use it to make the clothes."
Duoduo fiddled with the nine-linked rings in her hand, still quite puzzled.
"Father, I still do not understand."
"Look, Imperial Grandfather received my painting and rewarded me with gold, silver, and jewels. I can accept that."
"But Grandmother gave me all her most beloved things. I just feel uneasy accepting them!"
Xiao Yi waved his hand, and Lüdou, Lianxin, and the other servants withdrew from the room.
Duoduo looked at her father with some anticipation, while Xiao Yi wore a thoughtful expression.
"When I was young, I once fell asleep in Grandmother's Palace of Compassion and Tranquility."
"Half-asleep, I heard Grandmother talking to her personal momo."
"Grandmother said that if she had been pregnant with a girl back then, the child might have survived."
Su Xian's eyes widened instantly.
It was her first time hearing such royal secrets.
Duoduo was very curious. "Why would a girl survive?"
Xiao Yi's fingers twitched slightly.
"Because women have never been heirs to the throne."
Duoduo understood.
The Empress Dowager's child back then had failed to survive because they posed a threat to the throne.
Duoduo shuddered.
How cruel!
"Your Highness, was not the Empress Dowager the Empress back then?" Su Xian did not know the history behind this.
Xiao Yi shook his head.
"The Empress Dowager only became the Empress Dowager because of His Majesty."
Su Xian opened her mouth in shock.
It seemed the Emperor was not the original Crown Prince, but had successfully usurped power to ascend the throne.
"The Empress Dowager is also a blessed person!" In the end, Su Xian let out a long sigh.
Since ancient times, the battle for the throne had always been a storm of blood and gore.
The Emperor had actually defeated the original Crown Prince to take the throne, which was quite formidable.
And the Empress Dowager's original child had been the one expected to inherit the throne.
After all the twists and turns, it was still the child she had raised who sat on the throne.
All of this could only mean that she was indeed a person of profound fortune.
Xiao Yi nodded. "Put that way, it is indeed true."
"Alright, regarding these things, let us first take this fabric to make a new outfit for Duoduo."
"As for the rest, Pingting, put them away safely for Duoduo."
"When Father's birthday banquet comes, have her wear that gold-filigree jewelry set so Grandmother will be happy to see it!"
Duoduo looked at Su Xian, who always obeyed Xiao Yi's words.
"Alright! I will remember."
"Father, can I keep these nine-linked rings to play with?"
Duoduo really liked the nine-linked rings in her hands.
First, because of its exquisite craftsmanship, and second, because it was small and easy to carry.
"If you want to keep them to play with, then keep them," Xiao Yi agreed.
Excitement appeared on Duoduo's face. "Thank you, Father!"
Xiao Yi looked outside. "It seems Li Jin and the others will not be back until after dinner."
Su Xian checked the color of the sky and only then realized it was getting late.
"I will have someone arrange dinner right away." Su Xian stood up and hurriedly went out the door.
Looking at Duoduo, who had her head bowed playing with the nine-linked rings, Xiao Yi remembered something.
"Duoduo, Father has something he wants to ask you."
Duoduo put down the nine-linked rings. "Father, please speak!"
Xiao Yi did not ask immediately; instead, his gaze lingered, continuously circling Duoduo's face.
Duoduo found it a bit strange. There seemed to be hesitation in her father's eyes.
"Father, whatever it is, please just say it."
Xiao Yi nodded slowly.
"Father noticed that you seem to care a lot about that jade pendant?"
Hearing this, Duoduo's body stiffened.
Were her actions that obvious? Or was her father testing her?
Duoduo's gaze shifted across Xiao Yi's face.
Xiao Yi also stared at her unblinkingly.
Under her father's intense scrutiny, Duoduo finally admitted defeat.
"Yes, Father."
Xiao Yi's breathing faltered for a moment.
The fact that Duoduo could hold out under his gaze for so long was beyond his expectations.
It seemed that before long, Duoduo would no longer buckle under his imposing pressure.
Just now, seeing Duoduo hesitate, he had exerted a bit of pressure, which was why she could not withstand it.
"Why?" Xiao Yi continued to ask.
Duoduo licked her lips.
"Father, before I answer this question, can I ask you a question first?"
