Xiao Yi slowly shook his head.
"Prince Rui is naturally suspicious. It will not be easy to get our hands on that jade pendant."
Duoduo was very unwilling to give up.
"Father, is there really no other way for us?"
Xiao Yi thought for a moment. "There is one way we could try."
Duoduo's interest was immediately piqued. "What is it? Father, hurry and tell me!"
"You have forgotten that Princess Rui has a very simple and innocent nature."
Duoduo froze for a moment, then smiled. "Isn't that just like Mother?"
Xiao Yi nodded. "Exactly!"
Duoduo looked at her father with great interest. "Then Prince Rui should get along quite well with you, Father."
Seeing the sly gleam in Duoduo's eyes, Xiao Yi patted her head.
"You have grown bold, daring to tease your own father?"
"Your Highness, Duoduo, it is time to eat."
From outside the door, Su Xian walked in briskly and pulled Duoduo away from Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi looked at his fiercely protective wife, a smile touching the corners of his lips.
Duoduo lifted her head and smiled at Su Xian.
"Mother, are Aunt Xu and the others not back yet?"
Su Xian stroked Duoduo's cheek. "Not yet. I expect they will be back a little later."
Su Xian pushed Xiao Yi toward the floral hall for their meal, with Duoduo helping beside them.
"Huh? Father, ever since we arrived in the capital, why haven't we seen Ling Feng and Ling Yu around?"
Duoduo felt that the residence was quite empty.
Aside from the maids and guards they had brought with them, the others who had traveled to the capital alongside them had all disappeared.
"Since you have opened a shop, I naturally cannot fall behind and lose to you. They have all gone to help out at the new shop."
Xiao Yi replied to Duoduo with a smile.
Duoduo's competitive spirit was instantly roused.
"Father, then let us have a competition to see who can earn more silver. How about it?"
Su Xian laughed from the side. "Duoduo, your father will definitely be the one earning more!"
Duoduo was unconvinced.
"Mother, how can you diminish our own prestige and boost another's morale?"
"Nonsense! This is your father, not just anyone!" Su Xian cast a worried glance at Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi, however, nodded in agreement.
"Alright, a competition it is. But since it is a competition, we must set a wager."
Duoduo nodded. "Of course! The winner naturally deserves a prize."
Seeing the father and daughter already discussing winning and losing, Su Xian pursed her lips into a smile.
"Tell me, what do you want for the wager?" Xiao Yi asked Duoduo with a smile.
Duoduo tilted her head and thought for a moment. "I want that remaining jade pendant!"
Su Xian paused, slightly taken aback.
"Duoduo, what do you need so many jade pendants for?"
"Later, I will have someone find some fine jade materials for you, and we can make some beautiful pendants for you then."
"Those jade pendants are meant for men to wear. You just need to keep them safely stored."
Duoduo exchanged a glance with Xiao Yi, then affectionately tugged on Su Xian's arm.
"Mother, there are four identical jade pendants. I already have three of them, and only one is left wandering outside. I just feel like something is missing."
"These were all tokens of Imperial Grandfather's affection, but none of them liked them."
"If I gather them all together, perhaps Imperial Grandfather will be very happy, and because of that, he might show some favoritism toward Father?"
Using Xiao Yi as an excuse worked perfectly; Su Xian instantly stopped objecting.
She even began helping Duoduo brainstorm ideas.
The three of them sat down in the floral hall and began to eat.
After the meal, Lianxin led the maids in clearing away the leftovers and served hot tea.
"You may all step down," Su Xian waved her hand. Lianxin and the others withdrew from the room.
"Father, you still have not said what you want if you win," Duoduo recalled their unfinished conversation.
Xiao Yi rubbed his teacup. The steam from the tea drifted before him, softening the look in his eyes and brows.
"If I win? If I win, then you have to do me a favor!"
Duoduo was a bit curious. "What kind of favor?"
The corners of Xiao Yi's lips curled up. "I will tell you when the time comes!"
Duoduo's eyes darted around. "That won't do!"
"Since it is a wager, we have to make it clear right now."
"What if the thing you ask me to do goes completely against my principles? I won't do it!"
Hearing Duoduo contradict Xiao Yi, Su Xian gently tugged at her.
"Your Highness, Duoduo is just an innocent child. Please do not be angry."
Xiao Yi's eyes were full of amusement.
"What are your principles?" he asked Duoduo.
Duoduo hesitated for a moment. "I won't hurt others without reason, and I won't do anything that goes against my conscience."
Xiao Yi's fingers twitched slightly.
"Do you think you are better at killing people than Ling Feng and Ling Yu?"
Duoduo shook her head. "No."
Seeing the amusement in Xiao Yi's eyes, Duoduo muttered softly.
"I am just worried you are setting a trap for me!"
Xiao Yi nodded. "It is good to be cautious! But do not worry, the thing I ask of you will not violate your principles."
"Alright, I agree!" Duoduo agreed very readily.
Just then, Lianxin's voice reported from outside the door.
"Your Highness, Master Li and the others have returned."
A moment later, the curtain at the door was lifted, and Li Jin walked in, bringing Xu Jinxin and Yingniang with him.
Exhaustion was written across all three of their faces.
Su Xian looked worried. "Jinxin, have you eaten yet?"
Xu Jinxin waved her hand. "We ate! Lianxin, quickly pour me a cup of tea! I am dying of thirst."
Baihe walked in, carrying a freshly brewed cup of tea.
Xu Jinxin picked up the teacup and took a few small sips, finally regaining her senses.
Li Jin looked at Xiao Yi. "Shall we go to the study?"
Xiao Yi nodded; he had been planning to go to the study anyway.
Li Jin pushed Xiao Yi and walked out.
The moment Xiao Yi's back disappeared from the floral hall, Xu Jinxin immediately slumped over.
"I am so tired! It has been a long time since I have shopped for this long."
Duoduo noticed that Yingniang also looked a bit drained.
"Aunt Xu, why don't you and Sister go back and rest first."
"Whatever it is, we can talk about it tomorrow."
Xu Jinxin smiled and held up a finger toward Duoduo.
"Duoduo, today, we accomplished something major!"
Duoduo was curious. "What major thing?"
Yingniang was the quickest to answer.
"Duoduo, today we not only found a shop, but Mother also had people tidy it all up."
"We also found the stores to buy our goods, and Mother ordered a whole lot of things."
Duoduo was stunned. "You have already rented it? Didn't I not give you the silver yet?"
Xu Jinxin waved her hand. "It is fine. It is all the same if I cover it first."
Xu Jinxin knew from Yingniang that Duoduo did not actually have much silver on hand.
Besides, opening a shop was originally her own wish anyway.
So, Xu Jinxin simply took out all of her personal savings.
"Aunt Xu, how much did you advance? I will have Lüdou bring it to you."
Xu Jinxin pinched Duoduo's nose.
"You can pay your aunt back later when you have the money."
Duoduo's eyes curved into a bright smile. "I have silver right now! I am a wealthy person now!"
