"What were you doing just now?" the Prince of Pingyang asked after everyone else had left.
A flash of fear crossed Duoduo's eyes. She stammered, "I just wanted to see how you were doing."
The Prince of Pingyang scrutinized Duoduo, noticing her evasive gaze.
Duoduo was lying!
The Prince of Pingyang thought back to a moment ago when Duoduo had held his hand; he had felt a comforting sensation.
He vaguely recalled having experienced this exact same feeling before.
When was it?
The Prince of Pingyang furrowed his brows, thinking hard.
Seeing his tightly knit brows, Duoduo thought he was angry.
"Are you hungry? How about this servant goes and gets you something to eat?"
The Prince of Pingyang snapped out of his thoughts. Looking at Duoduo's tiny frame, a flash of displeasure crossed his eyes.
"Are all the servants in the manor dead? Why would you need to be the one to fetch it?"
Duoduo didn't understand what the Prince of Pingyang meant. She just stared at him blankly.
"Come here!" the Prince of Pingyang commanded.
Duoduo hesitated for a moment before walking over.
"What are Your Highness's orders?"
The Prince of Pingyang reached out his hand toward Duoduo. "Give me your hand."
Duoduo hid both hands behind her back. "This servant really didn't do anything just now."
The Prince of Pingyang's face darkened. "Give it here! Do not make me repeat myself!"
Duoduo shuddered and timidly placed her hand into the Prince of Pingyang's palm.
The Prince of Pingyang grasped Duoduo's hand.
Duoduo's hand was tiny and carried a hint of coldness.
It did not have the warmth from his memory. A trace of confusion surfaced in the Prince of Pingyang's eyes.
Duoduo had no idea what the Prince of Pingyang was trying to do. She stared at him nervously.
She saw him holding her hand with a bewildered expression on his face.
For some unknown reason, a sudden thought popped into her mind.
She stood on her tiptoes, raised her other hand, and patted the Prince of Pingyang on the head.
"Don't be afraid. You are already cured."
Murderous intent flashed in the Prince of Pingyang's eyes, giving Duoduo a fright.
Duoduo hastily withdrew her hand, and the Prince of Pingyang let go as well.
The murderous intent in his eyes vanished instantly, as if it had merely been an illusion.
"How did you know that I am cured?"
The tone of the Prince of Pingyang's voice sounded as if he was testing her.
Duoduo tilted her head. "The doctor said so just now. I heard it!"
A flash of annoyance crossed the Prince of Pingyang's face.
"I am hungry. Go and prepare something for me to eat."
"Yes."
Duoduo curtsied and left the room. She felt that the Prince of Pingyang was truly a strange person.
Just a moment ago, when she asked if he wanted something to eat, he had clearly refused.
Now, he was saying he was hungry again. He was really hard to please.
However, being able to go to the kitchen meant she could see Lüdou, so she was still very happy.
The Prince of Pingyang watched Duoduo's skipping figure from behind, a glint of displeasure flashing in his eyes.
Duoduo skipped all the way to the kitchen. "Lüdou, I'm here!"
Lüdou, who had been softly sobbing in the kitchen, heard Duoduo's voice and rushed out before she could even wipe her tears.
"Duoduo, are you alright?"
"Lüdou, I'm fine. Don't worry."
"Has His Highness woken up? Did he punish you?" Lüdou was still anxious.
"His Highness is fine now. Oh, right, he said he's hungry."
Lüdou wiped her tears. "Then I'll quickly tell the cook to prepare a meal for His Highness."
"Mhm." Duoduo nodded.
The kitchen started bustling with activity. Taking His Highness's health into consideration, the cook prepared a pot of porridge.
Duoduo and Lüdou sat outside to wait.
Having nothing to do, Duoduo squatted on the ground and used a twig to write out the characters she had learned today, one by one.
"Huh? Duoduo, are these the characters the nanny taught you?" Lüdou asked curiously.
"No, Lüdou, I saw the nanny writing them and memorized them myself."
Duoduo looked up and flashed a bright smile at Lüdou.
"Then you write, and I'll follow along." Lüdou also picked up a twig and joined in.
The cook quickly finished making the porridge and also prepared some refreshing side dishes.
Duoduo was about to reach out and carry it when the cook frowned.
"It's not like there's no one else around. Why is a little girl like you trying to carry this?"
"What if you burn yourself? Lüdou, you carry this food box and go with her."
Lüdou agreed, picked up the food box, and took Duoduo's hand as they walked toward the study.
Duoduo looked thoughtful. So, was this what the Prince of Pingyang meant by what he said earlier?
He was complaining that she was too small!
But even though she was small, she was very capable.
Yes! She would tell the Prince of Pingyang exactly that when she got back!
Duoduo thought indignantly.
Duoduo felt that Lüdou's hand was sweating. "Lüdou, are you nervous?"
Lüdou forced a smile. "No."
Duoduo shook her head. "Lüdou, you're lying! If you're not nervous, why are you sweating so much?"
Lüdou let go of Duoduo and vigorously wiped her hand on her clothes.
"Duoduo, aren't you afraid of His Highness?"
Duoduo tilted her head and thought about it.
"His Highness just has a bad temper, but he's a good person!"
A good person?
Lüdou thought of the murdered Old Maid Li and found it very hard to associate the Prince of Pingyang with the word "good".
"Lüdou, don't be afraid. In a bit, I'll be there, and I'll protect you!"
Duoduo patted her chest confidently.
Lüdou smiled. "Thank you, Miss. It should be Lüdou protecting you."
Duoduo puffed out her cheeks. "I told you, I'm not a Miss anymore!"
The two of them arrived at the study talking and laughing. Duoduo knocked on the door.
Ling Feng opened the door from the inside and was momentarily stunned when he saw Duoduo.
Duoduo pulled Lüdou inside with her.
"Ling Feng, we brought food for His Highness."
Ling Feng then suddenly realized that the Prince of Pingyang hadn't eaten any dinner.
The only thing he had eaten was a piece of peach blossom pastry, which had caused him to have an allergic reaction.
Now, he must definitely be hungry.
Ling Feng took the food box and opened it to take a look. It was just an ordinary red date, snow fungus, and millet porridge.
He gave it a sniff.
"You didn't add any random stuff to this, did you?" he looked suspiciously at Lüdou.
Lüdou shook her head nervously.
"This was made by the cook for His Highness. This servant just carried it over."
Seeing Ling Feng place the food box on the table, Duoduo took the initiative to climb onto a stool.
She picked up a bowl, scooped out a small portion, and started eating.
Lüdou's eyes widened. She wanted to warn Duoduo but didn't dare to speak up.
Duoduo finished the millet porridge in a few bites and set down the bowl.
"Ling Feng, I've eaten it. There's no problem with it!"
Only then did Ling Feng take a clean bowl and scoop out half a bowl of porridge.
He lifted the Prince of Pingyang from the bed into his wheelchair, then pushed the wheelchair over to the table.
The Prince of Pingyang was indeed hungry. He picked up the millet porridge and finished it in a few mouthfuls.
Ling Feng scooped another half bowl for him, and the Prince of Pingyang finished the porridge again, eating it with the side dishes.
Ling Feng was very happy. Ever since the Prince of Pingyang had broken his back, he hadn't been eating much.
This was the first time he had eaten so much.
With Ling Feng in a good mood, his expression softened considerably as he looked at Duoduo and Lüdou.
"You pack up these things and take them away."
"You stay behind and await His Highness's orders."
