"He is a divine doctor sent by your grandfather to help condition your father's body," Xiao Yi explained.
Duoduo immediately grabbed Xiao Yi's hand.
Xiao Yi understood what Duoduo was worried about, and he gently patted her hand.
"He is also your Teacher Zhang's senior brother, and his surname is also Zhang."
Duoduo widened her eyes in surprise, and then she shifted her gaze to the old man in front of her.
"He is Senior Uncle?"
The little old man's stern face suddenly broke into a smile.
"Princess, are you very surprised?"
Duoduo nodded as if in a dream. "Indeed, very surprised!"
"Let's go, we'll talk more in the study." Xiao Yi signaled for them to go to the study.
Upon arriving at the study, Yun Xiao retreated to stand guard outside the door.
Duoduo stood by Xiao Yi's side and looked at the senior uncle across from them.
The senior uncle looked somewhat similar to Teacher Zhang; both had graying hair and a serious expression.
"Your Highness, this commoner took action upon receiving my junior brother's message via carrier pigeon."
"Fortunately, I did not fail the mission and finally managed to cross paths smoothly with the Emperor's people."
Xiao Yi nodded.
He had long been on guard, knowing the Emperor would send someone to treat his legs.
"Your Highness, the toxins in your body have actually been mostly cleared out."
"This commoner will just prescribe a few more doses of medicine to help you recover."
"Mhm."
Duoduo's eyes kept darting back and forth between the two of them.
"This commoner heard from my junior brother that the Princess has a great talent for medicine. Why doesn't the Princess also write out a prescription for this commoner to see?"
Senior Uncle Zhang noticed Duoduo's gaze.
"That is just Teacher Zhang flattering her. There are as many talented people in this world as carp crossing a river; she is nothing special."
Xiao Yi flatly declined on Duoduo's behalf.
Duoduo blinked.
"I have only just started learning medicine from my teacher and have merely scratched the surface. I wouldn't dare show off my meager skills in front of Senior Uncle."
After Duoduo finished speaking, she remembered another important matter.
"Father, I am going to pay my respects to Mother!"
Xiao Yi nodded. Duoduo curtsied to the two of them and withdrew from the room.
As soon as she stepped out the door, Duoduo couldn't wait to quicken her pace, and Lüdou hurriedly chased after her.
"Princess, please slow down."
"Lüdou, hurry up! I want to know how Aunt Xu and the others did today!"
Hearing this, Lüdou immediately sped up as well.
If it weren't for Duoduo having to go to the Imperial College for classes today, Lüdou probably would have gone to Xu Jinxin's shop to help out too.
Moreover, Xu Jinxin had said that it was currently a soft opening, and they would wait a couple of days before putting Lüdou's pastries on the menu.
Duoduo led Lüdou and ran swiftly to the Hongxiao Courtyard, where the Princess Consort Pingyang lived.
"Mother! I'm back!"
As soon as Duoduo entered the courtyard, she started shouting.
Inside the room, the Princess Consort Pingyang, who was listening to Baihe's report, immediately stood up and went to the door to welcome her upon hearing Duoduo's voice.
Su Xian had been on pins and needles all day.
She was worried about the business at Xu Jinxin's shop on one hand, and anxious about Duoduo's situation in the palace on the other.
She was so worried that she barely ate a few bites for lunch.
She had sent Baihe out to run errands several times.
Only just now did Baihe finally have a moment to return and report on the situation at Xu Jinxin's shop.
Just as Su Xian reached the door, Duoduo fluttered into her embrace like a butterfly.
"Mother! I'm back!"
Duoduo reached out to hug Su Xian's waist and took a deep breath.
The sweet fragrance on Su Xian's body made her feel at ease.
Su Xian hugged Duoduo, and the heart that had been hanging in suspense all day finally settled down.
She held Duoduo's hand and looked her up and down.
"How was it? Was the teacher strict? Did your classmates bully you?"
"Also, was the lunch to your liking? Did you eat your fill?"
"Did you take a nap at noon? Are you sleepy or hungry now?"
...
Su Xian asked a barrage of questions.
Duoduo looked at Su Xian, a bright smile appearing on her face.
"Mother, I'm doing great!"
"What about you, Mother? Did you eat well? Did you rest well?"
"The Princess Consort was so worried about the Princess that she barely ate a few bites of food for lunch today," Baihe, who was standing to the side, playfully tattled.
"You talk too much! Hurry up and bring the cheese tea over."
Su Xian lightly scolded Baihe, and then she pulled Duoduo to sit down.
"Tell Mother, how was it in the palace today?"
"Oh right, has your father returned as well?"
Su Xian suddenly remembered Xiao Yi.
"Mhm, Father is back. He's in the outer study."
"By the way, Mother, Imperial Grandfather rewarded Father with someone to treat his illness. Guess who it is?"
Duoduo deliberately kept her in suspense.
Su Xian shook her head. "Mother doesn't know."
Duoduo answered with a beaming smile, "It's Senior Uncle!"
Su Xian found it a bit strange. "Senior Uncle? Who is that?"
"He's Teacher Zhang's senior brother, and his surname is also Zhang!"
"Father is talking to him in the study right now. He will definitely come over in a little while."
As Duoduo spoke, she picked out the fun things that happened at the Imperial College today and told them to Su Xian.
Su Xian listened with a face full of smiles.
"By the way, Mother, how are things going with Aunt Xu?" Duoduo asked with great interest.
The smile on Su Xian's face stiffened a bit.
"Baihe, tell the Princess about the situation."
Just now, Baihe had only told half the story before Duoduo returned, so Su Xian didn't know too much either.
Baihe placed the iced cheese tea on the table next to Duoduo.
"Princess, you can eat while listening to this servant's report."
"Thank you!" Duoduo smiled at Baihe.
She picked up the cheese tea and immediately smelled a rich milky aroma, along with a cool, refreshing sensation.
"Mother, have a taste too."
Duoduo picked up the spoon, scooped up a spoonful, and brought it to Su Xian's lips.
Unable to refuse, Su Xian opened her mouth and ate it.
"Madam Li's shop didn't have any customers today."
"However, Madam Li said that barbecue shops usually only see booming business at night."
"When it's mealtime and the aroma of the grilled fish drifts out, the people who want to eat will line up in a long queue!"
Hearing this, Duoduo suddenly felt that the cheese tea in her hands was no longer appetizing.
She had thought that the grilled fish shop would be a huge hit today!
"There's a curfew at night. Once the curfew starts, who would still come out to eat grilled fish?"
Duoduo sighed and put down the cheese tea.
Su Xian stroked Duoduo's head.
"The beginning of everything is difficult. It's perfectly normal that there are no customers on the very first day of opening."
"After being open for a few more days, once people taste how delicious our grilled fish is, they will naturally come to buy it."
"We have to believe in your Aunt Xu's culinary skills. Anyone who has tried it will become our customer!"
Duoduo looked up and nodded in agreement.
"Mother, you're right! We have to believe in Aunt Xu; she is super amazing!"
Su Xian patted Duoduo's head.
"Mhm, eat up quickly. The cheese won't taste good if it melts."
Duoduo nodded and picked up the cheese tea, eating it in small bites.
There wasn't much iced cheese tea, just a small cup the size of a palm.
Duoduo finished it in a few bites.
"Mother, when Aunt Xu comes back, let's not ask her about the shop's business."
"I'm worried that Aunt Xu must be under a lot of pressure."
"She has been putting all her effort into helping me win against Father."
Su Xian nodded. "Yes, you and Mother are on the same page."
"If we lose money, the one thousand taels of silver will come out of Mother's dowry."
"How can we do that!" Duoduo looked completely disapproving.
