Duoduo looked at Nanny Li with some curiosity. "Tell me about it."
Nanny Li walked to Duoduo's side and lowered her voice.
"This old servant heard the two commandery princesses of Prince Ling's Mansion having a dispute. They said they were both preparing gifts for His Majesty."
Duoduo tilted her head.
"Gifts? Birthday gifts?"
Nanny Li shook her head gently.
"They didn't say. When they saw this old servant, they both walked away."
Hearing this, Duoduo fell into thought.
Duoduo already knew that her father had not prepared a gift for her imperial grandfather.
She felt that she should help her father!
However, the Emperor possessed the entire world. What kind of rare treasures had he not seen?
Most importantly, she didn't have much silver to buy a rare and precious birthday gift.
"Nanny, what kind of gifts do you think they will prepare?"
Nanny Li lowered her head and pondered for a moment.
"This old servant thinks they are probably doing needlework."
"Because this old servant heard them talking about stitching techniques, embroidered pouches..."
Embroidered pouches?
Duoduo shook her head.
That was too unoriginal!
The concubines in the imperial palace had nothing to do all day. Had they embroidered few pouches for the Emperor?
The Emperor could probably wear a different one every day from the beginning to the end of the year without repeating.
"This old servant feels that you, Princess, should also prepare a congratulatory gift for His Majesty,"
Nanny Li boldly suggested.
Hearing this, Duoduo nodded.
"You're right. Our Prince Pingyang's Mansion cannot be outdone by others!"
"I need to think about what would be appropriate to give."
As they spoke, the group entered the room.
Inside, Xiao Yi was also there, talking with Su Xian.
"Daughter greets Father and Mother!"
Duoduo obediently bowed to them.
Su Xian hurriedly waved her hand, instructing Baihe to set up dinner, and then beckoned for Duoduo to rise.
"Have you finished your homework?" Xiao Yi asked lightly.
"Not yet. I'll write it when I go back later." Duoduo felt a little embarrassed.
Xiao Yi looked at Duoduo strangely.
"Is it a lot? You actually haven't finished? What was assigned?"
Duoduo leaned close to Su Xian. "Father, there isn't much schoolwork."
"The master only assigned one page of calligraphy and reciting one text."
Xiao Yi looked at Duoduo with a teasing expression. "Have you been playing around?"
Duoduo shook her head.
"I have not. Father, didn't you tell me to hide my talents?"
"I was studying how to make my handwriting look ugly."
Confusion appeared in Su Xian's eyes. "Why do you have to write poorly to hide your talents?"
Xiao Yi looked at Duoduo meaningfully. "And have you figured it out?"
Duoduo revealed a big smile.
"Of course! Father, Mother, I've learned to write with my left hand!"
Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow.
This answer was quite beyond his expectations.
"In just this short amount of time? You learned to write with your left hand?"
Duoduo nodded happily.
"Mhm! It's just a bit ugly!" A shy look appeared on her face.
"Isn't that perfect? You don't need to write anymore. Just hand in what you wrote at the very beginning."
A faint smile curled on Xiao Yi's lips.
"Okay, I'll listen to Father," Duoduo replied obediently.
Baihe came in and reported that dinner was ready. The three moved to the dining area.
"Father, is that Senior Uncle Zhang really one of our own?"
Following Xiao Yi, Duoduo had also learned to be cautious.
Xiao Yi gave Duoduo an appreciative look.
"Your master and your Senior Uncle Zhang, they are both people from the Medicine King Valley."
"And the people of the Medicine King Valley are all orphans, so they take the surname of their founding patriarch."
"The people of the Medicine King Valley have no contact with the outside world."
"They will not attach themselves to any power."
Xiao Yi explained to Duoduo calmly.
Doubt appeared in Duoduo's eyes.
"Father, since the people of the Medicine King Valley have no contact with the outside world, how did you meet the master?"
"By pure chance!" Xiao Yi only said these few words.
Duoduo gave Xiao Yi a strange look and continued to ask.
"Then why is Senior Uncle Zhang willing to help us?"
Xiao Yi turned his head and looked Duoduo over.
"You'll have to ask your master about that."
Seeing that Duoduo still looked completely confused, Xiao Yi added one more sentence.
"Or perhaps, do you have something that Master Zhang has his eyes on?"
"What do I have?" Duoduo muttered to herself.
Xiao Yi didn't press the issue, letting Duoduo think for herself.
Su Xian pulled Duoduo to sit on a chair and patted the back of her hand.
"Let's eat first."
Duoduo snapped back to reality and smiled at Su Xian. "Okay."
After the family finished their meal, Baihe served tea, and Xiao Yi picked up his teacup.
"I heard that the business at the barbecue shop isn't doing very well?"
Duoduo's eyes flickered.
"It just opened today. Father, didn't you agree on three months? It's still early!"
Xiao Yi took a sip of tea. "Oh, I originally meant to ask if you wanted me to send some people over to keep up appearances."
A hint of regret flashed in Duoduo's eyes.
However, Duoduo still shook her head.
"Thank you, Father, but there's no need."
"Everything is hard at the beginning. If I take shortcuts right from the start, I might suffer a big fall later."
"Whether I win or lose, I hope it's based on my own abilities."
A look of satisfaction appeared in Xiao Yi's eyes.
He put down his teacup. "I still have matters to attend to."
Duoduo hurriedly spoke up, "Father, hold on a moment, I have something I want to ask for your advice on!"
Xiao Yi stopped. "What is it?"
Duoduo quickly organized her words.
"I want to prepare a birthday gift for Imperial Grandfather."
"But I don't have much silver."
"Father, do you have any good ideas? What kind of gift would be best for me to prepare?"
Hearing this, a strange look flashed in Xiao Yi's eyes.
"Didn't I say before that there's no need to prepare anything?"
Duoduo said seriously, "Today, Nanny Li heard that others are all preparing gifts for Imperial Grandfather!"
"I can't let Imperial Grandfather think that we don't hold him in our hearts."
Xiao Yi let out a scoff.
"There are too many people who hold your imperial grandfather in their hearts. He won't miss us."
Duoduo kept a straight face. "Father, you are wrong about this!"
"Others are others, and we are we!"
"Haven't you taught me that we must never leave anything that others can use against us?"
"If everyone else gives a gift and only our Pingyang Mansion does not, wouldn't that be leaving a vulnerability for some people to exploit?"
Hearing this, Su Xian, who was beside them, was greatly shocked and hurriedly winked at Duoduo.
Xiao Yi looked at Duoduo's tense little face as she reasoned with him. He raised his hand and poked her forehead.
"You have quite the nerve, actually daring to lecture your father!"
Duoduo covered her poked forehead.
"I'm just discussing the matter as it stands. You taught me this, Father!"
Xiao Yi looked at Duoduo's appearance, and a smile suddenly appeared on his face.
"Then tell me, what gift should we give?"
Seeing her father kick the ball back to her, Duoduo's little face immediately fell.
"Father, that was the question I just asked you!"
"Weren't you just speaking so logically and clearly?"
"Since that's the case, the birthday gift prepared by Prince Pingyang's Mansion will be left for you to handle!"
