The first lesson taught by the Grand Tutor was still the content of "Exhortation to Learning," but he was very skilled at quoting classics and citing historical precedents, so Duoduo listened with great relish.
The morning passed by quickly.
When the bell rang for the end of class and the Grand Tutor left, it was as if the dark clouds overhead had suddenly been blown away.
The students in the room immediately cheered up.
Some excitedly threw their books into the air and caught them to express their joy.
Some slumped in their seats, completely abandoning their image.
Others walked out briskly to find their servants for their food boxes.
Duoduo slowly packed her book box.
In the afternoon, different teachers would give lessons.
The Grand Tutor only taught in the morning. The afternoon was for learning the Six Arts of a Gentleman, and everyone chose the classes they wanted to attend.
Duoduo secretly glanced at the classmate on her right.
This classmate did not sleep today for the first time.
At this moment, he stood up expressionlessly and walked outside.
Duoduo quietly stuck out her tongue.
This person had really long legs.
After packing her things, Duoduo also followed and walked out.
Song Shuyu looked up and saw this. She bit her lip and hurriedly stood up.
As soon as Duoduo walked out the door, she saw Lüdou and Nanny Li under the corridor, waving at her from a distance.
Duoduo revealed a brilliant smile. She quickened her pace, ready to walk over.
"Duo... Duoduo!"
Hearing someone call her name, Duoduo turned her head.
The person standing behind her was actually Song Shuyu!
Duoduo stopped in her tracks and slowly turned around to face Song Shuyu.
She waited for Song Shuyu to continue.
Unexpectedly, after calling out, Song Shuyu kept her mouth shut and stopped talking.
Duoduo wondered if she had heard wrong.
Why would Song Shuyu call her?
Thinking of this, Duoduo turned around and prepared to leave.
"Don't go!" Seeing that Duoduo was about to leave, Song Shuyu hurriedly shouted.
Duoduo was sure now that she hadn't misheard; it was indeed Song Shuyu calling her.
"What do you want?" Duoduo didn't want to waste time. The time for lunch and the noon break was only so short.
Moreover, the two of them standing here talking was too conspicuous.
Prince Pingyang's Mansion and Prince Ling's Mansion were two opposing factions.
"Can I eat with you?" Song Shuyu hesitated for a moment.
Duoduo was a bit surprised. She didn't understand why Song Shuyu would have such an idea.
"No!"
Duoduo refused without hesitation.
"Duoduo, don't be ungrateful!"
"I pity you, which is why I wanted to turn swords into ploughshares with you!"
It was the first time Song Shuyu had lowered her posture so much, yet she was ruthlessly rejected.
She found it hard to accept!
Song Shuyu was extremely angry.
Duoduo gave Song Shuyu a strange look.
"You'd better pity yourself!" Duoduo glanced behind Song Shuyu and said meaningfully.
After speaking, Duoduo turned around and walked briskly toward Lüdou and Nanny Li.
Hearing Duoduo's reminder, Song Shuyu immediately reacted.
This was not the Song Residence; she still had two biggest enemies here.
"Brother, she actually wants to win over people from Prince Pingyang's Mansion!"
"Brother, let's go back and tell Father!" Xiao Yunning had caught Song Shuyu by the tail and was jumping up and down excitedly, pulling Xiao Yunan.
Song Shuyu clenched her fists and turned around.
"I wanted to win her over to get some information. Go ahead and tell on me if you want!"
After saying that, Song Shuyu stormed off angrily.
Xiao Yunan looked at Song Shuyu's back and shook his head at his sister.
"We have no evidence. Even if we tell him, Father won't believe it."
Xiao Yunning's eyes widened. "We both saw it with our own eyes, doesn't that count as evidence?"
"No, it doesn't. We are all classmates, and it's not out of line for classmates to talk to each other."
Xiao Yunan had been kept by his father's side since childhood, so naturally, he acted more steadily.
Hearing this, Xiao Yunning immediately became very frustrated.
"Brother, I hate her! Can you drive her away!"
Xiao Yunan glared at Xiao Yunning. "If you want to make things difficult for Mother, just go ahead and argue with her endlessly!"
Thinking of her mother, Xiao Yunning pouted and stayed silent.
After all, she was his own biological sister, and moreover, Xiao Yunan already had a lot of complaints about Song Shuyu.
"To hit a snake, you must hit its weak spot! Only when we catch evidence of her letting Father down will Father believe us."
Hearing this, Xiao Yunning's spirits instantly lifted.
"Mhm! I'll be responsible for keeping a close eye on her!"
"Brother, study hard with the Grand Tutor! When the time comes, Father will definitely be happy!"
"Mhm, let's go eat!"
Duoduo walked briskly to Lüdou and Nanny Li.
"Princess, what were you talking to her about just now? Did she bully you again?"
As soon as Lüdou saw Duoduo, she couldn't wait to ask.
Seeing both Lüdou and Nanny Li looking at her with concern, Duoduo smiled and shook her head.
"The rules of the Imperial Academy do not allow fighting or bullying classmates. Violators will be expelled from the Academy!"
"So, you don't need to worry. It's not what you think."
"Let's go, let's go eat!"
Nanny Li nodded. She led the way in front, and the group headed to Kunning Palace to eat as usual.
Behind them, a tail was following from a distance.
Halfway there, Nanny Li noticed it.
"Princess, someone is following us."
Duoduo looked back, but it was empty behind them. There was no one.
Actually, Duoduo had already sensed it just now.
However, she thought it was someone from the palace, so she didn't pay it any mind.
Now, the path they were walking was getting closer to the Cold Palace, where it was increasingly deserted.
Duoduo thought for a moment, turned her head back, and acted as if nothing had happened.
"Maybe it's just a passing palace maid. Let's go."
Duoduo gave Lüdou a look, and Lüdou stayed behind.
"Be careful!" Duoduo lowered her voice and cautioned.
Lüdou nodded, feeling a little nervous.
Nanny Li led Duoduo away while Lüdou stood in place, waiting for the person behind them to show up.
Unexpectedly, the person behind them kept hiding and refused to come out.
Worried that Duoduo would be anxious, Lüdou thought for a moment and simply walked back.
When she reached a pavilion, a figure quickly fled.
Lüdou stared at that back and took a few good looks.
This back looked somewhat familiar.
Inside Kunning Palace, Duoduo ate her meal while waiting for Lüdou.
"Nanny, you should eat too. We can just leave some for Lüdou."
"Princess, you eat. This old servant will wait until Lüdou returns to eat."
Nanny Li replied, bowing her waist.
"Princess, this servant has returned." Lüdou's figure appeared at the door.
Duoduo hurriedly put down her chopsticks. "Lüdou, you're back!"
"Yes, this servant is back!" Lüdou walked in with a smile.
"Quick, eat first! You and Nanny must be hungry too!"
Duoduo was not in a hurry to ask questions.
"Yes, as you command."
Lüdou curtsied. She took her and Nanny Li's food boxes and placed them on the table.
Do not speak while eating, do not speak while sleeping.
The three of them ate their lunch in silence and then packed everything away properly.
Duoduo let out a yawn, and only then did she ask.
"Lüdou, did you see who it was?"
