Prince Pingyang glanced at Duoduo. "My Lady, I intend to submit a memorial to His Majesty the Emperor shortly, formally recognizing Duoduo as our daughter!"
Princess Pingyang looked surprised, her gaze turning to the child before her.
Why had this child referred to herself as a servant earlier?
"Very well. Your Highness, please set a date. I shall make arrangements for a banquet to receive guests."
Prince Pingyang nodded. "Then I leave the trouble to you, my Lady."
Princess Pingyang stood up. "Your Highness, I shall first take the child to change her clothes."
Princess Pingyang took Duoduo's hand and led her to the adjoining room.
"Is the bath water ready?"
"Your Ladyship, this servant tested it earlier; the temperature is just right." The speaker was the Princess's personal maid, Lianxin.
Duoduo nervously clutched Princess Pingyang's hand. She hadn't seen Lüdou, and the unfamiliar surroundings made her quite uneasy.
Princess Pingyang noticed Duoduo's expression. "Lianxin, have that maid waiting outside come in."
Soon, Lüdou entered. She fell to her knees with a "thump" before Princess Pingyang.
"This servant pays her respects to Your Ladyship!"
"Rise. You shall attend to the Young Lady as she changes. If there's anything you don't understand, ask Lianxin. And be careful of her hand."
"Yes."
Seeing Lüdou, Duoduo's expression visibly relaxed a great deal.
Lüdou took her to bathe and wash her hair. Before long, clear, cheerful laughter came from the bathing chamber.
Sitting outside, Princess Pingyang heard Duoduo's laughter and couldn't help but smile herself.
"Your Ladyship, this servant has inquired. Young Lady Duoduo is the second daughter of Magistrate Song," Lianxin said, presenting a cup of tea to Princess Pingyang.
"I heard that upon her birth, her maternal grandmother passed away, and her paternal grandmother fell seriously ill. There are rumors she is a jinx."
Princess Pingyang stood up, startled.
"But wasn't it said that Magistrate Song's daughter was born amidst the chorus of a hundred birds, a child of great fortune?"
"Young Lady Duoduo has a twin sister. It's said the great fortune refers to her sister."
"Then hasn't His Highness been deceived by Magistrate Song? Come, we must inform His Highness immediately!" Princess Pingyang was extremely anxious.
Lianxin hurriedly stopped her. "Your Ladyship, I asked Lingfeng. His Highness is aware."
Princess Pingyang sat back down in her chair, dejected. "Why would His Highness, knowing full well she is a... still wish to adopt her?"
Lianxin fell silent. How could servants like them comment on His Highness's actions?
"It's all my fault for my poor health, failing to bear His Highness a son or daughter, that he has been reduced to this state!"
As she spoke, Princess Pingyang's tears began to fall uncontrollably.
Prince Pingyang was the son of the late Empress. Having followed the Emperor on campaigns since childhood, he became a commanding general at a very young age.
The Emperor greatly admired Prince Pingyang and hinted at the intention to establish him as Crown Prince.
However, during a border campaign, Prince Pingyang's horse inexplicably became frenzied. He was thrown from its back, injuring his spine, and became crippled.
Last year, having found no cure, Prince Pingyang returned to Xianyang, his fiefdom.
A few days ago, an advisor suggested that His Highness adopt the reportedly greatly fortunate daughter of Magistrate Song to change his fortunes.
Prince Pingyang didn't believe it initially, but he couldn't withstand the persuasion of those around him.
Finally, even the Princess begged him to try.
Who could have guessed they would end up being tricked into adopting the child of a jinx!
Princess Pingyang sank into deep self-reproach.
"Don't cry!"
A timid voice roused Princess Pingyang from her thoughts.
She felt a warm little hand on her cheek, gently stroking it.
"Don't cry!"
Princess Pingyang looked up at the thin, pitiful Duoduo standing before her, and her heart inexplicably ached.
The child is so young, what could she possibly understand?
At that moment, Baihe entered, carrying several sets of clothing.
"Your Ladyship, this servant bought four sets. I will have new ones made for the Young Lady later."
Princess Pingyang selected a set of bright red skirt and robe and personally helped Duoduo change into it.
Duoduo in her new clothes looked utterly adorable.
"Good child, are you hungry?"
Duoduo was about to say she wasn't hungry when her stomach emitted a series of loud "gurgles."
Duoduo's face flushed red, and she covered her belly.
"Duoduo isn't hungry, but her tummy is!"
"Pfft!" Princess Pingyang was amused.
This child is really something!
Lianxin hurried to the kitchen to arrange a meal. Lüdou wanted to follow.
"Go ask Baihe for a set of clothes and tidy yourself up as well. This is the Prince's residence. The attire of the servants represents our Prince's dignity."
Lüdou's eyes instantly reddened.
It seemed the Young Lady had truly fallen into a nest of blessings!
Lianxin soon returned with servants carrying the food. Princess Pingyang had already tied Duoduo's hair into two little buns.
"Come, let's go eat."
Princess Pingyang took Duoduo's hand and led her to the adjacent dining room.
"Your Ladyship, when I went, the kitchen fires were already banked. There was only simmered pigeon soup, red date and millet congee, sweet bean rolls, and steamed egg custard."
Duoduo looked at the dishes on the table, her eyes sparkling.
"You sit."
Duoduo pulled Princess Pingyang to sit down first. Then she clambered onto the chair beside her, sat properly, and waited for the maid to serve her food.
Princess Pingyang nodded inwardly. This child's manners were quite good; she had thought she would need to teach her everything step by step.
Lianxin first ladled a little pigeon soup and placed it before Duoduo. "Young Lady, please enjoy."
Duoduo didn't move. She looked at Princess Pingyang.
"You eat. I have already had my lunch."
Duoduo shook her head. "Eat together."
Seeing Duoduo desperately swallowing her saliva yet still refusing to pick up her chopsticks, Princess Pingyang's heart softened.
"Alright, I'll eat with you."
Lianxin hastily fetched a bowl and chopsticks and served the Princess a little millet congee.
Only after seeing her new mother begin to eat did Duoduo pick up her chopsticks and focus on her meal.
"Eat more." The Princess looked at Duoduo with tender affection.
Duoduo buried her head in eating. She ate quickly, as if she had been hungry for a long time.
Yet, she made hardly any sound while eating, only the gentle clink of her spoon against the bowl.
Princess Pingyang sighed inwardly. How could such a well-behaved, lovely child be a jinx?
Could there have been a mistake?
Princess Pingyang took small sips of her congee, occasionally picking up food for Duoduo. Each time, Duoduo would smile at the Princess and then eat every last bit clean.
Princess Pingyang, who had never raised a child before, suddenly found it interesting. She took up her chopsticks and personally served Duoduo more food.
Duoduo patted her little belly and put down her chopsticks. "I'm full."
Princess Pingyang regretfully set down her own chopsticks. Unconsciously, she had eaten quite a lot along with Duoduo.
"Come, let me take you to the garden to walk off the meal."
Duoduo was helped down from her chair. Holding the Princess's hand, she strolled into the courtyard.
In the garden, it was the season of a hundred flowers in bloom. Butterflies of various colors flitted among the blossoms from time to time.
After all, Duoduo was still a child. Seeing the butterflies, she immediately began hopping about, reaching out to catch them.
"Go play!" The Princess released her hand.
Duoduo tiptoed towards a butterfly, cupped her little hands together—but the butterfly flew away.
"Ai!" She let out a long sigh.
Then Duoduo saw another beautiful butterfly, alighting right in front of her.
Duoduo carefully crouched down, her little bottom sticking up, and reached out a hand to grab.
"I caught the butterfly!"
Holding the butterfly aloft in her right hand, Duoduo turned and gave Princess Pingyang a sweet, beaming smile.
Princess Pingyang couldn't help but feel that if a child like this was a jinx, then the heavens themselves must be blind!
