Xiao Yi nodded.
“You did quite well for your first time.”
Although, from the very beginning, Xiao Yi had been teaching Duoduo various strategies and scheming,
she was only four years old after all.
She was still just a child,
and she clung to her own kindness and principles.
Accomplishing this much was already her limit.
“This afternoon, when you faced danger, extricating yourself smoothly was also well done.”
“However, you shouldn’t have stopped there,” Xiao Yi prompted Duoduo.
Duoduo looked utterly puzzled.
“Father, what else should I have done?”
Xiao Yi extended his index finger and drew a circle in the air.
“Stir the waters.”
Duoduo tilted her little head, pondering his words.
This afternoon, when she encountered danger, her reflexive thought had been about how to escape.
She and Lüdou were just little girls, no match for several men.
On the other hand, Xiao Yunning, with Xiao Yun’an and the carriage driver, was different.
Plus, with Prince Ling as her powerful backing, once those men learned of Xiao Yunning’s identity, they wouldn’t dare harm her—
unless those people held a grudge against Prince Ling.
As for the outcome, that wasn’t Duoduo’s concern.
She had only wanted to hitch a ride; it was Xiao Yunning who chose to get off the carriage.
That couldn’t be blamed on her!
Duoduo thought the matter ended there.
But now her father was saying she hadn’t done enough!
She knew her father set high expectations for her.
If he said so, then surely she had fallen short.
Stir the waters?
How?
“Father, do you mean I should go to the magistrate and file a complaint?”
Xiao Yi shook his head.
“Those people this afternoon were definitely after the jade pendant Grandfather bestowed on you.”
Xiao Yi began laying out the information for Duoduo.
According to the carriage driver, he drank tea only in the afternoon and began suffering from diarrhea afterward.
Duoduo had received the pendant at midday.
Moreover, out of all the carriages on the road, only the Pingyang Prince’s carriage had trouble, and at such a specific time—so only Xiao Yi’s explanation made sense.
“Only someone in the palace could have known so quickly that you received a jade pendant.”
“Among those people, besides the imperial concubines, there are also the princes who entered the palace.”
“But no prince can enter the palace without the Emperor’s summons.
So the princes can be ruled out.
That leaves only the palace consorts.”
Duoduo nodded in agreement.
“Those men mistook Xiao Yunning for you.”
Duoduo nodded again. “Because when she got off the carriage, I deliberately called out ‘Princess’!”
A flicker of amusement shone in Xiao Yi’s eyes.
“Mistaking Xiao Yunning means the people aren’t from Imperial Consort Li’s faction.
Most likely, it’s Imperial Consort Shu’s people,” Duoduo suddenly interrupted.
Xiao Yi pretended not to understand. “Why do you say that?”
“Because she was punished because of me! She must still be unhappy about it,” Duoduo replied.
Xiao Yi nodded. “That makes sense.”
Duoduo pouted. “No wonder you said earlier that my counterattack wasn’t strong enough.”
Xiao Yi smiled at the corner of his mouth. “I was just reminding you.
Now, we’ll soon know who exactly took Xiao Yunning.”
Duoduo blinked her big eyes. “Father, have you already sent someone to investigate?”
Xiao Yi nodded. “Of course. Anyone who dares to bully my daughter can’t just walk away from it.
I have never been a lenient man.”
Duoduo stuck out her tongue.
“Father, you said I should stir the waters. Teach me how.”
“At the time, I only thought about escaping safely—I think that was already pretty good.”
Duoduo admitted her shortcoming honestly.
Xiao Yi reached out and patted Duoduo’s head.
“Lend me this jade pendant for a while.”
Curious, Duoduo pulled the pendant from her sleeve and handed it to him.
“I’ll sketch its design and have the craftsmen make a few similar ones.”
Duoduo’s eyes lit up. “Father, do you want to pass off fakes as real?”
Xiao Yi shook his head.
“No. I want to be prepared.”
“Next time, if someone asks you for the pendant, give them the fake one.
Keep the real one with care.”
He committed the pendant’s appearance to memory, then returned it to Duoduo.
Taking paper from the desk, he began sketching.
Soon, a lifelike jade pendant emerged on the paper.
Duoduo’s eyes brimmed with admiration. “Father, if this painting were hung up, people would mistake it for the real thing!”
Xiao Yi smiled faintly. “I’m just copying from the model.”
Just then, a knock came at the study door.
“Your Highness,” Yunxiao said as he pushed the door open, “we have news.”
Xiao Yi and Duoduo both looked at him.
“Prince Ling’s men found the trail left by the young prince.
They pursued it all the way to the Fifth Prince’s mansion.”
Yunxiao paused.
“The Fifth Prince’s people?” Xiao Yi found this rather surprising.
Duoduo was even more baffled. She had never even met her Fifth Uncle.
It seemed her father was right—this was definitely about her pendant!
Yunxiao nodded.
“After Prince Ling received the news, he immediately led his men to surround the Fifth Prince’s mansion.
The princess consort of Prince Ling has gone to the palace.”
A cold smile curled at Xiao Yi’s lips.
“It looks like a wonderful drama is about to unfold.”
Duoduo’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Father, who do you think will win between the two?”
Xiao Yi smiled at her. “What’s your guess?”
Duoduo thought for a moment. “Prince Ling.”
Xiao Yi chuckled and shook his head. “That’s not necessarily so.”
Duoduo blinked. Prince Ling had evidence—how could he possibly lose?
Xiao Yi patted her shoulder. “Go finish your homework. You’ll know the answer tomorrow.”
With that, he picked up the sketch and signaled Yunxiao to push his wheelchair away.
Duoduo puffed out her cheeks.
Father insisting on speaking only half the truth was really unfair!
“Lüdou! Where’s Shitou?” Duoduo called out as she saw Lüdou enter.
“Shitou isn’t back yet,” Lüdou replied. “Would you like me to tell you something, miss? Your servant can do it.”
Duoduo shook her head. “No, this requires leaving the estate.
Lüdou, go wait at the inner gate. As soon as Shitou comes back, have him come here.”
“Yes, miss.” Lüdou went out.
Only then did Duoduo settle down to do her homework.
Over at Xiao Yi’s side, news of the aftermath soon arrived.
The Emperor had summoned both his sons to the palace.
The Fifth Prince denied everything, claiming his people had not taken Prince Ling’s children.
Meanwhile, Prince Ling’s estate sent word to the palace that Xiao Yunning and Xiao Yun’an had returned safely.
At that, the Fifth Prince raised a ruckus, accusing Prince Ling of surrounding his mansion with armed guards and threatening him.
The Emperor harshly reprimanded Prince Ling.
After all, the prince was still under house arrest, yet he had disobeyed the order and left his estate—clear disregard for the Emperor’s authority.
Prince Ling cried out in protest.
