"Pfft!"
Xu Jinxin stopped abruptly just inches from Duoduo's face.
She laughed out loud and released Duoduo.
"I'm just teasing you! Look how nervous you got!"
Duoduo felt a faint sense of disappointment for some reason.
"Mother, stop picking on Duoduo!"
Yingniang stepped in front of Duoduo unhappily.
Seeing Yingniang's expression, Xu Jinxin cupped her face and gave her a big kiss.
"Then Mother will pick on you instead!"
Yingniang wiped the spot where she'd been kissed. "Mother, Father says that's unhygienic!"
Hearing Yingniang bring up her husband, Xu Jinxin smiled and took the glass of watermelon juice from her hands, taking a sip.
"Wow, this watermelon juice is so sweet!" Without thinking, she gave Duoduo a thumbs-up.
Duoduo smiled obediently and nodded.
"I think it's really tasty too, so I brought some over specially."
Xu Jinxin took another sip, and Yingniang hurriedly reached out.
"Mother, let me try it."
Xu Jinxin handed the watermelon juice to Yingniang.
"It's a pity—such good watermelon juice."
"No, I'm raising the price!" Xu Jinxin said, walking out.
Seeing her mother leave, Yingniang pulled Duoduo down to sit.
"Duoduo, how was it at the Imperial Academy?"
"Did anyone bully you? Was the tutor strict?"
"By the way, did you see—" Yingniang glanced at the helpers nearby and leaned in to whisper,
"Did you see the Emperor?"
Duoduo smiled, speaking softly and slowly.
"I'm doing fine."
"No one bullies me. The tutor isn't strict. But the Grand Tutor is very strict."
"I saw Grandfather Emperor."
Yingniang wasn't satisfied. "Why is the Grand Tutor so strict? Does he hit people?"
"Is your Imperial Grandfather an old man with white hair? Is he scary? Does he look terrifying?"
Duoduo listened, then showed a row of small white teeth, her eyes curving like crescents.
"The Grand Tutor has very high standards. If you don't meet them, he'll hit your palms with a ruler."
"He also makes you stand as punishment, copy homework, stand through class—there are all kinds of punishments."
"Imperial Grandfather is just old. He's..." Duoduo tilted her head, thinking.
"Imperial Grandfather is very handsome, not scary."
"As for whether he's strict? Well, he's not strict with me. But when he loses his temper, everyone is afraid!"
Yingniang stuck out her tongue.
"So he is strict!"
"Duoduo, you have to be careful in the palace!"
"Mother says there's so much trouble in the palace."
"Don't eat anything anyone gives you, not even water."
"And don't trust anyone easily—they might set you up!"
Duoduo's eyes were full of curiosity.
"Sister, has Aunt Xu been to the palace? How does she know so much?"
Yingniang thought for a moment. "I don't know."
Lüdou walked in from outside. "Your Highness, we should head back now."
Duoduo was reluctant to leave. "Sister, why don't you come back with me?"
Even though Yingniang was also sad that Duoduo had just arrived and was already leaving, she shook her head firmly.
"Duoduo, you and Lüdou go back first. I'll come home later with Mother."
Duoduo remembered she had promised her father to return after delivering the watermelon juice. She stood up and pulled Yingniang along outside.
Xu Jinxin was busy outside. Seeing the two girls come out, she said casually,
"Are you hungry? Want anything to eat? I'll have someone grill it for you."
"Mother, Duoduo is leaving," Yingniang told her.
Xu Jinxin paused, caught off guard, then composed herself.
"Right, it's getting late. You should head back early so your parents don't worry."
"Aunt Xu, if you can't find the right people to hire, just buy some servants."
"I'll have someone bring you the silver notes later," Duoduo said, not wanting Xu Jinxin to overwork herself.
Xu Jinxin nodded.
"Alright, I understand."
Just then, someone called out an order. Seeing the manager overwhelmed, Xu Jinxin hurried over to help.
Yingniang held Duoduo's hand, reluctant to let go.
"Duoduo, since you're leaving on your own, I won't see you out."
Duoduo nodded.
"Alright, don't work too hard."
Yingniang nodded, and Duoduo took Lüdou out the door and onto the prince's carriage. Only then did Yingniang rush back to the kitchen.
Once inside the carriage, Duoduo propped her chin on her hands and stayed quiet.
Seeing her like this, Lüdou didn't dare to ask questions.
Only when the carriage stopped at the entrance of the prince's residence did Duoduo step down.
"Lüdou, come on, I'll help you make pastries."
Lüdou hesitated.
"Your Highness, shouldn't you first report to the Prince and Princess Consort?"
Duoduo nodded.
"Yes, I will. You go to the kitchen and prepare; I'll be there in a moment."
"Alright." They parted at the entrance.
Duoduo went to the study first. Xiao Yi studied her.
"You've seen her? Feeling reassured?"
Duoduo nodded.
"Yes. Aunt Xu is running the shop well."
"But she's too busy. I suggested she buy some servants."
Xiao Yi stared at Duoduo, tapping his fingers on the armrest of his wheelchair.
"If you agree, I can have Xiaoyun arrange some people to help over there."
He said it lightly, as if it were nothing.
Duoduo blinked.
"Father, do you want to staff the whole shop with your people?"
Xiao Yi’s eyes flickered with surprise.
A smile suddenly spread across his face.
"You guessed that already?"
Duoduo nodded. "Not early—just now."
"How did you figure it out? Did they reveal themselves? Or did they disobey orders?"
Xiao Yi thought to himself that he'd have to have Xiaoyun give them a warning.
Duoduo shook her head.
"No. They just don't act like ordinary folks."
"How so?" Duoduo's words made Xiao Yi more alert.
Duoduo tilted her head, thinking for a while.
"Ordinary shop assistants, when they see customers, are very enthusiastic, bowing and scraping.
"These ones aren't."
"Even though they smile politely, they have a calm dignity."
"Also, the way they walk and act is different from others."
Back in the shop, Duoduo had felt that these people weren’t quite ordinary.
She had thought it was just Xu Jinxin’s training.
But when Xiao Yi made his suggestion, it suddenly clicked—she realized their real identities.
Xiao Yi frowned.
"Are they that obvious?"
No wonder his men always had to undergo Ling Yu’s retraining when placed in a shop.
Duoduo nodded.
"Just a few of them alone aren't obvious."
"But compared to the others, the difference is clear."
"Father, let me tell Aunt Xu to buy some servants."
Duoduo's meaning was clear: she didn't want Xiao Yi's people. She mentioned she still needed to go to her mother’s room and then withdrew.
Xiao Yi sat there, pondering for a long while before pushing his wheelchair and heading out.
