The Princess Consort of Pingyang put down her embroidery and stood up.
"Your Highness, why would someone from the palace come here?"
The Prince of Pingyang set down the book in his hand. "Let's go and see."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang pushed his wheelchair and headed out the door.
Duoduo reluctantly put down her book and helped push the wheelchair as well.
Outside the door, Ling Feng saw them and bowed first.
"Your Highness, the visitor is Eunuch Li."
The Prince of Pingyang raised an eyebrow. Eunuch Li was the head eunuch who served his imperial father.
What could possibly be so important that Eunuch Li would personally make the trip all the way to Xianyang?
"Let's go."
The Prince of Pingyang stroked the jade thumb ring on his finger, inwardly guessing Eunuch Li's intentions for coming.
Ling Feng pushed the wheelchair, while the Princess Consort of Pingyang took Duoduo by the hand, and together they arrived at the front hall.
Sitting in the hall was a pale, beardless eunuch. Seeing the Prince of Pingyang, he hurriedly stood up.
"This old servant greets the Prince of Pingyang and the Princess Consort. Wishing Your Highnesses peace."
The Prince of Pingyang raised a hand.
"There is no need for such formalities, Eunuch Li. Please sit down so we can talk."
The Prince of Pingyang leaned back weakly in his wheelchair.
Eunuch Li looked the Prince of Pingyang up and down.
"Your Highness does not look very well. Do you need this old servant to report back to His Majesty and have an imperial physician sent over?"
The Prince of Pingyang shook his head.
"There is no need for the trouble. By the way, Eunuch Li, you have traveled thousands of miles to come to Xianyang. What is the occasion?"
A smile appeared on Eunuch Li's face. "This old servant is here to deliver good news to Your Highness."
"Good news? What good news?"
The Prince of Pingyang was quite perplexed.
Eunuch Li took out an imperial decree, unrolled it, and prepared to read.
Everyone in the room, except for the Prince of Pingyang, knelt down.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The second legitimate daughter of Lady Song shall hereby be adopted under the name of the Prince of Pingyang... Respect this!"
After finishing the contents of the imperial edict, Eunuch Li looked at the Prince of Pingyang with a beaming smile.
"Prince of Pingyang, please receive the decree!"
"This subject obeys the decree!"
The Prince of Pingyang respectfully raised both hands above his head and accepted the imperial decree.
"Ling Feng!"
Ling Feng got up from the ground, pulled a heavy purse from his chest, and slipped it to Eunuch Li.
Eunuch Li weighed the purse in his hand and tucked it into his sleeve pocket with a smile.
"May I ask Eunuch Li, how is my imperial father's health?"
"This prince is very concerned about him. Eunuch Li, you must urge my imperial father to eat his three meals on time and take good care of his health."
Handing the imperial decree to Ling Feng, the Prince of Pingyang expressed his concern for the Emperor.
"Do not worry, Your Highness. His Majesty is doing well in all aspects; he only misses Your Highness."
"You see, as soon as he heard that you were going to adopt a daughter, His Majesty immediately sent this old servant to deliver the decree."
A glint flashed in the eyes of the Prince of Pingyang.
"Eunuch Li, this prince has not yet submitted a memorial to my imperial father."
Originally, the Prince of Pingyang had prepared a memorial.
However, because of saving Duoduo, the memorial got wet.
The Prince of Pingyang felt it was the will of Heaven, so he did not submit it afterward.
The smile on Eunuch Li's face did not fade.
"His Majesty heard that Your Highness has finally thought it through and decided to adopt a child."
"Therefore, His Majesty issued the imperial decree right away."
"Heard? From whom?" The Prince of Pingyang began guessing the possible candidates.
Eunuch Li's eyes flickered.
"Recently, after finishing his official duties, His Majesty spends most of his time at Chonghua Palace with Noble Consort Li."
The Prince of Pingyang's eyes glinted again.
Noble Consort Li?
Wasn't she the Second Prince's mother?
So that was it!
No wonder the Emperor had already issued an imperial decree before he even submitted his memorial.
How desperate the Second Prince must be to lock him and Duoduo together!
"Your Highness, is this the child you are adopting?"
Eunuch Li's gaze landed on Duoduo.
Duoduo was a little nervous. She couldn't understand what the adults were talking about.
However, she did know that this pale, beardless man was a eunuch from the palace.
Moreover, from what the Prince of Pingyang said, this eunuch was someone who served the Emperor.
Duoduo peeked at Eunuch Li with a sense of novelty.
She hadn't expected the conversation between Eunuch Li and the Prince of Pingyang to suddenly fall on her.
Duoduo hastily withdrew her gaze, looking down at her nose and focusing her mind as she stood up straight.
The Prince of Pingyang turned the jade thumb ring on his hand.
"Yes! Duoduo, come here and greet Eunuch Li."
Duoduo stepped forward timidly, preparing to bow to Eunuch Li.
Eunuch Li stepped aside to avoid it. "You mustn't! That would shorten this old servant's life!"
Duoduo stood up, looking at the Prince of Pingyang with a bewildered expression.
"Alright, go stand to the side."
The Prince of Pingyang waved his hand as if he were quite disgusted.
Seeing Duoduo's timid appearance, Eunuch Li's eyes flickered.
"Why did Your Highness choose her?"
The Prince of Pingyang's hand, which was turning the jade thumb ring, paused.
"Is this what my imperial father wants to ask?"
Eunuch Li bowed his waist. "This old servant has overstepped! This old servant spoke out of turn and deserves a beating!"
Raising his hand, Eunuch Li lightly slapped his own mouth.
The Prince of Pingyang waved his hand.
"Eunuch Li, this prince was just asking casually."
"By the way, are you heading straight back to the capital after this? Do you need this prince to send someone to escort you?"
Eunuch Li smiled and bowed. "Thank you for your consideration, Prince of Pingyang, but this old servant still needs to make a trip to Fengcheng."
"Going to Fengcheng will be a detour on your way back to the capital." The Prince of Pingyang seemed to mention it casually.
"It does not matter. This old servant will return to the capital once the errands are done." Eunuch Li's smile did not diminish.
"Eunuch Li has traveled all the way from the capital, enduring a long and exhausting journey. You must be tired."
"Ling Feng, take Eunuch Li to get some rest."
As soon as the Prince of Pingyang finished speaking, Eunuch Li declined.
"Your Highness, there is no need. This old servant is in a hurry to go to Fengcheng, and His Majesty is still waiting for this old servant to return and serve him!"
"In such a rush? Why not rest a while and leave after having dinner?"
"There is no need! This old servant planned to leave right after reading the decree." Eunuch Li smiled like a Maitreya Buddha.
With that, Eunuch Li bowed to the Prince of Pingyang and the Princess Consort, then walked out.
Ling Feng hurriedly followed him.
Only when the Princess Consort of Pingyang saw that Eunuch Li had gone far away did she dare to ask what was on her mind.
"Your Highness, you didn't submit a memorial, so why would your imperial father issue an imperial decree so easily?"
The Prince of Pingyang let out a scoff.
Why?
It was nothing more than the power of pillow talk!
But just how badly did the Second Prince want him to be down on his luck?
To actually have Noble Consort Li step forward and persuade his imperial father to issue the decree.
The Prince of Pingyang's eyes swept over Duoduo.
Eunuch Li was in a hurry to go to Fengcheng, and the Prince of Pingyang guessed it must have something to do with Duoduo.
As for what it was, he would naturally find out after waiting a few days.
Feeling the Prince of Pingyang's scrutinizing gaze, Duoduo shrank back slightly.
Then, she heard the Prince of Pingyang discussing with the Princess Consort.
"Since my imperial father has already issued the decree, Duoduo will be our daughter from now on."
"Have someone arrange the nearest auspicious date. Our Pingyang Prince's Mansion will host a banquet for guests."
"We will officially introduce our daughter to everyone!"
The Prince of Pingyang was expressionless, showing absolutely no joy in acknowledging a daughter.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang, however, had a look of joy on her face.
"I will go handle it right away. I will definitely organize a grand and glorious adoption banquet!"
The Prince of Pingyang looked coldly at Duoduo, who seemed completely out of it.
"From now on, you will officially become the daughter of this prince and the Princess Consort. Are you happy?"
