Duoduo carefully finished taking her pulse and then withdrew her hand.
Nanny Li’s heart was filled with anxiety.
“Princess, I’m not ill, am I?” Nanny Li noticed something unusual in the way Duoduo looked at her.
Duoduo thought for a moment, stood up, and walked to the table to get a bottle.
“Remember this—take one pill three times a day,” Duoduo said, shaking out a few pills and handing them to Nanny Li.
Nanny Li accepted them with both hands and bowed respectfully.
“Thank you for your gift, Princess!”
“For the next two days, stop drinking the medicine the doctor prescribed. Bring me the prescription so I can take a look.”
“Also, while you’re taking this medicine, don’t eat spicy food, and be careful not to catch a chill.”
“I understand. I’ll go get the prescription now.” Nanny Li carefully held the pills and walked out.
Duoduo’s brow remained furrowed as she sat in the chair, waiting for Nanny Li to return.
Nanny Li came back quickly with the prescription.
Duoduo took it and carefully examined the contents.
“Nanny, was this prescription written by the doctor Mother called?” Duoduo set the paper down.
Nanny Li nodded.
“I was feeling unwell, and the princess consort sent for a doctor.”
When Nanny Li saw Duoduo’s brows knit together, her heart sank.
“Princess, is there something wrong with this prescription?”
Duoduo pondered for a moment.
“It’s a bit problematic, but don’t say anything for now.”
“Just take the medicine I gave you. Once it’s finished, you’ll be fine.”
“It’s too late today. I’ll find time tomorrow to ask Mother about it.”
“Yes.” Nanny Li immediately guessed there was more to it.
“Alright, go back and rest. I need to sleep too.”
Duoduo carefully tucked the prescription into her sleeve and yawned.
Seeing that Lü Dou wasn’t there, Nanny Li said, “Let me help you settle in for the night.”
Duoduo didn’t refuse—she was truly exhausted.
She slept dreamlessly through the night.
The next morning at the fifth watch (around 5–7 a.m.), Duoduo woke up right on time.
She sat up with a start and didn’t see Lü Dou, realizing she must have gone to the kitchen to make pastries.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
“Come in!”
Duoduo saw an unfamiliar maidservant push the door open and enter.
She watched the girl without revealing anything.
The maidservant set down the basin she was carrying, then walked over and knelt before Duoduo.
“Your servant Qingliu pays respects to the Princess.”
Duoduo didn’t tell her to rise immediately but studied her instead.
From Duoduo’s angle, she could only see the top of the girl’s head, her hair dark like a crow’s wing.
“Lift your head,” Duoduo ordered.
Qingliu raised her head slowly, but her eyes remained cast downward, avoiding Duoduo’s gaze.
Hmm, her manners are acceptable.
Duoduo made a mental judgment.
Qingliu had an oval face and willow-leaf eyebrows, giving her a fragile, pitiable look.
“You’re a new maidservant? I haven’t seen you before,” Duoduo said, tilting her head as if curious.
Qingliu lowered her head, her voice crisp.
“His Highness the Prince assigned me to attend to you, Princess.”
“How old are you?” Duoduo swung her legs idly.
“Your servant is ten, Princess.” Qingliu’s attitude was very respectful.
Seeing that time was pressing, Duoduo stopped dawdling.
“Rise.” She stood up to dress, and Qingliu moved closer to help.
Duoduo noticed Qingliu’s movements and a flicker of realization crossed her eyes.
This girl knows martial arts.
“Qingliu, do you have any family left?” Duoduo asked casually while changing her clothes.
“Your servant’s family are all gone, Princess.”
Duoduo was taken aback. “Why?”
“Because of a drought, Princess. Our farm yielded nothing.”
“My parents took my elder brother and me to flee.”
“On the way, we encountered bandits…”
Qingliu paused briefly. “They were all killed.”
“I was young, and my brother shielded me with his body. I escaped the fatal blow and survived.”
Duoduo’s face showed sympathy.
“You’re in the prince’s mansion now. Let the past be past.”
Qingliu helped Duoduo off the bed and put on her embroidered shoes.
Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.
The sound reached the entrance, and Lü Dou appeared.
“Princess, I was delayed… Eh? Who are you?”
Lü Dou stared at Qingliu, startled.
Duoduo shot Lü Dou a meaningful look.
“Lü Dou, her name is Qingliu. She’ll be working with you from now on.”
Lü Dou understood immediately and put on a friendly smile.
“Qingliu, it’s good you’re here. I was worried the Princess might wake up late.”
“Princess, let me help you wash up.”
“No, Lü Dou. You tidy up the bed.”
“Qingliu, you help me wash up.” Duoduo gave the order.
“Yes.” Both Lü Dou and Qingliu bowed.
Once Duoduo was ready, she picked up yesterday’s prescription and tucked it into her sleeve.
“Let’s go. We’re going to eat.”
Duoduo led the two maidservants quickly to the dining hall.
Only Su Xian was in the dining hall; Duoduo didn’t see her father.
“Daughter greets Mother!” Duoduo curtsied to Su Xian.
“Mother, where is Father?” Duoduo asked curiously.
Su Xian reached out for Duoduo, who walked over and sat beside her.
“Your father had something urgent and left early. Let’s eat first.”
“Alright.” Duoduo set aside the questions on her mind.
After they finished eating, Su Xian finally looked at Qingliu.
“Your father said Qingliu knows martial arts. She’ll be by your side.”
Duoduo nodded.
“Yes, Mother. Qingliu already told me.”
“Mother, I’m going to school now. I’ll tell you something when I get back.”
Su Xian looked puzzled.
“Something? Why can’t you say it now?”
“Is it about the watermelons? I’ve already sent word to the farm overseer.”
“Don’t worry. I remember what you said!”
Duoduo shook her head. She looked at the servants in the room.
“All of you, wait outside. Lian Xin stays.”
Su Xian, hearing this, looked at Duoduo with slight suspicion. Then she waved her hand at the servants.
Bai He led everyone out and closed the door.
“Mother, who went out yesterday to fetch the doctor for Nanny Li?”
Su Xian had been uneasy when she saw Duoduo looking so serious.
But when Duoduo brought this up, she immediately asked, “What’s wrong? Is there something amiss?”
Duoduo shook her head.
“Mother, first tell me who was sent to get the doctor.”
Su Xian looked at Lian Xin, who stepped forward half a step.
“Princess Consort, Princess, yesterday the steward of the mansion was sent to fetch the doctor.”
“Where did he fetch him from? Which clinic?” Duoduo pressed.
Su Xian’s heart seemed to skip a beat.
“Lian Xin, send someone to call the steward here!”
Duoduo raised her hand to stop Lian Xin.
“Mother, it’s best not to make too big a move. It might alert the enemy.”
