When Dodo thought of Liqing's calloused tiger mouth area, she hesitated for a moment.
Since Liqing knew martial arts, having calluses there was plausible.
"Stop!" Dodo called out.
Liqing immediately ceased his movements and stood still with his hands at his sides.
"Would you be willing to serve as my attendant?" Dodo asked.
"To serve the princess is this humble one's blessing," Liqing replied with steady composure.
Dodo gained a bit more respect for Liqing.
This Liqing was steady and composed, neither arrogant nor rash—a good complement to Lvdou and Stone.
"Stone, have him sign a deed of indenture and take it to the steward to register at the yamen later."
"Yes, Princess!" Stone was very delighted.
"Liqing, why don't you thank the Princess quickly!" Stone gave Liqing a pat.
"This humble one thanks the Princess!" Liqing cupped his hands and bowed toward Dodo.
"You should kneel and kowtow," Stone reminded Liqing.
Dodo waved her hand.
"No need, Stone. Starting tomorrow, you'll bring him along with you."
"Oh, and later go to Lvdou for some silver. Tomorrow, go buy him some sets of clothes."
"Since he's following me, he must not disgrace my reputation!"
Both Stone and Liqing were now Dodo's servants, representing her dignity.
"Yes," Stone nodded.
A flicker of surprise swiftly passed across Liqing's face.
"This humble one thanks the Princess." After bowing, Liqing followed Stone out.
Word that Dodo had taken Liqing in quickly reached Xiao Yi.
"The princess didn't suspect anything?" Xiao Yi didn't even lift his head.
"Reporting to the prince, the princess had Liqing perform a set of punches."
"Liqing also said the princess examined his hands," Yunxiao said with a puzzled look.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi raised his head slightly, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips.
Dodo had already come into her own. Not bad.
"Yunxiao, go tell Liqing this."
"From now on, his master is only the princess."
"Furthermore, no one from our side is to contact him anymore."
"Let it be as if he was originally bought by the princess."
Xiao Yi's tone carried a hint of warning.
"Yes, your subordinate has already informed him. Later, I will go and reiterate it."
Yunxiao naturally understood Xiao Yi's good intentions.
At the hour of the Rabbit, Dodo was woken by Lvdou.
She stretched lazily and sat up groggily.
Lvdou quickly stepped forward to help Dodo change clothes, while Qingliu prepared the washing supplies.
"Great, tomorrow's a rest day — no school!"
The thought of having the next day off lifted Dodo's spirits.
"Then the princess can sleep in tomorrow," Lvdou said, her voice full of concern.
"Hmm! Tomorrow, how about we all go to Aunt Xu's shop?"
Dodo got out of bed, and Lvdou quickly helped her put on her shoes.
"Wherever the princess goes, I go." That was Lvdou's consistent principle.
Dodo nodded. Under Qingliu's care, she washed up and sat down before the dressing table.
Lvdou deftly tied Dodo's hair into a topknot, letting the loose strands hang down her back.
On the topknot, Dodo still had Lvdou insert the hairpin Xiao Yi had given her.
Lvdou also fastened a carp-shaped jade ornament onto Dodo's waist. The carp's eyes were inlaid with rubies, making it quite exquisite.
Lvdou was about to add another accessory when Dodo stood up.
"Lvdou, that's enough."
Lvdou held a gold necklace, looking earnest and persuasive.
"Princess, those people at court pay the most attention to these things. Could you perhaps wear a few more?"
Dodo shook her head.
"What I wear, I decide myself. Whatever others think is their business."
"I'm off; I still have to pay my respects to Mother and Father."
With that, Dodo turned and walked out.
Lvdou quickly locked up the jewelry and called Qingliu to follow.
After hurrying and rushing to the Imperial Academy just as the bell was ringing, Dodo carried her book chest and quickly took her seat.
No sooner had she sat down than the Grand Tutor walked in.
Dodo breathed a sigh of relief and took her assignment from the book chest.
The Grand Tutor checked their assignments every day before class.
With a stern face, the Grand Tutor swept a serious glance across the room. His gaze settled on Dodo's direction.
Dodo's heart tightened.
Oh no!
Had the Grand Tutor seen her barely making it to class on time?
Dodo quickly lowered her head, avoiding the Grand Tutor's eyes.
"Why hasn't Xiao Yunshi arrived yet?"
The Grand Tutor's stern voice rang out from the front.
Dodo breathed a sigh of relief and stealthily glanced to her side. Her deskmate on the left was not there.
No one in the classroom spoke.
The Grand Tutor's face remained stony. "Hand in all your assignments!"
The first person in the leftmost row began collecting assignments one by one.
Dodo noticed that Song Shuyu had come to class today.
Xiao Yunning still hadn't shown up.
Dodo took her assignment and walked down the aisle to the front.
As soon as she placed her assignment before the Grand Tutor, he picked it up and studied it for a few moments.
Dodo felt a bit nervous inside.
The Grand Tutor set down her calligraphy and observed Dodo.
"Some improvement. But too slow—more practice is needed."
"Tomorrow, continue handing in ten sheets of large characters!"
Dodo's eyes widened slightly.
From the very first day she entered the Imperial Academy and was punished with large-character writing, her daily homework had always been double that of the others.
"Grand Tutor, tomorrow is a rest day," Dodo reminded him quietly.
The students below began whispering among themselves.
Who among students doesn't love a day off?
A day off meant sleeping in, going out to play, and doing whatever you wanted.
The moment the words left her mouth, Dodo saw the look in the Grand Tutor's eyes turn unusually sharp.
"Others can rest. You cannot."
"Why? I'm not the only one who writes poorly!" Dodo argued defiantly.
Her classmates cast her looks of both pity and admiration.
To dare challenge the Grand Tutor—that was bold indeed!
"Am I the Grand Tutor, or are you?"
The Grand Tutor picked up the ruler from his desk and shook it threateningly.
Dodo immediately deflated.
"Yes, your student understands." Dodo slunk back to her seat, crestfallen.
She saw Xiao Yunan wearing a smug look of schadenfreude.
Dodo couldn't help but wonder if Prince Ling had arranged for the Grand Tutor to torment her deliberately.
She then saw Xiao Yuchuan wearing a "serves you right" expression too.
Dodo felt somewhat dejected as she sat down.
Why did the Grand Tutor always single her out for punishment?
Watching another classmate get rapped on the hand, Dodo dismissed her earlier suspicion.
Finally, the last person to hand in their assignment returned to their seat.
The Grand Tutor put the assignments aside and prepared to begin the day's lesson.
Just then, someone came running in through the door.
Everyone turned to look at the entrance.
It was Xiao Yunshi.
Dodo looked at Xiao Yunshi with curiosity.
Because today, Xiao Yunshi looked truly disheveled.
His clothes were dirty, mud-smeared. He had a huge lump on his head, and his hair was a complete mess.
