Su Xian slowly revealed a smile.
“Fine! You could even beat her up if you want!”
Duoduo shook her head with a grin.
“Father said that using your fists is the lowest form of strategy!”
“I won’t give anyone a handle to use against me.”
Su Xian patted Duoduo’s head. “Mm, you can do whatever you like.”
“But never hold back on my account.”
“You were right just now—they’re only Mother’s relatives, not yours!”
Duoduo studied Su Xian for a moment. Seeing the seriousness on her face, she understood that Su Xian meant every word.
“They bully Mother, so I’ll get revenge for Mother!”
Duoduo clenched her little fist, her face full of indignation.
Su Xian felt a warmth in her heart.
Having a little sweetheart like this—it was wonderful!
“Tomorrow is our day off. How about I take you out shopping?”
Su Xian wanted to make it up to Duoduo.
But the moment Duoduo heard this, her happy expression crumbled.
“Mother, I got punished by the Grand Tutor again today!”
Su Xian was startled. “Why? How can the Grand Tutor keep punishing you like this?”
Duoduo nodded pitifully.
“Exactly!”
“The Grand Tutor said my handwriting was poor and made me copy twice as much.”
“He also said I have to go to the Imperial Academy tomorrow!”
After speaking, Duoduo looked utterly dejected.
Tomorrow was supposed to be her first day off since entering the academy, and she had wanted to go out and have fun!
Duoduo almost regretted her decision. If she had known, she would have used her right hand to write beautifully and handed it in.
That would have really shown the Grand Tutor!
Alas!
Duoduo sighed.
But that was just wishful thinking.
Seeing Duoduo so down, Su Xian gently stroked her face with concern.
“So you have to go to class tomorrow too?”
“Is it for everyone, or just you?”
Duoduo shook her head.
“I don’t know. All I know is that I have to go.”
Su Xian comfortingly patted Duoduo’s back.
“Don’t worry. Think of it this way—maybe the Grand Tutor sees potential in you!”
“He’s sacrificing his own rest time to give you extra lessons.”
“None of your other classmates get this opportunity!”
Duoduo looked up and saw the encouraging expression on Su Xian’s face.
She nodded.
“Mother, you’re right. When I think about it that way, I feel much better!”
“Mother, I’m going back to do my homework now.” Comforted, Duoduo remembered her unfinished assignments.
“Alright, take your time, no need to rush.”
Su Xian comforted Duoduo with great care.
Duoduo nodded, curtsied to Su Xian, and left with her maidservants.
Su Xian sat in her chair for a long time without moving.
After a long pause, she gave instructions.
“Lianxin, go tell the steward.”
“For my mother and her two children, treat them as ordinary relatives.”
“Also, if they want to go out, the mansion’s carriage is not to be provided.”
“But have the steward send someone to follow them. They must not do anything improper that would disgrace the Prince’s household.”
Lianxin looked up at Su Xian with some surprise.
“Yes, this servant will see to it immediately!”
Su Xian watched Lianxin’s hurried retreating figure, her hands tightly clasped together inside her sleeves.
She was now the Princess of Pingyang, no longer just Su Xian, daughter of the Su family!
She couldn’t afford to be unclear about this and hold back her husband and daughter.
“Baihe, go tell my mother that I’m feeling unwell and won’t be going out tomorrow.”
Having made up her mind, Su Xian decided to make a clean break.
Baihe acknowledged and went to Madam Su’s courtyard.
Madam Su had only just managed to calm Yunmeng down.
But when she heard this from Baihe, her anger flared.
She had traveled a great distance precisely to use her daughter to gain advantages.
Now, if her daughter was drawing a line between them, what was she supposed to do?
News of Duoduo’s scolding of Madam Su quickly reached Xiao Yi’s ears.
The corner of Xiao Yi’s mouth curled up.
Not bad!
She was starting to look like a proper Princess.
Duoduo knew none of this.
She was currently holding a brush in her left hand, frowning deeply as she practiced her calligraphy.
“Princess, please take your time. This servant will stay with you!”
Seeing that Duoduo was writing somewhat quickly, Lüdou stepped in.
Duoduo shook her head.
“Father told me to hide my talents, so I can’t write well on purpose.”
“I’ll just finish these sloppily, and then we can go make that thing the teacher talked about—the birthday cake!”
Lüdou ground the ink slowly.
“Princess, isn’t Lady Li’s birthday still far off?”
“And from what this servant heard, it didn’t seem that difficult.”
Lüdou, having considerable knowledge of pastries, felt confident in her understanding.
Duoduo stopped writing, tilted her little head, and glanced at Lüdou.
“But I’m curious!”
With that, Duoduo resumed writing.
After finishing one sheet of large characters, Duoduo paused to rub her wrist.
Writing with her left hand was never smooth.
Every time, her wrist would ache.
“Qingliu, go check on Nanny Li. See how she’s doing.”
Thanks to Duoduo discovering the medicine early, Nanny Li hadn’t been seriously harmed.
But Duoduo was worried that due to Nanny Li’s age, she might not recover quickly, so she allowed her a few more days of rest.
Qingliu acknowledged and left.
Lüdou spread out a fresh sheet of Xuan paper for Duoduo, who once again picked up her brush.
“Princess, do you still remember that girl named Pangya?”
Lüdou suddenly recalled the past.
Duoduo focused her mind and breath, writing her first character.
“Mm, I remember. What about her?”
Duoduo continued writing as she spoke.
“This servant was just thinking about the old days, when people who bullied you—look at where they are now.”
Lüdou remembered the time when Duoduo and Pangya both studied reading, writing, and embroidery under Nanny Li.
Every day, after her lessons, Duoduo would run over to teach Lüdou.
And Pangya would still come and provoke them.
What Pangya didn’t know was that she was merely a tool used by Nanny Li to push Duoduo to study harder.
Duoduo stopped writing, quite satisfied with what she had just produced.
“So, don’t care what others say. Just focus on being your best, and time will give you the answer!”
“The teacher said that when you become strong enough, the whole world will make way for you.”
Having said that, Duoduo continued writing.
“Yes, thank you for the lesson, Princess!”
Lüdou felt deeply grateful.
If not for Duoduo, she might have remained just a little maidservant in the Song Mansion.
Perhaps she would have angered a master one day and been beaten to death or sold off somewhere.
Where would she be now, enjoying such a good life?
Not to mention the imminent fulfillment of her dream—opening her own pastry shop!
And in the capital, a place where land was as precious as gold!
Lüdou silently resolved to cherish this hard-won life.
She must be good to the Princess!
Duoduo quickly finished all the calligraphy.
She looked at the pile of paper and shook her hands.
Lüdou carefully blew the ink dry and neatly packed them into the book box.
Just then, Qingliu entered with Nanny Li.
“This servant pays respects to the Princess.” As soon as she entered, Nanny Li knelt before Duoduo.
Startled, Duoduo quickly helped Nanny Li up.
“Nanny, why are you kneeling? Please, get up!”
