Su Xian knew her mother wouldn’t give up so easily.
She thought for a moment, then asked again.
“Yunxi, did you hear anything else from your grandmother on the way?”
Yunxi looked curious. “What else?”
“For instance, why would your grandmother come to the capital alone with you and Yunmeng?”
Yunxi thought back.
“Aunt, we didn’t come alone.”
“Grandmother said she wanted to come to the capital, so Grandfather asked Father to find a merchant caravan heading here.”
“That caravan only parted ways with us after we reached the capital.”
Hearing this, Su Xian finally understood the details.
She had asked her mother before, and her mother had spoken very pitifully, even saying the journey was full of hardships.
In the end, Su Xian felt sorry for her and didn’t press further.
But this was the truth after all.
Su Xian gave a bitter smile.
Seeing her expression, Yunxi hesitated.
“Aunt, to be honest, you can only trust at most a small part of what Grandmother says.”
“Even though the sages emphasize filial piety, you shouldn’t rely too much on Grandmother.”
Su Xian’s heart stirred. She was less perceptive than a child.
“Mm, I’ll listen to you.”
Yunxi was still a child, and hearing Su Xian say this, her face immediately flushed with excitement.
“Actually, on the road, I once asked Grandmother why she insisted on coming to the capital.”
“She always said it was to arrange a good marriage for me.”
Yunxi lowered her voice.
“Aunt, at first, when Grandmother said that, I was very grateful to her.”
“But after she said it many times, I started not to believe it.”
“Because no one keeps their granddaughter’s marriage on their lips all the time.”
Su Xian smiled and patted Yunxi’s head.
“You’re very clever.”
Yunxi blushed shyly. “Where am I clever? My sister is the cleverest!”
“She’s changed so much that when I first saw her, I almost didn’t dare to recognize her!”
Su Xian nodded. “Duoduo has indeed changed a lot.”
“But you don’t need to envy her.”
“The hardship she endured is not something most people could bear.”
Yunxi looked at Su Xian with curiosity.
To most people, Duoduo was an imperial-conferred princess—what hardship could she possibly face?
Su Xian saw the confusion in Yunxi’s eyes but didn’t explain much.
She only gave a subtle reminder.
“Duoduo’s transformation has to do with The Prince.”
As soon as she heard this, Yunxi’s confusion turned into sympathy.
The Prince of Pingyang was known to be cold and unapproachable, and he was extremely strict with others.
These were things Yunxi had heard her father say.
Yunxi finally understood the meaning behind Su Xian’s words.
But thinking about it, it made sense.
In just half a year, for someone to undergo such a complete transformation, the hardship must have been extraordinary.
Yunxi lowered her head and continued embroidering, while Su Xian split embroidery threads on the side.
Yunxi finally finished a section of embroidery. She examined it herself, then handed it to Su Xian.
“Aunt, take a look. Is it acceptable?”
Su Xian took it and inspected it carefully.
“Very good. Your embroidery skills have truly inherited your mother’s essence.”
Yunxi blushed with pride at the compliment.
“Father says the same.”
Su Xian set the embroidery piece aside and took out a new piece of fabric.
Yunxi reached out to take it, but Su Xian stopped her.
“You’ve just finished. Rest a while and keep me company.”
“Alright.” Yunxi obediently sat down beside her.
“Aunt, earlier when you asked, I’ll try to find a way to ask Yunmeng when I get back.”
“Grandmother favors her, so maybe she’ll let something slip in front of her.”
Yunxi recalled the question Su Xian had asked earlier.
Su Xian nodded while continuing to embroider.
“Alright, but be careful. Yunmeng has a lot of tricks.”
“If she sees through you and tells your grandmother, it could cause trouble.” Su Xian cautioned with concern.
Yunxi nodded.
“Aunt, don’t worry. Yunmeng is very competitive. If I provoke her, she’ll definitely fall for it.”
Having grown up together with Yunmeng and being a few years older, Yunxi knew her sister’s weaknesses well.
A hint of admiration flashed in Su Xian’s eyes.
“No matter what, be careful above all.”
“If you can find out, tell Aunt.”
“If you can’t, that’s fine too. We’ll know eventually.”
“I’m just worried that whatever your grandmother is planning might harm the Prince of Pingyang’s estate.”
That was Su Xian’s biggest concern.
Yunxi suddenly understood her Aunt’s worry. She stood up.
“Then I’ll go back now and try to trick Yunmeng into talking. Aunt, wait for me.”
Su Xian put down her embroidery and advised Yunxi.
“Be careful! If your grandmother asks, just say I told you we’ll go out again in a few days.”
Su Xian suddenly remembered that Xiao Yi had sent someone to inform her about Nanny Li.
“Say that a nanny in the estate has an infectious disease, and I have to be busy handling the aftermath.”
Yunxi was startled. “Infectious disease? Is it serious?”
Seeing Yunxi’s pale face, Su Xian pursed her lips.
“Luckily, it was caught early, and she’s already been moved out.”
“But I need to have the entire estate disinfected.”
“Besides, we don’t know if any servants who had contact with her were infected, so the doctor needs to check each person.”
“If no one else is infected in the next couple of days, then we can go out.”
Su Xian thought for a moment and added,
“Tell your grandmother to stay in her room unless necessary and not to wander around, to avoid catching the disease.”
“Yes.” Yunxi turned back, her face still pale.
A flicker of guilt crossed Su Xian’s eyes.
But there was no other choice.
This matter couldn’t be known to anyone else.
With that in mind, Su Xian called out,
“Baihe!”
“Yes, Princess.” Baihe walked in from outside.
“Tell the Steward to come see me right away.” Su Xian ordered.
Baihe hurried out.
Su Xian began to think. Where should she find a doctor to check the servants?
When the Steward arrived, he was sweating profusely.
“Catch your breath before you speak.”
“Baihe, bring the Steward a glass of cold watermelon juice.”
Since Duoduo had made juice from watermelon last time, and Su Xian saw how much she liked it, she had someone prepare some every day.
After downing a glass of cold watermelon juice, the Steward sighed with happiness.
“Thank you, Princess. What orders do you have for me?”
Su Xian chose her words carefully before speaking.
“Nanny Li has fallen seriously ill and has been moved out of the estate.”
“But we don’t know if anyone who came into contact with her was infected.”
“I want you to prepare some vinegar and fumigate every corner of the estate.”
“Also, the doctor who treated Nanny Li—where was he called from?”
The Steward bowed. “Your Highness, it was Tongrentang Pharmacy.”
