At that moment, Duoduo could already hear the sound of footsteps running not far behind her.
She had no time to think and could only quickly blend into Prince Ling’s procession.
After walking just over a dozen steps, an imperial guard rushed past the side of the group in a hurry.
Prince Ling, lying on his lounge chair, glanced over with some curiosity.
“Could something have happened outside the palace? Someone! Go and find out!”
“Yes.”
A guard acknowledged and promptly followed after him.
Duoduo kept her head down, walking at the very end of the line.
The maidservant ahead was too nervous to notice that someone had joined them from behind.
When it became clear that the group was heading in a different direction—one leading deeper into the palace—Duoduo stopped.
Clutching her book box, she hid behind a nearby rockery.
Only after Prince Ling, Song Shuyu, and the others had moved on did she emerge and head toward the Imperial Academy.
As she walked, Duoduo pondered.
Prince Ling hadn’t even recovered from his illness—why was he bringing Song Shuyu into the palace?
And she had noticed that Song Shuyu was wearing a very striking, colorful gown, as if attending some grand celebration.
Duoduo glanced at the sky.
“Oh no! I’m going to be late!”
Clutching her book box, she broke into a frantic run.
By the time she arrived at the Imperial Academy, gasping for breath, she saw the Grand Tutor standing sternly at the entrance.
Duoduo quickly stopped, steadied her breathing, and walked straight toward the Grand Tutor without looking aside.
“Grand Tutor, your student has arrived late,” she said, setting down her book box and bowing.
“Hmph!” The Grand Tutor snorted, clasped his hands behind his back, and went inside.
Duoduo quietly stuck out her tongue, picked up her book box, and followed him in.
The Grand Tutor tapped his warning ruler against the desk. Duoduo caught on and hastily handed in the calligraphy she had written.
He flipped through it briefly and laid it aside without comment.
Then, pointing to the blank paper on the desk, he said, “Write it again!”
Duoduo’s eyes widened in disbelief.
He wanted her to write it right here, on the spot?
How was she supposed to do that?
With her left hand or her right?
If she used her right hand, wouldn’t that blow her cover?
“What? Was someone else writing for you?” The Grand Tutor’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
Duoduo braced herself and replied, “No, Grand Tutor, that’s not it.”
“Then why don’t you write it right away?” He rapped the ruler on the desk.
Duoduo lowered her head, crestfallen, and walked over.
Picking up the brush with her left hand, she sneaked a glance at the Grand Tutor.
He sat there like a mountain, steady and unyielding.
It was true—he had already guessed she had been using her left hand!
Duoduo silently lamented.
This was all her father’s fault!
He had really thrown her into a mess this time!
As she grumbled inwardly, she began to write characters on the paper.
At the Pingyang Prince’s Mansion—
“Ah-choo! Ah-choo!” Xiao Yi sneezed twice in a row.
Yunxiao asked anxiously, “The Prince, have you caught a chill?”
Xiao Yi rubbed his nose and shook his head lightly.
“It’s nothing.”
“By the way, has the capital magistrate sent anyone yet?”
Yunxiao nodded. “They’re already on the way.”
After saying this, he looked puzzled.
“The Prince, weren’t we trying to expose the mastermind behind that physician?”
“Why are we taking this matter to the capital magistrate?”
“Wouldn’t that put us at a disadvantage?”
Xiao Yi shook his head.
“Once the capital magistrate arrives, you and the steward must both vehemently deny that anything ever happened.”
“Then, arrange for someone to secretly tip him off.”
“When the time is right, make sure the physician appears…”
His voice dropped to a low whisper for the rest.
Yunxiao listened, and a look of understanding dawned on his face.
“The Prince, you want people to think there’s discord within our household!”
Xiao Yi did not deny it.
“Once the capital magistrate arrives, the mastermind behind the physician will also get wind of it.”
“Knowing we have a weak spot, they’ll likely act swiftly with a follow-up.”
“Also, make sure the person you arrange is not too conspicuous,” Xiao Yi instructed.
“Understood. I’ll see to it immediately.” Knowing it was urgent, Yunxiao quickly withdrew.
Back at the Imperial Academy, Duoduo finally set down her brush.
Under the Grand Tutor’s watchful eye, she had written more carefully than ever before.
The Grand Tutor picked up her work, glanced at it, and made a face of disdain.
“If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d have thought it was scrawled by a dog’s paw!”
Duoduo’s eyes went wide.
Was the Grand Tutor insulting her?
His gaze fixed on her. “What? Do you disagree?”
Duoduo quickly lowered her eyes. “Your student wouldn’t dare!”
The Grand Tutor tapped his ruler. “Again!”
“Oh.” Duoduo reached for the brush with her left hand.
“Smack!” The ruler cracked against the desk, making Duoduo instinctively pull her hand back.
“Switch to your right hand!”
Seeing the Grand Tutor’s stern face, she scratched her head in hesitation.
What now?
Her father had told her to hide her talent—how was she supposed to do that now?
If she wrote with her right hand, everything would be revealed!
Father!
You’ve really ruined me!
Duoduo puffed out her cheeks in frustration.
“What? Can’t you do it?” The Grand Tutor’s cold words washed over her like a basin of ice water from head to toe.
In the end, Duoduo decided to throw caution to the wind.
She picked up the brush and began writing swiftly, her strokes flowing like a dragon’s dance.
Finishing a full page of characters, she set down the brush and bowed her head, not daring to meet the Grand Tutor’s gaze.
He picked up the page and examined it in silence for a long moment, saying nothing.
Then, with a wave of his ruler, he gestured to a seat.
Duoduo breathed a sigh of relief, picked up her book box, and prepared to sit at her usual spot.
But the Grand Tutor’s ruler tapped again.
“Come sit up front!”
Duoduo turned and saw him pointing at the desk in front of him—the spot she remembered belonged to Xiao Yun’an.
Seeing that the Grand Tutor was watching her, she didn’t dare question it and took the seat.
Once she was settled, the Grand Tutor asked, “Why do you value the art of governance over the methods of ruling?”
Duoduo’s eyes widened again. Why was he asking her this?
When she saw him shake his ruler at her, she bit her lip and began to answer.
“It means placing great importance on the tactics of governing while belittling the actual administration of state affairs.”
“Then, Princess, do you know what the pressing national concern is right now?”
Duoduo unconsciously scratched her palm.
Was this really a topic she could discuss?
She saw the Grand Tutor staring at her intently, waiting for her answer.
Lowering her eyes, she said, “Your student is dim-witted and does not know.”
She expected this answer would anger the Grand Tutor, but instead, he remained silent for a long time.
Duoduo’s heart grew restless.
This was a topic she had once discussed with Xiao Yi.
She knew the answer well.
But this was inside the palace, in front of the Grand Tutor!
After a long pause, the Grand Tutor seemed to let out a sigh.
“When the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain intact?”
Duoduo looked up in surprise, and saw something stirring in his eyes that she couldn’t quite name—an unspoken emotion.
But when she tried to make it out, he blinked, and it was gone.
