The Prince of Pingyang pursed his lips and tried hard to look away.
Duoduo puffed out her cheeks.
"If you want to laugh, just laugh! I won't be angry!"
The corners of the Prince of Pingyang's mouth finally curled up. He coughed lightly, and his face returned to normal.
"If you want to become stronger, eating more isn't enough. You have to find the right method."
Duoduo's eyes lit up.
"What method?"
The Prince of Pingyang looked at Ling Feng, sending a chill down Ling Feng's spine.
"Your Highness, she is too young, and besides, she is a girl."
Unconvinced, Duoduo jumped down from the chair.
"Who says I'm little! I'm already four years old! I'm a grown-up!"
Ling Feng didn't expect Duoduo to have such a big reaction.
He scratched the back of his head.
"Learning martial arts is very tough. Moreover, you have to get up at the crack of dawn every day to train. You won't be able to handle it!"
Duoduo glared at him with wide eyes. "Who says? If you don't let me try, how do you know I can't do it!"
The Prince of Pingyang looked at Duoduo calmly.
"You must think this through. Once you start learning, you cannot stop!"
"If you want to back out halfway, I will deduct your silver!"
Duoduo nodded very firmly.
"I've thought it through. I want to become strong!"
A subtle change flickered in the Prince of Pingyang's eyes as he looked at Duoduo.
"Very well. From tomorrow onwards, come to the study at the crack of dawn and train with Ling Feng."
"Remember, you cannot be late. If you are late, it will be considered as you giving up voluntarily. Do you understand?"
Duoduo nodded without hesitation. "I remember!"
The Prince of Pingyang waved his hand.
"Since that's the case, go back and rest early today."
Duoduo hesitated for a moment, but ultimately bowed to the Prince of Pingyang and left.
Ling Feng looked at her small retreating figure, feeling a bit softhearted.
"Your Highness, the Young Lady is too young. This subordinate has never trained such a small subordinate before."
The Prince of Pingyang turned the jade thumb ring on his finger.
"Did you hear the imperial edict today?"
"Yes." Ling Feng didn't understand what the Prince of Pingyang meant.
"From now on, no matter what, she is my daughter in name."
"Since she is my daughter, she is naturally one with me."
"If she cannot become strong, she will be bullied by others."
"Rather than letting her be bullied by others, why can't she be the one bullying others?"
"It just so happens that she has the desire to become strong now, so I am just going with the flow and giving her a helping hand."
Ling Feng lowered his head. "Your Highness is wise."
The Prince of Pingyang stroked his jade thumb ring. "She is young now, and her bones are soft and supple. It is the perfect time for her to train."
"Go back and think about it carefully. Come up with a set of fist techniques suitable for her to practice."
Surprise appeared in Ling Feng's eyes.
The Prince wanted Young Lady Duoduo to become strong, but at the same time, he wanted the training to be suitable for her. Wasn't this making things difficult for him?
"What? Is it too difficult? Or should I have Ling Yu come back?"
The Prince of Pingyang saw the surprise in Ling Feng's eyes.
Ling Feng hurriedly shook his head.
"No! Of course it's not difficult. This subordinate was just thinking that once the Young Lady knows of Your Highness's painstaking efforts, she will definitely be extremely moved."
The Prince of Pingyang looked at Ling Feng.
"It seems you have too much free time. Perhaps I should have you swap places with Ling Yu, or even Ling Xiao or Ling Jian!"
The Prince of Pingyang's tone was as leisurely as if he were commenting on the day's weather.
However, beads of sweat rolled down Ling Feng's forehead, and he dropped to one knee.
"Your Highness, this subordinate knows his mistake! Please punish me, Your Highness!"
The Prince of Pingyang didn't speak for a long while. Ling Feng knelt on the ground, not daring to get up.
At this moment, the Princess Consort of Pingyang walked in.
"Your Highness, I have chosen an auspicious date."
The Prince of Pingyang moved his hand slightly, and Ling Feng stood up from the ground.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang walked over and handed the list in her hand to the Prince of Pingyang.
After the Prince of Pingyang took it, he didn't look at it.
"Pingting, have you had dinner yet? Would you like to eat together?"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang froze for a moment; the next second, her eyes grew moist.
Ever since the Prince of Pingyang fell from his horse, his temperament had changed.
Not only did he sleep in a separate room from her, but they didn't even eat their three meals a day together.
If the Princess Consort of Pingyang wanted to see the Prince of Pingyang, it depended on his mood.
Most of the time when she came over, she wouldn't be able to see him.
It was only recently, because of Duoduo's arrival, that the Princess Consort of Pingyang and the Prince of Pingyang started seeing each other more often.
Seeing the Princess Consort of Pingyang shedding tears, the Prince of Pingyang turned his face away.
Noticing her husband's movement, the Princess Consort of Pingyang hurriedly wiped away her tears.
"I've been busy all afternoon and happen to not have eaten yet!"
Hearing this, Baihe hurriedly stepped forward to set the bowls and chopsticks.
After washing her hands, the Princess Consort of Pingyang finally picked up her chopsticks.
"Eat."
The Prince of Pingyang said softly.
"Thank you, Your Highness." The Princess Consort of Pingyang was very excited.
She picked up the food in her bowl, put it in her mouth, and chewed mechanically, not even knowing what it tasted like.
The two of them ate their meal in silence. After a good while, the Prince of Pingyang put down his chopsticks.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang also quickly put down hers.
"Why did you stop eating? You go ahead and eat, I'm already full."
Because the Prince of Pingyang sat in a wheelchair and had limited mobility, he ate very little every day.
Even though he had Ling Feng serving him closely, it was always uncomfortable.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang smiled. "I am also full."
The Prince of Pingyang frowned.
Baihe, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but speak up.
"Your Highness, ever since you fell ill, the Princess Consort has been so worried that she hasn't been able to eat."
"Dining with Your Highness today, the Princess Consort has already eaten much more than usual."
"Baihe! Shut up!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang reprimanded Baihe, her face flushed red.
Baihe dropped to her knees with a thud.
"Today, even if the Princess Consort punishes this servant, this servant still has to speak."
"Since Your Highness was injured, you have been so worried every day that you can neither sleep nor eat."
"But you don't dare let Your Highness know. You only dare to cry secretly outside Your Highness's door."
"Princess Consort, you have put in so much painstaking effort, why don't you let Your Highness know?"
"Aren't husband and wife supposed to be one entity? If you don't say anything, how would Your Highness know?"
"Baihe! Get out! I can no longer keep you by my side!"
The Princess Consort pointed out the door and shouted angrily at Baihe.
Baihe kowtowed heavily three times to the Princess Consort.
Then, she dashed out the door.
The Prince of Pingyang gave Ling Feng a look, and Ling Feng hurriedly followed her out.
A moment later, Ling Feng carried in the unconscious Baihe.
"Your Highness, she tried to ram her head into a pillar as soon as she went out. Fortunately, this subordinate caught her."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang didn't expect Baihe to be so extreme.
She covered her mouth and began to cry silently.
The Prince of Pingyang turned his jade thumb ring.
"Ling Feng, have someone send her back."
"Also, have someone keep watch over her so she doesn't do anything foolish again when she wakes up."
"Yes."
Ling Feng went out, called an older female servant, and had her carry Baihe out on her back.
The Prince of Pingyang observed his wife. Without realizing it before, looking at her now, he discovered that his wife actually showed signs of aging!
One must know, his wife was only twenty years old!
Moreover, his wife was terribly thin; the clothes she wore hung loosely on her frame.
A wave of guilt surged up in the Prince of Pingyang's heart.
"I'm sorry."
