Duoduo shot Nanny Li a look, and Nanny Li walked out.
After a moment, Nanny Li returned.
“Princess, that was someone from Consort Xian’s palace. They said Consort Xian requests your presence.”
Duoduo’s eyes flickered.
Consort Xian?
Prince Rui’s mother.
What did she want with her?
Duoduo handed the kettle to Lüdou. “Nanny Li, what do you think? Should I go?”
Nanny Li bent her knees in a curtsey.
“Your Highness, that maid was only a third-rank attendant, not one of Consort Xian’s personal servants.”
“It seems Consort Xian doesn’t place great importance on Your Highness.”
“So I suggest you decline the invitation.”
Duoduo nodded after listening.
“You’re right. Go and refuse on my behalf.”
Nanny Li nodded and turned to leave.
“Princess Changle, our mistress invites you for a visit,” a maid’s voice rang out from outside the hall.
Then the same maid from earlier forced her way in, ignoring Nanny Li’s attempts to stop her.
“Lüdou, throw her out!” Duoduo’s face turned stern.
A mere low-ranking maid dared to shout in the Kunming Palace—an utter lack of respect for her.
“Yes, Your Highness,” Lüdou said, rolling up her sleeves as she rushed over, grabbed the maid, and hurled her out.
The maid crashed to the ground, stunned.
Lüdou let down her sleeves and glared coldly.
“Who do you think you are? Don’t you see where this is?”
“How dare you raise your voice here! It’s as if you have no regard for the late Empress!”
The maid finally came to her senses and scrambled to her feet.
“I didn’t mean it! It’s just that my mistress ordered me to deliver a message.”
“If I fail, I’ll be punished when I return.”
“Dear sister, please, I beg you, out of pity for a fellow servant, put in a word for me with Princess Changle?”
“Bah!” Lüdou spat on the ground.
“Our princess was personally honored by His Majesty!”
“Any random cat or dog thinks they can summon Her Highness—what a joke!”
The maid bit her lip.
She saw Duoduo in the yard, bent over weeding, not saying a word.
She realized she had no way to persuade her to leave.
Lüdou watched the maid scurry away, then closed the courtyard gate and returned to Duoduo’s side.
Lüdou saw Duoduo beaming at her with a full smile.
Lüdou’s face flushed.
“Your Highness, was I a bit crude just now? Did I embarrass you?”
Duoduo shook her head.
“Lüdou, you’re getting sharper every day!”
“You did wonderfully just now! Don’t you agree, Nanny Li?”
Nanny Li nodded with a gentle smile.
“Your Highness is right. Lüdou has improved remarkably!”
Lüdou’s face grew even redder with excitement.
“That maid is sure to go back for reinforcements.”
“Nanny Li, what do you suggest we do next?” Lüdou had caught the expression on the maid’s face as she left.
Nanny Li looked at Duoduo with some concern.
“Your Highness, I suggest you avoid the situation.”
Duoduo recalled the political situation she had discussed earlier with her father. She shook her head.
“No need.”
“Lüdou, go open the door. We’ll wait right here.”
Lüdou looked baffled.
“Your Highness, are you really planning to go?”
Duoduo nodded.
“After that scolding you gave, Consort Xian will certainly send one of her personal maids.”
“When that happens, I won’t have any reason to refuse.”
“Besides, how else will I find out why Consort Xian wants to see me?”
Lüdou hesitated, then went and opened the door.
“Your Highness, I was so rude to Consort Xian just now. She probably won’t come anymore, right?”
Duoduo laughed. “Let’s wait and see, shall we?”
Lüdou stood at the doorway, looking around.
Sure enough, soon Lüdou caught sight of a maid in palace attire walking briskly toward them.
“Your Highness, someone’s coming.” Lüdou puffed out her cheeks.
Duoduo smiled and straightened her clothes.
Lüdou moved behind Duoduo, standing side by side with Nanny Li.
Before long, a smiling maid in pink palace dress appeared at the entrance.
“Your handmaid Yuying greets Princess Changle!” She bent her knees in a proper curtsey.
“Rise,” Duoduo said calmly.
Yuying stood up, her face full of smiles, exuding warmth.
“My mistress sent me to apologize to Your Highness.”
“That maid earlier was thoughtless and offended Your Highness. Our mistress has already ordered her ten strokes of the board.”
“Please don’t hold it against her. On behalf of my mistress, I offer my apologies.”
Duoduo’s face betrayed nothing, but inwardly she was startled.
Ten strokes of the board?
That maid would be half dead!
This Consort Xian was hardly as gentle as her name suggested.
Clearly, a formidable character.
Then again, anyone who rose to be one of the Four Consorts in the palace was no ordinary person.
Duoduo said flatly, “I am a princess. Why would I bother with a servant over petty grudges? It would only lower my standing.”
Yuying smiled and lightly tapped her own cheek.
“This humble tongue of mine is so clumsy. Please don’t fault me, Your Highness.”
Nanny Li stepped forward to dismiss her.
“What exactly is your business? Our princess is about to take her midday rest.”
Yuying hadn’t expected that even after being so humble, Duoduo would still refuse to budge.
Her smile froze for a moment.
Then, with a respectful curtsey, she said, “Consort Xian invites Your Highness for a visit.”
Nanny Li looked at Duoduo, who nodded.
“Very well. Lead the way.”
Yuying’s face lit up at once. “As you command, Your Highness.”
She turned and walked forward, glancing back repeatedly to see if Duoduo was following.
Duoduo strolled slowly, unhurried.
Nanny Li and Lüdou stayed close behind, guarding her.
Yuying didn’t dare rush her either; she stopped every few steps to wait.
Once Duoduo caught up, she continued on.
In this way, it took a full incense stick’s time before Duoduo reached a grand palace.
“Your Highness, please enter!” Yuying discreetly wiped the sweat from her brow.
Duoduo nodded and followed Yuying inside.
Consort Xian’s palace was filled with exotic flowers and rare plants.
Duoduo’s gaze was naturally drawn to them.
Yuying followed Duoduo’s eyes and explained cheerfully.
“These are all my mistress’s favorite flowers. Some were even tributes from the Western Regions!”
Duoduo’s glance swept over a few medicinal herbs among them.
She smiled and said, “These flowers are truly beautiful. I’ve never seen the like!”
The group passed through the garden. The attendants waiting outside the room saw them approaching from a distance, and someone immediately went in to announce their arrival.
Duoduo followed Yuying’s steps into the room.
As soon as she entered, she saw a round-faced woman seated at the head, beaming with an air of amiability.
