Duoduo stepped forward, just about to bow when Consort Xian, seated above, immediately descended and helped Duoduo to her feet.
"Changle, no need for such formalities—we are all family."
"Come, sit beside me."
Consort Xian’s face beamed with warmth as she took Duoduo’s hand and guided her to sit beside her.
Duoduo smiled without speaking and docilely took her seat.
Consort Xian held Duoduo’s hand and appraised her.
"No wonder His Majesty is full of praise for you. Now that I see you for myself, I am utterly taken with you as well!"
"Here, this is a small gift from me!"
As she spoke, Consort Xian slipped an exceptionally fine jade bracelet from her wrist and placed it onto Duoduo’s.
Duoduo rose and bent her knee in a curtsy.
"Many thanks, Consort Xian!"
Consort Xian covered her mouth with her handkerchief, laughing with an air of harmony.
"You child, why must you be so polite?"
"By custom, you should call me Grandmother."
Duoduo gave a faint smile and then yawned.
Seeing this, Nanny Li stepped forward and curtsied to Consort Xian.
"Your Ladyship, it is time for our Princess to take her midday rest."
Duoduo noticed that Consort Xian’s eyes flickered with a quick trace of displeasure.
But it vanished almost as soon as it appeared.
Consort Xian took Duoduo’s hand and stroked it with great kindness.
"Changle, come visit your grandmother more often when you have time."
"Oh, and you can come to dine with Danyang, take your afternoon rest together, and then head to the Imperial Academy."
Duoduo recalled the arrogant Danyang and offered a polite smile.
"I’m used to staying at Kunming Palace. Besides, if I don’t go there, Grandmother’s spirit in heaven will not be pleased."
Consort Xian’s smile froze for a moment before she nodded.
"The late Empress was a wonderful person... such a pity."
Consort Xian sighed regretfully. "I got along very well with the late Empress back then."
"We both loved gardening, and she taught me many tips on growing flowers!"
Duoduo’s eyes blinked.
"The flowers in the garden are very pretty!"
Consort Xian’s smile grew warmer. "Do you like them too? Come visit more often, and I’ll teach you!"
Duoduo yawned again and rubbed her eyes.
"Consort Xian, I am sleepy."
Consort Xian smiled with a maternal air. "It’s my fault, keeping you here talking."
"Quickly, take the Princess of Changle back to rest."
Duoduo stood with a smile and curtsied to Consort Xian.
"Changle takes her leave for now. I will certainly come and bother you another day, Your Ladyship!"
Consort Xian laughed warmly. "Dear child, go on back now."
Duoduo left with Nanny Li and Lüdou.
Only after they had entered Kunming Palace did Lüdou blurt out her question.
"Princess, what does Consort Xian mean by this?"
"Is she really just giving you a bracelet?"
Duoduo turned to Nanny Li with a smile. "Nanny, what do you think she means?"
Nanny Li replied with proper respect.
"She was simply trying to show goodwill toward you, and at the same time, to sound you out."
Duoduo nodded with a smile. "Lüdou, do you understand now?"
Lüdou muttered under her breath, "If she wanted to show goodwill, why didn’t she just send that jade-named maid from the start?"
"That was precisely the test," Nanny Li explained to Lüdou.
"If you had gone with the maid when she came to summon you right away, that would mean you are softhearted, easy to talk to, and easy to control."
Lüdou’s eyes widened. "Nanny, is Consort Xian looking down on our Princess?"
Nanny Li shot Lüdou a disapproving look.
Lüdou continued to speak up for Duoduo.
"Princess, next time they send anyone, I’ll throw them all out!"
Duoduo burst out laughing.
"That’s not necessary. But in the palace, whenever you are unsure about something, always ask Nanny."
Lüdou nodded. "Yes, I’ll remember that."
Duoduo took off her outer robe, lay down, and soon fell asleep.
When she woke in the afternoon, she changed clothes and set out for the Imperial Academy with Lüdou and Nanny Li.
Just as she stepped out of Kunming Palace, she saw a small palace maid’s figure dashing past the gate.
Duoduo found it odd and watched the maid’s retreating back.
"Princess, what is it?" Nanny Li approached, noticing the mistress and maid were still standing there.
"Nanny, just now there was a little maid outside the hall—I don’t know what she was doing."
"She ran away as soon as she saw us coming out," Lüdou explained.
Nanny Li furrowed her brow.
"Did you see exactly where she was?"
Duoduo shook her head and pointed to the gate. "She ran as soon as I came out."
Nanny Li pondered for a moment.
"Lüdou, go with the Princess to the Academy. I’ll stay and inspect things carefully."
Lüdou nodded. "Be sure to come by later, Nanny."
"Nanny, be careful on your own!" Duoduo said, somewhat worried.
"Rest assured, Princess. I’ll be careful," Nanny Li reassured her.
Duoduo nodded and, seeing it was almost time, hurried off with Lüdou.
"Princess, I think it’s rather unsafe to leave Kunming Palace unguarded like this," Lüdou remarked as they walked.
"Yes, I think so too," Duoduo agreed.
In the past, no one dared come near Kunming Palace.
But lately, more and more people seemed to be approaching.
"Princess, what should we do? Maybe go to the Empress Dowager?"
The highest authority Lüdou could think of in the inner court was the Empress Dowager.
Duoduo thought for a moment and shook her head.
"Great-grandmother is getting on in years. Besides, the person currently in charge of the inner court is Consort Li."
Lüdou gasped. "Oh? We can’t possibly go to her, can we?"
Seeing Lüdou’s expression, Duoduo pursed her lips in a smile.
"Lüdou, who holds the greatest power in this palace?"
Lüdou answered without hesitation. "His Majesty, of course!"
After saying this, Lüdou noticed the smile on Duoduo’s face and suddenly understood.
"Princess, you mean to go to His Majesty?"
Duoduo nodded without the slightest doubt.
"Of course! After class today, let’s go find Grandfather Emperor!"
"Will His Majesty think the matter is too trivial and just hand it over to Consort Li?" Lüdou worried.
Duoduo tilted her head.
"Hmm, that’s a good point."
"Then I’ll think about how to talk to His Majesty about it."
By then, they had arrived at the Imperial Academy.
Duoduo entered the academy, while Lüdou waited in the corridor.
When the bell rang, the academy grew quiet.
Lüdou waited for a long time but did not see Nanny Li coming.
Growing uneasy, she checked the time and decided to go back for a look.
With this thought, Lüdou hurried toward Kunming Palace.
She walked fast, and within the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, she could see Kunming Palace ahead.
Wiping the sweat from her face, Lüdou glanced at the sky.
Since the rainfall a few days ago had brought a brief cool spell, the temperature had risen again.
The sun hung high in the sky, bright and dizzying.
Lüdou fanned herself with her handkerchief before continuing forward.
From afar, she saw a large crowd gathered at the entrance of Kunming Palace.
Finding it strange, Lüdou became cautious and did not approach directly.
