Duoduo withdrew her hand, looking at the Emperor thoughtfully.
“Changle’s medical skills are poor, and my pulse-taking is inaccurate.
But it seems to me that Grandfather’s body is a bit weak.”
The Emperor raised an eyebrow at her words.
He could tell at a glance that Duoduo hadn’t told the whole truth.
The Emperor gazed at her and suddenly asked,
“Then how long do you think Grandfather still has to live?”
Duoduo blinked in surprise.
“Isn’t Grandfather immortal for ten thousand years?”
“Hahaha!” The Emperor burst into laughter at her response.
He pointed at her playfully in the air, his face full of mirth.
“You little imp!”
Duoduo offered a sweet, obedient smile.
When the Emperor had laughed enough, he returned the cloth pouch of silver needles to her.
“Would you be willing to study medicine under Imperial Physician Li?”
Duoduo’s eyes widened.
She had heard from her father that Imperial Physician Li was the Emperor’s personal physician.
Moreover, he was the heir of a century-old medical family, having been surrounded by medicinal herbs since he first learned to eat.
He was also a titan of the Imperial Medical Academy.
If she could become his disciple, her status would be unimaginable.
The expression on Duoduo’s face felt so refreshing to the Emperor.
He had seen so much treachery and hypocrisy in the palace.
Someone like Duoduo, who wore her thoughts plainly on her face, was nearly nonexistent.
It lightened the Emperor’s mood considerably.
“What? Not interested?” the Emperor teased with a smile.
Duoduo quickly shook her head, then thought better of it and hastily nodded.
The Emperor was amused by her manner.
“First shaking your head, then nodding—what does that mean?”
Duoduo looked sheepish.
“Changle has heard my father say that Imperial Physician Li is the most brilliant doctor in the Imperial Medical Academy.
But my knowledge is shallow, and I’m afraid I wouldn’t meet his standards.
If that were the case, Imperial Physician Li might blame Grandfather.”
Duoduo’s words warmed the Emperor’s heart.
She was the first person not to be swept away by an unexpected boon.
Instead, she showed self-awareness and consideration for his feelings.
The Emperor’s eyes flickered as he looked at her.
“It was Imperial Physician Li who saw the acupuncture technique you used on Me. He proposed the idea of exchanging knowledge with you himself.”
Duoduo’s eyes lit up.
“Then Changle is willing!”
She remembered that Master Zhang had once said that if she ever had the chance to learn from an even greater doctor, it would be an opportunity for her medical skills to improve.
Now that opportunity had come!
She had to seize it!
Seeing Duoduo’s excitement, the Emperor put on a stern expression.
“Since you’ve agreed, you must study diligently under Imperial Physician Li.
Your father’s legs—I’m entrusting them to you!”
Duoduo tensed, studying the Emperor, trying to grasp his meaning.
The Emperor lowered his gaze, his expression unreadable.
Noticing faint bruising around the bridge of his nose, Duoduo thought for a moment and pulled a small bottle from her sleeve.
She originally meant to take out a single pill, but after a second thought, she pressed the entire bottle into the Emperor’s hand.
“If Grandfather feels uncomfortable in his chest, please eat one of these candies.”
Afraid the Emperor might suspect something, she added, “I made these sugar pills myself with my teacher.
If you’re worried, you can have Imperial Physician Li examine them first.”
With that, Duoduo took back the bottle, tipped out a pill, and popped it into her mouth.
She chewed it a few times and swallowed.
“They’re not poisonous, you can rest easy!
If you don’t want them, please don’t just throw them away—just give them back to me.
The ingredients for these sugar pills were hard to gather properly.
I’ve only got this one bottle myself.”
The Emperor was tickled by how miserly she looked.
“You’ve already given it away, and now you want to take it back?”
Duoduo stuck out her tongue.
“My father said that Grandfather’s health is crucial, so he mustn’t eat anything questionable.
But I can see that Grandfather still looks unwell,
so I let impulse get the better of me and gave this to you.”
She glanced around, lowering her voice.
“I don’t want to cause my father any trouble—he’s pitiful enough already!”
The Emperor looked down at the little porcelain bottle in his palm.
“You’ve given Me something so precious. What reward would you like?”
When he looked up, his expression had returned to its usual calm.
Duoduo tilted her head.
“There’s nothing I really want!”
The Emperor’s eyes flickered with surprise.
“Surely there’s some wish you want to fulfill?
Or someone around you with an unfulfilled desire?”
A look of confusion crossed Duoduo’s face.
She seemed to be seriously pondering, oblivious to the fact that the Emperor’s hand holding the bottle had briefly gone white.
After a long moment, she shook her head.
“Forgive me, Grandfather. Changle has thought it over—there’s nothing.”
The Emperor’s calm facade finally cracked with astonishment.
A moment ago, he had subtly tensed with unease.
He had dreaded that Duoduo would say what he expected.
Somewhere in his subconscious, he hadn’t wanted to hear that answer.
And indeed, her response surprised him.
Meanwhile, he breathed a secret sigh of relief.
“How could there be nothing?” the Emperor probed.
Duoduo shook her head again.
“Father said that if I have a wish, I have to take action and strive for it myself.
Relying on others or waiting for a pie to fall from the sky—that’s all unreliable.
Father also said that a person’s destiny must be held in their own hands.
And once you become strong enough, you’ll naturally achieve your wishes.”
The Emperor was amused by Duoduo’s repetition of “Father said.”
“Oh? And do you think what your father said is correct?”
Duoduo nodded vigorously.
“Grandfather, let me tell you! The first time I bought a servant, Father told me to pay for the servant’s wages myself. I was so worried back then!”
Getting caught up in her story, Duoduo forgot to use polite formalities.
“But now I’ve earned a lot of silver, and I’ve even bought a shop in the capital!
My shop’s going to open in a few days!
You should come and try the food!
My maid’s pastries are really delicious!”
As she spoke, her little face was radiant with excitement.
The Emperor softly patted her head, taking in her vibrant energy.
“It seems your father has raised you well.”
Duoduo beamed a bright smile at him.
“Yes! Father said these are things that you, Grandfather, taught him back in the day!”
The Emperor faltered for a moment, his smile stiffening.
“Doesn’t your father resent me, his Grandfather?”
Duoduo tilted her head, her expression puzzled.
“Why would he resent you? My father’s legs weren’t caused by you, Grandfather.
And why does Father always have a stiff face, like You owe him silver?”
