Xiao Yi came back to himself. He really hadn’t given it much thought.
“Lüdou? It couldn’t possibly be Nanny Li, could it?” Xiao Yi teased.
Duoduo shook her head with a bright smile. “Neither of them!”
Xiao Yi noticed the smug look on her face and began to think seriously.
For the past few days, Duoduo had been staying at the Department of Punishments. Apart from the jailers and prisoners there, the only person she could have come into contact with was Grandmother.
Judging from her expression, it seemed to be someone completely unexpected.
Xiao Yi asked with some difficulty, “Could it be Grandmother?”
The smile on Duoduo’s face grew even wider. She shook her head vigorously.
“Of course not! Daddy, guess again!”
Xiao Yi rubbed his brow. He had used his brain so much that his head was starting to ache.
“It couldn’t possibly be Eunuch Li, could it?”
“Daddy’s telling you, he absolutely must not teach you.”
“Those eunuchs are the least trustworthy people of all.”
“Even if you teach them something, they won’t be grateful to you.”
“They’re the kind of people who’ll follow whoever feeds them. One day, they might sell you out, and you wouldn’t even know it.”
Xiao Yi was worried that Duoduo might be tempted by certain people and forced into making compromises.
Seeing her father’s thoughts becoming more and more misguided, Duoduo was delighted. Her eyes curved into crescents.
“Daddy, you’ve guessed wrong every time!”
“The disciple I took is Imperial Physician Li!”
The moment Duoduo finished speaking, surprise appeared on Xiao Yi’s face.
Covering her mouth, Duoduo giggled.
Xiao Yi could hardly believe his ears.
“Duoduo, did you just say that Imperial Physician Li is your disciple?”
Duoduo lowered her hand and nodded like a pecking chick.
Xiao Yi still couldn’t believe it.
“Imperial Physician Li has an extraordinary status. He was willing to do that?”
Duoduo sat up straighter in Xiao Yi’s arms.
“Daddy, it was Imperial Physician Li who made the suggestion!”
Beaming, Duoduo told Xiao Yi the whole story.
“Imperial Grandfather originally wanted Imperial Physician Li to take me as his disciple.”
“But Imperial Physician Li said that my medical skills were superior to his.”
“In front of Imperial Grandfather, he knelt on the ground and begged me to take him as my disciple.”
“At first, I refused.”
“Imperial Physician Li is almost as old as Imperial Grandfather!”
“But Imperial Grandfather agreed on my behalf.”
Xiao Yi’s eyes darkened.
He recalled the suspicion he had just had.
If there really was a problem with the Imperial Medical Academy, would this give Duoduo a chance to investigate?
But the thought made Xiao Yi hesitate.
He knew how dangerous it would be.
The imperial physicians in the palace were all seasoned schemers. They traveled between the various palaces, treating the different masters of the harem.
They knew the private affairs of many people, and each had a patron of his own.
They were cunning, meticulous, and extremely guarded.
Duoduo was only a little girl. Could she really deal with those old foxes?
What if they sold her off, and she ended up counting the money for them?
At that thought, Xiao Yi abandoned the idea of sending Duoduo into the tiger’s den to uncover the truth.
Since he had discovered that there might be a problem with the Imperial Medical Academy, he could simply send people to investigate.
At worst, they would lose one informant.
Xiao Yi did not realize that he was becoming increasingly concerned about Duoduo’s life.
If this had been in the past, he would have sent Duoduo without hesitation.
He would have called it training.
Duoduo saw the struggle on her father’s face gradually turn into relief. She couldn’t guess what he had been thinking.
However, she knew that if her father did not want to talk about something, she would not be able to get anything out of him even if she asked.
The carriage stopped outside Prince Xian’s residence.
Duoduo stood up and stepped out of the carriage.
At a glance, she saw Su Xian, who had been waiting at the entrance for quite some time.
“Mother!”
Duoduo called out in her childish voice. Then, unable to wait any longer, she jumped down from the carriage and dashed toward Su Xian.
“Slow down! Be careful not to fall!”
When Su Xian saw Duoduo leap from the carriage, her heart nearly jumped into her throat. She hurried toward the carriage.
“Mother!”
Duoduo threw herself into Su Xian’s arms.
Her mother’s embrace was as warm as ever and carried that familiar fragrance.
Duoduo rubbed herself affectionately against Su Xian’s chest.
Holding Duoduo tightly, Su Xian finally felt the worry that had weighed on her for days settle back down.
Feeling Duoduo’s affectionate movements, she immediately laughed.
“You child, you went to keep your great-grandmother company, yet you didn’t even send anyone back to let us know.”
“And now you finally remember your mother?”
Duoduo hugged Su Xian around the waist. “Mother, I missed you so much!”
“I thought about you every single moment!”
Su Xian saw Xiao Yi step down from the carriage and smile at them.
Hearing Duoduo’s words, she was a little stunned.
“My lord, what’s gotten into Duoduo today?”
The corners of Xiao Yi’s lips curved upward.
“She probably ate too much candy today.”
Su Xian was amused by his words and let out a soft laugh.
“Come on, let’s go inside first. It’s far too hot out here.”
Xiao Yi motioned for Yunxiao to push his wheelchair into the residence. Su Xian held Duoduo close and followed alongside him.
Once they were all seated in the reception hall, a maid brought them tea.
“Have some tea first and soothe your throat.”
Duoduo wiped the sweat from her forehead. “Mother, I want some iced sweet cheese.”
Su Xian smiled and wiped Duoduo’s face with a handkerchief.
“Mother has already asked the kitchen to make some. It’ll be ready soon.”
“It’s nothing rare. Can’t you get it in the palace?”
Duoduo stuck out her tongue.
“The food in the palace isn’t as delicious as the food at home.”
Su Xian reached out and tapped Duoduo lightly on the forehead with her index finger.
“The palace is filled with rare delicacies, and you still have the nerve to complain?”
Duoduo grabbed Su Xian’s finger. “Mother, that hurts.”
Su Xian immediately snatched her hand back and held Duoduo’s face, examining it.
She had only tapped her lightly, and there wasn’t even a mark on Duoduo’s forehead.
Only then did Su Xian relax, though she still gently blew on it.
“Does it feel better now?”
Duoduo happily narrowed her eyes. “Mother, I was only teasing you!”
After hearing that Duoduo had returned, Qingliu was the first to rush over.
“This servant pays her respects to the Princess. Princess, please take me with you next time!”
Xiao Yi, who had been lost in thought, came back to himself. He looked at his wife and daughter.
“Pingting, Duoduo has only just returned and must be exhausted.”
“Why don’t you let her go back and rest first?”
Su Xian was very reluctant.
Since Duoduo had come to Prince Xian’s residence, this was the first time she had been separated from her for so long.
Now that she had finally seen her daughter again, she naturally couldn’t bear to part with her.
“Duoduo wanted some iced sweet cheese, didn’t she? She can go rest after she eats it.”
Nestled in Su Xian’s arms, Duoduo was reluctant to leave as well.
“That’s right, Daddy. I’ll go rest after I eat the iced sweet cheese!”
Xiao Yi’s gaze moved between the two of them.
“As it happens, I’d like to have some too.”
Su Xian hurriedly ordered Lianxin to prepare another serving.
“Duoduo, is your great-grandmother in good health?” Su Xian asked casually.
Duoduo nodded. “Yes.”
“Duoduo, why did your great-grandmother suddenly decide that she wanted you to stay in the palace and keep her company?”
