Xu Jinxin looked at Su Xian with some surprise.
“By now, the news has spread everywhere. The common people are all calling for Prince Ling to ascend the throne.”
“And they say that Commandery Princess Funing is a celestial maiden descended to Prince Ling’s side, destined to assist him in taking the throne.”
“The common people have even made golden statues of Prince Ling and Commandery Princess Funing, offering them incense and worshipping them…”
Xu Jinxin could not continue.
After a moment of stunned silence, Su Xian hurriedly tried to reassure Duoduo.
“Duoduo, what your Aunt Xu has heard is only hearsay. You mustn’t take it seriously!”
Duoduo gave Su Xian an obedient smile.
“Mother, everything Aunt Xu said is true.”
Su Xian’s face registered shock. “True? How could that be?”
“Grandfather personally issued an edict appointing Second Uncle as Crown Prince.”
“Second Uncle now presides over morning court. Grandfather merely sits in and observes.”
Since Xu Jinxin had already let the cat out of the bag, Duoduo saw no reason to keep it from her mother any longer.
In any case, everyone would know soon enough.
The sooner Mother learned of it, the sooner she could come to terms with it.
Su Xian stood there in a daze after hearing Duoduo’s words.
“I heard from Lianxin that your father came back to the residence with you?”
“Duoduo, then your father… how is he?”
Su Xian did not understand much about court affairs.
The only person she cared about was Xiao Yi.
Over the past six months, Xiao Yi had intermittently shared matters of the court with her.
Su Xian had gradually come to understand the predicament facing the Prince of Pingyang’s household.
If Prince Ling ascended the throne, none of the other princes would meet a good end.
At that thought, Su Xian’s face filled with deep worry.
Duoduo’s large eyes shifted thoughtfully.
“Mother, if there is anything you want to ask, it would be best to ask Father yourself.”
“Father keeps everything buried inside.”
“Mother, you should go. You can comfort Father, too!”
Xu Jinxin, standing nearby, looked at Duoduo with a smile in her eyes.
Su Xian truly was fortunate to have such a considerate daughter.
After hearing Duoduo, Su Xian hesitated.
“Later. Your Aunt Xu and Yingniang are still here.”
Xu Jinxin promptly gave Su Xian a push.
“Go on, quickly!”
“Yingniang and I aren’t outsiders. Duoduo can keep us company!”
“Besides, you’re worried sick. Even if you stay and talk to me, your mind will be elsewhere.”
“Go now! Perhaps Prince of Pingyang needs someone to comfort him at this very moment!”
Su Xian failed to catch the teasing note in her close friend’s words.
She was genuinely worried about Xiao Yi.
Propelled by Xu Jinxin’s urging, Su Xian rose to her feet.
“Then I’ll go take a look in the front courtyard first. You two sit for a while—I’ll be right back.”
Xu Jinxin waved happily.
“No hurry. Yingniang and I have nothing to do. Take your time.”
Thinking only of Xiao Yi, Su Xian patted Duoduo on the head and hurried away.
Xu Jinxin covered her mouth with a handkerchief, laughing so hard that she swayed.
Yingniang could not understand it at all. She looked up at Xu Jinxin.
“Mother, what are you laughing about? Why are you so happy?”
Xu Jinxin drew Yingniang into one arm and Duoduo into the other.
“Mother is laughing at certain people… ahem, ahem… Never mind. You wouldn’t understand even if I explained.”
Nestled in Xu Jinxin’s arms, Duoduo smiled until her eyes curved into crescents.
“Hmph! Mother, you’re picking on us again because we’re too young to understand!” Yingniang protested indignantly.
Amused, Xu Jinxin pinched Yingniang’s nose.
“When you grow up, you’ll understand naturally.”
“Mother, you’re fobbing me off with that line again!” Yingniang huffed, batting Xu Jinxin’s hand away.
After laughing for a while, Xu Jinxin straightened up.
“Duoduo, now that Prince Ling has become Crown Prince, has your father made any moves?”
The moment Xu Jinxin had heard the news, she had set aside everything she was doing and brought Yingniang straight to Prince Xian’s residence.
Their family was in the same boat as Prince Xian’s.
If Prince Xian encountered trouble, they would not fare well either.
She intended to sound Duoduo out first, then ask Li Jin about it afterward and discuss a response.
This dynasty was a fictional one.
Neither she nor Li Jin knew who the future emperor would be.
But she felt that Xiao Yi was a man of profound calculation.
There was no way Xiao Yi would simply sit back and wait for Prince Ling to strike.
Duoduo gently shook her head.
“Aunt Xu, I don’t know.”
Xu Jinxin was somewhat surprised.
She had thought Xiao Yi would certainly tell Duoduo about his plans.
“Duoduo, Aunt Xu doesn’t mean anything else by asking.”
“Your mother and I are close friends, and Yingniang is your close friend as well.”
“And Aunt Xu’s husband is not only your tutor, but also the Prince’s adviser.”
“Duoduo, Aunt Xu’s family shares the same interests as the Prince of Pingyang’s household.”
“Aunt Xu is asking only to see whether there is any way we can help your father!”
Worried that Duoduo might misunderstand, Xu Jinxin explained carefully.
Duoduo smiled and reached out to take Xu Jinxin’s hand.
“Aunt Xu, I understand!”
“Father said that until the final verdict is in, it is still too early to say anything.”
Duoduo repeated to Xu Jinxin what Xiao Yi had told her on the road.
Xu Jinxin paused, carefully considering the meaning behind Duoduo’s words.
“Does the Prince mean that there may still be a turn for the better?” Xu Jinxin asked cautiously.
Duoduo only shook her head again.
“Aunt Xu, I want my pastry shop to open as soon as possible.”
“Since you’re free now, could you help me look it over?” Duoduo changed the subject.
During their carriage ride home, Duoduo had spoken with Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi’s view was that, for now, the best course was to wait and watch.
“Prince Ling is not the only one who wants that position.”
“Those whose positions are in danger if Prince Ling takes the throne will surely find ways to protect themselves.”
“As long as we do not let ourselves be used as someone else’s weapon, waiting calmly and responding to events will be the best approach.”
Xiao Yi had already suspected that this was a trap laid by the Emperor.
And since it was a trap, he could not act rashly.
Duoduo could not tell Xu Jinxin any of this.
Hearing her, Xu Jinxin sighed inwardly.
No matter how clever Duoduo was, she was still only a child.
Naturally, the Prince of Pingyang could not possibly discuss major affairs of the court with her.
“Good! Whenever you need Aunt Xu, Aunt Xu will handle it at once!” Xu Jinxin agreed, her face full of affection.
“Thank you, Aunt Xu!”
Duoduo beamed as she told Xu Jinxin about the shop’s location and the ideas she and Lüdou had come up with.
Once the conversation turned to business, Xu Jinxin’s attention was quickly diverted.
Since Duoduo wanted to open as soon as possible, Xu Jinxin offered many suggestions.
“Come on! Let’s simply go and take a look at the shop!”
Xu Jinxin felt that talking alone was not as useful as seeing the premises for herself.
“All right.”
Duoduo had been thinking the same thing.
“Qingliu, go call Lüdou. Let’s go out together.”
Qingliu answered and hurried off.
Only then did Xu Jinxin suddenly remember Su Xian.
“By the way, why has your mother been gone so long? Why hasn’t she returned yet?”
“Could something have happened?”
