Duoduo looked at her father in surprise. “Why not Second Uncle?”
Xiao Yi toyed with the arrow in his hand. “Because they say an arrow like this was also found at the scene when your second uncle was attacked.”
“His people are searching everywhere for the person who used these arrows.”
Duoduo tilted her little head, digesting what her father had told her.
“Father, is it possible that Second Uncle deliberately sent people to investigate, when these arrows actually belong to him?”
Xiao Yi nodded lightly. “You mean your second uncle is deliberately trying to muddy the waters?”
Duoduo nodded.
Xiao Yi pondered for a moment. “No.”
“If this had happened before, it might have been possible.”
“But he is the Crown Prince now. He wouldn’t waste so much effort on something like this.”
“Now, he’ll only seek a quick and decisive victory.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve already sent people to investigate who is behind these arrows.”
“Once we find him, I certainly won’t let him off!”
“These next few days probably won’t be peaceful.”
Xiao Yi tentatively suggested, “What do you think about putting your shop on hold for now?”
What had happened today had put Xiao Yi on high alert.
He always felt as if an invisible hand were pushing them forward from behind the scenes.
The same black-clad assassins had attacked not only Prince Ling, but also the carriage from Prince Pingyang’s residence.
Who were they? How could they be targeting everyone without exception?
Duoduo picked at her palm.
Only moments ago, she and Lüdou had been enthusiastically discussing their plans. They had intended to finish everything that needed to be done tomorrow, then choose the nearest auspicious day and open for business.
But now, her father wanted her to postpone it.
Duoduo was unwilling!
“Father, I don’t want to!” After thinking it over, Duoduo voiced her thoughts directly.
“Lüdou and I have almost finished preparing everything.”
“The opening was already delayed once.”
“Doesn’t The Art of War say, ‘After the first drumbeat, morale rises; after the second, it wanes; and after the third, it is exhausted’?”
“If we postpone it again, we might never manage to open at all.”
“Father, you always taught me—”
“You said that people mustn’t give up on their dreams just because they encounter a little difficulty.”
“We have to face challenges head-on and solve our problems instead of running away from them.”
“So, Father, I want to choose an auspicious day and open as soon as possible!”
After speaking, Duoduo looked bravely at Xiao Yi.
A glimmer flashed in Xiao Yi’s eyes as he gazed at her.
After a long moment, he raised a hand and stroked her hair.
“You’ve become quite sharp-tongued. You even know how to use ‘turning someone’s own weapon against them’ to argue with your father?”
Duoduo gave Xiao Yi an obedient, sheepish smile.
“It’s all because you taught me so well, Father!”
The sternness on Xiao Yi’s face slowly melted into a smile.
“I already had someone check the almanac. Three days from now is an auspicious day—a day of great fortune.”
Duoduo’s nervous expression instantly turned to delight.
“Father, you had someone check the date ages ago?”
Xiao Yi nodded with a smile. “I had nothing better to do. I was bored.”
Duoduo broke into a wide grin and threw herself into Xiao Yi’s arms.
“Thank you, Father!”
Xiao Yi stroked her back.
“You must be tired. Go pay your respects to your mother, then return and get some rest.”
“There’s still a great deal to prepare for the opening.”
“By the way, given the unstable situation, I’ve gotten you leave from the Imperial Academy.”
“You won’t need to get up early these next few days. Get plenty of rest and take good care of yourself.”
Nestled in Xiao Yi’s arms, Duoduo obediently nodded.
“All right!”
“All right!”
Each time Xiao Yi said something, she gave him a response.
Xiao Yi still had matters to attend to, so he did not keep Duoduo any longer.
“Go on. Your mother has probably heard about what happened already.”
“She must be very worried by now.”
Duoduo nodded and reluctantly let go of Xiao Yi.
“Father, I’ll be going now.” After speaking, Duoduo bowed to Xiao Yi and left.
“Someone!” Xiao Yi called.
Yunxiao pushed the door open and entered. The smile on Xiao Yi’s face had vanished.
In its place was an expression of icy fury.
“Give this to Ling Yu and tell him to investigate immediately.”
“Once he finds something, find a way to leak the information to my second brother.”
“And quickly investigate who else was attacked today.”
After speaking, Xiao Yi tossed the arrow in his hand to Yunxiao.
Yunxiao bowed and left at once.
Xiao Yi turned his wheelchair around and went to the desk, where he picked up his brush and began to write.
Duoduo had just stepped out of the study when Qingliu, who had been waiting outside, followed her.
“Princess, the Princess sent someone to look for you just now!”
Duoduo nodded. “Come on, let’s go to Mother.”
She quickened her pace and made her way through the corridors.
Before long, she arrived at the entrance to a courtyard.
“The Princess is here!” one of the maids at the entrance called out when she saw Duoduo.
The maid lifted the curtain, and Duoduo entered.
A wave of cool air greeted her. Duoduo could not help taking a deep breath.
“Duoduo, come to Mother quickly!”
“Baihe, bring out the ice bowl prepared for the Princess.”
The moment Su Xian saw Duoduo, she hurriedly began issuing orders.
Duoduo quickened her steps and ran over to Su Xian.
She bent her knees in a curtsy. “Duoduo pays her respects to Mother!”
Su Xian quickly pulled Duoduo to her feet and looked her over from head to toe.
Earlier, Xu Jinxin had told her that they had been attacked on their way back.
Although Xu Jinxin had said that they were all unharmed, Su Xian was still worried.
Xu Jinxin had also told her that Duoduo had gone to the outer study.
Unable to put her mind at ease, Su Xian had sent Baihe to look for her.
Now that she had finally seen Duoduo, Su Xian immediately pulled her close and examined her from every angle.
“Are you reassured now? I told you Duoduo was fine.” Xu Jinxin teased Su Xian from the side.
Holding Duoduo’s hand, Su Xian finally felt the worry that had weighed on her for so long ease.
“Knowing it is one thing. Until I saw her with my own eyes, I couldn’t truly feel at ease,” Su Xian explained gently.
Then she lowered her head and looked at Duoduo.
“Your father has gotten you leave from the Imperial Academy. Stay in the residence and rest properly these next few days.”
Duoduo blinked.
“Mother, Father and I just agreed that my shop will open three days from now!”
Su Xian instinctively glanced at Xu Jinxin.
“Duoduo, why don’t you wait a few more days?” Xu Jinxin understood the look in Su Xian’s eyes.
“There’s a lot to prepare for an opening.”
“And it isn’t safe these days. Why don’t we make all the preparations first and open later?”
“Your life is more important than money!”
Xu Jinxin was genuinely doing her best to reason with her.
Duoduo understood Su Xian and Xu Jinxin’s worries, so she took Su Xian’s hand.
“Mother, I’ve already made up my mind.”
“You don’t need to worry. Father will make sure everything is properly arranged.”
