“Your Highness, Duoduo is awake!”
The Princess Consort of Pingyang looked at Duoduo with a face full of pleasant surprise.
The Prince of Pingyang wheeled his chair to the bedside.
Duoduo slowly opened her eyes, feeling a sharp pain in her back.
She instinctively reached back to touch it, but the Princess Consort of Pingyang caught her hand.
“Good girl, you have a wound on your back. You mustn’t touch it.”
Duoduo gave the Princess Consort of Pingyang a weak smile.
“Is the Prince alright?”
The Princess Consort looked at her husband by the bed. “The Prince is fine. Look up.”
Duoduo tilted her small head up and saw the Prince of Pingyang’s ice-cold face.
“You’re okay! That’s wonderful!”
A ripple of emotion flickered in the Prince’s eyes.
“Did you sense the danger and take the arrow for me?”
Duoduo pulled her head back, unwilling to answer.
“How did you know? Or did you already know someone intended to assassinate me?”
The Prince of Pingyang pressed further.
Duoduo bit her lip and closed her eyes.
“Your Highness, Duoduo just saved your life!” the Princess Consort said, her heart aching for the child.
“Speak. Are you a spy sent by them, putting on a show for me?”
The Prince’s voice was laced with a chilling, sinister aura.
“I’m not!”
Duoduo opened her eyes, which were brimming with a sense of grievance.
“I just... I saw the arrow coming, and I was scared, so I fell.”
The Prince of Pingyang did not believe her.
Because at that moment, Duoduo had cried out, “Watch out!”
If she was merely afraid, why would she have warned him?
However, he had only been testing her.
He wanted to figure out if Duoduo was a pawn planted by the Second Prince.
The timing of Duoduo’s arrival was far too convenient.
First, an advisor suggested he adopt a child from the Song household, and then came the Emperor’s imperial decree for the adoption.
Everything seemed designed to bind the two of them together.
Duoduo couldn’t help but pick at her palm. Realizing she was lying on the Prince’s bed, she struggled to sit up.
“Oh! Be careful of your wound, child...”
The Princess Consort of Pingyang hurriedly gathered Duoduo into her arms.
Nestled in the Princess Consort’s embrace, Duoduo gazed at the Prince with her large eyes.
“I swear, I’m not a bad person!”
“The Prince is a good man. I didn’t want you to die!”
The Prince of Pingyang stared directly into Duoduo’s eyes; they were as clear as a mountain spring.
Finally, the Prince looked away.
“I am in your debt for what happened today. I will compensate you in the future.”
Duoduo looked at the Princess Consort of Pingyang and saw the tender affection in her gaze.
Summoning her courage, she reached out to take the Prince’s hand.
The Prince’s hand was large and bony; Duoduo’s hand within his was like a tiny figurine’s.
Due to his physical condition, his hand was somewhat cold, much like the man himself.
Duoduo held onto the Prince’s hand, her big eyes blinking.
“I like you, and I like the Princess Consort too. If you don’t mind, could I be your daughter?”
Having spoken, Duoduo looked at the Prince with an expectant face.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang, for her part, was pleasantly surprised.
She had thought Duoduo would be unwilling.
“Your Highness, the child has said it...”
The Princess Consort also looked at her husband with anticipation.
The Prince looked at the two of them, one large and one small, both staring at him with wide eyes. He was momentarily stunned.
Looking at them now, the child did indeed bear a slight resemblance to his wife.
The Prince of Pingyang turned his jade thumb ring, his expression solemn.
If you wish to be my daughter, you are not yet qualified.
Hearing this, Duoduo's large eyes dimmed, and she lowered her head.
Since you are determined to be my daughter, you must work even harder.
I have no desire for a daughter who is not presentable!
Duoduo was heartbroken. She knew it; no one liked her.
Even the Prince of Pingyang, who had shown her kindness, was the same.
An air of despair radiated from her.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang held Duoduo tightly and whispered a gentle reminder in her ear.
The Prince has agreed. Hurry and thank your father.
Hearing the Princess Consort of Pingyang's words, Duoduo snapped her head up and looked at the Prince of Pingyang.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang gave her a gentle nudge. Dazed with joy, are we? This child!
A brilliant light burst from Duoduo's eyes.
That radiance pierced through the Prince of Pingyang's icy exterior, reaching the very depths of his heart.
Thank you, Father! I will practice diligently and meet your expectations as soon as possible!
Inspired by a sudden flash of insight, Duoduo spoke words that greatly pleased the Prince of Pingyang.
The Prince of Pingyang's hand, which had been turning the jade ring, came to a halt.
Very well. Now, lie down and rest. We will speak more once your wounds have healed.
Duoduo happily lay back down.
The bed carried the scent of her father—a fragrant aroma mixed with the bitter hint of medicine.
Seeing Duoduo's joyful expression, the Princess Consort of Pingyang couldn't help but stroke the girl's head.
Mother! Duoduo called out in her sweet, childish voice.
Yes!
The moment the Princess Consort of Pingyang answered, tears began to fall.
It felt as if Duoduo were her own daughter, lost for many years, who had suddenly returned to their side.
From now on, we are a loving family, never to be parted again! Isn't that right, Prince?
The Princess Consort of Pingyang wiped her tears with a handkerchief and smiled at the Prince of Pingyang.
Mhm.
The Prince of Pingyang gave a rare response.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang smiled, suddenly feeling an overwhelming sense of happiness.
I appreciate you watching over the child, Princess. I have matters to attend to.
Having said that, the Prince of Pingyang pushed his wheelchair toward the desk.
Since he had decided to muddy the waters, he needed to lay out a new plan.
Furthermore, if the letter he sent out today received a response, how should he arrange the remaining affairs?
Having only Ling Feng by his side was not enough; should he transfer another member of the Ling Guards?
Or perhaps he should find a new personal servant, leaving Ling Feng to handle only external matters.
The Prince of Pingyang began listing the tasks one by one on paper, resolving them systematically.
Duoduo lay on the bed, feeling bored.
She saw the Princess Consort of Pingyang sitting by the bedside, embroidering a piece of red cloth.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang looked up at Duoduo from time to time, noticing the girl watching her.
She held up the red cloth and spread it out for her to see.
Do you like it? I specially found a piece of fine cotton to make you a bellyband.
I love it, thank you, Mother, Duoduo said sweetly.
As long as you like it. I plan to embroider a chubby baby on the front.
How about a chubby baby holding a koi fish?
The Princess Consort of Pingyang remembered how much Duoduo had liked the koi jade pendant earlier that day.
It would have been fine if the Princess Consort of Pingyang hadn't mentioned it, but now Duoduo remembered the pendant.
She began to search all around.
Because the injury was on the right side of her back, she could only spin around on the bed like a little turtle.
It wasn't in her arms, nor was it in her embroidered pouch. Could it have fallen onto the bed?
The Princess Consort of Pingyang looked up and saw Duoduo spinning in circles, searching all over the bed.
"What are you looking for?"
Duoduo looked up. "Mother, have you seen my little carp?"
