“You did that on purpose!” Auntie Zhang glared at Li Da’s wife, her eyes burning with resentment.
Li Da’s wife didn’t even spare her a glance. Instead, she turned to the others in the kitchen.
“Stop standing around and get back to work! If the master’s meal is delayed, you won’t have enough heads between you for the executioner to chop off!”
She then turned to Zhao’s wife. “And you, Mrs. Zhao—today is your first day preparing the soup. You’d better show off your best skills. If the Prince doesn't like it, the opportunity will be given to someone else!”
Mrs. Zhao replied with a hurried, eager smile, “Don’t you worry, Li Da’s wife. I will give it my absolute all!”
The rest of the staff dispersed, returning to their various tasks.
Lüdou carefully picked up the book from the ground, her heart aching with distress. Most of the pages had been scorched. How was she supposed to return this to Duoduo now?
Meanwhile, the Head Steward finally discovered after some inquiries that Duoduo was in the study.
The news gave him a start.
One had to understand that the study was the Prince’s private quarters; even the Princess Consort was not permitted to stay overnight there.
Could it be that the Prince and Princess truly regarded Duoduo as their own child?
The Emperor had previously issued a decree for the Prince of Pingyang to adopt Duoduo as his foster daughter. The Princess Consort had even discussed the details of the adoption banquet with the Steward.
However, the Steward had always assumed the Prince was merely following suit due to political pressure and that it wasn't to be taken seriously.
But looking at the Prince’s current behavior, was he planning to turn the act into reality?
With a thousand thoughts swirling in his mind, the Steward steeled himself and headed toward the study.
When the Prince of Pingyang heard that the Steward was asking for an audience, he assumed there was some matter of great importance.
The Steward walked in. He had reflected on the way over; the Prince of Pingyang detested those who played mind games, so it was better to be direct.
Thus, the Steward reported exactly what had happened in the kitchen.
After listening, the Prince of Pingyang frowned and fixed his gaze on the Steward.
“You came all this way to ask for instructions on such a trivial matter?”
Cold sweat broke out on the Steward’s forehead.
“Please forgive me, Your Highness. This lowly servant merely wanted to clarify whether that book truly belonged to Your Highness.”
The Prince of Pingyang gave a cold snort.
“The Prince of Pingyang’s Manor does not feed insolent servants. Those who receive a salary from this manor are expected to perform their duties faithfully.”
“I will not starve to death if any one person leaves my service!”
“Since ancient times, those who become arrogant due to favored treatment—or worse, those who think they are indispensable to their master—never come to a good end!”
The Steward’s back bowed even lower.
Was the Prince warning him specifically?
The sweat from the Steward’s forehead dripped into his eyes. He blinked hard, not even daring to reach up and wipe it away.
In his heart, he began to feel a deep loathing for Auntie Zhang.
“Your Highness, I know what must be done,” the Steward said, his body still stooped.
“If you still feel the need to ask for instructions regarding such trifles, how can I trust you to manage the entirety of this great manor?” The Prince of Pingyang idly stroked the jade thumb ring on his hand.
The Steward was so terrified that he collapsed to his knees with a thud.
“Please forgive me, Your Highness! This servant knows his mistake!”
“Enough. Just this once; do not let it happen again.” The Prince of Pingyang picked up a game piece and returned his attention to the chessboard.
“Yes. This servant takes his leave.”
The Steward scrambled up from the floor and beat a hasty retreat.
Only after he had exited the study did he dare wipe the sweat from his brow.
Auntie Zhang had been waiting for the Steward to return. The moment she saw him, she rushed forward to meet him.
“Steward! Did the Prince specify that he wants to drink the soup I made?”
The Steward spat on the ground to the side.
“Who do you think you are? Why would the Prince specify you? You’ve got a lot of nerve thinking you’re that important!”
“Guards!”
At the Steward’s shout, two sturdy kitchen maids appeared.
“Bind Auntie Zhang!”
Auntie Zhang was stunned. She began to struggle violently, trying to prevent the women from tying her up.
“Steward, what did I do wrong? I’ll change! Can’t I just change?”
But how could one woman fight off two men? Before long, she was tied up as tightly as a rice dumpling.
“Tie up her husband, her son, and her daughter too! Have the slave trader take them all away!”
“The Prince has spoken: the Prince’s Mansion will not house treacherous servants!”
Only then did Auntie Zhang feel the sting of regret. Had she known it would come to this, she never would have provoked Lüdou.
But in this world, there is no medicine for regret.
When Duoduo woke up from her nap, she overheard the Princess of Pingyang speaking softly with the Prince.
“The wet nurse said that Duoduo is still young and easily influenced by those around her.”
“That is why she transferred Lüdou away from Duoduo’s side.”
“The Prince dotes on Duoduo and wants to bring Lüdou back to serve her, so I might as well send Baihe over too.”
“Baihe is a bit older and more meticulous; she will be a perfect complement to Lüdou.”
Duoduo blinked. So, everything Nanny Li had done was for her own good.
Duoduo thought of how hard Lüdou was working in the kitchen, and then she remembered that Lüdou had just been accepted as an apprentice.
Duoduo wanted to sit up, but her back throbbed with pain.
She wanted to reach out for the golden light in front of her, but she was worried the Prince and Princess would see her.
Carefully, she turned onto her side and pushed herself up.
Just then, the Princess of Pingyang, who had been worried about her, looked over.
“Oh! Why are you up?”
The Princess set down her embroidery and hurried to the bedside.
Duoduo gave her mother a sweet, obedient smile.
“Mother, I’m much better now!”
The Princess took her into her arms, being careful to avoid Duoduo’s wounds.
“Since you’re awake, it’s the perfect time to drink this blood-replenishing tonic.”
The Princess held Duoduo as she sat down by the desk.
Duoduo caught a whiff of a strange, indescribable medicinal scent, and her little face instantly crumpled into a frown.
“Mother, I’m already well. I don’t need to drink medicine!”
She tried to ignore the smell coming from the bowl and forced a smile.
“Nonsense. The doctor said your injuries will take at least three months to heal.”
“Huh?” Duoduo’s mouth dropped open.
Her face was a picture of distress. “Does that mean I have to drink bitter medicine for three whole months?”
The Prince of Pingyang, fiddling with a chess piece, glanced sideways at Duoduo.
“Pinch your nose, close your eyes, and just gulp it down.”
Duoduo looked at the Prince with pure admiration. “Father, you’re so brave!”
The chess piece nearly slipped from the Prince’s fingers.
“Drink it!” He sat up straight and looked at her.
Duoduo hesitated, but seeing the Princess nod encouragingly, she pinched her nose, squeezed her eyes shut, and took a cautious sip.
“Blech—it’s so bitter!” Her eyes and nose scrunched together as she stuck her tongue out repeatedly.
“A daughter of this Prince is not afraid of bitterness,” the Prince said calmly, placing a piece on the chessboard.
Duoduo looked at the steaming medicinal soup in the bowl with an expression of grim determination, as if she were facing her end.
“Mother, I’ll drink it myself!”
Duoduo took the bowl, pinched her nose, and downed it in one breath.
She drank so fast she nearly gagged.
The Princess quickly took the empty bowl and popped a candied fruit into Duoduo’s mouth.
The sweetness washed away the bitterness, and Duoduo’s little face finally relaxed.
She thought back to the many bowls of medicine she had seen the Prince drink; every time, he would drain them in one go without changing his expression, and he never even ate a sweet afterward.
He was so impressive!
Her gaze toward the Prince was filled with newfound respect.
The Prince seemed to sense Duoduo’s stare.
“What of the books you borrowed from me?”
