It was as if this was her life—there was no way she could ever return to the way things had been.
Memories of her time at the Song residence flashed through Song Shuyu’s mind, one after another.
And then there were all the little moments after she entered Prince Ling’s residence.
It was as though Song Shuyu had suddenly grown up overnight.
At Prince Pingyang’s residence, Duoduo wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Qingliu hurriedly waved the fan in her hand a few times.
Duoduo waved her off. “Don’t fan me!”
“The fire’s too strong. You’ll ruin the whole pot of medicine!”
Qingliu quickly lowered the fan, her face filled with remorse.
“Princess, why don’t you go outside for some fresh air?”
“This servant will watch over things here. I promise nothing will go wrong.”
“It’s too hot in here. You might get heatstroke, and then you won’t be able to eat again.”
Duoduo pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped the sweat from her face.
“No! This pot of medicine can’t be ruined again. The ingredients are expensive and very difficult to gather.”
Qingliu was somewhat curious.
“Princess, what kind of medicine are you making this time?”
Lüdou had been busy with matters concerning the shop lately, so this was the first time Qingliu had accompanied Duoduo while she prepared medicine.
Seeing the ingredients Duoduo had laid out, she couldn’t help feeling curious.
Duoduo’s eyes darted around.
“It’s a secret.”
As soon as Qingliu heard that, she lowered her head.
“I’m sorry, Princess. This servant spoke out of turn!”
Qingliu knew that every physician had secret formulas that could not be shared with outsiders.
Lüdou had always accompanied the Princess whenever she prepared medicine.
The Princess must have often brought Lüdou along because Lüdou knew how to keep her mouth shut.
She hoped the Princess wouldn’t blame her for what she had just said.
Duoduo smiled and waved her hand.
“It’s all right. It’s hot in here. Go wait outside for me.”
Qingliu hesitated. How could she let her mistress suffer inside while she, a servant, went out to rest?
Still, she had heard that physicians did not want other people to know about certain secret formulas.
Qingliu bent her knees in a curtsy.
“Then this servant will wait by the door. Princess, please call for me if you need anything!”
Duoduo smiled and nodded. Only then did Qingliu head to the doorway.
Duoduo propped her chin in both hands and watched the medicinal broth bubbling in the pot.
She had prepared this pot of medicine for her father!
Of course she had to watch over it herself before she could feel at ease.
A few days earlier, Duoduo had accidentally overheard a conversation between her maternal grandmother and her mother.
“You don’t have a son to rely on. In the future, this enormous princely residence will fall into someone else’s hands.”
“You should persuade the Prince to adopt a son. That way, there will at least be someone to carry on the family line.”
……
“Your second brother has an outside woman who recently gave birth to a son.”
“Your second brother feels sorry that you have no son to depend on and worries that you’ll suffer when you grow old.”
“That’s why he’s willing to send the child here and register him under your name.”
“See how much your second brother cares about you! He’s your own nephew, after all. He’s certainly better than some person of unknown origins from outside!”
“I’m telling you, if you weren’t my own daughter, I wouldn’t even bother with you!”
……
Duoduo remembered that when her father had spoken to her about their fourth uncle, he had mentioned that Prince Rui had falsely claimed that Princess Consort Rui was carrying a boy—all so he would have a chance to compete for the throne.
Duoduo didn’t understand. Was having a son really that important?
Her father had once told her that anyone who wished to accomplish great things could do so regardless of whether they were male or female.
Her tutor had also taught her that women could hold up half the sky just as well as men.
Still, Duoduo remembered how, when she was little, Old Madam Song would always say, “Girls are nothing but money-losing goods. Raising them is just a waste of grain!”
Duoduo also remembered that her two brothers had always lived in luxury at the Song residence.
Even Song Shuyu had to take second place to the two brothers.
Duoduo’s eyes shifted as she thought.
Her father had clearly had a chance to serve as regent this time, yet he had given it up.
He claimed there were other reasons, but Duoduo felt that he must also have lacked confidence because he had no son.
He wanted a son?
Simple!
She had a way!
A broad smile spread across Duoduo’s face.
The medicine was ready!
Duoduo stood up and picked up the handkerchief beside her. Carefully wrapping it around the handles of the pot, she tried to lift it from the stove.
“Princess, put it down! Let this servant do it!”
Qingliu rushed in from outside like a gust of wind and snatched the handkerchief from Duoduo.
Duoduo stepped aside and directed Qingliu to place the pot on a straw mat.
Once the medicine had cooled a little, Duoduo had Qingliu pour it into a small bowl.
“Qingliu, stay here.”
“Remember, you must not let anyone have the medicine in this pot!”
Qingliu nodded vigorously. “Rest assured, Princess. This servant will watch it carefully and won’t let anyone take it!”
Duoduo nodded.
She placed the bowl of medicine into a food container and carefully carried it away.
In the study, Xiao Yi wrote the final character and set down his brush.
He picked up the letter and blew on it to dry the ink. Then he put it into an envelope and sealed it with wax.
“Yunxiao, deliver this letter immediately!”
“Yes! This subordinate will leave at once!”
Yunxiao accepted the envelope with both hands and hurried out of the study.
As soon as he stepped outside, he saw Duoduo.
“This subordinate pays his respects to the Princess.”
Duoduo nodded with a bright smile. “Yunxiao, is Father inside?”
Yunxiao bowed with a smile. “The Prince is inside.”
“Good. Hurry and get to your work. I’m going in.”
Duoduo waved to Yunxiao with a smile.
After Yunxiao left, Duoduo pushed open the door and entered.
Xiao Yi had heard Duoduo’s voice long ago. He looked toward the doorway.
“What have you made this time? Something delicious?”
But the smile on his face froze as soon as he finished speaking.
“Why do I smell medicine?” His brows furrowed.
Duoduo rose onto her tiptoes and placed the food container on the desk.
“Father, I made this nourishing medicinal soup especially for you.” Duoduo blinked, her expression utterly earnest.
Xiao Yi gave Duoduo a long look.
“My health is excellent. I don’t need medicine.”
Duoduo tilted her little head. “Father, why are you acting like a child who hates taking medicine?”
Xiao Yi curled his finger and tapped her lightly on the forehead.
“I was wondering why you suddenly insisted on taking my pulse.”
“Tell me, what’s wrong with me now?”
Duoduo blinked again.
“Father, preventing illness before it appears is the best way to maintain good health.”
“Lately, haven’t you often felt restless and overheated? And haven’t you been sleeping poorly?”
Xiao Yi thought for a moment, then nodded.
“Yes.”
Duoduo broke into a radiant smile.
“So after you drink this medicine, you’ll sleep soundly!”
Xiao Yi frowned and pushed the food container a little farther away.
“Don’t you have those sleeping pills? Just give me one of those.”
Duoduo’s large eyes darted around. Then she spread her hands.
“I don’t have any left!”
“Father, it took me an incredible amount of effort to gather all the ingredients for this.”
“I watched over it and brewed it for an entire hour!”
“You wouldn’t be so heartless as to disappoint all the care I put into it, would you?”
Duoduo cupped her cheeks in both hands and blinked at Xiao Yi.
