Lüdou was getting a little anxious.
“Princess, I’ll be done soon.”
“Why don’t you wait for me a little while? Once I’m finished, I’ll go with you.”
Duoduo had not yet said anything when Nanny Li snapped at her first.
“What are you saying?”
“How dare you make the Princess wait for you? Where have all the rules I taught you gone?”
Lüdou hurriedly stood up to explain.
“Princess, that isn’t what I meant.”
“I’m just worried that the Prince is still angry about what happened earlier.”
“If you say something that displeases him and make him furious, at least I can serve as a shield for you!”
Duoduo was amused by Lüdou’s words.
She patted the back of Nanny Li’s hand.
“Nanny, I know you’re only saying this for Lüdou’s sake.”
The maid’s betrayal of her master earlier had already been a serious breach of etiquette.
Now Lüdou had actually asked her mistress to wait for her, which was another offense against the rules.
“Nanny, there’s something you may not know.”
“I returned Lüdou’s indenture contract to her long ago.”
“She simply doesn’t want to leave and has chosen to stay by my side as a maid.”
“She treats me like her own sister, so she can be rather blunt when she speaks.”
After saying this, Duoduo turned to Lüdou.
“Nanny Li wasn’t wrong to reprimand you just now.”
“Since you’ve decided to stay by my side, you must be careful with both your words and your actions.”
“If someone had overheard what you just said, what would they have thought?”
“And if someone embellished it and spread rumors, what would happen if Father had to punish you to put those rumors to rest?”
“Nanny reprimanded you for your own good!”
“You must remember what she told you!”
Duoduo was worried that Lüdou might grow distant from Nanny Li because of the reprimand.
In truth, Lüdou had already realized her mistake.
She bent her knees in a formal bow to Duoduo.
“Nanny Li was right to correct me. I overstepped just now.”
“Please punish me, Princess!”
Duoduo helped Lüdou back to her feet.
“Since this is your first offense, I’ll let it go this time.”
“But if there’s a next time, I’ll punish you severely!”
Duoduo deliberately tried to frighten her.
Lüdou lowered her head. “I’ll remember that.”
“If I make the same mistake again, I’ll have no face to remain by the Princess’s side.”
Seeing her say this, Duoduo understood that she had recognized the seriousness of the matter.
Lüdou turned and bowed to Nanny Li.
“Thank you for teaching me, Nanny!”
“I’ll trouble you to keep an eye on me. I promise I’ll do as I said!”
When Nanny Li heard Duoduo say that Lüdou had long since gained her freedom, she was secretly astonished.
What maid who had obtained her freedom would willingly remain in the manor as a servant?
What was more, Lüdou now owned a profitable shop.
Once she left Prince of Pingyang’s residence, she would be a respected shopkeeper.
Yet by staying at the Princess’s side, she would forever remain a servant.
Seeing how humbly Lüdou carried herself, Nanny Li was inexplicably moved.
No wonder Head Cook Li had been willing to teach Lüdou all of her culinary skills.
It seemed that Head Cook Li was the one with true insight.
By comparison, Nanny Li, who prided herself on having seen every kind of person, had a far poorer eye than a mere cook.
“The Princess is right. Since you’ve decided to remain by her side, you must always remember your position.”
“Trouble comes from careless words. Sometimes you may speak without meaning anything by it, but the person listening may take it another way.”
“Besides, the Princess values you. You must always keep her in your heart, think of what she thinks, and worry about what she worries about!”
Nanny Li earnestly explained these principles to Lüdou.
Lüdou’s attitude was exceedingly respectful.
“Yes, I’ll remember!”
“Thank you for your guidance, Nanny.”
Nanny Li could not continue lecturing her for much longer. After all, Duoduo had already made Lüdou’s status clear.
No matter what, Lüdou was not one of the Prince’s household servants.
It would not be appropriate for Nanny Li to say much more.
Duoduo glanced at the fire.
“Lüdou, keep an eye on the stove. I have something to ask Father, so I’ll be going first.”
“Oh, and I’ll be coming back later!”
Duoduo was still thinking about what they had just made.
“Yes, Princess. As you command!” Lüdou bowed.
Duoduo left with Nanny Li, smiling brightly.
Outside, the sun was at its fiercest. It hung glaringly in the sky.
Even the leaves on the trees had wilted beneath the heat.
The birds had all hidden away, and not a single one could be seen.
Duoduo tilted her head back and glanced at the sky.
“Nanny, how long has it been since we last had rain?”
Nanny Li lowered her head and thought for a moment.
“Answering the Princess, it’s been more than ten days.”
Duoduo’s brows furrowed.
“Nanny, have there been times like this in previous years?”
Nanny Li thought again.
“I seem to remember that there was one year when it was like this as well.”
“There was a terrible drought for three years. The common people harvested nothing, sold their children, and abandoned their homes to search for any chance to survive...”
As Nanny Li recalled those days, her throat tightened with emotion.
Duoduo looked once more at the dazzling white sun.
“If only someone could shoot the sun down!” she exclaimed.
“Ah...” Duoduo sighed before continuing on her way.
Nanny Li lowered her head and said nothing.
Shoot the sun down?
That was nothing more than a tale from mythology.
It was completely impossible!
Duoduo walked along the covered corridor, doing her best to stay in the shade.
Even so, by the time she reached the study, sweat was dripping from her like rain. Her hair was soaked through and clung to her face.
When the guards saw Duoduo, they bowed before entering to announce her arrival.
A moment later, one of them came out and invited Duoduo inside.
As soon as she entered, a wave of cool air washed over her.
Duoduo inhaled deeply in comfort.
The room was so much better!
When Xiao Yi saw what she looked like, he said, “There’s chilled watermelon juice on the table.”
Duoduo’s eyes lit up. She hopped over to the table.
“Father, did you know I was coming? Did you prepare this especially for me?”
She poured herself a cup of watermelon juice and began sipping it in small mouthfuls.
The icy drink immediately dispelled the heat clinging to her body.
“What, you’re the only one allowed to drink it? Your father can’t have any?”
Xiao Yi teased her with a smile.
He wheeled his chair over, and Duoduo hurriedly poured him a cup as well.
“Father, watermelon juice is so refreshing!”
Xiao Yi took a small sip first, then nodded.
“Mmm, it really is good.”
No wonder Duoduo liked it so much!
“Now tell me. You came all the way here in this heat—what is it you wanted?”
Xiao Yi pretended not to know why she had come.
Duoduo drained the rest of the watermelon juice in one go.
A bright red ring stained the area around her mouth, making it look as though she had grown a beard.
Duoduo stuck out her tongue and licked her lips.
It was so sweet!
Xiao Yi could hardly bear to look at her. He took out a handkerchief and wiped her mouth clean.
“When will you learn to use a handkerchief? Where are your manners?”
Duoduo stuck out her tongue.
Afraid that her father would start lecturing her again, she quickly explained why she had come.
“Father, did someone come looking for me today?”
