“You said you weren’t going, yet you ended up explaining everything!”
“Who did you learn that insincere act from?” Xiao Yi tapped Duoduo on the forehead.
Hearing the softness in her father’s tone, Duoduo immediately put on a sweet, obedient smile.
“From you, Daddy!”
“Hmph! Now you’re blaming me for it!” Xiao Yi nearly rolled his eyes.
Duoduo wrapped her arms around Xiao Yi’s neck and snuggled against him affectionately.
“Mommy says my temperament is exactly the same as yours!”
Feeling Duoduo’s affection, the displeasure in Xiao Yi’s heart melted away.
There was some truth to what Duoduo had said. Once a young eagle grew up, it would eventually have to leave the nest and fly.
He could not protect Duoduo beneath his wings forever.
“Get down and sit properly in the chair!”
Xiao Yi did not want to lose to Duoduo’s sweet pleading again.
“Oh!”
Duoduo obediently slid off Xiao Yi’s lap and sat down in the chair.
Xiao Yi straightened his clothes and took a moment to organize his thoughts.
“How are you planning to leave?” After thinking it over, he decided to get straight to the point.
Duoduo naturally understood what her father meant.
“Daddy, I’ve thought about it.”
“I want to leave through the secret passage in the manor.”
“Then I’ll hire a carriage from the shop and leave the city.”
“There are lots of people around the shop, so it’ll be harder for anyone to keep an eye on us.”
“Lüdou and I can disguise ourselves as sisters. Anyone who doesn’t know me won’t be able to tell which one of us is Princess Changle!”
Duoduo smiled until her eyes curved into crescents.
Xiao Yi pondered for a moment.
“No.” He rejected Duoduo’s plan.
“You and Lüdou are about the same age.”
“Have Lüdou pretend to be you and leave from the palace. You and Li Jin will leave through the underground passage, and I’ll arrange for people to wait for you by the shop.”
“Li Jin is quite skilled. I’ll only feel at ease with him accompanying you.”
Seeing that Duoduo was about to object, Xiao Yi continued.
“As for Lüdou, Qingliu can accompany her.”
“I’ll also send a dozen or so guards to protect her until she reaches Great Buddha Temple and meets up with you.”
Duoduo opened her mouth, wanting to argue.
But she also felt that her father’s arrangement was the most sensible.
“Daddy, what if we have Qingliu pretend to be me instead?”
“Lüdou still has to make pastries for the shop. She’ll be busy…”
Duoduo spoke hesitantly.
She did not want Lüdou to take such a risk!
Xiao Yi saw through Duoduo’s thoughts at a glance.
He fell silent for a moment.
“If she’s unwilling, I’ll find someone else.”
“Besides, Qingliu is much older than you. It wouldn’t be appropriate.”
Duoduo’s little face immediately fell.
If Lüdou learned about her father’s arrangement, she would definitely agree.
In fact, if Lüdou found out that Duoduo had tried to stop her from going, she would probably be angry with her!
If only she were a little taller.
Because of all her training and the good food she ate, Duoduo had been shooting up quickly.
She had already grown to Lüdou’s ear.
At this rate, she would probably be as tall as Lüdou soon.
Lüdou had grown taller too, but not as quickly as Duoduo.
If only Lüluo and the others were here.
Those three maids were all about the same age as Lüdou.
Duoduo felt somewhat dejected. “All right, then.”
“But, Daddy, you must send skilled guards to protect Lüdou!”
“Lüdou is just like my own older sister!”
“If she hadn’t protected me back then, I wouldn’t be here today.”
“And I never would have met you and Mommy!”
Duoduo reminded him anxiously.
“Is that why you redeemed her from her indenture?”
Xiao Yi had known for a long time that Duoduo had bought back Lüdou’s contract.
He had simply never paid much attention to it.
Duoduo blinked, then nodded vigorously.
“That was one of the reasons!”
A flicker of curiosity swiftly crossed Xiao Yi’s eyes.
“There were other reasons?”
Duoduo tilted her little head and thought for a moment.
“The biggest reason was that I wanted to repay her for protecting me back then.”
“I gave her the shop so she could do what she wanted.”
“I’ve watched her improve bit by bit and work toward her dream.”
“I’m really happy for her!”
“It’s as if she accomplished the dream I wanted to accomplish.”
Xiao Yi’s brows gradually knitted together.
He did not like the regret in Duoduo’s tone.
“Are you unhappy living here at the manor?”
“Or is there something you want to do but haven’t been able to?”
A trace of confusion appeared in Duoduo’s eyes at her father’s question.
“No, Daddy!”
“I’m very happy here at the manor!”
“I’ve learned so many principles and skills.”
“Now I can not only earn lots of money, but also protect you, Mommy, and the people I care about!”
Xiao Yi could tell from Duoduo’s expression that she was not lying.
“Then why did you sound so regretful just now?” he asked, unsure whether he had misheard her.
Duoduo’s eyes flickered.
She rested her chin in both hands and thought for a while.
“Regretful? I guess there is a little.”
“It’s just that I’m too young. There seem to be so many things I can’t do.”
“If I were seven or eight years old already—or as old as Qingliu—would you and Mommy be less worried about me?”
Duoduo had many ambitions, but she was simply too young.
She had once talked with Lüdou about how their trip to the capital had made them both want to travel all over the world.
Besides traveling, Lüdou’s greatest wish was to open a shop.
Now, Lüdou had achieved her dream.
But Duoduo did not know when she would be able to achieve hers.
Xiao Yi stared at Duoduo and pressed his lips together.
“There’s an old saying: A parent can raise a child for a hundred years, yet worry for ninety-nine of them.”
“As long as you are our daughter for even one more day, we will never stop worrying about you.”
Duoduo stared blankly at Xiao Yi.
“Then if we have a little brother, wouldn’t you and Mommy have even more to worry about?”
Xiao Yi let out a disdainful “Hmph.”
“A son is different.”
“Boys don’t have to worry about being bullied.”
“Besides, a boy needs to go through hardships to grow up!”
Duoduo’s eyes widened, and her mouth fell open. After a long pause, she finally managed to say, “Daddy, you’re so biased!”
Xiao Yi was amused by her expression.
“Li Jin says the heart is naturally on the left, not in the middle.”
“So it’s perfectly normal for someone to be biased!”
Duoduo stuck out her tongue.
“That’s not the kind of ‘heart’ I meant!”
“Daddy, you’re changing the subject!”
“Fortunately, I’ll be in charge of taking care of my little brother once he’s born.”
“Otherwise, I’d feel sorry for him!” As she spoke, Duoduo patted her chest.
Xiao Yi rubbed his forehead.
“Nothing has even been decided yet. Isn’t it a little early to be talking about this?”
“What if it’s a little sister?”
“Aren’t you afraid your little sister will accuse you of being biased?”
A gleam flashed through Duoduo’s eyes.
Oh?
Had Daddy finally softened?
But what if he actually preferred a little sister?
Duoduo blinked her big eyes.
Should she ask for a little brother first, then a little sister?
Or should she ask for both at once?
Seeing Duoduo’s eyes spinning mischievously, Xiao Yi reached out and pinched her cheek.
“What kind of mischief are you plotting now?”
