When Duoduo ran to the Bamboo Pavilion, she did not see Nanny Li.
Pangya stood with her arms crossed, laughing with schadenfreude.
"Hmph, today Nanny taught new characters and a new embroidery technique."
"Nanny also said she would teach me something else tomorrow."
A look of disappointment appeared on Duoduo's face.
Baihe, standing behind her, was displeased. She stepped in front of Duoduo.
"Who do you think you are? You're only fortunate enough to learn from Nanny because you're basking in the young lady's favor."
"You show no gratitude, yet you dare to gloat? Wait until I report this to Nanny and see how she punishes you!"
Pangya was intimidated by Baihe's imposing manner. She dropped her hands and stood respectfully.
She recognized Baihe, knowing she was a first-rank maid serving the Princess Consort.
"Sister Baihe, I was just teasing Duoduo for fun!"
Upon hearing this, Baihe's willow-leaf eyebrows shot up in anger.
"How dare a mere servant girl address the young lady by her given name? Aren't you afraid of having your tongue ripped out?"
Pangya was startled and looked at Duoduo.
"Sister Baihe, what did you say?"
"You said she's the young lady? You haven't been deceived, have you?"
"She's just like me, a maid serving Nanny Li!"
"Since when did she become a young lady of the Prince's mansion? Hmph, you must have been tricked by her!"
"If she's a young lady of the Prince's mansion, then wouldn't I be the Princess Consort's daughter?"
Pangya pointed at Duoduo indignantly.
"Slap!"
Without hesitation, Baihe gave Pangya a resounding slap across the face.
"Kneel down at once and kowtow to apologize to the young lady!"
Pangya covered her cheek, her eyes filled with hatred as she glared at Duoduo.
"Don't think you can fool me just because you've bribed Baihe!"
"You're jealous that Nanny Li praised me, so you deliberately bribed Sister Baihe, didn't you?"
"Yes, that must be it!"
Pangya waved her hand angrily.
"I'm going to expose you to the Princess Consort! You actually dare to impersonate the Prince and Princess Consort's daughter! How audacious! You just wait!"
"Slap! Slap!" Without a moment's hesitation, Baihe gave Pangya two more slaps.
"You fool! Slandering me is one thing, but you dare slander the Prince and Princess Consort!"
"Today, I'll teach you a lesson and show you what delusion means!"
Baihe grabbed Pangya by the hair, yanked her over, flung her to the ground, and began slapping her face repeatedly.
Duoduo was frightened by Baihe's ferocity.
She hurriedly turned and ran outside.
As a result, she ran headlong into someone's arms.
"Ouch!"
The person stumbled from the impact.
Duoduo quickly stopped. "Nanny Li, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."
Nanny Li rubbed her sore stomach and looked at Duoduo.
"What are you running for? Where have all the manners I taught you gone?"
"No matter how serious the matter, even if the sky were falling, one must not let emotions show on their face."
Duoduo clasped her hands together, hung her head, and hunched her shoulders.
"I'm sorry, I was wrong."
Nanny Li frowned. "Chest out! Head up! Stomach in!"
Duoduo instinctively followed Nanny Li's instructions.
"Remember, this is the posture of a young lady from a noble family!" Nanny Li was very displeased.
She had been teaching for several days, yet Duoduo always instinctively lowered her head, appearing timid and cautious.
Earlier, the Prince had summoned her and informed her that the recognition banquet would be held the day after tomorrow.
The Prince had specifically inquired about Duoduo's learning progress.
Nanny Li had reported positively, which wasn't exactly an exaggeration.
Duoduo was good in all other aspects, but her temperament was truly rather headache-inducing.
Perhaps due to her previous living environment, Duoduo was very timid.
Moreover, if someone raised their voice even slightly, she would become quite fearful.
A person's demeanor is inherently related to their living environment.
It would likely take Duoduo some time to learn properly.
Seeing Nanny Li staring at her without speaking, Duoduo grew very nervous.
"Nanny, I really didn't mean it just now."
"It's because Baihe and Pangya started fighting. I wanted to find someone to help."
A look of surprise flashed across Nanny Li's face.
"Fighting? Why?"
Baihe was the head maid serving the Princess Consort. How could she get into a fight with a lowly maid like Pangya?
Nanny Li didn't believe it and walked inside.
By now, Baihe had already swollen Pangya's face to twice its size.
Pangya had initially tried to resist, but she was only ten years old, much younger than Baihe.
Seeing Pangya still trying to fight back made Baihe even angrier.
She cursed and hit until her own hand went numb, only then did she stop.
She released Pangya and stood up.
At that moment, Nanny Li and Duoduo happened to walk in.
Seeing Nanny Li, Pangya let out a loud, aggrieved "Waa!" and burst into tears.
Earlier, when she cried, Baihe had hit her even harder.
So later, Pangya hadn't even dared to whimper.
Pangya quickly scrambled over to Nanny Li's side.
"Nanny, you must uphold justice for me! Baihe hit me!"
Nanny Li kicked her away. "Tell me, what foolish thing did you do?"
Pangya was stunned, her sobs caught in her throat.
Baihe, still fuming, vigorously shook out her hand.
Originally, she had been harboring resentment after being assigned to serve Duoduo.
But when she saw Duoduo being bullied by a mere servant like Pangya,
the fire in her heart became impossible to suppress.
No matter how lacking Duoduo might be, she was still the Princess Consort's adopted daughter.
Pangya was just a servant, yet she dared to bully Duoduo.
Baihe could not tolerate this in the slightest.
"She showed disrespect to the young lady and even slandered the Prince and Princess Consort!"
"Nanny Li, please don't blame me. I am someone who cannot stand any wrongdoing!"
"A servant should know their place!"
"Don't think that just because the masters show a little favor, you become equal to them!"
Baihe glared sideways at Pangya on the floor.
A hint of surprise appeared on Nanny Li's face.
Was Baihe subtly criticizing her?
However, she didn't want to argue with Baihe.
After all, everything Baihe did, like her own actions, was for Duoduo's good.
Forget it. She, as the senior, wouldn't stoop to the junior's level. She would just pretend not to have understood.
"Enough. Get up and go make two cups of tea."
Nanny Li gave Pangya another kick.
Pangya was full of grievance and wanted to say more.
"What? Can I not order you around either? Fine, if you won't do it, there are plenty of others who will."
Nanny Li's words forced Pangya to get up from the floor and go to the side hall to prepare the tea.
Nanny Li turned her gaze to Duoduo.
"Why has the young lady returned? Is there something the matter?"
Only then did Duoduo notice that Nanny Li's attitude towards her was very respectful.
She felt somewhat awkward. How she wished Nanny would still treat her as before, that would be so much better.
"Nanny, I want to learn to write characters."
Nanny Li thought for a moment. The day after tomorrow was the recognition banquet, and surely many officials' families would attend.
The Prince summoning her today was precisely because he hoped she could give Duoduo intensive training over these two days.
"The light is poor in the evening. Practicing characters would strain your eyes."
"Since you are here, it's perfect timing. This nanny will teach you something else."
Duoduo looked at Nanny Li with an expectant expression.
