Princess Consort Rui hesitated for a moment before extending her hand.
Last time, it was thanks to Changle taking her pulse that she learned the truth. Otherwise, even if she had died, she might never have understood what had happened.
Duoduo examined Princess Consort Rui’s pulse with a serious expression. A full quarter of an hour passed before she finally withdrew her hand.
“Is something wrong?” Princess Consort Rui asked when Duoduo remained silent.
Duoduo lifted her eyes and stared intently at Princess Consort Rui.
“You suffered a miscarriage, but you didn’t properly take care of your health afterward.”
“Your body is in terrible condition!”
Princess Consort Rui’s eyes immediately reddened again.
Before coming out today, she had already consulted a physician. The physician had told her the same thing.
“How terrible is it?” A trace of mockery appeared on Princess Consort Rui’s face.
“Am I not long for this world? Or can I still linger on for a while?”
Duoduo looked surprised.
This Princess Consort Rui was completely different from the one she had seen last time!
“Fourth Aunt, although you lost this child, don’t you still have a daughter?”
At the mention of Danyang, disappointment surfaced on Princess Consort Rui’s face.
“She was spoiled rotten.”
“Changle, you’d never guess why I miscarried.”
Confusion appeared on Duoduo’s face.
“Wasn’t it because of…the fire?” Duoduo paused.
Princess Consort Rui slowly shook her head.
“That was merely the story told to outsiders.”
“In truth, Danyang listened to someone else’s slander and spilled rose oil in a place where I often walked.”
Duoduo’s eyes widened in disbelief.
She had not had much contact with Danyang. But in her impression, although Danyang was somewhat spoiled and proud, she was not foolish.
How could she have listened to someone else and set a trap for her own mother?
When Princess Consort Rui saw Duoduo’s expression, a bitter look appeared on her face.
“She thought I loved the son in my belly and no longer loved her.”
“So she tried to get rid of the child.”
Duoduo blinked.
Oh!
So that was it!
The child in Princess Consort Rui’s belly had been presented as a son right up until its death. No wonder Danyang had done such a thing.
Duoduo seemed to understand Danyang a little better now.
“Then did you ask me to come because you wanted pills to restore your health?”
Duoduo remembered that her father had reminded her to return as quickly as possible. She did not want him to worry.
Princess Consort Rui shook her head.
“No! I want a different kind of medicine!”
Duoduo’s eyes filled with curiosity. “You can go to an apothecary and have a physician prescribe it for you.”
“I want a colorless, odorless poison.” Princess Consort Rui stared at Duoduo and spoke slowly.
Duoduo looked at Princess Consort Rui and said nothing for a long while.
After some time, Duoduo stood up and bowed to her.
“Fourth Aunt, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going home now.”
Princess Consort Rui hurriedly rose and grabbed Duoduo.
“I was only joking. Don’t leave.”
Duoduo glanced at Princess Consort Rui and decided to speak plainly.
“Fourth Aunt, given the current situation, my father didn’t originally allow me to come out.”
“I insisted on coming to check on you because I once gave you a pill.”
“In the end, Father couldn’t persuade me otherwise, so he let me come.”
“Fourth Aunt, if something is troubling you, just tell me directly.”
“If it’s inconvenient to say, then we can part ways here.”
Princess Consort Rui clasped Duoduo’s hand tightly.
“If only you were my daughter!”
Duoduo had not expected Princess Consort Rui to say something like that.
Princess Consort Rui pressed Duoduo back down into her chair.
“I’ve already been completely sidelined by the Secondary Consort in Prince Rui’s residence.”
“I want revenge for my child.”
“But I’ve realized that I have no one I can use.”
“I don’t even dare trust the maids who came with me from my maternal family.”
Princess Consort Rui feared that Duoduo might truly leave, so she immediately explained why she had summoned her.
She also understood that it had not been easy for either Changle or herself to meet under the circumstances.
“I want to find someone who can give me advice. What should I do now?”
“Changle, can you help me?”
“Ever since I first saw you, I don’t know why, but I’ve trusted you.”
“You saved my life. I owe you a debt of gratitude.”
“When I wanted to ask someone for help, you were the first person who came to mind!”
Princess Consort Rui finally revealed why she had asked to meet Duoduo.
Duoduo looked astonished.
She was only half convinced by what Princess Consort Rui had said.
“Fourth Aunt, I’m only four years old!” Duoduo held up four fingers.
When Princess Consort Rui saw Suisui’s expression, she gave a bitter smile.
“That’s right!”
“You’re only four. What could you possibly understand?”
“I must have been confused. Who could blame me when I couldn’t find a single person to discuss this with?”
Duoduo lowered her hand.
“My maternal grandmother said that once a daughter marries, the only people she can rely on are her family.”
Princess Consort Rui froze for a moment, and the bitterness on her face deepened.
“My family all favors Prince Rui.”
“They won’t help me seek revenge.”
“They’ll only advise me to endure, to be magnanimous, and to be tolerant.”
As she spoke, a mocking smile tugged at the corners of Princess Consort Rui’s lips.
“Changle, I once told my family what happened.”
“But do you know what they said?”
“They said it was because I hadn’t borne Prince Rui a son or daughter that he no longer favored me.”
“They even said that if I couldn’t have children, they would send my younger sister here.”
Duoduo could not help looking stunned.
She remembered that Princess Consort Rui’s father was the Minister of Personnel.
How could a court official of such high rank treat his own daughter this way?
When Princess Consort Rui saw the shock on Duoduo’s face, the mockery in her expression deepened.
“Ridiculous, isn’t it?”
“I think it’s laughable too!”
Duoduo’s heart softened in an instant.
She rolled her large eyes. “Fourth Aunt, my maternal grandmother says that at home, a woman should obey her father, and after marriage, her husband. You should listen more to Fourth Uncle.”
“I heard that Second Aunt listens to Second Uncle very well.”
“Fourth Aunt, Second Aunt is about your age. She must have encountered the same difficulties you have.”
“I think you could ask Second Aunt how she handled things when she ran into trouble!”
Princess Consort Rui froze for a moment. Then the mocking smile disappeared from her face, replaced by a thoughtful expression.
Duoduo did not urge her. After waiting for a while, she saw Princess Consort Rui return to her senses.
“You’re right. I’ll speak with your Second Aunt when I get back.”
“Thank you, Changle. Oh, by the way, the physician prescribed a formula to help restore my health. Could you take a look at it for me?”
As she spoke, Princess Consort Rui pulled a prescription from her sleeve.
Duoduo took it and glanced over it twice.
“Hmm. This prescription is quite standard, and there’s nothing seriously wrong with it.”
“But if you replace these few ingredients with others, the effects will be better and faster.”
Duoduo quickly listed several herbs, along with their dosages.
Princess Consort Rui hurriedly committed them to memory.
“Fourth Aunt, I have to go home!” Duoduo stood up.
