Li Jin shook his head.
“Prince Rui wouldn’t dare.”
Duoduo’s face was full of curiosity. “Why wouldn’t he dare?”
“Unless he can ascend the throne immediately, he won’t be able to dismiss them all.”
“Even if Prince Rui wants to do it, he’ll only seize one person and kill him as a warning to the others.”
“But with the court in its current state, touching one person could affect the entire situation. He wouldn’t dare act rashly.”
“After all, he’s only acting as regent right now. He isn’t the emperor.”
Li Jin explained it all to Duoduo.
Duoduo tilted her little head as she thought.
“Teacher, you said that the crown prince’s position originally belonged to Second Uncle. He was clearly the most qualified person to act as regent, yet he asked someone else to take his place. Do you think he was willing to do that?”
Li Jin smiled. “If it were you, Princess, would you be willing?”
Duoduo shook her head without hesitation. “I definitely wouldn’t!”
“If it were me, I’d find a way to get rid of all the others!”
“Second Uncle had such a good opportunity last time, but he actually let it go. What a waste!”
“Father was the same. He actually handed the opportunity over to someone else. I really don’t understand.” Duoduo pouted.
It had been such a good opportunity. Forget Second Uncle—why had Father given it up?
Was there someone pulling the strings in the palace?
Once Father ascended the throne, couldn’t he simply carry out a great purge?
With her around, who would dare poison Father again? She would make sure they wished they were dead!
Li Jin slowed his pace.
Judging by the distance, they should be almost at the exit.
“Princess, since ancient times, every emperor who ascended the throne has had his name recorded in the history books.”
“The crown prince could ascend the throne openly and legitimately. Why would he go to all that trouble only to bear the infamy of a thousand years?”
As he spoke, Li Jin stopped.
“The current situation is like a pool of muddy water. It’s only when the water is muddy that one can fish.”
Duoduo had not had time to think it over when she saw Li Jin press a switch.
Creak!
As the entrance to the secret passage opened, a ray of light shone into the tunnel.
Duoduo instinctively closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, she and Li Jin were already standing in the courtyard of the Prince of Pingyang’s residence.
“You’re back.”
Xiao Yi was sitting in his wheelchair, looking the two of them over.
Duoduo blinked, then hopped over to Xiao Yi.
“Father, have you been waiting here for us the whole time?”
Xiao Yi gave a light cough. “No.”
“Father was tired of reading, so I came out to get some fresh air.”
Seeing that Duoduo and Li Jin were both safe, Xiao Yi relaxed.
“Father, have Lüdou and the others returned?”
Duoduo remembered that they had been followed on the way back and began to worry about Lüdou.
Xiao Yi’s gaze immediately swept over Li Jin.
Li Jin nodded, and Xiao Yi understood at once.
“Yunxiao, take some men and go check on them,” Xiao Yi ordered.
“Yes.”
Yunxiao quickly left.
“Don’t worry. Those guards are all skilled enough. Nothing will happen to them,” Xiao Yi reassured Duoduo.
Duoduo nodded listlessly.
“Go on. Change your clothes first, then go see your mother.”
Seeing how tired Duoduo looked, Xiao Yi did not ask any questions.
Nanny Li, who had been waiting for her, came over and bowed to Duoduo.
Duoduo followed Nanny Li away. Only then did Xiao Yi turn to Li Jin.
“Did you see her?”
Li Jin nodded. “Yes. A maidservant from Princess Consort Rui’s side had been waiting there for a long time.”
“The Princess was invited into a side room, while I was stopped outside.”
Xiao Yi lifted his eyes and glanced at Li Jin.
“What? Did Duoduo order you not to tell me?”
A smile appeared in Li Jin’s eyes.
“Your Highness is wise!”
The corners of Xiao Yi’s lips curved upward. “Stop flattering me!”
Li Jin immediately straightened his expression. “I was overcome by Your Highness’s noble character. I wasn’t flattering you!”
The corners of Xiao Yi’s mouth continued to rise despite himself.
“Oh? Is this what you told Duoduo—that no one can resist flattery?”
Li Jin instantly looked embarrassed.
“Your Highness, it’s called the art of language.”
“Besides, pleasant words can put people in a good mood.”
“Being able to say exactly what someone wants to hear is a skill too!”
The smile on Xiao Yi’s face faded slightly. “What did you encounter on the way back?”
“Someone followed us. I saw the insignia at his waist. He was one of Prince Rui’s men.” Li Jin revealed what he had discovered.
“What about Fourth Brother’s wife?” Xiao Yi asked.
“Princess Consort Rui’s carriage left Great Buddha Temple before ours.”
Xiao Yi rubbed his fingertips, deep in thought.
Was Fourth Brother worried that his wife had told Duoduo something she shouldn’t have?
But what secret did Fourth Brother have that his wife knew about?
“What did Duoduo and Princess Consort Rui talk about?”
Li Jin lowered his head. “Your Highness, I promised the Princess that I wouldn’t say.”
“If you want to know, you should ask the Princess yourself!”
“I’m covered in dirt too, so I’ll take my leave.”
Before Xiao Yi could respond, Li Jin vaulted over the wall and left.
Xiao Yi looked at the courtyard, which was suddenly empty, and let out a cold laugh.
“Hmph! His courage has grown so much that he actually dares to run away!”
Although Li Jin had now come to seek refuge with him, their relationship was more like that of two kindred spirits and friends.
Li Jin respected Xiao Yi, but he was also quite bold.
Sometimes, he dared to say things others would never dare to voice.
Whenever Xiao Yi encountered something he could not figure out, he would ask Li Jin.
Whether he understood the matter or not, Li Jin would always offer Xiao Yi a different perspective.
That was why Xiao Yi indulged Li Jin’s lack of restraint in front of him.
It was much like the way Su Xian indulged Xu Jinxin.
Xiao Yi turned his wheelchair around and headed toward the rear courtyard.
After changing her clothes and tidying herself up, Duoduo went with Nanny Li to Su Xian’s courtyard.
Su Xian was doing embroidery with Lianxin.
The moment she saw Duoduo, she put down what she was holding.
“Duoduo, are you finished with your lessons?”
Duoduo walked up to Su Xian and curtsied.
“Mother! Yes! Class is over.”
Su Xian took Duoduo’s hand and looked her up and down. “Why did you change your clothes?”
Duoduo cheekily stuck out her tongue. “I got them dirty.”
“Mother, whose bellyband is this?” Duoduo asked when she noticed the piece of embroidery Su Xian had set down.
Su Xian took one look at it, and her face immediately flushed.
“I was just making it for fun.”
Duoduo didn’t believe her at all. She picked up the bellyband and held it against herself.
It was very small!
It wasn’t hers!
And embroidered in the center was a tiger.
Duoduo tilted her little head and asked with a grin, “Mother, is it for my little brother?”
Su Xian’s face grew even redder.
“Mother was only making it for fun.” Su Xian took the bellyband back, placed it in the embroidery basket, and handed it to Lianxin.
With a smile, Lianxin carried it over to a cabinet and put it away.
Seeing Su Xian’s shy expression, Duoduo leaned close to her ear.
“Mother, do you already have a little brother in your belly?”
Su Xian hurriedly covered Duoduo’s mouth. “Don’t say things like that!”
Duoduo blinked.
It had only been a few days, so even taking her pulse probably wouldn’t reveal anything yet.
For the sake of her little brother, perhaps she should help Mother and Father one more time?
Maybe this time, it would work!
“Greetings, Your Highness!” Lianxin’s voice came from the doorway.
