Lüdou reflexively tried to hide the book.
However, facing Duoduo's clear, big eyes, Lüdou stopped.
"I'm sorry, Duoduo. The book you lent me was burned by Auntie Zhang."
Duoduo took it and flipped it open to look.
The whole book was completely unrecognizable, and the front pages were all gone.
Duoduo pouted. "How did this book end up like this? What a pity!"
Lüdou felt very anxious and restless.
"I'm sorry, Duoduo, please don't cry!"
"I'm trying to figure out a way to write down all the contents from memory. Then, I'll take it to the bookstore and have someone help copy it out."
After Lüdou finished speaking, she lowered her head.
"I'm sorry, Duoduo. With my current monthly allowance, I can't afford a new book yet, so I can only find someone to copy it first.
"Don't worry, once I finish my apprenticeship, my allowance will increase.
"When that time comes, I won't spend any of it. I'll save it all up, and I'll soon have enough."
Duoduo shook her head.
"There's no need."
Lüdou panicked. "Duoduo, please don't be angry!"
"How about I go to the steward to get an advance on my wages, and then go buy a copy to compensate you."
Duoduo shook her head again, and Lüdou was on the verge of tears.
"I have already memorized this entire book. There's no need to buy another one and waste money."
Lüdou was stunned. "But how will you explain this to His Highness?"
Duoduo revealed a row of small white teeth, her eyes curving into crescents.
"Father said this book has already been given to me!
"So, if it's burned, it's burned. It doesn't matter! Lüdou, you don't need to be sad!"
Hearing Duoduo's words, Lüdou opened her mouth wide and looked at her.
"Father? Was this book given to you by Lord Song?"
Duoduo froze for a moment, then shook her head.
"Lüdou, you misunderstood!
"The father I'm talking about is His Highness!"
Lüdou hurriedly covered Duoduo's mouth and looked around vigilantly.
When she looked around and found no one else there, she finally released Duoduo.
Lüdou lowered her voice. "Duoduo, you absolutely must not call His Highness that anymore! You'll be beheaded!"
Duoduo touched her own neck and looked suspiciously at Lüdou.
"Why can't I call him that? Why would I be beheaded?"
Lüdou pulled Duoduo to sit down.
"Back then, His Highness paid silver to buy you and me, so we can only be servants of the prince's manor.
"Although His Highness originally wanted to adopt a young miss from the Song family, the one he wanted to adopt was the eldest miss.
"Now, His Highness is able to take the two of us in because he and the Princess Consort are kind-hearted.
"We cannot have any more extravagant hopes, do you understand?"
Duoduo shook her head.
"Lüdou, you're wrong.
"This time, Father personally told me that he wants to take me as his adoptive daughter.
"Moreover, there's an imperial decree!"
Lüdou was astonished. "An imperial decree? What imperial decree?"
"The imperial decree for Father to take me in as his adoptive daughter."
A look of pleasant surprise appeared on Lüdou's face.
"Really? Duoduo, the Emperor issued a decree? Ordering His Highness to take you as his adoptive daughter?"
Duoduo also began to smile.
"Mhm, yes!"
Lüdou hugged Duoduo tightly. "That's wonderful, the heavens have truly opened their eyes!
"Duoduo, from now on, you'll never have to suffer or go hungry again!"
Duoduo hugged Lüdou back.
"Lüdou, from now on, I will also have a father and mother to dote on me!"
As the two talked, they recalled their poor and bitter days in the Song manor and couldn't help but cry.
"That's wonderful, Duoduo. You've finally found happiness, that's so great!"
Lüdou finally managed to stop crying. She looked at Duoduo, feeling happy for her.
Duoduo held Lüdou's hand.
"Lüdou, don't worry. As long as I'm doing well, I will definitely bring you along."
Lüdou paused for a moment.
"Duoduo, can I not follow you for now?"
Duoduo tilted her head. "Why?"
Lüdou hurriedly explained.
"Since I've now taken Li Da's wife as my master, I want to learn all of her craft.
"Once I've learned it, I'll leave the manor and set up a pastry stall.
"Li Da's wife's craftsmanship is very good, so the business will definitely be great.
"Once I earn some silver, I'll buy a courtyard, then a shop, and open a pastry store.
"Just in case, one day, His Highness and the others have their own child and don't want you anymore, you can at least come to me!"
Duoduo froze, staring blankly at Lüdou.
After a while, large tears rolled out of her eyes.
"Lüdou, why are you so good to me?"
Lüdou gently wiped away Duoduo's tears.
"Because I've long considered you, Miss, as my own biological sister.
"I used to hear people say, 'He who gives no thought to the future is sure to be beset by worries at hand.'
"We have no family and are too weak. If something unexpected happens one day, it will be hard to survive."
Duoduo sniffled.
"Lüdou, didn't you say you wanted to take the imperial exams and become the top scholar in the future?
"You also said that once you become the top scholar, we won't have to worry about food and drink."
Lüdou smiled embarrassedly.
"I only recently found out that women are not allowed to participate in the imperial examinations.
"Moreover, servants are also not allowed to participate.
"So, Duoduo, I want to free myself from my slave status when I grow up.
"I'll open a shop of my own, become a legitimate wife, and let my son take the exams to become the top scholar."
As Lüdou spoke towards the end, her face turned completely red.
"Ah? Why can't women become top scholars? That's so unfair!"
Duoduo felt very disappointed.
Lüdou was also feeling down. "Yeah, it's so unfair!
"But, Lüdou, we should still continue to learn.
"I want to recognize many, many words and read lots and lots of books!"
Duoduo reached out and gestured a height.
"There are so many books in Father's study. I want to read them all and see what they are all about."
Lüdou's eyes also sparkled, but then her gaze dimmed.
"Duoduo, perhaps I won't have free time to study in the future.
"Li Da's wife said that I need to focus my energy on learning how to make pastries.
"She also said that a person's energy is limited. You can only do things well by focusing on one direction."
Duoduo was very disappointed.
"Then you can't study together with me anymore?"
Lüdou held Duoduo's hand and shook it gently.
"I will still learn, it's just that I won't have as much time as before.
"You must study well with His Highness. Please don't be like me and give up halfway."
Duoduo nodded.
"Mhm, I will definitely work hard.
"Once I've learned, I'll teach you in the future. You can learn whenever you want to!"
Lüdou smiled and nodded.
The two snuggled together, neither saying a word.
After a good while, Lüdou suddenly remembered something.
"Right, you said His Highness recognized you as his daughter, but why don't you even have a maid by your side?"
"Father once wanted to transfer you back, but I guessed you definitely wanted to follow Li Da's wife to learn things, so I refused.
"Father then said he would buy a few new maids and let me choose them myself.
"Oh right, Mother arranged for Baihe to follow me, but I was just learning etiquette with the momo, so Baihe didn't tag along."
Lüdou was somewhat worried.
"When you were with Momo Li, did that Pangya bully you?"
