Duoduo smiled, smiling brilliantly.
"She doesn't dare to bully me now! She was beaten up by Baihe! Beaten so miserably!"
Lüdou was very surprised. "Baihe knows how to hit people?"
Duoduo nodded vigorously. "Yes! Pangya was beaten until she bawled! Hee hee hee!"
Lüdou smiled too.
If she hadn't been afraid of being kicked out by the Princess Consort, she would have wanted to beat Pangya up a long time ago.
"After the banquet tomorrow, don't come to the kitchen looking for me anymore," Lüdou instructed Duoduo.
Duoduo didn't understand. "Why?"
"Because starting tomorrow, you will be the Prince's daughter, the little master of the Prince's estate."
"The kitchen is a place where servants gather; it's not proper for you to come here."
"Moreover, you are still young and don't have the ability to protect yourself. If you bump into someone blind to your status, I won't be able to protect you!"
Fearing that Duoduo wouldn't understand, Lüdou broke the reasoning down to explain it to her.
Duoduo understood.
From tomorrow on, she and Lüdou would be people from two completely different worlds. Her coming here would only bring trouble to Lüdou.
Duoduo's eyes turned red.
"Then what if I miss you? How about we stay together all the time just like before, okay?"
"Lüdou, are you blaming me for leaving you? I was wrong! Don't be angry!"
"I'll go tell Father right now to let you come back, okay?"
As Duoduo spoke, tears flowed down her face. She turned around, ready to run off.
Lüdou hurriedly pulled her back. "Duoduo, you misunderstood!"
"I'm really not angry! I also want to go back and serve you!"
"But the Prince won't agree to it!"
Duoduo froze, looking at Lüdou with tearful eyes.
"No! Father will agree, as long as I say yes!"
Lüdou lowered her eyes. "Duoduo, do you know why Nanny Li separated the two of us?"
With unsettled shock and doubt in her eyes, Duoduo murmured, "Why?"
Lüdou raised her eyes and revealed a bitter smile. "I didn't understand at first either. Later, it was Li Da's wife who enlightened me."
"If I always stay by your side, it will constantly remind you of your past identity."
"Only if I leave and you start a new life anew, will you truly treat the Prince and the Princess Consort as your family!"
"Furthermore, you are too dependent on me, which is not a good thing for your growth."
"In this world, where is there a precedent of a servant dictating to their master?"
"Li Da's wife said that the operas all write that those whose merits outshine their masters will be killed by them!"
"The Prince is merciful. He brought me out of the Song Manor along with you back then, and arranged for me to work in the kitchen."
"I met my master, and from now on I can learn a professional skill. I am very grateful."
"Miss Duoduo, the Prince and the Princess Consort are truly very good people."
"If you live well with them from now on, you will definitely be very happy!"
Duoduo burst into loud wails and threw herself into Lüdou's arms.
"Lüdou, I don't want to leave you!"
Lüdou stroked Duoduo's hair. "We are not separated; we just can't meet often, that's all."
"Once I've learned how, I'll make your favorite pastries for you every day. How about that?"
"Mhm, okay." Duoduo was very disappointed.
Lüdou forced a smile. "Miss, you should be happy."
"In the past at the Song Manor, the Master and Madam were both bad to you, and in the end, they even abandoned you."
"Now, you have people who like you more. How wonderful is that!"
"Although the Prince is not easy to get along with, the Princess Consort is very nice. You have fallen into a nest of fortune."
"You have to be grateful, you know? You must repay them well."
"Oh right, you need to study hard with Nanny Li, and don't be afraid of hardship or exhaustion."
"I heard from Li Da's wife that Nanny Li used to be a person of great status in the palace."
"Moreover, she specialized in teaching etiquette to noble young ladies. Many people couldn't even hire her if they tried."
It was Duoduo's first time hearing about Nanny Li's background, and she was very curious.
"Lüdou, don't worry, I understand! I will be very good!"
Lüdou shook her head. "From now on, you are a master. You must have your own opinions."
"In front of the Prince and Princess Consort, you can be very obedient, but in front of others, you must have your own imposing aura."
Duoduo tilted her head. She stood up straight, straightened her back, and restrained the expression on her face.
Then, she looked at Lüdou with a serious face. "Like this?"
Lüdou was stunned for a moment, then nodded vigorously, her eyes turning red.
"Yes! That's very good! Duoduo did so well!"
Duoduo suddenly bent over. "Lüdou, this is so uncomfortable."
"The Nanny told me to smile without showing my teeth and walk without showing my feet, but I just like to laugh out loud and run everywhere!"
"I feel that if I do that, I'm like... like a wooden puppet! I don't like it!"
Lüdou was amused into laughing.
"Miss, do you still remember the Eldest Miss?"
Duoduo straightened her body. She tilted her head and thought about it.
Her older sister, Song Shuyu?
"Mhm, I remember." Duoduo nodded.
"Then do you remember, Miss, what the Eldest Miss looked like on normal days?"
What did Song Shuyu look like? A flash of confusion appeared in Duoduo's eyes.
She had always been in the backyard, and the number of times she had seen Song Shuyu could be counted on one hand.
The few times they met, Song Shuyu always had her back straight and sat properly.
Duoduo seemed to understand Lüdou's meaning. "Lüdou, I know now."
"I will study hard! I will definitely do better than her!"
Lüdou nodded in gratification. "Mhm, Miss is the smartest. You will definitely be able to do better."
Duoduo looked at the sky. "Lüdou, I have to go back. I still have to learn etiquette from the Nanny."
Lüdou reluctantly let go of Duoduo. "Mhm, then hurry back!"
Duoduo looked at Lüdou with longing, understanding that after this parting, the chances of the two meeting again would be slim.
"Lüdou..." Duoduo hooked her fingers around Lüdou's hand, reluctant to let go.
Suppressing the emotions in her heart, Lüdou revealed a gentle smile.
"We can make an agreement."
"What agreement?" Duoduo's tears swirled in her eyes.
"If you miss me, just order peach blossom pastries, and then I'll know."
"If you are unhappy, order almond cookies, and I will find time to come see you secretly!"
Duoduo immediately cheered up.
"If I miss you, it's peach blossom pastries. If I'm unhappy, it's almond cookies! I'll remember!"
Lüdou stroked Duoduo's cheek once more.
"Remember, Lüdou always cares about you. You have to do your best!"
Duoduo nodded vigorously. "Okay!"
"Go on, if you're late, the Nanny will be unhappy!" Lüdou let go of Duoduo's hand.
This time, Duoduo turned around firmly. She was about to run, but she immediately slowed her pace and left gracefully, using the method Nanny Li had taught her.
Lüdou covered her mouth and cried out loud.
"You did very well!"
