Duoduo couldn’t help feeling a little puzzled.
“Then can you sense which direction your mother is in?”
Nina shook her head dejectedly.
“My gu insects aren’t strong enough yet. They can only sense things within a few miles.”
“Once something is beyond that distance, they can’t detect it.”
“But my mother’s gu insect can definitely sense my presence!”
As Nina said this, hope flashed in her eyes.
“So I want to go back and see my master, and then take a trip around the capital.”
“If I stay in the prince’s residence, even if Mother senses me, she won’t be able to get inside.”
Nina had come to this conclusion after having nothing to do for the past few days.
“But if you leave, will you come back to Prince Pingyang’s residence?” Duoduo asked, unable to hide her reluctance.
During this time, Duoduo and Nina had gotten along very well.
Nina had told Duoduo a great deal about the customs and culture of Southern Xinjiang, opening up an entirely different world for her.
Duoduo felt that she still hadn’t heard enough.
Nina glanced at Duoduo.
Although this princess was her disciple in name, she was really more like a younger sister to Nina.
Nina liked her very much too.
However, Nina was perfectly clear about her purpose.
She had come to the capital to find her mother.
Her grandmother was still waiting at home for news from her.
Seeing the expectation in Duoduo’s eyes, Nina steeled her heart.
“I’ve already taught you everything I know.”
“Princess, you’re incredibly clever!”
“No, you’re the cleverest little girl I’ve ever met!”
“If you were one of our people, you’d definitely be my strongest opponent!”
Nina’s words made Duoduo laugh.
“Why couldn’t I be your best friend instead?”
“After all, being friends is much less troublesome than being enemies!”
Nina smiled too.
“To be honest, during the time I’ve been your master, I’ve learned many things from you as well!”
“Even though you’re young, your experience and knowledge surpass mine.”
“If it weren’t for your age, I wouldn’t believe that you’re only four years old!”
Nina spoke with complete sincerity.
“I think so too!” Duoduo said mischievously, giving her a playful wink.
Nina imitated her and winked as well.
“You’re right!”
“Being friends is much less troublesome than being enemies!”
“So, can we be friends?”
After saying this, Nina felt somewhat uneasy.
Duoduo was a lofty princess, while Nina was merely an ordinary commoner.
For her to say something like this was, in truth, rather impolite.
Duoduo tilted her little head.
“Nina, we have a saying.”
“Once someone is your master, they’re your parent for life!”
Nina nodded. “My master says that all the time too.”
Duoduo smiled sweetly as she explained, “So you’ll always be my master!”
A trace of confusion flashed through Nina’s eyes.
Master?
Friend?
Did the princess mean that because Nina was her master, they couldn’t be friends?
“Then will I still get to eat pastries made with mung beans in the future?”
If there was anything Nina couldn’t bear to part with, apart from Duoduo, it was mung beans.
No, that wasn’t right—it was pastries made with mung beans!
Duoduo’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. “Of course!”
“Then there’s no problem!” Nina’s requirements were very simple.
“I’ll go tell the prince in a little while that I’m planning to leave.” After thinking it over, Nina still felt that she should inform Prince Pingyang.
“Already?” Duoduo hadn’t expected Nina to leave as soon as she brought it up.
Nina had originally only intended to ask for a short leave, but once she started talking about her mother, she no longer wanted to remain there.
“Already?” Nina stared at her in surprise.
“That’s because you learned everything so quickly!”
“There’s practically nothing left for me to teach you. How could I stay here without feeling embarrassed?”
“You still haven’t taught me your clan’s secret recipe, have you?” Duoduo suddenly remembered the one thing Nina had left out.
A struggle flashed through Nina’s eyes.
She had originally planned to brush the matter aside, but she hadn’t expected the princess to have such an excellent memory!
However, Nina recalled what Duoduo had just said.
Once someone was your master, they were your parent for life!
After hesitating briefly, Nina made up her mind.
“It’s very simple. I’ll write the recipe down for you, and then explain the steps.”
“After that, you’ll be able to try it yourself.”
“We still have some time. Try practicing the steps I taught you for casting and removing gu on a chicken!”
At this point, Nina only wanted to teach Duoduo as quickly as possible so she could go look for her mother.
“Okay.”
Duoduo walked over to the chicken and began silently reciting the method Nina had taught her.
“Yes, that’s right! Exactly like that!” Nina supervised from the side.
Little Gold plunged headfirst into the chicken’s beak.
“Good. Now close your eyes and try to connect with Little Gold’s mind.”
Duoduo sat cross-legged on the ground and obediently closed her eyes.
“If you can sense Little Gold’s consciousness, give it a command.”
“For example, tell the chicken to fly into the air or lie down…” Nina explained every detail carefully.
She was teaching Duoduo exactly as her own master had once taught her.
Duoduo followed the steps, and sure enough, she discovered that the chicken obeyed her commands.
Whatever she told it to do, it did.
“Good. Now summon Little Gold back out!” Nina said when enough time had passed.
Duoduo followed Nina’s instructions and continued.
……
Su Xian walked along the covered corridor, somewhat distracted.
“Madam, be careful!” Lianxin noticed that Su Xian was about to step off the edge of the path and hurriedly supported her.
Su Xian tried her best to calm herself.
She was carrying a child now, so she absolutely could not afford to make any mistakes!
Su Xian was worried.
If she really was pregnant, she would soon begin experiencing symptoms such as morning sickness.
By then, there was no way she could keep it hidden from the people around her.
How was she supposed to conceal this secret?
The prince had sent away Lingfeng, who had followed him for many years, because he had grown suspicious of him.
What about her?
Lianxin and Baihe had both entered the prince’s residence with her from her mother’s family.
Could they truly be trusted?
Su Xian didn’t dare say for certain.
The prince had even concealed the fact that his legs had recovered from everyone.
If Duoduo hadn’t wanted a younger brother, Su Xian believed she wouldn’t have discovered her pregnancy so soon.
Now she had a secret of her own.
How was she supposed to protect it?
Unless she followed the prince’s example and stopped having servants attend to her at close quarters?
Su Xian thought about it again and again, but couldn’t come up with a good solution.
Before she knew it, she had reached the outer study.
The guards stationed at the entrance saw Su Xian and hurriedly bowed.
“Rise.”
“Is the prince free at the moment?” Su Xian asked, looking toward the study.
“Come in!” Xiao Yi called from inside after hearing Su Xian’s voice.
The guard quickly stepped forward and opened the door.
Su Xian straightened her clothes, composed herself, and slowly walked inside.
The prince was extremely perceptive. She absolutely could not let him see through her!
With that thought in mind, Su Xian entered with a smile on her face.
“Prince, I heard you sent someone to tell me that my father had sent a letter?”
Xiao Yi looked at Su Xian with some confusion.
Why did he feel that his wife seemed a little strange?
