“Even a cat taught by a tiger knows to hold on to a secret skill. How much more so for people?” Xiao Yi’s words carried a profound meaning.
Duoduo tilted her little head.
“Father, did Master Zhang and Master Li keep secret skills of their own?”
A hint of amusement flashed through Xiao Yi’s eyes.
“What do you think?”
Duoduo pouted.
“You just said so, Father. Then they must have.”
Xiao Yi pretended not to notice the disappointment in Duoduo’s eyes.
It was only human nature.
The more she saw of it, the more accustomed she would become.
“Your mother is unwell. She intends to have you take over the household.”
Duoduo’s eyes widened.
Her mother was unwell?
How had she not known?
Seeing Duoduo’s expression, the corners of Xiao Yi’s lips curled slightly.
“What is it? Did you take your mother’s pulse?” There was a hidden meaning in his words.
“Er… Why would you ask that, Father?” Duoduo threw the question back at him.
“Your expression just now…” Xiao Yi pointed at her face.
Duoduo hurriedly schooled her features.
“I understand now. Father, you must have asked Mother to pretend to be ill, right?”
Duoduo quickly figured out the key to the matter.
If her mother were truly sick, her father would certainly have sent for her immediately to treat her.
He would not have called her over to discuss something unrelated, such as handing over the household management.
What exactly had happened for her father to ask her mother to relinquish control of the household?
She was still so young.
How could she possibly manage the enormous Prince Pingyang’s residence?
Duoduo suspected that this could not be a minor matter.
“Father, did something happen?” Duoduo asked cautiously.
Xiao Yi shook his head.
“You’re mistaken. This time, it wasn’t Father’s idea.”
“It was your mother’s own decision.”
“If you don’t believe me, you can ask her yourself.”
“As for what happened, take a look at this letter and you’ll understand.”
With that, Xiao Yi handed Duoduo the letter from the Su family.
Duoduo accepted it curiously and skimmed through the contents. She soon finished reading.
She folded the letter and placed it on the table.
“The Su family has changed the person in charge. This letter definitely wasn’t written at Grandfather’s direction.”
Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow.
“Why do you say that?”
Duoduo tilted her head.
“I heard that the Su family’s troubles have become known throughout the city.”
“But this letter from Grandfather doesn’t mention any of it. There isn’t even a word reprimanding Mother.”
“That can only mean that this letter doesn’t express Grandfather’s intentions.”
“So I conclude that the person in charge has changed.”
A glimmer of amusement flashed through Xiao Yi’s eyes.
Duoduo had followed his example and built an information network of her own.
Although it consisted of only a few children, it seemed those children had managed to uncover quite a lot.
“Mm. Your analysis is correct.”
Xiao Yi’s use of the word “analysis” affirmed Duoduo’s conclusion.
“The Su family is now being managed by your eldest maternal uncle. This letter was probably written in his tone.”
A trace of confusion appeared in Duoduo’s eyes.
“I heard Mother say that Grandfather is an extremely old-fashioned man. How could he possibly listen to Eldest Uncle?”
“Because your grandmother betrothed your cousin Yunxi to a son of the Wang family’s concubine-born branch.”
“She only gave them a token of betrothal, so it was merely a verbal agreement.”
Duoduo’s eyes widened.
Seeing her expression, Xiao Yi was reminded of the look on his wife’s face just moments ago.
He gazed at Duoduo with interest.
He could not help feeling secretly curious.
Duoduo was clearly not his and his wife’s biological daughter.
And yet, in many ways, she resembled the two of them remarkably.
Like the expression she had just made.
It was almost identical to her mother’s!
“Father, was Eldest Uncle born to Grandmother?” Duoduo asked, unable to suppress her doubt.
Xiao Yi nodded with a smile. “Your mother suspected the same thing just now.”
“Your grandmother used your cousin’s marriage to pave a path to prominence for your second maternal uncle.”
Duoduo stomped her foot angrily.
“How could Grandmother do such a thing? Her favoritism makes no sense at all!”
For some reason, Xiao Yi thought of something Li Jin had once said.
People’s hearts were biased by nature.
“This was a game your Fourth Uncle set up from the beginning. Your grandmother merely walked into it after being lured by the grand promises his men made.”
Xiao Yi stopped keeping her in suspense and simply laid out the truth for Duoduo.
Duoduo was stunned.
She gathered together all the information she had obtained, the contents of the letter, and what her father had just told her.
Once she connected all the pieces, she understood.
“Father, Fourth Uncle is setting a trap for you!”
“Father, are you going to meet with Fourth Uncle?”
Duoduo knew that her mother was close to Eldest Uncle. She certainly would not stand by and watch Cousin Yunxi be treated as a pawn and married into the Wang family.
And the only person who could step in to dissolve the engagement…
was her father.
Xiao Yi shook his head gently.
“If my guess is correct, your Fourth Uncle should be sending word very soon.”
“From today onward, you will manage Prince Pingyang’s residence.”
“Your mother is in poor health, so don’t bother her with matters large or small in the household.”
“Make your own decisions. If you make a mistake, then so be it. You’re still young, after all, and no one can criticize you for it.”
Duoduo blinked.
Were her parents using her as a shield?
Still, it seemed her father did not yet know that her mother was pregnant.
Duoduo remembered that she had promised her mother not to tell him privately.
It was probably for the best that her mother stopped managing the household. That way, she could avoid the first few months of pregnancy without arousing suspicion.
Duoduo knew very well that the first three months were the most important for a pregnant woman.
“All right! But I want Lianxin and Baihe to help me!”
Since Duoduo had decided to help her mother keep the pregnancy secret, she naturally asked to have both maids transferred to her side.
Xiao Yi’s eyes flickered.
“You can discuss that with your mother.”
“But if you take both maids away, remember to arrange for someone trustworthy to look after her.”
Duoduo blinked.
Why did she feel as though her father already knew that Mother was pregnant?
Otherwise, why did every word he said seem to carry a hidden meaning?
“Then I’ll have Lüdou look after Mother! Once I’m no longer managing the household, I’ll switch them back.”
Lüdou was the only person Duoduo truly trusted.
She was also very good at keeping secrets.
Duoduo believed Lüdou would do a good job.
Xiao Yi gave Duoduo a pointed look. “As long as you’re willing to part with her.”
Duoduo puffed out her cheeks on purpose.
“I don’t want to, but what choice do I have?” She spread her hands.
“I’ve never managed a household before, and now I have to manage such a huge princely residence. I’ll need someone familiar with the procedures to guide me, won’t I?”
“Father said I’m allowed to make mistakes.”
“But I don’t want to embarrass you!”
“Don’t worry, Father. I’ll definitely manage the residence well!”
Xiao Yi shook his head.
“Quite the opposite. I hope you make as much of a mess of it as possible.”
