Why did she feel that her father was hiding something from her?
When Duoduo saw that her father had begun sending people away, she bowed to Xiao Yi.
“Then I’ll take my leave, Father.”
Xiao Yi nodded and picked up the official documents on the desk.
Duoduo slipped Cousin Yunxi’s purse and her grandmother’s letter into her sleeve before leaving.
As she walked, she pondered her father’s strange behavior just now.
It seemed that after she had said, “Father, do you want Yunxiao to investigate something?” he had started acting oddly.
What exactly had he replied?
“Just a few suspicions.”
What could possibly be happening at Imperial Physician Li’s residence that had given her father cause for suspicion?
Duoduo’s curiosity had reached its peak.
She wished she could attend the banquet at the Li residence right away and uncover the truth herself!
“Princess, what’s wrong?”
When Lianxin saw Duoduo emerge from the study, she noticed the troubled look on her face.
Worried, Lianxin followed her for quite a while before finally asking.
Hearing Lianxin’s question, Duoduo came back to her senses.
“It’s nothing. I was just thinking.”
“Oh, right, Lianxin. I’m going out tomorrow to attend a banquet.”
“You and Baihe will be in charge of the affairs of the manor.”
“If there’s nothing particularly important, handle things according to the usual procedures.”
“If anything urgent comes up, go to Father and ask for his decision.”
Lianxin was secretly startled.
“Princess, who will accompany you to the banquet?”
“Qingliu. She has the most free time,” Duoduo replied casually.
“When you go back, discuss things with Baihe and see if there’s anything that needs to be dealt with today.”
“I’m going to visit Mother first. Wait in the room until I come back.”
With that, Duoduo parted ways with Lianxin and headed to her mother’s courtyard.
Lianxin curtsied and watched Duoduo leave.
She stood there in a daze.
She and Baihe had suddenly been transferred away from the Princess’s side to assist the Princess with managing the household.
Both Lianxin and Baihe found it rather puzzling.
At first, they couldn’t understand why they had been asked to help the Princess manage the household.
Later, when they heard that the Princess was unwell, the two of them had wanted to return and serve her.
However, the Princess had strictly forbidden them from going back.
She had even told them that Lüdou was taking care of the Princess and that their most urgent task was to help Duoduo manage the manor.
In private, Lianxin and Baihe wondered whether they had done something wrong and been abandoned by the Princess.
But after discussing it again and again, they felt that this probably wasn’t the case.
If they had truly made a mistake, they would merely have been punished.
Or they might have been sold off altogether.
They certainly would not have been sent to the Princess’s side to help manage the household.
If the possibility that they had done something wrong was ruled out, then there was only one other explanation: The Prince had grown tired of the Princess.
That was why he had handed control of the household to Duoduo.
When Lianxin and Baihe considered this possibility, they became even more worried about the Princess.
They had been the Princess’s maidservants when she married into the household, so naturally, they had a deeper bond with her.
If the Princess were abandoned by The Prince, they would certainly be cast aside as well.
For now, they were still useful, which was why they had been allowed to remain at the Princess’s side.
When Baihe heard Lianxin mention this possibility, she immediately shouted that she wanted to return to the courtyard and live or die alongside the Princess.
Lianxin hurriedly covered her mouth.
“If you want to die, don’t drag the Princess down with you!”
“We’re only servants. We can do nothing but obey whatever our master orders!”
“In the Prince’s manor, even the Princess has to obey The Prince. Do you want to defy him?”
“You and I represent the Princess. If you act like this, aren’t you putting her in the wrong?”
Baihe was thoroughly indignant.
“Then I simply won’t teach the Princess anything! Let’s see how she manages the household!”
Lianxin poured cold water on her enthusiasm.
“Don’t forget, the Princess is extremely clever!”
“She can tell at a glance whether we’re sincerely helping her.”
“The Princess loves her daughter so dearly. If she finds out that we’re only pretending to obey while secretly working against Duoduo, she’ll be furious!”
“This isn’t allowed! That isn’t allowed either! Aren’t you annoying?”
Baihe was utterly agitated.
Lianxin pulled her down to sit.
“I think we should sincerely assist the Princess.”
“We can simply remind her from time to time of how well the Princess has treated her.”
“If Duoduo can say a few good words for the Princess in front of The Prince, perhaps he’ll change his mind someday.”
Baihe’s thinking was much more straightforward.
“Fine. Since that’s what you think, then that’s what we’ll do!”
Lianxin was actually a little envious of Baihe. Her thoughts were simple, and she didn’t have so many worries.
Lianxin looked at Duoduo’s retreating figure and hoped that she had merely been overthinking things.
The Princess hadn’t seemed unusual when she mentioned the Princess just now.
Turning around, Lianxin slowly made her way back.
Duoduo entered her mother’s courtyard and immediately saw Lüdou sitting beneath the covered walkway, embroidering.
“Lüdou, why aren’t you inside? It’s so hot out here!”
Duoduo bounded over and suddenly called out.
“Oh!”
Lüdou was startled. The needle pricked her finger.
Duoduo stuck out her tongue and reached for Lüdou’s hand.
“It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have startled you!”
“Does it hurt? I’ll blow on it for you.”
Holding Lüdou’s hand, Duoduo pursed her lips and blew gently on her finger.
After letting Duoduo blow on it twice, Lüdou withdrew her hand.
“Princess, why have you come? Are you by yourself?”
“Where is Qingliu? Why didn’t she come with you?”
When Lüdou saw that Duoduo was alone, her face immediately filled with concern.
She had once stayed by Duoduo’s side at all times.
Duoduo waved her hand.
“Lianxin was with me just now, but I sent her away when I came to visit Mother.”
“I had something for Qingliu to do, so I didn’t ask her to come along either.”
“Oh, right. Why aren’t you inside?”
“There’s ice in the room, so it’s much cooler in there. It’s certainly better than sitting outside!”
Lüdou put away her embroidery and patiently explained.
“The Princess is fond of sleeping, but she’s also a light sleeper and wakes easily.”
“I was worried that making noise inside would disturb her rest.”
“So I simply sat outside.”
“That way, I can stop anyone else from going in and disturbing the Princess, while also enjoying the breeze out here.”
“There was a light drizzle a few days ago, but it only kept things cool for half a day.”
“If it rained for several days and nights, then it would definitely stay cool.”
Duoduo’s eyes flickered as she studied Lüdou.
Was Lüdou deliberately trying to find something to talk about?
Duoduo blinked.
“Lüdou, I need to speak with Mother about something. I’ll come out and chat with you later!”
Remembering the reason she had come, Duoduo hurried inside.
Lüdou glanced at the sky.
“Yes, the Princess should be awake by now.”
She stood up and knocked on the door.
“Princess, are you awake? The Princess has come to see you.”
“Come in!”
Sure enough, Su Xian’s drowsy voice drifted from inside.
Lüdou pushed open the door, and Duoduo bounded in.
“Mother!” she called cheerfully as she ran inside.
“Duoduo, you’re here? Have you run into some trouble?”
