The fish buried its head into Duoduo's palm and disappeared.
Duoduo rubbed her eyes, a look of utter disbelief on her face.
She felt around everywhere inside the bathing barrel but couldn't find the fish she had just seen.
Duoduo opened her small hands, looking at her palms, then at the backs of her hands.
She couldn't figure it out—where did the fish go?
It was as if it had evaporated into thin air.
Suddenly, Duoduo noticed that the mark on her palm seemed different from usual.
In the past, the head of the fish on her palm faced her fingers.
But today, the fish's head was pointing toward the center of her palm.
Huh?
Extremely curious, Duoduo brought her right hand up to her face.
Just as she was about to examine it closely, a knock sounded at the door.
"Miss, it's time to get up."
Baihe pushed the door open and walked in.
Because of the bath, the room was thick with steam. Duoduo also wanted to go somewhere brighter to take a closer look.
Following Baihe's gentle pull, she stood up from the barrel.
Baihe wrapped Duoduo in a clean towel and lifted her out of the water.
Then, she helped Duoduo change into a traditional top and trousers.
Finally, Baihe took out a cloth and dried Duoduo's hair.
Only then did she support Duoduo and lead her back to her bedroom.
Duoduo climbed onto the bed and waved at Baihe.
"Go clean up, I'll sleep by myself."
Baihe pulled the blanket up to Duoduo's chest, bowed to her, and then went to clean up.
Watching Baihe leave, Duoduo immediately sat up.
She leaned close to the candlelight at the head of the bed and held out her right hand.
This time, she saw it clearly: the fish on her palm had indeed changed positions.
Duoduo lay back on the bed. She thought of how the fish looked just now; it was almost exactly the same as it had been that day.
Of course, only its appearance was the same; its size had multiplied several times over.
How did such a large fish get into her palm?
Duoduo found it very strange. She raised her hand, turning it over and over to inspect it.
She tried to find an entrance, but after staring for a long time, she found nothing.
Princess Pingyang walked into the room and saw Duoduo holding up her small hands, constantly turning them over.
"What's wrong? Did you hurt your hand?"
Princess Pingyang quickly walked to the bed, took Duoduo's small hands, and inspected them from every angle.
Duoduo hurriedly pulled her hands back and smiled at Princess Pingyang.
"Mother, I'm fine. I was just bored."
Seeing Duoduo's smiling face, Princess Pingyang immediately felt relieved.
"It's time for bed. Why aren't you sleeping yet?"
Duoduo quickly scooted further inside the bed.
"Mother, will you sleep with me?"
Princess Pingyang thought for a moment, then half-leaned against the edge of the bed.
"I will keep you company for a while, and I'll leave after you fall asleep. How about that?"
Duoduo nodded happily. She rolled over, right into Princess Pingyang's embrace.
She hugged Princess Pingyang's waist, tilted her head up, and smiled at her.
"Mother, you smell so nice!"
Princess Pingyang affectionately stroked Duoduo's head.
"Duoduo smells wonderful too!"
Duoduo nodded.
"There were so many flower petals in my bathwater today! It was so, so fragrant!"
"I felt like I was going to faint from how good it smelled!"
Duoduo exaggeratedly closed her eyes and pretended to faint.
Princess Pingyang was amused. She gently patted Duoduo's back.
"Go to sleep. We have a busy day ahead tomorrow. Rest well today so you won't feel tired tomorrow."
Duoduo closed her eyes, then opened them again.
"Mother, will there be a lot of people coming tomorrow?"
"Yes, but you don't need to be afraid!"
"If you meet someone you'd like to befriend, you can talk to them a bit more."
"If you meet someone you dislike, just ignore them."
"Don't worry, Mother is here for you!" Princess Pingyang comforted Duoduo softly.
Duoduo suddenly remembered the contents of the golden words.
"Mother, there were a lot more guards at the study today."
Princess Pingyang paused for a moment, then continued to gently pat Duoduo's back.
"Yes. Previously, there were spies for bad people inside the manor."
"Your father intentionally transferred people away in order to root them out."
"Now that the bad people have been driven away, the guards have come out to protect everyone."
Princess Pingyang tried her best to explain it to Duoduo in simple terms.
Duoduo suddenly understood.
"Oh! I get it. Father was playing the pig to eat the tiger, right?"
Prince Pingyang had once told her this idiom.
Princess Pingyang smiled. "You could say that. You'll understand better when you grow up."
Duoduo blinked.
Grow up?
When would she finally grow up?
"Mother, when will I grow up?" Duoduo asked with a hint of melancholy.
Previously, Lüdou said that when they grew up, they could participate in the imperial examinations.
But they hadn't grown up yet, and that dream was already shattered.
Duoduo really wanted to grow up overnight. How wonderful would that be!
That way, she could do whatever she wanted without having to wait!
Princess Pingyang tenderly stroked Duoduo's cheek.
"You will grow up when it's time."
"Once you grow up, you will miss these times very much. So, it's good to cherish the days you have now!"
Duoduo nuzzled her face against Princess Pingyang's hand like a little kitten.
"Do you miss your childhood, Mother? What were you like when you were little?"
Princess Pingyang held Duoduo close, falling into her memories.
"When Mother was your age, I didn't understand anything."
"I didn't like studying or embroidery. My biggest wish every day was to be able to leave the manor like my brothers!"
"Back then, I thought my brothers got to go out and play every day."
"Meanwhile, my sisters and I could only stay inside the manor, which was very frustrating."
"One day, I snuck out of the manor and hid in the carriage my brothers were taking."
"Later, my brothers found me and took me to their school."
"It was only then that I realized my brothers went out every day to study."
"I couldn't understand the lesson the teacher was giving, and then, I spectacularly fell asleep right there in the classroom."
Princess Pingyang laughed as she said this.
Duoduo's eyes curved into crescents as she smiled too.
"My brothers' teacher was a very kind man. When he saw me asleep, he even draped a coat over me, afraid I would catch a cold and fall ill."
"I must have been the first person who ever dared to sleep during his class!"
Princess Pingyang pursed her lips, a radiant smile on her face.
Duoduo's eyes sparkled.
"Mother, boys go to school, but are there schools for girls to attend?"
Princess Pingyang shook her head.
"Mother has never heard of a school that accepts girls."
"Since ancient times, the sages have always advocated that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent."
"Therefore, there have never been schools that take in female students."
Duoduo was very confused.
"Then how did you learn to read, Mother?"
"My brothers taught me, of course!" Princess Pingyang revealed a nostalgic expression.
"Actually, Mother is quite envious of you. The Prince is personally teaching you how to read!"
Duoduo opened her mouth wide.
