Imperial Physician Li was the chief physician of the Imperial Medical Academy, and Madam Li’s status was higher than theirs.
If even Madam Li had knelt to salute Princess Changle, who among them would dare remain standing?
They hurriedly left their seats and knelt before Duoduo.
“We pay our respects to Princess Changle!”
All the women bowed their heads to the floor as they knelt and saluted Duoduo.
Duoduo’s eyes flickered as she looked at Madam Li.
She understood that Madam Li was deliberately showing her respect.
Imperial Physician Li was highly valued by the Emperor, and Madam Li herself held an official noble title. She was entirely within her rights to forgo such a grand salute.
She had done this deliberately to make a point to the other women.
Duoduo stepped forward and helped the old madam to her feet.
“Everyone, rise.”
Madam Li stood up and took Duoduo’s hand with a beaming smile.
“When I sent you an invitation, I was worried you wouldn’t come!”
“There are pretty flowers and delicious iced treats. Of course I had to come!” Duoduo replied with a cheerful smile, as though she had truly come only for the food.
Seeing Duoduo’s sweet and innocent expression, Madam Li felt even more fond of her.
As Imperial Physician Li’s wife, Madam Li naturally knew the truth.
Although the child before her was young, she was, in fact, her husband’s teacher.
Age had nothing to do with ambition or ability.
Her husband had been summoned on urgent business and had left the residence in great haste.
Before leaving, he had given her a single instruction.
“You must make sure Princess Changle comes to our residence!”
Madam Li had no idea why her husband had said this.
However, he had been exceptionally solemn when giving her those instructions.
So Madam Li had sent someone to pass the message to Princess Changle.
Yet several days passed without any sign of her.
Remembering her husband’s orders, Madam Li had racked her brains and finally come up with this method.
Fortunately, Princess Changle had come.
“I’m going to check on the preparations for the banquet. Please make yourselves comfortable for a while.”
Madam Li nodded to the other ladies.
Then she took Duoduo’s hand and slowly led her out of the reception hall.
The other women hurriedly bent their knees and saluted Duoduo.
As Duoduo followed Madam Li out of the hall, she saw that chrysanthemums of every color had been placed throughout the courtyard.
They were extraordinarily beautiful!
It seemed that Madam Li’s flower-viewing banquet was not merely for show.
“Princess, please come with me to meet someone.”
Duoduo stopped and looked at Madam Li curiously.
“Who?”
Madam Li shook her head kindly.
“I don’t know who that person is either.”
“But don’t worry, Princess. There is no ill-intentioned person in the Li residence.”
“Before Old Li left, he said that this person was an old acquaintance of yours.”
“He also said that once you met the person, you would understand what he meant.”
Duoduo could not help growing curious.
Who could this person be?
What kind of person would Imperial Physician Li go to such lengths to invite her here?
Duoduo was not afraid.
Although she had not spent much time with Imperial Physician Li, he was merely obsessed with medicine. His character was excellent.
Otherwise, her grandfather would not have specifically appointed him to treat her.
Since Imperial Physician Li had gone out of his way to arrange this, the person inside had to be someone she knew.
But who could it be?
Duoduo’s heart was filled with curiosity.
“Then let’s go,” she said.
As Madam Li led Duoduo along, she pointed out the chrysanthemums in the courtyard and introduced them one by one.
Besides the most common yellow and white chrysanthemums, the Li residence also had extremely rare varieties in black, green, pink, and purple.
Duoduo even saw some chrysanthemums whose petals were several different colors.
On one variety, the left half was one color and the right half another.
On another, the center was one color while the edges were a different shade.
Duoduo was dazzled by the sight.
The medicinal fragrance of chrysanthemums filled her nose, making her feel as though she had stepped into a valley of medicinal herbs.
Who would have thought that ordinary chrysanthemums could come in so many varieties?
It was truly amazing!
“Today, besides viewing the chrysanthemums, we’ll also have a chrysanthemum banquet later.”
“That means all kinds of dishes made with chrysanthemums.”
“There will be chrysanthemum cakes, chrysanthemum soup, chrysanthemum porridge, and all sorts of other chrysanthemum dishes.”
“Be sure to try everything, Princess!” Madam Li said with a warm, kindly smile.
The two of them admired the flowers as they walked, and before long they arrived at a secluded courtyard in the front section of the residence.
Two servants stood guard outside the courtyard gate.
When they saw Madam Li, they hurriedly bowed.
“Open the gate!”
Madam Li lifted her chin in command.
The servants respectfully opened the courtyard gate.
“Princess, please go inside.”
“Other than my old man, no one else is allowed to enter this courtyard.”
“That includes me.”
Madam Li released Duoduo’s hand.
Duoduo blinked and glanced at Yunxiao and Qingliu behind her.
Madam Li nodded at the two of them.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you both to wait outside with me.”
Duoduo immediately understood.
Even Yunxiao and Qingliu were not allowed inside.
Yunxiao was just about to object when Duoduo shot him a warning look.
“Princess?” Qingliu asked, seeking Duoduo’s instructions.
“When in someone else’s home, follow their rules,” Duoduo said with a faint smile.
“Since Madam Li has put it that way, wait outside.”
“Don’t worry. This is the Li residence, not a den of dragons and tigers!”
Duoduo’s words were meant to reassure Yunxiao.
Imperial Physician Li had asked his wife to bring her here, so surely he did not intend to harm her.
It could only mean that the person inside was extremely important—
or perhaps someone with unusual habits.
Duoduo’s curiosity grew stronger.
She waved at Madam Li and walked inside.
The servants closed the courtyard gate, severing the connection with the outside.
Qingliu glanced at Yunxiao worriedly. Yunxiao, meanwhile, frowned as he stared at the tightly shut gate.
He was observing the surroundings.
Yunxiao discovered that although there were only two servants guarding the entrance in plain sight, hidden guards were actually protecting all four sides of the courtyard.
The person inside clearly had a very unusual identity.
Yunxiao lowered his eyes.
He decided to wait half an hour. If the Princess still did not come out, he would find a way to break in and take a look.
Duoduo curiously surveyed the courtyard.
It was unlike the rest of the residence.
There were no flowers or large trees inside.
The place looked somewhat desolate.
Duoduo sensed that someone seemed to be watching her.
Curious, she followed the direction of that gaze.
Yet she saw no one.
Duoduo blinked, then turned toward that direction and flashed a brilliant smile.
The hidden guard lurking there shuddered violently.
He had only taken one extra look at Princess Changle. How had she noticed him?
If the people above found out, he would lose his life!
With her hands clasped behind her back, Duoduo wandered around as though she were strolling through a garden, looking in every direction.
From the disturbance just now, Duoduo had already guessed part of the truth.
Imperial Physician Li had not asked her here because he had something to tell her.
Rather, someone in this courtyard wanted to see her!
Someone so mysterious—and powerful enough to command Imperial Physician Li to act on their behalf.
Duoduo already had an answer in mind.
