The Princess Consort of Pingyang saw Duoduo's shocked expression and smiled.
"My mother's father had the same thoughts as the sages."
"He felt that it was enough for a girl to learn embroidery and how to manage a household."
"Therefore, he never taught my mother a single word."
"Even my brothers only taught me a little because I kept pestering them."
Duoduo reached out her little hand and gently stroked the Princess Consort of Pingyang's cheek.
"Mother, another day I will tell Father to teach you how to read."
"Forget it. Your father is very busy and his health is poor. I shouldn't cause him any trouble."
Duoduo rolled her eyes in thought, suddenly coming up with an idea.
"Mother, how about I teach you how to read every day?"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang was taken aback. "You'll teach me?"
Duoduo nodded vigorously.
"Yes! After Father teaches me, I'll come back and teach you! Okay?"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang's eyes welled up with tears; she hadn't expected Duoduo to think of such a thing.
"But that will be very tiring for you."
"No, it won't! Nanny said that reviewing the old helps you learn the new. Me teaching you to read is also a way for me to review!"
Duoduo remembered the words Nanny Li had said when she was teaching Lüdou how to read.
"But, mother is very clumsy..."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang recalled how impatient her brothers had looked in the past when she pestered them to teach her.
Duoduo pouted. "Mother is not clumsy! Mother is very smart!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang felt comforted by Duoduo.
"Alright then. From now on, you are my little teacher."
"Little teacher, hurry up and go to sleep. It's getting late."
As the Princess Consort of Pingyang spoke, she pulled the blanket up a little higher over Duoduo.
Duoduo let out a yawn.
"Mother, then I'll go to sleep first."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang nodded, and then she saw that Duoduo had already fallen asleep.
It seemed she had been overwhelmingly sleepy for a while.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang smiled, gently patting Duoduo's back rhythmically.
Looking at Duoduo's sleeping face, she fell into deep thought.
Early the next morning, Duoduo was dug out of bed by Baihe.
"Baihe, I'm not awake yet!"
Duoduo forced her eyes open and let out a huge yawn.
Baihe picked Duoduo up and walked towards the washroom.
"Miss, today is a big day. You can't sleep in." Baihe placed a wet cloth on Duoduo's face.
The icy water instantly chased away Duoduo's drowsiness.
Duoduo immediately perked up. She quickly finished washing up and sat in front of the dressing table.
The three maids who had been called away by Nanny Li for crash training yesterday had already begun doing their tasks skillfully.
Lüyi began to make the bed and fold the blankets, while Lüzhu went to the clothing rack to sort out the clothes.
Lvluo stood by the dressing table, waiting for Duoduo.
Lvluo took out a bottle of fragrant balm from a nearby box and scooped out a little with her fingernail.
Then, she rubbed it open in her palm and gently applied it to Duoduo's face.
The sweet scent made Duoduo narrow her eyes slightly.
Lvluo applied it evenly on Duoduo, not even missing her neck.
After that, Lvluo picked up a comb and began to comb Duoduo's hair.
Duoduo's hair was fine, sparse, and a little dry.
Lvluo poured a tiny bit of hair oil from a bottle on the side and smeared a small amount onto the comb.
Then, she used the comb to stroke through Duoduo's hair one stroke at a time.
Only when all the hair was combed straight and smooth did she begin to style it.
Baihe watched Lvluo's movements from the side.
"The Princess Consort of Pingyang said not to comb the back up. Just styling it into two double-loop buns will do."
"Yes."
Lvluo replied, and then, with slightly unpracticed movements, divided Duoduo's hair into two sections.
She then twisted the two sections of hair into double-loop buns.
"Pin this on her head today."
Baihe handed Lvluo two hairpins made of pearls the size of rice grains.
The tops of the hairpins featured carefully selected pink pearls crafted into little flowers.
Such evenly shaped pearls were very rare.
Moreover, the craftsmanship required to gather rice-sized pearls and fashion them into hairpins was even rarer.
And the flowers made from the uniformly sized pink pearls looked incredibly lifelike.
They would quiver with a person's movements, looking exceptionally beautiful!
Lvluo's eyes lit up, revealing her fondness for them.
She first inserted one of them into one of the buns.
Lvluo took a look, pulled it out, and reinserted it in a different position before she was finally satisfied.
She then inserted the other one into the front of the other bun.
Baihe inspected it and nodded.
"That's good. Hurry up and change her clothes."
Duoduo stood up, and Lüzhu brought over the clothes Duoduo had tried on yesterday.
The few of them quickly helped Duoduo change into them.
Baihe found a jade pendant from a box and tied it to her waistband.
Then, she took out a golden necklet and put it on Duoduo.
Baihe looked Duoduo over, feeling it still wasn't enough.
She took out a pair of gold bracelets, preparing to put them on Duoduo.
Duoduo hid her hands behind her back. "No! This is enough."
Baihe softened her voice to coax Duoduo.
"Miss, be good. Just for a little while. Once the ceremony is over, you can take off the necklet and the bracelets."
Fearing Duoduo would refuse, Baihe added, "This is what the Princess Consort of Pingyang specifically instructed yesterday."
Hearing that it was her mother's instruction, Duoduo pouted but obediently held out her hands.
Baihe hurriedly put the two bracelets on Duoduo.
Finally, Lüzhu helped Duoduo put on cloth socks and brand-new embroidered shoes.
"Is it done? I want to go greet Father and Mother!"
Duoduo was very eager to head out.
"All done." Baihe gave Duoduo's skirt one last adjustment.
Duoduo turned and walked out. She had wanted to run, but suddenly remembering Nanny Li's words, she slowed her pace.
Accompanied by her maids, she arrived at the study.
A guard stationed outside the study bowed to Duoduo and then pushed open the study door.
"Your Highness, the Young Miss is here!"
Duoduo walked in with Baihe.
Inside the room, the Prince of Pingyang and the Princess Consort of Pingyang were speaking in low voices.
The two of them watched as Duoduo walked toward them step by step with a steady gait.
A bright smile adorned Duoduo's face.
Her large eyes were like the brightest stars in the sky.
"Your daughter pays her respects to Father and Mother." Duoduo curtsied.
"Quickly, rise!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang reached out her hand to Duoduo.
Duoduo stood up and walked to the Prince of Pingyang's side.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang pulled Duoduo over to sit down.
"Are you hungry? Let's eat first. We will be busy later."
Duoduo sat obediently on her chair.
Behind her, Baihe hastily cleaned her hands with a handkerchief and served food to her three masters.
The Prince of Pingyang always ate very little. After just a few bites, he set down his chopsticks.
Duoduo hurriedly put down her chopsticks as well, and the Princess Consort of Pingyang did the same.
The Prince of Pingyang dabbed the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief.
"Today is busy, so you two should eat a bit more. I will head to the front courtyard first."
After saying this, the Prince of Pingyang pushed his wheelchair and went out.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang pulled Duoduo back down to sit. Duoduo looked somewhat worriedly at the Prince of Pingyang's retreating back.
"Mother, Father ate too little. He didn't even eat as much as I did."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang was also deeply concerned. "Ever since your father was injured, he has barely eaten. I have tried so many things, but your father remains the same."
