Yunxiao glanced at Qingliu and answered first.
“Princess, you can’t be without someone by your side!”
“If I were a woman, I’d definitely follow you inside.”
Qingliu immediately glared at Yunxiao unhappily.
“You regret that I’m not?”
“I can help you!”
As she spoke, Qingliu deliberately rubbed her wrist.
Yunxiao’s eyes nearly fell out of his head when he saw the gesture.
Qingliu put her hands on her hips. “What are you looking at?”
“Keep staring, and I’ll go buy you a set of women’s clothes right now!”
Yunxiao hurriedly waved his hands.
“Forget it. I don’t have that kind of hobby!”
Duoduo watched the two of them bicker with great amusement.
Seeing Yunxiao give in, Qingliu let him off the hook and did not continue arguing. After all, they were out in public, and she did not want to embarrass the Princess.
“Yunxiao, you’d better behave yourself and wait in the carriage.”
“You don’t need to investigate Father’s instructions anymore.”
“When I get back, I’ll explain everything to Father myself!”
Duoduo was worried that Yunxiao might act rashly and alert her grandfather, which could end up implicating the Prince of Pingyang’s residence.
She knew why her father had sent Yunxiao there.
In any case, she would be looking for her father when she returned, so there was no need for Yunxiao to take any more risks.
Yunxiao froze for a moment and awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
“The Prince only instructed me to protect the Princess properly.”
Duoduo gave Yunxiao a deep look, and under her gaze, he could not help lowering his head.
“Princess, rest assured. I absolutely won’t do anything reckless!”
“I’ll go wait for you in the carriage!”
Seeing that Yunxiao had promised, Duoduo nodded.
“Qingliu, let’s go!”
Qingliu turned back and glared at Yunxiao. “If you dare embarrass the Princess, just wait and see how I deal with you!”
Yunxiao watched as Qingliu shook her fist at him and could not help scratching his head.
Why had all the maids around the Princess become so fierce?
Lüdou was like that.
Now Qingliu had become the same way!
Tsk, tsk, tsk…
Shaking his head and sighing, Yunxiao walked away.
When Duoduo heard what Qingliu had said, she could not help giving Qingliu a few curious looks.
Sensing Duoduo’s gaze, Qingliu touched her cheek.
“Princess, is there something dirty on my face?”
Duoduo shook her head with a smile.
Seeing her expression, Qingliu felt even more uncertain. She took out a handkerchief and was about to wipe her face.
Duoduo hurriedly stopped her.
Lüdou had gone to great lengths to help Qingliu get ready that day so she could support Duoduo and make her look good.
After several days of working outdoors, Qingliu’s skin had become much fairer.
Lüdou had shaped Qingliu’s eyebrows, applied a light layer of powder, and added a touch of rouge.
Once Qingliu’s complexion had improved, her features became much more distinct.
Even Lüdou had exclaimed, “Qingliu is actually quite pretty!”
Earlier, Qingliu had been waiting outside the courtyard for Duoduo. Because of the heat, the powder on her face had begun to cake.
If she wiped it with a handkerchief, she would definitely end up looking like a painted clown!
Duoduo did not know how to apply makeup, and Qingliu would certainly be laughed at.
“There’s nothing dirty on your face.”
“I’m laughing at the way you spoke to Yunxiao just now.”
Only then did Qingliu relax. She tucked the handkerchief back into her sleeve.
“Princess, what was wrong with my tone just now?”
“Hmm, it was very fierce!” Duoduo teased her deliberately.
Qingliu gave a proud smile.
“Of course it was!”
“Lüdou said that when I go out, I represent your dignity.”
“My back has to be straight! I absolutely cannot embarrass the Princess!”
Duoduo was stunned.
She had not expected Qingliu’s change to be because of Lüdou.
Still, it was a good thing!
She was the Princess’s maid, after all. Naturally, she should carry herself with the Princess’s presence!
Thinking this, Duoduo lifted her chin.
“Well done,” she praised Qingliu.
Qingliu immediately beamed. “Thank you for your praise, Princess!”
The two of them were almost at the courtyard where the banquet was being held. The air was filled with the scents of iced drinks, cakes, and chrysanthemums.
Qingliu swallowed.
“Princess, may I have a cup of iced drink later?”
Worried that Duoduo might misunderstand, Qingliu quickly added, “I won’t eat here. I’ll buy it from Madam Li’s shop!”
Duoduo shook her head with a smile.
“Why buy it? They have some here. I’ll get you a cup later!”
“Come to think of it, I’ll ask Aunt Xu for two cups. You can take one to Yunxiao as well!”
Qingliu hurriedly shook her head.
“That won’t do!”
“Today, Madam Li is hosting the families of the Imperial Medical Academy.”
“Those ladies were already rude to the Princess earlier!”
“I absolutely cannot embarrass you!”
“I’ll stop by the shop and buy a few cups on the way back.”
“I’ll bring one back for Lüdou, too!”
Lüdou was kindhearted, and Qingliu had always gotten along well with her.
Now that Lüdou had been transferred to serve the Princess Consort, Qingliu still was not used to it.
When Duoduo heard Qingliu mention Lüdou, she nodded.
“Then let’s buy a little more later and bring a cup back for Father and the others, too.”
Qingliu opened her mouth, but in the end, she did not say what she had been thinking.
Would the Prince actually drink something like that?
Duoduo spotted Yingniang and happily ran over.
She did not notice Qingliu’s reaction.
As soon as Duoduo reached the courtyard, she saw Madam Li beckoning to her.
Duoduo winked at Yingniang and went over to Madam Li first.
“Finished talking?” Madam Li asked in a lowered voice, her face filled with affection.
Duoduo nodded with a smile.
“That courtyard had no flowers to admire, so I came out to look at some!”
Thinking of that bare courtyard, Madam Li could not help smiling as well.
“Good! If the Princess sees any flowers she likes, just tell me.”
“Many of the flowers in my garden can’t even be bought in most places!”
Nearby, Xu Jinxin deliberately teased her.
“Madam Li, you’re being far too partial!”
“We like the flowers in your garden, too. Why have we never heard you offer us even one pot?”
Madam Li knew Xu Jinxin was deliberately changing the subject, so she went along with it.
“Madam Li has taken a fancy to some as well?”
“I had thought Madam Li only liked making all those sweet, honeyed treats!”
“Look at these pastries of yours. They look exactly like the ones made in the imperial palace.”
“Your skill is truly remarkable—one could even say it surpasses that of the imperial chefs!”
“Thanks to you, we’ve all had the chance to taste such delicious and beautiful treats today!”
The iced desserts Xu Jinxin had prepared were both delicious and beautiful, and the young ladies who had come were especially fond of them.
As for the older ladies, they particularly enjoyed the pastries Xu Jinxin had brought.
Xu Jinxin had explained that she had baked them specially by imitating the pastries from the imperial palace.
Xu Jinxin glanced at Duoduo and covered her mouth with a handkerchief as she laughed.
“Since you’ve brought that up…” Xu Jinxin deliberately paused to build suspense.
“These weren’t made by me.”
“I’m merely presenting someone else’s work.”
