Madam Li instructed her daughter-in-law in a low voice, “See Madam Li and the others out.”
Xu Jinxin understood that Madam Li had something to say to Duoduo. She gave Duoduo a meaningful look.
We’ll wait for you outside!
Duoduo curved her brows and smiled, indicating that she understood.
Only after Xu Jinxin and Yingniang had left did Madam Li rise to her feet.
Duoduo saw her enter the room and return with a tray in her hands.
Duoduo hurried over, wanting to help.
“Princess, please remain seated!” Madam Li said as she placed the tray on the table.
“I had someone send the gifts from the banquet to the eastern courtyard.”
“These are the things that the man in the eastern courtyard has bestowed upon you.”
Madam Li’s face was filled with respect, and she bent slightly at the waist.
Duoduo blinked.
So these were gifts from her grandfather!
She bent her knees and bowed toward the eastern side courtyard.
“Thank you. I’ll accept them on Aunt Xu’s behalf.”
Madam Li shook her head in disapproval.
“Princess, please forgive this old woman for speaking so frankly.”
Duoduo nodded. “Please, go ahead.”
“When the gifts were sent over from the eastern side courtyard, they specifically said they were for the Princess.”
Duoduo blinked.
She understood what Madam Li meant.
Her grandfather did not want his whereabouts revealed.
Thus, Duoduo nodded.
“Thank you for reminding me, Madam Li. I understand now!”
Madam Li was very fond of the clever Duoduo. She took the little girl’s hand affectionately.
“By rights, Princess Changle is your elder, so this old woman should not say such things.”
“But I truly like you, Princess!”
“Come visit the Li residence whenever you have the time.”
Duoduo beamed at her. “All right!”
Madam Li leaned closer and lowered her voice.
“I hear that the man in the eastern side courtyard is in very good spirits today.”
“You should come keep him company more often!”
A flicker passed through Duoduo’s eyes.
No wonder. Father had said that none of the women in the capital were to be underestimated.
Madam Li must have guessed her grandfather’s identity long ago. She was merely pretending not to know.
Duoduo revealed a bright smile.
“If I have the chance, I’ll come often.”
“I’m only afraid that you’ll find me a nuisance if I come too frequently!”
Madam Li laughed so heartily that the wrinkles on her face gathered like the petals of a chrysanthemum.
“I’d be delighted to have you visit. How could I possibly find it tiresome?”
“If you don’t come, I’ll send an invitation to you and the Princess Consort myself!”
As she spoke, Madam Li could not help laughing.
“Oh, that reminds me. I noticed today that you seemed to like that ink chrysanthemum very much.”
“I’ve had someone prepare a pot for you. I’ll have it delivered to your carriage shortly.”
Duoduo’s mouth fell open. “You noticed that?”
It was the first time Duoduo had seen a chrysanthemum so dark that it was almost black—and it even had the name “ink chrysanthemum.”
She was reminded of the ink-colored peonies in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. Somehow, the two flowers seemed to share a similar charm.
That was why she had lingered over it for a while.
She had not expected Madam Li to notice.
Madam Li covered her mouth and laughed.
“If I had failed to notice, it would have been terribly discourteous of me!”
Duoduo felt a little embarrassed and bent her knees, preparing to bow to Madam Li.
Madam Li hurriedly reached out to support her.
“Princess, please don’t humble this old woman!”
“Before my old man left, he repeatedly instructed me that I must not neglect you in the slightest.”
“I’ve hardly ever seen him so concerned about anyone.”
“Why, he never even gave so many instructions when we had our first child.”
Madam Li teased Imperial Physician Li as she spoke.
Duoduo listened with a bright smile, not interrupting her.
When Madam Li noticed Duoduo glance at the sky, she immediately realized what time it was.
“Have I delayed you, Princess?”
“Come, let me see you out of the residence!” Madam Li said, rising to her feet.
“There’s no need!” Duoduo refused.
“You’ve been tired today as well. You should rest.”
“Just have one of your servants see me out.”
Madam Li was no longer young. She had entertained guests throughout the entire day, and fatigue was already visible on her face.
“How could I do that? The Li residence must not neglect proper etiquette.”
“Mother, I’ll escort the Princess,” a timid voice offered.
Duoduo turned her head and glanced over.
This was Madam Li’s second daughter-in-law, a woman who rarely spoke.
Throughout the day, it had been the elder daughter-in-law and Madam Li who had attended to the guests. The second daughter-in-law had stood behind them the entire time, more like a backdrop than anything else.
Duoduo nodded. “All right!”
Madam Li hesitated.
She was indeed tired.
But she was also worried that her second daughter-in-law might show insufficient respect to Princess Changle.
“Your attitude must be respectful.”
“And if you see something you shouldn’t, don’t look.”
“If there’s something you shouldn’t ask about, don’t ask.”
“And if there’s something you shouldn’t say, then no matter who asks you, you must not say a word!”
Madam Li pulled her second daughter-in-law close and instructed her in a low voice.
“Yes, Mother,” the second daughter-in-law replied obediently.
The second daughter-in-law’s personal maid stepped forward and picked up the tray.
The second daughter-in-law led the way, Duoduo walked in the middle, and the maid followed behind them.
Halfway there, they happened to run into the elder daughter-in-law, who was returning after seeing off another guest.
The elder daughter-in-law began smiling from a distance and bowed.
“This wife pays her respects to the Princess!”
“There’s no need for such ceremony.” Duoduo waved her hand.
The elder daughter-in-law straightened and hurried over.
“Thank you for your trouble, Second Sister-in-law. I’ll escort the Princess out,” she said with a bright smile as she came to Duoduo’s side.
“Sister-in-law, you’ve worked hard too. Go back and rest,” the second daughter-in-law said softly.
The elder daughter-in-law glanced at her. “Can you manage?”
The second daughter-in-law twisted her handkerchief. “I can.”
Seeing this, the elder daughter-in-law naturally did not insist.
She bent her knees in a bow to Duoduo.
“Princess, my second sister-in-law will accompany you out. I won’t intrude.”
Duoduo nodded.
“That’s all right. I’ll take my leave first.”
With that, Duoduo gave a slight nod and walked away.
The elder daughter-in-law watched her retreating figure and sighed inwardly.
There was truly no point comparing one person to another!
She thought of her daughter, who was even older than the Princess, and felt a headache coming on.
She could already foresee that the children of the Li family would not have an easy time in the years ahead.
Silently, she prayed for them all.
Duoduo walked out of the Li residence, with the second daughter-in-law close behind.
“Princess, your carriage…” The woman could not see the carriage, so she asked tentatively.
Duoduo looked around and spotted the carriage not far away.
“There it is!”
As soon as she spoke, Duoduo ran over, bouncing all the way.
The second daughter-in-law froze for a moment, then hurriedly called for the maid to follow.
When Yingniang saw Duoduo, she immediately lifted the curtain and came out to greet her.
“Princess, hurry and come up!”
Duoduo took Yingniang’s hand and climbed into the carriage.
The daughter-in-law signaled to the maid to give her the tray, then personally carried it into the carriage.
As soon as she entered, she saw Xu Jinxin sprawled crookedly across the carriage.
The second daughter-in-law froze. Then she immediately set down the tray and withdrew.
She also instructed the servants to carry the ink chrysanthemum onto the carriage.
“Princess, travel safely!”
Standing below the carriage, the second daughter-in-law bent her knees and bowed to Duoduo.
Xu Jinxin had thought that only Duoduo would be there. She had not expected anyone else to come along.
She felt rather awkward.
