Duoduo blinked her big eyes.
"Mother, let's figure out a way to cure Father's legs."
"That way, he can eat more!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang gave a bitter smile.
"How could it be that easy? Back then, all the imperial physicians from the palace treated your father."
"Acupuncture, herbal decoctions, medicinal baths... they tried every conceivable method."
"And the result? There was not a single sign of improvement."
Duoduo tilted her head. "Mother, is it because their medical skills aren't good enough?"
"The imperial physicians are the best doctors in this world," the Princess Consort of Pingyang said in a low voice.
"Can they bring the dead back to life?" Duoduo's eyes were filled with curiosity.
"Who in this world can bring the dead back to life?" The Princess Consort of Pingyang felt that Duoduo was still too young, and her words were too fanciful.
However, Duoduo just blinked her eyes.
She remembered a little kitten she had saved before.
At that time, the kitten was at its last gasp, on the verge of death.
But when the golden light entered the kitten's body, it miraculously came back to life.
Duoduo's big eyes darted around; she decided to secretly give it a try.
Since the golden light could heal the little kitten, it could definitely heal her father's legs too!
But how could she get more of the golden light into her father's body?
Duoduo fell into deep thought.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang was silent for a moment before snapping back to reality.
"Duoduo, let's go. We should head out now."
Duoduo felt a little nervous and hopped down from the chair.
"Mother!" Duoduo immediately realized her action was unseemly, and she felt a bit apprehensive.
"It's alright!"
Sensing Duoduo's uneasiness, the Princess Consort of Pingyang stood up and took her little hand.
The two of them walked slowly toward the garden, which was where the Princess Consort of Pingyang was hosting the female guests today.
Today, the earliest arrivals were the Princess Consort of Pingyang's maiden family.
"Congratulations, Your Highness, on gaining an adopted daughter."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang's eldest sister-in-law and third sister-in-law led their respective daughters and curtsied to the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
"Eldest Sister-in-law, Third Sister-in-law, please rise."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang greeted her two sisters-in-law with some excitement.
"Duoduo, this is your Eldest Aunt, this is your Third Cousin Yunxi, and this is your Fourth Cousin Yunjing."
Duoduo bowed to her Eldest Aunt and her two cousins.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang's eldest sister-in-law, Madam Lin, hurriedly helped Duoduo up.
Then, she slipped a highly translucent jade bracelet off her own wrist and slid it onto Duoduo's hand.
"One look at this child and you can tell she is sensible and well-behaved. You are blessed, Sister."
Duoduo tilted her head up and looked at her mother.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang smiled. "Duoduo, thank your Eldest Aunt!"
Duoduo bobbed a curtsy to thank Madam Lin, and Madam Lin quickly pulled her back up.
"Good child, no need for such formalities. From now on, we are family. There is no need to stand on ceremony."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang pointed at her third sister-in-law and told Duoduo.
"Duoduo, this is your Third Aunt. This is your Seventh Cousin, Yunmeng."
Duoduo saw that this Seventh Cousin was about the same age as her.
She first curtsied to her Third Aunt, and then stood up, flashing a bright smile at her Seventh Cousin.
However, Yunmeng merely scoffed and turned her head away.
Duoduo involuntarily scratched the palm of her hand.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang's third sister-in-law, Madam Zhao, glared at her own daughter.
She took Duoduo's hand, slipped a gold bracelet off her own wrist, and put it on Duoduo's.
"Eldest Sister-in-law, you are right. This child is so well-behaved; I grew fond of her the moment I saw her."
As soon as her words fell, the face of Yunmeng, who was standing beside her, immediately dropped.
"Mother, I am your daughter!"
Madam Zhao's face stiffened. "You silly child, Mother is just praising your little cousin. How could you get jealous over this?"
Yunmeng shot Duoduo a disdainful sidelong glance.
"Little cousin? I don't have a little sister or cousin! I only have older brothers!"
Madam Zhao hurriedly clamped a hand over Yunmeng's mouth and offered the Princess Consort of Pingyang an awkward smile.
"Sister, Meng'er is just not familiar with Duoduo yet. Please don't mind her."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang's expression was indifferent. "Third Sister-in-law, what are you saying? We are all family. What is there for me to mind?"
"If someone else heard this, they might think I, as her aunt, am being unreasonable and holding a grudge against a child!"
Madam Zhao wanted to say more, but Madam Lin pulled at her arm.
"Sister, your Second Sister-in-law is feeling unwell, so she couldn't make it today."
"However, she said that once she recovers, she will visit in person to apologize."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang smiled faintly.
"Second Sister-in-law is too polite. There is absolutely no need for apologies."
Madam Lin pursed her lips and took a small box from the maid behind her.
"Although your Second Sister-in-law couldn't come, she prepared a gift for the child."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang signaled for Baihe to receive it.
Baihe took it with both hands, presented it before the Princess Consort of Pingyang, and opened it.
Madam Lin initially wanted to stop her, but Baihe moved so fast that she had to give up.
Looking at the gold bracelet inside the box, which was as thin as a strand of hair, the Princess Consort of Pingyang sneered inwardly.
"Eldest Sister-in-law, please thank Second Sister-in-law on my behalf when you return. Tell her I have accepted her kind gesture."
Baihe closed the box and placed it on a nearby table where gifts were piled.
"Rest assured, Sister, I will definitely pass on the message."
"Your Second Sister-in-law caught a cold. She was worried she might pass it to the child, which is why she felt it best not to come," Madam Lin added, trying to smooth things over for her sister-in-law.
"Yes, I understand."
"By the way, Yunxi has grown so much taller, and she's becoming prettier by the day."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang changed the subject.
"Yes, she suddenly shot up this year and grew quite a bit." Madam Lin looked at her two daughters with great gratification.
"I remember Yunxi has turned ten, right? Eldest Sister-in-law, have you set your eyes on any prospective families for her?"
Listening to her mother and Eldest Aunt chatting about family matters, Duoduo felt a little bored.
She stared at the bracelets on her wrist and began to study them curiously.
The bracelet from her Eldest Aunt was green, a vibrant emerald shade that looked very beautiful.
The bracelet from her Third Aunt was a gold one, quite large and thick.
Duoduo lifted her wrist, and the gold bracelet slid down with a clinking sound.
The larger bracelet was about to slip off her wrist, so Duoduo raised her arm again to let it slide toward her elbow.
She heard the clinking sound of the bracelets and found it incredibly amusing.
"Country bumpkin, so ignorant!"
A disdainful voice came from right beside Duoduo.
Duoduo stopped her movements and looked at the person speaking, her Seventh Cousin, Yunmeng.
"Little Seven, watch your words!"
Third Cousin Yunxi, standing nearby, glared fiercely at Yunmeng and scolded her in a low voice.
"None of your business!"
Yunmeng rolled her eyes at Yunxi.
Duoduo looked at Yunmeng curiously. She remembered Nanny Li saying that well-bred young ladies from noble families would never do such unseemly things.
"What are you looking at? Staring at me won't make you look any prettier!"
Yunmeng turned her head, saw Duoduo staring at her curiously, and immediately became displeased.
"Yeah, I think so too. That's why I'm going to look at Sister Yunxi more, so I can become prettier!"
Saying this, Duoduo turned her head and looked at her Third Cousin, Yunxi.
