Duoduo blinked.
“Madam Li gave it to me!”
Duoduo wasn’t exactly lying.
After all, Madam Li had indeed given it to her personally!
Xu Jinxin’s eyes flickered.
She had always felt that Duoduo was hiding something from her.
Unfortunately, she had no proof.
She had originally wanted to keep questioning her, but when the words reached her lips, she ultimately chose not to ask.
If there was something Duoduo could tell her, she would naturally do so.
If Duoduo didn’t say anything, it only meant that she didn’t want to.
There was another possibility, too.
She might not be able to say!
Either way, there was no need for Xu Jinxin to continue asking.
“Was this pot of black chrysanthemums also a gift from Madam Li?”
Xu Jinxin had heard from the Li family's eldest daughter-in-law that this pot of black chrysanthemums was the most valuable among all the chrysanthemums in the residence.
It was also Madam Li’s favorite.
Duoduo nodded.
“Mm!”
“She said that since I liked them, she’d give me a pot.”
Xu Jinxin blinked.
“Did she tell you that this is the only pot of black chrysanthemums in the entire Li residence?”
“And according to what I heard from her eldest daughter-in-law, they’re also Madam Li’s favorite flowers.”
Duoduo’s eyes widened.
“Then I’ve taken away something she loved?”
Xu Jinxin was amused by Duoduo’s expression.
She nodded as she laughed.
“I didn’t know! I thought the Li residence had more than one pot!”
“Aunt Xu, what should I do now?”
If she had known earlier, she definitely would have refused.
But they were already halfway home. It was impossible to have someone send it back now.
Wouldn’t that be a slap in the face?
Xu Jinxin thought for a moment.
“I think Madam Li really liked the painting of the God of Longevity that you made earlier.”
“How about giving it to Aunt Xu? I’ll have someone mount it properly, and you can offer it to her as a return gift.”
Duoduo looked troubled.
“I was planning to touch up the colors after I got home, then have it mounted and give it to her as a birthday gift!”
Xu Jinxin hadn’t expected Duoduo to have already made plans.
She nodded.
“That works, too!”
“When Madam Li ordered the cake earlier, didn’t she say there was still half a month to go?”
“Perfect. The cake and the painting together should make an appropriate return gift…”
Xu Jinxin suddenly remembered the house deed and land deed.
“Duoduo, what are you planning to do with those things?” Xu Jinxin asked, glancing toward Duoduo’s sleeve.
“I’ll go home and ask Father!” Duoduo wasn’t particularly excited.
She understood all too well that these things came with an even greater price.
Xu Jinxin nodded in agreement.
“That’s right! You’re thinking correctly!”
“Prince of Pingyang is experienced and knowledgeable. He’ll certainly give you sound advice!”
Duoduo tilted her little head.
“Aunt Xu, your opinion of Father seems different now!”
Xu Jinxin looked a little embarrassed.
“How so?”
“Do you think Aunt Xu is wrong?”
Duoduo shook her head. “Aunt Xu is absolutely right!”
“My father is the most amazing!”
“My father is amazing too!” Yingniang declared, unwilling to be outdone.
“Mm, my teacher is amazing too!”
“He’s just a tiny bit less amazing than my father!” Duoduo said, pressing her thumb against the tip of her little finger to demonstrate the difference.
“No! My father is just as amazing as your father!”
Yingniang refused to yield on this point.
Seeing that the two children were about to start arguing, Xu Jinxin hurriedly intervened.
“Well, each of them has their own strengths. They’re both the most amazing fathers in the world!”
Duoduo and Yingniang glanced at each other, then both broke into radiant smiles.
“Master Li really is amazing!” Duoduo praised Li Jin.
“Prince of Pingyang is amazing too!” Yingniang sincerely admitted.
The two children had been arguing fiercely just moments ago, but in the blink of an eye, they had made up as though nothing had happened.
Xu Jinxin sighed enviously.
It was wonderful to be a child!
The carriage slowly came to a stop, and Yunxiao’s voice sounded from outside.
“Princess, we’ve arrived at the Li residence!”
Duoduo reluctantly held Yingniang’s hand.
“Sister, why don’t you come home with me?”
Yingniang looked at Xu Jinxin before replying, “Why don’t you stay at the Li residence, Princess?”
Duoduo thought seriously for a moment, then shook her head.
“Not today!”
“I still have things to tell Father when I get home!”
“Another day. I’ll come find you and play, Sister!”
Xu Jinxin took Yingniang’s hand and said goodbye to Duoduo.
Only after watching the two of them enter the residence did Duoduo lower the carriage curtain.
“Yunxiao, let’s go home!”
The carriage soon began moving.
After the time it took to burn an incense stick, the carriage stopped outside the Prince of Pingyang’s residence.
“Princess, we’re here!”
Qingliu climbed into the carriage and lifted the curtain.
Duoduo pointed at the tray. “Qingliu, carry this. Come with me to see Father.”
“Yunxiao, carry this pot of flowers too. Bring it along.”
Duoduo had originally intended to send the chrysanthemums to her mother.
But then she remembered her mother’s health, and ultimately decided to place them in the study first.
Yunxiao and Qingliu both acknowledged her instructions and picked up the items.
Duoduo had taken only two steps when she suddenly stopped.
She seemed to have forgotten something.
What was it?
“Princess, what’s wrong?” Qingliu asked with concern.
Duoduo turned to look at Qingliu, and suddenly remembered what she had forgotten.
“Qingliu, didn’t you say you wanted to buy some iced drinks?”
“Why didn’t you remind me just now?”
Qingliu smiled sheepishly.
“I heard you and Madam Li discussing important matters, so I didn’t dare interrupt.”
“Besides, we can have iced drinks anytime.”
“I’ve already discussed it with Yunxiao. He’ll go buy some tomorrow!”
Since Qingliu had already made up her mind, Duoduo simply let the matter go.
“Next time, just say something!”
“Aunt Xu and Sister aren’t outsiders. It’s fine!”
Duoduo understood that Qingliu simply didn’t want her to lose face.
“Yes! This servant will remember!” Qingliu replied with a broad smile.
She agreed, but even if the situation happened again, Qingliu still wouldn’t have done it differently.
Lüdou had instructed her that no matter where they were, the Princess always came first.
Duoduo stopped dwelling on it and hurried toward the study.
When Father was at the residence, he spent most of his time in the study.
Sure enough, Duoduo saw the guards stationed outside the study. They bowed to her.
“Is Father inside?” Duoduo raised a hand to signal for the guards to rise.
“Princess, the Prince is inside!”
“Please wait a moment. This subordinate will go announce you.” The guard got up from the ground and knocked on the door.
“Come in!” Xiao Yi called from inside after hearing the exchange outside.
The guard pushed open the door, and Duoduo curiously poked her head inside.
Her eyes met Xiao Yi’s.
Caught peeking, Duoduo stuck out her tongue playfully.
Then she bounced into the room.
“Father, were you waiting for me to come home?”
Xiao Yi deliberately put on a stern expression.
“This prince has been very busy today!”
Duoduo ran over to him and rose onto her tiptoes to peer at the desk.
“What are you busy with, Father?” she asked, turning her head toward him mischievously.
Xiao Yi looked at Duoduo with amusement.
It seemed this child had a big secret she wanted to tell him.
She was playing a little game of psychological warfare with him.
Once he understood what she was doing, Xiao Yi picked up the book he had been reading.
“This is the newest copybook. Do you want to learn?”
