After paying her respects to the Empress Dowager, Duoduo followed Xiao Che out of the bedchamber.
Qingliu hurried over and bowed to them both before casting a wary look at Xiao Che.
In the past, Lüdou had always accompanied Duoduo to the Imperial Academy.
As a result, Qingliu’s knowledge of Xiao Che was limited to the fact that he was the Eighth Prince.
Xiao Che was a man, and Duoduo did not want people gossiping about her.
She glanced around, then pointed toward a pavilion in the garden.
“Great-Grandmother needs to rest. Let’s go there and talk.”
Xiao Che nodded.
The pavilion Duoduo had pointed out was open on all four sides. They could talk there without worrying about anyone eavesdropping.
That suited him perfectly.
Duoduo followed Qingliu and reached the pavilion first.
Xiao Che came close behind.
Duoduo tilted her little head and looked at him curiously.
“Uncle Eighth, why didn’t you bring any attendants?”
Every prince had a personal eunuch who took care of his daily needs.
Yet Duoduo had seen Xiao Che many times, and he was always alone, coming and going by himself.
She had been curious about it for a long time.
Xiao Che glanced behind him.
“There’s no need. Being alone means I can go wherever I want.”
“Besides, my allowance isn’t enough to support an attendant.”
Duoduo’s eyes went wide.
“But you’re a prince! How could you be unable to afford a servant?”
Xiao Che sat down awkwardly across from Duoduo.
“In the palace, keeping a trusted aide isn’t merely a matter of money.”
“Someone who follows a master like me has no future.”
“The palace eunuchs are all very clever.”
When Xiao Che finished speaking, his face twisted into a cold, mocking smile.
Most people in this world fawned over those in power.
Duoduo had heard that more than once.
Even her father often said that the Prince of Pingyang’s household did not keep useless people.
Duoduo felt a little sorry for this Eighth Uncle of hers.
“Uncle Eighth, did you need something from me?” She did not want to stay with Xiao Che for too long.
In the palace, rules came before everything else.
Although she was only four years old, sitting and talking with an unrelated man could still invite gossip.
Duoduo cared very much about her reputation.
Xiao Che lowered his head. It was quite some time before he looked up again.
“What if I told you I heard you were here with Grandmother and simply wanted to come talk to you? Would you believe me?”
Duoduo blinked her big eyes.
“I believe you!”
A strange glimmer flashed quickly through Xiao Che’s eyes.
It was the first time he had ever heard someone say they believed him.
“Uncle Eighth, if there’s anything you don’t understand in your studies, you can tell me and we can discuss it together.”
“Though I think you’d be better off asking the Grand Tutor.”
“The Grand Tutor is learned and talented. I’m sure he would tell you everything he knows!” Duoduo said with complete sincerity.
Xiao Che sighed.
“Changle, you’re so clever. I don’t believe you failed to realize that was only an excuse.”
Duoduo blinked again.
“But I believed you!”
“I was just thinking about how you used to sleep through your lessons. When did you become so diligent?”
“Truly, people see one another differently after just three days apart!”
Xiao Che’s face reddened.
“Changle, I’m your Eighth Uncle!” he warned, though there was no force behind it at all.
Duoduo smiled brightly.
“I know!”
“Insulting your elders—is that what your manners teach you?” Xiao Che narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Duoduo.
When Duoduo saw the imposing presence emanating from Xiao Che, her smile faded. She studied him carefully.
At that moment, Xiao Che’s aura already bore a faint resemblance to the Emperor’s.
It was only because he was still young that his presence lacked sufficient intimidation.
As expected, the imperial bloodline was not to be underestimated.
Duoduo’s scrutinizing gaze made Xiao Che feel uncomfortable all over.
He lowered his head and glanced at himself.
“What is it? Was I wrong?” he asked, somewhat uncertainly.
The moment he said those words, the imposing aura he had displayed vanished without a trace.
Duoduo curved her brows and smiled. “I was praising you, Uncle Eighth. How was that insulting?”
“You must have misunderstood!”
Duoduo did not want to waste time on meaningless small talk. There were more important things she needed to do.
The eunuch who had come back from the dead that day.
And Yun Qiluo in the Cold Palace.
She wanted to investigate both of them.
But the palace was unlike anywhere else.
She could not simply wander around as she pleased.
Duoduo looked at Xiao Che across from her, and suddenly, an idea came to her.
Xiao Che was a prince. Asking him to investigate a eunuch should not be a problem, right?
With that thought in mind, Duoduo tentatively spoke up.
“Uncle Eighth, could you do me a favor?”
Xiao Che was startled when Duoduo suddenly addressed him so respectfully.
He grew wary inside.
“What favor? Tell me first.”
He did not impulsively agree.
There was no one in the palace whom he could truly consider a friend.
It was only because Duoduo had once saved his life and had witnessed him at his most helpless that Xiao Che felt somewhat close to her.
But if Duoduo made an unreasonable request—one that threatened his survival—Xiao Che would refuse without hesitation.
He had to survive in this palace.
He would not take risks for anyone.
After speaking, Duoduo hesitated.
She did not know Xiao Che well.
However, she understood that a prince without the protection of a consort mother had a difficult time at every turn in the palace.
Leaving everything else aside, Xiao Che was probably the only prince who did not even have a personal attendant.
What if the thing she wanted to do put Xiao Che in danger?
She did not intend to remain in the palace forever. One day, she would leave.
But Xiao Che was different.
Duoduo was kindhearted.
She did not want someone to lose his life helping her.
Besides, her Eighth Uncle was not a bad person.
Her pastry shop had earned a fortune thanks in part to his help.
Thinking of this, Duoduo changed her request.
“Oh, I was just wondering if the Imperial Kitchen has come up with any new pastries.”
“Could you go to the Imperial Kitchen and buy some of the new varieties for me?”
“Lüdou and I both love pastries.”
Xiao Che stared at Duoduo for several seconds.
Perhaps it was only his imagination, but he had the distinct feeling that this was not what Changle had been about to say.
Her expression just moments ago had been extremely serious.
Besides, if Changle wanted fresh pastries from the Imperial Kitchen, she could simply ask one of the Empress Dowager’s senior attendants to give the kitchen an order.
That would be far more effective than sending him to the Imperial Kitchen.
A glimmer flashed in Xiao Che’s eyes as he thought of this.
“You should never have brought that up. Now that you have, there’s an account I need to settle with you.”
Duoduo looked surprised.
“An account?”
“Uncle Eighth, what account could you and I possibly have to settle?”
“I haven’t borrowed any money from you!”
