Duoduo was amused by Qingliu’s words and burst out laughing.
“You’d better remember what you just said!”
“If you do it again, I’ll sew your mouth shut!”
Seeing Duoduo smile, Qingliu finally let out a sigh of relief. She had truly been afraid that the princess would send her away.
Lüdou had been reassigned to serve the Princess Consort. If Qingliu left as well, only Baihe or Lianxin would be available to serve the princess.
They served the Princess Consort. How could they be as loyal to the princess as she and Lüdou were?
If that happened, she wouldn’t even need Lüdou to punish her—she would kill herself by smashing her head against a wall.
Duoduo, however, fell into deep thought.
She had originally intended to ask Xiao Che for help, but that path was no longer open to her. She needed to find another way.
But how could she move freely around the palace?
After pondering for a long while, Duoduo finally let out a sigh.
It seemed that the straightforward approach wouldn’t work. She would have to resort to something more covert.
The problem was that Qingliu’s martial skills were inadequate.
If she couldn’t take Qingliu with her, then the first thing she had to do was deceive her.
If only Lüdou were here…
Duoduo shook her head.
Her mother was more important!
Seeing Duoduo shake her head, Qingliu asked cautiously, “Princess, what’s wrong?”
Duoduo put on a smile.
“Nothing. I just want to go outside and look around.”
Qingliu looked troubled.
“But Nanny said we aren’t allowed to wander around.”
Duoduo’s eyes darted about. “We won’t go far. We’ll just look around near the Palace of Benevolent Peace.”
Qingliu was actually quite curious about the imperial palace herself. So she ventured, “Then shall I inform Nanny?”
Duoduo shook her head. “Great-Grandmother is resting. We mustn’t disturb her.”
“We won’t go far. It’ll be fine.”
Qingliu nodded excitedly and followed Duoduo outside.
The Palace of Benevolent Peace was relatively remote.
Standing at the entrance, Duoduo looked around in every direction.
She was searching for the location of the Cold Palace.
Two young eunuchs stood at the entrance of the Palace of Benevolent Peace. After saluting Duoduo, they remained motionless beside the doorway.
Duoduo beckoned to one of them. The eunuch hurried over.
“This servant greets Princess Changle!”
Duoduo casually pointed toward a palace in the distance. “What’s that place?”
The eunuch rose onto his toes and took a look. “In reply to Your Highness, that is the Archive Pavilion.”
Duoduo pointed toward another palace. “And that one?”
Everyone who worked in the imperial palace was an expert at reading people’s expressions.
Thus, the eunuch was exceptionally perceptive. He pointed out the surrounding palaces one by one, explaining what each was called, who lived there, or what it was used for.
When they reached the southwest corner, the eunuch paused.
“That is the Cold Palace, where consorts who have committed offenses are confined.”
Duoduo’s eyes lit up.
So that was the Cold Palace!
Duoduo glanced at Qingliu, who immediately understood.
She took a piece of silver from her purse and slipped it to the eunuch.
“You answered well. The princess rewards you.”
The eunuch’s face broke into a grin. He bowed and thanked Duoduo profusely.
Duoduo waved him off and skipped away.
Qingliu hurried after her.
“Princess, where are you going?”
“Didn’t he just mention an Archive Pavilion? I want to go look at the books!”
“Princess, the eunuch said ordinary people aren’t allowed inside.”
Qingliu caught up with Duoduo.
“Let’s go take a look!”
As she walked, Duoduo observed her surroundings.
The Archive Pavilion was very close to the Cold Palace in the southwest.
If she couldn’t get inside, she could conveniently “pass by” the Cold Palace.
Duoduo would stop to look at the flowers, then pause to touch a tree, acting like someone who had never seen the world before.
It was the first time Qingliu had seen the princess behave this way, and she found it rather strange.
Although the princess was usually lively, she had never acted so utterly unsophisticated.
The mistress and maid soon arrived before a palace.
Two guards stood outside. They glanced at Duoduo and Qingliu but said nothing.
Duoduo stepped forward and tried to enter, but she was immediately stopped.
“Who goes there?”
“This is not a place you may enter at will!”
Qingliu hurried forward and shielded Duoduo.
“How dare you!”
“This is Princess Changle. Stand aside at once!” Qingliu recalled the palace rules Nanny Li had taught her and summoned her courage to raise her voice.
The two guards exchanged a glance.
One of them cupped his hands toward Duoduo.
“This is the Archive Pavilion. No one may enter without His Majesty’s written warrant.”
“We ask that Princess Changle leave at once.”
Duoduo had only been using the Archive Pavilion as an excuse, but the guards’ words aroused her curiosity.
This Archive Pavilion could only be entered with the emperor’s permission.
What exactly was kept inside?
Duoduo looked around.
She sensed that the two guards standing before her were not the only ones protecting the palace.
There were people hidden in the shadows as well.
Duoduo couldn’t help becoming even more curious.
“But Grandfather is unconscious. How am I supposed to obtain his warrant?”
“I have Great-Grandmother’s warrant. Will that let me enter?” she asked, pretending not to understand.
The guards bowed again.
“In reply to Your Highness, we recognize only His Majesty’s warrant.”
“No other warrant will do.”
“If Your Highness does not possess one, we ask that you leave at once.”
Duoduo was disappointed. She was just about to turn around when she heard a familiar voice.
“Princess Changle?”
Duoduo turned back in surprise.
A tall figure emerged from the Archive Pavilion.
It was the Grand Tutor!
Delighted, Duoduo bent her knees in a curtsey. “Changle greets the Grand Tutor.”
The two guards hurriedly saluted the Grand Tutor as well.
The Grand Tutor waved them off and walked over to Duoduo, looking her up and down.
“Why are you here, Princess?”
Duoduo straightened and glanced toward the place from which the Grand Tutor had emerged.
“Great-Grandmother is ill, so I came into the palace to care for her.”
“It was boring in the palace, and I heard this palace is called the Archive Pavilion, so I wanted to come in and find some books to read.”
A flicker of surprise crossed the Grand Tutor’s eyes.
“Her Majesty the Dowager Empress is ill?”
Duoduo nodded. “Great-Grandmother has been ill for several days now.”
“Nanny said that Great-Grandmother missed me and wanted me to stay in the palace with her for a few days.”
“I came in such a hurry that I didn’t bring any of the books I usually read.”
Duoduo blinked.
“Grand Tutor, could you lend me a couple of books from inside?”
The Grand Tutor regarded Duoduo with a scrutinizing gaze.
After a long while, he finally nodded.
“Come with me.”
With that, the Grand Tutor clasped his hands behind his back and turned toward the entrance.
“Qingliu, wait for me outside.”
Duoduo gave the order, then hurried after the Grand Tutor.
“Princess, please be careful!” Qingliu called out, deeply worried.
The guards hesitated. Seeing that only Duoduo was following the Grand Tutor inside, they decided not to stop her.
Duoduo looked around curiously.
Beyond the main gate lay a spacious courtyard.
Three buildings stood in orderly arrangement not far away.
With his hands clasped behind his back, the Grand Tutor said nothing as he led Duoduo along a covered corridor and into the first building.
