As soon as she stepped through the door, Duoduo was stunned by the books lining the walls.
She tilted her little head back and gazed from left to right without stopping.
“Wow!” Duoduo exclaimed.
The Grand Tutor stopped and turned to look at her.
This was the first time Duoduo had ever seen so many books. Her eyes gleamed with astonishing brightness.
So the palace was where the greatest collection of books was kept.
“Grand Tutor, can I read all the books in here?”
The moment Duoduo saw so many books, she completely forgot why she had come.
She felt that, if she were allowed to, she could stay here until the end of time.
The Grand Tutor glanced around the room.
“You may read any of the books here.”
“But you are not allowed to enter the two palaces behind this one!”
Hearing that, Duoduo came back to her senses.
“But the guards at the entrance just said that I needed my grandfather’s order to come in.”
“I will give the guards instructions shortly. You may come and go freely from now on.”
“But remember, you must not go into the other two palaces!”
“Otherwise, don’t even think about setting foot in here again!”
Seeing how serious the Grand Tutor looked, Duoduo grew curious.
“Why can’t I go in?”
The Grand Tutor put on a stern face. “Because there are books only in this hall.”
“There are no books in the other two halls.”
Duoduo couldn’t help finding that strange.
If there were no books inside, why did the Grand Tutor keep reminding her, again and again, that she was not allowed to enter?
However, Duoduo’s thoughts were soon drawn back to the books in the hall.
She casually pulled a book from the shelf. It was titled Biographies.
Duoduo had never read it before. She opened the book, sat down cross-legged on the floor, and began reading.
The Grand Tutor frowned slightly, but he did not say anything.
He picked up a book of his own and went to sit in a chair nearby.
Outside, Qingliu waited anxiously, craning her neck and peering inside.
Yet half an hour passed, and the Princess still had not come out.
Qingliu began pacing back and forth.
Inside the hall, Duoduo reluctantly closed the book.
The contents had been fascinating.
She planned to copy it out when she returned and add it to the collection at home.
Duoduo placed the book back where she had found it and forced herself to resist the urge to pick up another one.
After all, she remembered why she had come to the palace.
Duoduo wandered around the bookshelves several times, selecting the books she most wanted to read.
She pulled one from the shelf and carried it over to the Grand Tutor.
“May I ask, Grand Tutor, if I can borrow this book to read outside?”
The Grand Tutor looked up.
“No.”
“But if you want to read it, I can take it out for you later.”
Duoduo’s eyes immediately lit up.
“Then can I borrow a few more?”
The Grand Tutor sized her up. “Didn’t you come to the palace to accompany the Empress Dowager?”
“I can read while Great-Grandmother is resting.” Duoduo had already made all the arrangements.
Duoduo read very quickly—so quickly that it was practically like reading ten lines at a glance.
Moreover, she could remember anything she had read.
Li Jin had said that this was her gift.
An advantage she had been born with.
To Duoduo, even the longest book took no more than the time it took to burn a single incense stick.
The Grand Tutor glanced at her.
“Trying to take on too much will only leave you mastering none of it.”
Duoduo remembered that she had always been pretending to be less capable in front of the Grand Tutor.
She blinked.
“I’m only worried that it might be troublesome for you if I keep bothering you.”
“And what if I finish one book and can’t come here again? Then I won’t have anything to read, will I?”
After hearing her out, the Grand Tutor reached over and took the book from her hands.
It was The Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance.
The Grand Tutor’s eyes flickered.
He recalled the book Duoduo had casually picked up earlier. If he had seen correctly, its title had been Biographies.
A woman who actually liked reading books like these?
The Grand Tutor raised his eyes to look at Duoduo, a trace of curiosity in his gaze.
“No more than three books.”
Duoduo let out a cheer and turned to select her books.
The Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance consisted of several volumes, so Duoduo decisively took two more.
She ran back to the Grand Tutor and placed all three books together.
The Grand Tutor looked thoughtful.
“Princess, aren’t you going to choose a few other books as well?”
Duoduo was momentarily bewildered.
“But didn’t you just say I could only take three?”
The Grand Tutor gave a light cough. “Have you chosen everything you want? Would you like to keep reading?”
Duoduo glanced at the sky outside the window.
“Great-Grandmother should be waking up soon. I need to go back and keep her company!”
The Grand Tutor nodded and stood up with the books in hand.
Duoduo took one last excited look around the room, her heart filled with delight.
Life in the palace would no longer be so difficult to endure.
Still, it was such a pity that all these books were hidden away here, kept from everyone.
Though Duoduo lamented the waste, her feet obediently followed the Grand Tutor out.
The Grand Tutor gave the guards a few instructions, and they bowed in acknowledgment.
He handed the books to the guards to be registered. Only after that did he take them back and walk over.
“Let’s go.”
When Qingliu saw Duoduo come out, she hurried over joyfully.
She looked Duoduo up and down excitedly. Duoduo glanced at her once.
Qingliu immediately restrained her expression and lowered her head.
The Grand Tutor noticed their little exchange but said nothing.
Holding the books behind his back, the Grand Tutor headed toward the Empress Dowager’s Palace.
Duoduo grew anxious. She still wanted to take a look around the area near the Cold Palace!
“Grand Tutor, where are you going?” Duoduo asked innocently.
“I am going to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager. It just so happens that I can escort the Princess back as well,” the Grand Tutor explained unhurriedly.
Duoduo hurriedly tugged at his sleeve.
The Grand Tutor lowered his head and looked at her hand.
Duoduo quickly let go.
“Grand Tutor, why don’t we go back that way?”
Duoduo pointed in the direction of the Cold Palace.
The Grand Tutor glanced that way, then looked at Duoduo.
“Why does the Princess want to go that way?”
Duoduo couldn’t help picking at her palm.
The idea had only just occurred to her.
Since the Grand Tutor could enter that archive pavilion, it meant he was free to move about the palace.
And if she followed him, no one would suspect that she had another motive.
“The Buddhist scriptures say that one should never retrace one’s steps,” Duoduo began, making something up on the spot.
“We came by that path, so I want to take a different route back.”
“Grand Tutor, aren’t the palace paths meant for people to walk on?”
The Grand Tutor stared deeply at Duoduo.
Duoduo nervously picked at her palm.
Then the Grand Tutor moved.
He turned on his heel and headed down the road toward the Cold Palace.
The little person in Duoduo’s heart leaped for joy.
The Grand Tutor really was a good man!
Duoduo silently awarded him a Good Person Card.
Worried that the Grand Tutor might see through her intentions, Duoduo followed him obediently.
Before long, the two of them passed by the Cold Palace.
The road here was covered with fallen leaves and weeds.
It looked as though no one was alive there.
