Not far away, Madam Song stared at Duoduo without blinking.
Having not seen her for only a short period of time, Madam Song felt that Duoduo was very unfamiliar.
In the past, Madam Song rarely saw Duoduo anyway.
Even when she did, she had never really looked at her closely.
This was the first time she observed this daughter so seriously.
On the surface, Duoduo had not changed much; she was still thin.
However, Duoduo's entire aura had changed significantly.
Previously timid and cowardly, she was now very cheerful and sunny.
Facing the congratulations of ordinary officials' wives, she would smile appropriately and nod her thanks with poise.
She would tug at the Princess Consort of Pingyang's sleeve and act coquettishly, stick out her tongue, and smile sweetly.
Wearing magnificent and noble clothes, she did not look out of place at all. Instead, it made people feel that she was meant to be dressed this way.
The more Madam Song looked, the more a thought grew in her mind.
Duoduo was even prettier than her eldest daughter, Song Shuyu, and drew more attention.
She made people want to take a second look after the first glance.
Madam Song heard the officials' wives behind her whispering.
"The Princess Consort is truly blessed to have adopted such a cute child. It is so enviable!"
"Exactly. When that child thanked us in her sweet, milky voice just now, I felt my heart melting."
"Ah, the commandery princess is so beautiful. When she grows up, she will definitely have a beauty that could topple cities and states."
"My little tyrant at home is five or six years older than the commandery princess. Later, I will go ask the Princess Consort to see if there is any fate for an arranged marriage between our children."
"Oh, my youngest son is about the same age as the commandery princess. I will go too!"
Madam Song took a look. The speakers were The Prefect's Wife and The Garrison Commander's Wife.
These were both people she usually wanted to befriend.
Madam Song knew a thing or two about the little tyrant The Prefect's Wife mentioned.
That was the son born to The Prefect's Wife in her later years, who was severely spoiled. She heard the child was unreasonable and arrogant, and looked like a ball.
Moreover, that child had a violent temper and was moody. Though only ten years old, the maids in his room had already been replaced several times.
Such a person marrying Duoduo would definitely not do!
Madam Song also knew about the youngest son The Garrison Commander's Wife mentioned.
He was born to a concubine, and The Garrison Commander's Wife brought him to her side to raise.
Not only was the child raised to be cowardly and inferior, but she also heard there was something wrong with his head.
He was already five or six years old but still frequently wet his pants.
How dare such a person covet Duoduo!
Madam Song felt inexplicably uncomfortable in her heart.
Even if she was a child she did not want, she still would not allow her to be trampled upon like this!
No, she had to go warn the Princess Consort of Pingyang!
Thinking this, Madam Song stood up.
A maid standing not far away saw this and immediately walked over.
"Madam Song, do you need to freshen up?"
Madam Song did not want others to know her relationship with Duoduo, so she nodded at the maid.
"Madam Song, please follow me."
The maid walked ahead, gesturing for Madam Song to follow.
After following the maid to freshen up, Madam Song deliberately slowed her pace, thinking about how to speak with the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
Just as she was thinking, Duoduo's crisp laughter came from behind her.
"Sister, wait for me!"
Madam Song turned her head and saw Duoduo along with another girl who had been by her side.
When Yingniang saw Madam Song, she reflexively shielded Duoduo behind her.
Duoduo hid behind Yingniang, peeking at Madam Song in slight panic.
"Are you deliberately waiting for us here?" Yingniang looked at Madam Song suspiciously.
Madam Song initially wanted to deny it, but suddenly she had an idea.
"Just now, I heard The Prefect's Wife and The Garrison Commander's Wife talking. They both want to form a marriage alliance with the Pingyang Prince's Manor."
"The son of The Prefect's Wife is fierce and brutal. Several maids in his room have already died. Duoduo, you absolutely must not marry him."
"The concubine-born son of The Garrison Commander's Wife has a problem with his head. He is seven or eight years old but not even as smart as a two or three-year-old child. You cannot marry him either!"
"Duoduo, although you are not my child now, I still cannot watch you jump into a fire pit."
After Madam Song finished speaking, she looked around. "Duoduo, you must remember to tell the Princess Consort."
With that said, Madam Song left hurriedly.
Duoduo poked her little head out from behind Yingniang.
"Sister, what did she mean by what she just said?"
Yingniang curled her lips. "Ignore her, she has got a screw loose!"
Yingniang pulled Duoduo back to the backyard, where the Princess Consort of Pingyang was talking with Xu Jinxin.
Seeing the two return, the Princess Consort of Pingyang pulled Duoduo over and carefully helped her tidy her clothes.
At this time, a round-faced madam walked over.
"I congratulate the Princess Consort on gaining such a well-behaved daughter. It makes me so envious; I wish I could take her home too."
Seeing the newcomer, the Princess Consort of Pingyang showed a polite smile.
"Does The Prefect's Wife not also have a few daughters? Why did you not bring them along today?"
The Prefect's Wife covered her mouth and smiled happily.
"Those children of mine are not presentable. How would I dare bring them out to embarrass myself?"
"If they could all be as well-behaved as the commandery princess, I would want to take them with me wherever I go!"
Hearing The Prefect's Wife constantly praising Duoduo, the Princess Consort of Pingyang smiled faintly and did not respond.
Seeing that the Princess Consort of Pingyang did not take up her conversation thread, The Prefect's Wife felt a bit awkward.
Subsequently, she sized up Duoduo.
"Princess Consort, I have a good-for-nothing son at home who is six years older than the commandery princess. He clamors for a younger sister all day long."
"Why do I not bring him over another day to play with the commandery princess? That way, the commandery princess will have an older brother to protect her. What do you think, Princess Consort?"
The hand the Princess Consort of Pingyang used to hold Duoduo tightened. Was The Prefect's Wife trying to act as a matchmaker?
"Since he is a good-for-nothing, the right path would be for The Prefect's Wife to urge him to become a capable person."
"Furthermore, he is already ten years old but does not study hard, only wanting to play with a younger sister all day. Will he just spend his whole life idling among women?"
"Our Prince values scholars the most. The Prince has said that only through reading can one understand reason."
"Do not look down on Duoduo's young age; the Prince personally teaches her how to read and write!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang smiled faintly.
The Prefect's Wife's face turned red and then white. "Princess Consort, the old saying goes, a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent."
"The Prefect's Wife just said it is an old saying. Since it is an old saying, how can it be brought up now?"
The Prefect's Wife was rebuffed so much that she could not step down gracefully.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang looked like a frail and weak person, so how could every word she speak strike right at someone's heart?
The Prefect's Wife randomly found an excuse and hurriedly returned to her seat.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang released her tightly clenched hand, and as soon as she looked up, she saw Xu Jinxin looking at her with a half-smile.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" the Princess Consort of Pingyang shot Xu Jinxin a reproachful glance.
"Su Xian, the old saying goes that a mother is strong for her child. I did not understand it before, but now I do."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang's face turned red.
"Ah, here comes another one!" Xu Jinxin pouted her lips toward the distance.
