"If you do not leave, I will naturally never abandon you!" the Prince of Pingyang promised solemnly.
The Prince of Pingyang took the Princess Consort of Pingyang's hands. Their hands intertwined, and their eyes met.
A rich floral fragrance drifted through the air.
After Duoduo finished her exercises, she was escorted back to the courtyard where the Princess Consort of Pingyang lived by Ling Feng.
Duoduo stepped into the room and found the Princess Consort of Pingyang sitting by the window, lost in thought.
Duoduo tiptoed over. She saw that the Princess Consort of Pingyang's face was flushed, and her expression was very strange.
Even when Duoduo walked right up and stood in front of her, the Princess Consort of Pingyang didn't notice.
"Mother, what's wrong?"
Worried, Duoduo reached out and waved her hand in front of the Princess Consort of Pingyang's face.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang snapped back to reality, her face growing even redder.
"Duoduo is back? Are you tired?"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang reached out to touch Duoduo's back and found that her clothes were completely soaked.
"Oh my, how did you get so wet? Quick, help the Princess change her clothes!"
Lüzhu hurriedly took Duoduo to the next room to bathe and change.
By the time Duoduo had washed up and changed into clean clothes, she was feeling sleepy.
"Ah!" Duoduo let out a yawn.
"Princess, should I make the bed so you can sleep?" Lüzhu asked.
Duoduo waved her hand, yawning as she walked out.
"I still need to go tell Mother."
Duoduo went to the next room. The Princess Consort of Pingyang had already freshened up and was about to go to bed.
"What is it? It's so late, why aren't you resting yet?"
Seeing Duoduo come over wearing only her inner garments, the Princess Consort of Pingyang hurriedly grabbed a cloak and draped it over her.
The cloak was very long, with more than half of it dragging on the floor.
Curious, Duoduo spun around, trying to spread the cloak out.
But in the end, she ended up wrapping herself into a tight little ball.
"Mother, save me!"
Duoduo reached out her little hands toward the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
Finding it amusing, the Princess Consort of Pingyang picked Duoduo up.
"Naughty!" She reached out and tapped Duoduo's nose.
Duoduo gave the Princess Consort of Pingyang a big, bright smile.
"Mother, what were you thinking about just now? I was standing right in front of you, and you didn't even notice me!"
Hearing Duoduo's question, the Princess Consort of Pingyang's face turned red once again.
"Mother was just thinking about some things and got lost in thought. By the way, what did you learn with Ling Feng today? Are you tired?"
Her attention successfully diverted, Duoduo nodded.
"Tired! My legs are like jelly!" Duoduo stuck up her little feet.
Amused, the Princess Consort of Pingyang reached out and gently massaged Duoduo's legs.
Duoduo reached out and hugged the Princess Consort of Pingyang. "Thank you, Mother. Now Duoduo isn't tired anymore!"
"Not tired? Then how about Mother asks Ling Feng to take you out for some more exercise?"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang teased with a smile.
Frightened, Duoduo hastily jumped down to the floor.
"Mother, Duoduo is going to sleep! Mother should rest early too!"
Duoduo stepped on the hem of the cloak and almost fell flat on her face.
Lianxin, who was standing to the side, hurried forward and lifted the hem of the cloak.
"Mother, I don't need this!" Duoduo reached up to pull at the cloak's ties.
"Princess, let your servant do it," Lianxin stepped forward respectfully.
Duoduo tilted her neck up, letting Lianxin untie the knot of the cloak.
As soon as the cloak was removed, Duoduo hopped in place as if she had regained her freedom.
"Mother, I'm going back to sleep!"
Duoduo bowed to the Princess Consort of Pingyang and happily walked out of the room.
"The Princess's temperament has really changed a lot now."
Lianxin watched Duoduo's retreating back and casually folded the cloak.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang lay down.
"Indeed, the current Duoduo finally looks a bit like a normal child."
"It's a pity. How wonderful it would be if the Princess were your own biological daughter, Your Highness?"
Lianxin felt sorry for her master.
"Lianxin, I don't want to hear such words ever again."
"From now on, Duoduo is my own biological child."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang was a little displeased.
"Your Highness, the Princess is ultimately not your own flesh and blood."
"Besides, you are still young. If in the future you and the Prince have your own biological child, then the position of the legitimate eldest daughter..."
"Lianxin, shut your mouth!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang sat up.
"I said it before: from now on, Duoduo is my own biological child!"
"Don't even say that I might not be able to give birth. Even if I do have my own children, Duoduo will still be their legitimate elder sister. That will never change!"
"If I hear any more remarks like this, I will hold you solely responsible!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang's tone was sharp, and Lianxin was so frightened that she fell to her knees.
"Please quell your anger, Your Highness! Your servant knows her mistake!"
Outside the door, Duoduo tiptoed and quietly left.
When she came over just now, she originally had something to ask the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
However, overcome by sleepiness, she had forgotten.
When she remembered and returned to ask, she overheard the conversation inside.
She subconsciously hid in the shadows of the trees by the corridor, hearing the conversation inside crystal clear.
"Princess, are you not going in?"
Lüzhu asked Duoduo in a low voice.
Duoduo shook her head, a smile appearing on her face.
"No need. I forgot what I wanted to ask. Let's go back and rest."
Duoduo quickly ran back to her room and climbed into bed.
Lüzhu helped Duoduo pull up the covers, and then she laid out her own bedding on the footstool.
"Miss, I will sleep right here. If you need to get up in the night, just call for me."
"Okay," Duoduo replied obediently.
Lüzhu extinguished the other candles, leaving only one lamp at the head of the bed for illumination.
Duoduo heard the rustling sound of Lüzhu lying down in her bedding.
When everything in the room quieted down, Duoduo quietly pulled the blanket over her head.
The tears in her eyes finally flowed down.
She was too young to understand why her parents had abandoned her.
She also didn't understand why the Prince of Pingyang had brought her back to the manor.
She especially didn't know if the Prince of Pingyang would abandon her, just like her father did.
Every day, she lived in fear and anxiety, walking on eggshells.
She was terrified that if she did something wrong or said the wrong thing, she would anger the Prince of Pingyang.
Pangya had said that if one was sold by their master, their fate would be miserable.
Duoduo didn't understand.
But she wanted to live!
She wanted to prove to people that she was not a jinx!
She also wanted to grow up quickly and, as Lüdou said, do the things she wanted to do.
Therefore, wanting to survive, she instinctively clung to the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
She listened to the Princess Consort of Pingyang; whatever she said, Duoduo would do.
Duoduo only hoped that one day, the Princess Consort of Pingyang would let her stay for the sake of her obedience and good behavior!
Now, her wish had finally come true!
Duoduo began to sob softly.
She never expected the Princess Consort of Pingyang to say that from now on, she was her child!
She really had a mother now!
The more Duoduo thought about it, the more overwhelmed she felt—she finally had someone to love her!
Lying on the footstool, Lüzhu vaguely heard a sound and hurriedly sat up.
"Princess? Princess?"
Duoduo wiped her face haphazardly. "Hmm?"
"Princess, what's wrong?"
Lüzhu pulled the blanket back and was startled by the tears covering Duoduo's face.
