Song Shuyu looked at the ecstatic Prince Ling and shrank back a little.
She quietly touched her throat. How strange? How was she able to speak just now?
Right now, Song Shuyu only hoped that her grandmother would come quickly to take her away.
She knew that she couldn't escape on her own.
"Your Highness, the origin of these gold ingots is too suspicious. Should your subordinate go and investigate?" a guard suggested in a low voice.
Prince Ling held a gold ingot and examined it carefully. It was real!
"No need to investigate!" Prince Ling waved his large hand.
"Someone, take that bundle of gold ingots to the ancestral hall and enshrine them!"
"This is a reward bestowed upon this prince by the heavens! Not a single one of them can be spent!"
Prince Ling threw the gold ingot in his hand to the guard.
"Yes! Your subordinate will do it right away."
The guard went out holding the gold ingot.
Prince Ling sat down happily. He opened his palm and flipped it up and down a few times.
"They are all mine! Hahaha! All mine! Let's see who still dares to compete with me?"
After Prince Ling finished speaking, he waved his hand at the maid on the floor.
"Alright, take her back and serve her well!"
"If you dare to neglect her, watch out for your worthless life, understand?"
"Yes! Yes! This servant understands!"
The maid trembled and kowtowed to Prince Ling.
Then, she stood up and came in front of Song Shuyu.
"Miss, let this servant help you back to your room."
Hearing Prince Ling's words, Song Shuyu knew she was safe for the time being.
Therefore, she let the maid help her leave.
The news of what happened in Prince Ling's manor reached the hands of the Prince of Pingyang the next day.
"Prince Ling didn't realize the ingots were fake, right?" The Prince of Pingyang placed the note over the candle flame to burn it.
"No, the few that Song Shuyu picked up happened to be the real ones placed right on top."
"She didn't grab a single one of the fake ones underneath." Ling Feng bowed as he reported.
The Prince of Pingyang stroked the jade thumb ring on his finger.
"She certainly knows her goods, actually knowing which ones are real?"
"Your Highness, Prince Ling now considers Song Shuyu his lucky star."
"He is already making a huge fanfare, preparing to host a massive running banquet the day after tomorrow to entertain everyone in Feng City."
"Should our people take this opportunity to cause some trouble?"
The Prince of Pingyang pondered for a moment.
"It's not enough yet; let's add some more fuel to his fire. Send a letter to Ling Yu and tell him this..."
The Prince of Pingyang lowered his voice and gave his instructions quietly.
Ling Feng nodded continuously.
"Alright, Your Highness, your subordinate will get it done right away."
Ling Feng bowed, turned around, and left.
The Prince of Pingyang rotated the jade thumb ring on his hand, then his hand stopped.
"Someone come!"
The door was pushed open, and a guard appeared outside.
"Your subordinate Yun Xiao is here!"
"Go and check if that man Li Jin has set off yet."
Yun Xiao cupped his hands and lowered his head.
"To reply to Your Highness, according to this morning's news, Li Jin received a message via carrier pigeon last night and already set off overnight."
The Prince of Pingyang waved his hand, and Yun Xiao withdrew.
The study suddenly fell quiet.
The Prince of Pingyang kept feeling like something was missing.
He pushed his wheelchair to the bookshelf, wanting to find a book to read.
He suddenly remembered that Duoduo hadn't come over to read to him today.
No wonder he felt the study was far too quiet today.
When Duoduo woke up early in the morning, she saw Nanny Li standing in the room.
"Princess, His Highness has ordered that from now on, this old servant will be your personal nanny."
Nanny Li bowed to Duoduo.
Behind Nanny Li, Pangya fell to her knees with a thud.
Pangya lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to move an inch.
She never thought that Duoduo would actually turn out to be a master!
She shuddered whenever she thought about how she had shamelessly declared that day that if Duoduo was the Prince's daughter, the Prince must be blind.
"Lüzhu, quickly help the Nanny up. Lvluo, bring a stool for the Nanny."
Duoduo stretched out her arms to let Lüyi dress her while continuously giving orders.
Nanny Li sat down, perching on the edge of the seat.
"Princess, His Highness has specially hired a female tutor to teach you the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting."
"This old servant is only responsible for teaching you palace rules and etiquette, as well as lessons in household management and embroidery."
Duoduo finished dressing, got out of bed, and listened earnestly as Nanny Li told her the schedule for the day.
After Nanny Li finished reporting everything, she finally looked at Pangya on the floor.
"Princess, how do you see fit to deal with this maid?"
Terrified, Pangya kowtowed forcefully to Duoduo three times.
Thump, thump, thump!
By the time Pangya raised her head again, her forehead was already covered in bruises.
"Princess, it is all this servant's fault! I shouldn't have bullied the Princess! Nor should I have spoken disrespectfully and insulted His Highness!"
"I beg the Princess to be magnanimous and forgive this servant!"
"This servant knows her wrongs, this servant will punish herself!"
As Pangya spoke, she raised her hand and slapped herself across the face.
Sitting at the head, Duoduo remained silent. Pangya gritted her teeth and gave herself another slap.
However, she still did not hear Duoduo tell her to stop.
Pangya panicked.
Just now, she was gambling!
Gambling that Duoduo would be soft-hearted, gambling that Duoduo would let her off lightly for the sake of the time they had spent together!
But now, she hadn't gotten that reaction.
Left with no choice, Pangya could only slap her own face over and over again.
She slapped until her face was swollen and her hand went numb.
Nanny Li sat on the stool, acting as if she hadn't seen a thing.
After a long time, Duoduo finally spoke.
"Enough!"
Pangya slumped to the ground, as if she had just heard the voice of an angel.
"This servant thanks the Princess."
Pangya's face was already swollen out of shape.
"Considering this is your first offense, I will spare you this time!"
"If you dare to recklessly gossip about your masters again, it won't be settled with just a few slaps!"
Duoduo deliberately kept a straight face, sternly repeating the words Nanny Li usually taught her.
"Yes, thank you Princess for sparing this servant!"
Pangya hurriedly kowtowed to Duoduo.
"Alright, you don't need to be on duty today. Step down!"
Pangya kowtowed once more and withdrew.
A look of satisfaction flashed across Nanny Li's eyes beside her.
Although the Princess was still a bit too lenient in handling this matter.
However, employing both kindness and severity, the Princess had learned quite well!
"Princess, please have your breakfast first. After that, this old servant will give you your etiquette lesson."
Duoduo nodded, and Nanny Li backed out.
Lüzhu and the others went out to prepare breakfast for Duoduo, withdrawing as well.
Seeing that there was no one left in the room, Duoduo relaxed.
Duoduo quietly patted her chest. Pangya had looked so scary just now!
Originally, when she saw Pangya slapping herself, she had wanted to speak up and stop her.
However, seeing Nanny Li's stern gaze, Duoduo didn't dare to make a sound.
After Nanny Li's teachings during this period, Duoduo knew that the mistake Pangya had made was not a small one.
As a servant, one cannot recklessly gossip about their masters.
Not to mention, the person Pangya had criticized was the Prince of Pingyang.
If this matter reached the ears of the Prince of Pingyang, not only would Pangya suffer a beating, but she would also be sold off to a brothel!
Duoduo clearly remembered Pangya saying back then how miserable the fate of being sold to a brothel would be.
Therefore, Duoduo didn't want to do that.
