"Mother, is the nanny's home far? If so, why don't we have the estate's carriage take her?"
Duoduo blinked.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang nodded in approval.
"Alright, the nanny is getting older, so it would be good to give her a ride."
Duoduo was satisfied.
Once the estate's driver returned, they would be able to know the situation at the nanny's home, right?
During lunch, when the Princess Consort of Pingyang and the Prince of Pingyang discussed Duoduo's suggestion, the Prince of Pingyang immediately agreed.
"Alright. Lingfeng, go tell the nanny that she can take the carriage back for a visit after she eats."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Lingfeng went out to notify Nanny Li.
Upon hearing the prince's order delivered by Lingfeng, Nanny Li was somewhat astonished.
"Lingfeng, why did His Highness suddenly think of letting me go home?"
Lingfeng bowed.
"It was suggested by the Princess Consort and His Highness."
Nanny Li still found it strange. "Why did the Princess Consort bring this up?"
Lingfeng's face turned stern.
"Nanny, you are overstepping your bounds."
Nanny Li lowered her head. "Yes."
Lingfeng left, and Nanny Li went back to pack her luggage, feeling bewildered.
When Nanny Li was carrying her bundle and getting ready to leave.
"Nanny, wait a moment!"
Nanny Li stopped and looked, realizing it was Duoduo.
"Princess, what matters do you have for this old servant?"
Duoduo stuffed the oil-paper package in her hands into Nanny Li's hands.
"Nanny, these pastries are very delicious. Take them to eat on the road."
Nanny Li cast a suspicious glance at Duoduo.
"How did the Princess know this old servant was going out?"
Duoduo smiled. "Because I was just eating with Father and Mother."
Nanny Li finally understood.
The reason the Princess Consort suggested she go home must have been because of the Princess.
Thinking of her conversation with the Princess this morning, doubts arose in her heart.
"Princess, do... do you know..."
Nanny Li stopped speaking.
She felt her thoughts were utterly absurd.
The Princess did not even know her son, so how could she have dreamed about their affairs?
Duoduo tilted her head, looking at Nanny Li strangely.
"Nanny, what do you want to say?"
Nanny Li waved her hand.
"It is nothing. This old servant will be taking her leave. Princess, do not forget the homework this old servant assigned to you."
Duoduo stuck out her tongue.
"Rest assured, Nanny, I will definitely finish it well."
"Pay attention to your safety on your way back!"
"If you run into any trouble, do not panic. Come back and find Father; Father can help you!"
Duoduo could not help but add another sentence.
The suspicion in Nanny Li's heart grew even stronger.
The Princess must know something; she must have heard it from the Prince.
Thinking of this, Nanny Li's desire to return home became somewhat urgent.
It was highly likely that something had happened at her home.
Nanny Li hurriedly bowed to Duoduo and walked out.
Looking at Nanny Li's retreating back, Duoduo jumped up happily.
Great, she had done another good deed!
Lüzhu, who was behind Duoduo, laughed.
"Princess, if you do not want to learn etiquette from Nanny Li, you can suggest it to the Princess Consort."
Duoduo looked at Lüzhu strangely. "Why wouldn't I want to learn from the nanny?"
"Seeing how happy you are, isn't it because with the nanny gone, no one will discipline you?"
Duoduo shook her head. "No! I don't think like that at all!"
Lüzhu scratched her head. "But this servant clearly saw you looking very happy just now?"
"Hehe, I am very happy."
"But it's not for the reason you mentioned."
After speaking, Duoduo skipped away.
"If not for that reason, then for what reason?"
Lüzhu was very confused.
Walking out of the estate, Nanny Li saw the princely estate's carriage parked at the entrance.
The driver bowed to her and invited her to get on.
"His Highness ordered this humble one to escort you back."
Nanny Li's surprise grew even greater, and she inexplicably began to panic.
"Alright, then I will trouble you."
Nanny Li quickly climbed into the carriage.
Nanny Li felt very uneasy. Just what kind of monstrous disaster had her son caused?
This son of hers had a huge vice: he loved to gamble.
Initially, because she was getting older, she had planned to retire and live out her days with her son.
She had thought that once her son got married, he would definitely mend his ways and live a good life with his wife.
However, when she went back, she discovered that her son was still the same as before.
In his free time, he always liked to gamble a little, and when his gambling addiction flared up, he would stay out all night without coming home.
Even the retirement silver given to her by the Prince was coaxed out of her by her son under the pretext of buying nourishing food for her daughter-in-law, only for him to secretly gamble it all away.
After her daughter-in-law gave birth to a child, she could only wash her face with tears every day.
Nanny Li had beaten him and scolded him, but her son remained dead set against repenting.
After Nanny Li's anger peaked, she just wanted to leave and not care about it anymore.
Perhaps if she ignored her son, he might mend his ways and things would get better for him and his wife.
Therefore, the moment the Prince of Pingyang sent someone to invite her, she immediately agreed.
Since arriving at the Prince of Pingyang's estate, she had not received a single letter from home.
On one hand, she was somewhat worried about her home; on the other hand, she hardened her heart and refrained from contacting them.
"Driver, please hurry a bit. This way, you can still make it back to the estate before dark."
"Yes."
The driver agreed from outside, and the carriage began to speed up.
Nanny Li leaned against the carriage wall, forcing herself to calm down.
She recalled all the words Duoduo had said today.
Especially Duoduo's last sentence, "Pay attention to your safety. If anything happens, Father can help you."
Nanny Li already had a conclusion in her heart.
Her son must have gotten into trouble!
Any trouble her son could cause was most likely related to gambling.
Since ancient times, the word gambling had ruined many families, causing wives and children to scatter.
Thinking of this, Nanny Li took out half of the pastries Duoduo had stuffed into her hands.
Then, she lifted the curtain and handed the pastries to the driver.
"These are pastries given by the Princess. Thank you for your hard work in escorting me."
The driver happily accepted them.
Pastries eaten by the Prince and the Princess were rare and exquisite delicacies.
"It is no trouble at all. It is what I should do."
Nanny Li paused for a moment.
"It's like this: I haven't been back in a long time, and I don't know the situation at home."
"I'd like you to accompany me inside to take a look later. Don't worry, it won't delay your return to the estate."
The driver was slightly taken aback, but he nodded in agreement.
Since the Prince had specifically arranged for him to escort Nanny Li home, it only showed that the Prince highly valued Nanny Li.
One must know that no other servant in the estate had ever been escorted by the estate's carriage.
"Thank you."
Seeing the driver agree, Nanny Li's heart settled down.
No matter what, the driver was a man.
If something were to happen, even if he couldn't win in a fight, at the very least, his status as someone from the estate of the Prince of Pingyang could bluff people.
After the carriage left the city, it galloped all the way.
Two hours later, under Nanny Li's guidance, the carriage stopped in front of a courtyard residence.
Nanny Li lifted the carriage curtain and looked left and right.
It was very quiet outside, and there seemed to be nothing abnormal?
Could it be that she was just being overly sensitive?
Nanny Li stepped down from the carriage, raised her hand, and knocked on the door.
