"No matter how destitute I may be, I will not spend your dowry!"
"Later, have your maid write down a list of the dowry items you pawned previously and give it to me."
"Whatever can be redeemed, we will use silver to redeem it. If it cannot be redeemed, I will eventually replace it with the exact same thing for you."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang hurriedly explained.
"Your Highness, there is no need to redeem them. There are still many places in the manor that require silver."
The Prince of Pingyang's face darkened.
"Is the Princess Consort deliberately trying to oppose me?"
Duoduo quickly ran between the two of them.
"Mother, just listen to Father. Father has money!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang forced a smile.
Duoduo was young and did not understand.
As the person closest to the Prince of Pingyang, how could she not know whether he actually had silver or not?
"Yes, Your Highness, it is my foolishness."
"I thank Your Highness. Please do not be angry."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang apologized in a low voice.
The Prince of Pingyang looked at the jade thumb ring on his hand and did not answer.
"Mother, Father is taking us out to play tomorrow!"
"We came over specifically to tell you this good news."
Duoduo wanted to ease the tension between her parents.
Just then, Baihe walked in carrying a vase of arranged peonies.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang felt a pang of sorrow in her heart.
She walked over to the Prince of Pingyang and crouched down.
"Your Highness, it is all Pingting's fault for being ignorant. Please do not be angry anymore."
"From now on, I will listen to whatever you say."
Duoduo also leaned in. "Father, your daughter will also listen to you."
The Prince of Pingyang looked at the mother and daughter, then shifted his gaze away.
"We will set off first thing tomorrow morning. I remember there are many flowers at the Princess Consort's estate. It is the perfect time to go take a look."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang froze.
"Your Highness, that estate is very far away."
"Just a moment ago you said you would listen to me..." The Prince of Pingyang looked coldly at the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
"I was just worried about Your Highness's health..." The Princess Consort of Pingyang looked timidly at the Prince of Pingyang's legs.
"I know my own body well enough. There is no need for you to worry so much."
"I still have matters to attend to, so I will take my leave first. Duoduo, stay here and keep your mother company."
Having said that, the Prince of Pingyang expressionlessly pushed his wheelchair away.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang stood up, feeling a sense of loss.
"Duoduo, tell me, is your father angry?"
Duoduo turned her head to look at her father's departing back, and she shook her head.
"Mother, Father is not angry. Father is just busy."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang sat down absentmindedly.
"Your father came over so happily with the flowers. Now, he must be very disappointed, right?"
Baihe, who was standing to the side, could not help but interject.
"Princess Consort, you simply think too much. The Princess already said that His Highness is just busy with matters."
"Enough, all of you may leave. I want to be alone for a while."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang waved her hand, not wanting to hear any more.
Duoduo obediently snuggled into the Princess Consort of Pingyang's embrace.
"I will stay with Mother!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang gently touched Duoduo's small face.
"You should go out and play with the maids too. Mother wants to be alone for a bit."
Duoduo shook her head.
"Father said I have to keep Mother company!"
"Duoduo is a good, obedient child!"
Deeply moved, the Princess Consort of Pingyang hugged Duoduo. Duoduo hesitated for a moment.
She raised her small hands and gently patted the Princess Consort of Pingyang's back.
Slowly, ever so slowly, with Duoduo's comforting, the Princess Consort of Pingyang felt her mood improve significantly.
She released Duoduo and held her small hands.
"Duoduo, Mother shouldn't have contradicted your father. Mother was wrong."
Duoduo blinked her big eyes.
"Mother, you were just worried about Father. Father will understand."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang was amused into smiling.
"You actually understand Mother's intentions? Duoduo is so sensible."
Duoduo smiled shyly. "I've grown up, so of course I have to be sensible!"
"Good child, tell Mother, how did your father come up with the idea of going to the estate?"
Duoduo looked at the Princess Consort of Pingyang and blinked.
"I wanted to go out and play. I heard before that the outside is very pretty in the spring."
"There are all kinds of flowers, beautiful clouds in the sky, and even the wind is nice."
"But I had never been out to play before."
"Then Father saw this and said we would go to the estate."
Duoduo lowered her eyes, feeling a bit guilty.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang's heart ached.
"Have you never gone out for a spring outing before?"
Duoduo lowered her head and shook it.
"You've never flown a kite either?" The Princess Consort of Pingyang felt even more heartbroken.
Duoduo raised her head, looked at the Princess Consort of Pingyang, and shook her head again.
"Mother, I have seen a kite! It was so pretty!"
"I thought back then, if only I could be like a kite, flying high and far away..."
Duoduo suddenly stopped.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang saw a flash of sadness quickly pass through Duoduo's eyes.
She stroked Duoduo's cheek.
"Then we will go fly a kite tomorrow!"
"Right, Lianxin, I remember there seem to be kite-making materials in the manor?"
"Replying to the Princess Consort, yes." Lianxin bent her knees in a curtsy.
"Go and fetch the materials. We will make a big kite."
Duoduo looked at the Princess Consort of Pingyang with a face full of disbelief.
"Mother, are you telling the truth? You are going to make a kite for me?"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang pinched Duoduo's cheek.
"Of course it's true. However, it has been a long time since Mother made one, so you are not allowed to complain if it's ugly."
Duoduo jumped up happily.
"Whatever Mother makes will definitely be beautiful!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang smiled, took Duoduo's small hand, and walked towards the writing desk to the side.
"What kind of kite does Duoduo want? Let's draw it out first."
Duoduo tilted her head and thought about it.
"Can it be any kind?"
"Of course, but it can't be too complex. Mother's drawing skills are not that good."
Baihe found a very, very large and somewhat thick piece of paper and spread it out on the desk.
Then, she began to grind the ink.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang rolled up her sleeves and picked up a writing brush.
Duoduo still hadn't made up her mind. "Mother, what do I do if I want them all?"
"I want a big koi fish, and I also want a big phoenix, and the butterfly ones look nice too..."
Duoduo counted on her fingers as she spoke.
Baihe, standing to the side, could not help but smile.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang smiled as well.
"We don't have enough time today, so let's draw a simple one first."
"How about a butterfly? Butterflies are small and delicate, and they are easy to carry outside."
"Mother will make the rest with you later, how about that?"
"Okay!"
Duoduo jumped up very happily.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang's eyes were full of smiles.
She dipped the brush fully in ink, chose a spot, and started to draw.
Duoduo stood excitedly to the side, watching her mother draw.
From time to time, she offered suggestions to the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
"This part needs to be a bit longer... This part is crooked..."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang smiled radiantly; she drew exactly as Duoduo instructed.
Before long, a large butterfly was drawn.
"Mother, you draw so beautifully!"
Duoduo was very supportive and clapped her hands happily.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang put down the brush, also feeling very satisfied.
Just then, Lianxin brought back the frame for making the kite.
"Princess Consort, just now, the estate manager had someone bring a message saying that the tenant farmers are causing a huge uproar."
"He said he plans to report it to the authorities to make an example out of them."
The Princess Consort of Pingyang looked at the drawn butterfly.
"Go reply to that person and tell him to agree to the tenant farmers' request for a rent reduction."
"Princess Consort, if you make any more cuts, we will practically be supporting those people for nothing!" Baihe exclaimed.
