Du Yiyi was an impetuous person. If she had a doubt, she would indeed ask about it.
"Bao Ge'er, did you miss the Princess Consort Liu again?"
A hint of hurt seemed to flash across Bao Ge'er's snow-white and adorable face, and his mood immediately drooped.
Seeing the sensitive and sentimental Bao Ge'er was so unlike his usual cheerful self, Su Xiaoqi felt a pang of heartache and quickly motioned for Du Yiyi to stop talking.
She seemed to be starting to understand.
Because the Princess had been injured, her two children, Bao Ge'er and Princess Huian, had been staying at her home for the past two days.
At that time, when she brought medicinal herbs to see the Princess, the Princess had asked Granny Xu to bring them to stay.
She hadn't thought much of it then, just that she was close to the Princess, and it was only natural for her to take care of her children when she was injured.
In her haste, she hadn't considered that the Princess had a Princess Consort behind her.
He was the biological father of the two children.
Therefore, no matter what, the two children shouldn't have been entrusted to her to raise.
But the Princess had done so.
"Father... My mother said that besides her, the only ones she trusts are Sister Xiaoqi and His Imperial Grandfather.
But His Imperial Grandfather is in the imperial palace and is unwell, so he can't look after us.
No one else can be trusted... No, Sister Yiyi can also be trusted." Bao Ge'er's voice was still very childish, but his words were heartbreaking.
Du Yiyi's face turned a little pale.
She had thought it was just casual play with the children, but she hadn't expected it to lead to such significant words.
She frowned at Su Xiaoqi, regretting it a little.
No matter how close the Princess was to them.
But hearing these words from Bao Ge'er's mouth made them all feel a little uneasy.
Su Xiaoqi looked up and saw Granny Xu, who had finally caught up. She said gently, "Bao Ge'er, Granny Xu is here. Go to the kitchen together and see if the milk tea is ready. Go and drink it.
Ah, Zi Ling brought it for you. She made your favorite sweet donuts. Take her with you and bring some to your elder sister and my Mingzhu sister."
Hearing that there was food and drink, Bao Ge'er's mood changed as quickly as it had come. He slid off the armchair and, holding Granny Xu's hand, walked away with quick steps.
Su Xiaoqi then instructed Granny Zhao not to forget about Madam Zhao.
Only when no one else was around did Du Yiyi whisper, "Sister Xiaoqi, is the Princess's estate about to change hands?"
"That's unlikely. After all, it's over ten years of marital affection; it can't just change like that."
"Not necessarily. Actually, I've also heard some gossip." Du Yiyi stood up, looked out the window, closed the windows tightly, and leaned closer to Su Xiaoqi, whispering,
"I heard that Princess Consort Liu has been keeping an outer concubine outside for many years."
Su Xiaoqi's heart leaped: "Does he have any offspring?"
"Naturally, he does. He has a large brood of sons and several daughters."
"No wonder. With so many children, why would he care about those born to the Princess?
But he is also foolish. The Princess was devoted to him. If his disloyalty wasn't enough, he even resorted to poisoning. It's truly detestable."
Su Xiaoqi thought of the Princess, who had died young in her previous life.
She hadn't recalled it before.
Now, touched by the scene, an image suddenly flashed into her mind.
After the Princess died, Princess Consort Liu brought all his wives, big and small, back to the Princess's estate, wanting to live a life of unrestrained pleasure.
But unfortunately, he had read too many books and his brain had become dull.
Perhaps it was his debauched life over the years that left him with no proper thoughts. Not using his mind, he became lazy and foolish, ruining himself.
The seriously ill Emperor Xingzhao, having lost his beloved daughter, heard of Princess Consort Liu's actions and immediately vented his anger on him.
He drove his entire family out of the Princess's estate, stripped him of his official title, and demoted him to commoner status.
It was said that Princess Consort Liu reappeared on the street, begging with a broken bowl in the bitter cold.
"Sister Xiaoqi, what are you thinking?" Du Yiyi was still speaking when Su Xiaoqi suddenly drifted off.
"Oh, it's nothing. I promised to take Bao Ge'er and Princess Huian back to the Princess's estate to visit today. Do you want to go with me?"
"Alright, I have nothing to do anyway, so I'll go. I hope to see the scumbag Princess Consort Liu you mentioned."
Du Yiyi looked as if she was grinding her teeth.
Su Xiaoqi suspected she might hit Princess Consort Liu when she saw him.
However, Su Xiaoqi soon had no such worries.
Because as the carriage was on its way, someone knocked on the carriage wall.
Du Yiyi lifted the curtain and glanced outside, looking at Su Xiaoqi with some difficulty:
"Uh, that, Sister Xiaoqi, isn't it a coincidence? I originally wanted to accompany you, but someone is looking for me now..."
Su Xiaoqi looked at Du Yiyi's guilty and hesitant appearance and chuckled, "Alright, if you have something to do, go and attend to it. I won't get lost."
Du Yiyi, however, looked at Su Xiaoqi with a serious expression:
"No, you really will get lost. Forget it, why don't I tell him and find him later..."
"Pfft..." Su Xiaoqi burst out laughing, "Is it Xiao Tan looking for you?"
Du Yiyi's mouth was open, her lips moved slightly, as if she hadn't quite registered. Was it that obvious?
"Go, if I can't find my way, don't I have Uncle Gu? Besides, Granny Xu is in the carriage behind."
She had lived in the capital for decades; could she really get lost going back to the Princess's estate from Mao'er Hutong?
Du Yiyi nodded and whispered, "He is still hiding from the people of Yanyu Pavilion and cannot reveal his whereabouts. I must go first."
"Be careful. What he is doing now must be very dangerous, right?"
Du Yiyi nodded and shook her head: "He wants to take back Yanyu Pavilion from Xiao Xin and avenge his father, so it is indeed dangerous.
But it's alright for now. Xiao Xin's people don't know he is in the capital and haven't intensified their search. As long as he conceals his tracks and doesn't expose himself, there's no danger."
Su Xiaoqi was mainly concerned about her. She wasn't very interested in Xiao Tan's affairs.
She wasn't like Zhao Xiaohua, who fantasized about controlling Xiao Tan with the kindness of saving his life and making him obey her.
Thinking of this, Su Xiaoqi quietly reminded her: "Zhao Xiaohua might have hooked up with Xiao Tan. She knows many things that others don't. Make sure he is very careful.
Also, if he has any plans, ask him to think about the assassination attempt on the Duanwu Festival; perhaps it can be used to his advantage."
Du Yiyi agreed. Seizing the opportunity, without stopping the carriage, she quietly leaped off the carriage as it slowed down while passing a narrow alley.
She turned several alleys and slipped into a small courtyard.
Xiao Tan had been waiting there for a while. Seeing her arrive, his tension eased a little, and he walked up, his expression calm, and said,
"I thought you weren't coming."
Du Yiyi raised her eyebrows: "Aren't I here? Is there something you need me for?"
"I've already found Xiao Xin's stronghold in the capital and plan to take it down with my men tonight."
"Aren't you afraid of exposing your whereabouts?" Du Yiyi was somewhat surprised.
"I won't go personally. I'll let Xiao Shun and the others go."
"Xiao Shun is your man. If he goes, Xiao Xin will probably know very quickly that you didn't go south but are hiding in the capital."
Du Yiyi had interacted with Xiao Tan quite a bit recently and knew a lot about the people and affairs around him.
Xiao Shun among them was Xiao Tan's sworn brother, who grew up with him.
Their relationship was much better than that of Xiao Xin, his half-brother.
Xiao Tan said he couldn't care about that anymore. If he knew, he knew; he might not lose to him now.
"Sister Xiaoqi reminded me when I was coming to be careful of Zhao Xiaohua. Oh, and she also said that if you were to take action, the assassination attempt on the Duanwu Festival might be convenient."
"The Duanwu Festival assassination..." Xiao Tan mumbled a few times, and his eyes suddenly lit up. He understood.