Consort Tong walked behind and quickly entered the courtyard. She watched as the Fourth Prince ran towards Duofu, looking like a little meat bun moving around, which was very cute.
But the ground was still slippery, even though the snow had been swept away.
Seeing the Fourth Prince running around the palace, Consort Tong's eyes showed a hint of worry.
Fortunately, the maid who was taking care of the Fourth Prince hurriedly chased after him, preventing the Fourth Prince from falling.
"Zhen'er, you can't rush like this. What if you fall?"
The Fourth Prince turned around, his two round, phoenix-shaped eyes filled with helplessness and a hint of pleading as he looked at Consort Tong.
"Alright, I won't blame you this time. But if you do it again, drag all your servants away and have them flogged."
Consort Tong deliberately kept a stern face, looking at the Fourth Prince's expression of knowing he had done wrong, before finally revealing a slight smile.
"Thank you, Mother. I won't do it again."
The Fourth Prince answered softly, glancing at Consort Tong with both eyes, then turning to look at Xiao Duofu on the right, before turning back to look at Consort Tong with pitiful eyes.
When Consort Tong saw the Fourth Prince looking so pitiful, she suppressed her laughter by pressing down the corners of her eyes and mouth.
"Go inside and play, it's cold outside."
"Thank you, Mother, you're the best."
The Fourth Prince quickly instructed the eunuchs to carry Xiao Duofu into the house.
Upon entering the house, Duofu saw many charcoal braziers burning charcoal, making it very warm.
The palace maid Aoki placed Duofu on the carpet, stepped forward, approached Consort Tong, and reported.
"Your Majesty, this is the eunuch who takes care of our little pet. Although he is not old, he is very experienced and has been taking care of this pet since birth."
Little Duofu had already climbed up to the Fourth Prince, wagging his slightly curled little tail and calling out in a childish voice.
"Little meat bun, you're honored to be my poop scooper. Your dog master has arrived, come and serve him."
You must like me a lot, provide me with good food and drink, and never let me suffer any injustice.
Consort Tong looked in the direction of the call and saw Duofu.
Two bright, black eyes, a fluffy tail held high, a petite body—it's so adorable that anyone who sees it wants to hug it.
Indeed, the Fourth Prince had already picked up Duofu and was gently rubbing its round little head with both hands. The little puppy was still whimpering in the Fourth Prince's arms.
"Alright, that's the arrangement. Just go and take care of it. I trust you."
Consort Tong said casually, waving her hand to signal the Fourth Prince to come over.
When the Fourth Prince saw his mother beckoning to him, he quickly picked up Duofu and ran over.
"Mommy, look how cute it is! It's fluffy and very well-behaved."
Consort Tong reached out and patted Duofu's head, nodding in agreement.
"Indeed, she is very cute."
Consort Tong patted Duofu's head twice, then asked.
"Have you thought of a name yet, Zhen'er?"
"Let me think about a name. How about Duofu? I've been practicing calligraphy lately, and I've only managed to get the characters Duo and Fu right away. It means lots of good fortune."
"Mother, what do you say?"
"May you have many blessings."
Consort Tong repeated the words twice, a hint of melancholy appearing on her face.
Seeing that her mistress's expression was not very happy, the palace maid Qinglan quickly tried to comfort her.
"Your Majesty's name is wonderful. It means many children and much happiness. Your and the Fourth Prince's good fortune is yet to come."
Those close to Consort Tong always knew how much she longed for a child of her own.
That's why she allowed Lady Uya to give birth safely, and even had the emperor promote her rank and move her to another palace, preventing the Fourth Prince from having any contact with her.
Consort Tong treats the Fourth Prince as her own child, and all her maternal love is now given to him. She cherishes and protects him very much.
As Consort Tong's personal maids, Aoki and Aoran had served her since childhood and knew her heartache best; her childlessness for many years had become a scar in her heart.
"Okay, okay, let's call him Duofu, and his nickname will be Duoduo."
Consort Tong heard the advice from those around her and sensed the worried looks in the eyes of her maids.
Finally, she sighed, thinking that perhaps their time hadn't come yet, and touched her belly. Looking up at the Fourth Prince's smiling face and his adorable little face, she felt a sense of relief and softly replied.
"Duoduo, Duoduo, your name is Duofu, and your nickname is Duoduo, do you know?"
When the Fourth Prince heard that his mother had agreed, he spoke to Duofu in a serious tone.
"From now on, you must listen to me. I am your master. As long as you listen to me, I will treat you very well."
Hearing the Fourth Prince's childlike voice and playful tone, Consort Tong's bitterness gradually disappeared, and a smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.
"Zhen'er, does Duoduo understand?"
"Of course it understands, Mother. Look, it's wagging its tail; it's responding to its son."
The Fourth Prince stroked Duofu's head and answered in a slightly childish voice.
Duofu looked at his foolish pet owner, who still wanted to be his master. He was the one who was the Fourth Prince's dog master, hmph.
She shouted at the Fourth Prince in what she thought was a fierce tone, but the voice that came out was even more childish than the Fourth Prince's.
"Woof woof, woof woof"
“Mother, look, look, Duoduo is responding to her son.”
“Okay, my Zhen’er is the smartest. Yes, Duoduo is responding to you.”
Seeing that Consort Tong was smiling, her personal maid, the old nanny, put aside her worries and smiled along with her.
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