"Eunuch Zhang, is Father Emperor here? I've brought my elder sister, Jingyu, and Jinghe to see him!" Ye Jingchen said cheerfully.

No one can resist such a lively and cheerful child. Although Zhang Shunde harbored deep resentment towards Ye Jingchen because of the flower incident, he genuinely liked this young master.

"His Majesty is here, just about to have dinner. Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Princess, Fourth Prince, and Fifth Prince, please!" Zhang Shunde smiled so broadly that his old face almost wrinkled into a daisy as he welcomed the four young princes inside.

If it were any other noble person seeking an audience, he would have to inform His Majesty first, and only after His Majesty's approval could he be allowed in. But His Highness the Crown Prince was always an exception in front of His Majesty.

"Why are you here again? Is it because—Jing Shu is here too? It's been a while, and you've become even more beautiful!" The emperor's face, which was originally full of disgust, turned into a smile after seeing Ye Jing Shu.

"Your Majesty, I always thought that I was the one you loved the most. But now I realize that you actually love my elder sister the most!" Ye Jingchen said with a resentful look.

"Get out of here! Can you compare to your imperial sister? Your imperial sister is smart and beautiful, and she never makes me angry. Look at yourself—"

"What's wrong with your son? Isn't your son adorable? Don't you know how to make Father Emperor happy?" Ye Jingchen asked persistently.

"How come your skin is getting thicker and thicker!" the emperor exclaimed, rubbing his forehead.

"Father, you've misunderstood my brother. Actually, it was he who suggested that we all come to pay our respects to you today!" Ye Jingshu mistakenly thought that the emperor really disliked Ye Jingchen, so she quickly explained.

"Ahem—" The emperor coughed uncomfortably. He was only pretending to be disgusted. In fact, when he saw Ye Jingchen, he was actually more pleased than disgusted.

"Him—every time he comes to see me, it's because he wants something from me!" the emperor retorted stubbornly.

“Indeed, I do have a request to make of my father this time,” Ye Jingchen continued the emperor’s words.

"You unfilial son!" The emperor glared at Ye Jingchen angrily, this time truly enraged, and cursed, "I knew you wouldn't come to the palace without a reason!"

"You can't blame me for this! I just came with my elder sister and two younger brothers to pay our respects to Father and have a meal with you. It's you who thinks I have ulterior motives. If I didn't ask for something, wouldn't I be wronged by you for no reason?" Ye Jingchen shrugged and said innocently.

"Royal brother! How can you speak to Father like that?" Ye Jingshu tugged at Ye Jingchen's sleeve, speaking somewhat nervously.

“Father, we really just came to pay our respects to you,” she said to the emperor again.

Faced with such an honest daughter, the emperor was deeply moved. At this moment, he really wanted to go and weep before the empress's memorial tablet; their daughter had grown up and knew how to care for her younger brother!

In the past, the two children didn't get along at all; it would have been considered good if they didn't quarrel when they got together. But now, Jing Shu is always protecting her younger brother.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty." Seeing that his father seemed somewhat displeased, Ye Jingyu quickly walked up to the emperor and performed a kneeling bow.

His etiquette was taught by Consort Xian, who came from the Ministry of Rites and always valued etiquette. She was very strict with Ye Jingyu, and although he was still young, his kneeling ceremony was quite proper.

But his kneeling made the atmosphere a bit awkward.

After meeting the emperor, Ye Jingchen did not kneel, nor did Ye Jingshu. As for Ye Jinghe, he followed behind Ye Jingchen like a ghost, his eyes and heart were only on his brother, and the emperor was not in his eyes at all. How could he possibly bow to the emperor?

For a moment, the emperor wanted to say something, but after glancing at his two favorite children and the one he was particularly dissatisfied with, he shook his head and reached out to lift Ye Jingyu up.

“Jingyu is still the best.” He said, patting Ye Jingyu’s head.

"Serve the meal!" he said to Zhang Shunde.

The emperor took his seat, and Ye Jingchen sat to his left. Ye Jinghe sat down next to Ye Jingchen, while Ye Jingshu had to sit on the other side of the emperor. Ye Jingyu, who was a little confused, sat down next to Ye Jingshu.

The palace servants filed in, and soon a table was filled with imperial food.

Ye Jingchen looked at the emperor with bright, sparkling eyes.

"Do you think the Crown Prince's Palace would let you go hungry? Start eating!" the Emperor said with a hint of helplessness.

The emperor had spoken, so Ye Jingchen and Ye Jinghe started eating without any hesitation.

Ye Jingshu and Ye Jingyu stared in disbelief at the two familiar faces, and after a long while, they hesitantly picked up their chopsticks.

After picking up her chopsticks, Ye Jingshu regained her composure. After all, it wasn't the first time she had dined with her father. It's just that before, palace servants from Chaoyang Palace had always been by her side, serving her food like the palace maids who served food to her father.

However, after going to study at Wenhua Hall, Ye Jingchen never let the palace servants help him serve the food when he ate in the East Palace, so they all learned to support themselves.

Ye Jingyu, on the other hand, was genuinely a bit reserved.

His mother urged him to learn from his elder brother, but the way his brother ate was very different from the dining etiquette his mother had taught him. He was conflicted about whether or not he should learn it.

After such a long period of adaptation, Ye Jinghe has become very skilled at using chopsticks, so skilled that he doesn't seem like a four-year-old child.

He still remembered what his brother had told him when he ate at the restaurant last time. He first tried every dish on the table, and then said to Ye Jingchen, "Brother, this dish, this dish, and that dish are the best!"

After saying that, he silently looked at the emperor with his big, dark eyes.

Ye Jingchen quickly put down his chopsticks and covered his eyes with his hands.

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