When Ye Jingchen led the way in paying respects to the emperor, he always felt that his father's gaze was cold and distant.

He reflected for three seconds and realized he hadn't done anything too outrageous, so he straightened his back.

"Hmph!" The emperor snorted coldly, seeing that he showed no remorse whatsoever.

"Brother, what have you done to anger Father again?" Ye Jingshu asked, somewhat amused.

The word "again" is very insightful.

"I didn't do anything!" Ye Jingchen replied without a hint of guilt.

He just drove away the two palace maids his father sent to the East Palace. His father couldn't possibly be angry over such a small matter, could he?

"You unfilial son!" The emperor couldn't help but curse.

Not only was she a late bloomer herself, but she also dared to instigate her younger brother!

If it weren't for the fact that he has four daughters here and the other children are still young, he would never have let him off so easily!

Ye Jingchen: ?

How did he become a rebellious son again?

Throughout the dinner, the emperor showed Ye Jingchen no kindness whatsoever, no matter how Ye Jingchen tried to please him, he remained cold and indifferent.

However, Ye Jingchen has angered the emperor many times over the years, and the other children are used to it. Anyway, it won't be long before the emperor's elder brother will coax their father back to his senses.

Only Ye Jinghe, whenever he saw his brother trying to coax the emperor but the emperor still didn't appreciate it, would easily let his eyes flash like knives at the emperor.

In his eyes, the emperor was the most ungrateful person in the world, and the second most ungrateful person was Xie Chang'an!

He particularly disliked these two people. When he grew up, if they dared to give his brother a hard time again, he would definitely make them pay the price!

Ye Jinghe thought viciously to himself.

Sensing Ye Jinghe's hostility, the emperor sneered inwardly. The little wolf cub's weakness was obvious; it would be too easy to teach him a lesson!

"Everyone else, go back first. Crown Prince, stay. I have something to ask you!" the emperor said in a deep voice after dinner.

It was common for the emperor to leave Ye Jingchen alone. Even though the emperor was in a bad mood, they were not worried about Ye Jingchen. In their eyes, their elder brother was omnipotent, and he was even more adept at pleasing their father!

One by one, everyone took their leave, leaving only Ye Jinghe, who also lived in the East Palace.

Every time the emperor asked Ye Jingchen to stay, Ye Jinghe would stay with him, except that the emperor and Ye Jingchen would talk inside the palace while Ye Jinghe waited outside.

He disliked the emperor leaving his brother alone, because that way he wouldn't know if the emperor was mistreating his brother.

However, he also enjoyed the process of waiting for his brother.

Whenever her brother came out of the palace, the two of them could return to the East Palace together.

On the way from Chengqian Palace to the East Palace, there were only the two of them.

Although he lived in the East Palace, he didn't have much time to be alone with his brother. The older he got, the fewer opportunities he had to be alone, so he cherished every moment he could spend alone.

"Why did you send away the two palace maids I sent to the Eastern Palace?" the emperor asked with an unfriendly expression inside the hall.

"I already understand what they want to teach, so there's no need to keep them here," Ye Jingchen said with a smile and composure.

"What do you know—" the emperor nearly cursed in his agitation, "You haven't even figured it out yet, what do you know?!"

So she was angry that he was so clueless!

I've heard that traditional Chinese medicine is profound and that a skilled old Chinese medicine doctor can tell a person has no secrets just by taking their pulse. It turns out that this is true!

Ye Jingchen's expression was somewhat complicated. He never expected that one day he would be discussing this with his father!

His father was an emperor who was extremely busy with state affairs!

Being both a father and a mother is truly not easy.

Thinking about it, I feel a little guilty; he's destined to disappoint his father!

"Your Majesty, I have read many miscellaneous books. I have read in books that although I am indeed not yet enlightened, I still understand what I should understand. Moreover, the books say that it is normal to be enlightened before the age of eighteen, and the old imperial physician Zhang also said so. I do not feel that there is anything wrong with my body, so Your Majesty need not worry." Ye Jingchen reassured the emperor.

"I was enlightened at thirteen, and Jingming was enlightened at thirteen, so why is it that you are not enlightened at fifteen?" The emperor looked at Ye Jingchen, looking angry at his lack of ambition.

Ye Jingchen is the crown prince he has nurtured with all his heart and soul, and also his most beloved child. He will not allow any flaws or stains in his life!

"Since you can't do it on your own, why not use some external stimulation! Zhang Shunde, bring up the picture album I prepared for the Crown Prince!" the Emperor commanded.

Zhang Shunde quickly took a thick booklet from the desk and handed it to Ye Jingchen.

The cover of the booklet features a cluster of blooming peonies on the left and the words "Boundless Romance" written in small seal script on the right. From the cover alone, it is unremarkable.

"Take this picture book back with you and look at it every night before you go to bed," the emperor said.

Ye Jingchen had a bad feeling.

He opened the album and glanced at it, but after just one glance, he quickly closed it and stared at the emperor in shock.

Is this really appropriate? A father letting his son watch this kind of thing?

Although he only glanced at it, the explicit image seemed to be imprinted in his mind.

The artist who created this picture book must be a master painter, as they have depicted the body's structure, the people's expressions, and the two connecting parts so vividly that they seem real.

Ye Jingchen felt that his eyes and mind were dirty, and even his hands holding the picture book were dirty!

The picture album felt like a hot potato in his hands; he wanted to throw it away, but dared not do so in front of the emperor.

"What's with that expression? It's just a painting, and you can't even handle it?" the emperor said disdainfully.

"After you take this picture book back, you must look at it every night before bed. If that doesn't work, then I'll have to put someone in your bed! I'm only giving you one year. After your sixteenth birthday, I will start choosing a crown princess for you. You can decide for yourself!" the emperor said coldly.

Ye Jingchen: ......

Even after transmigrating into a book, he still couldn't escape the fate of being forced into marriage.

In his previous life, he was at least twenty-two before being forced into marriage, but now he's being forced into marriage at fifteen!

Why is his life so miserable?

"Get out of here! Just looking at you annoys me!" Seeing Ye Jingchen's dejected expression, the emperor waved his hand impatiently.

"Your subject takes his leave!" Ye Jingchen looked like a wilted eggplant, completely deflated, and said weakly.

Stepping out of the bedchamber, he saw Ye Jinghe waiting outside. "Let's go!" he said to Ye Jinghe.

The two brothers left Chengqian Palace surrounded by a large group of palace servants.

After walking for a while, Ye Jingchen belatedly realized that Ye Jinghe also seemed unusually silent. Moreover, he didn't tug at his sleeve or hold his hand; he just walked beside him with his head down, half a step behind him.

"Jinghe, what's wrong? Are you in a bad mood?" Ye Jingchen asked.

"Brother, what is a Crown Princess? I heard the palace maids in Chengqian Palace whispering that the Emperor is going to choose a Crown Princess for you. Is that true?" Ye Jinghe asked quietly without looking up.