"Father, don't be angry. I am your child. You are so tall, majestic, and handsome. I will definitely be tall too!" Ye Jingchen flattered.

The emperor couldn't help but rub his forehead again.

"You're satisfied with just Xie Chang'an? Don't you need to choose another study companion?" He got down to business.

"Of course I will choose! I have already decided. In addition to Xie Chang'an, I will choose three more companions!" Ye Jingchen said, flipping through the scrolls and finding the three children he had chosen. He then handed their scrolls to the emperor.

"Wu Zeming, the eldest grandson of the Minister of Rites."

"Yun Shu, the heir of the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion."

"Gu Beichen, grandson of the Imperial Academy Chancellor."

The emperor smiled when he saw the three names.

The Minister of Rites is a powerful minister, the Marquis of Zhongyong's family represents a noble family, and as for the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, the Gu family, which comes from the last of the four great families, although it cannot compare with the Ji family of the Imperial Concubine, it still has a history of hundreds of years and should not be underestimated.

Powerful ministers, nobles, aristocratic families, and the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion—these four individuals encompassed almost all factions and powers within the court.

Was it a coincidence, or did the Crown Prince truly have a plan in mind?

"Tell me, why did you choose them?" the emperor asked with great interest.

Naturally, it's because these three individuals are all very promising when they grow up; they are three high-potential stocks.

But this reason could not be told to the emperor.

Ye Jingchen thought for a moment and said somewhat vaguely, "Because I think they all suit my taste."

Does it catch your eye?

What a strange reason that is!

The emperor re-examined the portraits sent by the three families, and upon closer inspection, he noticed some problems.

He quickly picked up the remaining portraits and looked through them, his expression growing increasingly strange with each look.

He couldn't tell whether they were pleasing to the eye or not, but the portraits of these three children were definitely the best-looking among all the scrolls.

As for Xie Chang'an, he remembered that he was also a very beautiful child with delicate features.

And then, recalling Ye Jingchen's repeated requests to see the portrait—

The emperor felt his blood pressure had spiked.

"Chen'er, you should know that you are choosing a study companion, not a concubine!" the emperor said in a deep voice.

When he talks about 'selecting concubines,' he almost grits his teeth.

Ye Jingchen pretended not to understand the emperor's implied meaning, reached out and touched his head, revealing a simple and honest smile, and said in an innocent voice, "Your subject is only eight years old, far from the age to be selected as a concubine, Father, you are overthinking it."

"If it's not about choosing concubines, then why did you choose them?" The emperor suppressed the urge to roar and asked in a deep voice.

Ye Jingchen continued to chuckle, "The Ministry of Rites is one of the Six Ministries, the Marquis's family are descendants of founding heroes, and the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy is the head of the Imperial Academy. Their identities are very suitable, it just so happens that they are all very cute."

The emperor's anger finally subsided somewhat.

After regaining his senses, he glanced at the portraits on the three scrolls again and suddenly laughed.

When the Marquis of Zhongyong requested that his son be made the heir apparent, he had seen the child. Although his features were exactly the same as those in the portrait, he was at least twice as wide as in the portrait and was a rather chubby little boy.

Although the request to appoint a crown prince was made a year ago, but—

It's only been a year; it's impossible for such a chubby little boy to lose weight so quickly.

Besides, the Marquis of Zhongyong's family has only one grandson for three generations, and the entire family dotes on him to the extreme, even more so than the Duke of Zhenguo's precious child. I'm afraid that if we don't see him for a year, he might be even fatter than he was a year ago!

When Chen'er sees Yun Shu's true face, he will probably be disappointed.

He suddenly found himself looking forward to seeing Ye Jingchen's reaction when he met Yun Shu.

The emperor chuckled inwardly, but his face remained calm and composed.

"The three people you chose are very good, so let's go with them."

"Since you have chosen them as your study companions, you must get along well with them and not bully them just because of your noble status," the emperor said earnestly.

"Father, rest assured, I will definitely get along well with them!" Ye Jingchen assured him.

"Since you are going to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion tomorrow, I will order these three families to make preparations and send their children to the East Palace to attend classes with you early the day after tomorrow," the Emperor said.

Why does class have to start so soon?!

He's only been happy for a few days?

Ye Jingchen wailed inwardly!

He doesn't want to go to school! He doesn't want to go to school at all!

The little devil inside him is rolling around on the ground, but he only dares to vent his anger in his heart.

"Father, even if I go to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion tomorrow, I might not be able to persuade the old lady to agree to let their precious son be my study companion. Besides, isn't Xie Chang'an seriously ill? How can he recover in just one day?" Ye Jingchen quickly found an excuse for himself not to go to school so soon.

"Does that mean you won't go to school just because Xie Chang'an isn't well?" The emperor's expression changed instantly, and he asked coldly.

"Also, tell them that if they want Xie Shaoling to return to the capital, they'd better agree to let Xie Chang'an be their study companion. There's no room for discussion on this!"

Ye Jingchen now truly understands what it means to 'turn your face faster than flipping through a book'!

He dared not say anything more, for fear of truly angering the emperor.

The emperor might not do anything to him if he gets angry, but he might hold the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion accountable.

"Father, don't be angry. I'll go to class on time the day after tomorrow. I also need to see the other three study companions I chose!" Ye Jingchen said coquettishly.

When Ye Jingchen acts cute, the emperor can't stay angry.

However, seeing the expectant look in Ye Jingchen's eyes, he was still a little uneasy and warned, "They are just your study companions, and they can only be your study companions!"

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