The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.

The underfloor heating system provided warmth, like a spring day, and the scent of ambergris wafted gently through the air. The young Emperor Xiao Chengyu sat upright behind his large rosewood desk, his brow already bearing the composure and majesty befitting an emperor. Before him stood Xiao Mingyu (the Second Princess), her head drooping, a guilty expression on her face.

"You left the palace without permission, shunned your guards, and wandered the streets, almost getting bullied by scoundrels! Xiao Mingyu, do you still respect the palace rules? Do you still respect your elder brother, me?" Xiao Chengyu's voice was not loud, but it carried a heavy pressure, causing Xiao Mingyu to lower his head even further.

“Brother…I was wrong…” Xiao Mingyu muttered softly, twisting the hem of his clothes with his fingers. “I just…I just wanted to see what Jiangnan was like…who knew those guards were so stupid, they lost us in no time…”

"Still dare to argue!" Xiao Chengyu slammed his hand on the imperial desk, making the jade pen on the brush holder rattle. "If it weren't for the timely intervention of that young master from the Shen family, the consequences would have been unimaginable! Do you know who Shen Wensong is? He is the younger brother of Prince Jing and his wife! If something really happened to you, how could I explain to Prince Jing, who is far away in Jiangnan? How could I explain to Father and Mother?"

Mentioning his brother, Prince Jing, Xiao Chengyu's tone softened slightly, and a complex and profound sense of filial piety appeared in his eyes. He picked up another secret report from Jiangnan on his desk, his tone becoming wistful: "Fine, you're lucky this time. Go back and reflect on your actions for a month, copying the 'Admonitions for Women' a hundred times! If there's a next time, I will not let you off lightly!"

Xiao Mingyu felt as if she had been granted a pardon and quickly replied, "Thank you, Your Majesty! Mingyu will never dare to do it again!" She secretly glanced at her brother's face and saw that his anger seemed to have subsided slightly, so her mind started to wander again.

At this moment, a palace attendant bowed and entered, presenting a letter bearing the private seal of Prince Jing: "Your Majesty, this is an urgent dispatch from Prince Jing's residence in Jiangnan, traveling 800 li."

Xiao Chengyu unfolded the letter and quickly scanned it. When he saw "Wei Qing is pregnant, more than two months along," his tightly furrowed brows instantly relaxed, and a genuine, melting smile bloomed on his handsome face: "Good! Excellent! Brother Jing... is finally going to have another child!" He put down the letter and instructed the chief eunuch beside him: "Gao Desheng! Open the imperial treasury immediately! Select the best medicines and tonics for pregnancy, as well as the finest Yun brocade and Suzhou embroidery, gold-inlaid jade longevity locks for the baby, and red gold necklaces and bracelets... Oh, and also select a few auspicious antique jade artifacts! Send them to the Jing Prince's residence in Jiangnan by the fastest ship! Congratulate Brother Jing and the Princess on behalf of the Empress and me!"

"Your servant obeys!" Gao Desheng quickly replied.

Xiao Mingyu's eyes lit up instantly! She immediately sidled up to the imperial desk, tugged at Xiao Chengyu's dragon robe sleeve, and blinked her almond-shaped eyes, full of anticipation and coquetry: "Royal brother! Royal brother! Let Mingyu go with you! Mingyu will personally deliver your rewards to Jiangnan to congratulate Prince Jing and his wife! Mingyu promises to be good! I promise not to cause any trouble! Besides, there are so many guards with us! Please, royal brother~" She shook Xiao Chengyu's arm, her voice so sweet it could drip honey.

Xiao Chengyu almost softened when he saw his younger sister's pitiful yet expectant look. But remembering her previous "success" of sneaking out of the palace, he immediately hardened his heart, pulled back his sleeve with a stern face, and said, "Don't even think about it! You think you can run away after causing trouble? You'd better stay in the palace and reflect on your mistakes! Jiangnan? We'll talk about that when Father and Mother return!"

“Brother…” Xiao Mingyu’s face immediately fell, filled with resentment and disappointment.