To prove it really tasted good, he dragged Wei Tingsi along as a witness.

Wei Tingsi politely put down his bowl and nodded. "Indeed, it's delicious."

“Listen, Ah Jun, even Lord Wei said it’s delicious. By the way, is there any left? Send a bowl to your Empress Dowager.” Prince Yong was extremely filial, never forgetting to save a portion of the good stuff for the Empress Dowager.

Wei Tingsi glanced at Prince Yong. Rumors outside said that Prince Yong was absurd and domineering, possessing all the flaws of royalty. But today, it seems that Prince Yong is an extremely filial son.

He is not the heinous person that people say he is.

"It's already been sent, but unfortunately the quantity was small, only a little bit was sent." Zhao Shu put down her chopsticks, having already finished eating.

In response to Prince Yong's question, she said, "I have heard that people who are active tend to be exceptionally healthy. Is this true? Lord Wei is a martial artist. Would you be willing to enlighten this princess?"

“People who sit for long periods of time are indeed more delicate than those who practice martial arts.” Wei Tingsi frowned. These words seemed out of nowhere, and he didn’t know what they meant, but they must have a deeper meaning.

After these few encounters, he stopped believing a single word of the rumors about Zhao Shu.

Inside the Cining Palace, just as the Emperor's imperial carriage came to a stop, Jiyun, the Empress Dowager's head maid, approached and bowed. "This servant greets Your Majesty. Her Majesty instructed me to wait here for Your Majesty and also to convey that Her Majesty wants Your Majesty to hurry on his way."

Emperor Mingde was suspicious; the Empress Dowager was behaving strangely. "I wonder what business Mother has with me?"

"Your Majesty, please go quickly," Ji Yun said, bowing his head and following behind, neither humble nor arrogant.

When Emperor Mingde entered the main hall of Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager was sitting in front of the phoenix-carved table, personally serving the dishes. There wasn't much food, and the Empress Dowager had already eaten.

"Has the Empress Dowager not eaten yet?" Emperor Mingde walked over, frowning. There was so little food; was the Empress Dowager in a bad mood?

The Empress Dowager smiled and served him a small bowl of fish soup, saying, "Your Majesty, please try it."

Emperor Mingde obediently took a sip, savoring it carefully on the first sip, then took another sip, nodded, and then drank the rest in one gulp.

"How does it taste?" the Empress Dowager asked.

"It is extremely delicious." Emperor Mingde's words were quite apt.

"Ah Jun had it delivered. This child is becoming more and more filial; he's even thinking about food now." The Empress Dowager couldn't stop smiling.

Emperor Mingde was also amused. Speaking of Zhao Shu, he recalled the report from the Shadow Division that so many days had passed and someone still hadn't gone to the Prince's residence to apologize.

Hmph, does he really think he's just a figurehead emperor?