In the golden autumn of October, the nine-story palace was bathed in the intoxicating fragrance of osmanthus. The golden osmanthus blossoms in the Imperial Garden blossomed with abandon, their petals cascading down like raindrops, carpeting the winding corridors like a golden carpet. The emperor, clad in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat in the Liushang Pavilion, the memorials spread across his lap long since abandoned, his gaze fixed on a small figure beside the rockery.

Three-year-old Kengkeng, his chubby butt sticking out, was intently digging at the dirt at the foot of the rockery. His chubby little hands were smeared with black dirt, even his sleeves were stained so dark they couldn't even be seen, like two tiny coal balls soaked in ink. Suddenly, he let out a cry of joy as if he had discovered treasure. With a vigorous digging of his chubby fingers, he unearthed a wet ball of mud, his excitement so intense that the jade pendant in his hair swayed.

"Grandpa Emperor! Look!" Kengkeng stumbled over with his hands raised high, a twisted lump of mud in his palms. "I made this for you!"

The emperor narrowed his eyes and saw the four crooked characters "Chuan Guo Yu Xi" carved into the mud puddle with a branch. The strokes were so twisted and distorted that they looked like crawling earthworms. Even more remarkable, a few stalks of dogtail grass were stuck in the corners, like dragon horns swaying in the autumn breeze. The old emperor burst into laughter, and the golden dragon embroidered on his dragon robe trembled with laughter. "Excellent! Excellent! Much better than the crappy calligraphy and painting your father gave me!"

Before he finished speaking, Xiao Yu stepped into the pavilion. Looking at his son's "masterpiece," the usually calm Seventh Prince's mouth twitched fiercely: "Dad, I spent three months copying that 'A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains' from the original..."

"Can a copy compare to something made with your own hands?" Without even turning his head, the emperor carefully picked up the clay jade seal with his fingertips and placed it solemnly on the yellow silk cushion. "Look at this charm, so spiritual! It's a hundred times better than the spider you stuffed into my dragon robe when you were a child!"

He shook his head proudly at the compliment. He suddenly grabbed a nearby osmanthus branch, dipped it in muddy water, and slapped it onto the emperor's robe, saying, "Grandpa Emperor, I'll draw you a real dragon!"

"Wait!" Xiao Yu's face suddenly changed, and he rushed forward to stop him. But he was met with a warning look from his father. The old emperor was smiling and standing straight, allowing his grandson to do whatever he wanted to him, and he kept instructing him: "Add another cloud here! Make the dragon claws more majestic!"

Chen Weiwan leaned against the vermilion pillar, laughing so hard she collapsed. Chuntao bit her lip, her face flushed red from trying to suppress her laughter. Xiao Yu helplessly watched as his father's graying hair was stained with mud. On his once solemn bright yellow dragon robe, a crooked "real dragon" bared its fangs and claws, looking like a frightened earthworm.

"Dad, please at least pay attention to the royal dignity..." Xiao Yu didn't finish his words when Kengkeng suddenly turned around and wiped his face with his muddy little hands: "Dad! Help me adjust the color!"

"You little bastard!" Xiao Yu smiled and dodged, only to be grabbed by the hem of his shirt. The emperor took the opportunity to add insult to injury, smearing a black mark across his face. The three of them clashed, startling the palace maids on duty in the corridor. They all ducked their heads, unable to hide the smiles that streamed from their faces.

In the midst of the excitement, the Empress Dowager came tremblingly, leaning on a dragon-headed cane. Seeing the emperor's bewildered appearance, this usually dignified old woman laughed so hard that she beat her chest: "Ouch! Which little mud monkey attacked you?"

"Empress Dowager, you're finally here!" The emperor, as if he had found a savior, quickly picked up Kenkeng and said, "Please judge for yourself. Is the clay jade seal Kenkeng gave me better than that of Xiao Yu?"

The Queen Mother took the lump of clay and examined it seriously for a moment, nodding repeatedly. "That's right! The strokes of the characters 'chuanguo' are vigorous and powerful, even more vivid than those old scholars in the Hanlin Academy!" She turned and winked at Xiao Yu. "You should learn more about the craft from your son!"

Xiao Yu didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so he took out a handkerchief to wipe Kengkeng's face. But the little guy suddenly raised the clay jade seal and announced in a baby voice: "Grandpa Emperor, I give you the jade seal. From now on, you are my 'little brother'!"

"Puff—" Shen Weiwan spat out the tea she had just drunk. Chuntao coughed violently and turned around. The emperor nodded seriously: "Okay! From now on, I am General Kengkeng's number one subordinate!" He looked at Xiao Yu with a stern face, "Do you hear me? Be polite to your 'boss' from now on!"

Xiao Yu completely lost his temper and could only bow and say, "Yes, I obey your command." As soon as he finished speaking, Henkeng stood on tiptoe and pressed the jade seal on his head, grinning so hard that his teeth were showing: "Dad! Wear the crown!"

Shen Weiwan suppressed her laughter and took out the silver mirror: "Your Highness, take a quick photo. If you stand at the palace gate with this look, you will definitely be the most beautiful among all the beauties!"

The Emperor and the Empress Dowager laughed so hard they collapsed, their cheerful laughter startling the birds nesting in the trees. From a distance, the eunuchs and maids on duty peeked in, muttering to themselves, "This doesn't look like a royal garden; it's clearly a backyard farce in the city."

As the dispute raged, the old prime minister arrived with a memorial. Seeing the "masterpiece" on the emperor's robe, the veteran nearly dropped his official hat in shock. The emperor, however, waved his hand impatiently: "Put off the urgent matter! Can't you see I'm accompanying my 'superior' on an important matter?"

The old prime minister opened his mouth, then silently stuffed the memorial back into his sleeve: "Your Majesty is wise..." As he turned around, a clear, childish voice came from behind him: "Old man, can you weave straw sandals with your beard?"

Shen Weiwan hurriedly covered her son's mouth, but her shoulders kept shaking. The old prime minister stumbled and almost fell into the pond beside him. Xiao Yu held his forehead and sighed: "Son, next time you cheat someone, can you pick a soft persimmon to squeeze?"

"No!" Kengkeng put his hands on his hips and said confidently, "Grandpa Emperor said that we should treat everyone equally!"

The emperor immediately agreed: "That's right! We should be fair!" He took off the jade pendant from his waist and solemnly hung it around Hang Hang's neck. "This is my family heirloom. From now on, you will be my designated successor!"

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