44. Your Majesty, save me!

Without saying a word, Wei Xiuming picked up Jin Lanyue and strode across the threshold.

The little dumpling then realized that Consort Shu's palace servants were all standing outside the Imperial Study, and not one of them dared to follow her in.

The smile and anger on Consort Shu's face were gone.

She rushed over in a panic, and when she saw the little dumpling being carried out by Wei Xiuming, Consort Shu's face turned deathly pale, her fingers trembled slightly, and without hesitation she immediately began to defend herself: "Your Majesty, this is a misunderstanding, I just..."

"What? You dare to commit violence in front of me?" Wei Xiuming's expression was icy. "Put the dog down now!"

The nannies were so frightened that they immediately let go. Little White whimpered and limped back to Little Dumpling's side.

The little dumpling quickly struggled to get down, its tiny hands trembling as it checked for any injuries.

But she couldn't see it, so she could only hug Xiaobai tightly.

Now that Xiaobai is back by her side, she hurried to look for the little prince.

The young prince followed nervously behind Consort Shu.

"Your Majesty!" The little girl pointed at the young prince with tears in her eyes, "Consort Shu was so mean! She... she said the young prince was useless, and she even pinched him..."

The young prince lowered his head, not daring to speak, his thin body still trembling.

Wei Xiuming looked at the young prince, sighed silently, and was quite angry at his lack of ambition.

Finally, he softened his voice: "Jiayou, lift your head."

The young prince timidly raised his eyes, tears still streaming down his face.

"come over."

The young prince glanced at his mother instinctively.

Consort Shu clenched her fist tightly inside her sleeve, but dared not give the young prince even a glance.

The young prince hesitated for a moment before approaching his father.

"You are my good son." Wei Xiuming bent down and wiped away his tears with his thumb. "It's not wrong to like small animals, you know?"

The young prince nodded blankly, but his tears flowed even more fiercely.

Wei Xiuming said nothing more, straightened up, and looked coldly at Consort Shu: "As for you, you have been restless lately, so go back to the palace to recuperate for three months. Without my decree, you are not to step out of the palace gates."

Consort Shu stared wide-eyed in disbelief: "Your Majesty! I did it all for the sake of the prince..."

"Is it for the prince, or for your own desire for control?" Wei Xiuming interrupted her. "Step back."

Consort Shu bit her lip and finally bowed and took her leave reluctantly.

Wei Xiuming turned to the two little ones, his expression softening: "Alright, it's all over."

He reached out and patted Xiaobai's head: "This little thing is lucky to be alive."

Xiao Bai licked Wei Xiuming's fingers in a flattering manner, making him chuckle.

"Father..." the little prince mustered his courage, "Could you ask Mother to stop hurting Xiaobai?"

“Of course.” Wei Xiuming patted his shoulder. “I will warn her to send another imperial physician to check if it is injured.”

With his father's assurance, the young prince finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you, Father!"

The matter has been settled.

Wei Xiuming was about to turn around and praise Jin Lanyue for being smart and knowing to ask him for help.

Turning my head, I saw the little dumpling suddenly burst into tears.

Her small body trembled uncontrollably, and tears streamed down her face like beads from a broken string.

Before Wei Xiuming could react, the little girl, crying like a kitten, buried her face in his chest, her tiny hands clutching the front of his dragon robe tightly: "Waaaaah...it's so scary, waaaah..."

The young emperor visibly froze.

A rare look of helplessness crossed his handsome face. He hesitated, then reached out and awkwardly patted the little one's back: "Okay... don't cry..."

The young prince was also stunned. Firstly, the little dumpling's sudden emotional breakdown caught him off guard. Secondly...

He had never seen his father look like this before.

Because the emperor was busy with state affairs, the women in the harem didn't have many opportunities to see him.

His father didn't spend much time with him, and he never tried to be affectionate with his father.

—In fact, it wasn't just him; the little princess felt the same way.

Therefore, he didn't really know much about his father. He had always thought of his father as an omnipotent, powerful, and majestic figure who was unapproachable.

But now, his father was showing him a real, approachable side.

"Little White... Little White almost died..." The little dumpling cried so hard she could barely breathe, burying her face in Wei Xiuming's shoulder, her cheeks wet with tears. "I was so scared..."

Wei Xiuming sighed helplessly and simply picked up the little girl.

He gently wiped away her tears with his fingers, his movements clumsy yet tender: "Don't be afraid, haven't I already punished her?"

The little dumpling nodded, sobbing, its tiny hands still clinging tightly to Wei Xiuming's neck.

"Alright, alright..." Wei Xiuming coughed lightly, "With so many people watching, aren't you ashamed?"

The little dumpling then noticed the eunuchs and palace maids surrounding her, so she buried her head in Wei Xiuming's arms and continued to drop little pearls.

Seeing this, the young prince suddenly whispered, "Father... Your Majesty, I'm scared too..."

Wei Xiuming raised an eyebrow at his son, a slight smile playing on his lips: "What, you want to hold him too?"

The young prince blushed and shook his head, but quietly took two steps closer to his father.

Wei Xiuming chuckled and ruffled the little prince's hair with his free hand: "Alright, all of you come back to the Imperial Study with me. Have someone prepare some snacks, and then call the imperial physician to take a look at this little dog."

He carried the little dumpling and strode forward, with Xiaobai following happily behind, and the little prince following closely behind.

Unfortunately, he had only taken a couple of steps when Qu Zijin rushed over, his face full of anxiety.

"Your Majesty! I heard..." Before he could finish speaking, his gaze fell on the little dumpling who was crying with tears streaming down her face.

"Teacher!" Qu Zijin rushed forward, his brows furrowed with heartache. "Why are you crying like this?"

He instinctively reached out his hand: "Come here, let me hug you."

Wei Xiuming unconsciously tightened his grip on the little dumpling, a strange displeasure creeping into his heart: "My dear minister, there's no need for that..."

"Teacher!" The little dumpling reached out her tiny hand to Qu Zijin, her voice soft and sweet with a hint of tears, "Hug me..."

Wei Xiuming's arm froze in mid-air as he watched the little girl throw herself into Qu Zijin's arms without hesitation, and a sudden, indescribable bitterness welled up in his heart.

He pursed his thin lips and silently withdrew his hand, placing it behind his back.

Qu Zijin gently patted the little boy's back and softly coaxed him, "Don't cry, I'm here."

He took out a handkerchief he always carried and carefully wiped the little girl's face: "Xiaobai is alright now, isn't she?"

The little dumpling nodded, sobbing, its little hand still clutching Qu Zijin's clothes.

The young prince, keenly aware of his father's change in mood, quietly tugged at Wei Xiuming's sleeve: "Father..."

Wei Xiuming looked down at his son's concerned eyes and forced a smile: "It's alright."

He straightened his sleeves and said, feigning composure, "Since Grand Tutor Qu is here, let him take care of Princess Fukang."

Qu Zijin then noticed Wei Xiuming's expression and quickly bowed, "It was I who overstepped my bounds. However, I have always been in charge of taking care of the county princess in the palace, and I acted rashly in a moment of panic..."

Wei Xiuming waved his hand to interrupt him: "My dear minister, there's no need for explanation."

His gaze lingered on the little girl's rosy cheeks for a moment before quickly shifting away: "Why don't we take her to have some snacks and then have the imperial physician examine her? It just so happens that I was just about to take them to the Imperial Study; you may come along, my dear minister."

"Your subject obeys the decree," Qu Zijin replied with thanks.

The little dumpling nestled in his arms, turned to look at Wei Xiuming, and said softly, "Thank you..."

Wei Xiuming was taken aback, then his eyes curved slightly: "You're welcome."

Seeing this, the young prince mustered his courage and took his father's hand: "Father, and there's also Chaoyun..."

"Go, all of you." Wei Xiuming rubbed his son's head, his tone much more relaxed. "I'm also a little hungry."