Huyan Xiaozhe blinked and answered with his eyes:

"Silly girl, if I said you were the one who hit him, you'd definitely say I ate your dog, and my mother would scold me!"

Yu Yiman watched the two little ones openly exchanging glances, and then she noticed the puppy in the little dumpling's arms.

How could Yu Yiman possibly hide Hu Yanxiao's thoughts from someone so young?

With a swift movement, she struck Huyan Xiaozhe hard across the face, scolding him:

"Huyan Xiaozhe! I told you, you're not allowed to eat meat anymore! How dare you disobey my orders and even try to take advantage of this dog!"

The little girl was startled by the sudden slap. Wasn't she Huyan Xiaozhe's mother? How could she bear to hit him?

Fearing that Yu Yiman would attack again, the little dumpling grabbed Hu Yanxiao's wrist, trying to pull him behind her.

Hu Yanzhe, whose face was flushed red, remained motionless. This little man was stubbornly sniffling, not shedding a single tear.

Yu Yiman continued, "Huyan Xiaozhe, apologize to Princess Rongchang immediately."

Huyan Xiaozhe turned to the little dumpling and said, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have thought about stewing your dog."

The little boy still remembered how arrogant and domineering Hu Yanzhe had been just moments before; he had apologized to Yu Yiman immediately after hearing just one sentence from her.

Just how afraid is he of Yu Yiman?

Mu Tingzheng also came over at this moment. When he saw the little girl's puzzled look, although he didn't understand what had happened, he still immediately hugged his daughter in his arms.

The handprint on Hu Yanxiao's cheek was clearly visible. Mu Ting couldn't help but ask Yu Yiman:

"Princess, what happened? Why was the young master slapped?"

Yu Yiman said nonchalantly, "It's okay, I taught him a lesson."

Then, she recounted the whole story to Mu Tingzheng, adding at the end:

"This is all Huyan Xiaozhe's fault. He frightened the little princess. I'm really sorry."

Hearing Yu Yiman's words, Mu Tingzheng could only politely reply:

"Your Highness is too kind. Children play together by playing and roughhousing."

"We adults shouldn't interfere too much."

Yu Yiman smiled at Mu Tingzheng, "The general is right."

Seeing that the matter had come to an end, which was the best outcome, Fu Yun spoke up:

"Princess, General, the banquet should be ready soon. Let's go and take our seats."

Mu Ting gestured to Yu Yiman, indicating that she should go first.

The little dumpling nestled in Mu Tingzheng's arms, glanced at Hu Yanxiaoze, and just then he looked at her as well.

As they looked at each other, the little dumpling was about to smile at him, as if to take the initiative to make peace.

Before she could even put on a smile, Huyan Xiaozhe gave her an angry glare.

The little dumpling touched the tip of its nose and stopped looking at him.

It seems I can't be friends with this annoying person.

...

For this family banquet, Yu Yiman specially instructed her servants to arrange separate seating for men and women according to the customs of the Tianlang Kingdom.

At the banquet for female guests, Su Ruiling and Yu Yiman sat together in the main seats, but Su Ruiling sat in the higher-ranking left seat.

Between the two sat a cute and pretty little girl, the very little dumpling that Su Ruiling had specially brought.

Su Ruiling was worried that she wouldn't be able to take care of the little dumpling if he sat down below, so she specially arranged for him to sit here instead.

The little girl was gnawing on a fat chicken leg when she secretly glanced at Yu Yiman beside her.

Yu Yiman could also feel the gazes of the petty people around her, but whenever she looked back, she would cleverly look away.

Then, when she wasn't looking, he secretly glanced at her again.

After this happened three or four times, Yu Yiman finally couldn't help but ask:

"Little princess, is there anything you want to tell me?"

The little dumpling was still biting into a chicken leg and didn't have time to reply, so he could only nod.

Yu Yiman waited for her to finish eating the meat in her mouth.

After finishing her meal, the little girl pointed to a plate of food on the far side and said, "Auntie, I want to eat that mushroom bun."

From the start of the banquet, the little dumpling had her eye on that plate of mushroom buns.

The steamed buns were made to look like mushrooms, which looked both fun and delicious.

Unfortunately, that dish was placed at the very edge, next to Yu Yiman.

The little dumpling still remembered how Yu Yiman had slapped Huyan Xiaozhe just now, and felt a little scared of her.

I mustered up the courage several times, but in the end I never dared to say it.

The little dumpling kept peeking at her, and Yu Yiman thought she had something important to do, but it turned out it was just for a plate of mushroom buns.

Yu Yiman glanced at the location of the plate of mushroom buns.

Hmm, it's a bit far. It's definitely out of reach for the little dumpling's short arms.

So, Yu Yiman said to the little dumpling:

"If you want some, go get it yourself!"

The little girl didn't expect her aunt to refuse her so directly, so she could only say, "Okay then."

After saying that, she turned over and tried to climb off the stool.

Yu Yiman reached out and stopped her.

"No! We can't go this way."

The little dumpling asked, puzzled, "Why?"

Yu Yiman shook her head and said, "No means no. You have to find another way."

The little dumpling had no choice but to sit up straight again, wanting to ask Su Ruiling for help.

Yu Yiman saw through her thoughts and immediately whispered to stop her.

"No way! Smart kids will figure out their own solutions. Kids who ask adults for help are just stupid kids."

Little Tuanzi didn't want to be a stupid child, so she had no choice but to give up on asking Su Ruiling for help.

The little dumpling pouted, looking longingly at her mushroom bun.

There were two pairs of chopsticks that picked up the two mushroom packets.

"Oh no, there's only one mushroom bun left. If we don't think of something quickly, you won't get to eat it."

Yu Yiman whispered a reminder.

Seeing the little dumpling anxiously craning its neck, Yu Yiman couldn't help but chuckle to herself.

This little girl is so easy to coax; just a few words and she's in a real hurry!

You want to eat mushroom buns?

Yu Yiman will never let her have her way!

She should have just watched as what she wanted was taken away by someone else!

She deserves to experience the taste of loss!