Qin Jingtai was painstakingly copying the palace rules.

Qin Jingtai thought his writing was very good, but that wretched eunuch San Shu actually said it was ugly, causing him to keep making mistakes. Every time he made a mistake, that annoying eunuch made him rewrite it all over again.

Looking at my elder brother's handwriting, I realized it's not as good as mine.

"Brother, let's go rest for a while. We've been writing ever since we came out of Father's Hall of Mental Cultivation."

"How can you go to find your little sister if you can't even finish writing the palace rules a hundred times?"

"Brother, you're right. I need to write quickly, and then I'll go find my sister."

Hearing his brother's words, Qin Jingtai's motivation doubled, and he began writing non-stop.

——————

Yang Jiaojiao felt increasingly distressed. "Sigh, my 'Jinyue' vase, it's just like that, given to His Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, the 'Jinyue' vase has been delivered to the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

When Cuiyun came in after delivering the gifts, she saw her mistress clutching her chest, looking heartbroken.

"Ah, I understand. What did His Majesty say?"

"Your Majesty... His Majesty said he was very grateful for the 'Hibiscus Moon' vase sent by the Empress, and that he liked it very much."

Upon hearing that His Majesty was so pleased, Yang Jiaojiao pounded her heart.

"Cuiyun, why does my heart ache so much?"

"His Majesty also said... also said..."

Cuiyun hesitated and dared not speak, while Yang Jiaojiao was an impatient person.

"What else did Your Majesty say?"

"His Majesty also said that Her Majesty should keep a close eye on the Second Prince and the Third Prince. If the two princes sneak into the Hall of Mental Cultivation again, I'm afraid all the things in Her Majesty's palace won't be enough to send them over."

"Say...say that Your Highnesses are welcome to bring gifts to His Majesty."

Yang Jiaojiao slammed her hand on the table with a "bang".

"I almost forgot, but my 'Jinyue' vase is a result of those two brothers not having it."

"Let's go, let's go settle the score with those two brats."

Now that his heart was no longer aching, he strode swiftly with Cuiyun to his two sons' palaces.

——————

"Sister Wanfei, why haven't we seen the First Prince for a while?"

"Little sister Linglong, you may not know this, but Ji'er went traveling the world with his uncle last June."

"I wonder when the First Prince will return? I miss him quite a bit."

"I sent a letter a few days ago, and they replied today, saying they'll be taking Ji'er on a trip for a while longer, with no set return date."

Consort Wan picked up her teacup and sipped her tea. Consort Jian sat for a while longer before rising to take her leave.

After Zisu saw Consort Jian out, she returned to find her mistress still drinking tea and asked, puzzled.

"Your Highness, Consort Jun has been coming frequently lately, and each time she comes, she talks to you about His Highness the First Prince."

"It seems that Consort Jian misses His Highness very much."

"Your Highness, why don't you tell Consort Yan that the First Prince will return next spring?"

"Zisu, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover; some people are two-faced."

"Do you think Wei Linglong is a good person? How much has she done for Marquis An Ding all day long because of her brother?"

"Your Majesty's reprimand is correct."

"This servant noticed that Consort Jun often brought His Highness food and toys, so I thought Consort Jun truly loved His Highness."

"Zisu, what this 'palace' has in abundance is 'sincereness'."

"Zisu, you've been by my side for eight years now, haven't you?"

"It's been eight years. Back then, when I was bullied in the laundry department, it was Your Highness who came to my rescue."

"Later, on the palace road, we met the Empress, and she took me to her side."

"Yes, back then I had just entered the palace, and I was about your age, just like you, a little girl."

"Now that so many years have passed, I have grown old."

"Your Majesty hasn't aged; Your Majesty is eternally youthful and will never grow old."

"You're just good at sweet-talking me."

"What I said is true."

Consort Wan glanced at Zisu, and smiled without saying a word.

——————

Hall of Mental Cultivation

"slightly……"

The little dumpling pushed out all the goat milk Qin Jue was feeding it with its tongue, indicating that it didn't want to drink it.

"Puff...hungry" (Not hungry)

"Even if you're not hungry, it won't work. I was planning to take you out for a walk after you finished drinking, but since you're not going to drink, then forget it."

After saying that, he put down the spoon he was holding.

The little dumpling saw this and got anxious; she wanted to go out for a walk too, so she immediately said...

"Each" (drink)

Qin Jue listened to the little dumpling in his arms and picked up the spoon again to feed it.

Little devil, I refused to believe I couldn't handle you! Now you're behaving obediently, aren't you?

You haven't had milk for several hours. Now I'm trying to feed you, but you won't drink. Then you'll drink again when I go outside. Where am I supposed to get your meals then?

The little dumpling smacked its lips and finished drinking.

She raised her little hand and opened her little mouth right after finishing her drink.

"Spring...drill" (go out and wander)

"out……"

The little boy, watching his father who remained still, blinked his large, bright eyes at his father who was holding him.

The meaning couldn't be clearer: Take me out of here, take me out of here!

Qin Jue watched the little dumpling's actions but refused to get up, wanting to see what method the little dumpling in his arms would come up with to make him stand up.

The little dumpling in his arms stared at his father, who didn't get up for a long time.

She picked at her ears with her little hands, then raised her short arms.

He grabbed Qin Jue's collar with both hands and tugged at it, but couldn't budge him.

Little Xi'er could only lift her head and smile at Qin Jue, revealing a few of her tiny baby teeth.

Qin Jue said he wasn't impressed and wanted to see if the little dumpling would cry.

The little dumpling tried pulling again with the hand that hadn't let go of her collar, but still couldn't budge it.

She wasn't discouraged, though, and kept pulling, as if she was certain she could pull it off if she kept pulling.

Qin Jue could only cooperate with the little dumpling and lower his head.

The little dumpling gave itself a big kiss on the cheek, then looked at itself and smiled, revealing a few more of its tiny baby teeth.

Sanhezi, Chunhe, and Xiaju below were also shocked. They never expected that the little princess would kiss His Majesty, and His Majesty seemed very happy.

"I am the Son of Heaven, how dare you kiss me!"

"Your spittle is splattering all over my face, it's filthy!"

You're saying you're disgusted, but you're not wiping away the drool you mentioned. Hey!

And Your Majesty, you're smiling so broadly you can hardly stop!

"Since you're so eager to please me, then I'll reluctantly agree."

Xia Ju is looking for a little cape for the princess.

Xia Ju found a small cloak in the color of Xizi with rabbit fur trim and handed it to Qin Jue.

Qin Jue looked at the peony-patterned jacket and skirt in the color of the "Yunmen" logo that the little dumpling was wearing, and tied it around the little dumpling's neck.

Holding the little bundle in his arms, he left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The palace servants along the way were delighted to see their emperor, who was known for his "tyrannical" reputation, smiling broadly.

It was like seeing a ghost. After all, their own emperor was aloof and indifferent, rarely smiling.

Furthermore, he killed all his brothers except his own younger brother immediately after ascending the throne, and even gave poisoned wine to his mother, who had cared for him for six years.

This made everyone even more frightened.

I never expected him to smile. It seems the smiling Emperor is more frightening than the cold-faced one.