"Thank you, Grandpa!" Kenkeng and Wawa cheered, clapping their little hands loudly.
"But!" the emperor said, his face stern, pointing at the two little guys. "You two little troublemakers, if you dare to say my crown looks like a chamber pot again, I'll punish you by weeding in the croton fields for three months!"
"Oh..." the children responded listlessly, their chubby faces wrinkled like crotons.
Shen Weiwan took the opportunity to step forward, smiling so that her eyes curved into crescents: "Father, the children are speaking the truth. In fact, His Highness's crown should be changed. Why not let Kangkang design one and use croton powder to trim it. It is both light and breathable!"
"A croton powder border?" The emperor raised an eyebrow, picked up the croton cake on the table and took a bite. "Aren't you afraid that the wind will blow all the powder onto my throne?"
"Don't worry, father," Shen Weiwan took out a small packet of transparent gel from her sleeve pocket, "This is our newly developed croton glue. Its stickiness is even stronger than the honey made by the imperial chef. Not to mention the wind, it won't fall off even if it rains!"
Xiao Yu watched his wife and children singing in unison, and suddenly felt that this magnificent palace was even more lively than the croton fields at the prince's mansion. He reached out and ruffled his tangled hair. "Okay, I'll leave it to you to design the crown for me. But if it still looks like a spittoon, I'll throw you into the croton fields to help your aunt."
"No way!" Kengkeng puffed out his chest, his chubby face brimming with confidence. "I'm going to make Dad a crown studded with croton powder gems, and I'm going to carve the biggest croton flower on the top. It'll be even more majestic than Grandpa's crown!"
"I want to make one for Grandpa too!" Wawa raised her little hand. "I'll engrave the four characters 'Long Live the Emperor Father' on it, and sprinkle some glowing croton powder on it. It'll sparkle every time Grandpa shakes his head. How festive!"
The emperor laughed heartily and pointed at Little Li Zi: "Very good! We are just waiting for your Croton crowns. Little Li Zi, take the two little ancestors to the imperial kitchen and bring out all the freshest Croton cakes. Don't let my darling grandchildren starve."
"Thank you, Grandpa!" The children cheered and grabbed the corners of Little Leo's clothes, running out of the imperial study like two happy little tails.
Shen Weiwan looked at the children's backs, then turned to Xiao Yu and said, "Your Highness, what kind of crown do you think the children will design?"
Xiao Yu sighed, but a smile played on his lips: "I guess it's just like your imagination, which will make the whole court laugh out loud."
"That's interesting," Shen Weiwan blinked, shaking the croton flower hairpin in her hair, "It's better than your crown that's so heavy it could crush someone to death."
The emperor, fiddling with his crown, suddenly felt that the twelve-chapter dragon pattern was indeed a bit dull. He looked at Xiao Yu and said, "My son, why don't you let the children try it? Perhaps they can create a new style for court attire."
Xiao Yu was stunned: "Father, this...isn't it against etiquette?"
"Ritual?" The emperor put down his crown and picked up a piece of croton cake, biting it with a crunching sound. "Anyway, it's already been called a chamber pot, so how much worse can it be?"
Shen Weiwan immediately responded: "Father is wise! I will urge Kengkeng to draw the design and ensure that your highness's new crown will become the most eye-catching sight in the entire capital!"
"Just don't be too dazzling," Xiao Yu waved his hand helplessly, "as long as it doesn't look like a spittoon and allows me to attend court in peace."
That night, sheep-horn palace lanterns were lit in the study of the prince's mansion. Kenkeng and Wawa were lying on the rosewood table, painting on rice paper with croton powder as paint.
"I need to draw the biggest croton flower here!"
"And sprinkle it with gold dust, the glittery kind!"
"Dad's crown must be taller than Grandpa's, so he looks more majestic!"
Shen Weiwan sat by, giving instructions, occasionally outlining with a wolf-hair brush dipped in croton flour. Xiao Yu stood at the desk, watching the bizarre crown gradually take shape on the rice paper—a giant croton pod at the top, flanked by "gems" made of croton flour, and a ring of croton flower branches adorning the brim.
A few days later, the designs by Kengkeng and Wawa were sent to the Shanggong Bureau. When Xiao Yu saw the drawings, he nearly choked on his saliva—the crown was topped with a three-dimensional croton pod, adorned with several "gems" made of multicolored croton powder. The brim wasn't adorned with pearls, but dried croton petals.
"How is it, Your Highness?" Shen Weiwan held the blueprint and smiled like a cat stealing fish. "Isn't it very creative?"
Xiao Yu held his forehead, his vision darkening. "The idea is truly astonishing, but I'm not sure if I can get past the palace security checkpoint if I wear it..."
"What are you afraid of?" Shen Weiwan blinked. "The previous crown has already been called a spittoon. Why not try a new style? Maybe it can lead the trend?"
Xiao Yu looked at his wife's sly smile and knew he couldn't persuade the three of them. He sighed and said, "Alright, let the Shanggong Bureau follow the blueprint. But if the censors accuse you of 'improper attire' during court, I'll have you three thrown into the croton fields."
"Don't worry, Your Highness," Shen Weiwan laughed so hard that she fell backwards, "I promise to make you the most handsome prince in the Dasheng Dynasty. When you walk down the street, you can see the croton pods on your head from a distance!"
As expected, when Xiao Yu appeared in the Hall of Supreme Harmony wearing his new crown, the eyes of the entire court were fixed on him. The Imperial Censor's tablet dropped to the ground with a clang, the Minister of Revenue flushed with laughter, and even the most staid Prime Minister couldn't help but cover his mouth with his tablet, his shoulders shaking like sieves.
The emperor sat on the dragon throne, looking at the dazzling croton pod crown on his son's head. The corners of his mouth twitched for a long time, and finally he coughed and said, "My son, your crown... is very unique. I have never seen such a unique style."
Xiao Yu bowed helplessly: "Your Majesty, this is a gift from the children. I think... it's quite simple."
"Well," the emperor nodded, trying to maintain his dignity, "it's good. At least... it doesn't look like a spittoon anymore."
Shen Weiwan stood beneath the throne, looking at the unique croton pod tiara on Xiao Yu's head, unable to help but chuckle. She knew that from the moment Kengkeng said, "Grandpa's hat looks like a chamber pot," the tradition of "cheating your father" had taken root in the palace. And Xiao Yu's croton pod tiara would eventually become a unique sight in the court of the Dasheng Dynasty, a sight that would amuse and frustrate future historians. After all, with such a group of creative family members, life was bound to be full of excitement.
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