Xiaosuisui looked left and right!
The Emperor, her adopted father, was all smiles.
However, her Uncle Qi looked quite unhappy, as if to say, ’If you dare to choose your adopted father, the Emperor, Uncle Qi will give you a tough time!’
Xiaosuisui pouted and scratched her little head in confusion, turning to look at Xie Pan’Er.
Xie Pan’Er also noticed the rising tension between the Emperor and Ji Youzhi.
She couldn’t help but wonder, who were the real children here?
"Adopted Father Emperor!"
In the end, Xiaosuisui jumped into the young Emperor’s arms, not for any other reason than because the young Emperor had taken out a small oil-paper packet from his sleeve. When he unwrapped it, it revealed several small crispy candies!
Ji Youzhi was livid. Grinding his teeth in frustration, he muttered two words, "Glutton!"
The young Emperor laughed heartily, hugging Xiaosuisui and giving her small cheek a hearty kiss.
Xiaosuisui immediately reached up to wipe her face.
The corner of the young Emperor’s mouth twitched. He was actually being shunned!
Nanny Xiao approached, bowing deeply. "Your Majesty! The evening meal is ready. The Empress Dowager invites you to join her!"
The young Emperor was in high spirits. Hugging Xiaosuisui, he said, "Let’s go, my darling! Let’s go eat!"
Xiaosuisui, who was nibbling on her candy, mumbled indistinctly, "MM-HM! Grandma said we’re having a bitter gourd feast!"
Neither the young Emperor nor Ji Youzhi quite caught what she said.
They followed Nanny Xiao’s footsteps.
When they reached the dining table, the Empress Dowager was already there.
Before their party could even bow, the Empress Dowager dismissed the formalities and cheerfully invited them to take their seats.
Xie Pan’Er reached out to take Xiaosuisui from the young Emperor’s arms.
The young Emperor wouldn’t let her go.
The Empress Dowager glared at him. "Our darling needs to eat too!"
The young Emperor still held onto her. "I will feed her Myself!"
However, Xiaosuisui kicked her short little legs, wriggled out from the young Emperor’s arms, and ran towards a small table he hadn’t noticed.
"Suisui can eat by herself! Adopted Father Emperor, you should eat more gourds!"
The young Emperor looked perplexed. He was here to eat a meal, not gourds!
Then... "Pickled Bitter Melon... Bitter Gourd Chicken Soup... Stir-fried Bitter Gourd..." A Palace Maid announced the name of each dish as it was served.
The corner of the young Emperor’s mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Ji Youzhi looked like he wanted to run away. He communicated with the young Emperor through his gaze: Did you do something to offend the Empress Dowager?
The young Emperor shot him a fierce glare, his eyes seeming to say: How are you so sure that all this bitter gourd is for Me and not for you?
Ji Youzhi looked at the nearly full bowl of rice in front of him, thinking he’d just finish this bowl of plain rice to fill his stomach for now and eat properly when he got back!
The young Emperor, however, was not so fortunate. In front of him wasn’t plain rice but an empty bowl, into which the Empress Dowager personally ladled a serving of Bitter Gourd Soup.
"Emperor, the weather is hot, and one can easily become overheated. Bitter gourd is excellent for cooling the system. Come! Drink this bowl of Bitter Gourd Soup."
The young Emperor’s eyes widened. "Mother, Your son is perfectly fine, not overheated at all. This Bitter Gourd Soup..."
"Drink!" The Empress Dowager glared at him, uttering only that single word. The young Emperor, baffled, picked up the Bitter Gourd Soup and drained it, almost vomiting midway.
The Empress Dowager watched with great satisfaction. "Good! Another bowl!"
As she said this, she moved to ladle him another bowl. The young Emperor quickly pulled his bowl away. "Mother, Your son..."
"What? You’re not eating anymore?"
The young Emperor opened his mouth, intending to say "No more," but then he heard Xiaosuisui’s cheerful voice beside him, "EAT!" It was a high-pitched, childish voice, drawing out the last sound.