The next day, at dawn.
Yi Yi swung her short, chubby legs as she sat obediently on a stool, letting Qinghe do her hair and dress her.
Qinghe styled her hair into a soft hanging bun, tying the ends of the braids with ribbons of lotus-pink silk, and tucking smooth, round pearls here and there among her locks.
Paired with the outfit from the night before, the little bundle of fluff looked even more sweet, innocent, and utterly adorable.
Yi Yi peered into the mirror, thoroughly pleased with how she looked. Unable to wait another moment, she set off toward the Purple Star Palace, the silver bells on her skirt jingling with every step.
“Daddy~ Baby’s come to see youuu~”
Before she even reached the door, her bright, cheerful voice drifted ahead.
Eunuch Li looked up to see the tiny figure hurrying toward them.
Her ribbons fluttered in the breeze, and the sound of her pure, childlike laughter seemed to breathe fresh life into the imperial harem, which had long felt heavy and somber.
Eunuch Li welcomed her in with great fondness. “Your Royal Highness, please sit and rest for a moment. His Majesty has not yet returned from the morning court.”
But the little girl paid him no attention at all. As soon as she stepped inside, she made a beeline straight for the dining table.
“Wow~ It smells so good!”
Dongfang Mo’s breakfast had already been laid out in full.
Though it was only the morning meal, the spread was incredibly lavish far more than anything Yi Yi had ever seen in her short life.
There was bird’s nest steamed with duck, deer tendon braised with meat, plump shrimp balls, steamed fish from the eastern waters…
And alongside these were countless bowls of porridge and fine pastries.
Yi Yi’s mouth watered uncontrollably, but she remembered what her mother had taught her. She turned to Eunuch Li, looking up at him with wide, pleading eyes: “Uncle Li… may Baby eat?”
With such a pitiful, hopeful expression, Eunuch Li could hardly refuse. “Of course, Your Royal Highness. Please eat as much as you like.”
How much could such a small child possibly eat? He figured they could simply order more from the kitchen later if needed.
Given permission, Yi Yi happily picked up her chopsticks and began.
It did not take long before Eunuch Li realized just how wrong his assumption had been.
Before the time it took to finish a cup of tea had passed, the entire table full of food had vanished into that tiny little tummy.
The maids and eunuchs standing by stared in shock at her now round, bulging belly where on earth had it all gone?
Children are growing fast… it’s only natural… only natural, Eunuch Li told himself, trying to stay calm.
While Yi Yi ate in perfect contentment, the chefs in the imperial kitchen were working their arms off at full speed.
Usually, His Majesty sent back more than half of every meal untouched. Today, the entire table had disappeared in the blink of an eye.
And to make matters more confusing, Eunuch Li had just ordered them to prepare a whole new feast.
When Dongfang Mo returned, the table was already set again, steaming hot and looking as if it had just come straight from the stove.
It seemed the kitchen staff had grown rather careless today, he thought.
Yi Yi, completely unaware that the blame for her empty plates had been shifted onto the chefs, trotted over quickly and wrapped her arms around his legs. “Daddy~ You’re finally back!”
Dongfang Mo gently pulled her away. Yi Yi spun around in a little circle. “Daddy, look new clothes! Do I look pretty?”
A bright, beaming smile lit up her face, and her big, dark eyes like black grapes gazed up at him in eager expectation.
Dongfang Mo looked her over.
The outfit fit perfectly, and her face still dusty and smudged just yesterday was now clean and rosy.
Hmm… she looks well-behaved.
“Not bad.”
Not bad?
Was Daddy just being lazy with his words?
Every time Mummy praised her, she would kiss her and say, “My baby is so beautiful!”
The little girl’s happiness faded. She pouted, plopped herself down on the floor, and her chubby cheeks wobbled with her huff.
“Daddy is being mean to Baby!”
She folded her arms across her chest, stared indignantly at the floor, and snuck quick little glances up at Dongfang Mo from time to time.
When she saw he ignored her and went straight to the table to eat, Yi Yi grew impatient.
“Then Baby will eat it all up!” She would not let Daddy have the meal all to himself!
Forgetting completely that she had already devoured a full table of food, she set to work once more graceful, yet astonishingly fast.
She might have forgotten, but the palace servants certainly had not. They stood by, watching in utter disbelief as Yi Yi cleared the second spread.
Was the princess some reincarnation of a legendary gluttonous beast?
As for Dongfang Mo himself, he had always had little appetite, eating barely anything at all. On a good day, he might take only five or six bites. Yet today, he surprised everyone by tasting every single dish.
Seeing Yi Yi gobble away with such enthusiasm, he could not help but wonder what kind of life had she and her mother led back in Huzhou?
While Yi Yi was still happily eating, Dongfang Mo picked up a translucent shrimp dumpling and placed it in her bowl. “Very pretty.”
Yi Yi blinked her big eyes. Was Daddy finally saying she looked nice in her new dress?
Well, she was a generous child. She would let him off the hook this time.
She stuck her nose in the air. “Hmph! Of course I am pretty!” Then, with her own chopsticks, she picked up a piece of ribs and reached it toward Dongfang Mo.
Eunuch Li, watching this, felt his breath catch in his throat.
His Majesty was famously fastidious about cleanliness and here was the princess offering him food with chopsticks she had already used! It was all over; the newly mended bond between father and daughter was sure to crack again.
Even as he wondered how to smooth things over afterward, he saw Dongfang Mo pause for just a moment, then take the ribs and put them into his mouth.
“Delicious.”
Delicious?!
Was this really the Emperor he had served for so many years?
Who would have guessed that the cold, ruthless tyrant was actually a doting father completely wrapped around his daughter’s little finger?
After breakfast, Dongfang Mo ordered Eunuch Li to go to the Ministry of Works and fetch toys made for children. His tone was unusually and strangely gentle.
Eunuch Li found it hard to adjust. He decided right then and there that from now on, the princess must come to every single meal.
Dongfang Mo ignored the look of utter bewilderment on Eunuch Li’s face and took Yi Yi with him to the Imperial Study.
“You play here quietly. I have official matters to attend to.”
Yi Yi nodded obediently.
She remembered what Mummy had said if Daddy stopped working, many people would go hungry. And Yi Yi definitely did not want to be hungry.
Eunuch Li soon returned with the toys and set them out for her.
And so it went: father reviewing stacks of memorials, daughter playing happily beside him peace and harmony filled the room.
Before long, it was time for the midday meal.
Earlier that morning, a message had come from the Empress Dowager, asking Dongfang Mo to bring Yi Yi to the Palace of Compassion and Peace for lunch.
“Granny Piggy~ Baby has missed you!”
Hearing that cheerful voice, the Empress Dowager, who had been chatting with Prince Jing, could not help but smile broadly. “Come here, my sweet child let Grandmother have a look at you.”
Ever since Yi Yi had swallowed that Gu worm the day before, her heart had been gripped with worry. Only late that evening, when news came from the Purple Star Palace that the girl was safe and sound, had she finally been able to relax.
The Empress Dowager lifted Yi Yi and spun her gently in a circle, checking her over from head to toe to make sure she was unharmed.
Yi Yi clasped her hands dramatically to her head. “Whoa… so dizzy, Granny Piggy!”
For a split second, the Empress Dowager feared something was wrong again until she heard the little girl burst into giggles. “Well, well! Now you dare to tease your own grandmother?”
Half amused and half pretending to be cross, she tapped Yi Yi lightly on the tip of her nose.
Taking the child by the hand, she led her to the dining table and seated her, then gestured for Dongfang Mo and Prince Jing to join them.
Prince Jing sighed inwardly: At last she remembers I’m here…
He too had been worried sick the day before, which was why he had come specially to the palace today to check on Yi Yi. Seeing both father and daughter in good health now, his heart was truly filled with joy.
The family sat together, enjoying their meal in warmth and harmony.
Then the Empress Dowager spoke. “My son do you think it is time to find another consort to raise and guide Yi Yi?”
She could not say she disliked Jiang Wantang, but neither did she feel any affection for her.
After all, it was hardly fitting for a woman of such humble origins to be the princess’s mother.
Before Dongfang Mo could reply, Yi Yi frowned and shook her head firmly. “No new mother! Baby wants only Mummy!”
The little girl was truly upset so much so that she lost her appetite and pushed her bowl away.
Dongfang Mo gently soothed her and guided her back to her seat. “Honored Mother, I will arrange for experienced, senior ladies to teach and guide Yi Yi in all matters of etiquette and conduct. But Consort Xi will remain her mother, always.”
“After all, I could never bring myself to tear a child away from her own flesh and blood.”
The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall turned still and heavy.
Seeing the conversation heading toward an awkward turn, Prince Jing quickly stepped in to lighten the mood. “We have only just gathered together let us speak of happier things. Today is a day to celebrate that Your Majesty and Yi Yi have both come through danger safely.”
The Empress Dowager turned to him with a playful glint in her eyes. “Your brother already has his precious daughter. When will your own household finally bring us some good news?”
Prince Jing fell silent. Oh no… how did this conversation turn back on me?