The Emperor's Beloved: My Ancestor is the Crown Prince?

Chapter 9: Vibrant East Palace

After Li Chengqian finished the homework left by the Grand Tutor, he was surprised to find that the sunlight outside the window had already slanted when he looked up again.

"What time is it now?"

"Your Highness, it is past 11 PM," the palace servant replied respectfully.

"1-3 PM..." Li Chengqian repeated softly. The little girl had been gone for two hours and had not returned. Although her identity was questionable, she was still a young child and a guest who had given him novel food... His heart stirred slightly, and he got up and straightened his robes.

"Take me to find Du He and that child." Consider it a stroll in the garden to stretch my muscles after sitting for so long.

"promise."

The palace servants led the way to the rockery in the East Palace Garden. Li Chengqian frowned – why did Du He bring him to such a secluded place?

Just as he was about to go around, a familiar, childlike murmur came from behind the artificial hill. Li Chengqian paused and quietly turned to look—

Du He was seen huddled between the rocks, hugging her knees, looking dazed and bewildered, as if asking, "Why am I here?" The little dumpling stood to the side, covering its eyes tightly with its chubby little hands, muttering to itself.

Li Chengqian was silent for a moment, then finally spoke: "What...are you doing here?"

The little hand covering her eyes swiftly moved away. Xiao Qingyi tilted her head back, and in the backlight, she saw a tall, imposing figure standing before her. She was so focused on looking that her head tilted further back, and she swayed—

*Smack!*

Without warning, he slumped backward and landed heavily on the ground.

Li Chengqian: "..."

Du He: "..."

The change happened so fast that neither of them could react. The little dumpling, with her hair in a crooked bun, sat blankly on the ground, her face full of confusion. She looked down at herself, then up at them, as if pondering a major problem.

"I...I can't control my little bottom," she muttered softly, her voice full of confusion. "Why is it sitting on the ground by itself? Is it still my little bottom?"

Li Chengqian remained silent.

...You're overthinking it.

Du He couldn't help but chuckle softly. He stepped forward, picked her up, and gently brushed the grass clippings and dust off her skirt. His voice was gentle, even he himself didn't realize it: "Did you hurt yourself?"

Xiao Qingyi's eyes crinkled into a smile, revealing tiny white teeth: "Uncle, I'm fine!"

"Yiyi is so brave."

"Hehe! My dad always says that too~" She grinned, her eyes disappearing behind her teeth, then turned to look at Li Chengqian, a smug look immediately spreading across her face. "Grandpa! Didn't you think I was amazing at hide-and-seek? I hid for so long before you finally found me!"

Looking at her blatantly eager expression, Li Chengqian's lips twitched almost imperceptibly: "Yes, you're the best."

As soon as she finished speaking, she raised her chin even higher and puffed out her small chest, her whole body radiating the joy of "See? I told you I was an expert."

—It's so easy to understand.

"Gurgle~~"

A long, soft sound came from her waist. Instantly, three pairs of eyes fell on her round little belly.

Little Qingyi blushed and quickly covered her stomach with her little hands, trying to remain calm: "I'm not hungry! It's...it's my tummy that's hungry!"

Li Chengqian glanced at the hem of her dress that she was secretly twisting together, but didn't call her out on it. He simply raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "Oh—is that so?"

"Yes, yes!" She nodded vigorously, her face full of sincerity, "My tummy wants to eat now!"

"I see, you're just being greedy," Li Chengqian said, reaching out to pick her up steadily. The little one was round and heavy, but surprisingly soft and comforting in his arms.

"Do you want to eat rice or drink milk?"

Little Qingyi remembered the meat soup she had previously described as "unpalatable," and her face immediately scrunched up: "The meat doesn't taste good... I don't want to eat rice, I want to drink milk!"

Looking at her undisguised disgust, Li Chengqian felt a pang of doubt: Was the meat really that bad? He had been eating it for years, and while it wasn't amazing, it was still palatable.

My gaze swept over her chubby cheeks and round little body, and I couldn't help but laugh—how did she develop such a round appearance with such a picky palate?

"Then drink the milk." He said no more, picked her up, and turned to walk towards the East Palace.

Du He stood there, silently watching the Crown Prince's retreating figure without turning his head.

...Your Highness, I am still here.

Is he really that insignificant?

Ugh……

Back in the palace, Xiao Qingyi was like a bird returning to its nest. She would run around Li Chengqian for a while, and then crawl under the large desk, busy and happy. Her small figure looked full of energy.

Li Chengqian sat quietly behind his desk, his gaze following the round, chubby figure. The solemn Eastern Palace was bathed in a vibrant, fuzzy glow because of the tireless running and laughter.