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

Chapter 5 Feeding Across Domains

Inside the Eastern Palace, Crown Prince Li Chengqian sat upright before his desk. He had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and his black hair was tied up high, not a single strand out of place. He exuded royal majesty and noble air.

A guard stepped inside, bowed, and announced, "Your Highness, Lord Du requests an audience, and... he has brought a little girl with him."

Li Chengqian put down the book in his hand and tapped his knuckles twice on the table: "Summon him."

"Yes."

Before long, Du He carried Xiao Qingyi into the hall. The little girl in his arms opened her round eyes and looked around without any fear, as if the carved beams and painted rafters in front of her were all new and wonderful things.

Upon reaching the table, Du He gently set Xiao Qingyi down and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian's gaze swept over the small lump on the ground, then he looked up at Du He, his tone devoid of emotion: "Is this your child?"

Du He broke out in a cold sweat and quickly explained, "Your Highness, this woman was found in a side hall of your East Palace. She claims to be surnamed Li, but her accent and clothing... are different from those of our dynasty. I dare not presume to act on my own authority, so I brought her here for Your Highness to identify and see if she is related to the imperial family."

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian slowly turned his gaze to Xiao Qingyi, a slight doubt creeping into his heart. He knew most of the children in the palace, but he had no recollection of this girl.

"Uncle," a soft, sweet voice suddenly rang out. The little dumpling actually moved closer to his desk, looked up at him, and asked, "Are you looking at me?"

Uncle?

Li Chengqian's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

Little Qingyi, as if suddenly remembering something, brightened up, pointed at him with her little finger, and exclaimed excitedly, "Uncle! I think I've seen you before!"

"Oh?" Li Chengqian leaned forward slightly, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes. "Could you really be one of Father Emperor's sisters from one of his branches?" He softened his tone and tentatively asked, "Then tell me, where are you from?"

"My dad said we are all Chinese."

China?

Li Chengqian and Du He exchanged a glance—none of the surrounding countries had ever heard of this name.

"And how did you get into the palace?"

"I don't know," Xiao Qingyi answered matter-of-factly, her eyes clear and bright, making it obvious to anyone that the child was not lying.

Li Chengqian pondered for a moment, then asked, "You said you've seen me, where did you see me?"

"Guess?" Xiao Qingyi tilted her head and repeated, then clapped her hands as if suddenly realizing something. "It's in the painting in our backyard! Daddy said you're our ancestors!"

Du He: (0 x 0)

He secretly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the prince and the little girl's faces—and to be honest, the resemblance in their eyes and brows was quite striking…

Ancestor? Could it be that the Crown Prince's bloodline was left behind in his early years, and he couldn't openly acknowledge it, so he made up this story?

Li Chengqian keenly noticed Du He's strange, hesitant gaze, gave him a cold glance, and his eyes were filled with indifference as if to say, "How could I not know?"

Just as he was about to speak, Xiao Qingyi clutched her tummy, looked pitiful, and leaned closer, interrupting him softly, "Grandma, I'm hungry."

Li Chengqian: "..."

Looking at the round little man in front of him, who resembled a grain of glutinous rice, he suddenly thought of his second brother, Qingque, who was also becoming increasingly plump, and fell silent for a moment.

"Someone come here," he finally ordered, "go to the imperial kitchen and fetch some snacks, prepare them according to the child's tastes."

"I want to eat meat!" Xiao Qingyi hurriedly raised her hand to add, her eyes sparkling.

Li Chengqian glanced at her and continued with a hint of helplessness, "Prepare a few more tender meat dishes."

"Yay!"

Little Qingyi immediately beamed with joy, ran over with a "da da da" sound, hugged Li Chengqian's leg, rubbed her little face against the brocade robe, and declared in her childish voice, "Grandpa is so good! You're so much better than my daddy!"

—It's as if in some distant time and space, a father surnamed Li suddenly sneezed loudly.

Li Chengqian looked down at the "little rice cake" that had suddenly stuck to his knee, remained silent for a long time, and ultimately did not pry it off.