Duoduo looked toward the owner of the hand.
It turned out to be the classmate on her left who had been fighting crickets.
"Hey! These pastries are pretty good! Let's all have a piece!"
The person took a pastry from the box and passed the box to the others.
"Yunshi, isn't it a bit wrong to bully a child?"
The person fighting crickets with Yunshi asked in a low voice.
Duoduo stood up, reached out, and snatched the box right back from Yunshi's hands.
Yunshi looked at his empty palm, utterly astonished.
This little pipsqueak actually dared to snatch something from his hands.
"Oh ho! The little pipsqueak seems to have a lot of nerve!"
Duoduo hugged the box and didn't say a word.
It was her own carelessness just now that allowed it to be snatched away in the first place.
If Li Jin found out, he would definitely punish her by making her run an extra lap.
Seeing that Duoduo remained silent, Yunshi assumed she was an easy target.
He tossed the pastry into his mouth and prepared to come over and tug the box from Duoduo's arms.
The pastry was only marginally tasty, anyway.
What Yunshi could not allow was that someone actually dared to snatch something from his hands!
Wasn't that trampling his pride into the dirt?
Duoduo took a step back, looking at Yunshi with unwavering eyes.
"The teacher said that we should all treat each other with brotherly love and respect."
"If anyone violates the school rules, they will be expelled from the Imperial Academy!"
Duoduo loudly and firmly reprimanded her classmate's behavior.
She absolutely did not want to be expelled from the Imperial Academy for fighting.
Yunshi clutched his stomach and burst into loud laughter.
"You're just a little girl, what are you talking to me about brotherly love for?"
"Do you even deserve to call me a brother?"
Duoduo ignored him and placed the box into her book chest on the side.
Yunshi felt that his pride had been vastly challenged.
He bypassed the stool and reached out to rummage through Duoduo's book chest.
Duoduo quietly took out a silver needle, just about to prick Yunshi with it.
Suddenly, Yunshi fell flat on his bottom onto the ground.
"Xiao Yunshi, you've crossed the line!"
Duoduo saw the classmate on her right say this, then shift into another position to sleep.
Xiao Yunshi stood up indignantly, glared at Duoduo, and returned to his seat.
Duoduo looked at the person beside her very strangely.
This person was a weirdo!
Soon, the bell for class rang once again.
Whether it was because Xiao Yunshi had been kicked or for some other reason, in any case, he never provoked Duoduo again after that.
Duoduo finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She had truly been worried that she wouldn't be able to resist giving Xiao Yunshi a needle prick.
After class at noon, there was a two-hour period for lunch and a midday rest.
Duoduo walked out, and Lüdou was waving at her, carrying a food box.
Duoduo quickly walked over.
"Lüdou, Nanny."
"Princess, please follow this old servant." Nanny Li led the two of them twisting and turning through the imperial palace, finally stopping in front of a desolate palace.
Duoduo looked around with great curiosity.
Nanny Li pushed open the main door and let the two in.
"Nanny Li, where is this?"
"We can just eat in the garden. Wouldn't it be inappropriate to come all the way here?"
Duoduo remembered Xiao Yi's warning that she must absolutely not wander around randomly in the imperial palace.
Nanny Li revealed a kind smile.
"Rest assured, Princess, this is the former Empress's bedchamber."
"It has been abandoned for many years now, so no one will come here."
Hearing this, Duoduo was immediately surprised.
"Nanny, this is where Imperial Grandmother used to live?"
Nanny Li nodded.
"Yes!"
"Ever since Her Majesty passed away, it has become like this."
Nanny Li led Duoduo into the main room and motioned for Lüdou to wipe down the table and chairs.
"The Prince said that during these two hours at noon, you can come here to rest, Princess, so you'll have energy for your afternoon classes."
Hearing Nanny Li mention her father, Duoduo's eyes flickered.
"Nanny Li, has Father left the palace?"
"To answer the Princess, the Prince is accompanying His Majesty for a meal."
A smile appeared on Duoduo's face.
Having a meal?
It seemed that her father's relationship with her imperial grandfather had improved quite a bit?
At this moment, in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Xiao Yi silently chewed the food in his mouth.
Seated at the head, Noble Consort Li elegantly lifted her fingers and placed food into the Emperor's bowl.
"Your Majesty, please taste this dish today. I find it quite good."
The Emperor smilingly picked it up, put it in his mouth, and chewed slowly.
A smile appeared on his face.
"Mhm, it is indeed not bad!"
Hearing this, Noble Consort Li immediately picked up her chopsticks, took another piece of food from a plate, and placed it into the bowl in front of the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, try this one too!"
"This was specially brought over by Prince Ling to show his filial respect to Your Majesty."
"It was kept on ice all the way here, it took a lot of effort to bring it!"
The Emperor looked curious. "Oh? What sort of good thing is it that was worth bringing over with such great effort?"
Prince Ling, sitting opposite Xiao Yi, was looking at the Emperor and his mother with a face full of smiles.
Hearing the Emperor's inquiry, his smile widened.
"Imperial Father, this is a famous local dish."
"Please taste it first and see if the flavor is to your liking."
The Emperor picked it up, put it in his mouth, and chewed carefully.
As he ate, he nodded.
"Not bad. It's fresh and savory, with a hint of sweetness."
Hearing the Emperor's praise, Prince Ling's eyebrows practically flew up in delight.
"Earning such a compliment from Imperial Father makes it worth my bringing it all this way from thousands of miles away."
The Emperor looked at Xiao Yi, who was silently eating on the side like an outsider.
"Prince of Pingyang, you should taste this dish too! You can't get this dish in the capital!"
Xiao Yi lifted his head. "To answer Imperial Father, my stomach is unwell, and the imperial physician said I must not eat cold foods."
Hearing this, the Emperor's eyebrows practically tied into a knot.
"At such a young age, if it's not one ailment, it's another. You can't even compare to me!"
Xiao Yi put down his chopsticks and looked at the Emperor.
"I naturally cannot compare to Imperial Father. I heard that Little Fourteen was born last month?"
"He must be our youngest brother, right?"
At the mention of his youngest son, the Emperor's brow relaxed.
Being able to father a son at his age proved that he was still hale and hearty!
"The eldest... never mind. Second son, you only have An'er as your legitimate son. You need to work harder!"
The Emperor turned his head and addressed Prince Ling.
Prince Ling beamed, "Imperial Father, I am working on it."
Seated at the head, Noble Consort Li revealed a delicate smile at the corners of her lips.
"Your Majesty, have another piece."
"Alright! I will make an exception and have another piece!" The Emperor was in high spirits.
Xiao Yi lowered his head and did not move his chopsticks again.
The smile on Noble Consort Li's lips grew even wider.
Just earlier, she had heard from a servant that the Emperor wanted to keep the Prince of Pingyang for lunch.
Noble Consort Li had immediately taken action.
How could she possibly let the Emperor be alone with the Prince of Pingyang?
Therefore, she brought Prince Ling over.
Looking at Xiao Yi's dejected appearance, Noble Consort Li's heart filled with disdain.
She had thought that the Prince of Pingyang, who had been trampled into the mud, was about to rise from the ashes!
Thankfully, it was just her misconception!
Finally, the Emperor put down his chopsticks and waved his hand.
Eunuch Li hurriedly ordered the eunuchs to come in and clear the banquet.
"Your Majesty, Prince Ling and I haven't dined with you in such a long time!"
Noble Consort Li picked up a cup of tea and handed it to the Emperor.
