Seeing the emperor’s action, Noble Consort Li’s mouth fell open in shock.
Imperial Consort Shu was the same, her face showing an expression of disbelief.
The emperor handed the jade pendant to Duoduo.
“This is my jade pendant. Take it!”
“From now on, if any blind fool dares to bully you again, just show this pendant!”
The emperor’s jade pendant was a dragon-shaped one.
It was the five-clawed golden dragon pendant, which only the emperor himself could wear in all the realm.
This pendant also had another function:
A death-exempting token!
In other words, whoever held this pendant—even the emperor himself—could not take their life!
Duoduo didn’t know this.
But Duoduo knew how to read people.
She saw the look on Noble Consort Li’s face and instantly understood the importance of this pendant.
Hadn’t she done and said so much just now to gain some guarantee?
Since that was the case, she would certainly accept it without hesitation.
Thinking this, Duoduo raised her head, her face full of affectionate devotion.
“Grandfather Emperor, if you give Changle this pendant, you won’t have one to wear yourself.”
The emperor had been feeling a little regretful at first, but hearing Duoduo’s words, he burst into loud laughter, “Ha ha ha!”
He helped Duoduo to her feet, then bent down and personally fastened the pendant at her waist.
“Don’t worry, your grandfather Emperor has plenty of jade pendants to wear!”
Duoduo gently stroked the pendant, her face filled with cherishment.
“Grandfather Emperor, does this mean you agree to Changle skipping the Imperial Academy classes?”
The emperor’s face darkened.
“I do not agree!”
“But set your heart at ease. From now on, in this palace, you may go wherever you wish!”
“If anyone dares to disrespect you, you may deal with them as you see fit!”
As he spoke, the emperor bent down and tapped Duoduo’s nose.
“This is my jade pendant. Seeing the pendant is like seeing me. Do you understand?”
Duoduo blinked her big eyes, a look of joy spreading across her face.
“Changle thanks Grandfather Emperor for the gift!”
As she said this, she began to kneel to bow to the emperor, but he held her up, refusing to let her kneel.
“Kneeling and rising time and again, isn’t it tiresome?”
“I’m hungry. I smell something delicious in your food box?”
Earlier, Noble Consort Li had finally managed to invite the emperor to dine with her, hoping to let Xiao Yun’an grow closer to him.
Xiao Yun’an had felt quite ashamed when he saw the emperor, but the emperor didn’t say much.
Boys, after all, might grow braver as they get older.
Just as the emperor had taken a couple of bites of food, a guard reported that Imperial Consort Shu had encountered an assassin.
Before the emperor could speak, Noble Consort Li, upon hearing this, immediately urged the emperor to go over.
After a moment’s thought, he did go.
Since he hadn’t eaten much, he was naturally quite hungry now.
Duoduo tilted her little head.
“Grandfather Emperor, why don’t you have a meal with Changle?”
The emperor smiled and nodded.
“Alright, it’s good timing. I’ve also heard that the peonies in Kunming Palace have come back to life.”
“I’ll go see if they’re as splendid as people say.”
Noble Consort Li hurriedly called out, “Your Majesty, shall I order the dishes moved here from the palace?”
The emperor waved his hand without turning back.
“No need. You may go back.”
Noble Consort Li felt deeply unwilling.
She had originally brought the emperor over to step on Imperial Consort Shu.
Though her goal had been achieved, the emperor left with Duoduo instead.
Her plan to bring the emperor and Xiao Yun’an closer together was shattered.
Seeing Noble Consort Li’s resentful look, Imperial Consort Shu let out a quiet laugh.
“Someone! Quickly escort Noble Consort Li back!”
Hearing the mocking laughter, Noble Consort Li was furious.
The eunuchs and maids led Imperial Consort Shu away, leaving behind a trail of jeering laughter.
Noble Consort Li stood still, staring resentfully toward Kunming Palace, before finally leaving with her attendants.
This Princess Changle is no simple person!
In other words, this Princess Changle carries an unusual weight in the emperor’s heart!
In Noble Consort Li’s mind, a sense of wariness toward Duoduo arose.
No, she must send a message to Prince Ling.
She couldn’t let Princess Changle dominate the emperor’s favor alone.
Absolutely not!
Back in Kunming Palace, Lüdou carefully kept her head down, trying to make herself as invisible as possible.
Eunuch Li arranged the dishes from the food box onto the table.
The meal was simple: three dishes, one soup, and two desserts.
There was sweet and sour pork, steamed fish, and cold mixed vegetable rolls.
The soup was loofah and pork meatball soup.
The desserts were made from mung beans—one was peach blossom pastry, which Duoduo loved, and the other was mung bean cake.
These dishes were just for Duoduo and Lüdou.
When the emperor said he would dine here, Eunuch Li had already ordered the imperial kitchen to bring more food.
The emperor’s meal was also simple, but the portions were large, covering half the table.
Seeing so much food, Duoduo’s mouth fell open.
“Ahem.” Eunuch Li coughed to remind Duoduo that her manners were improper.
She quickly sat up straight and closed her mouth.
The emperor found it secretly amusing. Picking up his chopsticks, he glanced at Duoduo.
“What? Haven’t you seen this much food before?”
Duoduo shook her head and cast a cautious look at Eunuch Li.
The emperor’s face turned stern. “Why are you afraid of him? With my jade pendant you have, you can order the guards to take his head!”
Eunuch Li was so frightened that he dropped to his knees with a thud.
“Your Majesty, spare me! Princess, spare me!”
“Eunuch Li, get up. Grandfather Emperor was just joking!”
Hearing the thud, Duoduo felt sorry for his knees.
These people in the palace kneel at the drop of a hat, as if their knees were made of iron.
“Fool! Get up, now!”
The emperor glanced at Eunuch Li with disdain.
“Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Princess!”
Eunuch Li scrambled back to his feet.
The emperor picked up his chopsticks and looked at the dishes on the table. Eunuch Li hurried over to serve him.
When Duoduo saw the emperor start eating, she picked up a piece of meat and put it in her mouth.
The sweet and sour flavor spread across her tongue, and she ate with a delighted smile.
Seeing her expression, the emperor looked at the sweet and sour pork.
Eunuch Li was startled.
The emperor rarely ate dishes with a sweet and sour taste.
After waiting a moment and seeing Eunuch Li unmoving, the emperor shot him an impatient sidelong glance.
Eunuch Li quickly picked up a piece of meat and placed it in the emperor’s bowl.
A rich, tangy-sweet aroma filled the emperor’s nose. He hesitated briefly.
Duoduo, enjoying her meal, picked up another bite, her eyes narrowing in pleasure.
Seeing this, the emperor put the meat into his mouth.
The sweet and sour taste spread, stimulating his appetite. The meat was tender and melted easily when chewed.
After swallowing, he couldn’t help but glance at the pork again.
Eunuch Li suppressed his astonishment and quickly served another piece.
The emperor had been raised with strict table manners: he never took a second bite of the same dish.
But today, he broke that rule.
Eunuch Li kept his head down, careful not to show any expression.
After finishing the meat, the emperor turned his gaze to the fish.
Duoduo quickly swallowed her meat and picked up a piece of the fish as well.
The fish was so fresh it tasted as though it had just been caught, and there wasn’t a hint of fishiness.
The emperor couldn’t resist looking at the fish again, and Eunuch Li promptly served him a bite.
Duoduo blinked and reached for a dish from the emperor’s own meal.
