Forced Into the Palace: Becoming the Emperor's Favorite-Chapter 364: Sharing Candied Hawthorns

This way, one will not be troubled by emotions.

One can balance the court and take full control of the harem.

The Emperor’s thoughts are always laid bare in front of Lin Wanyi.

Yet to outsiders, it’s hard to discern his favored choice for succession.

Currently, aside from the Fourth Prince who was disabled and withdrew from succession possibilities,

the Second Prince, Third Prince, and Fifth Prince are all possible candidates.

Therefore, everyone keeps a close watch on them.

Especially Princess Consort Yi.

But if you ask Lin Wanyi herself, she would rather her children not sit upon that high throne.

The path of the Emperor is destined to be lonely.

Moreover, the road is filled with schemes and thorns.

If one governs diligently for the people, it will surely exhaust oneself, thus historically, emperors are not long-lived.

But if one neglects affairs, it brings disaster and harm to the nation.

Such neglect is criticized by both heaven and the people. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Therefore, it’s not necessarily a good thing.

But now that the children are grown, even if it’s just the Second Prince.

The only matters she can involve herself with are trivial ones like food, clothing, and housing, while matters like the teachings of the Grand Tutor and the advice of the Empress Dowager are not decisions she can make or dictate.

She wouldn’t bind the children with her own thoughts either, so she doesn’t intervene.

Anyway, the children are still young, let everything take its time.

While thinking, she saw the children returning one after another.

The first ones to return, naturally, were the Fifth Prince and Third Princess, carried by the nannies.

Both have grown up and look increasingly attractive.

Their round eyes radiate a bright innocence.

But if you look closely, you can still see differences between the siblings.

For example, the Fifth Prince’s eyes show more mischief, while the Third Princess’s eyes show more tranquility.

One is quiet, the other is lively; they truly are quite different.

Around their necks hang white jade gold locks sent by the Fourth Prince Consort.

Making them even more adorable.

Like children from new year paintings, festive and endearing.

Once they entered the room, they smiled upon seeing Lin Wanyi.

Reaching out, wanting to be held.

Though they couldn’t speak yet, their laughter already filled the room with giggles.

Especially the Fifth Prince, his voice is so loud that sometimes Lin Wanyi’s ears hurt.

But one never tires of one’s own children.

Wanting to take both into her arms, but she is slender, how could she possibly hold them both?

Thus, the Emperor intervened and took the Fifth Prince into his arms.

The Fifth Prince, seeing it was his father the Emperor, didn’t resist much.

But compared to the softness of his mother Lin Wanyi, his father’s body felt somewhat rough.

But he isn’t some delicate little darling, so he simply endured it.

The Emperor had no idea what the child was thinking.

He just saw his sturdy appearance and felt very pleased.

"Last time I saw him, he was crawling quite proficiently. I reckon he could stand by May or June."

"Yes, the nannies said the same, that his body is particularly strong and should walk early."

"That’s good; then the riding and archery tutor I found for him will soon be of use."

Finding a riding and archery tutor for a seven or eight-month-old child?

Lin Wanyi truly was about to drop her jaw in shock.

"Your Majesty, might it be too early?"

Lin Wanyi expressed her concern.

"Don’t worry, children of the grasslands ride as soon as they can walk, so it’s not early."

After the Emperor said this, Lin Wanyi completely fell silent.

Suddenly feeling that perhaps she shouldn’t worry endlessly; after all, in the end, her worries might not be heeded.

Soon, the Second Prince, Second Princess, and Fourth Prince also entered.

One older, two younger, as they stepped into the light.

Lin Wanyi felt warmth in her heart.

"I greet my father the Emperor and my mother concubine."

"Mm, stand."

"Yes."

The Second Prince had been running around outside the past couple of days, thus appeared somewhat tan.

But seeing more things enhanced his robust demeanor.

He would soon turn eight years old in a few days.

His height now rose quickly, nearly reaching Lin Wanyi’s shoulder.

He took a few strings of candied haws from behind him and spoke to his siblings.

"These fruits are very delicious; would you like to try them?"

The Second Princess naturally clapped her hands wanting, while the Fourth Prince, not understanding, saw his second sister clapping and followed suit.

The Third Princess didn’t react much, but the Fifth Prince started to make a fuss.

His whole body seemed like a writhing little chubby snake, trying to slip out of the Emperor’s arms.

After achieving his goal, he crawled fast to the Second Prince’s leg.

The Second Prince crouched down and lifted him to the nearby Imperial Concubine’s Couch.

Then sternly told him,

"The floor is dirty, you must wipe your hands before eating, understand?"

Whether the Fifth Prince truly understood or pretended to understand, he nodded his head like a rattle drum.

Amusing Lin Wanyi into a helpless smile.

The Second Prince gathered his siblings together, and from one of the strings of candied haws, took one each and gave it to the Second Princess and Fourth Prince.

The one in his hand, however, he merely placed in the Fifth Prince’s mouth, letting him lick it.

Having only one tooth, biting into the candied haws was near impossible.

In the palace, after eating those exquisite dishes so often, everything outside tastes good.

These candied haws, sweet on the outside and sour inside, together create a unique flavor.

The Fifth Prince didn’t quite like sweets, so after a couple licks, he gave up.

His chubby self crawled back to the Emperor again, rubbing his mouth against the Emperor’s clothing.

Seeing a sugary drool stain appear under his robe,

the Emperor’s surge of fatherly love cooled significantly.

Glaring at the Fifth Prince, his face showed displeasure.

Yet the Fifth Prince feared not one bit.

Somehow, learning how, he crawled into the Emperor’s embrace.

Gently planting a kiss on his face.

The sound was so audible that the Emperor found himself unable to vent his anger.

At last, he could only gently pat the child’s behind.

Then helplessly took a handkerchief, wiped his face, and set off to change into new clothes.

Lin Wanyi was long accustomed to such occurrences.

Since the Fifth Prince began eating mush, using others’ clothes to wipe his mouth became a regular occurrence.

Though the nannies always prepared fresh handkerchiefs for him, readily available,

he simply didn’t like them, preferring to do things his way.

Everyone present had been so "troubled" by him.

Except for the Third Princess.

Perhaps the idea that one thing subdues another holds a grain of truth.

In Lin Wanyi’s view, the Fifth Prince fears neither the Emperor nor herself.

Only fearing the Third Princess.

Whenever he’s about to cause some mischief, a cold look from the Third Princess always stops him.

It has to be said, the bonds between children are truly extraordinary.

After finishing the candied haws, shortly thereafter, the monks brought in the vegetarian meal.

Everyone sat around the table together, having their final meal outside the palace before heading back.