Chapter 1010: Playing Favorites

So.

Her children, whether son or daughter, shouldn’t be raised too delicately.

Boys should go outside and dig in the mud.

Girls should play with pets. Yellow Bean has a gentle nature, and Yue Er likes him too.

There’s nothing wrong with that!

...

The sky darkened.

Yue Er hugged Yellow Bean, who was about the same height as her, as she entered the room and asked softly.

"Mother, mother!"

"Are there any more cherries?"

Xia Ruqing looked at her daughter’s little face, smudged with dirt, both amused and exasperated.

"Were you out playing with Yellow Bean again?"

"Did you get hurt?"

Little Yue Er haughtily tilted her head.

"No!"

"Mother, Yue Er still wants to eat cherries!"

Xia Ruqing picked her up.

"Chef Su made cherry cake, do you want to eat it?"

At the mention of cake, Yue Er’s eyes lit up.

"Cake?"

Back when she turned one, Xia Ruqing had Chef Su make a little cake for her.

Using flour, milk, and sugar, mixed with eggs, it was poured into a mold and baked.

Afterward, it came out as an egg cake that looked like a big pie.

Then it was covered in a layer of cream made from milk curds and decorated with freshly cut fruits, all colorful and pretty.

Though not as exquisite as modern cakes,

Yue Er still loved it.

She tried a piece, which was fragrant and sweet, and liked it even more.

She kept asking for more.

Xia Ruqing soothed her.

"You can’t eat it often; it’ll ruin your teeth!"

Yue Er was a bit unhappy, but she forgot about it after a few days.

Now at the mention of cake, of course, she remembered.

Xia Ruqing was amused by Yue Er’s look of delight.

She playfully tapped her daughter’s little nose.

"Of course!"

Yue Er immediately jumped for joy.

Xia Ruqing added.

"But... Yue Er!"

"A delicious thing like cake, should we wait and eat it with your brother and father?"

Yue Er seemed a bit conflicted.

After hesitating for a moment, she decided to make a noble sacrifice.

"Yes!"

"Yue Er likes father and brother, so Yue Er will wait and eat with them!"

"Good!"

Xia Ruqing praised her.

She thought her daughter was quite commendable, understanding so much at just over one year old. She felt gratified.

Just as she was about to praise her,

Footsteps were heard outside, followed by a voice.

"What’s making you all so happy?"

This voice needed no introduction; the Emperor had arrived.

Xia Ruqing was about to stand up and pay her respects.

Unexpectedly, little Yue Er ran out first.

"Father!"

She ran to Zhao Junyao’s side, looked up with her little face, and opened her arms wide.

The set of actions was very familiar.

Zhao Junyao glanced down, and with a look of indulgence, held his daughter in his arms.

"Yue Er, my sweet! Did you miss your father?"

"Yes!"

"Father, I saved something delicious for you!"

Little Yue Er’s eyes sparkled brightly.

Xia Ruqing quietly bent her knees, then approached, half-smiling, half-crying.

"Emperor, this girl is really..."

"So young, yet already giving gifts borrowed from others!"

Zhao Junyao seemed puzzled.

"What do you mean by giving gifts borrowed from others?"

Before Xia Ruqing could say anything.

Yue Er hugged her father’s neck and coquettishly said with a smile.

"Father, I want to ride a big horse!"

Xia Ruqing almost froze in place.

"Ride a big horse?"

Wasn’t that the game where kids sit on their father’s shoulders?

Oh my, Zhao Junyao was the Emperor.

Yue Er was really bold.

Whose idea was this?!

"Yue Er, don’t talk nonsense!" Xia Ruqing deliberately put on a stern face.

But Yue Er was unafraid and confidently said.

"Mother!"

"My second sister said she often rode a big horse when she was little. I want to as well!"

"Father, what is riding a big horse?"

Xia Ruqing gritted her teeth silently.

’Your second sister was riding an eunuch, but you want to ride your father!’

She rolled her eyes and quickly coaxed her.

"Yue Er, your father doesn’t know what riding a big horse is either!"

"But there’s someone who does, and I’ll have him play with you tomorrow, okay?"

Isn’t Xiao Xizi perfect for the job? If not, any strong little eunuch will do!

Riding a big horse isn’t too hard for anyone!

After all, it shouldn’t be something a monarch would do!

"Father, do you really not know?"

She looked up, full of expectation.

Those big eyes nearly melted him on the spot!

Zhao Junyao, without much thought, immediately lifted Yue Er onto his head, letting her sit on his shoulders, laughing.

"Don’t listen to your mother’s nonsense!"

"Of course, your father knows what riding a big horse is!"

"Look, this is it!"

Suddenly lifted so high, Yue Er wasn’t scared at all. She was extremely excited.

"Haha!"

"I knew my father is the best, my father knows everything!"

"Mother, you’re a liar, shame on you!"

Xia Ruqing: "..."

She was utterly stunned, as if struck by lightning!

This man, there’s no limit to how much he spoils his daughter!

Can someone tell her if she should be crying or laughing?!

"Emperor..."

She was just about to say something.

Zhao Junyao stopped her.

"There’s no need to say anything, it’s just the three of us, no one will know!"

Xia Ruqing looked around and confirmed.

So...

She reluctantly accepted it.

Well, in modern times, many dads do this, it’s nothing special.

If you can accept it yourself, why shouldn’t I?

However...

She looked at Yue Er, who was excitedly sitting on her father’s head.

Feeling sentimental.

’Yue Er, do you know you’re the only one in the world whom the Emperor willingly carries on his head!’

’Not only on his head but also in the palm of his hand!’

Yue Er must have saved the world in her past life.

This life, she’s born into royalty, loved by her father and mother, adored by her three brothers.

As long as she doesn’t rebel, commit murder, or burn things down,

Her life will be prosperous and smooth.

In the future, she won’t have to vie with other women for a man, deal with bad in-laws, or curry favor with anyone.

She can have whatever she wants.

This life is practically... unimaginably perfect!

Xia Ruqing thought.

If she ever gets a chance to travel through time again, she’ll wish to end up in a position similar to Yue Er’s.

So she can thoroughly indulge herself!

...

That night.

Yue Er had finished her fill of riding the big horse.

Afterwards, it was time for dinner.

Her piece of cherry cake was brought out as well.

Yue Er kept her promise and generously cut out a big piece for Zhao Junyao!

And Zhao Junyao, who did not like sweets,

Was nonetheless honored and ate it all in one go because it was given by Yue Er.

Moreover, when Yue Er eagerly asked him if it was delicious,

He lied through his teeth and said.

"Delicious!"

"Yue Er is so filial!"

Yue Er giggled.

Zhao Junyao looked completely content.

Xia Ruqing shook her head as she watched.

’This man, an overindulgent father for sure!’

’How did I never see this potential before?! Is it that sons don’t count, only daughters do?’

’Such favoritism!’