Chapter 1082: Birthday

Xiao Lele finished speaking and continued to giggle while swinging on the swing.

With her brother’s protection, she wasn’t afraid no matter how high she went.

Perhaps it was because of what she said.

Perhaps she was too happy and got careless.

When the swing reached its highest point,

Xiao Lele lost her grip and her whole little body flew off in the direction of the swing.

At that moment,

everyone’s heart jumped up to their throats...

Some timid little eunuchs were even so scared that they wet their pants.

If the Princess were to fall...

Not only would their own heads be at risk, but their families...

Oh heavens, they dared not think further!

They just stared fixedly at the small figure whose fate was in the balance in the sky.

But Xiao Lele wasn’t afraid.

Instead of being scared, she became even more excited.

For the first time, she ’flew’ to a height she’d never reached before following the swing’s motion.

The little girl was amazed.

"Wow!"

"So high! It’s so beautiful here!"

Up ’in the sky’, she could see the view of more than half of the palace compound.

The distant Imperial Garden, the nearby palace buildings, every blade of grass, every tree and flower, all were crystal clear.

The little girl was excitedly waving her hands and feet.

Zhao Qichen felt a bit helpless.

’This girl, she’s really so brave!’

’Is there nothing in this world that she’s afraid of?’

His toes touched the ground, and with a gentle leap, he flew into the air, catching Xiao Lele securely in his arms.

Then he twirled around, slowly descending.

His face was stern, but his eyes were filled with tenderness.

Wearing a crown prince’s python robe embroidered with a four-clawed golden dragon, in mid-air, it billowed in the wind, majestic and imposing.

In his embrace was the three-year-old Xiao Lele in a red dress.

She chuckled, leaning against her brother, clapping her little hands eagerly.

"Brother, you’re amazing!"

Zhao Qichen pretended to be serious.

"You must not be so naughty in the future!"

Xiao Lele buried her little head in her brother’s chest to act coy.

"Brother, it’s rare for you to play with me, I just wanted to be a bit spoiled!"

"Brother~"

Zhao Qichen’s chest felt tickled by her rubbing.

Unable to resist any longer, he just smiled and pulled her little head out.

"Alright, alright, be spoiled, you can be spoiled!!"

"Won’t brother play with you?"

For this sister who was over six years younger than him,

he just couldn’t be harsh.

Xiao Lele clapped her hands in excitement.

"Yay! Brother is the best!"

"Xiao Lele loves brother!"

Then, with a ’mwah’ sound, she gave her brother a kiss on the cheek.

Mother loves her, so she often kisses her.

Since she loves her brother, she can kiss him too...

Of course she can, hee hee!

While Xiao Lele was feeling proud of herself,

a blush instantly spread across Zhao Qichen’s wheat-colored cheeks.

The always confident and invincible Crown Prince Chen,

for that moment, was at such a loss that he didn’t know where to place his hands.

The palace attendants around, having been frightened by the scene just now,

were now immersed in the joy of a near-death relief, so none of them noticed the Crown Prince’s peculiarity.

Everyone touched their necks: ’Hmm, it’s safe, it won’t fall off!’

They looked at the clouds, so white.

Looked at the sky, so blue!

Looked at the surroundings, the scenery’s so beautiful!

Behind the swing, Henger and Yeye weren’t scared though.

But the two brothers were staring at their big brother with envy and jealousy.

Incidentally, they touched their own cheeks.

’Why couldn’t it be me?’

’We’re both brothers, and Xiao Lele hasn’t kissed me yet!’

...

Xia Ruqing, with a long line of palace maids and eunuchs, happened upon the scene as she came to find the children.

The palace attendants had a look of lingering fear on their faces.

Chenchen was holding Xiao Lele, his expression rather complex.

Henger and Yeye looked envious.

"What happened?"

Xia Ruqing, who knew nothing, asked.

Zhao Qichen quickly came to his senses, placing his sister on the ground.

"It’s nothing!"

"Xiao Lele was swinging, just a little mishap occurred!"

Xia Ruqing turned her gaze to the others.

She saw the eunuchs and palace maids with expressions of ’utter disbelief’.

As if saying ’A little mishap? If that’s a little mishap, then what’s a big one?!’

Xia Ruqing then looked at Henger and Yeye.

They also appeared extremely calm.

Xia Ruqing breathed a sigh of relief.

’It should...not be a big problem, right!’

She bent down to pick up Xiao Lele.

Deliberately putting on a stern face, she scolded.

"Today is your brother’s birthday, no mischief allowed!"

Xiao Lele quickly shook her head.

"No! Xiao Lele has been good!"

"Brother, isn’t that right?"

Zhao Qichen turned and smiled.

"Yes!"

Completely having forgotten the embarrassment his sister caused him.

Protecting her was still so natural!

Xia Ruqing sighed and poked Xiao Lele’s head, finally not saying anything more.

...

Not long after taking the children back, night fell.

Zhao Junyao also finished his paperwork and came to the Duanning Palace.

Xia Ruqing called for the already prepared table of dishes to be served.

The two of them sat down with the four children.

Xia Ruqing then raised her glass with a smile and said.

"Today is Chenchen’s birthday!"

"This table of dishes is a token of my heart as a mother, wishing my Chenchen more and more wisdom and courage, brilliant intelligence!"

Zhao Qichen was very happy, and rarely showed a smile.

"Thank you, Mother!"

After speaking, he drained the wine in his cup.

The wine they drank was relatively light.

It was fruit wine brewed by Chef Su in the little kitchen of the palace.

The sweet wine with fruit flavor entered the mouth, and it took a while before one could taste the faint aroma of the wine.

The children were all still growing.

Other things were not good for their bodies, this was the most suitable.

Xia Ruqing happily nodded, looking towards Zhao Junyao.

The implication was: It’s your turn!

’Your most valued eldest son’s birthday, you’ve got to say something!’

But she overestimated Zhao Junyao’s language ability.

Zhao Junyao, with a complex expression, thought for half a day, but his mind was still blank.

He was already not good with words.

And now he had to speak emotionally in front of his wife and kids, he couldn’t do it!

So.

Zhao Junyao solemnly patted Zhao Qichen’s shoulder.

He gave him a ’Son, I’m counting on you!’ look, then tipped his head back and drank it all.

Like father, like son.

Zhao Qichen was also not good at words.

Seeing his father drink, he also raised his glass.

And gave his father a ’Okay, I get it’ look.

...

Father and son completed the toast with just their eyes communicating.

This left the others dumbfounded.

Henger and Yeye, who had always been wary of their father and big brother, dared not speak.

But Xiao Lele feared nothing.

She tilted her head and asked in her childish voice.

"Mother!"

"Why aren’t Father and big brother speaking!"

Actually, Xia Ruqing didn’t know what this father and son were thinking either.

After much thought, she could only say.

"Maybe they feel... they have nothing to say..."

"Oh!" Xiao Lele nodded earnestly.

Zhao Junyao: "..."

Nothing to say?

One was a Crown Prince known for his intelligence and courage, cultivated with care.

The other was a father who deeply valued and diligently educated his eldest son, entrusting him with important tasks from a young age.

They just weren’t good at expressing themselves, how could they have nothing to say!

The father and son exchanged glances, their eyes full of helplessness.

"Alright, let’s hurry and eat!"

Xia Ruqing held Xiao Lele and was busy helping Henger and Yeye with their food.

"You all hurry and eat too!"

She beckoned Zhao Junyao and Chenchen.