VHBF – Chapter 35 Emperor Daddy (Part 12)

Everyone held their breath, shifting their gazes toward the emperor, who had not spoken a word from the beginning.

The little dumpling was oblivious. After glancing curiously at the crowd for a while, she lost interest in outsiders and focused on the food on the table.

The dishes before the emperor were both greater in number and variety than anyone else’s. The imperial kitchen had also taken the little princess’s tastes into account, only serving what a three-year-old could eat.

Wei Jue had never cared much for food and preferred light meals. After eating his fill—about half—he set his chopsticks down.

And of course, the leftovers fell to the gluttonous little dumpling.

Yinyin’s love for food was incurable. Before her transmigration, she had lived in a shabby little house in an urban village, often with nothing to eat. She survived thanks to the kindness of neighbors and by collecting bottles to sell. Having never tasted much good food, she treasured every bite.

The imperial chefs were skilled—especially when trying to please the emperor—so the food was naturally delicious. So delicious that the dumpling wished she could swallow her tongue along with it.

With the talent performances already over, everyone now watched as the little princess chewed non-stop beside the emperor. She wasn’t selfish either: after a few bites, she would remember her father and clumsily scoop something she thought tasty to feed to him.

The civil and military officials twitched at the corners of their mouths, watching the emperor, expressionless, swallow what the princess had scooped. Meanwhile, the other children stared wide-eyed, mouths agape, admiration written all over their faces.

As expected of the little princess—so daring she even fed the emperor! Their determination to befriend her only grew stronger. Having a friend unafraid of the emperor was simply too impressive!

Wei Jue slowly wiped his mouth, then also wiped the greasy lips and little hands of the dumpling before turning to the crowd.

“Tell me,” he said, “are you truly sincere about sending your children to the palace as study companions?”

The ministers who had spoken up earlier hastily confirmed yes.

Wei Jue raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t asking you.” He looked at the circle of little ones. “I’m asking you.”

The grand chancellor’s great-grandson shot his hand up high. “I want to!”

The grand preceptor’s grandson, Cao Lian, disregarded his timid mother’s tug. “I want to!”

The heir of Duke Chengguo and several others eagerly nodded their little heads, all chorusing that they wanted to!

Even if they feared the emperor, to befriend the mighty little princess, these young ones summoned their courage and answered bravely.

The heir of Prince Wu had a pair of twins. They cautiously glanced at their father’s face, saw his mild expression, and only then answered that they wanted to as well.

Wei Liang’s lips curved slightly.

Wei Jue thought for a moment. “Select five to enter the palace. Grand Academician Zhou Yi and Right Chancellor Boyuan will be responsible for their instruction.”

Grand Academician Zhou Yi, around forty, with refined features and a gentleman’s demeanor, cupped his hands in acknowledgment.

Boyuan smiled cheerfully. “With such an adorable little princess, I will naturally teach her well!”

The dumpling thought the voice sounded familiar. Pausing mid-bite, she looked up—and froze. This uncle…

Boyuan waved at her. “A few days apart and you’ve already changed. The little princess looks even prettier now that she’s washed clean!”

He was about to continue his teasing when Wei Jue’s gaze fell on him, and he immediately shut his mouth.

Someone asked how the five companions would be chosen.

Looking around, there were over ten volunteers—already the children faced their first elimination crisis in life.

Chu Ji pointed at the dumpling, cheeks puffed as she chewed. “Let her choose.”

Everyone was startled. The dumpling blinked at her father in confusion.

Then the system chimed cheerfully: “Little cub, hurry and choose! But remember, you mustn’t pick the bad uncle’s child!”

The dumpling was dazed until the system explained that her father was letting her choose friends. At the word friends, her eyes lit up. She had never had friends her own age before. The neighborhood children looked down on her, calling her “poor ghost” and “trash picker,” and treated her badly. But she had always longed for friends. Now she could finally have some!

Overjoyed, she squealed and threw herself into her father’s arms. “Daddy, you’re the best!”

Wei Jue: “…”

He didn’t know what she had imagined, but clearly she was delighted. The corner of his mouth twitched upward before he suppressed it again.

The officials: “…”

The children: “Wow!”

Since she was choosing friends, of course she looked for the ones she liked. Being a little face-connoisseur, she instinctively glanced at the better-looking children.

Cao Lian from the Grand Preceptor’s household was bold and outgoing. He kept winking and gesturing at the princess, clearly begging, “Pick me!”

Not to be outdone, the chancellor’s great-grandson, Jiang Cao, piped up crisply: “Little princess, I have five picture storybooks. If you pick me, I’ll let you read them!”

The old chancellor tugged his great-grandson’s ear. “Storybooks?”

Jiang Cao clapped a hand over his mouth. Oops—secret exposed!

But determined to make a good impression, he stubbornly held his ground, even if it meant punishment later.

Fang Tang, the five-year-old son of Marquis Beiyang, sneered. Storybooks? As if the princess would care. He pulled out a jade pendant from his chest. “If you’ll be my friend, I’ll give you this pendant—as our… as our token of affection!”

His little face flushed red as he turned away awkwardly. He had never made such an investment before—this was the pendant he’d worn since childhood!

His parents: “…”

Wei Jue’s face darkened. That reckless brat—so young and already so bold. Clearly unreliable.

But the dumpling didn’t understand. Thrilled that for the first time someone her age was giving her a gift, she pointed at Fang Tang. “Good! From now on, you’re my friend! We’re best friends!”

“You gave me a gift, so I’ll give you one too!”

It was her first taste of friendship and gifts from a peer. Her little heart floated with joy. She rummaged around herself but found nothing. Today’s clothes were new, she hadn’t brought anything. Afraid he wouldn’t believe her, she quickly explained, “I forgot to bring something today, but tomorrow I’ll give you my favorite hairpin!”

“It’s called a token of affection, right?” She nodded firmly. With such a token, their friendship would only grow stronger.

She only wanted to give what she thought was prettiest, not realizing a boy might not like it.

Fang Tang blinked. Hairpin? What’s that? But not wanting the princess to think him ignorant, he nodded solemnly, keeping up a façade of maturity.

Wei Jue recalled how earlier in the side hall the dumpling had said that hairpin was “exclusive to Father Emperor” and that she wanted him to braid her hair tomorrow. Now she’d forgotten?

He instinctively blamed the reckless Marquis’s brat for leading her astray. His dark gaze bore into the child, brow furrowed, as if considering whether to pan-fry or deep-fry him.

A drop of sweat trickled down the Marquis’s forehead. Feeling a chill, he quickly dragged his son back, covering his mouth before he could say more.

He even glared at his wife—why had she ever told the child about “tokens of affection”? Half-understood, half-garbled, and now nearly causing disaster!

Seeing the emperor about to intervene, Eunuch Xiaoyuzi’s eyelid twitched. Heaven help us—once the emperor speaks, there’s no taking it back!

He hurried to advise: “Your Majesty, you promised to let the princess choose. Look at how happy she is making her first friend. Best not to interfere. If you truly dislike the boy, you can always find a reason to dismiss him later.”

Catching the radiant joy on the dumpling’s face, Wei Jue swallowed his thoughts.

The heir of Duke Chengguo, Cheng Li, was a little prodigy who had started reading early. He tugged his grandfather’s sleeve and asked, “Grandfather, what’s a token of affection?”

Duke Chengguo’s mouth twitched. “That’s not something to give lightly. Only adults exchange such things. Children shouldn’t mess around!”

Seeing the emperor’s dark expression, he added sternly, half-warning: “You must never copy that. Tokens of affection are for your future wife. If you give it away now, you won’t be able to marry later!”

Cheng Li nodded solemnly, half-understanding.

With her first friend chosen and a promise made, the dumpling looked for others.

Still following her “face-value” standard, she picked Cao Lian, Jiang Cao, and Cheng Li. That left one spot.

She hesitated, her gaze drifting to the twins of Prince Wu’s heir.

The system panicked. If the little cub blurted “I want them!” it would be a disaster.

He quickly tried to brainwash her again, nearly tearing his circuits with worry. The reborn male lead was far too cunning—how could a three-year-old outwit him?

“Little cub, don’t pick them! That uncle is a bad man—really bad!”

Seeing her still wavering, charmed by Wei Liang’s gentle smile, the system’s light ring spun frantically. Then it hit him—her absolute devotion to her father!

“Little cub, that uncle wants to hurt your daddy!”

Normally the system despised her “daddy’s little fangirl” tendencies, but now it was useful.

Sure enough, the dumpling bristled at once. “System-uncle, why would that bad uncle want to hurt my daddy?!”

The system cast a glance at the calm and confident male lead and slyly fanned the flames. “Because he’s a villain. Villains don’t need reasons.”

The dumpling believed it instantly. In her heart, anyone who wanted to harm her father was a villain!

She turned her head firmly away from the “bad uncle’s” children, childish resentment already transferred. She decided she didn’t like them at all!

But the thought of someone wanting to harm her father weighed on her. Distracted, she lost interest in choosing carefully and pointed at random.

The black, skinny boy huddled in his seat blinked in shock. Eyes wide, he couldn’t believe it!

The ministers had already noticed her choosing purely by looks. The less attractive children had quietly withdrawn hope.

But this boy—ugly since birth, to the despair of his family—had no such expectations.

His name was Yu Shushu, a scholarly name filled with his parents’ hopes that he might grow into it. They didn’t expect a swan, just that he might reach average looks someday.

Yu Shushu was the second legitimate son of the Minister of Personnel’s family. His grandfather had recommended the elder grandson instead, thinking him more reliable—three years older, better able to care for the princess. Never in their dreams did they think she’d choose the “ugly” one!

The dumpling, having chosen, didn’t dwell on it. She threw herself against her father, wheedling: “Daddy, I want to go home.”

She didn’t want to see the bad uncle anymore. If only she could take Father Emperor away, far from him, then he wouldn’t be able to hurt her daddy!

Wei Jue held her soft, fragrant little body and savored the words “go home.” Suddenly his mood lifted.

That cold, empty palace—within his little cub’s heart, it was her home.