Super-Fertile Darling: Forced to Marry the Heirless Tyrant

Worried the Young Master would dodge again, Jiu Jiu gently turned his chin to face her.

Yuan Heng’s body went completely stiff. Jiu Jiu meticulously wiped back and forth across his mouth, which wasn’t even greasy to begin with.

Finally, she nodded her little head in satisfaction.

"Your Highness, it’s clean now."

Yuan Heng looked as if he wanted to say something but held his tongue.

Jiu Jiu looked left and right, then added cheerfully, "Just as clean as me."

A moment ago, seeing the Young Master’s expression, she had thought he also wanted someone to help wipe his lips, so she had just gone ahead and done it.

Jiu Jiu let go and climbed down from her chair, Emperor Wu Su’s hand hovering behind her to steady her the whole time.

Yuan Heng’s dark eyes flickered. While she wasn’t looking, he turned his head, picked up the handkerchief beside him, and wiped away the greasy fingerprint she had left on his chin, letting out a helpless sigh.

Zhao Mingyan watched this scene, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

Li Yuzong was also marveling inwardly.

He ordered someone to take away the soiled handkerchief and bring a new one.

Li Yuzong’s eyes were on the father and son seated on either side of the little girl.

It was rumored in the palace that Emperor Wu Su was not close to his only son, the little prince. The rumors weren’t false, but the blame couldn’t be placed entirely on the Emperor’s indifferent nature or his cold, strict way of raising the boy.

This was because the little prince had a temperament so proud and aloof it was one in a million.

The Young Master, Yuan Heng, normally disliked seeing unclean things and hated having others touch his face, to say nothing of Jiu Jiu pressing her greasy little hand on it.

’His tolerance for her is far too high.’

Jiu Jiu’s tummy was full. She lowered her head and patted her little belly, but the pink-and-blue pouch slung over her shoulder was not full yet.

So, she started patting the flat little pouch on her side with her small hand, making a rather loud noise.

The two men beside her both looked over, and Zhao Mingyan couldn’t help but smile.

Jiu Jiu’s eyes darted back and forth between Emperor Wu Su and Li Yuzong, as if they could speak.

Zhao Mingyan raised an eyebrow. "Well, what are you waiting for?"

"Right away," Li Yuzong acknowledged, and went to the doorway to instruct the Imperial Kitchen to quickly send over the sweet cakes.

Little Dongzi was quick and efficient. He came jogging back in no time and presented the items.

A large box filled to the brim with sweet cakes was piled so high it formed a small mountain, obscuring Jiu Jiu’s head.

The little girl didn’t rush to eat. Instead, she took a deep breath of the sweet aroma, her expression one of pure, blissful comfort.

Jiu Jiu leaned back against the wide chair, her eyes curving into crescents.

In the palace, sweet cakes were probably the most worthless of treats. Even with so many piled before her, they weren’t as valuable as a single corner of the gold and jade dishes that held the main courses.

Yuan Heng had rarely seen anyone show such a satisfied expression over food.

It made him curious about the taste of these sweet cakes as well.

With a flick of her little hand, Jiu Jiu picked up a sweet cake. She peeled back the oil paper, and a fragrant aroma wafted out, drawing the gazes of the two seated on either side of her to her chubby little hand.

Jiu Jiu held the cake, looking left and then right, her little head shaking like a pellet drum.

She seemed to be contemplating who should get the first bite.

Zhao Mingyan exchanged a look with his "competitor." Yuan Heng said, "I do not care for sweets."

It was just that, held in Jiu Jiu’s hand, the sweet cake looked particularly tempting.

Jiu Jiu raised her hand high in Emperor Wu Su’s direction. Just as Zhao Mingyan lowered his head slightly to accept it...

...the little girl twisted around and, to everyone’s surprise, stuffed the cake into Yuan Heng’s mouth.

Zhao Mingyan’s eyebrows shot up.

The sweet flavor melted between his lips and tongue. The light in Yuan Heng’s eyes seemed to magnify.

"Eating sweets makes you happy! Mommy said kids can’t be picky eaters. You have to eat everything."

Hearing that it was Ji Qingwu who had said it, Yuan Heng nodded. ’Her words make a lot of sense.’

While pushing the sweet cakes on the table toward herself and the Young Master, Jiu Jiu also kept an eye on the displeased Emperor.

Her small, rosy lips opened and closed as she explained, "Mommy also said grown-ups can’t eat sweets. Eating too much will make you sick."

Zhao Mingyan snorted. ’What nonsense.’

*

The mealtime passed quickly—so quickly that Emperor Wu Su suspected the water clock was broken again. Half an hour had vanished in the blink of an eye.

More than ten officials had already gathered at the entrance to the Diligent Governance Hall, with a few more yet to arrive. Emperor Wu Su had them wait outside.

Children have their own unique ways of growing fond of someone.

Jiu Jiu quickly cozied up to the Young Master. Her favoritism grew more and more obvious until she was practically squeezing onto Yuan Heng’s chair.

Zhao Mingyan scooped her back to his side with one long arm. "Why are you always sticking to him?"

Yuan Heng tilted his head and looked over, also waiting for Jiu Jiu’s answer.

The little girl answered bluntly, "Because he’s pretty. I wanted a closer look. And after looking for a while, I feel..."

She thought about the feeling for a moment, then said, "He’s a little like Mommy."

’Warm and sweet-smelling. I just can’t help but want to get close.’

Hearing her words, Yuan Heng frowned. He first glanced at Emperor Wu Su to gauge his reaction but couldn’t read anything from his expression.

He turned his head back, his small hands clenched tightly. The more he thought about it, the more he felt a certain clue was falling into place.

His little heart began to thump wildly. The strange feeling he got when he saw Ji Qingwu, and when he saw Jiu Jiu—suddenly, it all had a rational explanation.

Li Yuzong entered from outside the hall and asked cautiously, "Holy Emperor, the officials seeking an audience have all arrived. Should I announce them now?"

Zhao Mingyan looked at the two little ones, his lips parting as if to say something.

Jiu Jiu said listlessly, "I’m sleepy."

The little girl’s eyelids felt as heavy as lead, so creased with sleepiness they looked like they had multiple layers.

*

By the time the court officials entered, Emperor Wu Su was already seated on his throne. Dressed in his Dragon Robe and jade crown, he looked as majestic as ever.

The old official from the Astronomical Bureau burst into tears the moment he entered, collapsing to his knees and weeping uncontrollably on the golden floor tiles.

"Your Majesty... you’ve finally awoken... Beili is saved..."

A crowd of officials knelt behind him, and for a moment, the hall was filled with a mixture of mournful and excited voices, as chaotic as a morning market.

Emperor Wu Su had already seen this scene countless times today. Some of the emotions were genuine, others were fake.

His gaze swept over Li Chengxun, who was standing at the edge of the crowd, and Zhao Mingyan felt a hint of surprise.

’I deliberately spread the news of the assassination attempt to test everyone’s reactions. As Qingyun’s Prince Consort, Li Chengxun hadn’t sided with the Empress Dowager. He even dared to challenge Wei Ting and Su Fengyue in court, making him a rare, neutral minister. He even managed to push Lu Juan into the spotlight. The man has some courage and insight.’

The old officials’ wailing grew more and more grating, as if they were trying to send the Emperor off to his grave on the spot.

Zhao Mingyan waved his hand impatiently. Li Yuzong immediately went forward to help the old officials up one by one.

He coaxed, "Please, stop crying. The Holy Emperor is in good health now. His schedule is full today, so it is imperative that we attend to official business."

The officials stood in two columns in the hall. Lu Juan and Duan Mingfeng, positioned on the left and right respectively, noticed something was amiss the moment they entered.

To the right of the Emperor’s desk, a small table had been added. The Young Master, Yuan Heng, was sitting primly behind it, his small, jade-like face filled with the dignity of the Royal Family.

But there was no sign of Jiu Jiu.