On the Importance of Teammates!

In the kitchen, Su Xian was enthusiastically preparing the dishes. They were all ordinary home-cooked meals, but their flavors were unmatched.

"Big Brother~"

Suddenly, a childish voice rang out, tender and sweet as though coated in honey.

Turning around, he saw a little girl standing timidly at the doorway. She wore a proper Palace Dress, with exquisite features like a porcelain doll and dewy skin so delicate it seemed ready to break at a touch.

The girl was only three or four years old, still carrying a bit of baby fat, yet an air of lively charm already radiated from her. One could imagine just how breathtakingly beautiful she would become in the future.

"Ke Er, why are you here?"

Su Xian was startled when he saw the little girl, then walked over with a broad smile. He pinched her chubby little cheeks, his eyes filled with affection.

"Mother told me to come see Big Brother."

With pure, crystal-clear eyes, Xue Ke held Su Xian's hand and answered honestly.

Su Xian raised his brows slightly and asked, "Did your mother come too?"

"Mhm, mhm."

Xue Ke blinked her lovely lashes, her expression sincere. Her milk-like sweetness and innocent adorableness instantly overflowed.

Unable to help himself, Su Xian rubbed her head. At that moment, Qin Yao interjected from the side.

"Yang Consort came with the Empress. They should be in the main hall now. The princess insisted on coming to find Your Highness, so this servant brought her here."

"My mother came too?"

Su Xian's expression turned somewhat strange. Xue Er had only just returned, and now she had come over already.

Judging by the timing, could she be here to mooch a meal?!

Hiss... that was actually very possible!

Whenever there was business in the palace, they usually left only after eating. If they came out around noon, they would generally dine outside.

Damn it!

This was only their first day alone together!

Old Mother, weren't you embarrassed to come mooch a meal?

And she had even brought others along with her. Luckily, the imperial harem didn't have seventy-two consorts, or he'd be worked to death!

"Yao Er, go ask whether my mother and the others intend to dine at the estate," Su Xian ordered with a solemn expression.

"Your Highness, the Empress's personal palace maid has already told this servant. It should be true," Qin Yao replied directly.

Su Xian: ...

Damn!

Old Mother, you really came to mooch a meal!

Could it be... that after giving Xue Er a million, she felt the pain and wanted to eat it back?

Shaking his head, Su Xian did not dwell on it. Looking at Xue Ke, he said gently, "Ke Er, Big Brother needs to cook now. The kitchen is too dirty, so why don't you go to the front courtyard and play with your sister-in-law?"

Xue Ke grabbed Su Xian's arm with both hands. Her large eyes were full of expectation as she asked in her childish voice, "Then can Ke Er stay here for dinner too?"

Su Xian scraped her little nose, his heart already melted by her adorable appearance. Beaming, he said, "Of course. In a little while, Ke Er will get to see lots of delicious food."

"Okay, okay."

Xue Ke nodded innocently, then turned and took hold of Qin Yao's finger. Qin Yao was just about to lead her away, but the little girl suddenly stopped.

Turning back toward Su Xian, Xue Ke gently bit her lip. Worry seemed ready to spill from her face as she looked at him pitifully with her big eyes.

"Big Brother, will Sister-in-law not like Ke Er?"

Su Xian could not help laughing. "Don't worry. Your sister-in-law is very nice, and she really likes little Ke Er."

"Okay, okay. Then I'm going to find Sister-in-law."

Sigh...

Watching Xue Ke leave, Su Xian let out a helpless sigh and returned to the kitchen.

Now, the task had suddenly become much more arduous!

But who was he? How could such a tiny difficulty stump him?!

A man could never say he couldn't do it!

Inside the main hall, the three women chatted idly.

"Ke Er, come here to Mother."

When Yang Consort saw Xue Ke return, she beckoned fondly. Then she scooped her up in one motion. "Ke Er, is your Big Brother cooking right now?"

"Mhm, mhm. Big Brother said he would make Ke Er something delicious."

Xue Ke swallowed, but her gaze wandered around the hall before finally settling on Qian Renxue.

"Ke Er, this is your Big Brother's wife. Hurry and call her Sister-in-law," Yang Consort said with a smile.

"This is your Aunt Xue's daughter, Xue Ke."

Seeing the puzzled look in Qian Renxue's eyes, Nan Gongling hurriedly explained. Her gaze was full of tenderness. "The moment this girl got off the carriage, she clamored to find her Big Brother. No one could stop her."

"Sister-in-law, you're so pretty."

Xue Ke jumped straight down from Yang Consort's arms and ran up to Qian Renxue. Her clear, shimmering eyes stared blankly at Qian Renxue.

Looking at the adorable little girl before her, Qian Renxue felt somewhat at a loss. Having grown up alone in Spirit Hall, she had no experience dealing with children.

Yet Xue Ke's innocent and adorable appearance made affection well up within her. She reached out and rubbed the little girl's head. "You're very pretty too. When you grow up, you'll definitely be prettier than Sister-in-law."

"Hehe..."

Xue Ke smiled in satisfaction and looked at Qian Renxue innocently. "Then can Ke Er become Big Brother's wife in the future too?"

The moment those words were spoken, the main hall fell silent.

Qian Renxue stared blankly at Xue Ke, her face flushing red. It felt as though a thousand Grass Mud Horses were galloping through her heart.

A three- or four-year-old little girl was actually trying to steal her husband?!

"Pfft..."

Nan Gongling was amused by her words as well and covered her mouth while laughing.

"You child, what nonsense are you saying?"

Yang Consort was terribly embarrassed. She hurriedly pulled Xue Ke into her arms, patted her little head, and said helplessly, "You're your Big Brother's younger sister. How could you become his wife? Don't say such things again in the future, understand?"

Seeing Yang Consort's angry expression, Xue Ke's little face was filled with grievance and confusion. She did not dare ask why and could only nod obediently.

"Children speak without restraint. Don't take it too seriously, Sister," Nan Gongling comforted her.

"It is this sister's lax discipline that made Elder Sister and Xue Er laugh at us," Yang Consort apologized with a smile, though her expression remained stern.

"It's nothing..."

"Empress Dowager!"

Nan Gongling had just begun to speak when a sharp, fervent voice interrupted her.

Two figures strode over. One was lively and robust, while the other was gentle and reserved. Both wore radiant smiles, as though they had encountered some joyous occasion.

"Greetings, Empress Dowager, Aunt."

Seeing that Yang Consort was also present, Xue Wuji and Xue Mingtong hurriedly saluted. The latter also quickly rose, lifting her jade-like hand as she dared not neglect them.

"Greetings to you two..."

"Don't, Sister-in-law. If Big Brother finds out, he'll definitely beat us." Seeing Qian Renxue about to return the greeting, Xue Wuji and Xue Mingtong shuddered inwardly and immediately stopped her.

They had no choice!

They could not afford to offend him!!

Given how crazily devoted to his wife Big Brother was now, they would rather offend him to his face than let her suffer even the slightest grievance.

Their once kind and brotherly Big Brother had suddenly changed, becoming a man who valued women over his younger brothers. They truly wanted to cry without tears!

"Why have you two come as well?"

Nan Gongling smiled sweetly as she looked at Xue Wuji and Xue Mingtong. Clearly aware of their intentions, she deliberately feigned ignorance.

"We heard that Empress Dowager had left the palace, so we specially came to keep you company," Xue Mingtong immediately replied.

"Oh?"

With amusement in her eyes, Nan Gongling said, "It's getting late. Why don't you go back and eat first?"

Xue Wuji and Xue Mingtong: ...

They had already come all this way. How could they possibly leave so easily?!

Did they have no shame?

They would not leave!

They would not leave even if beaten to death!

"Empress Dowager, we have nothing to do anyway. We'll stay here and talk with you for a while," Xue Mingtong said calmly, wearing an elegant smile.

"As for lunch, we'll just eat a little at Big Brother's place," Xue Wuji immediately stated.

"Hiss~ Third Brother, why did you pinch me?!" As soon as the words left his mouth, Xue Wuji's face went pale, and he instantly flew into a rage.

Xue Mingtong's face darkened, and he felt utterly lifeless: ...

You pig teammate, why did you say the truth out loud?!

I fucking regret teaming up with you!