[Wow! Why does my scumbag dad have so many lamb skewers? He's got even more than I'm holding! Where did he get them?!]
[He must have taken them from my stall. Outrageous, absolutely outrageous! He's a stumbling block on my road to riches. I'm not giving him any of these lamb skewers.]
Ye Tangtang tucked the lamb skewers closer against her chest, turned, and ran. She was taking them to her mother instead.
"Tang Tang, weren't you here to bring Emperor Father something? Why are you leaving?"
Ye Tangtang stopped and turned, giving Ye Yubei a deeply aggrieved look. Her stare left him feeling a little guilty.
"Doesn't Emperor Father already have lots of lamb skewers, Daddy?"
Ye Yubei spouted nonsense with a perfectly straight face. "These are... for your mother. I, Emperor Father, haven't eaten a single one."
At some point, Ye Tangtang had come over to his side. She pointed at the grease that had dripped onto his memorials. "Emperor Father, Daddy, did you really not eat any? Then why is there grease on this? Are you lying to a little kid?"
Ye Yubei: "..."
"It was Eunuch Wang. Yes, Eunuch Wang sneaked a skewer. Ask him if you don't believe me. Emperor Father really hasn't eaten a single one."
Ye Yubei pointed at Eunuch Wang beside him. Unable even to cry despite wanting to, Eunuch Wang could only nod and take the blame.
"Little Princess, this servant did indeed eat that lamb skewer. If you wish to punish someone, punish this servant. His Majesty hasn't eaten a single one."
Ye Yubei nodded at Eunuch Wang in satisfaction. Well handled.
"All right. But where's Mommy? Why hasn't she come?"
Ye Tangtang looked around, but there was no sign of her mother. She hadn't gone home earlier, either.
"Your