Extra 5: An imperial command cannot be defied, but you can obey in public and rebel in private!

A group sat beneath the little canopy of a roadside sweet soup stall, the atmosphere heavy.

The little girl was happily drinking her cool, refreshing mung bean soup. The bowl was nearly empty, and their rare moment of peace was about to shatter.

With their very survival hanging in the balance, the ministers seated around her exchanged glances. None wanted to speak first and become the bird that stuck its head out, only to have the little girl strip away its last scrap of dignity.

With a clack, a porcelain bowl touched the table.

Jiang Yanchuan set down his bowl and swept a cold gaze over the ministers' faces. He said nothing, but the urging in his eyes could not have been clearer.

The ministers: "..."

The ministers bit their lower lips, a flash of resolve entering their eyes.

An imperial command could not be defied, but they could obey in public and rebel in private!

Their dark eyes darted about before every gaze settled on Chu Jiaxu, who had started this whole dispute.

Hehehe.

Hehehehehe.

Chu Jiaxu shuddered violently.

Jiang Yingcheng finished her great big bowl of mung bean soup in utter contentment and let out a tiny burp. The moment she looked up, she met an entire row of eager gazes.

Um...

Jiang Yingcheng cautiously scooted closer to her beautiful Imperial Father.

There it was again!

That hair-raising feeling was back!

"D-Daddy!" She desperately shook the sleeve clutched in her hand. "Chengcheng finished it all! L-let's go!"

Jiang Yanchuan did not budge. "Daddy is tired. I need to rest a while."

He was also quite curious what his ministers would devise to save their own skins.

Jiang Yingcheng froze for a moment. She could not understand how her beautiful Imperial Father, who never grew tired even when handling