At least you know what's good for you, kid!

Jiang Yanchuan's sudden rise to his feet gave everyone present quite a fright.

Especially Liu Zhengqing, the Minister of Personnel, who had just finished his report. As Jiang Yanchuan moved, his heart began pounding faster and harder. With everyone around him instinctively holding their breath, the sound seemed particularly clear, as though his heart were about to burst out of his chest. Even his breathing grew rapid.

No one dared look up. Emperor Mingze's footsteps simply drew closer and closer, until his figure entered their lowered fields of vision.

They all went over their reports again and again in their minds, worried that something had gone wrong with their assigned tasks without their knowledge, scrutinizing every word and sentence.

After a long moment, Emperor Mingze's palm settled on Liu Zhengqing's shoulder. He gave it two light pats, then spoke in a voice tinged with an ambiguous smile. "Thank you for your hard work, my minister."

They all breathed a sigh of relief.

Liu Zhengqing fearfully replied with a few suitably flattering remarks, and for a moment, the atmosphere was perfectly harmonious.

Only that little babyish voice was still fuming: [What hard work?!]

[He's amassed so much money selling offices and titles these past few years! He eats and drinks well every day. He hasn't worked hard at all!]

[He-he even eats better than Chengcheng does in the palace! Waaaah!]

The grievance in that inner voice was so heartfelt that Changshun, aching for her, even stole a furtive glance at Emperor Mingze.

Just what sort of life had the little princess been living in the palace to say something like that? Her imperial father was utterly failing in his duties!

Jiang Yanchuan: "..."

The earlier coincidences had only made him suspicious. Now he was completely certain that Changshun could hear this little one's thoughts too.

He simply did not yet know what conditions triggered it.

Suppressing his doubts, Jiang Yanchuan decided to send these men home first so he could arrange for people to investigate in secret whether the claims in that inner voice were true.

If they were, then he truly had stumbled upon a priceless treasure.

This ability to know the past and see the future was incredibly useful. If he could apply it to affairs of court, it would surely save him considerable effort.

At that thought, his eyes curved with pleasure, entirely unaffected by Liu Zhengqing's embezzlement.

Once the charges were confirmed, he could naturally confiscate the man's property and recover the money. After that-

[Oh, it's the uncle with no private spending money!]

The soft, sweet voice interrupted his thoughts again.

Jiang Yanchuan turned at the sound, just in time to see Tan Songsong about to withdraw his arm.

[This uncle is such a good person!]

[He doesn't even have any little treats to eat himself, but he still thought to pass some to me. Waaaah, Chengcheng likes him too!]

Jiang Yanchuan's gaze slowly shifted to the low table on the couch.

The several pastries that should have remained on the plate had long since vanished. Tan Songsong looked embarrassed, while Jiang Yingcheng had tucked both little hands behind her back. Her guilty eyes darted from side to side, refusing to meet his gaze.

[There are still lots of little treats in the room beside Father's. I wonder if this uncle would help Chengcheng steal another two.]

As her gaze darted about, the little one spotted the pastries in the adjoining room again. She was busy plotting how to steal another two and completely missed Tan Songsong's head snapping up, or the shock that nearly overwhelmed his expression.

[Why hasn't Father turned back around yet?]

Jiang Yingcheng's short little legs dangled over the edge of the couch, swinging back and forth in the air as she kept chattering to 007 in her mind.

Jiang Yanchuan's thoughtful gaze settled on Tan Songsong, the emotions swirling in his eyes impossible to read.

This man had heard the little one's thoughts too.

Suddenly, he recalled what he had heard earlier-

[He even offered to summon an imperial physician for Chengcheng just now. Chengcheng likes him!]

Jiang Yingcheng abruptly slid off the couch again. Once she landed, she set her short little legs moving and ran toward Jiang Xingran.

Only then did Jiang Yanchuan remember that there was someone else in the room.

His brows drew together slightly.

Too quiet.

He had been like that on the way here too. Jiang Yingcheng had tried her hardest to find things to chat with him about the whole way, yet Jiang Xingran had kept his head down without uttering a word.

With Jiang Yanchuan silent, everyone's gaze involuntarily followed that tiny figure as she moved.

Until Jiang Yingcheng stopped in front of Jiang Xingran.

As though presenting a treasure, she pulled the pastries she had just obtained from behind her back. Standing on tiptoe, she offered them to Jiang Xingran with both hands. Even without speaking, her intention was perfectly clear.

Yet Jiang Xingran did not move for a long while. His face remained cold, his eyes full of suspicion and scrutiny, as though trying to determine whether she had devised another way to torment him.

Seeing that he would not accept her gesture of goodwill, Jiang Yingcheng glanced warily over her shoulder. When she saw everyone staring expressionlessly at the patch of empty floor before them, she finally relaxed.

Everyone who had just turned away also breathed a sigh of relief.

They themselves had no idea why they had instinctively done so.

Jiang Yingcheng rose a little higher onto her toes and stretched her hands forward even harder, almost touching his waist-

She was too short. Even on tiptoe, that was as high as she could reach.

Jiang Yingcheng lowered her voice like a little thief. Even her urging sounded soft. "Here, take them!"

[Hurry and put them away, or Father will notice!]

Jiang Yanchuan: "..."

Changshun: "..."

Tan Songsong: "..."

We already noticed ages ago!

Changshun grew anxious watching them.

The little princess was so short and soft, her whole figure so tiny. She was trying so hard to offer pastries to the seventh prince seated on the couch. How could he remain unmoved?

Take them already, you little rascal!

Jiang Xingran's gaze flickered for a long moment. In the end, he accepted the pastries from Jiang Yingcheng's palms.

He had not wanted to take them, but just as he was about to speak, he suddenly thought of his mother deep within the palace.

His mother's status was low, and the palace servants did not attend to her diligently. Often, she could only eat leftovers from the other halls. Neither of them had ever tasted little pastries that looked this exquisite.

He wanted to take them back for his mother to try.

Jiang Xingran secretly pulled over a sheet of writing paper from the couch, carefully wrapped the pastries, and tucked them into his robes. Once he had finished, he finally gave Jiang Yingcheng the faintest of smiles.

An exceptionally bright light suddenly burst into Jiang Yingcheng's eyes.

[Aaaaaah! System bro, did you see that?!]

[Seventh Brother smiled at me!!!]

Jiang Yingcheng spread her arms like a little bird opening its wings and began spinning happily around that small patch of floor.

[Ooh, ooh, Seventh Brother acknowledged me!]

[He finally acknowledged me!!!]

Changshun and Tan Songsong smiled fondly.

At least you know what's good for you, kid!

Jiang Yanchuan and Jiang Xingran, however, raised their brows at almost exactly the same moment.

Things did not seem quite the way he had imagined.