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Upon hearing the question, Lian Hua’s eyes sparkled unusually as she pulled back her hand and, mimicking His Majesty, she placed her fist by her lips, feigning sincerity, "Ahem, of course it all belongs to His Majesty!"

Then she righteously added, "Also, the ingredients are all contributions from the folks; taken from the people, used for the people, we can allocate half to relieve the poor."

The Emperor’s expression improved a bit, this was more like it, but he hardly had time to reflect.

Next, he saw his Little Concubine somewhat bashfully, and with a twinge of excitement mixed with a hint of cunning, look at him and say, "Of course, considering I’ve suffered through all this effort, it’s only fair to share a tiny bit of yours with me."

With that, she lifted her hand, her index finger on her pinky, making a minimal gesture, her eyes eagerly watching him, looking every bit like a mischievous commoner, utterly adorable.

Well, his Little Concubine, with her schemes coming and going, ended up scheming against him in the end. No matter how adorable, she still deserved a scolding.

The Emperor dangerously narrowed his eyes again and asked threateningly, "Who did you learn all this from?"

Lian Hua, completely unaware of the impending danger, was immersed in her excitement: "My Clan Uncle owns a sundries shop, you see. One year, my Parents took me to visit Clan Uncle, and I helped mind his shop."

As she spoke, her excitement reignited, and she began to recount non-stop the glorious deeds of her time guarding her Clan Uncle’s shop.

When she was younger, she accompanied her Parents to Yanqing Mansion to visit relatives. As Clan Uncle was busy entertaining her Parents, he let her Clan Sister take her along, and having nothing else to do, and hearing about a sundries shop, she urged her Clan Sister to take her there.

That visit turned out to be incredible; sitting there selling goods brought in Silver, it was too much fun.

Back then, she was still young, plump, and cute, sneakingly wearing her brother’s clothes, her hair styled into twin buns, looking like a miniature jade boy.

Appearing sweet and clever as she sat in the shop, aunties and young wives coming in loved to pinch her cheek. Then, she’d sweetly say a few charming words; none who entered left empty-handed.

After her arrival, the business at the shop improved markedly.

Later, she was not satisfied with just that and pulled off a few big deals, cough cough, but of course, those aren’t things she would discuss with His Majesty...

As the Emperor listened, he thought to himself that his Little Concubine had a mouth as though coated with honey from a young age, no wonder she was so sweet.

Following her story, the Emperor started imagining her childhood. She must have been adorable and loved by everyone. No wonder he felt she was different the first time he saw her.

Not knowing whether the child in her belly was a Prince or Princess, if it were a little princess looking like her, how adorable that would be. He, as Imperial Father, would gladly pluck stars and the moon for her.

A wave of paternal affection surged in the Emperor’s heart, his lips slightly curving into a smile, only to see his Little Concubine had finished boasting about her exploits, her eyes bright and expectant, waiting for his praise.

The Emperor let go of his smile. Heh, this little rascal, this ungrateful wolf, still daring to seek praise! If today he didn’t thoroughly discipline her, what would become of husbandly authority!

Let’s not assume being cute could let her off, nor should being pregnant grant her amnesty!

He couldn’t hold back anymore as this little devil constantly tested boundaries, daring to drag him out to sell cakes today, probably making him sell smiles tomorrow!

Audaciously fearless, if he didn’t discipline her, she wouldn’t even fear the Emperor himself in the future.

Lian Hua finally noticed something was amiss, sat up straight, and the alarm bells in her mind started ringing. His Majesty’s gaze seemed all too familiar. Where had she seen it before?

How... How it looked like when he used to chastise her?

Panic began drumming in her heart, her neck shrinking in, why had His Majesty suddenly become like this?

Oh heavens, maybe slipping away now would be wise?

She slowly turned her body toward the door, hesitantly saying, "My Lord, why don’t you sit for a while, I’ll go ask Nanny if the cake is tasty?"

With that, she stood up and tried to slip away.

The Emperor was ready, immediately wrapping his arms around her: "No hurry, I still have some scores to settle with you."

Lian Hua forced a laugh, struggling, "No need, no need, My Lord. There’s no clearing up what’s between us."

Seeing that His Majesty still wouldn’t let go, she hurriedly changed her plea: "My Lord, you needn’t count it. Mine is yours, all yours, no need to count anymore... Ah! My Lord, what are you doing?"

Before she could finish speaking, His Majesty swept her up into the air and held her horizontally, which frightened her so much that she exclaimed and quickly wrapped her arms around the Emperor’s neck.

The Emperor revealed a dangerous smile at her, making her heart pound with fear.

In recent days, His Majesty had treated her too well, indulging in her coquetry and cuteness, and she had forgotten the times when His Majesty used to display his tyranny.

Oh no, had she been too careless? Was it still time to beg for mercy?

The Emperor carried her towards the inner chamber.

Lian Hua felt doom was imminent, likely about to be punished like before, and began to plea non-stop, "Your Majesty, I realize my mistakes, please don’t punish me..." she looked at His Majesty pitifully.

The Emperor ignored her pleas, steeled his heart, avoided looking at her, and carried her to the bed, where he removed her shoes and socks.

The Emperor continued his actions, pinning her on the bed, and lifted her skirt, "Where did you go wrong?"

"Smack!"

"I was wrong everywhere, Your Majesty, please spare me..."

"Do you still want to sell rice cakes?"

"Smack!"

"No more selling, no more..."

"Are you still pushing me to go peddle them?"

"Smack!"

"No more, no more, Your Majesty, I truly realize my mistakes..."

...

Xiao Linzi and Xiao Qing stood outside the hall, hearing the vague noises inside, which made them both quake in their boots.

Xiao Linzi looked a bit terrified and quickly covered his buttocks with both hands, knowing how painful a spanking could be.

Xiao Qing looked worriedly towards the Side Hall, His Majesty was hitting the master, what to do.

When Xiao Jizi first heard the noises were amiss, he walked away to avoid listening, turning back to see the two fools still standing there, he hurriedly dragged them away.

He knew very well that His Majesty would never harm the master, what were these two fools even thinking.

Once they were far enough to no longer hear the sounds, Xiao Jizi looked to the heavens and sighed deeply, what to do with these two fools!

His Majesty and the master were jesting around, one willing to hit, the other willing to endure, it was boudoir fun, these two fools really thought it was a serious beating, like how they were beaten, truly both silly and foolish, with no awareness at all!

At dinner time, Nanny Qi came in to dine and immediately sensed that the atmosphere was off.

These past few days, she had been dining with them in the Side Hall for meals morning, noon, and evening, citing the young girl’s reason, that it was livelier and more enjoyable with more people.

Indeed, as the young girl said, eating with two or three people was much better than eating alone and could even increase the appetite by two taels.

But the current atmosphere was a bit strange, usually, the Emperor and the young girl exchanged many glances, but today was different.

The young girl’s face was flushed, her eyes were watery, and her glances were shy and fleeting, like a bashful new bride, not as bold as usual when she occasionally met the Emperor’s gaze.

And the Emperor looked completely satisfied, his expression as if basking in the spring breeze, occasionally looking playfully at the young girl, totally content.

This manner didn’t look like they had argued, more like...

Could it be that the Emperor couldn’t restrain himself and had laid a hand on the young girl??