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She sighed and shook her head, feeling a bit regretful.

"That’s right. We can talk about it when it’s more convenient," Nanny Qi was satisfied. The little girl indeed understood things well.

"Mhm." Lian Hua remembered something and smiled, "Sister Zhaoyi knows how to ride a horse and wield a sword. She said she would teach me once it’s convenient. Sister is really nice."

Just thinking about it made her happy, her smile revealing eight neat little teeth.

"Why should she teach you? I should teach you." The Emperor was displeased upon hearing this; he preferred to teach his own people.

"Ah? Your Majesty, can you ride a horse too?" Lian Hua asked, surprised.

The Emperor opened his mouth, then closed it, feeling a blockage in his chest. With the six arts of the gentleman being rites, music, archery, Charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics, he excelled in all, let alone mere horseback riding?

It wasn’t him boasting, but if it weren’t for the fact that he had been the Crown Prince, none would have dared to place him in line; otherwise, that title of the Capital’s number one gentleman would undoubtedly be his.

These were all trivial. He was the ruler of a nation, and managing the state affairs well was of utmost importance. He had never mentioned these things to her.

It seemed his Concubines had some misunderstanding about him, thinking he was as weak as a Scholar without the strength to truss a chicken?

Who was it that used to lift her up?

Thinking about it, who rode to fetch Nanny Qi?

The girl truly was beyond reasoning.

The Emperor was annoyed and snorted heavily. Enough, enough, he wouldn’t argue with her. In time, he would let her see more for herself.

Nanny Qi smiled without saying a word.

Lian Hua scratched her head. She had never seen His Majesty ride a horse; how was she to know it was normal? What was wrong with him?

She had seen him in riding attire before though, Oh, right!

A sudden realization struck Lian Hua, and she quickly added, "Your Majesty, when you came back in riding attire the other day, were you riding a horse?"

The Emperor looked at his Little Concubine in shock. As the Son of Heaven, everything about him from his attire to his actions was careful and deliberate. If he wore riding attire, and it wasn’t for riding a horse, what else could it be:

"Could I possibly be riding a donkey?" the Emperor said irritably, giving her a fierce glare.

If that were the case, by the next day, someone from the Ministry of Rites would come, pointing out the improprieties in his conduct, wailing to him about the ancestral rites and regulations.

Her questions were becoming increasingly outrageous, causing him a great deal of annoyance.

Nanny Qi watched their reactions, her head bowed as she quietly chuckled. The Emperor relaxed only in front of this little girl, his pleasure apparent on his face.

This little girl was truly a treasure. Look how well she asked just now, and look at the Emperor, showing such an expression for the first time, finally displaying somewhat youthful demeanor.

Lian Hua immediately understood the foolishness of her question, stuck out her tongue, and had asked without thinking; she hadn’t meant it...

She hurried over and soothingly grabbed the Emperor’s hand: "Oh, Your Majesty, I was just confused. Please, don’t take it to heart. Someone as brave and extraordinary as you, I knew you could ride a horse!"

The Emperor scoffed, her words obviously flimsy, credible to no one.

As Lian Hua gazed at the well-prepared meal on the table, she pulled the Emperor to sit down, unable to resist addressing him, "Your Majesty, please sit. Nanny, you sit too. Shall we have dinner?"

The Emperor didn’t respond to her, his irritation evident as he begrudgingly took a seat.

Lian Hua stealthily exchanged glances with Nanny Qi, her eyes questioning what to do?

Nanny Qi smiled and shook her head, indicating there was nothing she could do.

As for the matters between the Emperor and the little girl, it was a case of willing striker and willing sufferer, both of them enjoying themselves; it wasn’t her place to worry, this old lady would just enjoy the show.

Upon seeing this, Lian Hua quickly understood. Nanny Qi’s shake of the head meant that there was nothing to be done; she was hungry anyway, and eating was her priority.

Looking at the dishes on the table, Lian Hua turned and called out to His Majesty, "Your Majesty, please start eating."

She then eagerly watched the Emperor, waiting for him to pick up his chopsticks first.

From the corner of his eye, the Emperor saw her repeatedly swallowing saliva. This little ingrate had been nothing but trouble all day long, which was truly infuriating.

He picked up his chopsticks and slowly reached them out.

Lian Hua also picked up her chopsticks, watching his every move, waiting for him to pick something up before she would follow suit.

The Emperor, holding his chopsticks, circled them around the dishes on the table but deliberately did not start eating; he wanted to tease her a little to vent his frustration.

Lian Hua’s eyes followed his chopsticks wherever they went.

Nanny Qi couldn’t help but feel that they had forgotten she was also there, as they both started playing around, which was quite amusing to watch.

Considering how mature the Emperor was, one rarely saw him behave so playfully unless he was in the company of a little girl. It was an eye-opening experience for her, and who would believe her if she told them?

However, it was unfair; if the Emperor wanted to tease the little girl, he should have asked for her approval first, as she couldn’t bear to see the little girl hungry.

Taking advantage of their merry play, Nanny Qi placed some food into Lian Hua’s bowl and said, "Eat, don’t starve yourself."

The Emperor and Lian Hua were both startled.

Lian Hua was the first to cheer, "Nanny is so good."

She happily started eating, and while eating, she still winked at the Emperor, looking very smug.

The Emperor was helpless; with Nanny present, his demeanor softened.

Irritably, he also served Lian Hua some food with his chopsticks, and served Nanny Qi as well, "This dish is easy to digest, Nanny Qi, please have some more."

Lian Hua, enjoying her meal, courteously served the Emperor a piece of meat, "Your Majesty, eat this, it’s delicious.

The Emperor felt somewhat reassured, thinking that this little ingrate still had some conscience.

The first half of the dinner went rather pleasantly, but the latter half was not as enjoyable.

Xiao Qing brought up a dish of winter melon soup that Lian Hua had specifically requested. The winter melon was finely shredded, steamed until soft and mushy, and then added into a richly flavored clear chicken broth, giving it a very fresh and delicious taste.

The chicken broth had been simmered for too long, hence it was just being served.

Lian Hua served a bowl each for the Emperor and Nanny Qi, unable to resist urging them to try it. The soup was excellent, perfect for dinner as it was easy to digest, delicious, and also very nourishing.

The Emperor praised, "Good."

Nanny Qi also remarked, "Very good." It suited her well.

Lian Hua was completely satisfied and smilingly scooped a spoonful from her own bowl, all set to eat.

But suddenly, she felt something was off. The soup, with the winter melon turned soft and mushed into the broth, looked like a baby’s runny snot, which was disgusting to look at.

She put down her bowl, tried to hold back, looked again at the soup and felt even more disgusted.

She pursed her lips, her expression stern, trying hard to suppress the nausea rising inside her, and dared not look at the winter melon soup again.

The Emperor realized at once that something was wrong, stopped eating immediately, and asked her what was the matter?

Seeing her not speaking, her face tensed up, he immediately became anxious, leaning over and asking repeatedly where she felt uncomfortable.

Nanny Qi also became nervous. Could it be that she had consumed something unsuitable outside today?

Thinking this, Nanny Qi quickly called out for someone to fetch the Imperial Physician and then asked Lian Hua with concern.

Lian Hua clenched her lips tightly, struggling to hold back from vomiting, and merely shook her head, unable to voice her discomfort.