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Xiao Jinyan had been bewildered with busyness these past few days, for Chun Xi had just given birth to her second child and was in her confinement period, and none of the other palace maids knew how to make strawberry ice cream except for Xiaojui.

It had been some days since Feng Wuyou had last indulged as well, and now she too was craving something sweet. Seeing that her daughter wanted to eat it, she said, "I’ll go make some right now."

Having said that, she pushed Xiao Jinyan aside and took Susu’s little hand, walking out.

Xiao Jinyan sat on the couch, watching as the two, one big and one small, left without turning their heads back, "Strawberry ice cream, more important than him?"

Late at night, when all was quiet

After finishing his work, Xiao Jinyan came to Fengyi Palace only to find that Xiaojui was already asleep. He sent the palace maids and eunuchs away and undressed to get into bed himself.

The person in the bed was sleeping deeply, and even as he lay down next to her and took her into his arms, lowering his head to kiss her, she showed no signs of waking up.

Xiao Jinyan kissed her for a while, then let go, gazing at her sweet sleeping face and sighing helplessly.

Indeed, being the Emperor had proven much busier than his time as the Crown Prince, and the time he could spend with Jinyan had also reduced.

This was probably the embodiment of not being able to have one’s cake and eat it too.

The next morning, when Feng Wuyou woke up, Xiao Jinyan was already gone from her side; with court sessions starting before dawn, she truly felt that being the Emperor was exhausting.

But Xiao Jinyan aspired to be a wise ruler, and she, as the Empress, could only support him.

Chun Xi had given birth to her second child; her first had been a son, and this time a daughter, achieving a perfect balance of both, adding joy upon joy.

When Feng Wuyou visited Chun Xi with Susu, she had just finished breastfeeding the baby.

Upon seeing Feng Wuyou, Chun Xi was overjoyed, "Empress, what brings you here?"

Feng Wuyou smiled and said, "Susu has been clamoring to see what her little sister looks like, so I brought her over."

Susu approached the bed, leaned on her hands, and stared at the baby beside Chun Xi for a good while before looking up puzzledly, "Aunt Chun Xi, why is she closing her eyes?"

Chun Xi explained with a smile, "Because she has just eaten and fallen asleep."

Susu looked somewhat disappointed, her gaze lingering on the baby, "Then it seems I came at the wrong time."

Chun Xi looked down at her daughter’s sleeping face, feeling incredibly content now that she had both a son and a daughter.

Not long after Feng Wuyou and Susu left, Qin Xiao returned. His first concern was Chun Xi, "How are you feeling? Is there any discomfort?"

Chun Xi had been through childbirth twice, and both times had Qin Xiao on edge as if he were the one giving birth.

"I’m feeling alright now, just a bit hungry."

"The chicken soup has been ready for a while, I’ll bring some for you."

Qin Xiao said, striding out, and soon returned with a steaming bowl of chicken soup.

As Chun Xi reached out to take it, Qin Xiao stepped back, "It’s a bit hot; I’ll feed you."

Chun Xi, seeing this, nodded, "Okay."

Qin Xiao held a chicken leg to Chun Xi’s mouth, "Eat the leg first."

Chun Xi took a bite. The chicken soup was bland, but for someone hungry, even a bland flavor was palatable.

After she was full, Qin Xiao held Chun Xi in his arms, and thinking back to her during childbirth, he said, "Let’s not have any more children."

Now that Chun Xi had a son and a daughter, it didn’t matter to her whether or not to have more children.

"Alright, I’ll listen to you."

Just then, the sound of a baby crying filled the space.

Upon hearing that, Qin Xiao quickly stood up, picking his daughter up to comfort her, "Why is she crying?"

Chun Xi suggested, "Maybe she’s hungry?"

This was Qin Xiao’s second time being a father, and after Chun Xi’s suggestion, he put two and two together.

"That might be it."

He carefully handed his daughter over to Chun Xi’s front and placed her cautiously in her arms.

Just then, Doudou, supporting himself on the door frame, walked in, then crouched down, quickly crawled to the bedside, leaned against the bed, and stood up, "Mil...k..."

Qin Xiao glanced down at his son, whose dark eyes were fixed on Chun Xi, and laughed, "Xixi, Doudou also wants some milk."

Doudou was just over a year and three months old and had only recently learned how to walk.

Chun Xi looked at Doudou, whose little hands were waving at her, a gesture she knew all too well; he wanted to be held in her arms.

"Feed him some rice."

"Okay." Qin Xiao carried Doudou out, but Doudou was still babbling.

On the way back, Susu held Feng Wuyou’s hand and suddenly hugged her arm, "Empress Mother, won’t you have a little brother for me to play with?"

Feng Wuyou laughed, "A little brother isn’t a toy, how can you play with him?"

After thinking for a while, Susu giggled, "I’ll play with him, won’t you have a little brother for me, please?"

Feng Wuyou said, "Having a child isn’t that easy. You can’t just have one whenever you want, can you?"

Susu replied, "I know, Empress Mother, you have to be with Emperor Father to have one, right?"

Hearing this, Feng Wuyou realized her daughter was quite perceptive and curiously asked, "Who told you that?"

"I saw it in a book."

Feng Wuyou had a bad feeling, "What book?"

Susu proudly recited the title, "The Overbearing CEO Falls in Love with Me."

Feng Wuyou’s mouth twitched twice. Where did Susu find this old-fashioned romance novel?

She remembered putting all the novels into her Space. Could she have missed one?

"Susu, fess up, did you mess around in your mother’s bedchamber again?"

Susu lifted her chin, "I did no such thing."

Feng Wuyou stroked her chin. Could it be that I misplaced it and my daughter found it?

She looked at Susu again and explained seriously, "The Overbearing CEO Falls in Love with Me isn’t suitable for you. Do you understand?"

"Empress Mother, I’m not a three-year-old child. Of course, I know what I can and cannot read," Susu said earnestly.

She had read it indeed, but then Little Gugu took it away—

Feng Wuyou said, "As long as you know. Otherwise, if you learn bad things, I, as a mother, would be to blame."

When they returned to Fengyi Palace, Susu went to look for Little Gugu.

When she arrived, Gugu and Little Gugu were practicing martial arts in the courtyard.

Susu ran over and started practicing as well.

Susu’s practice of martial arts was always whimsical, sporadic like fishing for three days and sun-drying the nets for two.

After finishing the practice, Susu tugged at Chu Lingfeng’s sleeve and said, "Little Gugu, will you take me out of the palace to play?"

Chu Lingfeng was already fourteen this year and had grown a lot taller.

"Princess, I don’t have the authority to take you out of the palace."

Susu said, "But you know how to use lightness skills, don’t you? You can take me out using them."

Chu Lingfeng was somewhat troubled.

Taotao came over with a sword and coaxed, "Sister, don’t make things difficult for Young Master Chu. It’s not so easy to leave the palace. Besides, his lightness skills can’t carry you."

Susu was skeptical, "But Little Gugu can fly up to the wall on his own."

Taotao snorted, "How many years has Young Master Chu been learning martial arts? How much inner strength does he have? Do you think he’s like your Imperial grandfather?"

Susu was a bit disappointed, "Oh."

Not wanting to see Susu disappointed, Chu Lingfeng promised, "Princess, once I become skilled, I will definitely take you out of the palace using my lightness skills."

"Then it’s a deal." Susu held out her little finger, "Let’s pinkie swear on it."

"Okay." Chu Lingfeng also stretched out his little finger and pinkie-swore with Susu.

These days, Feng Wuyou was more prone to drowsiness than usual, and what’s more, her menstrual period was delayed.

Experienced as she was, she immediately took her own pulse.

After the examination, she found that she was pregnant.

In recent days, Xiao Jinyan had grown weary of the complaints from the court officials, who constantly argued that he should select a plethora of consorts to replenish the harem.

When he stepped into Fengyi Palace and found Feng Wuyou lying on the bed, with her clothes half-off, he, who had abstained for several days, felt a warmth in his eyes at the sight.