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"Yes." Eunuch Li obeyed the order and went to find the Crown Prince at the East Palace.

At this moment, Xiao Jinyan was hurrying to the Imperial Study Room, when he encountered Eunuch Li on the way.

Upon seeing Xiao Jinyan, Eunuch Li quickly stepped forward to urge, "Your Highness, the Emperor is waiting in the Imperial Study Room."

"Hmm." Xiao Jinyan strode toward the Imperial Study Room.

Just as the Emperor was growing impatient, Xiao Jinyan entered the Imperial Study Room.

"Father Emperor."

Seeing that the Crown Prince had arrived, the Emperor asked, "Have you thought of a solution?"

Xiao Jinyan said, "Father Emperor, the autumn hunt is in a few days, and by then I can take Mother along, and I will also bring the Crown Princess."

The Emperor immediately understood the implication in the Crown Prince’s words. During the autumn hunt, the Empress would not be staying in the same tent as the Crown Princess, but of course, she would be with him.

Furthermore, since the Empress was born into a martial family and was skilled in archery and horseback riding, perhaps her mood would improve during the hunt.

He should have thought of this earlier.

"This is a good idea, but it means waiting a few days."

Xiao Jinyan of course knew they needed to wait a few days. He also wanted to bring her home immediately, but Mother would not agree—

The autumn hunting preparations had long been underway, overseen by Xiao Jinyan.

The Emperor would also take the time to dine at the Fengyi Palace, to see the Empress and to see his precious granddaughter.

The Emperor hugged Taotao, then went to pick up Susu, and discovered a problem. He came to the Empress’s side, looking at the Empress who was sewing clothes with her head down, ignoring him.

"Empress, Susu seems to be heavier than her brother."

The Empress’s hands paused, and she lifted her head to look at Susu in the Emperor’s arms and then glanced at Taotao. In comparison, Susu’s little face was clearly plumper than her brother’s.

"Perhaps because Susu eats more than her brother, so she is a bit heavier."

Susu had been eating two more feedings of milk a day than her brother since birth...

Yet the Emperor happily said, "Having a good appetite is a blessing; it’s a good thing."

The Empress also nodded in agreement.

The Emperor, remembering about the autumn hunt, felt it was better to discuss it in advance with the Empress.

"Empress, in a few days there will be the annual autumn hunt. I would like to take you with me; what is Your Majesty’s opinion?"

The moment the Empress heard this, her spirits lifted, but remembering that she and the ’dog Emperor’ were not on good terms, she pretended to be indifferent, "Why has the Emperor suddenly thought of taking Your Concubine to the autumn hunt?"

The Emperor sat down on the chair opposite the Empress, letting Susu sit on his lap. Susu, playing happily with the Emperor’s dragon pendant, grabbed onto it tightly.

"The Empress has had few opportunities to leave the palace after so many years, all of which are due to my oversight. So, I thought to take this opportunity to bring the Empress out hunting, to relax a bit. It has probably been a long time since you’ve practiced archery."

The Empress was indeed looking forward to it, as she had always been good at archery. Since she had become the Crown Princess and later Empress, the opportunities had ceased.

Outwardly, she put on a show of grudging compliance, "It is the Emperor’s command, and Your Concubine naturally obeys."

The Emperor, seeing that the Empress agreed, happily said, "Then it’s settled. I have already had someone tailor riding attire for you. You can try it on then."

Seeing Shen Chuwei holding Taotao, the Empress suddenly asked, "What about the Crown Princess?"

At the Empress’s words, the Emperor hesitated, feeling somewhat dissatisfied inside. Why was the Empress’s attention always on others?

The Crown Princess, of course, would be accompanied by the Crown Prince.

"You needn’t worry about the Crown Princess; the Crown Prince will be with her."

The Empress nodded, then lowered her head to continue sewing the clothes.

Shen Chuwei had been to the autumn hunt before; having been pregnant last year, she was unable to go, which had been a disappointment for her.

Hearing the conversation between the Emperor and the Empress, Xiao Jinyan should take her with him, so she wasn’t worried about not being able to go.

She would also be able to roast all kinds of game to eat, heh heh!

*

Xiao Jinyu had been chatting with the Grand Empress Dowager in the Cining Palace for a while and stood to leave. The Grand Empress Dowager said, "Wanxin, go see Prince Jinyu out."

Wanxin stepped forward several paces, intending to escort Xiao Jinyu.

Xiao Jinyu’s gaze turned towards Wanxin, and he gracefully declined, "No need, just stay here to serve the Grand Empress Dowager."

Wanxin softly said, "Prince Jinyu, I will simply walk you to the door."

The distance from here to the door was only a few dozen steps, hardly a moment’s walk.

Considering this, Xiao Jinyu nodded in agreement.

Wanxin offered a light smile, "Go ahead, Prince Jinyu."

"Alright."

Xiao Jinyu took the lead in walking out, with Wanxin following behind.

Wanxin raised her head to look at Xiao Jinyu and smiled, "Prince Jinyu, you are quite different from the Princes I had imagined."

It was the first time Xiao Jinyu had heard someone say this about himself, which made him a bit curious, "Is that so? How am I different?"