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"With Your Highness as a role model, how could our son ever go astray?"

"Rest assured, Your Highness, even a child left somewhat to his own will turn out fine, especially since he has Your Highness’s excellent genes. He couldn’t possibly turn out too badly."

Shen Chuwei was all praises for Xiao Jinyan, both before and after—after all, who doesn’t love to hear pleasing words? Xiao Jinyan was no exception.

"What if he does go astray?"

Uh!

Shen Chuwei tugged at Xiao Jinyan’s lapel, accidentally ripping it open and revealing a large expanse of his fair skin.

"Then, we will have another younger version and continue training him with a different method until he reaches full level."

Xiao Jinyan was confused, "A younger version? Full level?"

Shen Chuwei explained, "That means having another son and having Your Highness personally mentor him."

"You do think rather freely, but," Xiao Jinyan paused here.

Shen Chuwei couldn’t help but press, "But what?"

Xiao Jinyan slowly said, "One son is indeed not enough; as the future sovereign, I should have at least three or four sons, to choose the most outstanding one as the Crown Prince."

"Your Highness must be thinking of taking concubines for yourself. Tomorrow, I’ll pack up, either to leave the palace or to move to the Cold Palace.

" Shen Chuwei knew that for the Imperial Family to want only one woman was simply a pipe dream; an Emperor inevitably had his multiple palaces and concubines.

Xiao Jinyan couldn’t help but stress his words, "I have never thought of taking concubines."

Shen Chuwei said indignantly, "Then why does Your Highness want so many sons, three or four? Why not just say ten?"

Xiao Jinyan looked her up and down, noting her delicate frame, "With your tender body, can you bear me ten children?"

Shen Chuwei seemed to understand something, "Your Highness means for me to bear them all alone?"

Xiao Jinyan said emphatically, "I wouldn’t go back on a promise I made to you. Who else could bear children for me if not you?"

Shen Chuwei rejected outright: "I cannot bear that many. Quality over quantity in children."

Xiao Jinyan said earnestly, "That’s why the eldest legitimate son needs careful upbringing, so we don’t have to have so many."

Ah!

Shen Chuwei realized she’d been outmaneuvered by Xiao Jinyan; after all the talk, he still meant to deprive their son of a joyful childhood.

She began to negotiate, "Let’s allow the child to grow freely until he is five, and after that, Your Highness can personally mentor him, how about that?"

Xiao Jinyan said darkly, "I have no objections, as long as my lady ensures he will not turn out twisted."

Shen Chuwei confidently declared, "Taotao is a smart child; he wouldn’t go astray."

Xiao Jinyan replied, "I hope so."

Shen Chuwei yawned, "I’m so sleepy, Your Highness, let’s rest."

Xiao Jinyan’s slender fingers lifted her chin, "Don’t run away again next time, do you hear me?"

Thinking of this, Shen Chuwei felt it was necessary to give Xiao Jinyan a lesson.

"That was my way of showing I felt wronged. At such times, Your Highness should be anxious to come after me. That would show that I am in Your Highness’s heart. If you don’t come after me, I’ll be heartbroken and lose my appetite, and you might not even be able to enter my chamber at night."

At the end, Shen Chuwei kindly reminded him.

Xiao Jinyan never expected that his preoccupation with other matters had caused Shen Chuwei such distress, and he began to feel remorseful.

"Didn’t you have your supper tonight? I’ll have Chun Xi prepare something to send over."

Shen Chuwei saw Xiao Jinyan about to rise; she had eaten two crystal elbows and half a duck that evening and was still full.

She quickly reached out to hold his hand, "It’s so late, Chun Xi must be asleep, and I’m not hungry."

Xiao Jinyan insisted earnestly, "You don’t need to put on a brave face in front of me."

Shen Chuwei nodded vigorously, "In front of Your Highness, I won’t put on a brave face."

Xiao Jinyan embraced her tightly and promised, "I won’t let such an incident happen again."

Communication is so vital between husband and wife!

Shen Chuwei had come to a profound understanding, unlike in romance novels, where the male and female leads say nothing and misunderstandings abound.

After a snowfall, the courtyard was clad in white, looking very beautiful.

Shen Chuwei hadn’t been to the little vegetable garden for a long time and, wrapped in a Fox Fur, went out with Chun Xi.

Taotao sneaked in through the back door into the Crown Prince’s chamber next door.

Susu was playing in the snow with Xuetuan and Yuan Gungun.

Shen Chuwei always let her two children roam free; if their clothes got dirty, they could just change. Happiness was the most important thing.

Susu was riding on Xuetuan, giggling with joy. As she was having fun, she saw Shen Chuwei leave the Hehuan Hall, curiosity filling her big beautiful eyes.

Realizing that Shen Chuwei was leaving without her, Susu pouted unhappily. Getting off Xuetuan, she lost her balance and rolled in the snow, then sprang to her feet, brushed off the snowflakes, and chased after her.

Because she had short legs and walked slowly, by the time Susu reached the gate, Shen Chuwei and Chun Xi had already gone far.

Xuetuan followed and stood beside Susu, watching Shen Chuwei’s retreating figure in the distance, then led the way.

Susu, gripping the doorframe, hoisted her little legs over the threshold and, because of those short legs, plopped down onto it before sliding one foot down and clambering over to catch up.

The threshold was but a trifle for Xuetuan, who easily leaped over.

It was equally inconsequential for Yuan Gungun, who jumped over with ease.

Susu wobbled after Xuetuan with her stubby legs, step by step.

A white tiger and a grey rabbit followed her at an unhurried pace.

Xuetuan occasionally looked back at Susu, anxious that she might fall behind.

Huai Xiang carried a food basket accompanying Lady Liang to the Crown Prince’s chamber when she saw Susu from a distance and pointed out, "Young Master, isn’t that the young mistress? What is she doing here all alone?"

Lady Liang looked in the direction of Huai Xiang’s pointing and saw Susu in her pink padded clothes, waddling as if she could fall at any moment.

Lady Liang looked around and saw no adults, "Let’s go and see."