The prince longs for me every night after mastering thought-reading
Chapter 556 - 463: Susu voluntered to accompany reading, but ended up getting lost on the way...

Chapter 556: Chapter 463: Susu voluntered to accompany reading, but ended up getting lost on the way...

Eunuch Li glanced around and saw the petite figure of the Emperor’s granddaughter in front of the stone steps not far away.

"Your Majesty, I think the little Princess is over there,"

Upon hearing this, the Emperor looked up and saw a flash of red hugging something white, her head adorned with two little tufts. Who else could it be if not Susu?

The crying continued, and it was particularly heart-wrenching.

Susu greeted everyone with a smile every day, her smile sweeter than sugar.

At this moment, the Emperor had already imagined a long series of incidents where others bullied his granddaughter, and he strode over furiously.

Eunuch Li bowed and hurried after him.

Susu and Little White had grown up together, their bond was extremely close, as she hugged Little White tightly, fearing that Yinyin would snatch him away.

When the Emperor arrived, Chu Lingfeng was the first to see him, kneeling on the ground, "This subordinate pays respects to Your Majesty, may Your Majesty enjoy peace and good health."

It was only then that Yinyin realized the Emperor had arrived, and of all people, he feared his grand imperial Grandfather the most.

"Your humble grandson pays respects to imperial Grandfather."

The Emperor didn’t even glance at Yinyin; he went straight to Susu, picked up the still-crying Susu into his arms, and comforted her softly, "My treasure."

Seeing her imperial Grandfather, Susu threw her arms around his neck, crying even more heartbreakingly and grievously, "Grandfather."

The Emperor, seeing his beloved granddaughter crying so sadly, felt an overwhelming pang of distress. He drew out a handkerchief to wipe the tears from Susu’s cheeks, "No more crying, my treasure."

Susu sobbed twice, "Grandfather."

While wiping her tears, the Emperor asked, "Who bullied you? Grandfather’s heart is breaking."

Susu pointed at Yinyin, sobbing, "Grandfather, he stepped on my Cake, and choked my good boy."

If this had been the first time hearing Susu speak, one wouldn’t understand a word she was saying.

However, the Emperor had heard her countless times and could guess what his beloved granddaughter was saying.

Yinyin stomped on Susu’s pastries and even tried to snatch away her White Tiger.

No wonder the beloved granddaughter was crying so sadly—her favorite pastries had been stepped on, which must have been painfully upsetting.

Little White was her little follower; snatching him away was no different than stealing her food.

The Emperor looked at Yinyin with anger, "Yinyin, kneel down before me."

Yinyin, most afraid of his imperial Grandfather, immediately knelt down and didn’t forget to argue, "Imperial Grandfather, your grandson did not step on my sister’s pastries. It was the pastries of the Chu Crown Prince that I stepped on."

The Emperor lifted his eyes to Chu Lingfeng and asked coldly, "Crown Prince Chu, whose pastries were those?"

Chu Lingfeng, with his head lowered, knew he could not protect himself this time. Whatever he said, he would not escape a beating when he returned.

"To respond to Your Majesty, it was the little princess who knew I was hungry, so she brought the Hibiscus Cake for me to eat. It was just crushed by Master Yinyin."

The Emperor asked further, "You haven’t had your lunch yet? How come you are hungry?"

Chu Lingfeng replied, "This subject was being punished by kneeling and did not have lunch."

The Emperor’s brow furrowed, "Punished by kneeling? Why were you punished to kneel?"

Chu Lingfeng hesitated, then told the truth, "Master Yinyin disdained my teachings, and out of dissatisfaction had me kneel as punishment."

The Emperor turned his gaze to Yinyin, his voice dropping a few octaves, "Yinyin, at such a young age, instead of learning well, you impose kneeling punishment? No matter what, he is the Crown Prince of Chu. If you do not treat him with the proper courtesy, where have your manners and rules gone to? Into a dog’s stomach?"

Yinyin, feeling wronged, said, "Imperial Grandfather, I do not want this study companion. He is disobedient. I want one who listens."

Susu, clinging to her imperial Grandfather, said in her childish voice, "Grandfather, I want Gugu and Little Gugu."

What the beloved granddaughter wants, the Emperor will of course give, but how dare this ungrateful wretch bully Susu? He must be tired of living.

"You have quite the nerve to reject. From today on, Crown Prince Chu will serve as the study companion for the Grand Crown Prince."

Susu cradled her imperial Grandfather’s face and gave him a peck, "T’ank you, Grandfather."

The Emperor, kissed by his beloved granddaughter, was overjoyed beyond words.

Upon hearing this, Chu Lingfeng didn’t feel any relief. Instead, he felt even more worried, for to serve alongside royalty was to accompany a tiger; life in the East Palace might not be any easier than before.

"This subject thanks you for your great grace."

The Emperor glanced at Chu Lingfeng and then turned to Yinyin, commanding in a cold voice, "Yinyin has a violent temperament and bullied his own sister. As punishment, kneel for an hour and copy the Analects."

After dropping those words, the Emperor walked towards the East Palace, holding Susu.

Chu Lingfeng stood up, glanced at Yinyin kneeling on the ground, feeling a hint of relief in his heart after being oppressed for so long, and followed after the Emperor.

Susu struggled to get down when she saw Chu Lingfeng. "Grandfather, I want to get down."

The Emperor always obliged the requests of his beloved granddaughter, and upon hearing her words, he let Susu down.

Susu came up to Chu Lingfeng, reached out to hold his hand, "Go home with Little Gugu."

Chu Lingfeng saw the little princess’s sweet smile, somewhat reluctant to let go, but it seemed improper. He looked up at the Emperor, instinctively wanting to retract his hand.

Seeing that the Emperor said nothing, only smiling faintly—a smile directed at the little princess—he suddenly stopped the motion of pulling back his hand, allowing the little princess to lead him.

It was rumored in the palace that the little princess was the apple of the Emperor’s eye, spoiled to an outrageous extent, but seeing it today, it was even more indulgent than the rumors suggested.

Susu happily led Little Gugu home, but when they reached the fork in the path for the young people, she suddenly stopped, staring blankly at the two roads.

Chu Lingfeng also halted, looking at the little princess with curiosity but not asking questions.

The little white dog by their side also stopped in perfect sync.

The Emperor had been walking leisurely behind, watching Susu leading Chu Lingfeng, feeling as if his treasure was being taken away by someone else.

It wasn’t until he saw his beloved granddaughter suddenly stop that he came forward two steps, lowered his head to look at Susu, "Baby, why did you stop and not walk anymore?"

Susu, who had been led by Xuetuan on previous walks, forgot which path she had taken and was at a loss without someone to lead the way.

"Grandfather, I’m lost," she said.

The Emperor laughed upon hearing this, "Would you like your Imperial Grandfather to carry you?"

Susu let go of Chu Lingfeng’s hand and reached out to be held, "Grandfather, hold the baby."

The Emperor, pleased, picked up Susu and continued walking to the right at the fork in the road.

Chu Lingfeng looked at his released hand, lifted his head, and saw Susu in the Emperor’s arms, smiling very happily.

Concubine Yun, upon learning that her precious grandson had been punished to kneel, hurried to the garden by Taiye Pond, and from afar saw Yinyin kneeling there, her heart aching immensely.

She ran over, embraced Yinyin, and looked at her dear grandson with distress, "Yinyin."

Yinyin, seeing his grandmother, cried out of grievance as if he had found his support, "Grandma, Yinyin’s legs hurt, Yinyin doesn’t want to kneel."

Concubine Yun’s heart ached for her grandson, but she dared not defy the Emperor’s command. She raised her head to look at Eunuch Li, "Eunuch Li, what exactly happened?"

"Concubine Yun, Yinyin needs to change his behavior. Although Chu Lingfeng is his study companion, he is also the legitimate eldest son of the Chunan King. By demeaning Chu Lingfeng in such a way, what position does that leave for the Imperial Family’s dignity?"

"What’s more, Yinyin actually bullied the Imperial grandson’s daughter. The Crown Princess is doted on by the Emperor; he feels pain when she merely frowns. Yinyin, as her older brother, how can you bully your own sister?"

Eunuch Li’s tone grew harsher by the end, "The Crown Princess was crying so sadly, it broke the Emperor’s heart. The punishment of kneeling and copying the Analects is already considered light."

To kneel for an hour and copy the Analects, is that a light punishment?

Concubine Yun merely listened, her heart aching for Yinyin, not realizing where her grandson went wrong, just feeling unlucky that the Emperor saw it with his own eyes.

*

Shen Chuwei had searched the entire East Palace and failed to find Susu, guessing that she must have sneaked out.

Just as she was about to go look for her outside, she saw the Emperor returning with Susu in his arms, and she silently breathed a sigh of relief.

Indeed, she had run out.

She stepped forward and gave a respectful bow, "This son pays respect to Father Emperor, wishing Father Emperor abundant peace and safety."

"Rise," said the Emperor, carrying Susu inside.

Shen Chuwei was about to follow when she noticed a young man following behind the Emperor, a handsome youth with a naturally cool demeanor.

The children these days are incredible, so beautiful at such a young age.

Chu Lingfeng took two steps forward and saluted, "This subject pays his respects to the Crown Princess."

Taken aback by the sudden greeting, Shen Chuwei was a bit startled, curious about who this young man before her might be.