Chapter Fifteen: The Crown Prince Is a Master of Humblebragging

"Your Majesties, please don't address me like that; there are boundaries between ruler and subject. Besides, after my fall, I'm having trouble remembering some things. Please forgive me."

What else could Su Jingluo say? She couldn't exactly admit that she'd failed at bashing her own head against a wall and now couldn't recall much about the two of them or herself. All she could do was offer a distant but apologetic explanation.

"You fell, junior sister?" The Emperor, who had been sitting in his chair, immediately stood up at her words, about to come over, but the Empress cleared her throat, and he obediently sat back down.

At that moment, Xiao Jingxuan's face was as green as a watermelon rind.

"Your Majesty need not worry. Su Jingluo is tough—one fall is nothing to her."

Su Jingluo couldn't quite guess why Xiao Jingxuan was so angry, but she couldn't allow her own lord to lose face. Besides, the Emperor's reaction to her was a little too intense. The whole situation felt awkward.

"Yes, yes, I'm thick-skinned and sturdy—it’s nothing," Su Jingluo said, uninterested in whatever games the Emperor and Empress might be playing, or whom Xiao Jingxuan was scowling at. The most important thing right now was to eat!

The Emperor was indeed embarrassed and quickly arranged for everyone to take their seats and begin the meal, even placing Crown Prince Xiao Chengze at Yunbai's table, making small talk with Xiao Jingxuan all the while.

It was mostly the usual: "I've never seen you two out together before, how do you suddenly have a child? Are you treating my junior sister well?"

Once seated, Su Jingluo began eating ravenously; after all, it had been ages since the original owner of this body had tasted so many delicacies, and she herself hadn't eaten properly in days. Seeing all this food nearly brought her to tears.

She not only ate for herself, but also played the part of a good mother, constantly signaling for Yunbai to eat more too.

Yunbai was truly entranced—never in his short life had he seen such a spread. He picked up an orange, turning it over in his hands, unsure how to eat it. He sniffed its fragrant aroma, his lips curling upward; surely it must taste wonderful.

Su Jingluo was anxious—why waste time staring at an orange? Eat the meat! All that time spent smelling it could be used to stuff yourself with something delicious.

"Is your prince's manor really so poor? Judging by you, it seems you've never seen such things before." Xiao Chengze, noticing Yunbai's starry-eyed fascination, felt an overwhelming sense of superiority.

"You’re the one who’s poor and ignorant," Yunbai retorted, his face flushing as he placed the orange back on the fruit plate and pouted.

"Me, poor? Everything in this room belongs to me, the Crown Prince! Everything you’re eating is mine! If you have any pride, don’t eat it!"

Is Versailles-style bragging so universal, in every time and place? Even seven- or eight-year-olds compete like this. Su Jingluo, hearing the Crown Prince's words, was deeply convinced that making money was crucial—her child couldn’t start the race so far behind.

"Fine, I won't eat! Hmph!" Yunbai turned his head away from the food, only to see his mother devouring it all, which made him feel even more aggrieved.

But Su Jingluo didn’t agree—her silly child, if you want to eat, just eat. Why let him stop you? Even if you do, what can he do, yank it out of your mouth? At five years old, pride is a luxury—look at your mother, I’ve reached five and still have no pride. Eat your fill, get your money’s worth, that’s what matters. Besides, when it comes to family background, even losing to the Crown Prince isn't shameful.

Su Jingluo kept signaling for Yunbai to eat, and Yunbai, eyeing the orange, was already tempted to betray himself.

"Hahaha, I just won’t let you eat. You can’t have any—whatever you want, I’ll eat it all," Xiao Chengze taunted, finding Yunbai’s anger amusing. In the palace, everyone always catered to him; only this little boy brought him such novelty and fun.

Just as Yunbai reached for something, he grew angry and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Ugh... mm..."

A moment ago, the proud Crown Prince Xiao Chengze suddenly fell silent, his face flushed as he clawed frantically at the table, digging his fingers into his mouth.

At first, no one noticed, but as Xiao Chengze grew more uncomfortable and knocked bowls and plates to the floor, the loud crash finally drew everyone’s attention.