"Will he be stronger?" Chengcheng blinked his eyes, pointing at Mu Shaoling and asking.
"Probably stronger."
Mu Shaolingâs mouth twitched, "Heâs counting on me to detoxify him, and yet he claims to be stronger than me? How shameless."
"Then you two should compete, and Iâll learn from whoever is stronger," Chengcheng said.
Mu Shaoling laughed, giving him a pat, "Youâre a fool, arenât you? He hasnât even agreed to teach you yet."
Chengcheng fell silent again, continuing to gnaw on a big crab while Yangyang peeled crab legs for him. This was a closeness even beyond that of real brothers.
"Choosing a consort?" The Emperor was taken aback upon hearing this, looking at the Heir of Prince He with a slightly amused expression. He truly was a conscientious clan chief, always considering the future of the imperial familyâs lineage. "Has the three-year mourning period ended? If not, why discuss choosing a consort?"
The true Grand Emperor was sent back to the Capital City but did not make an appearance before everyone, so people were still unaware that the Grand Emperor hadnât died.
So, knowing full well that the national mourning hadnât ended yet, why bring up selecting a consort? What was the Heir of Prince He thinking, and who had he been influenced by?
"Your Majesty, Iâm thinking of the imperial familyâs lineage," the Heir of Prince He knew that bringing this up now was inappropriate, but the number of princes in this dynasty was really much fewer than in the previous one.
"Enough, Uncle Prince He, thereâs no need to say more. Letâs first settle the matter of the Crown Prince; I have my own ideas about this matter." With that, the Emperor rose, "Seventh, Eighth, entertain the ministers well, I shall leave first."
Since the Grand Emperor was sent back, the Seventh Prince and Eighth Prince were also released, and they were given the titles Seventh Prince and Eighth Prince, albeit without titles.
A prince without a title had the lowest rank among all princes, but it was their own fault for previous wrongdoings.
"Yes, as your Majesty commands."
"Yes, as your Majesty commands."
After the Emperor left, it wasnât long before Ye Ziâan and his family also departed.
In the end, Chengcheng was carried back to the Mu Familyâs carriage by Mu Shaoling.
"Tsk tsk, is Uncle afraid we might abduct Chengcheng?"
"He wants to go home and build a father-son bond," Lele commented, "Uncle has just returned to the Capital City, so he naturally wants to spend more time with Chengcheng."
Yangyang chimed in, "I think whether they spend more or less time together doesnât matter; anyway, Chengcheng doesnât care for him just the same."
"Calling you a fool, and you still wonât admit it." Lele gently patted Yangyang, "Even though Chengcheng doesnât like to speak, he still acknowledges his father in his heart. Otherwise, he wouldâve kicked up a fuss when Uncle carried him away."
"Youâre right," Yangyang propped his chin with his hand, his long eyelashes fluttering, then suddenly hugged Leleâs shoulder, "Brother, why were you laughing at the palace banquet?"
"Laughing at how stupid those people are," Lele replied, pulling away Yangyangâs arm from his shoulder, "You see, those people want our cousin to establish the Crown Prince but also want him to choose a consort. But many ministers in the court have daughters; in such a situation, would they still support establishing the Crown Prince?"
"Why?" Yangyang blinked, still not understanding.
"If they have daughters, they would certainly hope to choose a consort first, so their daughters might enter the palace and possibly give birth to a prince. If the Crown Prince is established first, wouldnât their daughters lose the opportunity for their son to vie for the throne?"
Lele paused and continued, "But fortunately, our cousin already said to establish the Crown Prince first."
Yangyang, understanding now, stroked his chin, "According to your reasoning, even if our cousin agrees to establish the Crown Prince first, some people might still not support it, right?"