Jiang Yuanxi searched around but couldn’t find anything to eat.

When she looked up again, she noticed that the prince and the palace concubines were all staring at her.

【What’s wrong? Why are Aunties and the princes looking at me like that?】

The Emperor and the Crown Prince suddenly realized something.

Concubine Chen’s eyes were filled with terror—just now, that little girl hadn’t spoken aloud at all.

“Your Majesty, she—”

Before she could finish, Concubine Xian rushed over and covered her mouth tightly.

“If you want to live, don’t speak!”

Didn’t she see the Emperor’s warning gaze?

The other concubines, hearing Concubine Chen’s words, obediently kept silent.

Even the princes, under the Crown Prince’s stern warning, shut their mouths.

Only the Empress found the situation intriguing.

Meanwhile, Madam Chen, who was standing below the platform, felt uneasy.

Her daughter had a unique ability—if the palace concubines took her as a demon, what would they do?

Jiang Fengyuan held her hand and reassured her, “Don’t worry. In the palace, the Emperor’s word is final.”

Last night, he had already sent a letter into the palace, explaining Yuanxi’s special condition to the Emperor.

If the Emperor truly cherished Yuanxi, he would surely take precautions.

After the ceremony ended, the Emperor summoned all the concubines and princes and issued a stern warning.

His eyes glowed with a chilling light. “You had better keep this matter buried in your hearts. If I find out that anyone deliberately spreads it—your entire family generation will be executed! No matter who!”

The concubines and princes shuddered in fear.

It was the first time they had ever seen the Emperor like this.

Some of the younger princes were so scared that they wet themselves.

Only after the Emperor left did the concubines dare to breathe again.

Concubine Yu was drenched in cold sweat.

Concubine Chen scoffed.

“The Emperor is biased. Yun’er is also his daughter, yet he favors that little girl Jiang Yuanxi so much.”

Could it be that Jiang Yuanxi was actually the Emperor’s illegitimate child?

The more Concubine Yu thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

Concubine Xian warned, “If you want to live long, you’d better keep your mouth shut. Instead of gossiping, why don’t you visit my palace more often? I’ll take my leave first—Amitabha.”

“Tsk, always acting so mysterious. Who needs her advice?” Concubine Chen said disdainfully. “Her palace smells of incense and smoke—it’s suffocating! Who would want to go there?”

Only Concubine Yu looked worried.

“The Fourth Prince is probably coming back soon.”

Hearing this, Concubine Chen’s face turned pale.

—

That morning, Jiang Yuanxi was brought to the palace early. She hadn’t eaten anything, and her stomach growled in hunger.

Suddenly, she caught a whiff of something delicious.

She looked up and saw the sacrificial altar filled with fruits, pastries, and at the very center—a large, braised pig’s head.

Her eyes lit up, and she started drooling.

Grabbing a stool, she climbed up with her hands and feet.

Meanwhile, the Emperor and Empress, after finishing their instructions, headed to the ancestral temple with the Crown Prince.

“Where is she?” The Emperor looked around.

The Crown Prince heard a noise, looked up—and was completely stunned.

His hand trembled as he pointed upward.

The Emperor and Empress followed his gaze and gasped.

There, on the altar, was the little princess—happily gnawing on the giant pig’s head.

“Heavens above!”

Eunuch Cao nearly had a heart attack.

This was the royal ancestral temple, where the past emperors were worshipped!

This—this—!

Eunuch Cao was at a complete loss for words.

“Guards! Get the princess down!”

Jiang Yuanxi was carried down, still sucking on her fingers, clearly not having eaten her fill.

The Emperor held his forehead, for the first time doubting his decision.

Was bestowing the title of “Princess” upon Yuanxi really a good idea?

What kind of princess steals food from her ancestors?

And not just any food—but a whole pig’s head.

Just thinking about it was embarrassing.

The Empress chuckled helplessly. “Your Majesty, perhaps we should have some food prepared for her.”

The little one had been up since early morning and was probably starving—otherwise, she wouldn’t have climbed onto the altar.

The Emperor waved his hand. “Cao Cheng, prepare the meal.”

Soon, a eunuch came to deliver a message.

“Lord Jiang, Lady Jiang, His Majesty has decided to keep the Princess for a meal. Afterward, she will meet the concubines in the inner palace before being sent home.”

Even though Jiang Fengyuan was reluctant, he dared not defy the Emperor’s decision.

Madam Chen hesitated before asking, “Eunuch, how are the concubines feeling today?”

She didn’t dare ask outright whether they had heard Yuanxi’s thoughts.

The eunuch smiled. “With a new princess in the palace, the concubines are naturally delighted.”

Hearing this, Madam Chen finally felt relieved—it seemed the Emperor had everything under control.

They had no choice but to return home for now.

—

The imperial meal was soon served.

The Empress personally had Jiang Yuanxi changed into clean clothes and washed her hands.

【Wow, this Auntie is so pretty—even prettier than my mother.】

Jiang Yuanxi praised her in her heart without hesitation.

The Empress couldn’t help but feel delighted.

After giving birth to the Crown Prince, she had been unable to conceive again.

Seeing Jiang Yuanxi now, she wished she could have such an adorable daughter of her own—soft, sweet, and lovable, making people want to hold her close.

When the food was served, the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince took their seats.

Jiang Yuanxi waited patiently for the nanny to help her up.

But even after sitting at the table for a while, she only stared at the dishes without moving her chopsticks.

【Mommy said I have to wait for Emperor Father to eat first before I can eat. When will Emperor Father start eating?】

Jiang Yuanxi wiped the drool from her mouth, looking impatient.

The Empress sighed internally—Madam Chen had indeed raised her daughter well, teaching her proper etiquette.

The Emperor shook his head with a smile and picked up his chopsticks to take the first bite.

The moment he did, Jiang Yuanxi’s eyes sparkled.

Like a bolt of lightning, she scrambled onto the table and grabbed the biggest pork knuckle, stuffing it into her mouth.

The Empress was caught off guard.

The Crown Prince’s mouth twitched.

Only then did the Empress recall that, no matter how well Madam Chen had taught her daughter, Jiang Yuanxi was still just a one-year-old child.

At this age, simply remembering what adults told her was already impressive.

After eating, the Empress had the little one changed into a fresh outfit.

The nanny chuckled. “I’ve never seen a child as fast as the Princess. Before we could react, she had already grabbed the pork knuckle!”

The Empress couldn’t hold back her laughter.

The little girl was chubby and obviously well-loved by her family.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever have another daughter in this lifetime,” the Empress sighed. “But I really adore Yuanxi.”

The nanny nodded knowingly.

“From now on, Princess Xihe will be our little mistress.”

The Empress smiled in satisfaction.

—

In the imperial garden, Jiang Yuanxi was taking a stroll when she heard a voice.

“So, you’re Jiang Yuanxi?”

Turning around, she saw a girl in royal attire glaring at her.

The maid beside her quickly bowed. “Greetings, Princess.”

It was the Emperor’s only other daughter—Princess Jun Yun.

【Oh, so it’s her.】

【In her past life, her husband deceived her, took her money, cheated on her, and even had illegitimate children. She naively raised them as her own. In the end, that scumbag not only killed their only biological child but also hacked her to pieces and fed her to the dogs.】

【Not even her bones were left.】

【Ugh, mistresses are everywhere these days.】

Jiang Yuanxi’s gaze turned from indifferent to pitying.

Princess Jun Yun had come to pick a fight, but upon hearing this tragic fate, her eyes widened in shock.

“Princess Sister?” Yuanxi called.

Jun Yun burst into tears and ran away.

Jiang Yuanxi was baffled.

“I—I didn’t bully her!”

Why were young girls these days acting like old ladies trying to scam people?

Fearing that the princess might come back demanding compensation, Jiang Yuanxi quickly packed up and went home.

Grown-ups were getting scarier!

Better to lie low at home!