Emperor Jingming glanced at the Crown Prince after hearing Yu Jin’s words.

He had already known about the incident at Princess Heshu’s full moon celebration, where the Crown Prince had left the palace to offer congratulations but ended up being bitten by Erniu in the Yan Prince’s garden.

It turned out the Crown Prince had teased Erniu out of fondness, not boredom.

Thinking this way, Emperor Jingming felt slightly comforted. Although the result was equally embarrassing, the different reasons made him feel a bit better.

The Crown Prince felt quite wronged under Emperor Jingming’s gaze: What kind of person did his father think he was? If he hadn’t taken a liking to Erniu, why would he bother teasing a dog when he had nothing better to do?

“If you like dogs, you may keep one. Just don’t let it distract you from your duties,” Emperor Jingming said, thinking of the Crown Prince’s recent performance. He felt he shouldn’t be too harsh and that some encouragement might lead to better results.

The Crown Prince’s eyes widened suddenly, feeling the urge to clean his ears. Had he heard correctly? His father said he could keep a dog if he liked them. He’d never had such treatment before.

Indeed, pretending to have amnesia had many benefits.

At that moment, the Crown Prince once again congratulated himself on his cleverness.

Looking at Erniu with curiosity, he said, “I just heard from the eunuch that Erniu is the fourth-rank General Xiaotian. I’m quite intrigued, but unfortunately, I don’t remember meeting Erniu before.”

Thinking that Erniu might not like overeagerness, he decided to start anew, taking things slowly. Given enough time, Erniu might grow to like him.

The Crown Prince thought happily to himself.

Yu Jin gave the Crown Prince a meaningful look and smiled slightly. “It doesn’t matter if Second Brother doesn’t remember. Erniu is here today, so you’ve met now.”

As he spoke, he patted the big dog’s head. “Come, Erniu, greet the Crown Prince.”

Erniu, who had been sitting obediently next to Yu Jin like a good boy, stood up and slowly walked forward a couple of steps, wagging his tail.

Seeing Erniu’s wagging tail and friendly expression, the Crown Prince immediately let his guard down.

Earlier, a eunuch who had raised dogs before had told him that when a dog wags its tail at someone, it means it likes that person.

Indeed, he had been too eager before. Now it seemed that Erniu was truly obedient and well-behaved, surely remembering the kindness of that package of braised beef.

Just as this thought flashed through his mind, the big dog’s face suddenly changed.

The gentle and obedient demeanor transformed into a fierce grimace, revealing a mouthful of terrifying sharp teeth. Its front legs suddenly raised.

The scene of being bitten by Erniu that day flashed through the Crown Prince’s mind.

The Crown Prince, with his noble status, had been pampered since childhood. Although he had endured his father the Emperor’s roars and scoldings, suffering mental anguish, his body remained delicate.

Being hit on the back by a flagpole during an earthquake in front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple was one incident. Yu Jin and Prince Lu had each beaten him once, and Emperor Jingming had thrown a white jade paperweight at him once. Then there was the time Erniu bit him.

Apart from these, he had hardly even suffered a scratch in all these years.

In the Crown Prince’s subconscious, no matter how frightening his father and brothers could be, they still had a reason. Erniu was different; no matter how intelligent, it was still an animal that could truly kill someone if it went berserk.

Thus, one can imagine how great a psychological shadow Erniu biting the Crown Prince’s bottom had cast.

Seeing Erniu’s reaction, identical to the moment before it had bitten him that day, the Crown Prince reflexively covered his buttocks and retreated in panic, shouting, “Quick, get Erniu away! It’s going to bite my bottom again—”

The big dog stood on its hind legs, extending a front paw in a waving gesture, looking innocently back at its master.

Yu Jin’s face was full of surprise. “Second Brother, Erniu just wanted to greet you. Why are you running away?”

The Crown Prince, still not recovered from his nervousness, blurted out, “What greeting? It wanted to bite me, just like that day in your garden—”

Shouting to this point, the Crown Prince suddenly froze as if struck by a divine spell, then his expression changed dramatically as he looked towards Emperor Jingming.

Emperor Jingming’s face had already turned as cold as water, his gaze like knives fixed on the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince’s legs went weak, and he nearly fell to his knees.

Had he… had he been exposed?

It was over, it was all over. His father would surely kill him!

Prince Lu’s surprised voice rang out: “Second Brother, you’ve remembered?”

These words seemed to throw the Crown Prince a lifeline, suddenly waking him up. He laughed dryly and said, “Being frightened by Erniu like this, I suddenly remembered some things—”

“Enough!” Emperor Jingming roared angrily, turning away with a sweep of his sleeve. “Get to the Imperial Study!”

“Father—” the Crown Prince called out, his face pale, but seeing Emperor Jingming walk away without looking back, he could only steel himself and follow.

Prince Lu looked at Yu Jin. “Seventh Brother, what should we do?”

Just now, when Father said to get to the Imperial Study, he was probably only talking to the Crown Prince.

At this moment, Prince Lu only wanted to leave quickly.

Although it was fun to watch the drama unfold, Father’s expression was too frightening. Now was not a good time to be a spectator.

Yu Jin glanced sideways at Prince Lu, wishing he could kick this fool flying.

He was useless at helping but excellent at ruining things. If it weren’t for Fifth Brother’s untimely reminder, the Crown Prince might have just admitted to faking his amnesia.

Angry, Yu Jin naturally wouldn’t let Prince Lu have his way. He said seriously, “Didn’t Fifth Brother hear Father tell us to go to the Imperial Study? Let’s go.”

On the way to the Imperial Study, Prince Lu belatedly realized and whispered, “Seventh Brother, Father probably only meant for the Crown Prince to go, right?”

Yu Jin didn’t even raise an eyelid, saying flatly, “Father didn’t specify names. What if he calls for us and we’re not there when he looks around the Imperial Study? You know Father is in a bad mood right now…”

Hearing this, Prince Lu dared not hope for the best anymore and could only obediently follow along.

Emperor Jingming strode back to the Imperial Study. Turning around to see the Crown Prince lingering at the door, he roared, “Get in here!”

The Crown Prince habitually wanted to hang his head, but Prince Lu’s reminder had given him a glimmer of hope, allowing him to maintain his composure as he walked in.

If he insisted that he had regained his memory due to the shock, it should be fine, right?

The Crown Prince was anxious, feeling the urge to cry.

Standing before Emperor Jingming, the Crown Prince said sheepishly, “Father—”

Emperor Jingming raised an eyebrow. “What, have you regained your memory?”

The Crown Prince didn’t dare look into Emperor Jingming’s eyes and lowered his gaze, saying, “I suddenly remembered a little…”

“How much do you remember?” Emperor Jingming’s tone was calm.

The Crown Prince’s heart leaped with joy: Did Father believe him?

With this, he grew a bit bolder and said, “When Erniu frightened me, I suddenly remembered being bitten by Erniu at Seventh Brother’s residence…”

After all, no one could open his head and look inside, not even Father.

“Have you remembered anything else?”

“Not yet…”

“Raise your head. Look me in the eyes.”

The Crown Prince looked up, meeting Emperor Jingming’s gaze.

Emperor Jingming stared intently at the Crown Prince, his eyes unsettlingly calm. “Did you just remember now, or have you never lost your memory at all?”

The Crown Prince involuntarily averted his gaze.

“I said, look me in the eyes!” Emperor Jingming’s tone grew heavier.

The Crown Prince secretly clenched his fist, his palm damp with sweat.

“How could your son dare to deceive you? I just remembered—”

Emperor Jingming picked up the newly replaced white jade paperweight from his desk.