Chu Changsheng grasped He Jingru’s hand.

Her voice soft, she said: “Deep in his bones, my elder brother is actually somewhat willful. Things he doesn’t like, he absolutely won’t take. People he doesn’t like, he absolutely won’t keep by his side. Even if it’s to deal with court ministers, he wouldn’t randomly find someone to be Empress. My elder brother—he likes you, Sister He.”

He Jingru’s eyes widened: “How is that possible…”

“How is it not possible?” Chu Changsheng tilted her head. “A woman like Sister He—what man wouldn’t like you after seeing you?”

He Jingru smiled bitterly.

A woman like her with no family background, an older woman, a woman with a pile of younger brothers and sisters—any man who saw her would keep far away.

The Emperor would like her?

Too absurd.

She was about to speak when she suddenly heard a miserable cry from not far away.

“That’s Elder Brother’s voice!”

Chu Changsheng stood up and ran in that direction. He Jingru followed closely behind.

The study companions who had been busy everywhere heard the sound and also gathered around.

There was a large pit here, probably a trap set by nearby hunters to capture prey. As it turned out, Chu Hongyu, who had been digging wild vegetables, had fallen into it.

Chu Changsheng quickly asked: “Elder Brother, how are you? Are you hurt?”

Chu Hongyu raised his head and saw above the pit many heads looking down at him with worry. He Jingru was among them.

He raised his hand to his forehead: “Humiliating, too humiliating.”

Digging wild vegetables and still managing to fall into a pit—there couldn’t be a more unlucky emperor under heaven, could there?

“Your Majesty, I’ll rescue you!”

Without a word, Lin Dongdong jumped in, then had Chu Hongyu ride on his head. The several study companions above clumsily pulled Chu Hongyu up with their combined efforts.

The Emperor, who moments ago had been immaculately dressed, was now completely filthy from head to toe, covered in mud, his hair disheveled.

Chu Hongyu felt he had no face to see anyone.

“Your Majesty, it’s nothing.” Chen San hurriedly consoled him. “In the past, our whole group has done even more humiliating things. Don’t take it to heart.”

Lin Dongdong chimed in: “When we were little, there was one time Your Majesty snuck out of the palace to my house. While setting off firecrackers, he burned a hole in his pants and returned to the palace bare-bottomed. That wasn’t humiliating either…”

“Lin Dongdong!!!”

Chu Hongyu really couldn’t hold it in anymore and glared fiercely at Lin Dongdong.

“It’s fine, Your Majesty, we’re all family here.” Chen San spoke. “My cousin isn’t a blabbermouth either, right, Cousin?”

Chu Hongyu: “…”

Really bringing up exactly what shouldn’t be mentioned.

He Jingru suppressed her laughter and pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve, handing it to Chen San: “Wipe the mud off His Majesty’s face.”

Chen San took the clean handkerchief and was about to move when Chu Hongyu snatched it away, saying coldly: “You lot, all come with me over there.”

The eight study companions followed the Emperor into the woods to the side.

Before long, He Jingru saw the Emperor had changed clothes—the top was Chen San’s, the pants were Lin Dongdong’s… This outfit made her feel for an instant as if she were seeing Yu Hong.

If she thought of the Emperor as Yu Hong, she wouldn’t be so constrained. Just a child about the same age as her cousin—nothing to be afraid of.

The group returned to the riverside and began roasting the sika deer, along with two small rabbits and three fish.

Chu Hongyu selected the largest, fattest fish, planning to roast it and give it to He Jingru to eat. He had to let her know his feelings.

He still had nine years of time.

But she was getting older and couldn’t wait.

“Your Majesty, let me help you roast the fish.” Lin Dongdong came over.

Chu Hongyu waved his hand: “No need, I’ll do it myself.”

However, as an emperor, he had basically never personally done such things. The fish got burned.

In his anxiety, he tried to use his hand to pick off the burned piece of meat. As a result, his finger got scalded. He immediately sucked in a sharp breath.

Chu Changsheng turned her head: “Elder Brother, what’s wrong?”

Chu Hongyu hid the scalded finger, his expression calm: “Nothing, bring me some seasoning.”

Before Chu Changsheng could move, Chen San handed the nearby seasonings to Chu Hongyu.

Immediately after, Chen San continued fawning beside Chu Changsheng: “Which part of the sika deer does Your Highness like to eat? I’ll roast it for Your Highness.”

Chu Changsheng’s head ached.

After meeting Chen San as a child, this fellow always hovered around her. When she was young she didn’t understand why, but now that she was grown, how could she not understand?

She really had no interest in Chen San. Seeing him approach made her want to run.

But she couldn’t possibly leave He Jingru alone in a pile of men, so she had to patiently talk with Chen San: “No need, Lin Dongdong’s roasting is quite good.”

“Thank you for the Eldest Princess’s praise!” Lin Dongdong proudly bobbed his head. “Wait, I’ll show the Eldest Princess my skills!”

Chen San glared at Lin Dongdong irritably, thinking to himself whether the Princess could possibly like that fool Lin Dongdong.

At this moment, He Jingru at the side noticed Chu Hongyu’s raised index finger. A large blister was prominently visible on the fingertip.

She frowned, picked up a water flask and walked over: “Your Majesty, extend your hand.”

Chu Hongyu, usually such a shrewd person, was now looking at He Jingru at such close range and couldn’t quite react for a moment. He dazedly extended his hand.

“Not this hand, that one.” He Jingru sighed, then poured the cold water from the flask onto the blister. “Your Majesty is injured, so stay away from the fire. This subject will roast this fish and guarantee it will be done well.”

The cool water poured on the blister made Chu Hongyu feel much better. He came back to his senses and couldn’t help saying: “Miss He knows so much.”

His heart felt somewhat elated.

That she could notice he was injured meant she was also paying attention to him.

Perhaps this matter wasn’t as difficult as he had imagined.

“My younger brother was often injured when he was little, so I know a bit about these things.” He Jingru answered. “Your Majesty is about the same age as my eldest younger brother.”

Chu Hongyu’s heart instantly went cold.

She really did just see him as a younger brother…

He Jingru picked up the burned fish, peeled off the charred outer skin, then sprinkled on seasonings and carefully roasted it.

Everyone busied themselves with various tasks. As the sunset fell, everything was finally roasted. The group sat in a circle on the ground, each pouring wine, preparing to eat.

Before Chu Hongyu sat the fish He Jingru had roasted.

Originally, he had planned to roast it for He Jingru.

Who would have thought that in the end it was He Jingru who roasted it for him?

Alas, he really had become the younger brother she looked after.

He was about to start eating the roasted fish when suddenly a hand reached over from the side.

“Big Brother, Big Sister, you two are secretly eating meat and drinking wine behind my back—too much!”

The twelve-year-old Prince Yan appeared from who knows where, took the fruit wine from before Chu Changsheng, seized the roasted fish from Chu Hongyu, and took a bite of the fish belly.

He couldn’t help but comment: “The roasted fish tastes really good, much better than the steamed fish from the Imperial Kitchen.”

“Chu Hongjue!!” Chu Hongyu was so angry smoke came out. “Give me back the roasted fish!!”