Private Matters with Official Sanction
Prince Nolan's obsession with cleanliness wasn't something he was born with, so Little Dumpling definitely didn't inherit it. Even if he were a neat freak, it would never reach Prince Nolan's level...
Still, Little Dumpling just couldn't get used to giving his old clothes for others to wear. Instead, he had the servants bring out six brand-new sets and said to the six boys, "If there's anything you don't know, you can ask my personal attendants. They've been at Skyvault Palace for a long time and know the place well. If you need anything, just tell me—I'll help however I can."
With that one sentence, all previous tension was wiped away, and everyone tacitly agreed not to mention it again...
"Thank you, Your Highness," said Tyler Cui and the other five. They left with the clothes, shooting Sweet Dumpling a look full of grievance.
"Good thing His Highness is easygoing. Honestly, I regretted it the moment I walked in," Liam Fuller patted his chest, feeling that his earlier actions were way out of line.
"Do you think the princess will still be punished?" Shane Wang looked awkward. They'd heard most of it outside and knew that if they hadn't interrupted, the little princess might've escaped punishment altogether.
Max Zhai didn't think he was at fault at all: "You can dodge the monk, but not the temple. If His Highness wants to punish someone, if you escape today, there's always tomorrow." So really, it had nothing to do with them—they just happened to pass by. If the princess wanted to blame them, it just meant she was petty.
"That's true, but... we did say we'd plead for the princess," Tyler Cui said, more earnestly. Leo Si and Evan Yu cut him off: "We're not close to His Highness, so how could we plead? Besides, the princess is his little sister—it's a family matter. Outsiders shouldn't interfere."
"Exactly, we're outsiders," Max Zhai said matter-of-factly. "Let's hurry back—the water's going to get cold." They'd worked hard to fetch the water, and couldn't let it go to waste...
The six boys left in style, leaving Sweet Dumpling behind to face Little Dumpling's punishment, because...
The atmosphere Sweet Dumpling had worked so hard to create was now gone. Little Dumpling had snapped out of his missing-mother-and-father mood, and he understood exactly what Sweet Dumpling was up to.
That little rascal dared to play mind games with him—she was getting bold. He'd originally thought about letting her off easy, but now?
"Sweet Dumpling, your brother wants some melon seeds."
"Sweet Dumpling will peel them for you right away, brother." Sweet Dumpling forced a smile through her tears...
Tyler Cui and the other five were just too mean—not only did they refuse to help her, they even set her up.
Boohoo... Grandpa Valley Master, Grandpa Guo, Grandpa Chi, save me! This place is too scary—Sweet Dumpling wants to go home.
Sweet Dumpling didn't dare rebel—she could only scream for help in her heart...
One seed after another...
Sweet Dumpling had peeled half a plate, her eyelids drooping, but Little Dumpling still hadn't told her to stop. She had no choice but to rub her eyes, shift her position, and keep squatting in front of the little table, her chubby hands peeling seed after seed, until...
Thud—a sudden sound. Sweet Dumpling was so sleepy that her head hit the table. She jolted awake to find a hand gently rubbing her forehead.
"Brother?" Sweet Dumpling called out uncertainly.
Was her brother not angry anymore?
"Dummy, if you were sleepy, why didn't you say so?" Little Dumpling admitted it was his oversight—he'd gotten too absorbed in his book and ended up forgetting about Sweet Dumpling.
"Sweet Dumpling is sleepy," she pouted, looking pitiful. At the same time, she seized the chance to plead, tugging at Little Dumpling's sleeve: "Brother, Sweet Dumpling knows she was wrong. Will you forgive her? Please don't punish me—I really won't do it again."
"Alright, alright, we'll let it go tonight." Little Dumpling was generous, but before Sweet Dumpling could celebrate, she heard his next words: "We'll continue tomorrow..."
"Brother..." Sweet Dumpling burst into tears, her words coming out in broken sobs—it was enough to kill her.
"What, Sweet Dumpling isn't sleepy and still wants to peel melon seeds for her brother?" Little Dumpling shot her a look, full of authority. Sweet Dumpling shook her head vigorously: "Sweet Dumpling will go to bed right now." No way—if she nodded, she'd never get to sleep tonight, and tomorrow's punishment would be even worse...
News of Little Dumpling bullying Sweet Dumpling reached both Prince Nolan and Serena Feng. Serena didn't think much of it—Little Dumpling knew his limits, and the so-called punishment wouldn't really hurt Sweet Dumpling; it was just a test of patience. But Prince Nolan wasn't pleased.
"Sweet Dumpling is still little, and Little Dumpling is being thoughtless." If he wanted to mess with someone, why not pick on those Zhai boys? But no—he had to torment his own sister. Hmph...
Not the act of a true gentleman.
"Sweet Dumpling isn't that little anymore. She's clever and mischievous, and with the Valley Master and the others spoiling her, she's almost out of control. Letting Little Dumpling toughen her up a bit isn't a bad thing." For someone so young to already know how to threaten people—when Serena Feng heard Spring Hui's report, she was stunned.
"Sweet Dumpling is very well-behaved." Prince Nolan was certain that whatever his daughter did was good—even if she ditched Little Dumpling in Jiangnan and ran off alone, that just showed how smart she was.
"Just a little cleverness." Serena liked Sweet Dumpling's innocence, but she didn't mind her son toughening up his little sister either. If she wasn't going to discipline the girl herself, why shouldn't someone else do it?
Prince Nolan had originally planned to write a warning letter to Little Dumpling, telling him to go easy, but after hearing Serena's opinion, he gave up on that idea. Instead, in his letter, he subtly reminded Little Dumpling that Serena hoped he'd use this chance to temper Sweet Dumpling's character—but not to go overboard.
This meant Little Dumpling's punishment now had official approval, and he wouldn't be holding back. So, during Sweet Dumpling's days at Skyvault Palace, she lived in constant misery...
Sweet Dumpling knew no help was coming—she could only rely on herself.
She secretly wrote a letter, threatening and bribing Tyler Cui and the other five to help her send it: "You guys have no sense of loyalty. You promised to help me, but then left me all alone. I don't care—this time you have to help me, or I'll tell Uncle Cui and the others that you bullied me."
Sweet Dumpling really had no other option. Uncle Shaoqi wouldn't help her, the shadow guards didn't dare, so only Tyler Cui and the other five could be moved.
"You win." Tyler Cui and the others gave in under Sweet Dumpling's threats and bribes.
"See? Girls are the absolute worst. I'm never playing with them again." Max Zhai snorted arrogantly, his opinion of girls refreshed yet again. Later, when he grew up, his father Dominic Zhai nearly turned gray with worry over his son's marriage...
Sweet Dumpling's letter wasn't written to Serena or Prince Nolan, but to the Valley Master. She'd known all along that Serena and Prince Nolan were praising Little Dumpling, so she never expected any help from them. Her only hope now was Grandpa Valley Master.
"Grandpa Valley Master has always doted on me—he'll definitely come to get me." Sweet Dumpling was certain she'd soon escape Little Dumpling's clutches, fair and square. And as it turned out...
As soon as the Valley Master received Sweet Dumpling's letter, he sent word to his disciple, who happened to be near Skyvault Palace.
The Valley Master told his disciple to find any excuse to go to Skyvault Palace and bring Sweet Dumpling out. As for where she wanted to go next, he said to let Sweet Dumpling decide.
That disciple was actually there on personal business—business that couldn't be revealed to outsiders, especially not the Emperor or Empress. But since his master had spoken, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go fetch Sweet Dumpling...