Hundred Days, Principles Are Not Negotiable

Prince Nolan wished he could hide his daughter away forever. He hadn’t let Sweet Dumpling appear at her three-day celebration, not at her full-month, not even at New Year’s—but now that her hundred-day milestone had arrived, there was simply no way to keep her hidden any longer.

On Sweet Dumpling’s hundredth day, Prince Nolan—very much against his will—finally allowed her to meet the crowd.

There was no helping it: after Little Dumpling left the palace, he went straight to William Wang Jinling and refused to return. Prince Nolan had no choice but to bring out his daughter—certain that the boy would come back for her.

“No wonder His Majesty wants to keep the little princess hidden. With such a delicate, adorable face—if she were my daughter, I’d hide her too, just to keep her from being snatched away by some brat!” General Warren Yu couldn’t help but marvel at Sweet Dumpling. If not for the difference in status, he’d have asked Serena Feng if he could hold her.

Ah... Things just aren’t the same now that Serena Feng is Empress—she can’t be as carefree as she used to be.

"His Majesty’s real concern is the Grand Heir," Felix Fuller understood Prince Nolan’s thoughts perfectly.

Back when Little Dumpling first met William, he clung to him and refused to let go—much to Prince Nolan’s frustration. Now that the princess was born, His Majesty worried she’d take after her brother and become just as attached to the Grand Heir.

"His Majesty really has it rough as a father," General Warren Yu mused, picturing the little princess reaching for William instead of Prince Nolan.

Just imagining Prince Nolan being rejected by his own daughter made General Warren Yu grin uncontrollably.

"Keep it down—His Majesty’s watching you," Felix Fuller didn’t want to get dragged into trouble and quietly kicked General Warren Yu under the table.

General Warren Yu glanced up and, sure enough, saw His Majesty looking thoroughly displeased.

Then again, when has His Majesty ever really been pleased?

Though the three-day and full-month celebrations were quiet affairs, Sweet Dumpling’s hundred-day banquet was grand indeed. Everyone who saw her was instantly smitten—none had ever met such a cheerful baby, and she never cried, no matter who held her.

If Sweet Dumpling’s status weren’t so exalted, these noblewomen would have tried to arrange a match on the spot—hoping to claim her as a daughter-in-law for their own sons.

The hundred-day banquet was lively; everyone knew how much His Majesty cherished the little princess, and the compliments never stopped. Yet by the end, neither William Wang Jinling nor Sean Xuan had appeared.

Before leaving, General Warren Yu shot Felix Fuller a look, waggling his eyebrows—did Felix want to go show off to William?

Felix quietly turned away, refusing to acknowledge General Warren Yu...

Wouldn’t going to William now just be a bit much?

Felix didn’t go, and General Warren Yu was too lazy to bother alone. After shedding a few sympathetic tears for the Grand Heir, he decisively went home to sleep.

With the Grand Heir absent today, tomorrow’s morning court should be a breeze. His Majesty will be in a good mood—and General Warren Yu can sneak a little break...

Things turned out quite the opposite: when Prince Nolan returned to the palace, his face was as dark as ever. "Where’s the Crown Prince? Still refusing to come back?"

"Yes, sir." The shadow guards lined up, heads nearly touching their chests.

If the young master wouldn’t come back, there was nothing they could do.

"Get out." Prince Nolan snapped, thoroughly annoyed. Just thinking about that ungrateful Little Dumpling made his blood boil.

Children really are the source of all trouble—nothing but trouble!

He’d never felt so stifled in his life.

"Little Dumpling still won’t come back?" Serena Feng entered with a bowl of hot soup, smiling as she stood before Prince Nolan. "Don’t be angry—let him play outside if he wants. Didn’t you say boys need to go out and toughen themselves up?"

"Running around with a scholar hardly counts as toughening up," Prince Nolan replied coldly, taking the soup from Serena and downing it in one gulp.

"Slow down. Even if you’re upset, don’t take it out on your health." Serena quickly took the bowl from him, trying to stop his reckless gulping—but it was too late, he’d already finished.

"You’re a grown man, yet you act like a child," Serena sighed, shaking her head. But Prince Nolan just laughed, his mood improving. He pulled Serena into his arms: "Tomorrow we’ll bring that boy back to the palace. My son doesn’t need William Wang Jinling to raise him."

"Will you go fetch him, or should I?" Serena Feng asked with a smile.

"Let Left Shore go. He lost the boy; it’s his job to bring him back."

"And what if he can’t? If even Sweet Dumpling couldn’t get Little Dumpling to return, can Left Shore really manage it?"

"Then he shouldn’t bother coming back either." And if he took Feng Jin with him, all the better.

"Looks like Left Shore won’t be coming back either." Serena nestled into Prince Nolan’s arms with a sigh...

Father and son—what are they even fighting about?

Prince Nolan sighed too. He just couldn’t understand it—Little Dumpling was his son, so why did the boy seem closer to William Wang Jinling?

"You always wear that stern face—how could Little Dumpling feel close to you?" Nolan voiced his doubt aloud, and Serena naturally explained.

"What, you want me to grin like William Wang Jinling all day?" Prince Nolan snorted, unimpressed. Serena burst out laughing: "Not like William, just be a little gentler with Little Dumpling—he’s still a child."

"Hmph... If that brat leaves, let him stay gone. I’ve got Sweet Dumpling, and that’s enough." At least he still had a daughter—otherwise, Prince Nolan would be truly miserable.