Separating, Little Dumpling Must Grow Independent

Little Dumpling was born on New Year's Eve. As soon as his birthday passed, a new year began...

At the start of the new year, Ninth Royal Uncle will fully implement his policies toward Southlyn. Southlyn will formally vanish from the tide of history—there will be no more Southlyn among the Nine Provinces.

Southlyn’s imperial relatives, including the last little prince, are all resettled in the Eastlyn Capital. Ninth Royal Uncle bestows the title Marquis of Everloyalty on the Southlyn little prince, meaning he is to remain forever obedient.

The other imperial relatives also receive titles, but the ranks are so minor they’re barely worth mentioning. Though they’ll never want for food or clothing, it’s nothing compared to their days in Southlyn—they can only just manage to keep their lives.

As for their descendants? For the foreseeable future, there’s no path forward. Ninth Royal Uncle will never employ them again—not until the realm is truly at peace.

With Southlyn’s affairs settled, Eastlyn’s priority is no longer waging war, but recuperating and gathering strength for the battles ahead.

These matters only require Ninth Royal Uncle’s orders to be carried out; he doesn’t need to handle them personally. So, after the New Year, Ninth Royal Uncle finally has some free time.

Freed up, Ninth Royal Uncle demands that Serena Feng fulfill her previous promise: wean Little Dumpling, move out of Harmony Hall where she’s been living with him, and come live with Nolan as husband and wife.

He thought Serena Feng would be reluctant, but to his surprise, as soon as he brought it up, Serena moved out the very next day. Even when Little Dumpling sobbed with tears and snot all over, Serena didn’t soften.

“Mom, don’t go, don’t go, don’t leave Little Dumpling behind.” Somehow Little Dumpling found out that Serena was moving out today. He stumbled out, saw Serena standing there, and immediately threw himself at her feet, wailing with all his might: “Mom, I’m scared, I’m scared, don’t leave Little Dumpling!”

Little Dumpling cried heartbreakingly, but even more than sadness, he felt powerless. He couldn't stop the servants, so he could only cling tightly to Serena Feng, begging her not to leave.

Serena Feng’s heart ached terribly, but she didn’t answer Little Dumpling’s plea. Instead, she sharply questioned Mira Tang and the others, "Who told His Highness that I’m leaving?"

"No one told His Highness," Mira Tang replied, bowing her head in apology. "He must have overheard by accident." They had underestimated how clever the prince was, thinking a child just past his first birthday wouldn’t understand. But he was smarter than most, picking up everything from the maids’ careless chatter.

"Find out who said it. I never want this to happen again." Serena Feng swept a cold, dissatisfied glance over the four maids. They didn’t dare breathe.

Afraid Little Dumpling would get more upset if he stayed here, Serena Feng took him to a side hall and had a basin of warm water brought in to wipe away his tears and snot.

Little Dumpling had really cried hard—his eyes were red and swollen, but he didn’t dare blink. He looked up at Serena Feng with pitiful eyes, his chubby little hands clutching her clothes like a frightened animal. Whenever Serena moved, he followed.

Seeing Serena Feng stay silent, Little Dumpling grew anxious. His lips quivered, tears welled up again, and he leaned against her, pleading, "Mama, please don’t leave me. I’ll be good, I’ll be really good..."

Tears shimmered in his eyes, his little body trembling—so pitiful it tore at Serena’s heart. She wanted to say she wasn’t leaving, that she’d stay with him forever, but she forced herself to hold back...

This day was bound to come. Little Dumpling had his own path to walk. To sit firmly in that position, he’d have to work even harder than most. Prince Nolan had already mapped out his future—Serena couldn’t selfishly ruin it and make things harder for him.

Little Dumpling was her and the Emperor’s eldest son. His future was set: if he didn’t fight for it, death was the only outcome.

Serena Feng took a deep breath and hugged Little Dumpling tightly, her expression serious. "Little Dumpling, Mama isn’t abandoning you. I’m just going back to my own room. I’ll still visit every day, just like now. At night, I’ll stay until you fall asleep before I leave."

Serena knew she couldn’t look after Little Dumpling forever. After he turned six months old, she stopped sleeping with him at night, letting him get used to being on his own. He would soon adjust to her absence.

"I want to go too! I don’t want to be alone. I’m scared," Little Dumpling clung to Serena Feng’s arms, his long lashes still wet with tears. When he blinked, they fluttered like fans, his clear eyes filled with sorrow and fear.

Serena Feng realized he must have overheard the palace staff gossiping and thought she was leaving him.

Serena soothed him as usual, gently patting his back. "Silly boy... If you want to go with Mama, you’ll have to live with your father too. Do you want to go?"

"Huh?" Little Dumpling stopped crying, staring at Serena in confusion. Why did this sound so different from what he’d heard? Wasn’t Mama leaving him? Why did it mean living with his father?

Little Dumpling pouted timidly, "I don’t want to sleep with Daddy. Mama is warm and smells nice..." After badmouthing his dad, he didn’t forget to flatter his mom.

"So what should we do? Mama has to sleep with your daddy," Serena spread her hands, looking helpless.

Little Dumpling’s attention instantly shifted. He stopped worrying about Serena moving out and started seriously thinking about a perfect solution...

He definitely didn’t want to sleep with Daddy. Whenever Daddy came, Mama wouldn’t hug him anymore. He hated it!

He had to figure out a way to keep Mama with him and not let her sleep with Daddy.

This problem haunted Little Dumpling throughout his childhood. He kept trying to come up with a way to drive Daddy away and monopolize Mama, but as his younger sister and brother were born, more and more people competed for Mama’s attention. He couldn’t even get mad about it...

"I want to go too! I don’t want to be alone. I’m scared." Little Dumpling nestled in Serena Feng’s arms, his long lashes still wet with tears. When he blinked, they swept up like fans, his clear eyes full of heartbreaking sorrow and fear.

Serena Feng realized Little Dumpling must have overheard the palace staff’s gossip and thought she was abandoning him.

Just as she always did, Serena gently patted his back to comfort him. "Silly boy... If you want to go with Mama, you’ll have to live with your father too. Do you want to go?"

"Huh?" Little Dumpling immediately forgot to cry, staring at Serena in confusion. Why was this different from what he’d heard? Wasn’t Mama supposed to leave him? How did Daddy get involved?

Little Dumpling pouted timidly, "I don’t want to sleep with Daddy. Mama is warm and smells nice..." After badmouthing his dad, he didn’t forget to flatter his mom.

"So what should we do? Mama has to sleep with your daddy," Serena spread her hands, looking helpless.

Little Dumpling’s attention instantly shifted. He stopped worrying about Serena moving out and started seriously thinking about a perfect solution...

He definitely didn’t want to sleep with Daddy. Whenever Daddy came, Mama wouldn’t hug him anymore. He hated it!

He had to figure out a way to keep Mama with him and not let her sleep with Daddy.

This problem haunted Little Dumpling throughout his childhood. He kept trying to come up with a way to drive Daddy away and monopolize Mama, but as his younger sister and brother were born, more and more people competed for Mama’s attention. He couldn’t even get mad about it...