Punishment, Big Brothers Are Really Scary

Sweet Dumpling desperately wants to leave, but under Little Dumpling’s tyranny she can only stay—reluctantly, and she must not let it show, or Little Dumpling will get upset…

Whenever Little Dumpling gets upset, Sweet Dumpling’s hair suffers. Her cute bun, once neat and pretty, ends up a bird’s nest after his rough handling.

“Uncle Sean, Sweet Dumpling will miss you…” Sweet Dumpling trails after Little Dumpling, glancing back at every step, her eyes turning into daggers when they land on Tyler Cui and the others…

Those six traitors have no loyalty at all. They promised at the foot of the mountain to help her, but the moment her brother spoke up, not one dared say a word for her. So annoying…

Tyler Cui and his five companions feel wronged too. It’s not that they’re disloyal, it’s just…

If the Crown Prince really tried to hit her, they’d definitely step in to shield Sweet Dumpling. But the Crown Prince only pinches cheeks and ruffles hair!

Just imagining their own faces being kneaded into weird shapes by the Crown Prince makes all six boys shudder. So it’s not that they lack loyalty—they just can’t cross that line, and can only watch Sweet Dumpling be led away…

The six boys send Sweet Dumpling off with guilty looks, then all turn to Sean Xuan: “Palace Master, where do we sleep tonight?”

No way will they ever sleep in that cramped six-to-a-room dump again, even if it kills them.

Sean Xuan proves reasonably considerate, assigning each of them their own room. But there are no attendants—Skyvault Palace is for martial training, not an aristocratic estate full of maids. As for male servants?

Sorry, those are all junior disciples training in martial arts. They can only help with rough chores like chopping wood and heating water. As for fetching water and washing clothes, you’ll have to do that yourselves.

“I want to go down the mountain.” Max Zhai is the first to object.

His leg is injured—how is he supposed to carry water?

“We’ll help you.” Liam Fuller is the first to speak up, and the others nod in agreement. After all, Max got hurt protecting them.

“Bro, you’re solid!” Max’s mood instantly flips from gloomy to cheerful, hopping around the room on one leg—until he tries to go bathe and realizes…

“Where are our clothes? Did anyone bring a change up the mountain?” This is a major problem—their outfits have been sweat-soaked and dried over and over all day, and now they stink to high heaven.

“Can we borrow some from the Palace Master?” Shane Wang wrinkles his nose at his own sweat—no way is he wearing these again tomorrow.

“Borrow clothes?” Sean Xuan listens calmly to the six boys’ request and shakes his head. “Sorry, Skyvault Palace doesn’t have robes in your sizes. But you could ask the Crown Prince—his clothes should fit.”

The six boys exchange looks, and in the end, grit their teeth and head for Little Dumpling’s place.

Just as they reach Little Dumpling’s courtyard, they hear Sweet Dumpling’s pitiful voice: “Brother, it’s so late—eating too much fruit isn’t good. I’ve already peeled a whole plate, is that enough?”

“Sweet Dumpling, little kids shouldn’t just think about playing all day. You need to learn to help out adults. I only asked you to peel a little fruit—what, you’re unhappy? Weren’t you the one who swore you could help your brother?” Little Dumpling lectures her seriously, while Sweet Dumpling chokes back tears.

“But kids need to sleep early. Sweet Dumpling is tired.” After a full day of climbing and an evening spent peeling grapes—making sure every single one stayed perfectly whole—it’s really exhausting.

“Aren’t you studying medicine? Prescribe yourself something and I’ll have someone decoct it for you.” Little Dumpling lounges, popping the grapes Sweet Dumpling peeled, and no matter what she says, he shoots her down.

“Brother, do you really have to do this? Sweet Dumpling knows she was wrong.” She’s admitted her mistake countless times, but Little Dumpling, though he claims not to be mad, never goes easy when it comes to punishment.

“Admitting you’re wrong makes you a good kid, but punishment still has to happen. Otherwise, the cost of mistakes is too low—you’ll do it again.” Little Dumpling quotes Ninth Royal Uncle’s logic for disciplining him, rattling off the whole philosophy…

“Sweet Dumpling, it’s for your own good. You’re a girl, but your temperament is too soft—no one will dare marry you.” Look at Max Zhai and the others, all keeping their distance from Sweet Dumpling; it’s obvious how scared they are of marrying a princess.

Being a prince consort is honestly a nightmare. After marrying a princess, you basically lose all real power—sure, you’re prestigious, but for anyone with real ability, it’s not a good path.

“Father said Sweet Dumpling is still young, there’s no rush. And he promised to support me for life.” Sweet Dumpling quietly defends herself.

She doesn’t have to get married!

“Father’s words are nice, but in our family, Mother’s the real boss. Mother never said you couldn’t get married.” Little Dumpling shamelessly twists the logic, and Sweet Dumpling doesn’t catch it. The moment he mentions Father and Mother, she drops her work and flings herself into his arms:

“Brother, I haven’t seen Father or Mother in so long. I miss them so much. They left the palace—so why haven’t they come to see us?” Father and Mother are just mean. If they don’t come soon, Sweet Dumpling will get skinny.

When Sweet Dumpling says this, even Little Dumpling feels a pang of sourness. But he quickly hides his own disappointment and comforts her: “Don’t be sad, Lily. Father and Mother will definitely come see us. They have big responsibilities—when they leave the palace, they have to inspect the realm.”

“So when will Father and Mother come see Sweet Dumpling?” When will her torture finally end?

She’s already overheard her brother ordering the servants to prepare pomegranates.

Today it’s grapes, tomorrow it’ll be pomegranates—she’ll end up crying for sure…

“Well… Brother doesn’t know either, but they’ll definitely come. Don’t worry, Lily.” What Little Dumpling fears most is Sweet Dumpling crying in his arms—whenever she does, he can’t help but surrender.

“But Sweet Dumpling really, really misses Mother… really, really misses Father…” She clings tightly to Little Dumpling and, when he’s not looking, rubs her sticky hands all over his clothes.

That’s what you get for bullying me—now your clothes are filthy…

“All right, all right, don’t cry. If you really miss Father and Mother, I’ll have someone send them a message and see if they can come early.” Little Dumpling gives in—he admits he misses Mother and Father a little too. And besides…

It’s been so long—Father probably isn’t mad anymore, right? And even if he is, it’s fine. With Sweet Dumpling around, everything will be okay.

“Brother, you’re the best…” Sweet Dumpling snuggles into Little Dumpling’s arms, wiping all the grime from her face onto his clothes.

“Ahem…” Tyler Cui and the other five, seeing Sweet Dumpling’s endless chatter, can’t help but interrupt.

If they don’t get those clothes soon, the water they fetched for bathing will go cold.

“Come in.” Little Dumpling already knows someone’s outside—the secret guards haven’t stopped them, so they must be trusted. He’s not worried at all.

“Your Highness…” Tyler Cui and the others, including the injured Max Zhai, enter and bow, then explain why they’ve come.

After they finish, all six look a little worried, because…

They just remembered—the Emperor has a serious cleanliness obsession. What if the Crown Prince is the same? If so, borrowing his clothes might really upset him.

Ugh, why didn’t they think this through before coming?

Ugh, why did they have to interrupt just when I was about to win my brother over?

Sweet Dumpling is even more annoyed!