Inheritance, A Daughter Is a Father’s Little Cotton-Padded Jacket

With a wife, a son, and now a daughter, Prince Nolan had never felt so content as he did at this moment. No matter how many headaches and worries awaited him at morning court, just one sweet call of "Daddy" or "Father Emperor" from Sweet Dumpling could fill his heart with joy. All troubles faded away in front of her.

No wonder Prince Nolan doted on Sweet Dumpling so much. Compared to Little Dumpling, who was mischievous and always clinging to Rory Dongling, Sweet Dumpling was extraordinarily well-behaved. What pleased Prince Nolan most was that Sweet Dumpling clearly liked him more than anyone else—she treated Rory, Xuan Shaoqi, and Zuo An as just very good uncles.

Sweet Dumpling’s warmth and closeness deeply soothed Prince Nolan’s heart. Even though he still wore a stern face every day, anyone could see that the emperor had become much gentler than before. He remained decisive and ruthless, but now showed more patience—prompting ministers to declare that the little princess was a true lucky star.

Compared to her formal title of Princess An, everyone in Eastlyn preferred to call Sweet Dumpling the Little Princess.

As they said in private, calling her the Little Princess felt so much warmer—just hearing those four words made their hearts melt. No wonder the emperor doted on her so much.

"Father Emperor is here!" The moment Prince Nolan stepped into the palace, Sweet Dumpling spotted him and instantly abandoned her mother, who was reading to her. She scrambled off the low couch, clutching her teacup, and hurried over to greet her most beloved daddy.

Sweet Dumpling was already five years old and walked everywhere; her legs were strong, and carrying a cup of water was no trouble at all. Of course, any water she spilled along the way was tactfully ignored by everyone.

"Daddy, you’ve worked hard. Here, have some water." Sweet Dumpling held the cup in both hands, her rosy cheeks beaming with joy, completely unfazed by Prince Nolan’s stern expression.

Sweet Dumpling only resembled Serena Feng in her features about thirty percent, but her spirit and manner were almost identical. Even Serena often said Sweet Dumpling was her miniature version.

The rarest thing was that, unlike Little Dumpling who disliked medicine, Sweet Dumpling had shown extraordinary talent for medicine since childhood—delighting both Prince Nolan and Serena Feng.

Little Dumpling inherited their status, while Sweet Dumpling inherited Serena’s medical talent—there was nothing more perfect than this.

"My Little Princess, have you been good today?" Prince Nolan took the cup and lifted Sweet Dumpling into his arms.

Sweet Dumpling giggled, "I’ve been very good!" She wrapped her arms around Prince Nolan’s neck, kissed his cheek, then obediently offered her own little face for a kiss...

Father and daughter were long used to this kind of affection. Sweet Dumpling only smiled so adorably and innocently in front of Prince Nolan and Serena Feng; around Little Dumpling, she was always cold and distant, leaving him frustrated and complaining that his little sister didn’t like him anymore.

"Are you two done fooling around yet?" Prince Nolan stood with Sweet Dumpling in the center of the hall, blocking most of the light. Serena Feng had to speak up and remind them.

"Your mother is urging you, come down now." Prince Nolan set Sweet Dumpling on the low couch and personally took off her little shoes. Sweet Dumpling happily wiggled her tiny feet...

In this world, only Serena Feng and Sweet Dumpling could make Prince Nolan serve them like this.

Of course, Sweet Dumpling was a filial child too. She made a funny face at Serena Feng, then dutifully stood behind Prince Nolan, her little fists gently pounding his shoulders: "Father Emperor, are you tired? Let me give you a massage."

"My Little Princess is truly good." The hard lines of Prince Nolan’s face unconsciously softened.

He really couldn’t help loving her more—Sweet Dumpling was just too lovable, far more considerate than Little Dumpling.

"Little Princess, have you been good? Does Father Emperor owe you a reward?" At just five years old, Lily Dongling already knew how to negotiate for her own benefit, her bright eyes sparkling with mischief...

"What does Lily want?" Prince Nolan spoiled his daughter, but he wouldn’t indulge her blindly. Even though his daughter would never lack suitors no matter how willful she became, Prince Nolan still hoped Lily could grow up to be as clever and wise as Serena Feng.

Sweet Dumpling hooked her arms around Prince Nolan’s neck, leaning on his shoulder and whispering, "Father Emperor, I’ll tell you a secret—just between us. You can’t tell Mother Empress."

"Alright, I won’t tell. Lily can whisper her secret to me." But with a voice that loud, even if he kept quiet, Serena Feng could hear every word.

Prince Nolan glanced at Serena Feng and met her half-smiling gaze. That look gave him a bad feeling—Sweet Dumpling’s request was probably going to be tricky.

"Father Emperor, I’ll whisper it to you. I miss the Valley Master Grandpa, and I miss Grandpa Redwater and Grandpa Guile too. Can I go visit them?" Sweet Dumpling’s "whisper" was so loud that Serena Feng heard every word.

Just as expected. Serena Feng smiled knowingly, while Prince Nolan looked at her, asking with his eyes: Why does Lily want to see the Valley Master?

Ask your daughter yourself. Serena Feng "pretended" not to hear and kept reading her book.

Prince Nolan gave in and pulled Sweet Dumpling into his arms. "You miss the Valley Master Grandpa? How about I invite him to the palace?"

"No!" Sweet Dumpling shook her head like a drum, her big eyes darting around...

"Why not?" Prince Nolan was certain Sweet Dumpling wanted more than just to see the Valley Master.

"Because, because..." Sweet Dumpling scratched her head, her big eyes still spinning...

"Ah... Lily knows! Because Valley Master Grandpa is old, I should respect my elders. If I miss him, I should go visit him myself. Mother Empress, isn’t that right?" Sweet Dumpling didn’t forget to rope Serena Feng in as her witness.

"If your Father Emperor says yes, then it’s yes." Serena Feng refused to be an accomplice—if Lily went to Mystic Healer Valley, Prince Nolan would surely grumble about it afterwards.

"Father Emperor, am I right?" Sweet Dumpling pouted. Mother Empress was so mean, not helping her at all.

"Well..." Prince Nolan didn’t want to disappoint Lily and really wanted to say yes. But he knew that if he agreed, Lily would go to Mystic Healer Valley and who knows when she’d come back.

This realization left Prince Nolan torn.

"Father Emperor, am I right?" Lily snuggled in Prince Nolan’s arms, acting cute. He was helpless against her and finally asked, "Lily, why do you want to go to Mystic Healer Valley? Besides missing the Valley Master Grandpa."

Prince Nolan mostly knew the reason, but he didn’t want to admit that, in his daughter’s heart, he ranked below medicinal herbs.

"Father Emperor..." Sweet Dumpling lowered her head, a hint of guilt flashing in her big eyes. "I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have lied to you. I want to see the Valley Master Grandpa so I can learn to recognize medicinal herbs from him."

Just as he suspected... Prince Nolan was injured, and his daughter loved medicinal herbs even more than she loved him.

"Do you really have to go?" Prince Nolan knew his daughter was no ordinary child—so young, yet already sure of what she wanted.

As Serena Feng said, his precious daughter was a genius—no less than Rory Dongling.

"I want to go." Sweet Dumpling looked up at Prince Nolan, reluctant to leave him. "I can’t bear to leave you, Father Emperor, but I want to learn about herbs. Mother Empress says your health isn’t good. If I learn enough, I’ll be able to treat you myself."

Sweet Dumpling’s eyes reddened as she buried herself in Prince Nolan’s arms, her voice trembling with tears: "I don’t want you to leave us, Father Emperor. I want you to stay with Mother Empress, Brother, and me forever."

"Father Emperor, will you let me go? I want you to live a long, long life—forever and ever."

Prince Nolan’s heart melted instantly. He hugged Sweet Dumpling tightly, his nose stinging with emotion. "If you want to go, you may go. Father Emperor approves."

Prince Nolan held Sweet Dumpling close, wishing he could offer her the whole world...

In this world, there was no child more caring than his daughter!