There's really no point arguing about who Sweet Dumpling takes after, because...
No matter who Sweet Dumpling resembles, she's still their daughter, isn't she?
Besides, now isn't the time to discuss that. What matters now is how to teach Sweet Dumpling a lesson, so she'll behave and stop being so mischievous.
Serena Feng's meaning was simple: "Sweet Dumpling is already seven years old, old enough to know better. If she keeps being so reckless, what will become of her? This time, she must be taught a lesson so she'll learn to behave."
Prince Nolan had the opposite view: "Sweet Dumpling is only seven, still just a child. What could she possibly understand? Besides, this entire realm is mine—my daughter should live as she pleases."
It's perfectly normal for Prince Nolan to think this way. When Little Dumpling was first born, Serena felt the same...
Was life hard for Serena and Prince Nolan?
Yes, it was!
The two of them truly had a rough life. Their path was full of blood and storms. If either of them had faltered or been even a little weak, they wouldn't have what they have today.
Serena endured endless hardships in her life. Now that their child was born, she couldn't help but think, like everyone else, that she should give her child a beautiful future, letting her do whatever she wished...
With her and Prince Nolan's status now, what couldn't their children do if they wanted?
But...
As Little Dumpling grew more capable and Sweet Dumpling gradually matured, Serena realized that endless indulgence was wrong. Even if she had the power to shield her children for a lifetime, what then?
Her children would grow up and have children of their own. If every generation was endlessly spoiled, even a vast empire wouldn't be enough for them to squander.
Prince Nolan was firm about Little Dumpling's upbringing, determined to raise a worthy successor. But when it came to Sweet Dumpling, he was always softhearted, letting her do as she pleased...
Serena didn't say this was wrong—after all, the best education is guidance. But...
Sweet Dumpling's sense of right and wrong, her worldview, hasn't formed yet. Pure guidance alone isn't enough; at this stage, strict discipline is necessary.
Recently, Sweet Dumpling's troubles haven't been huge, but they're not trivial either. She's still young, so others let things slide. But what about when she's ten? Fifteen? Even twenty and still naive—would that really be good?
This time, Serena was resolute: strict punishment for Sweet Dumpling. Prince Nolan even got a little angry, but it didn't change Serena's decision.
The next day, when Sweet Dumpling learned of her punishment, she was stunned: "Mother Empress, you want me to reflect in the Imperial Mausoleum? Alone for three months? Why? I didn't do anything wrong—I don't want to go!"
Sweet Dumpling was about to cry, her lips quivering as she ignored Serena.
Mother Empress is just too mean. She doesn't care about me at all—it's like she's a different person...
"No mistake? You still think you did nothing wrong?" Serena had only meant to give a light punishment, but now she was truly angry. The vague unease in her heart made her even more determined to use this chance to teach Sweet Dumpling a lesson.
Sweet Dumpling's face flushed as she argued, "It's just a harmless little mistake. Brother and Grandpa Guo weren't mad, so why is Mother Empress angry?"
Sweet Dumpling admitted she was wrong, but at this moment, she'd never confess it out loud.
"Harmless?" Serena laughed. "You're young now, so people say you don't understand. But if you keep making the same mistakes as you grow older, will they still call it harmless?"
"I won't do it again!" Sweet Dumpling replied quickly, but Serena didn't believe her at all: "You said that when you were three, and now you're seven. Count how many times you've made the same mistake in these four years."
"Mother Empress, you can't do this—this is tyranny! You've made mistakes too, and Father Emperor has blamed you, but in the end, you weren't punished either." Sweet Dumpling argued stubbornly, refusing to go reflect in the Imperial Mausoleum.
She absolutely didn't want to go. That place was terrifying, with female ghosts and endless boredom if she was left alone.
"So, you want to stand up for your Father Emperor and punish me instead?" Serena said, her gaze falling on Prince Nolan...
Prince Nolan had originally planned to plead for Sweet Dumpling, but now...
He finally understood—Sweet Dumpling was digging her own grave. Even if he pleaded, it would be useless.
Sweet Dumpling was braver than he was—even he wouldn't dare say Serena was wrong, but Sweet Dumpling actually did. Truly his daughter.
Sweet Dumpling felt uneasy, but for the sake of her freedom, she refused to back down: "It's true! Mother Empress, you make mistakes all the time, and Father Emperor never punishes you. Why is it that when I make even the tiniest mistake, you punish me? It's not fair..."
As she spoke, Sweet Dumpling really started to cry.
She'd come hoping her Father Emperor and Mother Empress would protect her, but now...
Not only was there no protection, she was going to be punished.
She didn't want to go to the Imperial Mausoleum alone.
"Fair? You're talking to me about fairness? Why don't you go talk to Miles Lan about fairness? Princess Lily of Eastlyn, let me tell you—you're only this lucky because your Father Emperor and I sit on the throne. If we'd lost back then, your fate would be worse than Miles Lan's."
"Fairness? What right do you have to complain about fairness? Go look at Miles Lan. Go look at those children who've lost their parents—do they get to talk about fairness? Have you ever been fair to them?"