Little Dumpling is Ninth Royal Uncle's son. Deep down, he's just like his father—uncompromising, never bows his head, and never regrets what he's decided. No matter how hard the road ahead, once he takes the first step, he'll see it through to the end.
Ninth Royal Uncle wants Little Dumpling back in the palace, but unless he comes to fetch him in person, Little Dumpling absolutely refuses to return. Not even the lure of seeing Sweet Dumpling can tempt him, and even William Wang Jinling and Sean can't persuade him to enter the palace.
Serena Feng tries to persuade Ninth Royal Uncle in the palace, but it's no use; likewise, William Wang Jinling's efforts to talk Little Dumpling into returning outside the palace also fail. So William takes on the responsibility of caring for and educating Little Dumpling. As days go by and there's still no sign of Little Dumpling coming home, Serena has no choice but to sneak out of the palace to fetch him herself while Nolan is busy discussing Westlyn affairs with the ministers.
Serena picked a day with perfect weather. Although Sweet Dumpling was a bit frail at birth, after more than four months of careful nursing, she's now healthy enough, so Serena naturally brings her along too.
A plain, understated carriage rolled out from the palace. The eunuchs and covert guards outside the imperial study were scratching their heads, desperate to rush in and report to His Majesty, but they didn't dare.
Today, His Majesty is meeting with the ministers stationed in Westlyn, and before leaving the palace, the Empress repeatedly warned them not to disturb him.
Inside the palace, the emperor's word must be obeyed, but the empress's commands are even more not to be ignored. Now, all they can do is hope the Westlyn ministers finish quickly, so His Majesty will notice the empress has left the palace with the little princess...
Serena kept her entourage minimal and low-key. Once her carriage entered the main street, there was not a trace of royal aura; unless someone recognized her, seeing the ordinary-looking guards, most would just assume she was a lady from a wealthy family out for a ride, never suspecting she was the empress herself.
Most people on the road wouldn't recognize her, but that doesn't mean there weren't sharp-eyed ones among them. As Serena's carriage merged into the traffic, Master Marcus Wynn, seated by the window, immediately noticed. When Serena lifted the curtain to look outside, Master Wynn was certain.
"It really is Her Majesty the Empress. Looks like there's no need to seek out that person anymore." Master Wynn put down his cup and turned to leave.
He waited for Serena in the capital for two months, and finally, his patience was rewarded.
Serena's carriage rolled out of the city, heading toward the little thatched cottage where William Wang Jinling lived...
As if by agreement, the moment Serena's carriage appeared in sight, William Wang Jinling, who was playing outside with Little Dumpling, suddenly stopped and looked up...
Under William Wang Jinling's gaze, the carriage slowly approached. Inside, a plainly dressed yet graceful woman stepped down, holding a small child in her arms.
Green grass, gentle breeze, carriage, beauty—like a painting slowly unfolding before William Wang Jinling's eyes...
"Mom! Mom! Big Brother William, Mom is here!" Little Dumpling's excited shout shattered the quiet beauty of the scene, bringing it to life. Urged on by Little Dumpling, William Wang Jinling took his small hand and slowly walked toward Serena.
Serena walked lightly, her skirt brushing the grass with every step, gently... like a feather sweeping across one's heart, carrying an indescribable charm that made people slow down and savor the moment.
Unfortunately, Little Dumpling didn't appreciate such beauty. When he saw Serena appear with Sweet Dumpling, he was so happy he nearly went wild. Still several steps away, he let go of William Wang Jinling's hand and dashed forward.
"Mom, Mom... you finally came for me! I thought you didn't want me anymore." Little Dumpling bounced and hopped with joy, reaching out his chubby hands for Serena to put Sweet Dumpling down. "Let me see my sister, I want to hold her!" After more than two months apart, he'd missed her desperately.
Serena nodded to William Wang Jinling, bent down to look at Little Dumpling, and tapped his forehead lightly. "You... If you missed your sister so much, why didn't you come back to the palace? Don't you know your father was worried sick about you?"
"Hmph... Dad would never worry about me. He's the worst." Little Dumpling turned away in a huff, his ears turning red, clearly embarrassed.
"Who says your father doesn't worry about you? He just doesn't say it, but deep down, he really does." Serena pinched Little Dumpling's ear. He didn't dodge, just lowered his head and twisted his chubby fingers awkwardly as he asked, "Dad... does he really worry about me?"
After speaking, he quickly lowered his head, not looking at Serena or at Sweet Dumpling.
"Do you want to know?" Serena teased, deliberately not answering. Little Dumpling pouted and glanced at her, stubbornly lifting his little head as if to say: even if he wants to know, he won't admit it.
"Looks like you don't want to know after all." Serena stood up with a look of regret. Little Dumpling panicked, quickly grabbed Serena's hem, and whispered in a tiny voice, "I do."
As soon as he said it, not just his ears but his whole face turned red.
Ugh, your little one is so shy!
"What did you say? I didn't hear you." Serena smiled at William Wang Jinling, deliberately not looking at Little Dumpling.
Little Dumpling's lips trembled, about to cry, and he shouted in grievance, "I do, I want to know!" Bad mommy, now that she has a little sister, she doesn't love him anymore.
"Want to know what?" This rascal—running away from home and refusing to come back—if he doesn't get a little lesson, he'll never learn.
"I want to know if Dad worries about me." Little Dumpling's voice got quieter and quieter, until finally he buried his little head in his chest, his face flushed red.
William Wang Jinling shook his head helplessly and pulled Little Dumpling to his side. "Alright, Serena, stop teasing him."
"If I don't teach him a lesson, he'll never learn. So young and already sulking and refusing to come home—who did he learn that from?" The older he gets, the more trouble he is. Serena's head was starting to ache.
She still had so much left undone, but Little Dumpling refused to behave, and Sweet Dumpling was still so little—right now, her whole life revolved around Ninth Royal Uncle and the two kids.
William Wang Jinling just smiled and said nothing. He would never tell Serena that Little Dumpling was just like the emperor, stubborn to the core.
Standing close to William Wang Jinling, Little Dumpling looked uneasy, almost glued to him, and gazed at Serena with pitiful eyes. "Mom, is Dad really mad at me? Doesn't he miss me?"
"There's no way your dad could stay mad at you. But he really is upset this time, so when you go back, remember to make it up to him." Serena wasn't truly blaming Little Dumpling—this wasn't entirely his fault.
"Yay... I knew Mom was the best!" Crisis averted, Little Dumpling instantly perked up, let go of William Wang Jinling, and started clinging to Serena, acting spoiled. "Mom, Mom, I want to see my sister, I want to see my sister!"
With Little Dumpling around, things were never dull. Serena and William Wang Jinling felt more at ease, and when he saw Sweet Dumpling, William was genuinely delighted and cuddled her in his arms.
"Is this your daughter? She really does look like you—no wonder the emperor keeps her hidden." William Wang Jinling could see right through Ninth Royal Uncle's little schemes. If he had such a cute daughter, he'd never want to show her off either.
All fathers are the same.
"He's just as awkward as Little Dumpling." Serena coughed awkwardly. Seeing Sweet Dumpling behave so calmly in William Wang Jinling's arms, not showing any special attachment, Serena finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Now Ninth Royal Uncle could relax—Sweet Dumpling wasn't like Little Dumpling or Feng Jin, who would grin ear to ear the moment they saw William Wang Jinling and never want to leave his arms. She didn't seem especially fond of him.
But who knows, maybe when Sweet Dumpling grows up, she'll be just as attached to William Wang Jinling. If she turns out like Little Dumpling, loving to cling to him, Ninth Royal Uncle will probably explode and send William all the way to the other side of the sea...