Sweet Dumpling is finally coming home!
No one is happier than Little Dumpling. The moment he got the news, he set out at dawn with the snow wolf to meet Sweet Dumpling outside the city. Max Zhai and the others grumbled, but seeing how thrilled Little Dumpling was, they had no choice but to tag along.
“It’s just a little girl, isn’t it? Why does His Highness have to go greet her himself?” Max Zhai’s family has several little girls, all of whom cry as much as his mother does. Whenever Max runs into his sisters, he can’t wait to escape as far as possible.
Shane Wang shot Max Zhai a look. “Use your brain. The ‘little girl’ you’re talking about is the princess.”
Her status is what it is—even if you don’t like Princess Lily, you can’t say so out loud.
“Uh...” Max Zhai’s expression shifted. He sneaked a glance at Little Dumpling, made sure he hadn’t heard, patted his chest, and let out a silent sigh of relief.
Little Dumpling just shook his head, amused. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Max Zhai, but his smile never wavered.
Princess or little girl, she’s still his sister. It’s just a title—he’s not about to quarrel with Max Zhai over it.
Soon, the guards escorting Sweet Dumpling appeared in Little Dumpling’s line of sight. A spark of light flashed in his calm eyes: she’s finally back.
Little Dumpling sat up straight. Even though he was eager to see Sweet Dumpling, he didn’t rush forward—instead, he waited where he was for her to come over.
Hundreds of guards surrounded a single carriage, keeping it safe in the center. Inside sat Sweet Dumpling.
The carriage stopped, and Sweet Dumpling stepped out...
Her pale blue gown traced a graceful arc through the air; wide sleeves added an unusual beauty. Sweet Dumpling hopped down, stood beside the carriage, and flashed Little Dumpling a bright, sunny grin. "Brother!"
"Sweet Dumpling?" Little Dumpling’s voice was tinged with uncertainty.
Was this graceful, elegant young woman really his mischievous little sister, Sweet Dumpling?
What was he supposed to do? If his sister made a mistake now, he couldn’t bear to punish her at all.
"Brother, it’s only been two years and you don’t recognize me anymore?" Sweet Dumpling pouted, her refined aura vanishing as she reverted to the familiar, playful girl Little Dumpling knew.
"I knew it—there’s no way my sister could suddenly become so noble and saintly. You were just pretending." Little Dumpling grinned, teasing her.
Sweet Dumpling’s face darkened and she glared at Little Dumpling. “Who’s pretending? I’m not pretending at all—my elegance is genuine.”
Sweet Dumpling stepped forward and threw herself into Little Dumpling’s arms. “Bad brother! You haven’t seen me for so long, and the first thing you do is make fun of me.”
Waaah... She missed her brother so much.
"Silly Sweet Dumpling, I’m just shocked—that’s all. You’ve changed so much these past two years." Little Dumpling hugged her and patted her head, completely doting...
No matter how she changes, Sweet Dumpling will always be their little princess.
"Brother, you’ve changed a lot too. You’re taller now... Sweet Dumpling can’t catch up to you anymore." She’s already pretty tall, but next to Little Dumpling, there’s still a big difference.
"I’m older than you." He joked—if he were the same height as Sweet Dumpling, he’d probably cry...
The siblings hadn’t seen each other in nearly three years. Now that they’d finally reunited, they had endless things to say, and didn’t bother talking to Max Zhai and the others. Not that the boys minded—because...
They still hadn’t recovered from the excitement of seeing Sweet Dumpling again.
"It’s amazing. In just two years, that crybaby turned into such a beauty." Max Zhai blurted out whatever was on his mind, as usual.
"I remember Her Highness the Princess was a chubby little girl—how did she get so slim? Was the Imperial Mausoleum really that tough?" Nathan Archer thought of his own plump sisters and wondered if he should convince his father to send them to the mausoleum too.
If chubby girls don’t slim down as they grow, they just won’t be pretty.
"Her Highness had attendants and tutors even at the Imperial Mausoleum—how could it have been that tough? You’re overthinking." Felix Fu knocked Nathan Archer on the head, his eyes darting around...
Her Highness really is pretty. Marrying the princess wouldn’t be so bad. But...
Sweet Dumpling and Little Dumpling rode back to the palace. Nolan Dongling and Serena Feng had been waiting for ages; Max Zhai and the others escorted them to the palace gates before heading home.
Beauty is valuable, but a government post is worth even more. He wasn’t about to give up his future for a pretty face.
As for Tyler Cui and Shane Wang, they both admitted the little princess had grown more beautiful. But remembering how she used to prank them at Skyvault Palace, they instantly gave up the idea of marrying her.
Even though Sweet Dumpling had changed a lot these past two years, Tyler Cui and Shane Wang believed that while rivers may shift, true nature is hard to change. The little princess was just hiding her real self.
"Alright, it’s getting late. Father and Mother are still waiting for you at the palace—let’s head back." Little Dumpling led Sweet Dumpling over. Tyler Cui and the others hurriedly bowed, but halfway through, Sweet Dumpling interrupted: "You’re my brother’s friends, so I’ll call you all ‘brother’ too. No need to be so formal."
After that, Sweet Dumpling added, "I was young back then—if I offended you, please forgive me, brothers."
"Your Highness, you’re too kind—we wouldn’t dare, we wouldn’t dare." Max Zhai and the others had no idea what Sweet Dumpling was up to. They turned pale and backed away...
Are you kidding? They wouldn’t dare accept an apology from the princess.
Sweet Dumpling didn’t mind—she just smiled and walked away...
Back then, she was young and reckless, playing pranks for fun. Now that she’s grown up, she can’t act the same way anymore.
Sweet Dumpling and Little Dumpling rode back to the palace. Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena Feng had been waiting for ages; Max Zhai and the others escorted them to the palace gates before heading home.
Sweet Dumpling paused at the palace gate, hesitant to step inside. Little Dumpling’s eyes flashed with sympathy as he took her hand and said, "Come on. Father Emperor and Mother Empress never said it out loud, but they missed you terribly these past two years."
"Brother, is Mother Empress still mad at me?" Sweet Dumpling was nervous—so close to home, yet uneasy.
She thought about coming home every day at the mausoleum, but now that she was really back, she was scared.
When Mother sent her to the mausoleum, she’d been utterly resolute—no matter how much Sweet Dumpling cried and fussed, it was useless.
"You silly thing, Mother Empress isn’t angry at you anymore. If she were, she wouldn’t have let the tutors teach you." Little Dumpling flicked her on the forehead, earning a yelp from Sweet Dumpling.
Their playful banter eased Sweet Dumpling’s nerves. She took a deep breath and followed Little Dumpling inside...
Inside, Nolan Dongling and Serena Feng had been waiting a long time. When Little Dumpling and Sweet Dumpling walked in together, even the always-cold Nolan Dongling couldn’t help but smile.
"You’re home."
Those gentle words overflowed with love. Sweet Dumpling’s tears streamed down as she rushed into Nolan Dongling and Serena Feng’s arms. "Father Emperor, Mother Empress, I missed you so much!"
"Father Emperor, Mother Empress..."
Sweet Dumpling clung to Nolan Dongling and Serena Feng, sobbing—crying out all the fear and longing of the past two years.
"Father Emperor, Mother Empress, I thought you didn’t want me anymore. Every day I was so scared... I studied as hard as I could, hoping you’d see how much I tried."
"Please don’t leave me, I get scared when I’m alone, Father Emperor and Mother Empress."
"Silly child, how could we ever abandon you? You’ll always be our precious one." Serena Feng’s eyes grew misty as she hugged Sweet Dumpling tightly...
Her heart ached for Sweet Dumpling, but she didn’t regret her decision.
Lately, her anxiety had been growing stronger. That was why she brought Sweet Dumpling back from the Imperial Mausoleum, and why she and Nolan Dongling decided not to take her to the Imperial Mausoleum again.
Leaving Sweet Dumpling at the palace should be safe enough!