Rebirth of the Ninth Princess

However, he insisted his presence at mealtimes was solely to experience the warmth of family life—and perhaps to torture himself with jealousy.

And sure enough, the Great Emperor Ouyang Qingcheng was, once again, feeding his little darling.

After turning three, Yuanjiu had protested, wanting to feed herself.

However, she had been unceremoniously overruled by Ouyang Qingcheng, and over time, this became a fixed routine.

"My darling, try this," Ouyang Qingcheng said, placing a piece of tender magical beast meat into Yuanjiu's mouth.

As he watched her small mouth chew, he quickly took the opportunity to grab a fish ball for himself.

Yuanjiu occasionally fed herself a few bites with a spoon but would sometimes find something particularly delicious and scoop up a piece for Ouyang Qingcheng. "Father Emperor, this meat pie is really good."

Ouyang Qingcheng opened his mouth to eat the offering, delighted to share with his precious one.

The atmosphere between the two was so harmonious that it left no room for a third person.

Ouyang Qingtian could only sit across from them, watching the duo with a pitiful expression. "Sigh, when will I ever have such an adorable child of my own?"

Hearing this, Ouyang Qingcheng smirked with pride, his heart swelling with contentment.

Over the years, he had observed Yuanjiu's personality changes closely.

Although she still remained distant toward others, she placed complete trust in him.

She now naturally acted spoiled in front of him, expressed her thoughts freely, and had become much livelier than before.

This put Ouyang Qingcheng's heart at ease.

In his eyes, such an adorable child deserved to live happily, doing whatever she enjoyed without care.

That was what being a real child should be about.

And such a child was his treasure.

Yuanjiu cast a glance at Ouyang Qingtian.

"Father Emperor, can Uncle Qingtian get married at his age?" she asked curiously.

Ouyang Qingcheng looked at Ouyang Qingtian but only smiled without answering.

Ouyang Qingtian as if recalling something bittersweet, wore a faintly pained smile. "Xiaojiu, do you think it's that simple? Your uncle can only marry when he meets someone he truly loves."

Noticing that Ouyang Qingtian seemed to have fallen into old memories, Ouyang Qingcheng teased him lightly, "Would you like me to help you?"

Ouyang Qingtian immediately jumped up, while waving his hands frantically.

"No, no! Your Majesty's kind intentions are noted, but I'll pass. I'm full now. Xiaojiu, I'll see again you tomorrow!" With that, he bolted from the room.

Behind him, Ouyang Qingcheng's mischievous laughter echoed.

...

The tranquil night was serene as Ouyang Qingcheng returned from outside.

Stepping into his chambers, he found Yuanjiu lying on the "sofa" in the inner room, engrossed in a book.

This sofa was custom-made according to Yuanjiu's design.

She had confidently explained, "This way, Father Emperor can also lie here to read."

The sofa was a soothing beige color, its length matching Ouyang Qingcheng's height.

However, since its arrival, Yuanjiu had claimed it entirely for herself whenever she was around, leaving no chance for her father to enjoy it.

Aside from her bed, the sofa had become Yuanjiu's favorite place.

"My darling, didn't Father Emperor tell you not to read while lying down?"

Ouyang Qingcheng walked over and sat beside her.

"Not listening again, are you? You're still growing, and if you keep this up, your neck will become crooked. Father Emperor isn't just saying this to scare you."

Yuanjiu sat up and leaned against his leg.

"Father Emperor, Uncle Cailun said tomorrow is Redemption Day."

"Yes," Ouyang Qingcheng replied, adjusting himself to recline on the sofa.

He couldn't help but admit: it was indeed soft and comfortable—no wonder Yuanjiu always monopolized it.

"He also said the entire nation gets a day off for Redemption Day."

Ouyang Qingcheng chuckled, recognizing the little schemes in her words. "Yes, Father Emperor was already planning to take you out tomorrow."

Yuanjiu would go to the academy in less than half a month, leaving them with even less time together.

Naturally, he wanted to make the most of every moment they had.

Yuanjiu tilted her head and looked at him. "Where are we going?"

"Where would my darling like to go?" Ouyang Qingcheng half-closed his eyes, one hand gently tousling Yuanjiu's soft hair while the other unconsciously stroked her back through her clothes.

"What exactly is Redemption Day? What do other people do on this day?"

"Ah, to explain Redemption Day, I'll have to tell you an old story."

"Tell me, Father Emperor, tell me quickly!"

"Patience, My darling, listen to Father Emperor's story carefully. Long ago, in a small village, there lived a couple—simple and diligent farmers—along with their son. They barely made ends meet on a tiny plot of land. Although the couple were honest and kind-hearted, their son was lazy and ungrateful and often make them angry.

Yet, the couple pinned great hopes on their son. They planned to send him to study magic under a renowned mage, though it required a hefty sum. The son, who loved comfort and disliked hard work, came up with a plan to deceive them. He told his parents that he was willing to learn magic. Overjoyed, the couple borrowed a large sum of money from relatives and friends, a debt that would take ten years of hard labor to repay.

The son took the money but didn't seek out the mage. Instead, he went to a city, where he squandered it on luxuries for two years. When the money ran out, he didn't want to work for himself, so he returned home and lied, saying the mage required more funds. Trusting him completely, his parents borrowed yet another sum and gave it to him.

Less than a year later, when the son return to his home, he find his parents transformed into two hunched-over statues from years of ceaseless toil. When he approached them, the statues crumbled into dust before his eyes.

Only then did he realize the hardships his parents had endured for him. He matured that very day, deeply reflecting on his actions. Resolving to change, he sought out the mage and dedicated himself to his studies. Eventually, he achieved great success."