The villain prince is three and a half years old

The meeting was very formulaic.

Xia Jing sat in Xiao Yue's arms, ate some snacks, had Concubine Rou pinch his face, met his brothers and sisters, the seventh prince Ning Gaoxiang and the sixth princess Ning Sisi, greeted each other, and then it was over.

Xia Jing was unsure about Concubine Rou's plan for the meeting. Looking at the character interface, the intimacy was 41, which was slightly hostile, but that was normal.

In the early morning, the sky was a little cloudy, and the wind made the branches sway and rustle.

After lunch, the sun broke free from the clouds, casting warm light, and the wind became a little lighter.

Xia Jing and Xiao Yue went to Yanghexuan.

……

In the Yangxin Palace, Emperor Kangning put down his pen and glanced out the window.

"I heard that the third prince invited some people to his birthday this time?" he asked Xu Zhongde.

"Your Majesty, the Third Prince invited guests to Jingyixuan, Yonghua Palace, Yihe Palace and Guanlanzhai this time," Xu Zhongde replied.

"The Summer Palace?" Emperor Kangning frowned.

"It was Concubine Rou who took the initiative to ask Concubine Xian for the invitation. Concubine Rou did not go, but the Seventh Prince and the Sixth Princess did."

"So it turns out that the Xiao Yue family is the one being invited."

Xu Zhongde didn't dare to respond. The seventh prince and the sixth princess were indeed born to Concubine Xiao Zhaoyi, but they were now being raised by Concubine Rou. How could they be considered one family?

"What's going on with Guanlanzhai? How did the Fourth Prince get in touch with the Third Prince?" Emperor Kangning asked again.

"It was the Ninth Prince who asked for the invitation on behalf of the Fourth Prince." Xu Zhongde replied.

"That kid is getting back together with the Fourth Prince?"

The word "that kid" doesn't have a very good meaning, but Xu Zhongde thinks it is the most pleasant word.

Other princes don’t even have the chance to be called “boy”!

"The Ninth Prince went to the Craftsmen's Supervisory Commission to prepare gifts for the Third Prince and got to know the Fourth Prince," said Xu Zhongde.

Emperor Kang Ning didn't say anything, but tapped the table with his index finger up and down, which was his habit when he was deep in thought.

After a moment, he smiled and said, "I see, this is not the Third Prince's banquet, but the Ninth Prince's banquet."

All the participants are connected to the Ninth Prince, so isn’t it the Ninth Prince’s banquet?

When Xu Zhongde thought of this, his heart skipped a beat.

It’s over, I’ve made things worse!

……

In Yanghexuan, Xia Jing looked at the interpersonal interface and scratched his head.

[Name: Ning Yuanqian]

【Age: 49】

[Identity: Emperor Kangning]

Compassion: 52 → 48

What had happened to the emperor? His compassion plummeted by four points. It wasn't much, but 50 was a watershed. Below 50, the emotion was filled with disgust.

Other emperors were moody, but at least they still had some happiness, and their favorability could rise and fall. Emperor Kangning only had anger, and it took a lot of effort to rise, but fell quickly.

Xia Jing scrolled past the screen and didn't take it to heart. Emperor Kangning was a rational emperor, which was a nice way of saying it. To put it bluntly, Emperor Kangning was ruthless and ungrateful.

In his previous life, Xia Jing had raised his compassion to 30, a level of hostility, but Emperor Kangning did nothing, except not inviting him to some private royal banquets. Ultimately, after weighing the forces at court and against the opposition, Emperor Kangning gave him the throne.

To put it bluntly, being favored by Emperor Kangning is of limited use, and being hostile to him is not a big deal. What is important is one's own power.

However, being liked is always better than being hated.

Xia Jing swiped the interface back and thought for a moment.

At this point in time... is it about the Third Prince's birthday banquet? The banquet itself should be fine, the problem lies with Emperor Kangning.

He rubbed his forehead and figured it out.

This triggered Emperor Kangning's PTSD.

Before Emperor Kangning ascended the throne, he was a marginal prince who was out of favor and looked down upon by almost everyone. In contrast, the Second Prince, known as the Virtuous Prince, was favored by the officials.

The second prince's greatest strength is not his political affairs, military affairs, or literary talent, but his ability to form cliques and pursue personal interests.

In the final battle for the throne, this wise king gave Emperor Kangning a lot of trouble.

Although this banquet was for the third prince, all the people here were related to him. Emperor Kangning saw this and bad memories flooded his mind.

Xia Jing thought that Emperor Kangning might be right, but he was different from the second uncle. At least, he would not use matters concerning the rise and fall of the dynasty as bargaining chips.

The banquet had already begun and Xia Jing sat at the table.

The banquet was a family banquet, with a big table and a circle of people sitting around it, no different from that in an ordinary family.

All the concubines and imperial consorts in the palace, whether they came or not, had presented their gifts.

The rest are gifts from the younger generations like Xia Jing.

Ning Zhixing handed over the gift first, a jade pendant. It was a gift of no merit or fault, so Ning Shouxu thanked him calmly and asked Madam Yuan to put it away.

Then came the gifts from Ning Gaoxiang and Ning Sisi. The siblings presented a book together.

"This is the authentic work of Master Faneng of the White Horse Temple." Ning Gaoxiang stood up, opened the book and explained it to Ning Shouxu.

It was obvious that he had put a lot of effort into memorizing this commentary, which he spoke eloquently and rhythmically for a long time.

"Thank you, Seventh Brother and Sixth Sister." Ning Shouxu smiled and asked Nanny Yuan to put the book on his bookcase.

Ning Gaoxiang turned his head proudly and glanced at Xia Jing. The Third Prince had only asked to put the jade pendant away, but had asked to put the book he had given him on the bookshelf, showing how much he loved it.

He was so busy showing off that he didn't notice. Ning Shouxu and Concubine Xian raised their eyebrows, and Xiao Yue's eyebrows darkened.

Xia Jing looked past him and looked at Ning Sisi. This cheap sister kept her head down and said nothing.

"This is a gift from my brother Jing and me." Ning Xuenian didn't notice Ning Gaoxiang's expression. She stood up and handed over the wooden box.

The peculiarly shaped wooden box attracted everyone's attention.

What kind of thing needs to be put in such a flat box? If it's calligraphy or painting, it should be rolled up. If it's a chessboard, it shouldn't be so big.

Ning Shouxu opened it, was stunned and frowned.

"Third brother, are you not satisfied? Ninth brother is young and doesn't understand. Third brother, please take a closer look at the authentic Dharma work. Don't mind it." Ning Gaoxiang said quickly.

He appeared to be making excuses for Xia Jing, but in reality he was trying to pull her down.

Xia Jing tilted his head and felt that this brother knew a little about tea, but his tea art level was too low.

Ning Shouxu ignored him and tilted the wooden box towards Empress Xian, who covered her mouth in surprise. This reaction was a bit strange, and Xia Jing realized that they had seen it wrong.

Ning Shouxu commented: "This painting is simple and quirky, yet has a unique aesthetic and is unique in its own way. What a treasure!"

"The scene in the painting is also good. This is Nian'er, this is Jing'er, the one by the window is Xu'er, even Nanny Yuan is here!" Empress Xian followed suit and praised.

"What painting? Let me see it too." Xiao Yue asked curiously.

"Sister, you've never seen it before?" Empress Xian took the wooden box and showed it to everyone.

On the wooden fragment inside the box, a courtyard and four small figures were painted with ink. The brush was simple, and with just a few strokes, a human figure was outlined.

This is a simple drawing, a very popular painting technique in the past life. It is deeply loved by young people. Even the older generation has to admit that the drawing is cute.

Xiao Yue blinked and turned to look at Xia Jing.

Concubine Yun stared at it intently.

"Ninth brother is extremely talented in mechanical engineering. I didn't expect that he is also an excellent painter." Ning Zhixing praised.

"Beautiful!" Ning Sisi's eyes lit up, "Was it actually drawn by my ninth brother?"

She turned to Xia Jing, very surprised.

Ning Gaoxiang kicked her stool, and she immediately lowered her head like a frightened squirrel.

"It's good. But it's just a gimmick and lacks grandeur," Ning Gaoxiang commented.

No one paid any attention to him. They all gathered in front of the wooden box, admiring the painting and praising it endlessly.

Xia Jing's face flushed. He hadn't expected this stick figure to be so popular. In his previous life, it was something that was everywhere.

"The painting is not the point." Xia Jing felt that he couldn't let them praise him like this any longer.

He walked to the wooden box, closed the lid and shook it vigorously.

When I opened it again, the wood chips became a pile of small pieces.

Concubine Yun screamed in surprise, thinking that the painting was broken.

“It’s a puzzle.”

Ning Xuenian stood up and picked up a few pieces from the corners and put them together.

"No wonder they used wood chips, no wonder there are strange patterns on them." Empress Xian sighed.

"Please accept it and put it next to my bed." Ning Shouxu said to Nanny Yuan.

I like it much more when I put it on the bedside than in the bookcase.

Ning Gaoxiang's face flushed. He also thought the puzzle was interesting, much better than his own book, but he was Concubine Rou's son, while Xia Jing was only the son of Concubine Zhaoyi. How could the Third Emperor be so partial? He should just accept it!

After the gifts were given, everyone picked up their bowls and chopsticks and started eating.

Empress Xian, Concubine Yun and Xiao Yue talked about clothes, while Ning Shouxu and Ning Zhixing talked about calligraphy and painting. Ning Zhixing was obsessed with carpentry, but he was also good at other things.

Xia Jing and Ning Xuenian were whispering to each other, talking about eating, drinking and having fun.

Ning Gaoxiang sat there with the blush on his face still fading.

In fact, no one paid any attention to his words or the gift comparisons he made. It's normal for a child to be a little too concerned with appearances and to get stuck in a rut.

Xiao Yue cast her gaze towards him several times, then looked away. She could tell that this child had no intention of getting close to her.

Ning Sisi knew Ning Gaoxiang's temper, so she reached out and pulled his clothes to comfort him.

This action actually stimulated Ning Gaoxiang.

He stood up and said, "I've seen the gifts from the princes and princesses, but not the concubines. Why not take a look as well? I also want to see what Concubine Xiao gave me."

There was a moment of silence at the table, and everyone's eyes were on him.

Chapter 54: The Struggle for Fertility

"Since Seventh Prince wants to see it, go and see it yourself." Ning Shouxu said lightly.

Ning Gaoxiang looked at Ning Shouxu, then at the gift box outside the house, and his face flushed.

Concubine Xian and Concubine Yun looked at him with interest. Xiao Yue turned her face away, hesitating whether to speak or not.

Ning Xuenian is a carefree person. Although she noticed that the atmosphere was a little strange, her curiosity overwhelmed her doubts.

"I also want to see……"

Before she could finish her words, Yunpin pinched her arm to stop her.

Xia Jing concentrated on eating the roast duck and pretended not to notice.

No one spoke up for Ning Gaoxiang. In the Summer Palace, in Concubine Rou's circle, he was the moon surrounded by stars. In Yanghexuan, in the circle of the Ninth Prince, he was just a supporting role, a minor figure.

Ning Sisi stood up in a hurry, and her body bumped into the chair, making a harsh friction sound.

All eyes in the room were on her. She lowered her head in panic, picked up the tea beside her, and bowed to Ning Shouxu: "I hope Third Brother will forgive me."

Ning Shouxu looked at her for a moment and shook his head: "Nothing."

"Sixth Princess, put it down. Why don't you drink tea while eating?" Empress Xian tried to smooth things over.

Xiao Yue breathed a sigh of relief and came to the rescue of the two: "What I gave you is nothing special, just a few bottles I brought with me when I entered the palace."

Ning Gaoxiang sat back down and said nothing more.

After the family dinner, he and Ning Sisi left first.

"Sister Xiao, don't be sad." Empress Xian comforted Xiao Yue.

"You are also talkative." Yunpin hugged Ning Xuenian.