Chapter 344: Ignorant and Incompetent?

On the day of the children’s first birthday celebration, Shen Ninghua put on the clothes that she had prepared many days in advance and carefully dressed herself up in front of the mirror. Baili Junyi, who was wearing formal prince attire and holding Baby Girl, could not help but complain, “Ninghua, you didn’t spend so much time dressing up like this even on our wedding day.”

The reflection in the mirror looked elegant and beautiful. She exuded a soft light, making people not want to look away from her. Shen Ninghua glanced at him through the bronze mirror. “Why? Are you jealous of your own children?”

Looking at Baby Girl in his arms and then at Big Boy who was playing at the side, Baili Junyi felt a sense of depression rising in his heart. “These two children… hmph!”

Shen Ninghua laughed out loud. Bai Ruo, who was at the side, covered her mouth and giggled. Everyone in the residence knew that Baili Junyi had taught the two Little Masters to call him “papa” recently. He would start the minute they woke up and go on until the children fell asleep without even a break in between. However, he failed miserably. Now, the two children refused to speak when they saw him, not even blurting a word. Baili Junyi was as depressed as he could be.

Soon, Ye Yi and Hong Ling came in. “Prince, Princess, everything has been prepared. We’ve inspected everything and every corner of the venue, and there’s no problem. It’s about time now. Please head to the front yard.”

Shen Ninghua and Baili Junyi did not need to personally go to the gate to welcome guests due to their noble statuses, but it was their children’s first birthday celebration after all. It was a courtesy to go to the front yard in advance. Shen Ninghua got up, took Baby Girl from Baili Junyi’s arms, and urged, “I’m all done. You carry Big Boy, and let’s go.”

When Baby Girl got into Shen Ninghua’s embrace, she immediately pursed her lips and grinned. The small dimples on her cheeks were particularly adorable. “Mother!”

“My baby!” Shen Ninghua hugged her and shook her, making Baby Girl even happier.

Baili Junyi bent down and wanted to hug Big Boy, but Big Boy saw him and hastily tried to crawl forward. Baili Junyi grabbed his chubby leg and dragged him back. “Is your daddy a dreadful monster, stinking brat? you’re not as obedient as your sister at all.”

“Bad!” Big Boy shouted indignantly, causing Baili Junyi to slap him in the butt. He was so angry that he glared at his father with his big dark eyes to gain an upper hand.

Bai Ruo and the others were already laughing so hard that they couldn’t stand up straight when they witnessed the scene. Watching the prince and Little Master fight each day was their delightful entertainment nowadays.

When the two of them went to the front yard, Baili Junyi and Shen Ninghua placed the children behind the screen and ordered Bai Ruo and Qing Que to guard them. “Kids, be good. Mom and dad will bring you out later.”

The two children nodded obediently, although no one knew if they understood it or not. They followed Bai Ruo and Qing Que to play on the soft couch.

Shen Ninghua walked to the side and carefully examined the things that were prepared for the subsequent one-year-old catch ceremony. After confirming that there were no problems, she told Bi Zhu to keep watch.

Shen Xuanlin brought Yun Chuan over, holding the gifts they had prepared. “Eldest Sister, we have prepared gifts for Big Boy and Baby Girl.”

Looking at the two lads’ bright eyes, Shen Ninghua smiled. “They’re playing over there. Just take your gifts to them.”

Shen Xuanlin nodded repeatedly. “Okay, Eldest Sister. Now Big Boy and Baby Girl call me uncle! They are so smart…” He was showing off when he suddenly felt a chill on his body. Meeting Baili Junyi’s resentful glare, he quickly stopped talking and ran inside as if he had been chased by a bloodthirsty wolf.

Shen Ninghua smiled and held Baili Junyi’s hand. “Let’s go.”

When the two appeared in the yard, many officials had already arrived. After exchanging pleasantries, they each took their seats. Shen Ninghua was in charge of entertaining the womenfolk. When she saw her aunt, Madam Su, in the crowd, she smiled and nodded as a greeting.

Although the defeat of the Shen family did not implicate the other two branches of the family, her second uncle and third uncle were full of resentment towards her, and the two aunts became increasingly distant from her. Now, they only nodded as a form of greeting when they met.

Despite the vague response from the Emperor, Baili Junyi was still the prefectural prince. The officials, other than those with higher status than Baili Junyi, pondered for a long time and finally decided to attend the banquet with their families. At this moment, the residence was particularly lively.

Suddenly, a guard ran in quickly. “Your Highness, Princess, His Majesty is coming here. The imperial carriage will arrive in a quarter of an hour.”

The officials below held their breath nervously. The Emperor was angry with the Fifth Prince, wasn’t he? Why did he come to participate in the birthday banquet now? The Emperor’s mind was really unpredictable…

Baili Junyi and Shen Ninghua quickly got up and led everyone to the door to welcome the Emperor.

In common attire, Baili Qingcang walked in with a smile on his face, looking particularly amiable. Behind him were the Crown Prince, Third Prince, and Fourth Prince.

“Greetings, Father Emperor. Long live, Your Majesty…”

“Stand.”

Baili Junyi stood up and gushed in a pleasantly surprised tone, “It’s our great honor to have Father Emperor here for the children’s first birthday banquet. I thank Father Emperor on behalf of two children.”

Baili Qingcang glanced at the officials behind him. “Quite a lot of officials have come.”

Baili Junyi’s and Shen Ninghua’s hearts skipped a beat. The expressions of the officials also changed. The Emperor was clearly expressing his dissatisfaction.

After saying this, Baili Qingcang walked into the residence without a change of expression, and everyone hurriedly followed.

“All of you can take a seat. Today, I and the princes have nothing to do, so we specially came to take a look.”

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Baili Junyi slightly cupped his hands and bowed. “I thank Father Emperor, Crown Prince, and the two royal brothers.”

Baili Qingcang waved his hand. “Bring the two children out. I want to see them.”

His remark pulled at Shen Ninghua’s heartstrings, and concern flashed across her eyes. However, she could not refuse since the Emperor had said so, so she ordered her maids to carry the children out.

The two children were dressed in a particularly festive manner. They looked extraordinarily adorable in the jackets that were made of bright red fabric with their faces slightly blushing. As they were brought out, they smiled brightly at Shen Ninghua and Baili Qingcang, and they were not afraid of strangers.

Looking at the two adorable children, the officials could not help but sigh. The children were indeed worthy of being the children of the most beautiful woman in the country and the charming prince as they had inherited their parents’ outstanding looks. They were like the angels from the heavens.

Shen Ninghua and Baili Junyi each carried a child forward and stood beside Baili Qingcang for him to see the children.

Baili Qingcang glanced at Baby Girl, and a complicated look flashed across his face. This child looked very similar to Shen Ninghua, except that she had a pair of small dimples on her cheeks. “Can she talk?”

Just as Shen Ninghua was about to answer, Baby Girl called out, “Grandpa!”

Baili Junyi and Shen Ninghua were startled. They had never taught the two children to say grandpa, and they did not know from whom she had learned it.

Baili Qingcang paused for a moment and reached out to carry Baby Girl over. Then, he smiled and said, “You speak quite well. You even know to call me Grandpa.”

Seeing her parents by her side, Baby Girl was not afraid. She reached out and touched the beard on Baili Qingcang’s chin. “It tickles…”

Shen Ninghua was shocked. Baili Junyi often pricked the children’s palms with his stubble, and the children were used to messing around with their father. Now, when they saw Baili Qingcang, they weren’t even timid and shy.

“Baby Girl, don’t mess around.”

Hearing the sternness in Shen Ninghua’s tone, Baby Girl hurriedly turned her head and hugged herself. Her dark eyes were full of confusion. “Mother…” Shen Ninghua had never spoken to her in such a strict manner.

“Father Emperor, Luoyao is young and ignorant and has offended you. Please forgive her.”

The smile on Baili Qingcang’s face faded. “I know that Luoyao is young. Do you think I will blame a child who has just turned one year old?”

Shen Ninghua hurriedly bowed. “I don’t dare.”

Baili Junyi knelt beside Shen Ninghua. “Father Emperor, Ninghua is worried that Luoyao will annoy you, so she is anxious and has misspoken. Please forgive her.”

With a slight frown, Baili Qingcang spoke in a gentle tone, but his words were harsh, “Why did you kneel in front of me after some simple remarks from me? Today is your children’s birthday party. As their grandfather, do you think I will punish you today? In your opinion, am I so narrow-minded and petty?”

Seeing the Emperor getting angry, the officials knelt down, and the hall was silent.

Many officials who were resentful of Baili Junyi gloated in their hearts. When they saw the Emperor coming, they thought that the Fifth Prince would regain the trust of the Emperor. Now it seemed that the Emperor was purely here to stir up trouble! Well, today was not in vain. They were delightful that they got to witness this scene.

The Crown Prince said from the side, “Father Emperor, Fifth Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law have always respected you. This time, they went over the line because they thought from your perspective. Please forgive them.”

Baili Qingcang’s face looked better. “Get up. You need the items for their one-year-old catch. Bring all the things here.”

Baili Junyi and Shen Ninghua got up, took Baby Girl from Baili Qingcang’s arms, and ordered the servants to bring in the things.

The servants laid a red blanket on the ground and placed all kinds of small objects on it. Baili Junyi put Big Boy on the edge of the blanket and urged, “Go ahead. Pick the one you like.”

After being put down, Big Boy looked at the items in a decent manner, and then took all kinds of small things. The protocol officer originally wanted to say some auspicious words, but when he saw this scene, he was a little stunned. The bow, abacus, gold rice bowl, dagger, jade pendant, cream box… Little Bei Zi had taken too many things. What should he say?

After Big Boy placed everything beside him, he raised his head and looked at Baby Girl who was in Shen Ninghua’s arms. “Sister, here!”

Baby Girl struggled to get down, so Shen Ninghua put her to the floor. Then, everyone watched as Big Boy pushed all the things to Big Girl and giggled as Baby Girl stuffed the things into her pockets.

“Uh… Yongchen Bei Zi is generous and kind-hearted…” The protocol officer managed to say this after thinking for a long time.

This was probably the most suitable remark to say now…

Everyone looked at the lonely book on the blanket with different expressions. Yongchen Beizi had taken everything, including the cream box, except the book. Did it mean that he would turn out to be ignorant and incompetent in the future?

The officials who had been punished by Baili Junyi in the past suddenly felt relieved and glad. They originally thought that the twin was outstanding and smart, but from the looks of it, they hated studying and would turn out to be good-for-nothings! Haha!

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