A safe zone was cordoned off between the hunting palace and the hunting grounds.
Here, the princes and ministers could entertain themselves.
In the evening, Su Siyuan gathered Su Yunmo and the children of other ministers for a barbecue.
Although he was incompetent in other matters, barbecuing was his specialty.
The rabbit meat was skinned and washed, its insides removed, and then grilled until it was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. A sprinkle of spices made it incredibly fragrant.
While the children ate, Gui Sha stood guard nearby, occasionally casting disdainful glances as if they were doing something cruel.
Another burning gaze fell upon Su Yunmo.
Su Yunmo looked up and saw Ye Jingkun standing not far away, watching but not approaching.
Su Yunmo remembered that the imperial consort accompanying the Emperor to the hunting palace this time was Ye Jingkun's birth mother. Although she was currently only a minor noble lady, she was quite capable.
Consort Qin was the Emperor's favored consort, while the Empress was the principal consort.
For this noble lady, who did not come from a high-ranking family, to maintain the Emperor's favor without aligning with either side showed considerable skill.
Ye Jingkun beckoned to her.
Su Yunmo pondered for a moment and then got up, about to go over.
Eunuch Jiao arrived with his retinue: "Which one is the young lady of the General's mansion?"
Su Yunmo was pushed forward by the other children.
"This is Momo," Su Siyuan said proudly.
Eunuch Jiao sized her up and smiled kindly, "The young lady is indeed as clever and adorable as they say. His Majesty wishes to see you, please come with this servant."
Su Yunmo blinked in surprise, "His Majesty wants to see me?"
For no apparent reason, why?
She glanced back at Ye Jingkun. He was still staring intently in their direction.
"His Majesty has heard of the young lady and likely wishes to see you today. You need not worry, just come with this servant."
Su Yunmo sighed, brushed the dirt off herself, and followed Eunuch Jiao to the Emperor's presence.
Emperor Ye Yao was not resting within the hunting palace.
Instead, like the ministers, he had cleared a space in the open ground, set up tables, and was hosting a banquet with the royal family, nobles, and ministers of the second rank and above.
Emperor Ye Yao sat at the head of the table, clad in a bright yellow brocade robe and wearing a black crown. Although he was in a good mood and smiling, an aura of regal authority emanated from him, undiminished.
"You are Momo?"
Su Yunmo looked at Emperor Ye Yao, her gaze drifting to his crown.
The golden crown was pure gold, adorned with pearls the size of marbles, exuding an air of dignity and opulence.
This was her first time seeing the Emperor, and her mind was occupied with why he had summoned her. Distracted by the crown, she knelt but did not offer greetings.
Su Qingtian, seated among the banquet guests, spoke up to remind her, "Momo, greet His Majesty."
Su Yunmo blinked. For some inexplicable reason, a thought flashed through her mind, and she pointed at the crown on Emperor Ye Yao's head, saying, "What a big gold ingot! Doesn't it feel heavy pressing on your head?"
Upon hearing this, Su Qingtian's mouth twitched violently.
The expressions of the ministers also changed.
Su Qingtian strode over and slapped Su Yunmo on the head, "What are you saying, you little rascal?"
Su Yunmo cried out in pain, clutching her head with a wronged expression.
Su Qingtian bowed, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. My daughter has been spoiled and lacks proper decorum."
Emperor Ye Yao did not seem angry; instead, he burst into hearty laughter.
"I have long heard that this child is different, and today I see it is true. She is indeed worthy of being Minister Su's beloved daughter."
Su Qingtian glared at the child beside him and bowed again, "How dare I, Your Majesty. This child was raised elsewhere, so her temperament is naturally a bit lively."
Emperor Ye Yao chuckled, "Indeed lively. Ordinary children wouldn't run away from home just because they missed a meal. I heard that when she entered the palace before, she spread rumors that Minister Su is henpecked?"
Su Yunmo's eyelids twitched, and she instinctively moved closer to the side, distancing herself from Su Qingtian.
The matter of being "henpecked" had already spread like wildfire among the ministers.
Now that Emperor Ye Yao brought it up, the ministers all burst into laughter.
Su Qingtian's face turned red, and his teeth gnashed audibly.
You little rascal, I've been trying to find the source of this rumor, and it turns out it was you!
I'll beat you to death when we get back!
Emperor Ye Yao changed the subject, "I am very fond of this girl. It's a pity she is so young now. If she were a few years older, I could decree a husband for her."
The ministers stopped laughing, and the atmosphere became slightly awkward.
Ye Jingyu, seated in the imperial princes' section, paused with his wine cup, his eyes darkening.
Su Qingtian furrowed his brows, also realizing that the Emperor had summoned Su Yunmo today not just to see her.
"We are grateful for Your Majesty's favor. My wife and I believe that whether she chooses a husband in the future, or whom she chooses, should be her own decision."
This implied that he did not wish for anyone else to make this decision for her.
Emperor Ye Yao's tone deepened slightly, and his expression became more stern.
"While that may be so, matters of marriage are decided by parents. I have many princes, and if this child takes a liking to any of them, it would not be impossible to arrange a match."
The words of an emperor have always carried weight. The Emperor's remark about arranging a match was tantamount to a foregone conclusion, intending for Su Yunmo to marry into the royal family when she grew up.
Although Su Qingtian enjoyed the Emperor's favor and trust, he held considerable power. If he were to form an alliance with another mansion in the future, marrying his daughter into the royal family would ensure the royal clan's firm control.
Two intense gazes fell upon Su Yunmo.
One was from Ye Jingcheng, and the other from Lin Yuning.
The former's gaze was burning, while the latter's was laced with venom.
Su Yunmo's eyes flickered, and she suddenly spoke in a childish voice, her words full of disdain: "Momo doesn't want to marry them when she grows up. They're all bad."
Everyone's eyes widened.
Disdaining the princes in front of the Emperor?
Good heavens! This child was truly dropping bombshells one after another!
Emperor Ye Yao frowned, his gaze sweeping lightly over Su Qingtian, "Oh? And why is that?"
Su Yunmo tilted her head, her bright eyes filled with pure innocence, "Because they are all too old. Momo wants to find a very, very handsome brother to sleep with."
Silence fell around them.
Su Qingtian's eyelids twitched, his old face flushing crimson.
This little rascal was truly embarrassing him!
Emperor Ye Yao was the first to laugh, and the others joined in the laughter once more.
Ye Jingyu curved his lips playfully and drained the remaining half-cup of wine, his eyes losing their trace of worry.
After laughing his fill, Emperor Ye Yao asked her a few more questions, doted on her for a bit, and finally instructed Eunuch Jiao to escort her back.
After leaving the banquet, Su Yunmo returned to the children's small feast.
They were arguing, saying that one of the barbecued rabbits was missing and that someone had stolen and eaten it.
Gui Sha still stood by with a stern expression, not intervening.
Su Yunmo glanced at the spot where Ye Jingkun had been standing earlier; he was no longer there.
She sighed, found a place to sit, and lowered her head in thought.
Although she had navigated today's situation, according to the Emperor's intentions, it was only because she was young that the matter was being set aside for now.
When she grew up, he would still intend to marry her to one of the princes.
This was not a good omen.