Chapter 33: Afraid to Eat Too Much

The few people who had been observing all along could not help but join in as they listened to Jun Ning chatter away with Qiong Hua while working each day.

With more hands, the work that used to take several days was now finished in just three.

Next, everyone started planting vegetables. Due to the Cold Palace's limited water supply, they didn't plant much, just enough to last for a few months.

Jun Yu appeared when Jun Ning was barefoot, watering the newly planted vegetables and playing with the water to cool off.

"Cuckoo... Cuckoo... Cuckoo..."

Jun Yu had crawled through a hole to enter the Cold Palace, but he didn't know where his big brother was, and he wasn't familiar with the Cold Palace, worrying about causing trouble. So, he stayed put, calling out the way Jun Ning had taught him, hoping his big brother would quickly hear and come get him.

Upon hearing the cuckoo's call, Jun Ning rushed to meet Jun Yu, without even putting down the water ladle in his hand.

Standing in front of the grass that obscured the hole, Jun Ning said, "Ah Yu, Ah Yu, I'm here. Come out, don't hide. There's no one else here, you don't have to be afraid."

Hearing the familiar voice, Jun Yu felt reassured and happily emerged from the dense grass, running towards Jun Ning.

These days, with the Emperor ill, the entire palace was oppressive, and the Empress's face was constantly dark, scaring him into eating less and being unhappy all the time. Only when he could sneak out to see Jun Ning did he feel a little happier.

"Big Brother, I missed you."

Jun Yu rushed forward to hug Jun Ning dependently, not minding the mud spots on Jun Ning at all, nor considering how he might explain himself if he got dirty when he returned to the Empress.

He held onto Jun Ning for a long time, until his heart felt less heavy, then finally let go.

Seeing Jun Yu like this, Jun Ning worryingly asked, "Ah Yu, what's wrong? Why do you look so aggrieved? Did you fail to memorize your lessons and go hungry again?"

As he spoke, Jun Ning set down the watering ladle in his hand, wiped the water off his hands simply, then tidied up his clothes and said, "If you're hungry, wait a moment, I'll get you something to eat."

Jun Yu hesitated for a moment, but ultimately could not resist hunger and nodded, "Okay, yes."

Lately, he'd been afraid that if he ate too much, the Empress would scold him. With the Emperor being ill, how could he eat heartily? So he conscientiously ate very little at each meal, leaving him hungry every day.

He didn't even have the energy to walk and felt like he might faint from hunger, but he didn't dare tell anyone, so no one knew he was very hungry.

Only his big brother could tell he was hungry without him saying a word.

The warmth and gratitude in his heart grew a little more.

Jun Ning brought Jun Yu a fish and a roast duck.

Though Jun Yu was young, as a child of the Imperial Family, he was precocious.

He could tell the conditions in the Cold Palace were not good enough to produce such food.

Where did his big brother get them from?

But because he was hungry, Jun Yu did not ask much, instead quickly ate whatever he could.

When Qiong Hua came over, she saw a young child in luxurious clothes, cutely devouring a drumstick, with oil all over his mouth, and Jun Ning kindly wiping it away for him.

Confused, Qiong Hua asked, "Yiyi, who is this?"

Jun Yu quickly put down his food and introduced himself. He did not hide his true identity and told Qiong Hua honestly.

As for why he was here, Jun Ning helped to explain that he was just there to play.

After listening, Qiong Hua didn't say a word and stared at Jun Yu for a long time...