"Young Master, Miss Lin is here to see you!" Xue Song's voice called from outside.
Yan Jin Chao's gaze shifted slightly. He looked down at Xue Xing Chen and asked, "Little one, what do you think? Should your father see her?"
"Yes," Xue Xing Chen replied. He was curious to see what Miss Lin wanted.
Yan Jin Chao showed no surprise. "Let her in!"
Lin Shi Shu was somewhat surprised to hear Yan Jin Chao allowed her in. This seemed to be a first, a testament to her persistent efforts.
She entered, carrying a bowl of soup. "Young Master Yan."
"Miss Lin, is there something you need?" Yan Jin Chao asked indifferently.
Lin Shi Shu looked up and saw the little one was also there. "Young Master Yan, this is the sweet soup I made." As she spoke, she walked forward and placed the bowl on the table.
"Daddy, I want to drink," Xue Xing Chen said, pointing at the sweet soup.
Lin Shi Shu expected Yan Jin Chao to ignore it.
However, Yan Jin Chao picked up the child and brought him to the table. He used a spoon to feed him, blowing on the soup before it reached the child's mouth. Xue Xing Chen looked at Lin Shi Shu's surprised expression, opened his mouth, took a sip, and quickly spat it out. "It's so bad."
Lin Shi Shu: "..."
"Sister Lin, this soup is awful," Xue Xing Chen exclaimed after spitting out several mouthfuls.
Lin Shi Shu said anxiously, "How is that possible?"
"Daddy, it's not good. Fortunately, I drank it for you."
Yan Jin Chao looked at Lin Shi Shu and said, "Miss Lin, you need not trouble yourself with bringing soup in the future."
Lin Shi Shu's face flushed, a hint of unspoken distress coloring her expression. "Yes, Young Master Yan."
"Sister Lin, you've brought the soup, and I've tasted it for Daddy. You may leave now," Xue Xing Chen said, ushering her out.
Lin Shi Shu felt an unprecedented awkwardness, wishing she could disappear into a crack in the ground. However, her upbringing as a lady of good breeding made her bow and curtsy. "This humble woman takes her leave!"
After Lin Shi Shu left, Xue Xing Chen curved his lips. If Xing Yue were here, he would surely boast to her.
"It's bad?" Yan Jin Chao suddenly asked.
Xue Xing Chen was startled. Was it bad? It wasn't bad at all, but how else could he get rid of Lin Shi Shu?
He subconsciously looked up, seeing Yan Jin Chao's serious expression, and his heart skipped a beat. Had Father found out?
"Saying it's bad when it's not, Xing Chen, do you think you did the right thing?" Yan Jin Chao asked calmly.
Yet, it was this calm demeanor that instilled a trace of fear in Xue Xing Chen's heart.
"Dad... Daddy..."
"Xing Chen, you are lying."
Xue Xing Chen lowered his gaze and after a long pause, said, "Yes, Daddy."
Yan Jin Chao placed him on a chair, making him sit upright. His tone was a little cold. "Xing Chen, you can say directly if you don't like something, but you must not lie."
"I..."
"Barring any accidents, you will be the Emperor of this Chang Guo in the future. What is most important for an Emperor?"
Xue Xing Chen looked up at him, his eyes shining brightly.
Yan Jin Chao said gently, "It's not your diligent governance, nor your decisive actions, but your ability to employ capable people. And employing capable people means you cannot go against your true feelings. You can dislike someone, but you cannot deny everything they do just because you dislike them."
Xue Xing Chen trembled, "Daddy..."
"Do you understand?" Yan Jin Chao asked softly.
Xue Xing Chen listened, feeling a bit confused, but he nodded. "I think I understand a little."
"You are still young, and you can understand gradually, but you must promise your father that you will not lie from now on. If it's good, it's good; if it's bad, it's bad. Understand?"
Xue Xing Chen nodded. "Yes, Daddy, I understand."
Yan Jin Chao patted his head. "This is the way of a king."
Xue Xing Chen nodded, as if he understood but not quite. Although he couldn't fully grasp it yet, he knew that what his father said and did was never wrong.
Lin Shi Shu walked out of the study, her mood heavy. She knew the little one had done it intentionally.
She didn't understand why the child harbored such hostility towards her. If it continued like this, she would never be able to get close to Yan Jin Chao.
No, she had to improve this situation.
When Xue Xing Chen was carried out by Xue Yan, he saw Lin Shi Shu at first glance.
Xue Yan already disliked this Miss Lin and intended to walk past her without a word.
"Little one..." Lin Shi Shu spoke.
Xue Yan was about to scold her, but Xue Xing Chen spoke up. "Aunt Xue, let me talk to Sister Lin for a moment. I'll call you later."
"Little Prince, be careful of her," Xue Yan whispered, a sound only the two of them could hear, then placed the child on the ground and left.
Lin Shi Shu walked forward, reaching out to hug Xue Xing Chen, but hesitated and didn't move. Xue Xing Chen stepped forward and asked, "Sister Lin wants to hug me?"
Lin Shi Shu asked, "May I?"
"Yes," Xue Xing Chen nodded. Father had said it was alright to dislike someone, but there was no need to resent them for it.
In truth, he didn't dislike Lin Shi Shu.
He just didn't like her getting close to Father.
Lin Shi Shu picked up the child and asked, "Little one, do you dislike me?"
Xue Xing Chen looked up at her, noticing her sincerity. He spoke the truth. "I don't dislike you, Sister. I just don't like you getting close to Father."
Yan Jin Chao was slightly taken aback. He smiled and asked, "Why? Your father is a person, and Sister is also a person. Why can't you be close?"
"Who says Father is alone? Father has someone," Xue Xing Chen stated.
Lin Shi Shu was taken aback. "How is that possible? I've never seen..."
"Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Father's woman is naturally my mother!" Xue Xing Chen declared.
Lin Shi Shu frowned, looking at the child in her arms. She suddenly understood. The child wanted Yan Jin Chao to be his father and was even trying to matchmake his mother with his father.
"Little one, the most important prerequisite for two people to be together is love."
"Yes, Father likes Mother, and Mother also likes Father."
"That's impossible," Lin Shi Shu shook her head, feeling that the child was trying to trick her.
"What's impossible? Otherwise, do you think Sister can call him Father?" Xue Xing Chen said proudly.
Lin Shi Shu frowned. The child's question had indeed stumped her.
Could it be that Yan Jin Chao truly harbored different feelings for the child's mother?
She still couldn't believe it, thinking the child was deliberately saying this. "Little one, do you think Sister and your father are not a good match?"
"They are a good match, but Father already has Mother and cannot like anyone else."
Lin Shi Shu smiled. "Why not? Having three wives and four concubines is common. Moreover, for someone like Young Master Yan, I can be a concubine."
Xue Xing Chen looked at her for a long moment. Lin Shi Shu felt a bit uncomfortable under his gaze and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Mother once educated Sister that it's better to be the wife of a poor man than the concubine of a rich man. Sister wants to be a concubine?"
Lin Shi Shu lowered her eyes upon hearing this. "If it were Young Master Yan, I... I would be willing."