After my luck was stolen, I led my whole family to defy fate and change our destiny.

Inside the main hall, the Fourth Prince served the meal, and Gu Linglong was carried to the side by her nanny.

Gu Linglong looked at the eight-treasure duck and braised soy sauce chicken on the table, her mouth watering. She reached out her chubby little hands to grab them, but unfortunately, she couldn't catch them.

I really want some, bro, can I have a chicken leg?

She pouted and looked at Gu Yu'an with teary eyes. There was nothing she could do; her older brother was now very wary of her, and she was even forbidden from sitting near the table.

Gu Yu'an looked away, pretending not to see his little sister's gleaming eyes.

The weather was hot and dry, and the chubby boy was afraid of the heat, so Gu Linglong had developed some prickly heat on the back of her neck.

The nanny felt extremely sorry for her and stood very close to the ice so that the young lady could cool off.

Gu Linglong's gaze was indeed drawn to it. The ice in the Fourth Prince's residence was in small pieces for easy relocation, unlike the ice in the Minister's residence, which was in large, single pieces.

She glanced at her older brother, who was eating and not looking at her, then at the nanny, and with lightning speed, grabbed a piece of ice and stuffed it into her mouth.

【Whoosh! So cold!】

The old woman gasped in shock: "Oh dear, young lady, you can't eat this ice!"

The Gu brothers rushed over the moment they heard her voice and carefully pulled her hand away.

Gu Linglong covered her mouth tightly with both hands.

This is mine, don't take it from me.

Gu Yu'an used a little force to pry it open and take out the ice block.

Waaaaah, my ice cubes...

Having learned from his previous experience, Gu Liyao didn't even dare to criticize loudly. He gently comforted her, "Little sister, this ice is very cold. Eating it will hurt your stomach. When you're a little older, your second brother will buy you whatever you want to eat, okay?"

Gu Linglong cried loudly and even used Gu Liyao's clothes to wipe her snot.

Gu Liyao: "..."

Is it true? You can't lie to me!

Gu Liyao: "Second brother, you keep your word!"

As they spoke, they pulled away their own clothes. The two of them had just calmed Gu Linglong down.

A doorman came forward to report: "Fourth Prince, Sixth Prince, someone from the palace has arrived."

The atmosphere suddenly became tense, clearly not having anticipated this situation.

But no matter what, Gu Jia must not let the emperor know that they are in contact at this time.

The people in the room exchanged glances, and Chu Jingyan was the first to react, pushing Gu Yu'an and the others behind the screen.

"No matter what, you are not allowed to come out."

Gu Yu'an nodded gratefully.

A senior eunuch swung in, brandishing his whisk: "Imperial decree has arrived! Fourth Prince Chu Zikuo, step forward to receive the decree."

The entire main hall was filled with people kneeling on the floor, including behind the screen, where Gu Yu'an and the others also knelt carefully.

The fourth prince, who was unable to move easily, performed the scholar's bow.

The chief eunuch slowly opened the imperial edict, his voice sharp: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The Fourth Prince Zhao Zikuo is learned, self-disciplined, and friendly... I am greatly pleased, and hereby confer upon him the title of Prince, with the honorary title of Qi..."

The fourth prince looked up in surprise: "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your great favor. Long live Your Majesty!"

The chief eunuch put away the imperial edict and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Your Highness Prince Qi, on this double blessing! You are the first prince in this dynasty to be granted the title of Prince."

Fourth Prince: "Thank you, Eunuch. I'm sorry to have troubled you to make this trip. Please have some tea."

The butler tactfully handed over a money bag.

The head eunuch's eyes crinkled with laughter: "Thank you, Your Highness Prince Qi. I must return to the palace to report, so I won't bother you any longer."

Fourth Prince: "Please take care, Your Excellency. Butler, please see you off for me."

The head eunuch bowed and withdrew. As he reached the door, a clear voice rang out.

"It's so lively!"

The chief eunuch bowed and said, "Greetings, Second Prince."

The Second Prince, Chu Hanchen, offered a slight gesture of support: "Your Excellency, no need for formalities. What brings you to my fourth brother's residence?"

The head eunuch twitched his forehead. "You already know, why are you asking me?"

But there was no sign of it on his face.

"Your Highness, this old servant has come to deliver an imperial decree. His Majesty has bestowed upon the Fourth Prince the title of Prince of Qi. This old servant must hurry back to report, so I shall take my leave now."

The second prince raised an eyebrow meaningfully: "Take care, sir."

The second prince turned to the fourth prince and said, "Congratulations, fourth brother! Bring the gifts up."

"Fourth brother, look how good your second brother is to you. So many priceless gifts. Even if you were made a king now, you probably couldn't afford to buy such expensive things, could you?"

The fourth prince nodded: "Thank you, second brother."

The second prince waved his hand: "Why are we talking about such things? As long as we brothers are of one mind, what priceless gift can't we get?"

So that's what they did – they tried to win them over!

Chu Jingyan coldly stared at the Second Prince. This was the man who had framed the Gu family and almost caused Linglong to lose her father. He sneered, "I wonder what Father Emperor's reaction will be when he finds out you've come to win over Fourth Brother."

The Second Prince seemed to only just notice Chu Jingyan: "Oh, Sixth Brother is here."

The Second Prince circled around Chu Jingyan and said, "Everyone says that you, the Sixth Prince, are from a powerful sect, broad-minded and kind, and have no interest in the throne. But look at what you're doing! You're secretly trying to win over the Fourth Prince behind everyone's back. Chu Jingyan, you've been hiding your true intentions quite well."

Chu Jingyan said indifferently, "I'm not as scheming as you think. I'm here purely out of brotherhood."

"Brotherly love? Hahahahaha"

The second prince seemed to have heard something particularly funny, and he laughed heartily without stopping. He pressed the corners of his eyes, which were about to burst into tears from laughing.

"Brotherhood? Do you even believe in it yourself? You spend far more time in the sect than in the capital. Where does this brotherhood come from?"

Chu Jingyan: "Think what you want. The gift has been given. If there's nothing else, then leave. I doubt you, the Second Prince, would find the food here appealing."

Chu Jingyan pushed the fourth prince's wheelchair to the table to continue his meal.

The second prince's words were like punching cotton; he was furious: "Hey, Sixth Prince, what right do you have to kick me out? Fourth Prince hasn't even said anything yet!"

Chu Jingyan glanced at him and said, "Didn't you say yourself that even though Fourth Brother was made a prince, he doesn't live as wealthy as you?"

The second prince was taken aback and looked at the fourth prince: "Fourth brother, are you going to stop this? How can you talk to your older brother like that?"

The fourth prince pinched the bridge of his nose: "Other brothers don't talk like you?"

The fourth prince sighed and continued, "Second brother, my residence is indeed not as well-equipped as yours or the Prime Minister's. If there's nothing else, please take your leave. I'll invite you again another day."

The second prince curled his lip. Why could Chu Jingyan be here, but he couldn't?

He plopped down on the chair. "Add another bowl and chopsticks. This prince is hungry; I want to eat."

Chu Jingyan was somewhat displeased. Gu Linglong was still behind the screen; seeing him here would surely upset her.

Why don't you go back to your own residence to eat?

"So what if I'm eating here? Go ahead and bite me if you dare!"

After finishing speaking, the Second Prince suddenly thought that Chu Jingyan had grown up in a sect and might be a bit wild and unruly, not familiar enough with the etiquette of the capital. Fearing that he might actually bite him, he added.

"If you dare bite me, I'll go to Father Emperor and impeach you for disrespecting your elder brother. You can expect to be locked up in solitary confinement!"