If you want to survive after transmigrating, become the male protagonist's new mother.

Qin Shuxing stared wide-eyed at the remaining rice in her bowl, her expression as if she had been utterly deceived.

"Who was the first to mistake a tomato for fruit?! This is ridiculous!"

Pei Yuening continued with a forced smile, "Your Majesty, I knew it could be eaten as a dish..."

Qin Shuxing took another big bite: "It's so delicious... I think I could have three more bowls..."

“…………”

Pei Yuening decided to shut up and focus on eating.

The two sat side by side on the steps, occasionally hearing the chirping of insects.

Qin Shuxing's eating manners weren't bad, but they were definitely not elegant; in short, she was a completely different person from when she was putting on airs in the palace.

The young man sitting on the steps, shoveling rice into his mouth, looks like an ordinary young man who has been starving for several days and is finally getting a good meal.

Pei Yuening glanced at him secretly and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

This is probably why Qin Shuxing didn't want to eat indoors.

In front of Ye Jiyun, he was at least an emperor.

On the steps, who isn't just a freeloader?

Qin Shuxing finished the last bite, held the empty bowl, looked up at the moon, and let out a long sigh: "Refreshing—"

Pei Yuening.

"exist."

"Can you still do this tomorrow?"

"...Alright, but would you like some dessert, Your Majesty?"

"Oh, then let's have dessert," Qin Shuxing said. "The chef will take care of the main course."

Qin Shuxing was satisfied. She put the bowl on the steps beside her and leaned against the doorpost, lost in thought.

Pei Yuening finished eating as well. After hesitating for a moment, he ultimately did not dare to place his bowl on top of the emperor's.

The two of them just sat there.

After a moment of silence, Qin Shuxing suddenly spoke.

"By the way, is school starting soon?"

"The day after tomorrow, Your Majesty."

"Sacred Academy," Qin Shuxing glanced at him sideways, "Is it fun? I graduated from there back then."

Pei Yuening thought for a moment: "There shouldn't be any changes..."

He tried hard to recall the original work.

"Nowadays... it seems like no one really likes studying. The nobles are busy socializing, and the geniuses are busy competing with the nobles."

"The teacher is lecturing upstairs, but nobody's listening?"

He smiled and said, "But it's none of my business, I can't understand it anyway."

Qin Shuxing did not respond.

His expression was not clearly visible in the moonlight.

After a second or two of silence, he gave a faint "hmm".

Oh, but speaking of this...

"Your Majesty," Pei Yuening spoke again, "School starts the day after tomorrow, so we may have to make the morning snacks earlier. Please be patient and wait for us."

"Okay." Qin Shuxing nodded: "Deliver it early so I can eat it early."

"…………good."

Qin Shuxing stood up, dusted off her pants, and picked up the empty bowl.

"Give me the bowl." Pei Yuening quickly reached out.

Qin Shuxing didn't stand on ceremony with him, handed him the bowl, and swaggered away.

He scaled the palace wall and landed steadily.

His cloak fluttered in the night wind, and he casually straightened his collar.

Although he was there, his mind was still savoring the taste of that bowl of braised rice.

Tomato scrambled eggs.

Qin Shuxing sniffed and quickened her pace.

The guards on night duty at the palace gates were taken aback when they saw him return, and quickly bowed their heads in salute.

Qin Shuxing waved her hand and walked straight inside.

Walking through the corridor, the entire route was brightly lit.

He pushed open the door to his bedchamber, and his attendants came forward to help him remove his cloak and change into civilian clothes.

"Your Majesty, the tea is ready."

"I won't drink." Qin Shuxing sat down at the desk: "Pass on the imperial decree that the four dukes and Prince Lin be invited to the palace for a meeting first thing tomorrow morning."

"Yes."

……

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Ye Jiyun had already changed into her formal attire for the audience.

He straightened his collar in front of the mirror, making sure everything was in place, before turning around and picking up the documents on the table.

He didn't dwell on what happened last night.

The emperor climbed over the wall, said what needed to be said, discussed what needed to be discussed, and even ate a meal with his brother before leaving.

He's so beautiful.

Ye Jiyun pushed open the door and walked down the corridor.

As I passed downstairs, the kitchen door suddenly opened from the inside.

"elder brother!"

Pei Yuening leaned out halfway, her hair still a little sticky, holding a food box in her hand.

Ye Jiyun stopped in her tracks: "What's wrong?"

"This," Pei Yuening handed over the food box, "you got up early and don't know when you'll be back, so this is for you to eat on the way."

"What?" He took it.

"Pancakes..."

Fruit.

Pei Yuening said, then added, "Uh... you should be able to eat it."

Ye Jiyun smiled and reached out to pat his head: "Okay."

"Take care, brother."

"Um."

Ye Jiyun boarded the carriage and opened the food box.

Inside was something wrapped in a thin pancake, cut into two pieces and neatly arranged.

The crust is golden brown, and the meat is sandwiched inside.

He picked it up and took a bite.

The crust is soft and chewy, the meat is minced and fried until fragrant, and the flavors of eggs and sauce melt in your mouth.

Ye Jiyun leaned back in his chair, the morning light filtering through the gaps in the curtains and falling on the back of his hand.

The food tasted great, but what made him even happier was that Pei Yuening cared about him.

Everything my younger brother makes tastes delicious.

The carriage stopped in front of the palace gate.

Ye Jiyun rinsed her mouth with wine and then took the handkerchief handed to her by the servant to wipe her hands.

As he walked in, his face still bore an undisguised sense of satisfaction.

There were already people waiting inside the hall.

Luo Ren stood by the window, his posture upright and his demeanor dignified.

Besides him, there were two women wearing satin robes.

They were all around thirty years old, with their hair neatly pinned up at the back of their heads, their eyes smiling, and their walk brisk.

That noble air emanating from within is the best symbol of their status.

Qi Zhiyue, He Shuming.

The Empire's only two duchesses, both SS-rank nature magicians.

One was in charge of the empire's finances, and the other was responsible for foreign affairs. Although they did not often appear in court meetings, whenever they did, it was always for a major event.

Luo Ren heard footsteps and turned around.

"Lord Winston."

"Good morning, Duke Luo," Ye Jiyun returned the greeting.

Qi Zhiyue raised an eyebrow: "In a good mood today?"

Ye Jiyun smiled and said, "Yes, that's true."

"And you?" Ye Jiyun asked casually, "How was your morning?"

"fine."

The palace doors were pushed open once again.

The four men looked in the same direction, and after confirming who it was, they all nodded in unison: "Your Highness the Prince."

The young man was wearing a formal suit that differed from theirs, with a ruby ​​brooch pinned to his collar.

He entered the hall unhurriedly, looking both noble and languid.

"Everyone's here?" Lin Yunjin glanced around. "Looks like I'm the last one."

He Shuming smiled and said, "That's not true, you're joking."

Lin Yun waved his hand.

The hall fell silent.

Light streamed through the tall arched windows onto the marble floor.

A moment later, the palace doors were opened by a servant.

Qin Shuxing walked in.

He cleared his throat, put his hands behind his back, and tiptoed through the five people who were bowing respectfully, taking his seat at the head of the table.

He smacked his lips, with traces of double-skin milk still clinging to them.

It was fetched by a servant from Duke Ye's mansion early in the morning, and it was still as delicious as ever.

The portion was too small; he only slurped it up a few times before it was gone.

The servants took six portions in total, each packaged in a separate box.

Pei Yuening was indeed thoughtful; his portion was the largest, while the others were slightly smaller.

I guess he was supposed to take it as a reward.

But after he finished eating, he had a wicked thought...

But let's forget about all that nonsense for now; Qin Shuxing is the emperor!

Of course, we should prioritize him.

As for Luo Ren and the others?

I'll just grab some snacks from the palace to tide me over later.

Qin Shuxing snorted and glanced around the hall.

"Everyone's here," he said. "Let's begin."