Substitute Bride Phoenix, The Tyrant's Pampered Demon Empress

“What are you laughing? You can take off open pants!”

Longyuan wheeled on the handmaidens and guardsmen and bellowed at them—he was stating facts, so why would they laugh?

“Hahaha...” Liu Rushuang could not hold back either, and held her belly as she arched in laughter.

“Hahaha...” The handmaidens and guardsmen laughed even harder at that.

“What’s so funny, Shuang’er?”

Just then, Han Moze had left court and arrived at the Dark Moon Palace. When he saw Liu Rushuang laughing, he could not help asking about it with a loving smile dangling beside his lips.

“Daddy, you have to protect me! Sob...”

Longyuan quickly pretended to cry in front of Han Moze, his tears streaming all over his face as he pointed and complained about the handmaidens and guardsmen.

Since his mother would not fight for him, he went to his father.

Though his father was often fierce and intimidating, he was still his father and most likely would side with him.

“Oh? They bullied you?”

Han Moze quickly furrowed his long, sharp brows and murmured curiously, though there was clear doubt in his eyes.

Longyuan hence repeated his story for Han Moze while crying miserably and looking to be in despair.

Han Moze cleared his throat to hide his laughter, before turning towards the handmaidens and guardsmen and asking menacingly, “Is the crown prince telling the truth?”

“We are innocent, Your Majesty!”

Han Moze turned back towards Longyuan with a raised brow and say, “But they are saying they are innocent?”

“Would you rather believe them than me, Daddy?” Longyuan asked Han Moze tearfully and solemnly.

Han Moze cleared his throat again and pretended as if he was thinking seriously, before turning towards the handmaidens and guardsmen and said, “I believe them!”

“No, you’re wrong!”

Longyuan cried anxiously, “Don’t you love your son, Father? Why would you rather believe them than me? Sob...”

“Alright, the rest of you do what you have to. Let the crown prince climb if he wants next time—he’ll remember it if he falls! Understand?”

“Y-Yes, Your Majesty.”

The handmaidens and guardsmen answered in panic, and soon returned to their post.

“Hahaha...” Liu Rushuang was still holding her hand over her lips and laughing.

At the same time, Han Moze picked up Fengwu and slid a peek at Liu Rushuang who could not stop laughing, warmth welling in his eyes just then.

It seems that his rotten son was useful enough to make his mother laugh, at least.

While they had lunch, the family of four sat around the table, with Longyuan blinking his large eyes as he asked, “Daddy, can I really climb that boulder?”

“Yes, do as you like. You could climb to the skies if you want, too.”

Han Moze said with clenched teeth while putting food in Liu Rushuang’s bowl, glaring at Longyuan, who was sitting on Liu Rushuang’s lap.

“Great! Can I catch fish at the lake?”

Longyuan said, attempting to expand his authority.

“Sure. No one would stop you even if you tried to drink the lake dry.”

“Great! Can I dig holes in the garden?”

“Sure. Bury yourself while you’re at it, too!”

***

In the end, Longyuan was all smiles as if he regained freedom, and was impatient to get out to play again.

“Mother, I’m full. I want to go out for a while.”

Longyuan promptly jumped off Liu Rushuang’s lap after he was done eating, and was going to run outside. 𝒇𝘳𝐞𝚎𝓌𝑒𝑏𝒏𝑜𝙫ℯl.c𝚘𝒎

“Stop!”

Han Moze suddenly barked coldly.

Frowning, Longyuan turned around. “Father, I’m done eating. I just wanted to go out and play for a while... just a while.”

“You’ll leave after you’re punished.” Han Moze said fiercely.

“Eh? But I didn’t do anything wrong!” Longyuan frowned and looked he was going to cry.

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