After refusing marriage, she was pampered by the prince who acted as a shield.

Chapter 461: The First Birthday Banquet Prepared

Those eyes were even brighter. He turned around with a grin and kissed Lin Rusi on the cheek.

"Mother, learn."

"Your mother can't teach you, but I believe your father will find you a better tutor."

Upon hearing Lin Rusi's words, Changning pouted and hugged the person behind her tightly with both hands.

Knowing that the little one didn't want to leave like this, but with so many things not going as planned, they naturally didn't agree.

After receiving no response for a while, Changning let out a soft snort of dissatisfaction and tightened his grip even more.

"You little rascal, you're really rough; you're hurting your mother."

Upon hearing Li Jingyang's words, her small hands immediately loosened, but she accidentally leaned backward.

Fortunately, Lin Rusi's hand was right behind her, and she caught the person easily.

"Don't scare Changning like that."

"Daddy is bad."

Changning snuggled into Lin Rusi's arms, her big, round eyes glancing triumphantly at Li Jingyang.

He was somewhat dissatisfied with him, but in order not to affect Lin Rusi, he did not make a move and instead stared intently into the other pair of eyes.

Sensing something was amiss, she still took the person to the wet nurse and led Li Jingyang by the hand to a quiet corner.

"what happened?"

"The Empress Dowager's birthday is approaching."

It's just a birthday celebration, and most people can prepare for it. Why do you look so gloomy?

Lin Rusi suddenly thought of a possibility, frowned and tightly grasped Li Jingyang's hand.

"Don't worry, I'll help you."

"Is that really the case? I'm afraid you won't have the time either."

He hadn't expected Lin Rusi to find out, and when he tried to explain, that hand gripped his tightly again.

The force wasn't strong, but Li Jingyang could still sense her tension, so he placed her hand directly on her chest.

"If you are unwilling, I can also ask Father to prepare someone else."

"I'm afraid the Empress Dowager won't give up so easily, and this is the first time we've prepared something for her, so I'm afraid everyone is watching."

Li Jingyang knew this too, and wanted to say a few more words, but then he heard other people's voices from the side.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has something to discuss with you."

Unexpectedly, Li Jingyang clicked his tongue in annoyance, completely ignoring the eunuch and continuing to look at Lin Rusi.

Their eyes met and he knew what the other was worried about, so he could only turn to the side and push the man out of the East Palace.

"Are you really capable of handling this alone?"

“I’m not stupid. If things really go wrong, I’ll come looking for you. You can’t use official business as an excuse to avoid it then.”

Knowing that Lin Rusi wouldn't put on a brave face, Li Jingyang withdrew his gaze and quickly followed the eunuch out.

I originally thought that since it was the other person's first birthday party, they would be flustered and might even create a worse situation.

But what no one expected was that when that day actually arrived, everyone was taken aback.

"The Crown Princess has made excellent preparations. Look at those places, even the gaps are carved with intricate patterns."

"Your Majesty, I heard that the Crown Princess prepared this so meticulously for the first time. She will surely take good care of you in the future."

"The preparations were indeed correct, but there were still quite a few minor issues."

Everyone knew this was nitpicking, so they obediently agreed to please him and stop finding fault.

However, the Empress Dowager was still somewhat dissatisfied, since the most beloved Zhuang Lijuan had been expelled from the palace and had not yet returned.

However, all of that was within reason, and she couldn't say much more, so she could only nitpick here.

I could only say a few words, and I couldn't really find fault with them.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally let out a cold snort and pointed to a cold dish on the table.

"Take this dish for example, it tastes so sour and bitter, who is it meant for?"

"Isn't this the kind of food served to pregnant women? How come..."

Realizing that his words were inappropriate, the man immediately shut his mouth and cautiously looked at the Empress Dowager beside him.

Noticing the gazes of others, she snorted again and threw the sour dish aside.

Only after confirming that the Empress Dowager's complexion had somewhat recovered did he dare to speak again, continuing to say what he wanted to hear, finally managing to make everyone laugh.

Others, unaware of Zhuang Lijuan's situation, came again to curry favor with the Empress Dowager because of the arrangement of the place.

"The Empress Dowager is truly fortunate to have such a Crown Princess..."

The person next to him suddenly grabbed the one who had just spoken and pulled him back with all his might, preventing him from saying the rest of the sentence.

But he still didn't understand the other party's good intentions, and instead waited fiercely for the lady to push him away.

"Why are you preventing me from saying this? You should know that this is a joyous occasion."

It’s over.

Everyone who had just appeased the Empress Dowager couldn't help but let out a soft gasp, and then they heard the voices of the Emperor and his men.

"Why does the Empress Dowager look like this? Is it because the Crown Princess's preparations are not complete enough?"

"How could she be unprepared? If she were, wouldn't the Crown Prince have made up for it at the last minute?"

When Li Jingyang was suddenly called out, he did not refute it, but gently held Lin Rusi's hand to prevent anyone from getting close.

Seeing this, no one dared to make a sound, but instead cautiously observed both sides.

Just as he was about to step back to the side, thinking that the Emperor would give both sides a chance to ease tensions, another person rushed over.

"No, it's not good!"

Zhuang's father looked at the other person, clearly wanting to say something more, but Li Jingyang rushed forward and blocked him.

When their eyes met, he hesitated and looked at the Empress Dowager, trying to have someone take him forward.

But Li Jingyang didn't give him that chance. He raised his hand and grabbed the person, intending to make him stay there.

Unexpectedly, Zhuang's father suddenly spoke up at this moment.

"Your Majesty, Juan'er seems to be very angry today because she can't come to the palace to celebrate your birthday. She even hanged herself in her room."

"What?! How is he now? Is there any hope of saving him?"

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words, Zhuang's father understood her meaning and felt a slight smile, but he dared not utter any nonsense.

Instead, she cautiously revealed that her daughter had been rescued but was currently unconscious.

"Since he is unconscious, is there any imperial physician to examine him?"

"This matter..."

After hesitating for a long time, Zhuang's father finally shook his head and looked cautiously at the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

The Empress Dowager immediately understood what was going on. She glanced at the two of them and then waved her hand to send someone to fetch the imperial physician.

A look of joy appeared on Zhuang's father's face, and he was just about to say something else when the Empress Dowager's voice became even weaker.

"What on earth is going on? No, I must go and see Juan'er."

"Your mother is still at your birthday banquet, so she can't leave immediately."

Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager glanced at the Emperor with displeasure.

"This is my birthday, shouldn't I be the most important person here?"

She is indeed the oldest, but leaving so many people here is against the rules.