The guard stood to the side holding a sword and glanced sidelong at the Eldest Prince.

Had he already forgotten being utterly defeated by Young Master Zhao just two hours ago?

Since when had the Eldest Prince become so forgetful?

The Beimo Prince invited him, he’s the guest, Young Master Zhao is the host, and the host goes along with the guest’s wishes.

Young Master Zhao stepped into the room, and the Beimo Prince invited him to sit down, the air about him was such that he didn’t consider himself as the guest.

However, when Prime Minister Zhao visited, he also mentioned that he should feel at ease staying at the Zhao Family, and for anything he needed, he could instruct Zhao Xu.

When Prime Minister Zhao instructed this, Young Master Zhao was standing to the side.

The two sat down.

One was angry, needing to make the opponent lose in utter defeat to vent frustration.

One had lost the chess game and wanted to turn the tables.

The two sparred fiercely and intensely.

Outside, Princess Jing Shan was making porridge, and her cooking spot faced the window, where she could look up and see her Imperial Brother and Zhao Xu playing chess.

Her requirements weren’t high; as long as the two didn’t come to blows, she was satisfied.

After almost half an hour, the porridge was done.

Princess Jing Shan brought a bowl of porridge inside, and the Beimo Prince looked at the tray with just one bowl, unsure what to say.

How could his Imperial Sister be so clueless when there were two people here, yet she only brought one bowl of porridge?

Wasn’t this a blatant provocation?

That was his job to provoke.

The Beimo Prince put down a chess piece and chuckled, "Young Master Zhao hasn’t tasted my cousin’s personally made porridge, has he?"

Zhao Xu’s face was tightly composed.

The Beimo Prince continued, "Serve another bowl to Young Master Zhao as well."

Princess Jing Shan carried out the tray again.

Soon, she returned with two bowls of porridge, one for each.

The Beimo Prince looked at the porridge, and even his eye twitched.

He indeed shouldn’t have high expectations for his Imperial Sister’s cooking.

It was clearly burnt.

The Beimo Prince looked at Princess Jing Shan, who eagerly urged, "Eat up."

The Beimo Prince, "...".

He picked up the porridge, spooning into it to find a piece of charcoal the size of a soybean.

The Beimo Prince felt a wave of despair.

He had thought she merely burnt the porridge; he had overestimated her.

He really wondered how she managed to turn porridge into charcoal?

Zhao Xu couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

The Beimo Prince was as embarrassed as could be.

But soon, he was the one laughing.

Because Zhao Xu’s bowl had an even bigger piece of charcoal.

Zhao Xu, "...".

Princess Jing Shan explained, "The fire was low just now, and when I added charcoal, I accidentally dropped a piece into the porridge. The maid said it could still be eaten after scooping it out."

Zhao Xu, "...".

The Beimo Prince, "...".

Indeed.

The maid was the same one who watched Princess Jing Shan pick up a pear and give it to her cousin.

After accidentally dropping the charcoal into the porridge, Princess Jing Shan looked helplessly at the maid.

With a straight face, the maid said, "It’s fine, just scoop out the charcoal, and the porridge is still edible."

Princess Jing Shan followed her advice.

The Beimo Prince was displeased with Zhao Xu, and Zhao Xu was more displeased with the Beimo Prince.

But in the matter of eating porridge, they reached the first agreement.

Both set the porridge aside and in unison said, "I’m not hungry now, take it away."

"I worked hard to make this," Princess Jing Shan said.

"Are you being picky about my porridge?"

The Beimo Prince looked at Zhao Xu, "Young Master Zhao must be quite picky, right?"

Princess Jing Shan looked at Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu braced himself and replied, "No."

He picked up the bowl of porridge and downed it in a few gulps, leaving only the charcoal in the bowl.

Having finished, Zhao Xu put down the bowl and looked at the Beimo Prince.

The Beimo Prince said, "I’m picky."

"Make another pot."

Princess Jing Shan puffed her cheeks, her eyes sparking.

The Beimo Prince just stared at her.

Princess Jing Shan gritted her teeth and said, "You just wait!"

This was a double entendre.

Wait for the porridge now, but also wait for future retaliation.

Watching Princess Jing Shan turn to leave, Zhao Xu received another blow.

The Beimo Prince toyed with a chess piece in hand, saying, "You truly like my cousin."

Caught off guard, Zhao Xu’s ears reddened, yet he didn’t deny it, "You aren’t as loving as I imagined!"

The Beimo Prince chuckled, "Love comes in many forms; mine helps her grow, while your pampering—how long can it last?"

"Just now, you could eat that bowl of porridge."

"In another year or so, will you still want to eat it?"

"My cousin grew up pampered, with more flaws than merits; if you can’t indulge her all your life, let go quickly."

Zhao Xu looked at the Beimo Prince, "Can you pamper her for a lifetime?"

The Beimo Prince chuckled lightly, "Not just a lifetime, even in the next I’ll pamper her."

A wave of pressure hit Zhao Xu, leaving him a bit breathless.

Though he hadn’t spent long with Princess Jing Shan, Zhao Xu felt he understood her somewhat.

If her cousin weren’t truly looking out for her, given her temperament, why would she make porridge again despite criticism?

Such closeness, just thinking about it made his heart heavy.

Feeling distracted, Zhao Xu played absentmindedly while the Beimo Prince focused wholly on chess, declaring, "You’ve lost."

Over the next four days, the Beimo Prince continuously showcased his deep bond with his sister, though outsiders saw it differently.

Whatever the Beimo Prince requested, Princess Jing Shan complied obediently.

Fueled by jealousy, Zhao Xu approached Princess Jing Shan, saying, "Make me a purse."

Princess Jing Shan replied, "I’m not good at embroidery."

"You couldn’t make pastries either, yet still made them for your cousin," Zhao Xu said.

"It’s not like I wanted to; he insisted, so what choice did I have," Princess Jing Shan lamented.

"Aren’t you afraid he’ll be upset, don’t you fear I might be upset too?" Zhao Xu retorted angrily.

"Why should I fear you being upset?" Princess Jing Shan asked curiously.

This question left Zhao Xu speechless.

Already frustrated, Zhao Xu grew even angrier when the Beimo Prince asked Princess Jing Shan to make him a purse right in front of him.

Princess Jing Shan said she couldn’t.

The Beimo Prince looked at her, "Really?"

"I can!" Princess Jing Shan retorted.

"Alright, I want to see the purse by tomorrow morning," the Beimo Prince said.

Princess Jing Shan hadn’t stop cursing her Imperial Brother inwardly, yet obediently began embroidering the purse.

She had never handled needlework before, and the maid taught her.

Outside the window, Zhao Xu watched as she pricked her finger, throwing down the embroidery hoop in pain.

Yet, not long after, she picked up the hoop and continued to embroider.

After she repeated this several times, Zhao Xu couldn’t stand it anymore and barged in, snatching the embroidery basket and tossed it out the window.

Princess Jing Shan rushed to the window, "I was almost done."

"You better pick it back for me."

Zhao Xu grabbed her hand, "Do you really like your cousin that much?"

"You’ll do anything he asks?!"

Princess Jing Shan replied, "I don’t want to, I curse him while doing it!"

Zhao Xu, "...".