Gluttonous Crown Princess

The Fifth Prince’s eunuch was a very quick-witted one; he immediately came up to the Fifth Prince’s ear and muttered something to him.

“Show me your food box.” The Fifth Prince’s face was full of arrogance. Even though he was young, he exuded the air of a tyrant.

Seeing that the nursemaid was dawdling, the Fifth Prince simply asked the eunuch to go and get it.

The Sixth Princess tried to stop him, “This was given to me by Crown Princess Sister-in-law!”

The Fifth Prince truly didn’t intend to snatch food from this younger sister at first. After all, if word got out, it would be utterly humiliating. But— this pastry smelled way too good!

As soon as he opened the food box, the rich and sweet fragrance wafted to his nose, instantly evoking his greed.

He swallowed his saliva and explained as he reached for one, “Xiao Liu, Brother will just try one piece. Don’t be stingy.”

Although the Sixth Princess was a little reluctant, it was not good to get angry with the Fifth Prince over a piece of pastry.

The salted egg yolk pastry was still warm. Its skin was thin and the filling was ample; when one bit down, the outer skin was extremely crisp, and the combination of the soft and chewy snow skin layer with the red bean paste of just the right sweetness gave soul to the little pastry.

“This pastry is really good!” The Fifth Prince wasn’t as elegant as the princess when eating, and finished it in two bites.

Seeing that he was about to reach out again, the Sixth Princess became anxious. “Fifth Imperial Brother! You said you would only try one piece.”

The Fifth Prince touched his nose and coaxed shyly, “Xiao Liu, how about letting me have this plate of pastries? I’ll get the imperial kitchen to make you some other sweets.”

“No!”

“Ah, don’t be so stingy. I’ll never bully you again, and send you pastries to eat every day, okay?”

“No…” The Sixth Princess still wanted to refuse, but her nursemaid gently tugged her sleeve and gave her a look.

The Sixth Princess pursed her lips and looked a little aggrieved.

The Fifth Prince gave a light cough. “Don’t worry, I won’t take your things for nothing. I’ll have someone send you other pastries later.”

At that, he left with his eunuch, carrying the food box and humming a little tune.

The Sixth Princess hung her head and stared at the half of the salted egg yolk pastry cake in her hand with crystal clear tears in her eyes.

The nursemaid quickly squatted down to comfort her, “Good princess, no matter how delicious this pastry is, we can’t go head-to-head with the Fifth Prince. He has the Noble Consort to pamper him, while you… Sigh, you and he are not the same…”

The Sixth Princess forcefully held back her tears and bit her lip. “I know.”

Brother Crown Prince had said that to survive in the palace, it was useless to rely on tears. One had to accumulate strength little by little. You had to become stronger in order to get everything you wanted, and to let all those who have bullied you get their comeuppance.

She was still weak, but she still had time to grow strong.

***

Although the Fifth Prince was overbearing and stubborn, he was one who kept his word. As soon as he returned to Mingyue Palace, he sent a eunuch to deliver seven types of pastries, a few books of paintings, and a bunch of little trinkets to Tingyu Pavilion.

Seeing this, Noble Consort Xu asked curiously, “When did your relationship with Xiao Liu become so good?”

The Fifth Prince was embarrassed to say that he stole his sister’s pastries, and only said vaguely, “I have pastries to eat every day anyway, and I’ve grown tired of playing with these toys, so I’m giving them all to her.”

To prevent Noble Consort Xu from asking any more questions, he took out a salted egg yolk pastry hurriedly and handed it to her. “Mother Consort, try this, it’s super tasty.”

Noble Consort Xu disliked sweets, but on seeing her son being filial, she took it from him.

She saw that it was a small little pastry. Its round surface was a beautiful golden yellow, and there was a layer of black sesame seeds sprinkled on top. She had to say, it looked exquisite and cute.

Noble Consort Xu thought it wouldn’t be good to turn down her son’s goodwill, so she would just force herself to take a small bite.

She brought the salted egg yolk pastry to her mouth, and a rich fragrance immediately penetrated her nose. After a bite, her eyes instantly lit up.

Following that, the salted egg yolk pastry was gone in three bites.

“Mother Consort, it’s good, right?” The Fifth Prince’s eyes were slightly smug.

It was rare to encounter such a delicious pastry. Noble Consort Xu wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, then turned her beautiful eyes towards the Fifth Prince. “Chen’er, is this a new pastry from the imperial kitchen? It does taste really good, just that it’s a little cold. But that doesn’t matter… How about giving your mother another piece?”

As she spoke, her slender wrist reached out towards the food box.

The Fifth Prince suddenly felt how the Sixth Princess felt when she was robbed of her food, and stood in front of the food box with a nervous expression. “Mother Consort, there are only three pieces left! Didn’t you not like sweet things? It’s not good to eat too many sweets either, you’ll gain weight easily.”

The corner of Noble Consort Xu’s lips twitched. “……”
I gave birth to this little brat for nothing!

Just as she was about to educate her son, a shrill voice came from outside the door—

“His Majesty has arrived!”