5 years later~

" Yaling, don't be stubborn and drink this milk. No one can help you today. Drink this milk and go to sleep. No playing anymore." Zhao Ming shouted while panting as she followed behind the little girl while holding onto her long skirt to not fall on her face.

Who would have thought that the Empress of Ji Dynasty would be running behind someone while holding a glass of milk?

And that someone is...Ji Yaling, the Princess of Ji Dynasty. The little girl was dressed in her cute, pink-colored dress whose embroidery was done by Empress Dowager herself. The girl who can make Empress Dowager run errands for her was running away from her mother who was holding a glass of plain white milk.

The girl was holding onto her dress with her small-soft hands and was running away from Zhao Ming from her dear life, bit her lower lips and ran towards the entrance of the chamber, " I don't like milk. I won't drink it. Not today, nor tomorrow." she shouted enough for Zhao Ming to hear.

Zhao Ming's face darkened upon hearing her daughter's bold words. Just because everyone is treating her like a princess, does she really think she is one? Well, she is. But she is Empress of Ji Dynasty, how can she talk back to her?

She gritted her teeth and wondered if this is her karma for being so picky about food that she has to be tormented by her daughter who barely touches any vegetables and only eats meat and noodles. She loves all the delicious food but when it comes to vegetables or healthy food, it always goes untouched.

How can this girl be so stubborn? Is she really her daughter? She wondered, forgetting the time where she used to gobble up the large bowls of spicy noodles while avoiding all the green veggies efficiently.

" If you don't stop, I will tell your father that you're not listening to your mother's words. Yaling, aren't you a good girl? If you don't want to get scolded by Father, then hurry up and drink this. I will give you candy afterward, okay?" Zhao Ming said in a gentle voice while looking at her expectantly.

Ji Yaling turned around and saw her mother's gentle smile, however, she knows her mother very well. It's a trap, honey trap. Using candy as bait, she will not only make her drink milk but also put her to sleep, without her will.

And as the Princess of Ji Dynasty, she will not give in to the enemy's demands. She will fight for her right, even though it's her mother. No exceptions excused.

A 'know-all' smirk appeared on her lips as she clenched her fists tightly and ran towards the entrance of the chamber using her might while wondering why this chamber is so wide that it's so long to run to the entrance of the chamber with her little legs.

However, when she turned around while running to look at Zhao Ming who was still following her, her small stature was bumped into someone.

Her small body took a huge blow and bounced back. She was about to fall on the ground when a pair of strong hands held her up.

" Ahh.." she squealed in surprise and giggled when Ji Cheng carried her in his hands and swirled her in the air once, finally settling her comfortably in his arms. He pinched her rosy-squishy cheeks and asked, " Why is my princess running like this? Did someone bother you?" he asked in a gentle voice, looking into her large-bright eyes.

The little girl huffed and was out of energy after running away from Zhao Ming who was following her everywhere with that devil glass of milk in her hand. Even though she is her mother, how can she be so persistent?

The girl glanced at Zhao Ming who came to a halt seeing that Ji Cheng had held her and walked to them slowly, still holding that glass of milk. Seeing Zhao Ming's dark expressions, she knew what was coming her way.

Before Zhao Ming could complain, her lips curled into a pout while tears glistened in her eyes, " Mother said I am a bad girl. She...threatened me. She said that if I don't drink milk, you will not love me anymore. Father, will you hate me if I don't drink 'this' milk?" she asked and pointed at the glass of milk in Zhao Ming's hands while sniffling, trying to hold back her tears.

"....."

Zhao Ming stared at the little girl who was acting up seeing Ji Cheng who just arrived. Sometimes she wonders on whom her daughter has gone that her actions are no less than a pampered brat.

Ji Cheng's heart melted seeing his little princess asking such a question innocently. " How can I hate my princess? If you don't want to drink, then don't. But don't cry. I can't see my girl cry." he wiped her moist tears with his large hands that covered her tiny face easily.

" Really?" she asked with a glint of brightness in her eyes.

" Of course."

" Then...can I play with my dolls for a little more? I don't want to sleep now." she pouted, asking for his permission to stay for a little more.

Ji Cheng pursed his lips and glanced at Zhao Ming who was giving her cold glares from the side. He cleared his throat and said, " Well....only an hour. After that, you have to go to sleep like a good girl. Father will get you more dolls tomorrow if you do that."

"....."

Zhao Ming who was standing there and was watching her daughter's drama was speechless seeing how efficiently they turned her into a villain.

She was doing this for her while Ji Cheng who just came back to the chamber became a good father for allowing her to play more and she became a controlling mother? Woah!!

She took a deep breath, trying to control her internal rage. She placed the glass on the side table and crossed her hands in front of her chest and glared at Ji Cheng and asked coldly, " What don't drink milk? She hasn't even eaten the dinner properly. Did you forget that Aunt Shen Jia has asked to feed her more, she is already this thin and weak. She needs to eat more, how can you give up on her just because she hugged you once?"

He might be the mighty Emperor who has made numerous changes to history in making remarkable policies and rules, strengthening the Empire, but his power turns into nothing in front of his little princess.

She used to think that his love for her will never change and he will only love one woman, that will be he, however, after Yaling was born, she started to get jealous of her own daughter. Is that possible?

This young girl has the attention of everyone, from maids to guards to Empress Dowager, this little girl has everyone around her fingers wrapped like a string.

Ji Cheng was dumbfounded, facing Zhao Ming's wrath. He glanced at Yaling and saw her teary eyes which made him go soft for her, " Zhao Ming if she doesn't want to drink milk, then we can't force her. She is just a child after all. Also, she can sleep a while later. It doesn't matter if she sleeps now or later. Let her play if she wants." he tells her on his little princess's behalf.

Ji Yaling turned to Zhao Ming and blinked her eyes, waiting expectantly for her response.

Zhao Ming pursed her lips seeing the father and daughter duo staring at her with their expectant gaze, putting her in a difficult spot. She bit her lower lip and was about to give in to their requests when she heard a familiar, indifferent voice that made Yaling's back stiffen in alarm, " No, she can't do that. Tomorrow is her fifth birthday ceremony, she needs to wake up early." The young man walked into the chamber with steady-firm steps while wearing indifferent expressions on his face.

His little hands were on each side as he walked to Zhao Ming and stood beside her, facing Ji Yaling and Ji Cheng who stared at him in disbelief.

" Father, you can't give in to her requests like this just because she cried a little. You will make her stubborn this way." The little boy stared at Ji Cheng with a frown seeing how easily he can be fooled.