Eternal Love: A Love Story Chapter 782 - Make A Way, Royal Babies Are Here.

Five years have passed since the last events. ~

" Yaling, you stubborn child, just drink this milk. No one can help you today. Drink it and go to sleep. No more playing," Zhao Ming exclaimed, her breath catching as she trailed behind the little girl, grasping the hem of her skirt to prevent a tumble.

It was a peculiar sight, the Empress of the Ji Dynasty chasing after someone with a glass of milk.

And that someone was none other than Ji Yaling, the Princess of the Ji Dynasty. The child, clad in a charming pink frock meticulously embroidered by the Empress Dowager herself, was the very reason the Empress Dowager would run errands. Yet, here she was, being outrun by her own mother, who carried a simple glass of milk.

With her tiny, delicate hands clutching her dress, the girl darted away from Zhao Ming as if her life depended on it. Biting her lower lip, she shouted towards the chamber entrance, " I don't like milk! I won't drink it. Not today, and certainly not tomorrow!" Her voice was loud enough for Zhao Ming to clearly hear.

Zhao Ming's expression soured at her daughter's defiant declaration. Did she truly believe she was a princess simply because everyone treated her as such? Well, she was. But as the Empress of the Ji Dynasty, how could her own daughter speak to her with such disrespect?

She clenched her teeth, contemplating if this was divine retribution for her own past pickiness with food. Now, she found herself tormented by a daughter who barely touched vegetables, subsisting solely on meat and noodles. The girl adored all sorts of delicious fare, but when it came to anything green or healthy, it was always left untouched.

How could this child be so obstinate? Was she truly her daughter? Zhao Ming mused, momentarily forgetting her own childhood, when she too would devour large bowls of spicy noodles, expertly avoiding all green vegetables.

" If you don't stop this instant, I shall inform your father that you are disregarding your mother's wishes. Yaling, aren't you a good girl? If you wish to avoid your Father's scolding, then quickly drink this. I promise to give you candy afterward, alright?" Zhao Ming implored, her voice softening as she gazed at her daughter expectantly.

Ji Yaling turned, catching sight of her mother's gentle smile. However, she knew her mother intimately. This was a ruse, a honey trap. Using candy as bait, her mother intended not only to force the milk down her throat but also to lull her to sleep against her will.

And as the Princess of the Ji Dynasty, she would not yield to the enemy's demands. She would fight for her inherent rights, even against her own mother. No exceptions were permissible.

A knowing smirk played on her lips as she clenched her small fists, gathering her strength to sprint towards the chamber entrance. She wondered why the chamber seemed so vast, the journey to the entrance so agonizingly long for her little legs.

Yet, as she glanced back while running to see Zhao Ming still in pursuit, her diminutive frame collided with someone.

Her small body recoiled from the impact, nearly sending her tumbling to the ground. But before she could fall, a pair of strong arms caught her.

" Ahh.." she squealed in surprise, her fear quickly turning to a giggle as Ji Cheng lifted her into his embrace. He spun her once in the air before settling her comfortably in his arms. He playfully pinched her rosy, soft cheeks. " Why is my princess running so frantically? Did someone upset you?" he inquired gently, his gaze fixed on her large, bright eyes.

The little girl let out a huff, her energy depleted from fleeing Zhao Ming, who had relentlessly pursued her with that dreadful glass of milk. Despite being her mother, how could she be so persistent?

She cast a glance at Zhao Ming, who had stopped in her tracks upon witnessing Ji Cheng holding his daughter. Zhao Ming approached them slowly, the glass of milk still in her hand. Noticing her mother's darkening expression, the princess knew what was imminent.

Before Zhao Ming could voice a complaint, the girl's lips curled into a pout, tears welling in her eyes. " Mother says I am a bad girl. She… she threatened me. She said if I don't drink milk, you won't love me anymore. Father, will you hate me if I refuse to drink *this* milk?" she asked, pointing a tearful finger at the glass in Zhao Ming's hand, her voice trembling as she tried to hold back her sobs.

"....."

Zhao Ming stared at the child, who was now performing an act, seizing the opportunity presented by Ji Cheng's arrival. At times, she questioned whose genes her daughter had inherited, as her behavior was nothing short of a spoiled brat.

Ji Cheng's heart softened at the sight of his little princess posing such an innocent question. " How could I ever hate my princess? If you do not wish to drink it, then don't. But do not cry. It pains me to see my girl weep." He tenderly wiped away her glistening tears with his large hands, which easily enveloped her tiny face.

" Really?" she inquired, a spark of hope igniting 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.