Chapter 12 - Should I call you Jun-ge instead? (2/2)

He did not realize how fast he was eating until he finished his food. Then, he saw that Qin YiJun and the Emperor is still eating. He felt his face became hot and he looked down in an embarrassment. He heard the Emperor’s low laughter and he wished that he could find a hole to bury himself in.

“Steward Wong, get someone to bring more food for Li FangMing.”

“At once, Your Majesty.”

After the steward left, Qin WuZhen glanced over at Li FangMing who seems to have become shy. “Li FangMing, don’t worry about eating a lot. As a growing boy, it is understandable. Zhen only hoped that YiJun would follow your footstep and eat a lot. After the death of his mother Empress, the amount of food he eats is getting less. Zhen always hear the servant reporting to Zhen how the Crown Prince didn’t eat well.”

When he heard this, Li FangMing turned to Qin YiJun who has now become nervous, with a questioning look. “Is that true?”

“It… might be true…?” Qin YiJun answered after a slight hesitation.

“You can’t do that! You promised that you will eat well!” Li FangMing scolded Qin YiJun, forgetting that he is at the presence of the Emperor. “Here! Let me feed you!” Li FangMing went closer to Qin YiJun and started to force the prince to eat more.

Seeing this scene, the Emperor can’t help but laugh out loud. Only then did Li FangMing remember where he was and he was frozen in place. “Don’t mind Zhen. Continue. Li FangMing, Zhen will have to trouble you to take care of YiJun. If he doesn’t eat properly, you have Zhen’s permission to scold him. You have the Emperor’s promise that you will not be punished for it.”

Li FangMing who was nervous before after his rude action to the Crown Prince finally felt relieved. “Don’t worry, Your Majesty! Li FangMing will make sure the crown prince will eat properly! I won’t let him be a picky eater too!”

After that, dinner continued with Li FangMing making sure Qin YiJun finished his meal. Only then did Li FangMing finished his second servings. After dinner, Li FangMing and Qin YiJun returned to Li FangMing’s courtyard. At first, Li FangMing thought that after sending him back, Qin YiJun will return to YueXing palace. But the young prince continued to follow him all the way to his room.

“Your Highness… is there something the matter?” Li FangMing asked cautiously.

“En. I am feeling unsatisfied…” Qin YiJun answered as he crossed his arm. “The whole day, you kept calling me ‘Your Highness, Your Highness,’ and I don’t like that. We’re alone now. Call me by my name!”

Hearing the reason for Qin YiJun’s dissatisfaction, Li FangMing can’t help but show a helpless smile. “Aiya! The crown prince being like this, what else can I do?” he teased the other. “YiJun~” he called out Qin YiJun’s name playfully. “Or should I call you Jun-ge instead? You are a few months older than me, right?”

“En! That doesn’t sound bad! Then I’ll call you Ming-er!” Qin YiJun quickly agreed.

“Alright! But we can only do so when we are alone! Or else, the servants will talk and I might get into trouble…”

“Who would dares to cause trouble to you?! Don’t worry. I will protect you! If anyone dare, they will answer to Imperial Father!” Qin YiJun shamelessly announced that he will complain about it to his father.