My eyes widen in horror as I watch my daughter run up to the Emperor, who sat on his throne. My horror was made worse when she plopped herself on his lap. I nearly fainted, not even I, his wife, can go up to him like that.
âDaddy, daddy! Wacha doooinâ?â She exclaimed in front of the whole court. That was it. I was surely going to die. I wasnât being careful with watching her enough. I didnât hear what he replied with or what the rest of their conversation was, I was panicking. I rush in there, bow on the floor, and profusely apologize for my careless behavior with my daughter. I grab her off his lap and usher her out of there. I have her arm in a tight grip as I head out to the courtyard of the main palace. Once we arrive, I squat down to my daughter, Xixi, so I was at her level.
âXi Lynn Yu Xiaoling, We do not run up to the emperor like that. Ever. Understood?â I swiftly stand up and start whisking her away to the Emperorâs dining area as originally planned. I was in so much trouble now, any hope of the dinner going well are now ruined.
âMommy?â I turn to look at Xixi
âWhy do you call daddy, Emperor, and not daddy?â
I was so bored. I love mommy, but everytime she takes me to the big building, itâs soooo boring. We are walking and I spot the round room door, I smile wide and run out of my mother's grip and rush into the room. I see daddy sitting on a fancy chair, I havenât seen him since my 3rd birthday! I run up to him and climb onto his lap. I look up at him and smile. I decide I am having a staring contest and stare into his eyes. Daddyâs eyes are kinda scary, they are sharp and red. He frowns for a moment then gets a bored look on his face. He blinks and I declare victory.
   âDaddy, daddy! Wacha doooinâ?â I say, I am so excited to see him, it's been 2, no, 3 years!
âWorking, Having a court meeting,â he looks down at me and rests his head on his hand. He looks confused for a moment before showing a more gentle look. I frown, I could tell daddy was very bored. I can understand it.
âWell itâs dumb and boring. I can tell daddy is very bored,â he laughed at my comment. I smile and giggle, daddy isnât as scary or mean as mommy and the servants say.
âIt is very boring, none of these courtmen amuse me,â I look around and see the round room full of people. They all look boring and dumb with frowns on their faces. I huff and turn back to daddy. Before I can say more to him, mommy comes rushing into the room and falls onto the floor saying a lot of sorrys. She grabbed my arm and dragged me off. We walked for a bit before we entered the outside place. She squats down to my level and says something.Â
âXi Lynn Yu Xiaoling, We do not run up to the emperor like that. Ever. Understood?â I nod, but she doesn't see and continues to drag me somewhere. Why does she call daddy emperor all the time and not daddy?
Boring. Every Court meeting was. These men have the illusion that what they say will change my mind on anything. When one of the court officials was in the middle of suggesting something on a social issue, the room was filled with the sound of a child running. I look at the right side door near me and see First Princess Xi Lynn running up to me, and climbing and plopping onto my lap. We stare at each other till I blink and she gives me a wide victorious smile, must have been a staring contest. I should be angry right now, but I find everytime I try I just canât be. I glance to the right to see my wife in an absolute panic. I look back at the First princess as she speaks.
âDaddy, daddy! Wacha doooinâ?â she draws out the âDoingâ. I glance around and decide to amuse her.
âWorking, Having a court meeting,â I look down at her and rest my head on my fist. I should be really angry. Then why arenât I? I canât be, she is just so innocent, merely a child. I watch as she frowns and gives an adorably angry look at the men around.
âWell itâs dumb and boring. I can tell daddy is very bored,â I chuckle at that. I glance around the room at the frowning courtmen and officials.  âIt is very boring, none of these courtmen amuse me,â I send a sharp glare at all of them. She begins loudly giggling and kicking her feet out. Before she can say anything else, my wife rushes in and falls into a bow on the floor, giving me a lot of formal apologies about being âCareless with her childâ. She stands and grabs Xi Lynn off of my lap and rushes her out of the room. I watch as the door closes. I wasnât even mad at my wife or Xixi. It brought some amusement to the false meeting. I turn to the court and begin the meeting again. I find myself looking forward to our first family dinner.
