The crown prince fell silent and lowered his head in contemplation. His father had explained previously that choosing the right study companion was very important since he would form a relationship for life in the best case. He couldn’t arbitrarily decide on this. So if being the son of a concubine was a problem in that regard, then he probably couldn’t choose him.

What a pity. He still liked looking at this person very much. He was a lot cuter than any of the other boys that had come and with how he still looked at him, he also shouldn’t be timid. He would be great to play with!

Considering that, Mu Chang Min tilted his head. Actually, he didn’t need him to be his study companion. He just wanted him to be his playmate. So maybe if he made a deal with his father, he would be able to still get this person.

Mu Chang Min decided that this was the best idea, got up, and trudged over to his father, looking at him with bright eyes. "Father Emperor, you said that Ah Min could choose his own study companion, right?"

Emperor Mu had no idea what his son might be talking about. "That, We said."

Mu Chang Min straightened up. "Then what if I don’t?"

The Emperor raised his brows. "You don’t want a study companion?"

"That’s not what I meant. What if I allow you to choose my study companion?"

Emperor Mu’s brows twitched. How nice of his son to 'allow' him, the Emperor, to choose his study companion! This really warmed his heart. He couldn’t promise that this wasn’t heat produced from rage though. This boy would make him faint from anger one day! "So, my son is saying that he’ll give that privilege of choosing his study companion back, yes? Then what do you want in return?"

Mu Chang Min turned around and pointed at minister Nian’s second son again. "This prince wants to take him as a concubine!"

Emperor Mu facepalmed. "You really have such great ideas! Why don’t you make him your crown princess, while you’re at it!"

Mu Chang Min blinked his eyes and then looked from his father to the child. Finally, he nodded. "Alright." Then, he ran over to minister Nian’s second son, grabbed his hand and pulled him away.

The royal couple, the ministers and their families, as well as the servants currently serving them, could still hear him talk in the distance.

"Let me show you where I live! You can choose a room in my back courtyard already. I’ll reserve it for you until you come of age but you can come over and play with me before that as well. I don’t mind if it’s every day either. You would never annoy me. Well, you have to take good care of your face though. After all, my crown princess definitely couldn’t be ugly. That’s very important so you have to remember well. Oh, and —"

Finally, his voice faded away but the awkward silence in the garden ensued. Nobody could quite explain to themselves how the crown prince’s supposed study companion had suddenly first turned into his concubine and then into his crown princess. Anyway, could the Emperor who never lied still take back that hasty sentence? They really didn’t want to think about it any further.