Little Piglet.
On the twentieth day after the baby’s birth, all the red had faded from his skin, and he had become a fair, tender little bundle.
The baby’s eyes were dark and bright, the outer corners lifting upward, exactly the same shape as Lu Ronghuai’s phoenix eyes 丹凤眼 (dān fèng yǎn): A traditional Chinese description for long, narrow eyes with slightly lifted outer corners, often associated with striking beauty and force of presence. It is the dan vesion if you based it on the picture provided. . His nose and mouth, meanwhile, had inherited Chu Yuan’s features. pink-carved and jade-polished, he was adorable beyond measure.
The whole family adored the little bundle.
Only his own father could find fault with him.
When he was hungry, Lu Ronghuai would send him off to the wet nurse with a face full of disdain, calling him a little piglet.
When he cried, Lu Ronghuai would frown, glare at him with a fierce face, and threaten him not to cry and not to disturb Ah-Die’s rest.
When he soiled himself, Lu Ronghuai would blacken his face and change his diaper, grinding his back teeth until they creaked.
Lu Ronghuai doted on Chu Yuan and had nearly taken over every task himself, diligently serving both him and the little bundle. Of course, he served the former with complete willingness. When serving the latter, however, he was all flustered hands and confused feet.
Prince Li, divine and formidable upon the battlefield, had been harried to the point of exhaustion by a milk-drinking infant.
The little bundle was very attached to Chu Yuan. Every night he had to sleep beside Chu Yuan, and in the night he often grew hungry. Lu Ronghuai carried him out and back again one trip after another. After only half a month, dark shadows had already appeared beneath his eyes.
On this day, after he had finally coaxed the little bundle to sleep, Lu Ronghuai lifted his head to look at Chu Yuan and voiced the question that had long been sitting in his heart.
“Ah-Yuan, why does he look like me?”
Those eyes in particular. Every time he met the little bundle’s gaze, he had the strange feeling that he was looking at himself.
“...” Chu Yuan set the selected little clothes by the bedside and arched a brow. “Is it not good if he resembles Your Highness?”
Lu Ronghuai said pitifully, “It is not. He ought to resemble you. Your eyes are more beautiful.”
If he looked like Chu Yuan, his fatherly love would overflow even more wildly.
He did not dare say that part aloud. If he did, he would certainly earn a scolding from his wife.
“I think it is very good,” Chu Yuan said with a light smile, his fingers brushing over Lu Ronghuai’s eyelids. “Your Highness’s eyes are also very beautiful. At the corners they are keen and sharp. When you do not smile, they are as cold as a frigid pool. When you do smile, they are full of feeling.”
Lu Ronghuai’s heart burst into bloom. The moment he lowered his head and saw the sleeping little brat, he suddenly asked, “Then does Ah-Yuan prefer his eyes or mine?”
“?”
“I like both.”
In Chu Yuan’s eyes, there was no difference.
“That will not do. You may like only one.” Lu Ronghuai was resolute.
Ever since the little brat had been born, such questions of choosing one between two, full of jealousy and rivalry, had played out nearly every day. By now, Chu Yuan had developed a set way of dealing with them.
He looked straight into Lu Ronghuai’s eyes and said with solemn sincerity, “I like Your Highness’s eyes the most.”
“Your Highness’s eyes are enough to make one sink in fascination.”
Lu Ronghuai felt delighted beyond measure. “Then have you sunk?”
Chu Yuan nodded with grave seriousness. “I have sunk. Thoroughly sunk.”
In high spirits, Lu Ronghuai went out and handed the little brat’s used diaper to Le Shu.
The moment he stepped away, Chu Yuan at once lowered his head and kissed the little bundle’s fair and tender cheek.
“Dada loves good little darling the most. Darling is the most beautiful.”
When Lu Ronghuai returned, Chu Yuan lifted his head as though nothing had happened, touched the little creature’s sleeping face, and smiled as he asked the man beside him, “Your Highness, what is the baby’s name?”
The little bundle had been born for over twenty days now. He did not even have a milk name yet. The whole family called him simply “good little darling,” yet this could not continue forever. A name was needed.
Lu Ronghuai held fast to his beloved wife’s hand, taking advantage of the chance to fondle it, his expression utterly calm. “I have already thought of a name.”
“What is it?” Chu Yuan asked curiously.
“Lu Duoyu.”
Chu Yuan: “...”
He raised a hand and pinched a certain prince’s face, his beautiful eyes narrowing. “Your Highness, say that once more.”
Lu Ronghuai immediately changed his words without the least hesitation. Angering his wife carried too high a price, for it would mean sleeping in the study. A true man could bend and stretch as needed.
“You heard wrongly. What This Prince said was, I love you.”
Lu Ronghuai received a letter from Emperor Hongjia. Just as he had guessed, Emperor Hongjia was unwilling to return to him the military power he held in his own hands.
Because Lu Ronghuai had captured Zhengqing, however, the Emperor specially bestowed upon him an imperial handwritten order.
After a moment of thought, Lu Ronghuai understood the Emperor’s purpose.
Now that Prince Rui was supervising the state and handling government affairs on the Emperor’s behalf, this prince who had spent the first twenty years of his life in obscurity had, against all expectations, managed the court and governance with flawless order.
The way he was viewed among the people had also begun to change.
Emperor Hongjia’s health worsened by the day. He was almost bedridden now. The rapid collapse of his body had worsened his temper as well, leaving him suspicious and paranoid at every turn. By now, he had likely already regretted allowing Prince Rui to supervise state affairs. That was why he had given Lu Ronghuai this handwritten order.
With a cold laugh, Lu Ronghuai tucked the order away. After discussing it with Chu Yuan, he packed his things the very next day and set out for the Northern Frontier on the third day of the second month.
This time he was going to sign terms with the royal court of the northern tribes, so he rode light and alone, disturbing no one.
On the fifteenth day of the second month, Chu Yuan, having spent a full month resting in bed, set out with the Nie family for the Western Frontier.
Five days into their journey, Lu Ronghuai settled the matter in the north and came riding hard to meet up with them.
“Ya~”
Inside the carriage, the white little bundle sat on Chu Yuan’s lap. The moment he saw Lu Ronghuai, he opened his mouth and let out a short little cry, his voice soft and fluffy, his black grape-like eyes staring at him curiously.
Separated for more than half a month, Lu Ronghuai’s eyes were heavy with restrained longing. Wherever his gaze fell, it could see only Chu Yuan. He directly ignored the babbled sounds of the white little bundle.
His throat bobbed. As he stepped inside, his deep gaze locked onto that graceful figure in blue.
“Ah-Yuan.”
Chu Yuan curved his lips and lowered his head to tease the little bundle. “Darling, come, follow Ah-Die and say it, fa~ther.”
“Ah~” The white little bundle opened his toothless little mouth in innocent delight and happily blew a bubble at Chu Yuan.
Chu Yuan could not help laughing. He lifted a hand and tapped the little nose. “Are you a little fish? You blow bubbles all day long.”
“Ya!” Seeing Chu Yuan smile at him, the little bundle grew excited and flailed both tiny arms.
In the next moment, the little bundle was lifted up by someone and set into the soft little bed to one side.
“Ya?” The little bundle opened his eyes wide in foolish confusion, not understanding what had happened at all.
He turned his little head and saw his dada being pulled into an embrace and kissed. Chu Yuan often held him and kissed him too. The little bundle greatly enjoyed being kissed, and each time he would giggle with delight.
His dark, round eyes wide open, the little bundle flailed his arms nonstop, babbling away in incomprehensible sounds.
“Mm...”
Chu Yuan was kissed until he could scarcely breathe. Just then, the carriage rolled over a stone, making the carriage sway slightly. Seizing the moment, Chu Yuan hurriedly turned his head away and thumped Lu Ronghuai on the shoulder, his face red.
“Your Highness, darling is watching!”
Lu Ronghuai pecked at his soft lips, his voice husky and laden with want as he lingered there. “He cannot see.”
The child had only just turned one month old. He could not see very far at all, could not even make out people clearly, and relied mostly on scent to tell others apart.
“How is Ah-Yuan so sweet?” The man’s greedy tongue and lips entangled with his, kissing him until spring bloomed upon his cheeks and mist gathered in his eyes.
Only after a very long time did Lu Ronghuai at last release him with clear reluctance.
His manner was languid. He took out a handkerchief and wiped away the moisture at Chu Yuan’s lips, earning a glare from Chu Yuan that was equal parts reproach and coyness.
Chu Yuan straightened his clothing. Seeing the baby in the little bed sucking on his hand, he bent down to pick him up.
“Before Your Highness returned, darling had only just woken. He is full of spirit right now.”
Lu Ronghuai stopped him. “Let me. You rest awhile.”
As he spoke, he picked up the white little bundle and bounced him lightly in his hands.
“Heavier now. He eats, sleeps, and sleeps, then eats. Little piglet.” He lifted the child high and lightly patted the plump little rear.
The little brat looked at him with round eyes, then suddenly, “Pff~”
He spat a whole mouthful of saliva onto Lu Ronghuai’s face.
Lu Ronghuai: “...”
“Lu Duoyu!”
“Pff pff~” The little brat spat twice more, his toothless little mouth puckering as he blew bubbles.
Lu Ronghuai: “................”
Chu Yuan hurriedly took the troublesome little bundle back into his arms and handed Lu Ronghuai a handkerchief. Suppressing his laughter, he consoled him, “Your Highness, do not be angry. Darling likes you. He is only playing with you.”
Lu Ronghuai’s face had gone as black as the bottom of a wok. He ground his teeth and glared at the little brat. “He did it on purpose.”
Holding the child securely, Chu Yuan freed one hand to wipe the saliva from Lu Ronghuai’s face. “Darling is only a month old. He understands nothing. How could it be on purpose? Your Highness is slandering him and bullying him because he is little.”
Lu Ronghuai said, “...I am bullying him?”
He pointed at the saliva on his face, his thin lips drawn tight. “Ah-Yuan, speak reasonably. Clearly this little creature is the one bullying me.”
From outside the carriage came a soft laugh, drifting leisurely through the curtain into their ears.
“Your Highness is truly capable, making a milk-drinking infant who has not even grown teeth yet shoulder the blame.” Nie Siran had just ridden up beside the carriage. Through the curtain, he smilingly needled Prince Li a few times.
Lu Ronghuai’s anger rose at once, and he snapped back, “What concern is it of yours? Do not come and disturb us.”
“Oh? I came to see my great nephew. Your Highness cannot possibly think I came to see you?”
The moment Nie Siran’s words fell, Lu Ronghuai threw open the curtain and stepped out. He stuffed the little brat into Nie Siran’s arms in one swift motion, then turned and ducked right back into the carriage.
“He is yours. Take him away.”
“...Elder Brother, forgive the trouble. Please watch darling for a while,” Chu Yuan sighed from within the carriage.
Nie Siran lowered his head to look at the little baby in his arms. The little fellow grinned at him carefree and foolish, quite unaware that his own father had just sold him off.
“Very well. I shall take him back with me first.” Holding the little brat, Nie Siran turned his horse and went back to his own carriage.
Ever since Prince Li had returned, aside from sleeping at night, little Lu Duoyu had very rarely seen his own father during the day.
His other father was passionately devoted each day to passing him into the hands of other people.
In response, little Lu Duoyu spared none of his saliva, taking every chance to go “pff pff” into his father’s face.
When Jiang Ni heard of it, he laughed for a long time.
They had all spent so much time with the little bundle, yet he had never once spat on any of them. From this, it was evident that the child knew clearly whom he liked and disliked, and if wronged, he would certainly repay it.
In the end, Prince Li alone had to bear it all.
At the beginning of the third month, they arrived in Sang Cheng in the Western Frontier.
Bai Yi, along with Bai Qingyu and Lu Rongshen, personally came to the city gate to welcome them.
He even escorted them all the way to the residence that had long since been prepared for them.
The whole city saw General Bai escorting a whole line of carriages into the city under full guard. Before anyone could even see clearly who was inside the carriages, the tall gates of the residence had already swung shut.
Chu Yuan stepped down from the carriage in a robe of blue, a bamboo hat upon his head. White gauze drifted all the way to the ground, veiling his long and slender figure.
Standing beside him, Lu Rongshen could see only the tips of his shoes.
Once inside, everyone sat down to rest, yet Chu Yuan still did not remove the bamboo hat. Curious, Lu Rongshen leaned in and asked with concern, “Third Sister-in-Law, have you caught a chill?”
Chu Yuan let out a light laugh and shook his head. The white gauze swayed gently with the motion.
Lu Ronghuai walked over, stood behind Chu Yuan, and removed the bamboo hat from his head for him.
With the veil gone, Lu Rongshen stared at Chu Yuan and instantly widened his eyes, as though confronted with something so incredible that it bordered on horror.
“You... ah? ...what? ...whose child is this?” His mouth seemed to stop obeying him, and he nearly bit his own tongue.
Cradled in Chu Yuan’s arms was a jade-fair, snow-lovely infant, sleeping sweetly in his swaddling cloth.
“Mine.”
Lu Ronghuai and Chu Yuan answered in unison.
Lu Ronghuai added, with kindness and thoughtfulness, “My son.”
Lu Rongshen stared at the two of them in horror. Looking left and right, both of them appeared entirely serious. He clutched his own head and turned to look for Bai Qingyu.
“Qingyu, am I the one who has gone mad or have they gone mad?”
Smiling, Bai Qingyu took his hand down and spoke to him in his naturally husky voice, which always softened when directed at Lu Rongshen. “Look carefully. Does the child not resemble His Highness and the Consort?”
Lu Rongshen turned his head and stared hard at the little one. The little fellow had his eyes shut in sleep, yet the longer he looked, the more he felt the child resembled his third brother and third sister-in-law to a startling degree.
Clutching Bai Qingyu’s arm tightly, he asked in a small, cautious voice, “Third Brother, did you give birth to this child?”
“...”
Lu Ronghuai cracked the joints of his index and middle fingers. His expression said everything.
Chu Yuan curved his lips. “I gave birth to him.”
There was not much surprise on Bai Yi’s or Bai Qingyu’s faces. Only Lu Rongshen stood there dumbfounded.
It was a long story. Chu Yuan simply explained the reason to him, and Lu Rongshen nodded repeatedly in admiration.
Once he had finished speaking, Chu Yuan passed the child into the arms of Bai Yi, who had been watching from the side for quite some time.
The last time Bai Yi had held a child was twenty years ago. The moment the baby entered his arms, perhaps sensing the unfamiliar presence, the little bundle slowly opened his dark, bright, moist eyes and met Bai Yi’s gaze.
Lu Rongshen had just taken a tiny step closer when he saw the baby open his eyes, and he froze immediately.
“He-he-he... he is not about to cry, is he?” Lu Rongshen’s hair stood on end.
He had seen babies in the palace before. If they were awakened from sleep, they would wail their lungs out, their cries shaking the heavens and making his ears ache.
Yet after waiting a long while, not only did the little bundle fail to cry or fuss, he even spread his mouth into a smile at Bai Yi.
The hardness of Bai Yi’s features softened. He took two extra looks before lifting his head to Lu Ronghuai. “When Your Highness wrote of the child in your letter, I did not truly believe it. Now that I see him with my own eyes, it is indeed wondrous.”
Lu Rongshen crept nearer like a thief. The instant his gaze collided with the little bundle’s, he gave a helpless groan. “Wuu... too adorable.”
No one could resist a milk-fed baby so beautiful that he scarcely seemed real.
“Father, Father, Father, let me hold him for a while. Let me hold him.” Lu Rongshen hopped about beside Bai Yi, holding out his arms as he tried to get the child.
Bai Yi had not yet held the baby enough. How could he bear to hand him over? Quietly, he shot Bai Qingyu a meaningful look.
The smile had barely risen on Bai Yi’s face when Bai Qingyu was already laughing under his breath and striding forward.
Before Bai Yi’s pleased expression could fully form, Bai Qingyu had already come right up to him. His move was swift and steady. In the blink of an eye, he had taken the child right out of Bai Yi’s arms.
Bai Yi: “...”
“Here.” He turned and placed the child into Lu Rongshen’s arms.
Lu Rongshen fumbled in confusion, imitating the way one ought to hold a child. The little bundle kept his watery bright eyes wide open the whole time, looking quietly at them.
Bai Yi, whose son was now grown and no longer stayed by his side: “...”
In the end, it was his affection that had been misplaced.
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu Dog: Lu Duoyu, This Prince bears grudges.
Lu Duoyu: I bear grudges too.
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