129. Your Son

Hearing my voice, the two men locked in a fierce struggle finally stopped. They turned in unison to look at the child in my arms, who was now on the verge of tears. I pressed the baby’s head against my chest; he looked up at me with tear-filled eyes and whispered "Mother" in a soft, trembling voice. Suddenly, the two men fighting before me seemed incredibly childish, not worth comparing to the baby in my arms.

"Brother, let’s go. Let them fight; we can live just fine without them." Having delivered this ultimatum, I turned and began to walk away.

"Sigh, and here I was hoping one of them would be my brother-in-law." At Zijun’s flippant remark, I shot him a sharp glare.

"Zijun..."
"Zijun..."
"Stop right there!"

Dongfang Qingyu and Li Yexuan both gave chase, but I had not expected Kong Yuelin to be the one to block my path.

"Kong Yuelin, what do you think you’re doing?"

Kong Yuelin’s gaze, however, remained fixed on the baby in my arms.

"He is mine. So what?"

"Why does this child look so much like Yexuan? Can you honestly say he is not Yexuan’s son?" Kong Yuelin’s words brought a sudden silence over the entire scene.

Li Yexuan reacted quickly, rushing over to me, but I held the child tightly to my chest.

"Zijun, the baby is my son, isn't he?"

Upon hearing Kong Yuelin’s words, Li Yexuan was even more certain; his gaze left no room for me to deny it. Suddenly, I felt at a loss. Zijun and Dongfang Qingyu stood on either side of me, supporting my slightly swaying frame. My eyes turned vacant for a moment, as if I had seen through the world and lost every shred of hope.

"Zijun, I have been here all along. If you wish, do not deceive yourself any longer. Some things cannot be changed..." Dongfang Qingyu looked at me as if he had made a difficult decision. I could read the helplessness in his eyes, or perhaps the agony of being forced to let go.

I looked down at the baby, who had lifted his head to watch me.

"Baby is big now and can make his own decisions. Does Baby want Uncle Li to be his real father?" I asked the child softly.

"Mother, is Uncle Li really Baby’s real father?"

I did not speak, only nodded gently.

I set the baby down on the ground. "Go and give your father a hug."

To my surprise, the child kept his hands tightly gripped on my clothes, refusing to budge. Dongfang Qingyu quietly led Zijun away, and Kong Yuelin followed suit. The vast back courtyard of the Jinyu Pavilion was left with only Li Yexuan, myself, and the baby.

"Child, I am sorry. May I have a hug?"

The little one shook his head, refusing to turn around. I saw Li Yexuan’s expression freeze instantly.

"Baby is usually so obedient, isn't he? Look, your father is waiting for you. Come." I picked the baby up again and walked to Li Yexuan’s side. "Quick, give your father a hug."

"Mother... Baby has no father..." His voice was faint, but it was enough to shatter both Li Yexuan and me into dust. Perhaps it was my fault for letting the child be so hostile toward Li Yexuan at such a young age.

"I’m sorry, the child may not be able to accept it yet..."

"It’s alright..." Li Yexuan’s eyes were bloodshot as he looked at us. I found it hard to imagine a man like him could be on the verge of tears.

I kissed the baby’s cheek; his face was flushed, and his little mouth was pouted. "If you don't want to call him Father, just call him Uncle Li, okay?"

The baby nodded vigorously. See? I know my son best.

"Uncle Li..." He stretched out his little hand, surprisingly wanting Li Yexuan to hold him.

Li Yexuan acted as if he had received the greatest news in the world. The mighty Regent’s hands trembled as he took the child.

"Mother is going outside to speak with Uncle and Godfather. Baby and Father... Uncle Li, stay here and wait for Mother, okay?"

"Okay."
"I’ll be back in a moment."
"Alright."

Father and son, with their strikingly similar features, stared at one another.

Guided by Uncle Jin, I arrived at a private room in the Jinyu Pavilion.

"Where is the baby?"
"He is with him." I walked in silently, removed the jade pendant from my waist, and twisted the bracelet on my wrist a few times until it fell off. I handed both to Dongfang Qingyu.

"Are you sure?" The expressions of both Dongfang Qingyu and Zijun turned grave.

"It is time. Give your respective orders. I will return this evening."

"But the child..." Dongfang Qingyu’s words were cut off by me; after all, Kong Yuelin was still nearby.

"He is the child’s father; he can be trusted in this. Go."

I stood up, and Dongfang Qingyu and Zijun rose with me.

"Sister, I will wait for you at the Fantian Pavilion."
"Good. Remember your status, and do not be afraid."
"Zijun understands." I patted his shoulder. He had truly grown up, and this was the last thing I could do for him.

"Tell Guteng to move immediately."
"Take care of yourself."

I nodded, and Dongfang Qingyu and Zijun hurried away.

"What exactly are you all planning?" Kong Yuelin glared at me in fury.

"If you cannot stand it, you are welcome to kill me right now. You know I have no martial arts!"

"You!" Kong Yuelin slammed his palm onto the table, shattering it, as I strode out.

"Mother, you’re back..." From far away, the baby left Li Yexuan’s side and ran to my feet, wrapping his arms around me.

"Look at you, covered in sweat." I wiped his face as I spoke.

"Zijun, can we take the child back to..."
"The Prince Xuan Residence? Let’s go."

I took one of the baby’s hands, while his other hand was quickly taken by Li Yexuan after the boy had called him "Uncle Li." Despite being father and son, he still called him Uncle.

"Mother, where is the Prince Xuan Residence?"
"It’s where Mother used to live. It’s very beautiful. Would you like to go see it?"
"Yes, yes!"

In the end, it was Li Yexuan who carried the exhausted baby through the gates of the Prince Xuan Residence.

"Your Highness, you have returned. This is..."
"Uncle Wu, it is me."

Uncle Wu looked much older than he had five years ago. I suppose he was someone who truly worried for Li Yexuan.

"Oh, oh, it is the Lady. And this child is?"

"My son." Li Yexuan said joyfully as he walked through the gates, leaving Uncle Wu stunned at the entrance.

"Aren't you afraid that the entire Yuehua Kingdom will soon know that Li Yexuan has a son? Why don't you consider my position? Aren't you afraid I’ll bring shame upon the entire kingdom?"

"What is there to fear? I want the whole world to know that I, Li Yexuan, have an heir."

"..."

Son, could you say something too? Could you stop staring at the sugar figurine in your hand...

"Your Highness..." I did not expect the person to appear would be Yun Rong. She froze the moment she saw me. We had both forgotten that Yun Rong still lived in the residence as Li Yexuan’s nominal secondary consort.

"Mu Fan? Huangfu Zijun!" Yun Rong’s eyes darted to the baby in Li Yexuan’s arms. "This..."

"Long time no see, Yun Rong."

I greeted her calmly and took the child from Li Yexuan’s arms. "I wonder if there is a place in the residence where I can rest? I’d like to take the child to lie down; he is tired."

"Of course." Li Yexuan called for Shimo to lead us away.

"Huangfu Zijun, what do you mean by this? Why did you come back? Why don't you just die? First you seduced my brother, and now you won't even spare the Prince. Do you really think a half-breed is enough to reclaim the position of Princess? Don't be delusional..."

"Enough!" Li Yexuan barked at Yun Rong, while I covered the baby’s ears.

"You are wrong, Yun Rong. In the face of life and death, we are all equally helpless. I came only because Li Yexuan is my child’s father. I was never the Princess, and I have no intention of staying."

With that, I exhaled in relief and strode away with the baby. People say time can smooth out a person’s sharp edges, and it is true. I never expected that upon seeing Yun Rong again, I could speak with such composure.

Shimo led me to the Qingran Residence. As the doors opened, Zi’er greeted us.

"My Lady, is it really you?" Zi’er was just as she had always been, as if I had never left.

"Zi’er, it is me. How have you been all these years?"
"My Lady, you have finally returned. And this child is?"
"My son."

I patted the baby’s little hand. "Quick, call her Aunt Zi."
"Aunt Zi."

Zi’er stood there in a daze for a moment before welcoming us inside. The baby was curious about everything, wandering around the Qingran Residence before long. Soon, he began rubbing his eyes and calling for Mother. Knowing he needed his nap, I coaxed him to sleep.

When Li Yexuan returned, he was holding two sticks of candied haws in one hand and three sugar figurines in the other—a sight that hardly matched his heroic and wise demeanor.

"Shh." I made a silencing gesture and led him outside. He handed the treats to Zi’er to take away, and seeing her speechless expression, I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Zijun, regarding me and Yun Rong..."
"There is no need to explain. So many years have passed, and there is nothing left to argue about. I used to live in fear every day, wondering if I should tell you that I was Huangfu Zijun. It wasn't until I fell off the cliff and woke up that I remembered: when I was five, the same age as the baby is now, I had met you before."

"You were so chubby then; I remember it vividly."

"Actually, I had a high fever when I was six, and I didn't remember anything from that time. It wasn't until another high fever that I woke up and remembered you were the 'Brother Xuan' who gave me chestnuts under the cherry blossom tree and read 'Zhenghe' with me."

"That year, I was being taken to Beian as a hostage. Passing through the Lingyun Kingdom, I snuck out and met you. I have kept the memory of the Zijun under the tree who called me Brother Xuan in my heart ever since."

I do not know when Li Yexuan stopped looking into the distance and turned his gaze toward me...