130 Huangfu Mufeng

I looked back into Li Yexuan’s affectionate eyes and smiled. "It seems silly now, thinking back on that time. If only I had spoken up instead of provoking you, I wouldn't have been the one to get hurt in the end."

"I am sorry, I..."

Li Yexuan reached out as if to embrace me, but I dodged him unobtrusively.

"There is nothing to be sorry about. We were destined to have this bond even then; it was merely the cruelty of fate."

"Indeed. For all the world claims I am clever, I failed to see through my own heart. Perhaps the moment I saved you from under that horse, I had already fallen for you, yet I failed to perceive your feelings."

"It’s all in the past, isn't it?"

I had never felt such immense relief. No heavy emotions burdened me, no secrets forced me to wear a mask to survive, and I could even begin to contemplate life and death with clarity.

"Zijun, I was wrong in the past. Thank you for giving birth to our child, and thank you for raising him. Since you have returned, then we..."

Li Yexuan took my hand, his gaze never leaving my face. In my dreams, I had hoped for a day like this, but now that it had truly arrived, I was not as bewildered or filled with the indignant rage I had expected.

"Your Highness, we are both children of royalty; matters of the heart cannot dictate our lives." I let go of his hand. "I still remember clearly that night six years ago. Flames engulfed the palace; my father and mother perished in the fire. I struggled to send my younger brother to safety, but I could not escape myself. If it weren't for the timely arrival of Yun Heng, I—the dignified Eldest Princess of Lingyun—would have either been forced to submit to common soldiers or died. I did indeed bite my tongue to end it then. If it were you, would you stand by and watch? Would you not reclaim your brother’s throne to make the successor of Lingyun legitimate?"

"I would!"

"There you have it. You are the child's father, and I do not wish to dwell on whether you participated in the siege of Lingyun. But Li Yexuan, while I do not expect you to stand on my side, I do not want you to stand as my enemy."

"What exactly are you trying to do? What is the Pavilion of All Skies plotting..."

I remained silent, looking at Li Yexuan. Slowly, he realized what he had said and fell quiet. Yes, Li Yexuan, you have lost the right to question me, just as you lost the years of the child's growth. They are gone forever. He should understand what I mean.

"The child—what is his name?" After a long silence, Li Yexuan finally spoke.

"Mufeng, Huangfu Mufeng. If you don't like it, you can change it. I assumed you would have other children, and since the Huangfu family had no heirs, I took the liberty of giving him the surname Huangfu..."

I watched him cautiously, unsure if he would be displeased.

"It is I who failed to fulfill my duties as a father. Zijun, did you originally intend never to let me know of his existence? Or were you planning to take the child and marry Dongfang Qingyu?"

"I don’t know. The baby refused to be separated from me. Once I learned you were the Master of the Tanghui Palace, I knew you would soon discover I had a child and that he was yours. Besides, he looks so much like you; I knew I couldn't hide it even if I wanted to. I had considered concealment, but it didn't work."

"The events of that year truly caused you so much harm..."

"It is better this way. I feel more at ease knowing the child is with you. I must return to Lingyun, and it is inconvenient for him to follow me. This way, you can spend time with him. Remember to take good care of him; he has been sensible since he was small and never complains, even when he has been wronged. You must treat him with heart. I will send my own people to watch over him."

"Very well."

I turned to check on the baby, thinking he must be awake by now.

Five years ago, I had trusted this man and suffered greatly for it. I never imagined I would trust him once more. If five years ago I was left broken beyond repair, then today I had personally pushed my child into the abyss. In the years that followed, I would countlessly regret and repent for this foolish decision...

As expected, the little one had opened his eyes and was looking around. When he saw me, he called out, "Mother."

"Are you awake? Shall Mother help you up? Do you want to go play on the street?" On our way here, the baby’s eyes had been glued to the trinkets by the roadside; the longing in his eyes was impossible to hide.

"Yes."

I lifted him from his quilt, tied his hair into a small bun, and helped him into his outer coat.

"Uncle Li..."

Li Yexuan walked in, and the baby cheered happily, swinging his little legs.

"Shall the baby and Uncle Li go to the street to play together?"

"Is Mother coming too?"

"Of course."

"Yay, yay!"

With that, the baby hopped off the stool and ran outside in excitement.

"If you aren't too busy, why don't you join us?" I said to Li Yexuan. After all, he was the Prince of Xuan now, and I couldn't be sure he had the time to accompany the child.

"Let’s go."

It wasn't that the streets of Yuehua were particularly wondrous. Though the baby was rarely taken out, Gu Teng, Dongfang Qingyu, and Zijun had brought him plenty of toys and treats whenever they returned. But this time was different—he had not only his mother by his side but his father as well.

After dinner, the baby still seemed unsatisfied, and neither Li Yexuan nor I wished to dampen his spirits, so we silently allowed him to continue playing.

"Mother, Mother, hurry... ah!" A sharp cry escaped the baby as he was shoved by a child of similar age.

One push was all it took for disaster to strike. A carriage was barreling toward us, perfectly positioned.

Without a second thought, instinct took over, and I rushed to shield the baby. If the carriage had to run over someone, let it be me.

Over the years, I had hovered at death’s door many times. If I had truly crossed over, so be it. But the baby was still so young; he had never even known a complete love while with me. My own fate could be as tragic as it liked, but it could not be so for him.

The horse let out a terrified neigh. I turned and saw Li Yexuan strike the horse down with a single palm. A paper lantern lay by his feet—the one the baby had been begging to buy just moments before.

He did not look at the fallen carriage or the angry shouts coming from within, but walked straight toward me.

Both the child and I were badly shaken.

"Are you alright?"

I nodded woodenly, letting Li Yexuan look me over, then checking the baby from head to toe. The murmurs of the crowd grew louder.

"What do you think you're doing? Why on earth did you hit my carriage? Are you trying to kill us for money?" A jarring voice rang out.

"I am sorry, I have caused you trouble," I whispered to Li Yexuan while pulling the baby close.

It was my fault in the end. The baby was still so young, and I had forced him to encounter the darkness of the human heart and the ugliness of adults.

"My woman and my son—is it not my duty to protect them?"

"Hey, I'm talking to you!" an arrogant woman shouted at Li Yexuan, only to freeze when she saw his face. She was yet another person bewitched by his devastating beauty.

"Who are you?" I was equally curious. What kind of woman could run rampant in the streets and act with such insolence?

"Who am I? I am the daughter of Commandant He! Hey, you bumped into me, where are your manners? You don't even know how to apologize."

"Running wild in the middle of the street—is that the manners you were taught?" Li Yexuan pointed at the fallen horse and stopped looking at the woman entirely.

It was no wonder; Li Yexuan was not wearing his official robes, just a simple black outfit, making him look like a mere nobleman. Though his innate air of nobility could not be suppressed, the woman clearly hadn't looked closely.

Seeing Li Yexuan's attitude, the arrogant woman quickly ordered her servants to fetch reinforcements.

"Mother, that's the brat who pushed me!"

"Mother, I didn't! I bumped into him by accident!"

A child pulled a noblewoman out from the crowd. Hearing the accusation, the baby hurried to explain, and I could only stroke his hair to soothe him.

I never expected the people coming to be Qiao Ruoqing and Yun Heng. Could that be their son?

Qiao Ruoqing and Yun Heng were clearly shocked to see me and Li Yexuan, both freezing in place. As Qiao Ruoqing looked at me, her eyes shifted from initial terror to a disgust that had not diminished in the slightest.

We were far too close to the so-called Commandant He’s residence. Before long, the legendary Commandant He came stumbling over. The moment he saw Li Yexuan, his legs gave way, and he knelt down.

"Father, what are you doing..." The arrogant woman tried to pull him up, but Commandant He grabbed her and forced her to kneel as well.

"Father, what are you doing? I won't kneel, I won't!"

"Shut up!"

"This subordinate pays respects to the Prince Regent."

I could clearly see Commandant He’s hands shaking. The arrogant woman knelt down as well, not daring to utter another word.

The bustling street fell silent as everyone knelt.

Li Yexuan was about to speak, but I grabbed his sleeve. He understood what I meant. No matter how wrong Commandant He was, he was still a father devoted to his children.

"Commandant He, take a few days of rest at home. You are dismissed."

"This subordinate obeys the decree."

Commandant He scuttled away, taking his people with him.

"Brother-in-law."

"Your Highness, I am here." Yun Heng bowed, though his eyes showed a clear reluctance.

"I didn't realize your son was already so old. Tell Lan Xin to return to the palace tomorrow; I have matters to discuss with her."

"Yes."

"Mother, don't hold me back! Watch me beat that bastard to death!"

Just as Yun Heng was leaving, Qiao Ruoqing, whether intentionally or not, failed to hold back her son. The boy rushed forward, raising his little hand to strike the baby. I turned to shield the baby behind me, but I didn't expect the baby to dart out, grab the boy’s hand, and slap him right back.

This was... my son had won?