Xiao Shan slept very soundly, and when he awoke the next day, he felt completely worn out, his body sore and numb from the relentless exhaustion of the past days. This kind of fatigue couldn't be alleviated with just one night's rest; it required a gradual recovery.

 

As Xiao Shan came to, Xie Zhui was still asleep. He remained still, quietly lying there and watching the person in his embrace.

 

The heat of the day made it even warmer with the two of them close together, but they were accustomed to this posture. If they didn't sleep side by side each night, something seemed to be missing. The breeze from the open window, though warm, was somewhat comforting.

 

Lying there, Xiao Shan's mind wandered from one thought to another. After an indeterminate amount of time, Xie Zhui shifted. Turning to look at him, Xiao Shan saw Xie Zhui's eyelids flutter and then slowly open.

 

People always look a bit dazed and confused when they first wake up, and Xie Zhui was no exception. Although his eyes cleared quickly after a few blinks, Xiao Shan loved seeing his rare, muddled expression.

 

Seeing that Xiao Shan was awake, Xie Zhui started to get up, but Xiao Shan held him back, saying, "The child is still asleep. Let's lie here a bit longer."

 

Xie Zhui paused in his attempt to rise and said, "Why didn't you wake me when you got up? Aren't we supposed to take Mingming to the palace today?"

 

"It's still early," Xiao Shan replied, glancing at the sky. "If Mingming doesn't get enough sleep and we take him to the palace, he'll be fussy. Father Emperor isn't feeling well, and hearing him fuss will surely irritate him. It's better to wait until Mingming has slept well and eaten before we go see Father Emperor."

 

Xie Zhui knew that these were all just excuses, but strangely enough, he liked Xiao Shan's excuses.

 

The two of them lay there, chatting about everyday matters until their stomachs growled, prompting them to get up.

 

As Xiao Shan sat up, he felt as if his bones were about to fall apart. He made a silent vow that once these few days were over, he would spend a couple of days as a homebody and a couch potato.

 

The kind where he would lie in bed without moving an inch. If anyone tried to bother him during that time, he would turn hostile.

 

Thinking about this made Xiao Shan feel quite pleased.

 

His mood was unusually good as he washed up, and when they went out for breakfast, the wet nurse brought Mingming over.

 

According to the wet nurse, Mingming went to bed early and woke up early, but he was very well-behaved and didn't make a fuss. He was also very curious about the unfamiliar environment.

 

Upon hearing this, Xiao Shan instantly felt that Mingming was the most adorable little angel in the world.

 

After Xiao Shan and Xie Zhui finished their breakfast, they got Mingming ready and headed to the palace. By the time they left, it was already late morning.

 

When they arrived at the palace, it was quite late. The Emperor had just taken his medicine and looked somewhat weary.

 

Xiao Jin gave Xiao Shan a look, indicating that they were a bit late. The Emperor had been waiting since he woke up and was now somewhat impatient.

 

Xiao Shan pretended not to notice the Emperor's displeased expression. He directly placed Mingming beside the Emperor and said with a cheerful smile, "Father Emperor, it's all because this little one woke up late today. Otherwise, I would have brought him to see you much earlier."

 

Xie Zhui, standing nearby, felt a pang of guilt. It was clearly the adults who woke up late, yet Xiao Shan was pinning the blame on the child. Fortunately, Mingming was too young to speak and had no choice but to accept whatever was said about him.

 

Xiao Shan, without a hint of guilt, continued, "Father Emperor, look at Mingming. Isn't he adorable?"

 

The Emperor wasn't paying attention to what Xiao Shan was saying. His youngest child, Xiao Xian, was now almost an adult. Even with his first child, Xiao Rong, he had never held them personally.

 

At this moment, being touched by Mingming's soft little hand, the Emperor's entire body stiffened. He didn't dare to move an inch. The child was so small and delicate that he felt as if a single touch might break him.

 

Mingming was quite accustomed to different environments, having often been taken by Xiao Shan into crowds in Yunnan, so he wasn't shy around strangers.

 

At this moment, he looked at the Emperor with his big eyes and giggled. Then he did something that no one would have dared to imagine. He crawled onto the Emperor and reached out to tug on the Emperor's beard.

 

The Emperor's face twitched with each pull, and Xiao Shan was also taken aback. Mingming had always been very well-behaved, usually just lying in bed and playing with his toes. This was the first time he had ever pulled on someone's beard.

 

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Xiao Shan discreetly stepped forward, intending to take the child away.

 

He tried to do so, but Mingming wasn't willing to let go. He clung to the Emperor's beard stubbornly. Finally, the Emperor shot Xiao Shan a stern look and said, "Step aside."

 

Mingming, as if understanding the situation, giggled heartily.

 

Mingming was very good-looking. Although he had tanned a bit from the journey, his natural charm remained. His innocent eyes gazed at the Emperor, melting his heart completely.

 

The Emperor held the child on his lap, gently playing with him for a while.

 

Xiao Shan and the others stood by, watching the Emperor entertain the child.

 

Children's energy was limited, and having woken up early today, Mingming soon grew tired after playing for a bit.

 

He yawned and then fell asleep on the Emperor's lap.

 

Xiao Shan whispered, "Father Emperor, the child has fallen asleep. Let me take him back."

 

The Emperor glanced at him with displeasure and said, "He's already asleep, why move him? Carrying him back and forth will only wake him up. Let him sleep here. I'm tired as well. You all may leave."

 

Seeing the Emperor's clear intent to dismiss them, Xiao Shan and Xie Zhui exchanged glances, then left together with Xiao Jin.

 

Once outside the hall, Xiao Jin said, "The child will sleep for about an hour. Why don't you come to my place for a while?"

 

Xiao Shan thought it over and realized that was the best option. After all, as adult princes, it wouldn't be appropriate for them to wander around the palace. So, he took Xie Zhui along to the Eastern Palace.

 

There, they enjoyed chilled watermelon and cool tea, feeling quite refreshed.

 

Once Xiao Shan was comfortable, Xiao Jin asked, "How are things in Yunnan?"

 

Xiao Shan poured a cup of tea for Xie Zhui and said, "It's alright. Second Brother, if you have the chance, you should visit Yunnan sometime. The scenery is quite different from the capital."

 

"Yes, I will go someday," Xiao Jin replied, then asked, "How is General Xie's health?"

 

Xie Zhui responded, "Thank you for your concern, Crown Prince. My father's health is no longer a problem." This time, he had come back mainly to understand Xie Chen's thoughts.

 

Xie Chen had been avoiding the topic of his marriage. No matter how much Xie Sui pressed him in letters, he never received a clear response.

 

Xie Sui returned this time to find out what was really going on.

 

Xiao Jin nodded, and Xiao Shan then inquired about the Emperor's condition.

 

Xiao Jin said, "Imperial Physician Su checked his pulse today and said that Father Emperor has internal heat. He took his medicine on time yesterday, which has reduced some of the internal fire. A few more doses of medicine should clear it up."

 

Xiao Shan breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing this, Xiao Jin couldn't help but ask, "Are you planning to leave the capital as soon as Father Emperor recovers?"

 

He knew that Xiao Shan hadn't brought much with him this time, indicating he didn't intend to stay long.

 

Xiao Shan replied, "How could I? In this scorching weather, traveling back and forth with a child would be too much for him. We'll wait until it cools down a bit before heading back."

 

Xiao Jin nodded, thinking to himself that by the time the weather cooled, it would coincide with his own wedding. Xiao Shan would likely stay until after the wedding, which would drag the timeline out to the end of the year.

 

In the freezing cold, it would be best to wait until spring next year to return.

 

Calculating the time, there was still quite a while to go.

 

Xiao Shan and Xie Zhui had been in the Eastern Palace for about half an hour when Chang Le came looking for them.

 

Seeing them, Chang Le was almost in tears. With a distressed expression, he said, "Your Highness, Your Lordship, please go and take a look. The young master has urinated all over the Emperor." He had served the Emperor for a long time, but what Xiao Mingyu had done was a first in the palace.

 

It happened that Mingming, while sleeping, suddenly started wriggling back and forth. The Emperor thought he was having a nightmare and had just picked him up to comfort him when Mingming urinated.

 

Feeling the sudden warmth on his hand, the Emperor was momentarily shocked. When he realized what had happened, he was completely dumbfounded. When Chang Le heard the commotion and entered, the Emperor was still standing there, staring blankly at his hand.

 

The Emperor went to take a bath, and the palace attendants changed Mingming's clothes and the bedding. Woken up by all the activity, Xiao Mingyu was still giggling, as if he had accomplished something grand.

 

His laughter made Chang Le's legs go weak.

 

Chang Le was truly frightened of this child, so he took advantage of the Emperor's bath time to quickly find Xiao Shan and Xie Zhui. He feared that the child might do something even more outrageous if left unattended.

 

Xiao Shan and Xie Zhui exchanged glances upon hearing Chang Le's account. They both knew Mingming's eating and bathroom habits well, and he hadn't wet the bed in a long time. They hadn't expected that, upon returning to the capital, he would have such an incident with the Emperor.

 

Xiao Shan rubbed his nose, thinking that the Emperor's favorable impression of the child was probably gone now. They should quickly take the child back home.

 

Xiao Jin accompanied the two back to the Emperor's quarters. By the time they arrived, the Emperor had finished his bath, and Mingming was crying with his mouth turned down. Despite the efforts of the palace maids and eunuchs to comfort him, he continued to cry.

 

Xiao Shan stepped forward and picked up the child, saying, "This child has a bit of a temper when he wakes up and is a little shy around strangers."

 

This was quite true, as the moment Xiao Shan held him, Mingming buried his head in his chest and sniffed. Recognizing the familiar scent, he immediately stopped crying. Not only did he stop crying, but he also started to smile.

 

His face lit up with a smile, though tears still clung to the corners of his eyes, making anyone who saw him feel a tug at their heartstrings.

 

Xiao Shan soothed the child and handed him to Xie Zhui, then walked over to the Emperor with a smile, "Father Emperor, are you alright?"

 

The Emperor glared at him and said, "Alright, alright. It's hot, so take the child and go back." His hall still had a lingering medicinal smell, even with ventilation.

 

It was understandable that the child couldn't sleep well here.

 

Xiao Shan replied, "Then I shall take my leave."

 

The Emperor grunted in acknowledgment and then added reluctantly, "Bring the child around more often, so he doesn't become too shy around strangers."

 

Mingming wasn't actually shy, but the Emperor wanted to see the child more often and was too embarrassed to say so directly, hence his comment.

 

Xiao Shan understood clearly and quickly responded, "Father Emperor, you are right. I will make sure of it."

 

Only then did the Emperor allow him to leave.

 

As for Xiao Jin, the Emperor wanted to discuss court matters with him, so he was asked to stay behind.

 

Xiao Shan and Xie Zhui took the child and left the palace directly, without visiting the Empress.

 

Xie Zhui came to a realization: some things, once they happened, were beyond their control to change.

 

In fact, even if Xiao Shan were truly the Empress' son, it would be impossible for the Empress or the Gu family to willingly change the Crown Prince. They simply couldn't do it.

 

From the very beginning, they invested all their connections and resources into Xiao Jin, completely ignoring Xiao Shan's existence. Now, with Xiao Shan suddenly emerging, even if Xiao Jin were willing to step aside, they couldn't fully commit to supporting him.

 

When Xiao Shan visited the Empress before his departure, it wasn't just to persuade her but also to help her make a choice.

 

Xiao Shan didn't want to be the Crown Prince or the Empress' legitimate son, and this had nothing to do with them. So, in the future, she could continue to be the Empress or even the Empress Dowager with peace of mind.

 

Their relationship would remain as it had always been—neither too distant nor too close, with no need to force intimacy.

 

Back in their own quarters, Mingming quickly fell asleep again. Xie Zhui placed the child back in bed and then called for water.

 

In the sweltering heat, even a little movement made one sweat profusely, leaving the body sticky and uncomfortable, always making one wish to soak in water constantly.

 

This trip back to the capital gave him one clear feeling: it was still better to stay in Yunnan. There, he didn't have to follow so many rules, and life wasn't as nerve-wracking.

 

After taking a bath, Xiao Shan lay on a bamboo mat. Before washing up, he was muttering things that Xie Zhui couldn't understand. Feeling drowsy, Xie Zhui couldn't help but yawn. He adjusted Mingming's clothes and then closed his eyes to sleep.

 

Just before falling asleep, Xie Zhui faintly heard the sound of water splashing.

 

Despite the hot weather, at some point, he felt a coolness on his body. Such a sensation in the sweltering heat was incredibly comfortable, as if he were having a pleasant dream.

 

A dream? Xie Zhui's heart suddenly skipped a beat, tightening abruptly. He snapped his eyes open.

 

His first reaction was to check on Mingming beside him. Seeing the child sleeping soundly, Xie Zhui breathed a sigh of relief. Then, as he looked around at his surroundings, he froze.

 

Where was he?

 

Before he could fully grasp the situation, his first instinct was to hold the child close. Just as he was about to call out Xiao Shan's name, he heard footsteps approaching.