Drop of Cinnabar in the Heart (2)
Little Baozi, Zhu Yunxuan, had tears in his eyes that hung on his eyelashes as if they were about fall. ‘I don’t wanna. I want Lady Mother to hold me. Waahhh, Lord Father is so bad. Younger Sister isn’t even born yet, but he already doesn’t love me anymore!’
Yu Xiaocao was amused yet also felt somewhat bad for him. She walked over and gently hugged them. She said in a soft voice, “Little Baozi don’t cry. Isn’t Lady Mother hugging you now? You’re already four years old and have a lot of meat on your body. Lady Mother doesn’t have a lot of strength, so I can’t carry you. Your lord father is worried that Lady Mother will be tired because of you!”
Little Baozi looked at his own arms, which looked like lotus roots, and pinched his chubby waist. With his cheeks puffed up, he deliberated for a long time before saying, “Then…I’ll eat less in the future and lose some weight?”
Zhu Junyang was afraid that his son would take it seriously and starve himself, so he hastily said, “Baozi isn’t fat. It’s just that you have grown up! You can’t stay a child forever and have Lady Mother hold you, right?”
With a distressed expression, Little Baozi sighed like a little adult and expressed. “Ay! This is the trouble of growing up ah!”
Yu Xiaocao couldn’t help but pinch her son’s chubby cheeks. She smiled and diverted his attention, asking, “Little Baozi, you didn’t run over so quickly just to complain to Lady Mother about the troubles of growing up, right?”
Only then did Little Baozi remember the intention of his visit. He excitedly said, “Lady Mother, Uncle Lin said that the imperial army is returning to the imperial court to report their victory. Why don’t we also go and have a look?”
Also? It was apparent that her son was induced and led astray by that youth Fang Haolin. Was that brat itching for a beating? Yu Xiaocao looked at her husband, “Husband, I reckon Little Linlin’s training isn’t enough. He has potential for more.”
Zhu Junyang rubbed his smooth chin. Many people around his age had grown beards after they had gotten married and had children. However, his little princess consort refused to let him do so. She even said that if he dared to grow a beard and cover up his beauty, she would take their son and leave home. He could just live with his beard.
On the outside, he was the majestic Imperial Prince Xu who everyone was afraid of. But, when he returned to Prince Xu’s Estate, he couldn’t even freely grow out a beard. He was a prime example of a henpecked husband. However, the feeling of being controlled by the princess consort wasn’t bad!
“Husband, you should say something ah!” Seeing that he was distracted, Yu Xiaocao gave him a light push.
Zhu Junyang nodded and said, “Since Fang Haolin worships the triumphant general so much, I reckon that it’s time to take him to the Xishan Barracks to experience the taste of a military camp. I’ll ask the commander of the Xishan Barracks to take special care of him.”
Yu Xiaocao lit a candle for Little Linlin in her heart. She had only wanted her husband to increase his training. She didn’t expect her husband to directly throw him into the Xishan Barracks and let the teenager train among a group of soldiers. He was definitely going to suffer ah! Sure enough, who could be more cruel than Imperial Prince Xu?
“Lady Mother, are we going or not? Little Baozi also wants to see the victorious general and big horses!” Without realizing that he had dug a hole for his youngest maternal uncle with one word, Zhu Yunxuan continued to act cute and pester his lady mother.
Yu Xiaocao caressed his little head and said with a smile, “Didn’t I bring you to see it when your lord father returned victorious?”
Little Baozi thought hard with a wrinkled face. He knew about his lord father’s victorious battles. Everyone around him all said that his lord father was very powerful, and they didn’t dare to provoke him. But…when did he ever see his lord father return to report his victory in war? He had no impression at all.
Zhu Junyang said with a smile, “The last time I led a victorious troop home, he was only two years old. How can he remember?” In the past two years, in order to accompany his wife and son, he seldom led soldiers to the battlefield. He even used the glorified excuse of ‘creating more opportunities for the younger generation’!
Little Baozi moved deeper into his lady mother’s embrace and said, “Lady Mother, just take me there, okay? Uncle Lin said that we can see them on the upper level of our Medicinal Cuisine House. Bring me, okay? Baozi will act cute for you——gujiguji…”
Little Baozi blinked his big eyes as he clenched his hands into fists and placed them on his chubby cheeks. He also made cute sounds with his mouth. How could Yu Xiaocao refuse him when he looked so adorable?
“Why aren’t you pestering your lord father? He’s the one who makes the decision at home.” Yu Xiaocao intended to enhance the bond between the father-son pair and urged him to go bother Imperial Prince Xu. She knew that Imperial Prince Xu appeared like a strict father in the eyes of outsiders, but, in fact, he had no resistance to Little Baozi’s requests.
Little Baozi shook his head hard and said, “Lady Mother is lying! Lord Father listens to Lady Mother the most. Lady Mother is the one who makes all the decisions at home. My dear Lady Mother, please take me to see the soldiers and big horses, pretty please? If you take me there, I’ll…wear the bunny pajamas for you tonight.”
In addition to acting cute, the little fellow had also learned to tempt others with promises! This was quite difficult for him! Normally, he hated all those various kinds of animal outfits that his lady mother made for him. He felt that it damaged his prestige as the Heir of Prince Xu. What kind of prestige would a puny kid have?
Zhu Junyang lightly jolted Little Baozi, who was in his arms, and said unhappily, “Why are you ignoring something that is right under your eyes and seeking something far away? Ask me, your lord father. If your lady mother won’t take you, I will take you!”
Little Baozi looked at his lord father, and then looked at his lady mother. After repeating this several times, he finally said, “Lord Father’s words don’t count without Lady Mother’s consent. As soon as Lady Mother gets angry, you will immediately change your mind. It’s better if I just ask Lady Mother! Lady Mother, Baozi loves you the most…”
Zhu Junyang pinched his son’s butt. He felt very embarrassed, and thus ostensibly reprimanded, “This child!”
Yu Xiaocao suppressed her laughter and tapped her son’s little nose as she said, “You ah! Why are you blatantly speaking the truth? Aren’t you going to give your lord father some face?”
Little Baozi replied in a seemingly mature yet mischievous manner, “I didn’t say it in front of outsiders, so I’m already giving Lord Father a lot of face.”
Zhu Junyang expressed helplessness, “You two are on the same side! This prince is being bullied to death by the two of you! I hope that the child in your belly is a gentle, lovely, and understanding little princess who can appease Lord Father’s poor self-esteem.”
Little Baozi took another jab at him, “Lord Father, how do you know that it’s a younger sister when it’s separated by a layer of belly? What if it’s a younger brother? Moreover, a younger brother who isn’t as clever, obedient, and sensible as Baozi. What are you going to do?”
“Stinky brat! Are you looking for a beating? Quickly spit on the ground!” Zhu Junyang was about to go crazy for a daughter. Upon hearing his son’s words, he almost couldn’t control himself from slapping Little Baozi’s butt. ‘This stinky brat is always singing a different tune.’
Seeing that Little Baozi wasn’t cooperating, he threatened, “Do you still want to watch tomorrow’s Troops Welcoming Ceremony?”
Little Baozi, on the other hand, looked at Yu Xiaocao, “Mother…”
“Alright, go! Mother will send someone to reserve the private room with the best view at Medicinal Cuisine House. Let’s all go tomorrow!” Yu Xiaocao couldn’t bear to let her son down. What’s more, Older Brother Zhao Han was the one leading the troops. She also wanted to see his heroic appearance when returning triumphant.
Zhu Junyang disagreed, “You’re pregnant, so don’t add more to the trouble. If you want to see the triumphant return of a general, I can just put on my armor and ride on my horse for you two to watch until you both are satisfied, okay?”