Chapter 74

Xiao Heng was momentarily puzzled, then understood. “His given name?”

Chu Zhaoyou replied, “You can decide on his full name, but his surname will be Xiao.”

Xiao Heng had sacrificed so much for the prosperity of the nation and couldn’t allow his legacy to be undermined.

“Your Majesty has endured so much. I want him to bear the surname Chu. It’s only fitting for the future crown prince,” Xiao Heng suggested.

“But he looks just like someone surnamed Xiao,” Chu Zhaoyou countered.

He was wrong; he shouldn’t have pinched his belly. This little one held a grudge.

Xiao Heng fell silent for a moment. Naturally, he wouldn’t let Chu Zhaoyou’s child be hidden away like him, kept secret from everyone. Xiao Heng’s son would surely walk in the sunlight, with integrity and honor.

“He will gradually resemble Your Majesty in the future,” Xiao Heng assured.

Chu Zhaoyou looked at the little one, just over four pounds, with concern. To be honest, he didn’t look particularly attractive at the moment. If he’s not attractive now, will he resemble the Regent when he grows up?

“Regent, do you think he’s too light? It’s all your fault for not allowing me to eat more rice on ordinary days,” Chu Zhaoyou complained.

Xiao Heng responded, “Your Majesty, I wasn’t the only one you scolded last night.” He was born at a similar weight.

When Xiao Man discovered her pregnancy, she didn’t dare to tell her father. Bound by her condition, she refrained from overeating and continued to perform on stage every day. For the first few months, her pregnancy wasn’t noticeable. It wasn’t until her personal maid accidentally let it slip that Xiao Congwen found out and, feeling both angry and distressed, kept her daughter confined at home to nurture the unborn child.

Initially, Xiao Man’s nutrition didn’t keep up, and later, while confined at home, she suffered severe morning sickness, making it difficult for her to eat. Xiao Heng was born lean and small. However, he has since grown tall and strong, excelling in martial arts.

Therefore, Xiao Heng didn’t feel his son was too light. What mattered most was Chu Zhaoyou’s well-being.

Chu Zhaoyou adamantly denied it, “Nonsense. I’ve had an education. I wouldn’t scold anyone. What did I scold you for?”

He actually scolded him as an “old scoundrel” more than once. The Regent didn’t particularly want to repeat those three words. He didn’t see anything wrong with being eight years older than Chu Zhaoyou.

It was precisely because of these extra eight years that he had the ability to grasp Chu Zhaoyou and, by the time his Zhaozhao turned nineteen, grant him a prosperous era.

Eight years ago, he was still embroiled in power struggles with the Empress Dowager, busily and frantically occupied. Chu Zhaoyou couldn’t rush to his side for anything at that time.

Observing the Regent’s expression, Chu Zhaoyou carefully set the child aside and leaned closer to Xiao Heng. “If I scolded you, would you be angry?”

Chu Zhaoyou’s complexion was still pale, his jet-black hair damp with sweat, tidily brushed behind his ears by Xiao Heng. He had slim shoulders, hardly gaining weight during the entire pregnancy, except for his belly. He appeared exceptionally weak throughout, with only his bright eyes exuding an unprecedented sense of ease and contentment.

Xiao Heng kissed him on the forehead, “No, I wouldn’t.”

Chu Zhaoyou immediately smiled, whispering, “In that case, I confess I’ve scolded you many more times in my mind.”

Xiao Heng responded with a faint “Hmm.” When Chu Zhaoyou scolded him while giving birth, of course, he wouldn’t get upset. But for the times when he scolded at other moments, he’d have to make it up to him in bed.

Slowly.

“Here, have some more.” Xiao Heng served Chu Zhaoyou a piece of chicken. “Just drinking soup won’t suffice; you need some meat to fill your stomach.”

After eating, Chu Zhaoyou lay down again, calling the Regent over. Both of them lay on either side of him, gazing at the little baby in the middle.

“Why is he still sleeping?” Chu Zhaoyou gently poked his son’s cheek. “Is it because I slept too much earlier?”

Chu Zhaoyou put on a stern face and playfully intimidated Xiao Xingxing, “Wake up! From now on, you’ll have to rise before dawn to attend court. After court, there will be a stack of urgent memorials waiting for you in the study. Oh, and don’t forget, your father can lead battles, and our Great Chu has vast territories. Just last month, your godfather led a campaign to reclaim Yuechi, expanding our territory. The memorials will keep coming until lunchtime, and I won’t help you. I advise you to marry only one wife. Otherwise, in the midst of your busyness, a favored concubine might come crying to you for support…”

It seemed that the affairs of the state were of no concern to Chu Zhaoyou.

Xiao Xingxing pouted, as if about to cry. He kicked a few times within the swaddle and turned his head toward the Regent.

Xiao Heng quickly intervened, “I’ll handle the memorials.”

Xiao Xingxing’s brows relaxed, he pursed his lips a few times, and then quieted down.

“Children shouldn’t be too spoiled,” Chu Zhaoyou said in a mock-serious tone, then with a smile, he added, “Regent, remember, never use memorials to threaten me in the future.”

After giving birth, it meant the end of his vacation. Chu Zhaoyou was very aware of the impending crisis, fearing that the Regent might act shamelessly, just like in the case of Phoenix Island.

Xiao Heng nodded. He held Chu Zhaoyou’s hand. “If you upset him, how will you rest?”

Chu Zhaoyou reached out and playfully poked the Regent’s face. “Then I’ll tease his dad.”

After tidying Xiao Xingxing’s clothes, Chu Zhaoyou remarked, “You’re really tiny. When will you grow to be as big as the Regent? Your Regent dad is so good to you. You should love him as I do.”

Chu Zhaoyou bumped fists with the baby. “We have a deal.”

“Regent, I want to take a bath and wash my hair.”

“Let’s wait a few more days for your hair. I’ll help you bathe later,” Xiao Heng reassured, running his hand through Chu Zhaoyou’s hair. It wasn’t easy to dry long hair—even in August, he wouldn’t dare to easily wash Chu Zhaoyou’s hair.

Chu Zhaoyou earnestly said, “Where we come from, we can wash our hair the next day.”

The Regent didn’t believe him. “If you really want to, I’ll shave my head with you, and then neither of us needs to wash.”

Chu Zhaoyou clung to Xiao Heng, “Don’t do it.” He didn’t want to have less hair than Xiao Xingxing. That would be embarrassing.

…

Seven days later, Xiao Xingxing had grown fair and tender, his eyes gradually resembling Chu Zhaoyou’s—double-lidded, bright, and round. He wasn’t much of a crier, falling asleep contentedly in the nursemaid’s arms once he was full.

When the nursemaid placed him beside Chu Zhaoyou, Chu Zhaoyou softly called out, “Xiao Xingxing.” Instantly, the baby opened his eyes, his bright, round eyes following Chu Zhaoyou as he spoke, his little fists clenching tightly.

Chu Zhaoyou told the Regent, “I didn’t deliberately wake him. He woke up on his own.”

Xiao Heng also noticed that Xiao Xingxing slept lightly in the nursemaid’s arms. Each time the nursemaid thought he was asleep and placed him next to Chu Zhaoyou or Xiao Heng, he would wake up again, needing to be comforted by his fathers before falling asleep.

Xiao Xingxing  was so small that Chu Zhaoyou was hesitant to handle him too much. He could only restrain himself from hugging Xiao Xingxing too tightly, holding onto the Regent and whispering, “He’s so adorable! So well-behaved!”

Xiao Heng’s eyes were filled with amusement as he allowed Chu Zhaoyou to pat his face.

A month later, Chu Zhaoyou watched Xiao Xingxing change bit by bit. “If only I had eaten a little more before, you’d be even plumper.”

This was the only chance he had to help Xiao Xingxing grow, but it was tightly regulated by the Regent Prince.

The old physician remarked, “You’re still not eating enough! Do you think I don’t know you wake the Regent up every night for a midnight snack?”

The fact that a man could father a child weighing four and a half pounds was definitely a result of Chu Zhaoyou eating too much.

Chu Zhaoyou retorted, “It’s not every day! It’s clearly every other day! Every two days!”

The old physician, who had earlier been stern with Chu Zhaoyou, immediately broke into a smile upon seeing Xiao Xingxing. Who would have thought that in his lifetime, he would be delivering babies for the King and the Regent? This was the first time he had delivered a child for the King and the Regent, and the little one was undeniably adorable, pleasing in every way.

All the gold and silver treasures that came from the Regent were swiftly transferred to Xiao Xingxing.

Every time the old physician held Xiao Xingxing, Chu Zhaoyou could spot the gifts he had given him. For instance, he noticed the jade thumb ring the old physician had taken from the Regent’s finger.

As the wool comes from the sheep, Chu Zhaoyou marveled at how wealthy the old physician was, while also wondering just how much money the Regent had given the old physician during his pregnancy to endure such extravagance.

With Xiao Xingxing around, the old physician didn’t keep talking about leaving every few days.

When Xiao Xingxing turned one month old, Lu Jinghuan came from Dayan to celebrate, bringing a carload of toys.

During a court audience, after Chu Zhaoyou finished meeting with Lu Jinghuan and Feng Xingzhou, Eunuch Xue brought Xiao Xingxing over. Chu Zhaoyou took the child and publicly announced that he was his son.

The Regent readily complied, “Since the prince is His Majesty’s eldest legitimate son, he should be established as the crown prince and recorded in the royal genealogy.”

The emperor suddenly presenting a child astonished the courtiers, and even more surprising was the Regent’s proactive suggestion to establish the child as the crown prince.

Not seeing the child’s full face, the courtiers couldn’t help but think that Xiao Heng had truly accepted submission.

Neither the emperor nor the Regent disclosed the child’s mother’s background, and the courtiers vaguely sensed that this was a taboo subject, so no one dared to broach it. As appointees selected by Xiao Heng, the courtiers all approved of the Regent. Since the Regent attached great importance to the child, he would undoubtedly personally guide and educate him. Regardless of who the birth mother was, it was certain that this child would have a promising future. For courtiers aspiring to serve the court, the greatest hope was to encounter a wise sovereign; they sought nothing else.

Chu Zhaoyou said, “Please, Regent, name the prince and let him be guided by you as his father.”

Xiao Heng replied, “Chu Yuheng.”

Yuheng was the fifth star of the Northern Dipper, like myself, forever oriented toward the Purple Microstar.

This name had been discussed between them. Originally, Chu Zhaoyou had named Xiao Xingxing “Xiao Qiming,” from the midnight disturbance to the rising of the morning star. When he opened the window for ventilation after giving birth, he happened to see that star.

But Xiao Heng  insisted on using the Chu surname. Chu Zhaoyou thought about it and realized that they were all stars, so it wasn’t too different.

Chu Zhaoyou said, “The Northern Dipper has seven stars. I suspect you want to have seven children. You’re quite devious.”

Choosing this name was not only to echo his nickname but also to incorporate both Chu Zhaoyou’s and Xiao Heng’s names. This was the Regent’s subtle intention, but he hastily denied, “One is enough.”

He had already instructed the divine physician to destroy the He Xin Gu, and also asked Feng Xingzhou for a friendly passage.

The original owner of the He Xin Gu had gifted it to the Buddhist order, hoping it would be used for good. However, human hearts have always been inscrutable, so it was better to destroy it. Xiao Heng had suffered greatly from the He Xin Gu, but Xiao Xingxing’s birth depended on it. For the sake of his son, he arranged for a passage, a somewhat begrudging but proper closure.

Feng Xingzhou had renounced secular life for many years, claiming it was not a simple matter. However, because Lu Jinghuan loved to hold the child, he could only reluctantly recite a few scriptures behind Lu Jinghuan’s back.

Author’s note: Almost finished, huh? Happy times.

Xiao Xingxing will have more stories in the future.