When the Emperor’s imperial edict summoning Jing-wang back to the Capital arrived, the fish babies were already 6 month old. Other than drinking milk, they can also eat some pureed rice. The peach blossoms that the fish babies had craved all day and night were also pureed for them to eat.
However, in ancient times, royal families weren’t actually in a hurry to wean their kids off milk. Instead, the kids were allowed to drink milk for as long as they wanted. The wet nurse had thought that it’d be the same with Jing-wang’s kids. However, Li Yu was aware that in the modern era, little infants as young as 6 month old can be weaned. Nevertheless, he liked to follow the local customs. Also, people all say that drinking milk was very nutritious. Drinking it for a longer period of time wasn’t a problem with him. Unexpectedly though, once Bao#1 reached 6 month old, he absolutely refused to drink milk anymore and only ate thick congee, successfully weaning himself off.
Following Bao#1’s lead, Bao#2, Bao#3, and Bao#4 imitated him and refused to drink milk as well, each and everyone of them stretching out their necks, crying loudly to eat thick congee. They didn’t even look at the wet nurse. If the wet nurse picked them up and tried to force feed them, even the most well tempered, always smiling, 4th little master would throw a tantrum, twisting his body away and pointing his little butt at the wet nurse.
For the first time, the wet nurse felt such alienation. She even started to doubt herself. Was it her milk? Did it have something that the little masters all disliked to drink?
Li Yu was well aware of what’s going on. The fish babies weren’t normal infants at all. They had their individual needs. However, Li Yu couldn’t explain this and can only comfort the wet nurse. For a family such as Jing-wang to hire a wet nurse, it meant he was going to support her for the rest of her life. The wet nurse didn’t need to worry about her future. Seeing that she no longer needed to feed the kids milk, Li Yu just asked her to spend more time looking after the kids. The wet nurse agreed happily. The little masters already looked very smart. Perhaps they really were different from normal little kids?
Jing-wang was also somewhat worried about the kids’ health. Li Yu promised repeatedly, there would be no big issue with weaning off milk at 6 months. Of course Jing-wang trusted Xiao Yu. This matter with the kids being weaned very quickly passed.
When the Emperor’s imperial edict arrived, Jing-wang ordered people to start packing. Because he had long expected this day would come, he had pretty much made all arrangements for his official business in the West Frontier. Jing-wang officially granted the original mayor of the town a proper government position and handed over the work over to him.
The bandits had been taken care of. Currently, the West Frontier was peaceful. The two squads of imperial guards that the Emperor had sent to protect Jing-wang, Jing-wang still requested them to remain in the West Frontier for a few more days to assist the mayor. In addition, Jing-wang had trained a group of local soldiers. He also handed these people over to the mayor.
The hand-off of official business was advancing smoothly, pretty much without issues. The only thing left was packing away the luggage in the estate. Before coming to the West Frontier, Jing-wang was still unmarried, bringing along his boyfriend, Li-gongzi. Now going back, it was Jing-wang and his husband, along with four little sons. Not only did the number of people change, the luggage also increased by several fold. Just the kids’ clothes, toys, and diapers filled up several carriages. They had to also bring the wet nurse, many other people responsible for taking care of the kids, and the several doctors that originally came with them to the West Frontier. The teachers that Jing-wang had found for the kids, despite no longer required, also had to be brought back to the Capitol as well.
Li Yu got married to Jing-wang in Maple’s Landing. This was where he had the fish babies. The Jing Estate in Maple’s Landing was no ordinary place to him; it was like his other home. Li Yu was really reluctant to part with this home. He looked around left and right, touching stuff here and there, trying to see if there’s anything he wanted to bring with him.
The fish tanks, crystal bottles, and all of the fish pillows were necessities. He also wanted to bring the two ducks that were raised in the courtyard with him. Li Yu had obtained these two ducks from the duck farm when they were only two little fuzzies. Now, they’ve long grown into two big fat ducks.
Although Li Yu had said verbally that after ducks grow up, they become ugly, he actually really liked them internally. The four Baos, who watched the ducks gradually grow big and grow ugly, also liked them. Li Yu, who loved eating roasted ducks, had never even considered roasting these two ducks.
Wang Xi wrote down all of the things Li Yu wanted to bring in a booklet. Seeing this situation, he attempted to dissuade Li Yu with a smile: “Wangfei, please think carefully. It might not be easy to bring these two ducks along on the journey.”
“We really can’t?” Li Yu felt a bit reluctant: “If they’re left behind, there’s no one to take care of them.”
Wang Xi said: “This old servant already bought this residence and land from the mayor. No one else will live here. There will be a few servants remaining here. You can order them to feed the ducks.”
“But…” Li Yu knew what Wang Xi meant and also knew that this was the proper course of action. However, if the ducks were left behind, he definitely won’t be able to see them again in the future.
Jing-wang was a man destined to become the Emperor. Li Yu knew very well that this year in the West Frontier was just to pave the way for Jing-wang’s future. After returning to the Imperial City, Jing-wang would inevitably display his brilliance. It was impossible for Li Yu and Jing-wang to step foot back in the West Frontier again.
“Wang-gonggong, can we really not bring them? Aren’t we bringing fish as well? Ducks don’t take up any space and can walk themselves. We only need to bring enough food, that’s all, right?”
Li Yu just felt like there must be some little space in the carriages where they can place the ducks.
Wang Xi: “……”
Wang-gonggong thought internally: how was bringing fish and ducks the same thing? Herding two ducks back to the Imperial City from the West Frontier, wasn’t this a little too crazy?
The corner of Wang Xi’s lips twitched: “They probably won’t withstand the bumpy trip.”
Li Yu still wanted to fight for the duckies. Jing-wang, who saw his distress from afar, walked over and held his hand. At the same time, he gave a criticizing glance at Wang Xi.
A chill running up his back, Wang Xi immediately corrected himself and said: “Yes. We should be able to bring them. This old servant will go make the arrangement right now……. We will bring the two ducks immediately.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Jing-wang nodded his head with approval. He wasn’t actually criticizing Wang Xi harshly here. Wang Xi’s thought process was appropriate and normal. However, Jing-wang knew that this home meant something different to Xiao Yu.
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Ktlr frajaf, tbkfnfg, kjr ktfgf atfs uba wjgglfv jcv tjv mtlivgfc. Wljb Te kjr atf batfg wjrafg bo atlr tberf. Qtlmt atlcur rtbeiv yf ygbeuta jcv ktlmt atlcur rtbeivc’a yf ygbeuta cjaegjiis ofii ab tlw ab vfmlvf jr kfii.
Wangfei’s words should be followed as instructed. Jing-wang indicated with his eye expression.
Wang Xi nodded his head nonstop, saying to himself internally: he was really foolish just now. How could he have attempted to change Li-gongzi’s mind? Li-gongzi was already the wangfei. In order words, his master. If his master wanted to do something, he should support it wholeheartedly.
Wang Xi stated respectfully: “Please give this old servant a chance to prove myself. I will definitely do it well.”
Li Yu: ?
Li Yu didn’t understand what Jing-wang had gestured to Wang Xi wordlessly. However, Wang Xi actually agreed to bring the ducks unexpectedly; Li Yu was extremely happy.
“Then I’ll leave this to Wang-gonggong.” Li Yu stated.
Wang Xi swiftly said: don’t mention it, and practically flew out to prepare. He first found a few appropriately sized duck cages. Then he went to ask the servants if anyone had raised ducks before. Because the ducks can’t be suffocated with luggage, he prepared an additional handcart to place the duck cages.
Looks like it wasn’t impossible to bring the ducks after all. It was just how to bring the ducks. After that, whenever Li Yu wanted to bring anything, Wang Xi only concerned himself with nodding his head and making arrangements.
On the day of departure, Li Yu held the kids and looked at the rather abundant amount of carriages with slight shame. He seemed to have emptied out the entire estate completely.
It’s okay. With a smile, Jing-wang squeezed his hand and then stuffed him a piece of paper.
Another note?
Alright, the fish wangfei was used to this. He accepted it to see what Jing-wang had to say now.
This time, the words that Jing-wang wanted to say was —
Xiao Yu’s dowry.
Li Yu’s face instantly flushed red: dowry your head.
When they came here, the carriage that Li Yu had sat on was already very spacious. This time, Jing-wang increased the size of the carriage by quite a bit again. In the original arrangement, Wang Xi had the wet nurse and the four other kids sit in another carriage. However, Li Yu insisted on keeping the kids by his side, not minding their crying and fussing. The fish babies also wanted to be near their fish dad. Therefore, Jing-wang allowed it with a smile. However, Jing-wang didn’t actually want Li Yu and the wet nurse to stay in the same carriage together for a long time. Therefore, he simply abandoned his horse and sat into the carriage with Li Yu himself to help take care of the children.
The wet nurse was brushed aside again and felt unfathomable. She secretly verbalized this to Wang-gonggong. Wang-gonggong sighed and said unhurriedly: “No need to be surprised. This is how his highness cherishes the wangfei and loves the four little masters. You came late, but there will be even more of this in the future.”
The wet nurse believed deeply that Wang-gonggong’s words were true.
The entourage of people started on their journey successfully. However, after walking out not even half a mile, Wang Xi, who was outside, suddenly called to stop the carriage and asked Jing-wang and Li Yu to look out the window.
Jing-wang lifted the window curtain. They immediately saw the civilians of the West Frontier kneeling all along the side of the road.
The mayor in the lead explained to Jing-wang. After learning that Jing-wang was returning to the Imperial City, the civilians came specifically to send him off.
Jing-wang eliminated the bandits and also dealt with the locust plague, making the lives of the peasants prosperous. The method that they used to show their appreciation was extremely simple. They placed all of their good stuff, food, drinks, usable items, inside a bamboo basket, to be given to Jing-wang and his wangfei.
In the crowd, the old granny, who was once assisted by Jing-wang, had brought her grandson and was kowtowing to him nonstop.
And also the little infants that Li Yu had ordered the guards to save from the hands of the bandits. Later on, their parents were found by the guards. Now, carrying the infants in their arms, the parents also came to see Jing-wang and Li Yu off.
Li Yu felt somewhat teary, but he didn’t really know what to say.
There was no need to say anything. Just like on the day of the big wedding, he waved towards them.
The civilians said loudly in unison: “Please return safely, your highness and wangfei.”
The peasants of the West Frontier were too friendly. There was even chicken, ducks, pigs, and sheep in the gifts that they brought. Deciding that it was impossible to bring everything with them, Jing-wang let Li Yu handle this. Li Yu thought for a moment and ordered Wang Xi to keep two red chicken eggs and a roasted duck to commemorate. He knew that the lives of peasants weren’t easy. He asked the peasants to take back the rest of the stuff.
The peasants said their farewells again. When Jing-wang and Li Yu officially left Maple’s Landing, it was two hours later.
Li Yu looked at the crowd of peasants that had become a small dot behind him and thought, if there’s a chance in the future, he will do much more for this cute group of people.
When Jing-wang had left the Imperial City, they were in no rush. Returning to the Imperial City, it was the same calm.
Because of the presence of the kids, the pace of their advancement slowed down more. Li Yu even felt a bit like they were taking a scenic tour.
Jing-wang was still the same as when they came. Every time they passed a town, he’d change the meals for Li Yu and bring him to eat snacks. Walking around the unfamiliar towns, he always held onto Li Yu’s hand tightly, like he was afraid Li Yu would suddenly fly away or something.
Li Yu thought briefly. This was the man who still thought he was a carp demon, but was always protecting him anyways. This was also the man helping him take care of the kids together. Li Yu found it funny, but also felt touched.
Who said that men stopped cherishing their partners after marriage?
Jing-wang was treating him better and better.
The moment they reached the Imperial City, the main mission that hadn’t been released for quite a while, so long that Li Yu had almost forgotten about the shitty System, finally updated and reminded Li Yu of its existence.
“Notification, the main mission ‘Share the rivers and mountains with the tyrant’ has started. Please examine it promptly and obtain the task’s information.”
Finally, the last mission had appeared. Li Yu was excited, but then quickly calmed down.
Share the rivers and mountains, was this the rivers and mountains the one that he was thinking of?
The shitty system always gave romance related tasks before. Wasn’t the difficulty of this last one a bit too hard?
Discussing rivers and mountains with Jing-wang, this definitely was indicating something after he obtained the throne. In other words, to do this task, he most likely had to wait for Jing-wang to win the fight for the throne.
Seeing that he managed to complete all of his missions previously, no matter how eccentric it was, this task should also be the same, right?
Sharing the land with the tyrant……
This wasn’t the same as being lovey-dovey. Empresses wouldn’t even say this.
Through the corner of his eyes, Li Yu glanced at the man holding his hand. For once, he questioned his heart. Did this person really love him enough to share the nation together with him?
If you must know, power over the nation was not the same thing as anything else. This was something that many would abandon love and intimacy for.
However… Li Yu remembered that he once agreed to trust in Jing-wang.
Then, he’ll just tentatively believe that they can successfully complete this last mission as well.
After arriving in the Imperial City, although they were very tired, the first task they had was to enter the Imperial Palace to visit the Emperor.
Jing-wang brought along Li Yu, the two each carrying two kids. Wang Xi swiftly ran to Ganqing Palace to bring the news. Luo RuiSheng received the Emperor’s orders and waited outside of the palace. Seeing Jing-wang’s family from afar, he immediately came to greet them.
Luo RuiSheng has never seen Li Yu before and politely made his salutations. When he saw Bao#2 and Bao#3 in Li Yu’s arms, as well as Bao#1 in Jing-wang’s arms, head manager Luo couldn’t hold back from laughing out loud.
Really too alike. Especially the little heir who looked exactly like a copy of Jing-wang when he was a little kid.
Head manager Luo was going to exchange some more pleasantries, but the Emperor couldn’t wait any more and impatiently exited the palace himself.
“Where is Jing-wang?” The Emperor walked over as he called out loudly.
His words didn’t even land when the Emperor froze as well.
Jing-wang was standing a few feet away, a delicate looking youth nestled against his side. The two people each held two kids in their arms.
When Jing-wang saw the Emperor, he hastily pulled Li Yu to kneel and bow.
The Emperor ordered head manager Luo to help them up. Examining Jing-wang for a while, he exclaimed: “A little darker, but also sturdier.”
The Emperor then looked towards Li Yu, who was by Jing-wang’s side. He felt that this youth’s lively bright eyes, red lips and white teeth, looked very pleasing to the eye.
The Emperor already figured it out and asked with a smile: “You’re Li Yu?”
Under their sleeves, Jing-wang gently squeezed Li Yu’s hand. Li Yu understood what he meant. Also, the Emperor wasn’t really a stranger to him. Therefore, he confidently said to the Emperor, “Father.”
The Emperor felt very gratified from hearing this, as if he gained a few more sons again. Then seeing the two people before him, he felt that regardless of appearances or temperaments, they matched very well and looked like a pretty good pair.
The Emperor kindly nodded his head.
Bao#1 and Bao#4 were both carried by Jing-wang. On their way here, Li Yu informed the Baos already. Bao#1 knew this man wearing a strange gold garment was his grandpa.
However, Bao#1 still didn’t know how to speak yet. Lately, whenever he opened his mouth, the drool would start dripping. Bao#1 was afraid of embarrassing himself. Therefore, he instinctively kept his mouth closed and imitated adults; he cupped his chubby hands together and saluted towards grandpa.
The Emperor’s gaze instantly landed on Bao#1. He was immediately stunned.
After a long time, the Emperor said with a smile: “TianChi, this child really takes after you. He even looks the same as when you’re a kid, a little fatty.”
Jing-wang, who had been strenuously searching for the little fatty for a long time: “…….”
Wang Xi, Ye QingHuan, and others all didn’t dare to call Jing-wang “a little fatty” directly to his face. Only the Emperor had no fears.
Finally, Jing-wang realized. Was the little fatty that Xiao Yu had mentioned before… actually himself?
LMAO so he finally realized it
Hee hee hee—*smacked with little fatty truth! *
PFFT— I was waiting for that reveal!
Thank You for the chapter (◍•ᴗ•◍)❤
‘Little fatty’ mystery is finally solve pfffft
thanks for the chapter!
Finally! He found the fatty 🤣
Tianchi, took you long enough to find the little fatty😂
Little Fatty unlocked 🤣🤣
Aww Bao 1 is soo adorable 😍 💖
Lmao this was not how I thought he would find out. (Also thanks for the translation 💗)