14 Years Ago
Imperial City
Maple Hall (Residence of the First Prince Zhao Lanhu)
Li Changyu – 7, Jin Xiyan – 9
“Your Highness…Your Highness!”
Jin Xiyan ducked further down into the bushes, hiding from one of his Eunuch nannies. The man’s cap sat askew after running after him, plump cheeks ruddy from exertion. Peering under a nearby bench, the Eunuch called out again in a frantic voice.
“Your Highness?!”
It was time for his calligraphy class, which was the exact time that the Shadow Guard changed shifts. He managed to run away from the Eunuch and find shelter in some bushes near his elder Brother’s Palace.
The Eunuch continued to search frantically around and eventually ran off to the other end of the courtyard towards his Mother’s apartments. He tentatively peeked his head out and looked left, then right, and sighed in relief. Now alone, he stepped out of the bushes and brushed off the petals and leaves clinging to him. There were a few tears at the hem, which he’d likely be scolded for, but Jin Xiyan ignored that for now.
He wanted to escape so he could see his Brother’s new baby. He’d never actually seen a baby yet. Though he had younger Brothers and sisters, his Mother told him not to worry about things like that because they weren’t his responsibility. But Jin Xiyan figured that if it was his nephew then that was different, and so it should be alright to see him. However, no one would let him since, in the Eunuch’s words, he “had a full schedule.”
Not anymore! Jin Xiyan rounded the corner to the gate that led to Maple Hall. The grounds had a stone pathway that spread across a vast lawn and forked at the end, one trail going to the main house and another deeper into the garden. Newly planted cherry blossoms dotted along the greenery, but the giant maple tree stood proudly amongst them all. Next to it was a small pavilion, where some people were. One of the figures had long, flowing black hair and wore red – That has to be Eldest Brother! Excitement overtook his sense of decorum and he took off into a run. He didn’t make it very far when suddenly a black and blue shape whizzed past him and something struck his chest, knocking him flat on his back.
“Oof!” Jin Xiyan wheezed out a breath, pain lingering at the center of his breastbone. He’d never been hit like that before, so it stunned him momentarily. A foot came down and stepped on that very same sore spot, pinning him to the ground.
“Well, well, well…what do we have here?”
A young boy about his age stood over him with hair dark as a moonless night and bright, shining golden eyes. They twinkled, adding a bit of mischief to his cocky grin. Jin Xiyan stared up at him, a little awestruck and taken aback. No one had ever hit him before – slapped his hands and knuckles with a switch, sure, but nothing like this. He wore a dark blue martial robe like the guards with a small leather chestplate, which was strange attire for a servant. There also weren’t many children his age around, so to find one so…interesting…was a shock in and of itself.
“You’re too scrawny to be an assassin,” the boy narrowed his eyes. “And too dumb looking to be a spy.”
Jin Xiyan’s awe quickly vanished and was replaced by a glare. He hit the leg that was pinning him down as hard as he could. Indignant, he tried to mimic his Father Emperor’s most authoritative tone.
“Do you have any idea who I am?”
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.
The boy wouldn’t budge. His stupid grin got bigger and he put his small fists on his hips, “I don’t care if you’re the Crown Prince of the Western Kingdom. You’re trespassing, Scrawny.”
Scrawny?! Heat spread across his cheeks and Jin Xiyan reached up to grab the bottom of the boy’s long shirt and yanked it hard.
“Yah!” The boy cried and flung his arms out to the side and flailed as he lost his balance. Jin Xiyan managed to get him down before rolling over and pinning him down. The boy fought against him, yowling like a cat. He landed a few smacks on Jin Xiyan’s head and cursed at him.
Jin Xiyan hopped up and moved to make a run for it, but small hands wrapped around his ankle and he fell back down. When he landed face first, a sharp pain shot up his leg and he jerked. He turned to face his attacker and saw the boy’s grubby face near his exposed leg. He’d sunk his teeth into his leg, holding on like a little wild monkey.
He cried out again when the boy bit down once more, and at the same time a masculine voice boomed, “Li Changyu!”
The boy squeaked and instantly let go of Jin Xiyan. Both boys looked to the man who shouted, and it was Commander Xu with Emperor Father walking casually behind him. Eldest Brother was beside him, carrying a small bundle. There was an amused smile on the Emperor’s face, but Commander Xu was almost as red as Eldest Brother’s robes.
“Uh-oh…” muttered Li Changyu. He stayed on his knees while Jin Xiyan rose to cup his hands at his Emperor Father and Brother. Li Changyu brought his head to the ground but Commander Xu came up beside him and lifted Li Changyu to his feet by pulling on one of his ears. “Ow, ow, ow!”
“What have I told you about biting!?” Commander Xu hissed through his teeth. The head of the Guard was a beefy, intimidating man with a bald head and a large scar down the left side of his face. Rumor had it that he got it from an earlier war, but others said he gave it to himself on a dare.
Li Changyu stuck out his lower lip, but didn’t look the least bit afraid of the man. He rolled his eyes, “Biting isn’t a form of martial arts…”
“Jin Xiyan,” Emperor Father called to him. Jin Xiyan’s heart skipped a beat and he straightened. His tone was curious instead of reprimanding, “What are you doing here?”
“Uh, um…” Jin Xiyan became tongue tied. Though he often emulated his Emperor Father as much as he could, whenever he spoke to him directly, he felt like the words stuck in his throat.
The Emperor wasn’t scary in the way Commander Xu looked like he could beat you to a pulp, but his Emperor Father was no less intimidating. He was tall, broad shouldered, and his violet eyes could voice his displeasure with one scathing look. The Emperor looked perfect in every way, from the top of his neat bun with never a strand out of place, down to the neat hem of his robe. They said he was a little copy of his Emperor Father, but right now in his disheveled state, Jin Xiyan felt like he was anything but.
Embarrassed, Jin Xiyan could only manage to jerk his head a little in Brother’s direction. “The baby…”
“Oh! You came to see the baby?” Li Changyu’s pout turned back into a bright smile and he bounded up to Jin Xiyan. “Why didn’t you say so?”
He wanted to be smart and tell him that he didn’t even have a chance to, but Commander Xu gave a thump to the top of Li Changyu’s head with his fist.
“Do you have any idea who you are talking to? Show some respect to the Crown Prince!”
“Crown Prince?” Li Changyu blinked, rubbing the top of his head. He stared at Jin Xiyan, looking him in the eye. It was a little unnerving, since not many people actually would look at him directly. It was always lowered heads or averted eyes. Li Changyu’s gold colored eyes crinkled as he threw his head back and laughed. “You’re the one they always talk about?! You’re just a kid!”
Jin Xiyan found enough of his voice to scold him, “That is Your Highness, to you!”
Li Changyu’s smile didn’t fade even though he was chided, “By how people talk about you, I expected someone a bajillion li tall and glowing like an Immortal.”
“Now, now,” Emperor Father stepped forward and put himself between a seething Commander Xu and Li Changyu. He patted the top of Li Changyu’s head, almost regarding him like a son. Jin Xiyan found it peculiar, but it brought out one of Emperor Father’s rare crooked smiles. “Li Changyu, one day you will have to serve them when they are Emperor. It is best to be on Jin Xiyan’s good side, right?”
Li Changyu looked up at Father Emperor in the same way he had with him, meeting his gaze with his own unafraid one. He sighed like he was resigning himself to something, “That makes sense…” Li Changyu looked back at him, his face radiant. “I’m Li Changyu, and I promise to become a great big warrior and protect the kingdom!”
“You still have plenty of years before that happens, Runt.” Commander Xu grunted from the sidelines. Eldest Brother tucked his chin to hide a wry smile and turned his attention back to the baby once it coo’ed.
Jin Xiyan ignored Li Changyu to crane his neck and try to peek at the baby. Li Changyu looked from him to the baby, then back again, and he jumped into Jin Xiyan’s line of sight, “Do you want to hold the baby?!”
Jin Xiyan flinched, “I–um…”
Li Changyu skipped towards Eldest Brother and held up his hands in a give me motion. Zhao Lanhu looked to their Emperor Father who just waved a hand. Looking reluctant but with a polite smile, his Eldest Brother lowered the bundled up infant into Li Changyu’s waiting arms.
He watched in awe as Li Changyu effortlessly supported the baby in his arms and slowly turned around. Li Changyu walked back towards him in a sort of shuffling waddle gait, carrying the baby like it was a valued treasure. Emperor Father shushed Commander Xu’s noise in protest, and let Li Changyu approach.
Jin Xiyan stared down at the small, reddish little round face of the baby. Its eyes were shut with little blonde eyelashes that were so tiny that they were almost unreal. His nephew’s tiny closed fist was next to his face, almost touching his pouting lips that made soft suckling sounds. Jin Xiyan could probably fit the baby’s tiny head in his two cupped hands.
Li Changyu whispered softly, interrupting his thoughts, “Do you wanna hold him?”
His eyes grew wide and he shook his head. He didn’t trust that he wouldn’t accidentally squish the baby, or worse, drop him. He was so small and fragile looking, he didn’t want to risk it. Jin Xiyan mumbled, “This…this is close enough.”
As the two of them continued to admire the baby, Emperor Father chuckled lightly, “Looks like you are a natural, Li Changyu.”
“Hmph, there must be some omega instincts in the boy.” Commander Xu crossed his arms over his chest. “Maybe it won’t be wasted after all.”
What? His eyes snapped back to the boy in front of him. He’s an omega? Jin Xiyan gave another once over, again in awe. He’d never seen an omega fighting before. All of his omega siblings, eldest Brother included, were quiet and soft spoken. He didn’t think he’d even ever seen them raise their voice, either. Li Changyu was most definitely not like any omega he’d seen.
“I’m never having a baby,” Li Changyu turned up his nose like he was offended by the prospect. “Besides, you can’t fight with a big belly. Is that why you retired from the military, Shizun?”
“Why you!” Commander Xu started, but Jin Xiyan spoke up, wanting to confirm this.
“You are an omega?”
“Yeah,” Li Changyu’s response was gruff, and his eyes narrowed to little slits, “You got a problem with that?” Jin Xiyan quickly shook his head and instantly Li Changyu’s head tilted and that beaming smile returned. “Okay then – let’s be friends!”
Friends? This was the first time someone said something like that to him. Jin Xiyan didn’t think he knew quite how to be a friend, but it seemed like Li Changyu knew how to. The prospect of being friends with someone like Li Changyu, who was so loud and unafraid of him, was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.
The baby began to fuss, so Eldest Brother stepped forward and gingerly took the baby from Li Changyu’s arms. With that, the two other adults looked down at the pair of boys.
“Runt, you’ll do the drills three times for that stunt you pulled bullying His Highness,” Commander Xu wagged a thick finger at him.
“And Xiyan,” Emperor Father looked to him next, “You should be studying your calligraphy.”
They quietly groaned in unison, but Li Changyu kept up his smile. He leaned close to Jin Xiyan, his hot breath tickling his ear as he whispered.
“Send for me if you ever wanna play hooky again!” Li Changyu added a wink before he was dragged away by Commander Xu, forcibly separated from Jin Xiyan.
Jin Xiyan watched as they walked away towards the connecting courtyard. Li Changyu laughed on the way to his punishment, like he had not a care in the world. His Emperor Father chuckled.
“He is quite a character.”
“Answering Emperor Father…” Jin Xiyan tilted his head towards him, “Erchen thinks he is very strange. What is he doing in the Palace?”
“He is training in martial arts, and will be living here.” The Emperor placed a hand on his shoulder and Jin Xiyan stood up a little straighter. He continued, “The Li family is extremely proud and loyal. The Kingdom needs a man like that someday, so try to exercise some patience.”
“Yes, Emperor Father. Erchen will do as Zhen commands.” Jin Xiyan nodded, still not quite understanding, but he couldn’t help but wonder when he’d see Li Changyu again.
I like a brazen omega!!
Very good.
Exactly! Li Changyu always larger than life
Haha i could see that Li Changyu is like Wei Wuxian. I love their character. Too bad Jin Xiyan dont remember all of this.
Thanks for the chapter!
I am glad you are enjoying! Also it is proof that Li Changyu has always bit people
I’m a fan from ao3!! And these throwbacks is both so fluffy and brings me pain 😭😭 i love em sassy omegas!!
Ahhhhhh! Hellooo!!!
thanks for the chapter <3
Thank you for reading! <3
This is so sweet and I can’t wait for next chapter
I am glad you enjoyed!
Kawaiiii❤️❤️
Thanks for the chapter 🥰
You are welcome!
Re-reading this chapter. I love how comfortable Li Changyu is handling a royal grandchild at 7 years old.
Li Changyu loves babies as much as JXY
Haha they love them so much but LCY told his future husband that he won’t have a baby