The two quickly noticed Yong Cheng’an.
They turned their heads to look at him simultaneously.
The Empress’s face lit up with pleasant surprise. “An’er is awake!”
Only then did Yong Cheng’an realize he was lying on the Empress’s bed.
The Empress was also leaning against the bed, while Emperor Yong sat by the bedside.
Yong Cheng’an waved his hand again and smacked his lips, feeling a bitter taste in his mouth.
Emperor Yong leaned over and cradled him in his arms, his eyes filled with paternal affection. “An’er is finally awake. If you hadn’t woken up soon, your father and mother would have been worried sick.”
Yong Cheng’an observed Emperor Yong curiously.
This most revered figure of the Dayong Dynasty.
In the original story, he had also been very fond of the fake Crown Prince.
Unfortunately, due to the fake Crown Prince’s poor health, there were always people gossiping and making idle remarks.
The fake Crown Prince had a stubborn personality and believed those words.
Moreover, Emperor Yong was a broad-minded person who sometimes praised his brothers’ horsemanship and archery skills in front of the fake Crown Prince.
The fake Crown Prince took this as his father expressing dissatisfaction with him indirectly.
Over time, the relationship between the fake Crown Prince and Emperor Yong grew increasingly strained.
Gradually, Emperor Yong truly began to believe, as the gossip suggested, that the fake Crown Prince was unfit for the throne due to his health issues.
Thus, the relationship between father and son deteriorated.
When the real Crown Prince returned to the palace, Yong Cheng’an was hastily granted a princely title and sent to his fief, never to return to the capital again.
As the memories faded, Yong Cheng’an examined Emperor Yong carefully.
No matter what, at this moment, Emperor Yong genuinely cherished him as his eldest legitimate son.
Yong Cheng’an thought to himself that he would never overthink things like the fake Crown Prince in the original story.
He would simply wait for the real Crown Prince to return to the palace, be granted a princely title, and then head to his fief to live a carefree life.
But first, he needed to build a good relationship with Emperor Yong so that he could choose a prosperous fief for himself.
That way, he would have no worries about food and drink for the rest of his life.
Lost in thought, Yong Cheng’an couldn’t help but chuckle.
The crisp laughter of the infant stirred all the paternal affection in Emperor Yong’s heart.
He also burst into hearty laughter, boasting to the Empress as he laughed, “Wan’er, look, An’er likes me, his father. He must know I’m his father.”
The Empress nodded in agreement and smiled. “Indeed, earlier An’er was crying loudly, but as soon as he saw me, he stopped.”
Emperor Yong gazed at Yong Cheng’an with adoration, overjoyed. “My Crown Prince is truly clever, recognizing people right after birth!”
“Hahahaha!”
Yong Cheng’an blew a bubble, inwardly amused. This most esteemed couple in the world shared the same narcissistic trait in this regard.
However, the more they liked him, the better his fate would be when his true identity was exposed.
Although it wasn’t entirely fair to the real Crown Prince—he was enjoying the affection that rightfully belonged to him—this wasn’t something he had chosen.
Given a second chance at life, he only wanted to live well.
…
When Loyal and Brave Marquis Xie Xian and his heir, Xie Xinghuai, arrived, Yong Cheng’an was drinking milk, fed personally by Emperor Yong.
But the milk tasted bitter, with a vaguely familiar flavor.
After a moment of contemplation, Yong Cheng’an understood.
It wasn’t that medicine had been added to the milk.
He was just a newborn baby, only a few days old, and certainly couldn’t take medicine directly.
Most likely, his wet nurse had been given the medicine, and he was drinking her milk.
As long as he wasn’t held in the wet nurse’s arms to be fed, Yong Cheng’an could accept drinking milk.
“Your Majesty, Loyal and Brave Marquis and his heir have arrived,” Chen Fu reported immediately after receiving the announcement from the eunuch outside the hall.
Emperor Yong continued his actions without pause, “Summon them.”
Soon, Xie Xian and Xie Xinghuai entered.
“Your subjects pay respects to Your Majesty, and to Her Majesty the Empress!”
“Rise, my beloved ministers.” Emperor Yong did not turn his head, focusing intently on feeding Yong Cheng’an.
As soon as the Xie father and son looked up, they saw Emperor Yong feeding Yong Cheng’an.
The father and son exchanged a glance, feeling joy in their hearts for their daughter/sister. Since His Majesty so adored the eldest prince, he must treat the Empress well too.
Yong Cheng’an had been obediently cooperating while being fed, not even minding the bitterness of the milk.
But after Xie Xian and Xie Xinghuai entered, he couldn’t resist wanting to see what they looked like.
However, he was lying in the Empress’s arms, and Emperor Yong was sitting by the bed feeding him, completely blocking his view.
“Ah ah!” Yong Cheng’an couldn’t help but wave his hands—he was genuinely curious about the Xie father and son.
In the original story, the Xie father and son were arguably the kindest to the false crown prince, treating him just as well even after the true crown prince returned.
No matter how anxious Yong Cheng’an was, he couldn’t see them, and his hands and feet moved uncontrollably.
The bowl in Emperor Yong’s hand was knocked over, spilling the remaining half-bowl of milk all over Emperor Yong’s Dragon Robe.
The Empress and the Xie father and son paled simultaneously, their expressions changing.
Yong Cheng’an felt a bit guilty, blinking his big eyes innocently at Emperor Yong. His hands and feet had a mind of their own, wanting to move about—this couldn’t be blamed on him.
Yet Emperor Yong was not angry, merely carefully wiping the milk from the corners of Yong Cheng’an’s mouth.
Fearing that His Majesty might still be displeased, the Empress gently patted Yong Cheng’an’s little hand first. “You naughty child, you’ve dirtied your father’s clothes.”
Before Yong Cheng’an could react, Emperor Yong had already taken his little hand and blown on it lovingly. “Wan’er, why blame him? He’s just a child—what does he understand?”
“Or do you think, in your heart, that I am someone who would hold a grudge against an infant?”
“Your Majesty.” The Empress looked helpless on the surface but inwardly sighed in relief. It seemed His Majesty truly adored An’er deeply.
Even this could be overlooked.
The Xie father and son also breathed a sigh of relief.
Yong Cheng’an took the opportunity to give Emperor Yong a smile.
“My An’er is so adorable!” Emperor Yong’s paternal affection was displayed without restraint.
He touched Yong Cheng’an’s little hands one moment and his little face the next.
“My beloved ministers, come closer and see. An’er hasn’t met his maternal grandfather and uncle yet.”
Although Xie Xian and Xie Xinghuai were the Empress’s father and brother, they were still officials outside the palace.
Even though Emperor Yong had asked them to come closer, they dared not approach too near.
They remained a few steps away.
The father and son craned their necks to look at Yong Cheng’an in the Empress’s arms.
They were so moved they could have cried on the spot.
The eldest prince was truly adorable!
Seeing their difficulty and considering that the Empress’s health was not suited to holding the child for long, Emperor Yong simply took Yong Cheng’an from the Empress’s arms.
This allowed the Xie father and son to see him more clearly.
Seizing this opportunity, the Xie father and son examined Yong Cheng’an carefully. Well, it was still too early to tell whom he resembled, but he would undoubtedly grow into a handsome man.
“The eldest prince is truly adorable. When he grows up, he will surely be as handsome as Your Majesty!” Xie Xian couldn’t help but praise.
“Of course. An’er will grow into a fine gentleman, inheriting the best features of both his mother and me.”
Xie Xinghuai also chimed in, “Newborns are usually not very good-looking, but the eldest prince is so adorable. It shows that Your Majesty’s child is destined to be extraordinary.”
Xie Xinghuai subtly flattered the emperor.
Emperor Yong said proudly, “This is my Crown Prince, naturally extraordinary!”
Xie Xinghuai felt a surge of joy in his heart. With the emperor’s golden words, the decree appointing the Crown Prince would likely not be far off.