After the guests finished their salutations, their first collective glance went toward the young child standing beside the Emperor.
The protagonist of today’s event was simply too eye-catching. The hall fell silent for a fleeting moment before an suppressed wave of excitement erupted, sweeping through the air of the Eternal Longevity Hall.
How could there be such a beautiful child in this world?
His skin was pale and tender, and his features were exquisitely carved—a dainty bridge of the nose, rosy red lips, and grayish-black eyes as clear as glass. Most notable were his chubby cheeks; one poke would surely leave a little dimple. With his round, three-head-tall frame, he looked incredibly obedient and soft as he held his father’s hand.
The power of a "ten-layer filter" was extraordinary; some guests were left dazed.
This wasn't just the most beautiful child in the entire palace; he was the most beautiful child in all of Chang'an. Compared to the Little Highness, their own descendants were eyesores, making one wonder if such a creature truly existed.
Before this, whether they were Marquises or officials, their only impression of the young prince was one of sympathy for the Empress. The Empress giving birth at an advanced age and being able to walk the very next day was truly a miracle that had caused quite a stir in Chang'an back then.
As for the young prince’s appearance at birth, it hadn't been widely publicized, and the officials who went to Jiaofang Palace for reports rarely encountered him. Thus, everyone had only heard legends of his "good looks," but hearing about it was nothing compared to seeing it for themselves.
No wonder His Majesty wanted to hold such a grand Bow-Holding Ceremony as soon as he returned to the palace!
They unconsciously held their breath, their eyes fixed fervently on Liu Yue.
Hands hidden beneath wide sleeves twitched with the urge to reach out and pat him.
The moment the chubby child turned his head, he was keenly caught by his "cheap father."
Liu Bang: "…"
What did that mean? The smugness of overlooking the mountains and rivers from a moment ago vanished. Liu Bang's eye twitched as he followed Liu Yue's gaze.
Among the founding meritorious officials, Cao Can, Marquis of Pingyang, who ranked second, was absent as he was far away in Linzi serving as the Chancellor of the Qi Kingdom. The Generals who led the armies were also absent, except for Fan Kuai, Marquis of Wuyang, who was stationed in the capital's outskirts. Upon hearing that the Little Highness was to hold a Bow-Holding Ceremony, Fan Kuai had rushed over eagerly. He had forgotten to trim his thick beard, which grew in a messy tangle on his chin, giving him quite an unkempt appearance.
Thus, the Emperor skipped over him without a second thought, pinpointing a specific small group: the most handsome Xiao He, Marquis of Zan; Zhou Bo, Marquis of Jiang; Chen Ping, Marquis of Quni; Wang Ling, Marquis of Anguo; and… Han Xin, Marquis of Huaiyin.
The man treated with such reverence by others sat kneeling in his armor, his expression entirely at odds with the heated atmosphere.
The bridge of his nose was sharp and heroic, and his brow carried the lethal edge of one who had stepped through mountains of knives and seas of blood. However, a deep gloom was hidden within him. While the other guests were staring intently at the young prince, he simply averted his eyes.
Han Xin had not wanted to come, but he had to. Since being demoted from King to Marquis and placed under house arrest in the capital by the Son of Heaven, Han Xin had not tasted "freedom" for a long time. Whether it was a palace banquet or a court assembly, if he did not go, it was an act of disrespect toward His Majesty.
Liu Bang's eyes darkened slightly before he quickly looked away, finally identifying the brat's target of observation: Zhang Liang, Marquis of Liu.
The Marquis of Liu was as handsome and elegant as a clear moon. Had it not been for his long beard, he would have looked to be in his early thirties at most. Liu Bang looked again and again in disbelief, overjoyed. Zifang had actually come—did this mean his illness was cured?
On second thought, something felt wrong. That sense of questioning his own life returned. He gave a dry chuckle and squeezed the chubby child's hand. "Snap out of it."
Liu Yue sucked in his belly and gave a tug, but he couldn't break free.
Actually, his cheap father's looks weren't bad, but it depended on who he was compared to. Especially when it came to refinement and temperament… well, it was a total blowout. He fell into thought, a guess forming in his heart, and asked Liu Bang in a tiny voice, "Is that the Marquis of Liu?"
Liu Bang pretended not to hear and signaled to his attendants. "Begin."
Though the palace banquet was grand, the Bow-Holding Ceremony had evolved from the Pre-Qin era into a simplified version. A ritualist from the Fengchang Office presented a small bow tied with a dazzling piece of crimson silk.
Liu Bang looked at it with satisfaction, then let go of his young son's hand and, with lightning speed, suddenly bent down.
Seeing his cheap father's face suddenly enlarge, Liu Yue had a bad feeling.
He reflexively retreated, his short legs scurrying to his mother’s side with remarkable agility and speed. Even though Liu Bang used seventy percent of his strength, he grabbed nothing but air!
Phew, that was close.
??
A sudden, dead silence fell over the Eternal Longevity Hall.
Han Xin slowly raised his head and finally saw the young prince’s face. Amidst his stunned gaze, a flicker of something extraordinary flashed in his eyes.
In that eerie silence, Liu Yue spoke.
"I am fat. Imperial Father cannot carry me," the young prince said softly, his large eyes seemingly hiding a sense of caution. "I am afraid of tiring Imperial Father…"
Could he just take the bow himself?
In an instant, the extreme silence shattered. The guests' hearts trembled as they immediately reached an epiphany. They were utterly astonished, exchanging looks of disbelief.
This was the first time they had heard such words at a Bow-Holding Ceremony. How could a child only a few years old be so good, so sensible? Listen to that little milky voice! Which family’s child was this precious? Not only did he care for his mother, but he also cared for his father!
His Majesty was truly blessed. Why was such a chubby child part of his family?
Aside from them, there was also the Lu family. They stole a glance at Lu Shizhi, Marquis of J Jiancheng and the Empress's second elder brother, only to see his eyes filled with tender affection, his refined face almost glowing with pride.
Zhang Liang’s brow twitched slightly. He felt something was amiss. Looking closely at the dais, was His Majesty… grinding his teeth?
A ripple disturbed the calm heart of Xiao He. He thought of his own age and the countless grand scenes he had witnessed; even his own grandsons could run all over the place. Yet now, he could hardly restrain himself—he wanted to give the boy a hug.
"Not fat, not fat! How could our Yue'er be fat?" Liu Bang finally spoke.
He was smiling, but it was through gritted teeth. This time, he used ten-tenths of his strength to scoop his "sweet" youngest son into his arms, making sure he couldn't squirm or run.
The die was cast. Liu Yue's resistance failed, and a small bow was stuffed into his chubby hands.
Liu Yue: "…"
Fine, since they were in public and he couldn't run far anyway, he would give his cheap father some face.
Most importantly, his mother gently stroked the back of his head with incredible tenderness. Liu Yue’s mood unintentionally brightened. He needed to finish this Bow-Holding Ceremony quickly so he could go back to Jiaofang Palace to eat with his mother!
Sensing the boy had actually settled down, Liu Bang found it hard to believe.
However, a golden opportunity was not to be missed. He hurried to reach out, grabbing the small chubby hand to slowly pull the string. He mimicked a shot toward the heavens, announcing a father's expectations for his child to the world and demonstrating a resolve for martial prowess: "This is a son of my house."
This single shot marked the completion of the ritual, as evidenced by the ritualist's joyous expression. The ritualist stepped forward quickly, bowing slightly, prepared to take the small bow from the prince's hand to store it in the Fengchang Office as a symbol of the prosperity of the Liu bloodline.
Unexpectedly, Liu Yue turned his head slowly and refused to let him take it.
The ritualist looked at the beautiful young prince, his expression somewhat bewildered.
Liu Bang was about to say something. With a fake smile, he wanted to ask what kind of trouble the brat was trying to stir up now, only to see Liu Yue’s hands moving. The boy used every ounce of his strength to pull the bow string—
With a thwack, it snapped against the Great Han Emperor’s chest.
Liu Bang: "…"
The ritualist: "…"
Even though it was a miniature bow, it was still a struggle for a two-year-old to pull it alone. Liu Yue’s white, tender arms were aching, and his chubby face was flushed red. He then politely returned the bow to the ritualist, his expression exceptionally calm as if nothing had happened.
Seeing the Emperor’s face turn green, the ritualist’s legs began to shake.
The Pr-Pr-Pr-Prince, he…
With a grim face, Liu Bang waved his hand impatiently for the man to back away. The people under Shu Sun Tong really needed to improve their mental fortitude. So the brat had gotten the upper hand, what was there to be so shocked about?
Because the ritualist had stepped out and blocked the view, none of the meritorious officials noticed the little interlude on the dais, except for the Empress. Empress Lu saw the father and son clashing and Yue'er ultimately coming out on top. To her surprise, the Emperor didn't explode; instead, he continued to hold his son without letting go. She couldn't help but fall silent.
A flash of irony crossed her mind. His Majesty already had his precious son Ruyi; what was he doing now?
With this segment over, the banquet at Eternal Longevity Hall officially began. Liu Yue had vented a bit of his frustration and thought he would be able to escape the hard and unpleasant-smelling embrace. To his surprise, Liu Bang continued to hold him tightly, as if he were gripped by steel pincers, fearing he would flee.
…Was he planning to settle the score later?
Liu Yue watched helplessly as his cheap father became his free transportation, squeezing into the crowd of meritorious officials.
In an instant, he was surrounded by handsome men of various styles. Liu Yue felt as if his eyes were being cleansed and took a tiny breath of air.
He looked toward the handsome uncle who he suspected was the Marquis of Liu. His chubby hand was halfway extended when his cheap father’s boastful voice exploded in his ear: "What do you think of my son?"
Chen Ping, Marquis of Quni, was the first to answer.
He had long planned to outdo his colleagues and be the first to praise the young prince—even the Chancellor wouldn't beat him to it.
A handsome middle-aged man of a completely different type than Zhang Liang smiled slightly, looking into the Emperor's eyes. "The Prince is the spitting image of Your Majesty. At a single glance, I knew they were father and son. When the Prince grows up, he will surely become a heroic figure as awe-inspiring and strategically brilliant as Your Majesty. I look forward to that day with great anticipation!"