“Spit it out! That thing seems to be a Fei! It’s highly poisonous!”
Zheng Zai refused to spit it out.
He had finally found something to eat, hmph.
“It really is poisonous!” Li Shimin anxiously lifted the little one’s bottom, momentarily unsure of what to do.
Zheng Zai didn’t care, tightly shutting his mouth.
In his panic, Li Shimin pinched the baby’s cheeks, trying to force his mouth open.
The tight-lipped little one absolutely refused to open up.
No one could make him spit out what he had eaten, no one!
Stubbornness truly is innate, really.
“Your Highness…”
“What now?” Li Shimin was busy struggling with the baby, not daring to use too much force for fear of hurting the child’s tender skin. Exhausted to the extreme, his mind was on the verge of chaos.
Chai Shao’s hesitant voice came through: “Just now, something strange seemed to have entered the Commander’s Tent…”
Li Shimin flung open the tent flap, sticking only his head out, and asked aggressively, “What thing?”
Chai Shao silently pointed to the withered grass on the ground—not just one or two blades, but a path of death.
Wherever it passed, all vegetation perished—this was the Fei.
And now, this bizarre monster had been swallowed whole by their own child.
Everything happened too fast; Li Shimin hadn’t even had time to process it. He should have been on guard against the monster, but it was already over.
Should he order the entire army to be on alert? That seemed like an overreaction…
“I understand.”
Chai Shao and Li Shimin stared at each other, unable to believe he had only given those few words.
“If there are any further anomalies, report them immediately.”
Duan Zhixuan quickly agreed and didn’t disturb him further.
Li Shimin held the baby with one hand and rummaged through a chest, pulling out a bundle of new baby clothes.
These had been prepared early on by Changsun Wuyou. For this campaign, she had added several more sets, in various sizes, all washed and softened for comfort.
“Aren’t these several sizes off?” Li Shimin had held up the small clothes back then, expressing his doubts.
“No one knows how big the child will be when he hatches. It’s better to be prepared.”
“What if he isn’t human-shaped?” Li Shimin suddenly wondered.
“Would you dislike him for it?”
“Hmm…” Li Shimin pondered for a long time.
If he had answered immediately, saying he would never dislike the child’s appearance no matter what, Changsun Wuyou would have found it somewhat insincere.
To be honest, if the child looked like a cockroach, fly, mosquito, or toad… how big-hearted would one have to be not to dislike it?
“I still hope he looks human, at least not too strange,” Li Shimin said honestly. “Otherwise, the clothes you prepared won’t fit.”
Perhaps because of this expectation, the hatched baby was close to human, only bearing Dragon features.
Li Shimin’s usually nimble hands fumbled clumsily as he dressed the child.
The innermost layer was a liangdang, a bellyband to protect the stomach. No matter how hot the weather, the belly had to be covered to prevent catching cold.
Was one layer enough? After all, it was summer. He pondered as he reached behind the baby’s back, tying the strings one by one.
Zheng Zai finally had clothes to wear and immediately relaxed, sitting obediently as his father fussed over him, looking just like a beautiful cotton doll.
The hem of the liangdang hung down to his plump thighs, covering what needed to be covered without hindering the movement of his tail.
Li Shimin was very satisfied, but Zheng Zai was not.
That's it?
The weary Prince of Qin downed two bowls of medicine, hastily ate a piece of flatbread, and broke off a piece to offer to the little one, asking, "Do you want some?"
The youngling sniffed the bread and shook his head.
"Was it you who swallowed the Fei just now? It was a Fei, right?"
Zheng Zai nodded with a reserved air.
"How did it get so big?" Li Shimin exclaimed in astonishment, gesturing with his hands. "Look at you, so tiny, yet that Dragon was so long."
Zheng Zai blinked his eyes, tilting his head to look at him, appearing utterly innocent.
He didn't know either—it was all instinct when danger struck.
If you eat the Yaoshou, there's no danger anymore. If you're too small, just grow a bit bigger. It was that simple.
"Should I find a good doctor for you?" Li Shimin muttered to himself, worried that the Fei might harm the child, yet afraid that the child's abnormality would be exposed, causing unnecessary trouble.
He had originally planned to wait until this battle was over, and when the ten-month pregnancy period had passed, he would pretend nothing had happened and announce the birth of his legitimate eldest son to the world.
Even if it were two months early, he could claim it was a premature birth. But now…
He washed his hands, dried them, and gently touched the child's horns.
Zheng Zai instinctively tilted his head back, shaking slightly, trying to avoid his hand.
"I'll just touch it once," Li Shimin coaxed, his fingertips brushing over the dense, tiny fuzz, as if stroking the ears of a cat or dog.
Soft and fluffy, like some early spring plant, its buds brimming with vibrant vitality.
Both his complexion and the color of his lips were healthy, showing no signs of poisoning at all.
Zheng Zai thought he really meant just one touch, enduring the ticklish sensation, waiting for him to finish.
But then, one touch, another, and another… this person just wouldn't stop!
As if he were polishing walnuts!
Zheng Zai couldn't help but raise his hands, one on each side, covering his horns to prevent further touching.
So Li Shimin switched to stroking his tail instead, running his hand from the base all the way to the tip. The texture was incredibly smooth, even smoother than silk.
Zheng Zai shuddered, almost leaping up on the spot.
So ticklish!
Stop touching! What's so great about touching it anyway?
Annoyed, he snatched his tail back from his father's grasp and hugged it tightly, refusing to let go.
Thus, the horns were left exposed again. Li Shimin seized the opportunity, teasingly touching here and there, causing the child to dodge and squirm, unable to escape being played with.
Having children is for playing with. This perspective was fully embodied in Li Shimin.
Then, he placed the child on the bed, lay back himself, wrapped an arm around the little one, and prepared to sleep.
Huh? He hadn't even finished dressing! He clearly saw there were outer robes and trousers, both long and short—why weren't they put on him?
This felt so strange.
Zheng Zai decided to take matters into his own hands, struggling to break free from his father's embrace. As soon as he crawled out from Li Shimin's arm, his drowsy father grabbed him back.
Even though he could barely keep his eyes open, he still managed to accurately recapture the escaping youngling.
Zheng Zai persisted, trying again and again, only to fail repeatedly.
Li Shimin, undeterred, caught the little one over and over, insisting on tucking him into his arms.
Zheng Zai grew numb. Glancing at his drowsy father, he couldn't bear to keep disturbing him, so he stayed still.
The warm body temperature and breathing were right there, like the rising sun outside. For the youngling, it was actually a bit too warm.
Ying Zheng did not particularly enjoy being this close to others. It felt too intimate, giving him a sense of being restrained and oppressed, making him quite uncomfortable.
Although it was just a hand, the weight of it resting on his back was palpable. Compared to such an embrace, he preferred being alone.
It was so hot that the child was sweating.
Zheng Zai behaved himself for a quarter of an hour before stealthily wriggling out, taking a deep breath of fresh air. After two steps, he stumbled and fell flat on the bed.
Looking back, he realized his tail was pinned under his father.
Freedom was fleeting.
Why could he still be caught even when asleep? Zheng Zai couldn't understand it. He lay there helplessly, dragged back by his tail, returning to Li Shimin's embrace.
The little one sighed deeply, completely abandoning his escape plan. After rescuing his tail, he curled up into a ball and, before he knew it, fell asleep as well.
The time spent sleeping felt as brief as if it had been stolen. The little one had initially felt a bit warm, but once truly asleep, he coiled up on Li Shimin's chest and didn't move for a long time.
He slept soundly, his face flushed red, just like a ripe peach, tempting anyone to take a bite.
Upon waking, Li Shimin did just that.
He opened his mouth, took the soft flesh of the little one's cheek into his mouth, sucking and nibbling, quickly leaving deep red marks.
When he let go, the elastic cheek flesh trembled and bounced back, even more tender than peeled lychee, carrying the milky scent unique to infants and a faint orchid fragrance, though its source was unclear.
One more suck, then another.
Addicted to the little one, unable to stop himself.
Zheng Zai was roused by his antics, instinctively pushing against the other's mouth with his small hands.
The more he pushed, the more enthusiastic Li Shimin became, even kissing the little hands offered to him, peppering Zheng Zai with kisses until he felt utterly resigned.
So annoying.
What to do when your father is too clingy?
Zheng Zai wore a stern expression, unable to count how many dozens of kisses he had received. His cheeks bore tooth marks as he gazed at his father with a mix of resentment and accusation.
Li Shimin felt a twinge of guilt. He dampened a handkerchief with water, gently wiping the child's face and hands, then quickly freshened up and tidied his own appearance.
Finally regaining control of his body, Zheng Zai headed straight for the clothing chest without hesitation.
Li Shimin watched out of the corner of his eye, amused as the little one stumbled along, as if his limbs were uncoordinated and unfamiliar with each other, lacking the tacit understanding to work together. Each step wobbled left and right, much like a duckling learning to walk.
Especially the tail, which should have helped with balance, seemed somewhat redundant on this body. As the little one bent slightly to reach for clothes in the chest, he lost his balance and tumbled headfirst into it.
"Pfft, hahaha… cough…" Li Shimin burst into laughter, laughing so hard he choked and coughed.
With a dull thud, the little one was buried under the clothes, flailing his limbs in an attempt to get up, only to accidentally step on his tail and fall again.
Li Shimin laughed so hard he lost his voice for a few seconds, too busy coughing. While trying to control his breathing to avoid coughing too violently, he walked over to rescue the little one from the clothing chest.
Furious and disoriented, Zheng Zai found his tail a nuisance and stomped on it hard, only to be met with sudden pain that brought tears to his eyes.
Li Shimin quickly picked him up, lovingly stroking the large tail and asking with concern, "Are you alright? Did you bump into anything? This is your own tail—don't step on it, or you'll hurt yourself."
Zheng Zai pouted, staring at his tail for a while, trying to accept this fact.
Cats and cat tails are two different creatures, and dragons and dragon tails likely follow the same logic.
"Your Highness, are you awake? A physician has come to visit," Duan Zhixuan called out clearly from outside. "His name is Sun Simiao, around sixty years old, with exceptional medical skills. He came specifically for the epidemic in the army and has been waiting for quite some time. Would Your Highness like to see him?"
"Quickly invite the physician over!—No, I’ll go see him instead." Li Shimin tucked the little one into his embrace, gently patting him through his clothes.
Sun Simiao was both a Daoist and a physician, a top-tier renowned doctor of the era. The Tang Army held him in high esteem for his fearless approach, knowingly venturing into danger despite the risks. They invited him to wait in the medical tent.
"My apologies, sir. His Highness had just fallen asleep, and I truly couldn’t bear to disturb him. It wasn’t intentional neglect…" Duan Zhixuan explained.
"It’s no trouble. I heard there was a major battle last night. The Prince of Qin fought while ill, a matter of life and death. It’s rare for him to rest well, balance yin and yang, and nourish his qi and blood. At such a time, he shouldn’t be disturbed," Sun Simiao said gently, smiling. "Might this old man examine the other soldiers?"
"It is our wish, but we dare not ask."
With a renowned physician offering consultations, a long line soon formed where he was stationed, bustling yet orderly.
By the time Li Shimin arrived, the line stretched as far as the eye could see. Unhurried, he blended into the crowd and joined the queue.
Someone ahead of him happened to turn around and was startled: "Your Highness, why aren’t you at the front?"
"I’m not missing any limbs, nor am I breathing more than I inhale. I’m in no hurry."
He may not have been in a hurry, but those ahead of him were increasingly anxious, one after another offering their spots.
"The enemy army is pressing down on the city walls. Your Highness is the most important; let’s not delay."
"Exactly, exactly."
Li Shimin was ushered to the front, but he still stepped aside, waiting for Sun Simiao to treat the most severely wounded soldier—acupuncturing to stop bleeding, applying medicine, and bandaging the wound.
After finishing with the batch requiring emergency care, Sun Simiao calmly turned to the Tang Army’s commander. He first observed his complexion, then spoke: "Please give me your hand, Your Highness."
Li Shimin obediently rolled up his sleeve, sat properly on the Hu Bed, and extended his left hand.
As soon as Sun Simiao felt his pulse, he furrowed his brow.
Duan Zhixuan’s heart tightened. "What is it? Hasn’t His Highness’s condition improved?"
From persistent fever, chills, vomiting, and unresponsive deep sleep to now being able to ride into battle—wasn’t that a clear improvement?
Sun Simiao remained silent, focusing solely on the pulse, switching from the left hand to the right, then back to the left, his brow furrowed so deeply it could crush a mosquito.
"Your Highness, you…" He hesitated, as if uncertain of his diagnosis, even appearing somewhat bewildered.
Such behavior from a renowned physician was enough to send shivers down the spines of the onlookers.
Chai Shao had just arrived and, seeing the physician’s hesitation, felt his heart leap into his throat. He forced himself to stay calm, closed the tent flap, and sealed off the news within that small space.
"Speak freely, sir," Li Shimin said nonchalantly.
He felt perfectly fine now, without any ailments, and was unafraid of whatever dire words the physician might utter.
Sun Simiao seemed on the verge of speaking, then stopped, then seemed about to speak again.
What exactly are you trying to say, old sir? Chai Shao and Duan Zhixuan were growing increasingly anxious.
"I have heard that Princess Pingyang once disguised herself as a man, recruited soldiers, and established a military headquarters outside Chang'an. She was skilled in warfare, reminiscent of the style of Queen Fu Hao of the Shang Dynasty," Sun Simiao said tactfully. "I wonder if Your Highness is also like this?"
Chai Shao: "Huh?"
Duan Zhixuan: "Huh?"
Li Shimin: "Huh?"
Zheng Zai was utterly bewildered, not understanding what this meant.
Everyone looked completely baffled. Sun Simiao glanced left and right, growing even more uncertain. He said apologetically, "Perhaps my skills are lacking, and I have misdiagnosed…"
"Misdiagnosed what?" Li Shimin was utterly confused.
"This… the pulse flows smoothly, like beads rolling on a plate—it is a very clear slippery pulse…"
Sun Simiao had been a physician for decades and had examined countless patients. If he could misread such a simple pulse, he would have changed professions long ago.
"Moreover…" Sun Simiao hesitated, slowly adding another sentence, somewhat doubting his own judgment and also wanting to make the listeners doubt theirs, "I seem to have detected a double pulse—a fetus with very abundant qi and blood."
Chai Shao and Duan Zhixuan: "!!"
Author's Note:
Stay calm, it's just a seahorse.
In the worldview of Xiyou (Journey to the West), anything is possible.
What's the big deal?