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At the same time, Jin Wang, holding Xiaobao, was on his way to Qianqing Palace.
Fucheng wanted to take Xiaobao, but he held onto Jin Wang tightly, resulting in an unusual scene in the palace that day.
Jin Wang, who was as cold as an iceberg, was carrying a baby in his arms. Even after entering the palace, he didn’t want to let go. Not long after, the news spread throughout the entire palace, and everyone knew that Jin Wang had a son.
When Jin Wang arrived at Qianqing Palace, the crown prince, Dai Wang, An Wang, and Yong Wang were all there. Even the younger Lu Wang and Qing Wang were also there.
As soon as Jin Wang’s arrival was announced, he stepped inside, attracting everyone’s attention.
Yong Wang was about the same age as Jin Wang. He had a gentle look along with a pair of phoenix eyes. With an elegant temperament, his lips seemed to always be curled up despite not smiling.
“Ah, fifth brother. This prince knows that you think about your son day and night. After working so hard to finally get one, it’s obvious that you’d treat him like a treasure. But as a qinwang entering the palace to meet His Majesty, isn’t it humiliating to be holding an infant?” Yong Wang’s tone was calm, carrying hints of affection, and his words were also like those of an older brother rebuking his younger brother. But what the truth was, they both knew in their hearts.
Yong Wang made many attempts to trip up Jin Wang. Even before leaving for their fiefs, their relationship hadn’t been very harmonious.
To be honest, it was more than not being harmonious. They were more like mortal enemies. It’s just that in front of Emperor Hongjing, they couldn’t behave like so.
Jin Wang ignored him and glanced at Xiaobao. Xiaobao let go. Jin Wang placed him on the ground and bowed before Emperor Hongjing.
“Erchen pays homage to the emperor.”
Emperor Hongjing nodded and raised his hand, then Jin Wang stood back up.
“Old fourth, don’t mock old fifth anymore. You should be considerate of his heart as a new father. After all, this is the first time for him to become a father. Once he becomes a father a few more times, he’ll be back to his old self.” The person speaking was the second prince, An Wang. In his thirties, he had a sturdy build, a square face, and narrow eyes. At first glance, he was the most inconspicuous among the brothers, but no one dared to disregard him.
Among the brothers, An Wang was the one who made every move after careful deliberation the most. He also enjoyed stirring up muddy waters and it wasn’t uncommon to be accidentally scammed by him.
“Fifth brother!” Qing Wang looked at Jin Wang with excitement. Back when they still lived in the capital, he was very close to Jin Wang. Now, these brothers hadn’t seen each other in over a year. “Fifth brother, this is your son? How old is he? He looks a lot like you.”
Compared to other people, Jin Wang’s attitude towards Qing Wang was much more gentle. “He just reached a year and a month of age. “
“Heh, he’s already so big at a year old, and can stand so steadily on his own? Fifth brother, you’re not lying to your brother, right? It’s not like your brother has never been a father before. When my Hong Ge’er was still a year old, his nanny still had to carry him. Can this little guy talk yet? Call imperial uncle.”
Xiaobao didn’t care much for the others, but Qing Wang, he was very familiar with.
He didn’t intend to hide or cover up his abilities today, so naturally, he didn’t hesitate to show off. He immediately called out “Uncle!”
He didn’t dare to call ‘imperial uncle’ lest he scared him, but he still surprised Qing Wang. Qin Wang picked him up and facing Jin Wang, An Wang, the crown prince, and Emperor Hongjing, he said, “This little guy is really smart. He even knows to call ‘uncle’.”
Only Jin Wang’s face was a bit ugly. Xiaobao still hadn’t called him ‘father’.
Emperor Hongjing was a bit surprised. It wasn’t that he didn’t have any grandsons, his eldest grandson was even married already. But he hadn’t seen any child who could speak at such a young age, and he wasn’t even mumbling along. The child hadn’t met old seventh before, yet was able to call him when asked. This was a rare sight to behold.
He originally only wanted to see him then confirm that he was indeed a child of the Zhao Family. If so, the title would naturally be given, but now Emperor Hongjing became more interested. Nowadays, this kind of interest was extremely rare for him. Emperor Hongjing was getting old, and the government affairs were still many and cumbersome. He had long lost the vigour from the past, when he used to carry his eldest grandson on his knees, teaching him to read.
Every year, his sons would bring him grandsons, granddaughters, and even great-grandchildren to pay respect to him. At most, Emperor Hongjing would glance at them. What should be rewarded would be rewarded and what should be gifted would be gifted, but nothing more. With so many grandchildren, he couldn’t even remember their names. But today he wanted to take a closer look at this child, to see whether he truly was beyond expectations.
“Old seventh, bring the child to me to take a look.”
Emperor Hongjing’s voice made everyone look at him. Qing Wang obeyed the edict and was about to bring Xiaobao over, when Xiaobao suddenly pushed against his arms, catching his attention. Qing Wang looked down at the little baby in his arms, a bit puzzled, when Jin Wang said next to him, “He wants to be placed on the ground.”
Although Jin Wang rarely showed it, he understood Xiaobao’s gestures better than people thought. This was why he walked the entire way to Qianqing Palace with Xiaobao in his arms. Xiaobao had wanted him to hold him, and he also wanted to hold Xiaobao.
Qing Wang hesitated to put Xiaobao down. Probably because he had never done something like this before, his actions were a bit clumsy.
As soon as Xiaobao touched the ground, he pushed Qing Wang’s arm away, then took a small step towards Emperor Hongjing. He walked very steadily, step by step towards the throne. He was wearing a very festive set of clothing today. Dressed completely in red, the only pattern was the five bats offering longevity embroidered on his chest. His head was completely bald except for that small patch of hair.
Pink and tender, white and fat, he resembled the little boy holding a carp from those New Year paintings.
Emperor Hongjing curled his lips subconsciously and looked down at the baby stepping towards him. Xiaobao approached his legs, boldly stretched out his hand to pull on his dragon robe, then reached out his chubby arms towards him again.
He seemed to want to be held.
“This little thing is so courageous, and actually dares to ask Zhen to hold him.”
Emperor Hongjing said so, but his face was smiling, and other people could only follow along with laughter. As for what everyone thinks, then I no longer know.
Emperor Hongjing picked up Xiaobao and placed him on his knees.
Xiaobao stretched out his hand, as if wanting to grab at Emperor Hongjing’s beard, but for some reason, he withdrew his hand. Instead, he grabbed the five-claw dragon jade buckle on his clothes and refused to let go. Li De’an, the chief eunuch standing at the side, was about to step forward to ask this little ancestor to release it but was waved away by Emperor Hongjing.
“What’s your name?”
“Bao’er, mother’s Bao’er.” Xiaobao’s voice was crisp, but he stumbled a bit over his words since it was the first time for him to say three words in a row.
At the same time, Jin Wang’s voice sounded, “Answering Father Emperor, the child has no formal name yet, only a nickname, Xiaobao.”
Emperor Hongjing ignored Jin Wang, but lowered his head and spoke to Xiaobao, “Your mother gave you the name of Bao’er?”
“No, Xiao-Xiaobao.”
As Xiaobao spoke, he was still pulling on the jade buckle, “Grandpa, want!”
“Oh? You even know to call Grandpa Emperor.” Emperor Hongjing laughed. “Good, good, good. Zhen will give it to you since you called Zhen ‘grandpa’. Let’s go inside so the eunuchs can take it off for you, alright?”
Xiaobao immediately wrapped his arms around Emperor Hongjing’s neck and refused to let go.
Seeing Emperor Hongjing carry the child himself behind the curtains, everyone there showed varying expressions. Only Qing Wang was happy for Jin Wang, “Fifth brother, your son is incredible, truly incredible.”
Apart from being incredible, Qing Wang didn’t know how to describe Xiaobao.
Jin Wang also felt that Xiaobao was incredible, very incredible. He’d thought the child barely knew how to speak, which was why he had yet to call him ‘father’, so he didn’t force the child.
But look at him now. Not only did he know how to say ‘uncle’, he even knew how to say ‘grandpa’. He was also very sensible and knew to ask for rewards. Yet this brat refused to call him ‘father’. He must be doing it on purpose, he must be.