They embraced, and Wen Mingyu thoroughly coaxed Mu Zhan several times, so much so that by the time they left the imperial study, his stomach felt sore, and he regretted it a little.
He looked at Mu Zhan and commented somewhat grudgingly, “I was older than you before, so how come you’ve grown taller faster than me?”
Time travel was a mysterious affair; neither time nor place could be controlled by them. It was impossible to explain.
So, Wen Mingyu’s contention really boiled down to this: ”You should call meGege.”
Mu Zhan, in high spirits, readily agreed. Without a trace of insincerity, he gazed at Wen Mingyu and called out quite naturally.
Wen Mingyu was surprised.
But Mu Zhan said, “This trifling matter is nothing. I’ve always regretted it. If I had agreed to attend school with you back then, perhaps I wouldn’t have abruptly returned here.”
Wen Mingyu’s heart ached instantly. He hugged Mu Zhan, releasing his sweet, fruity pheromones to soothe him.
Truth be told, Mu Zhan was not that fragile. So much time had passed, and Wen Mingyu had returned once more. But he cherished the feeling of Wen Mingyu’s tenderness. The way he would feel for him, tenderly assured him, and focused all his attention solely on him.
Before long, Little Chilly and Little Rice Cake turned one year old and celebrated their first birthday.
As the first prince and princess, they were showered with adoration and attention.
The banquet was grand beyond measure, overflowing with countless blessings.
Though still so young, the gifts they received filled an entire room, forming their own first little treasury.
The two little dumplings were dressed in crimson brocade robes early in the morning. They were as delicate as carved jade, with skin as white as snow. Each wore a longevity lock around their neck, crafted from gold, silver, and precious stones. These locks, which had engravings of dragons and qilin, with the characters “Long Life and Happiness” in the center, represented blessings for the children’s well-being, dispelling disasters and evil, locking life, and ensuring they grew up safe and sound.
After turning one, the two dumplings seemed to have grown considerably, going from infants cradled in arms to toddlers toddling on their own, always laughing carefree, and climbing right back up when they fell.
When the Lantern Festival arrived, the family planned to leave the palace to celebrate together.
When Wen Mingyu came to find them, Little Chilli and Little Rice Cake were engrossed in playing.
Since learning to walk, the variety of toys they played with had increased.
Little Chilli’s favorite was a small pigeon cart. This gilded cart was cast in the shape of a spotted dove, its head lifted high and tail cocked. It had a wheel on each side, with another tiny wheel underneath the bird’s tail. A hole hung on its chest, through which a string was threaded to pull the cart along. With a little extra effort to accelerate, the pigeon’s tail would raise and wobble up and down, as if the bird were expanding its wings to soar.
Both dumplings also loved the sound of wheels rolling on the ground. Little Chilli enjoyed making the cart race, while Little Rice Cake preferred to observe. He would squat down, his tiny hands neatly folded on his knees, watching intently as the wheels spun.
Little Chilli was still unsteady on her feet and often fell while playing, yet she never sobbed. She would scramble back up and carry on. But this only happened in the absence of Daddy and Father Emperor. That’s why the moment she spotted Wen Mingyu, if she fell to the ground, she would refuse to get up on her own. Instead, she would throw a fit and whine pitifully, her expression demanding kisses and hugs before she would budge.
Just then, when Wen Mingyu bent down to pick her up, Little Rice Cake immediately copied her. He trotted over and did a fake fall right beside Wen Mingyu. With a plop, he flopped down at his feet, stretching out his little paws, waiting for Daddy to lift him up.
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Once dressed, Little Chilli couldn’t wait to run to her Daddy and Father Emperor to show them off.
Wen Mingyu didn’t hold back his praise. “So adorable!”
Little Chilli immediately giggled. She crouched down and curled herself into a tiny ball, her small hands still covering her face.
Mu Zhan frowned in confusion, unsure what had upset her.
Wen Mingyu stifled a laugh. “She’s blushing.”
Little Chilli was also a little dumpling who loved to look pretty. Perhaps she could even be calledLittle Sweet Chilli.
Little Rice Cake, true to his nickname, was extremely clingy. He waddled over to Wen Mingyu and clung to his leg.
Then began the dumplings’ battle for attention, each clinging to a leg and grumbling at one another.
In the end, Mu Zhan naturally prevailed. After all, two chubby dumplings with stubby arms and legs were no match for his towering, sturdy frame. He simply scooped them both up.
He casually picked one up to carry himself,tossedthe other to Wen Mingyu, and warned them along the way, “Don’t be silly, or else you won’t be allowed to play outside.”
Little Chilli and Little Rice Cake both nodded obediently.
Since both their Daddy and Father Emperor loved them, they didn’t mind being held by either. But since Wen Mingyu spent more time with them, their first instinct was to rush into his arms first.
They practically reenacted the entire sequence of their very first Lantern Festival outing years ago.
Only this time, Little Chilli and Little Rice Cake were still too young for real tangyuan. So the imperial kitchen crafted miniature versions from kid-friendly ingredients. They were served in porcelain bowls on the table and were round and plump.
The two chubby “big tangyuan” devoured their “mini tangyuan” until they were satisfied.
When Wen Mingyu teased them with a hungry look, they generously shared their portions with him and Father Emperor.
Only after eating the tangyuan did the real outing begin, which was to leave the palace to stroll through the Lantern Festival.
The entire city glittered like trees of fires and flowers, with lanterns hanging everywhere with their candlelight flickering softly.
The streets were bustling, and people walked shoulder-to-shoulder.
The annual spectacle of prosperity unfolded before them once more. It was so familiar, yet accompanied by a different feeling this time.
In the past, it had been just the two of them strolling the Lantern Festival on a date. Now, two dumplings have joined them, transforming it into the lively outing of a small family.
Although Wen Mingyu and Mu Zhan had taken some precautions beforehand, dressing in relatively simple attire, their tall, slender figures and exceptional presence still made them stand out in the crowd, especially with a rosy-cheeked dumpling nestled in their arms.
Their jade-white faces and round eyes took in everything with curiosity. The two frequently wore vivid expressions of wonder and awe, their tiny mouths forming a wide “wow” as they let out childish exclamations, their little hands waving excitedly.
The performances were as rich and spectacular as ever.
With a deep, resounding shout signaling the dragon’s rise, the robust young men shouldered lanterns, forming a dragon lantern procession that wound its way forward. Firecrackers crackled continuously, their sound unceasing.
Wen Mingyu had seen this before and had once been lifted by the waist by Mu Zhan so he could watch over the crowd.
Now, Wen Mingyu held Little Rice Cake while Mu Zhan held Little Chilli, lifting them higher so they could see the performance ahead more clearly.
Their vantage point had risen, allowing them to view the dragon lantern procession. They waved their chubby arms and giggled with excitement.
Beyond the performances, market stalls sold many intriguing trinkets such as clay figurines, windmills and tinkling bells, colorful masks, and more.
The two dumplings, who had never experienced the Lantern Festival before, found everything fascinating and wanted it all.
Their Daddy, ever the indulgent parent, readily agreed, letting them choose their masks and helping them put them on.
Midway through their stroll, Mu Zhan nearly mistook another child for his own when he spotted someone wearing the same mask. Just as he was about to step forward, a soft but high-pitched voice suddenly cried out from behind him. “Fangfang!”
Mu Zhan turned to find one adult and two children staring at him silently.
Little Chilli sighed like a small adult, her face wearing an expression that screamed, ‘I’m very disappointed in you.’
Wen Mingyu, seeing his rare lost-for-words look, couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
Mu Zhan walked against the flow of people, heading straight towards them.
Lanterns swayed in the breeze, casting their shadows on the ground.
One tall shadow drew nearer and nearer, eventually merging with another tall shadow and two smaller ones, blending into one single whole.
The Lantern Festival wouldn’t be complete without playing the riddle-guessing game.
The two dumplings couldn’t even read the riddles, let alone solve them, but that didn’t stop them from acting spoiled. Ultimately, they got their favorite pretty little lanterns. Holding them in their hands, they grinned proudly, revealing tiny baby teeth.
On the carriage back, they stopped at Yanfu Gate.
This year, an exquisitely magnificent lantern tower was erected, adorned with tens of thousands of lanterns. As light and shadow intertwined, the wind caused the gold and jade ornaments to clink together, producing a crisp, melodious sound.
As they ascended the steps, the panoramic view from above revealed the capital’s bustling splendor, as if it were a city that never slept.
Having thoroughly enjoyed their outing, both Little Chilli and Little Rice Cake grew drowsy. Their eyes grew heavy, little heads nodding, and before long, they drifted off to sleep.
The carriage rolled all the way back to Taiji Hall.
The two dumplings slept soundly, unconsciously transforming into their secondary forms, a dragon-rabbit and a dragon cub.
Thus, Wen Mingyu and Mu Zhan didn’t carry them to the side hall but placed them on the dragon bed instead.
The four of them slept together as a family, each in their most relaxed form.
The two cubs lay in the center, all four paws extended skyward and soft bellies exposed, each clinging tightly to a palm-sized lop-eared rabbit.
On the outermost circle lay a golden dragon, occupying the entire bed yet carefully coiling around the three of them in the middle, guarding them as if they were his most precious treasures.
In the stillness of the deep night, all slept peacefully until daybreak arrived, bringing with it a new day.
ChiFu: andddd, that, my folks, is the end of the main text. I didn’t want to keep you waiting so I stayed up until morning to finish the chapter (and I’m locked in cause of the excitement haha). Here it is! Worry not, although this marks the final chapter, their adventure is still just beginning. ~
I have been in this project for more than four years since my freshman days, so this novel will always have a special place in my heart. I am aware of my flaws, inconsistencies, and absences throughout this period; so I’m grateful for your suggestions and corrections and understanding. Thank you everyone as well for reaching this far, for being patient with their journey to find a home and a family. I hope it made you happy and hopeful too.
I may not reply to each of your comments, but I enjoyed reading them and simultaneously motivated me to continue. Thank you, readers!and also, to my kofi supporters, your tips were vry helpful. thank you for your support! ~
If you have the means, please support the author by purchasing the chapters inJJ.
PS. The extras are a total of 12 chaps, which is pretty long, please give me time to sort them out first. I skimmed some of the chapters and here is their main content inorder:
PSPS.butttt! please don’t trust me xd. (tbh i was pretty fast when reading the raws but tl-ing tefico… im so mentally weak, even more that each chapter past 24 smth is 6-7k… help my brain that at some point I consider cutting off contact with everyone lmao just kidding. anyway you get my point haha) –
on a serious note, I am entering a busy period next year. The next 12 months will be a period of constant self-deprecation, self-doubt, insecurity, and anxiety lol. I am not sure if I can graduate on time, but I want to so I can earn money soon (AAAAAwork.)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Mwa!