Chapter 519 – Post-Wedding Extra Chapter: A Dance That Captivated the City and Spread Across the World – Careless! (11)
Bai Tang and Jiang Liangwu were both far from ordinary people, so naturally, their little squirrel was no ordinary child either. He was born with a divine body, and during infancy, he needed a tremendous amount of spiritual energy. That was where Jiang Liangwu came in.
Originally, Jiang Liangwu had been worried that after their child was born, Tang Tang would send him straight into the “cold palace.” Who would have thought that their first child would inherit Tang Tang’s traits and be born in the form of a little squirrel? He was so adorable that Jiang Liangwu transformed into the ultimate doting father.
Every night, he would coax both his big and little squirrels to sleep, and he could not have been happier. Although the little squirrel often woke up in the middle of the night and kept both fathers from getting a good night’s sleep, the two new fathers were more than happy to indulge him. If the little squirrel wanted the stars, they would never give him the moon instead. If he wanted goat’s milk, they would never try to pass off cow’s milk as a substitute.
The reason they had returned to the capital this time was also because the little squirrel could not possibly endure sleeping rough and living outdoors. In order to give their child a stable environment in which to grow up, they had reluctantly brought their honeymoon trip to an end.
But their child was ultimately a divine being. The spiritual energy in the mortal realm was not nearly as abundant as that of the Upper Realm. Even with Jiang Liangwu transferring spiritual energy to the little squirrel every day, he could barely maintain his human form for two hours a day. If he wanted to cultivate, it would be much more convenient to return to the Upper Realm.
Bai Tang strongly agreed. However, the storyline of this world had not yet come to an end, so they could not return just yet. Therefore, Jiang Liangwu decided to make the already chaotic struggle for the throne even more chaotic and accelerate the progression of the plot.
When the Empress heard that Jiang Liangwu had returned—and had even brought a child back with him—she immediately summoned them. Early the next morning, she got up before dawn and sat upright in the main hall of Kunning Palace, eagerly awaiting their arrival.
…
Third Prince’s Residence
Jiang Liangwu first washed Tang Tang while he was still half-asleep, then had the servants bring breakfast. Only afterward did he carefully pick up the little squirrel and slowly transfer spiritual energy into him.
The little squirrel had inherited Tang Tang’s habit of curling up while sleeping. When he felt the spiritual energy flowing into him, he stretched his tiny body contentedly and opened his eyes for the first time.
His round, chubby eyes stared at his father above him, and he happily chirped.
“Zhi~” Father~
The little squirrel had already developed consciousness while he was still in Tang Tang’s womb. He loved it most when his father transferred spiritual energy into him. It could be said that the little squirrel had grown up surrounded by the love and affection of both his father and papa.
“Aww, good boy, Lili~”
The little squirrel had been born just as dawn was breaking, so they named him Jiang Xinli, a name symbolizing light and hope.
“In a little while, we’re going to the palace to visit your grandmother in this world. Is Lili ready?” Jiang Liangwu asked with utmost tenderness.
Watching him from the side while eating breakfast, Bai Tang became jealous.
A-Wu used to hold him while he ate breakfast. Now he was holding Lili instead.
A-Wu used to coax him to sleep. Now he coaxed Lili to sleep first, and only then did he coax Bai Tang…
“A-Wu~”
The young man pouted, his limpid eyes shimmering with tears. “Do you love me more, or do you love Lili more?”
Jiang Liangwu: “!!!”
The alarm bells immediately went off in his head.
Answer carefully. This is a life-or-death question.
Bai Tang did love children. He was simply a little jealous. He loved their little squirrel just as much as Jiang Liangwu did. He knew he was being unreasonable, but he still wanted to ask.
Jiang Liangwu wrapped one arm around Tang Tang and held the little squirrel in his palm out in front of him. “I love you both. Tang Tang and Lili are both my precious treasures—one is my big treasure, and one is my little treasure…” After all, without Tang Tang, how could they have their adorable Lili?
Lili was a very obedient little one. He seemed to sense that Father and Papa were having a disagreement, so without hesitation, he took Papa’s side.
He wriggled and wriggled, using all four tiny paws to clumsily crawl out of Jiang Liangwu’s palm. Seeing him wobbling precariously, Tang Tang immediately reached out to catch him. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the little squirrel climbed into Tang Tang’s palm and waved his paws at Jiang Liangwu. “Zhi~” Don’t bully Papa.
“Zhi zhi~~” Papa, don’t be scared. I’ll protect you~
The little squirrel certainly had a temper. Although he liked Father, he could better understand how much Papa had gone through. After all, Papa was the one who had given him his flesh and blood. He especially loved listening to Papa tell him little squirrel stories every night.
Lili did not yet know that all the little squirrel stories Papa told him had actually come from Jiang Liangwu. They were stories Jiang Liangwu had once told Tang Tang back when they were in a mission world.
Jiang Liangwu was both amused and exasperated, while Bai Tang’s heart warmed. This was his child.
“Good boy, Lili~ Papa loves Lili the most~” Tang Tang stretched out his index finger and gently stroked the little squirrel’s head. His two little pointed ears flattened against his head, and he affectionately rubbed himself against Tang Tang’s finger, enjoying all the love from Papa.
“Zhi~” Lili loves Papa the most~
Jiang Liangwu sighed and was about to continue transferring spiritual energy into the little squirrel when, unexpectedly, Lili resisted.
“Zhi zhi zhi~~” No, no! Don’t bully Papa! I don’t want Father’s spiritual energy!
The little squirrel struggled, but unfortunately, he was too small for his words—or rather, his strength—to carry much weight. His tiny efforts were nothing in front of Jiang Liangwu.
Holding him in his hands, Tang Tang said gently, “Good boy, Lili~ A Wu didn’t bully me. We’re going to the palace today to meet your grandmother, and your little squirrel form might frighten her.”
Only after hearing his beloved Papa say this did Lili stop struggling. However, he insisted that Jiang Liangwu apologize to Tang Tang before he would accept any more spiritual energy.
Jiang Liangwu raised an eyebrow. This little thing certainly had quite a temper. But when it came to apologizing to his big treasure, he was already an expert.
He placed the little squirrel on a soft cushion, then wrapped his arms around Tang Tang and nuzzled against him. “It was my fault. I neglected Tang Tang. Lili is such a lonely little squirrel. How about we have another little squirrel to keep Lili company…”
The man breathed softly against the young man’s ear, while his hands began wandering mischievously as well. Tang Tang’s entire face flushed from the teasing. After giving birth to Lili, his body seemed to have become even more sensitive.
“Don’t. Lili is still here. We’ll teach the child something he shouldn’t learn~” Tang Tang’s mind was being overwhelmed by desire, yet he still remembered to consider their child.
This was an easy problem to solve. Neither father was an ordinary person. Jiang Liangwu simply waved his hand and set up a barrier around Lili’s little cushion. There. Now they couldn’t possibly teach the child anything inappropriate.
Lili, who had perked up his ears and heard Papa’s suppressed “painful” sounds: I’m deaf. I can’t hear anything. No, wait—Father is bullying Papa again! And he called that an apology? Liar! Men are all liars!!!
Lili rolled left and right, only to bounce back whenever he bumped into the elastic barrier. His little body had limited energy, and he soon exhausted himself and became sleepy. His last thought before falling asleep was: Once my hearing recovers, I’m definitely going to make that big liar pay!
…
At Kunning Palace, the Empress kept gazing hopefully toward the entrance. She was practically burning with impatience, yet she was too embarrassed to send someone to hurry them along.
“Xiao Xi, what time is it?” The Empress lifted her teacup, only to discover that it had been empty for quite some time.
Xiao Xi replied, “Your Majesty, it is already noon.”
Noon already? It certainly wasn’t early anymore. The Empress finally found an excuse to send someone to fetch them.
“Keep the food in the small kitchen warm. Has the baby’s goat’s milk been prepared? Kang’er and Tang Tang have no experience caring for a child, and they don’t even have an experienced matron with them. Xiao Xi, go to the palace gates and see if they’ve arrived yet. Don’t let the baby go hungry…”
Xiao Xi hurried off at her command, but as soon as she reached the entrance of Kunning Palace, she saw Jiang Liangwu arriving with Bai Tang and their child.
“Your Majesty, the Third Prince, the Third Prince’s Consort, and the little prince have arrived!” Xiao Xi hurried back to report.
The Empress was so delighted that she immediately rose from the soft couch and personally went out to welcome them.
“Your son pays his respects to Mother.”
Jiang Liangwu and Bai Tang had just begun to bow when the Empress came straight over to them—and promptly snatched the baby away.
“No need for formalities. Oh my, my precious grandson! He’s so adorable~” The moment the Empress saw Lili, her entire attention was focused on the child. She had completely forgotten whether Jiang Liangwu had even managed to finish his salute.
In human form, the little squirrel had inherited all the best features of Jiang Liangwu and Bai Tang. He had delicate, handsome features and soft, fair skin. When the Empress lowered her head and took a closer sniff, she caught the sweet scent of milk lingering on him. She was so enamored that she practically wanted to cherish him in the very depths of her heart.
“Have you given the child a name?” the Empress asked with a beaming smile, though she showed no intention whatsoever of handing him back. She simply held him tightly in her arms.
Jiang Liangwu replied, “We have. Xinli. He was born in the early morning.”
“Xinli… Lili. What a lovely name.” The Empress lowered her head and gently stroked the baby’s cheek. “Lili, I’m your grandmother. Lili…”
“Gigglegiggle…”
Lili could sense people’s emotions. Knowing that the Empress genuinely loved him, he was more than happy to reward her with a smile. His bright, soft, adorable grin had the Empress repeatedly calling his name, completely captivated by the little squirrel.
“Lili smiled at me! Lili~” The Empress was so excited that she even abandoned her usual formal way of referring to herself as “this palace.” She hugged the baby and planted kiss after kiss on his little face.
When it came to spoiling the child, the Empress was certainly no less enthusiastic than anyone else.
“Oh, right, Xiao Xi, quickly bring up the goat’s milk we prepared. Lili must be getting hungry.” The Empress hurriedly gave the order. Then she looked up and saw the two of them still sitting below her. Confused, she asked, “Why are you two still here?”
Jiang Liangwu & Bai Tang: “…”
“Mother, Lili likes sweet things. You can add a little sugar and dissolve it in the milk…” Bai Tang refused to be outdone. Using Lili’s preferences as an excuse, he successfully caught the Empress’s attention.
“Really? Oh my, Mother had no idea! So our Lili likes sweet things. Just like Lili himself—sweet as can be…” The Empress lowered her head and gave Lili’s little cheek a loud mwah. Then she waved Tang Tang over to sit beside her so they could have a proper discussion about Lili’s likes and dislikes.
Lili adored his fragrant, affectionate grandmother. He kept flashing her his sweetest smiles, making the Empress absolutely delighted.
Xiao Xi brought over the goat’s milk. When the Empress looked up and saw that Jiang Liangwu was still sitting there, she simply waved him away.
“I know you’re busy with important matters. You can go. Mother will take good care of Lili and your wife.”
Jiang Liangwu: “…”
He had lost his son, and now he was about to lose his husband too. Absolutely not!
“I’m not busy, Mother. Really, I’m not busy at all.” How could he possibly leave his husband and child behind? No. Absolutely not. Even if it was his own mother, he still couldn’t do it!
“Then tell me, why did you arrive so late today?” The Empress had been perfectly fine until this subject came up. Now, she had plenty to say.
This time, it was Bai Tang’s turn to blush. His eyes filled with emotion as he glared at Jiang Liangwu, warning him not to say anything he shouldn’t.
That one look from Tang Tang nearly melted Jiang Liangwu on the spot. Tang Tang was becoming more and more irresistible. How could he possibly go against him?
So he said, “Lili wasn’t feeling very well this morning, so we were a little late.”
The Empress was shocked. She immediately ordered someone to call for the imperial physician, then glared angrily at Jiang Liangwu.
“I told you that you have no experience! Lili is still so tiny. How could he possibly withstand being tossed around by some random doctor you found outside? Starting today, Tang Tang and Lili will stay at Kunning Palace. You can take Lili back once he turns one.”
“Mother is right. I agree with Mother’s suggestion.” Bai Tang immediately chimed in from the side, partly because it would help him escape Jiang Liangwu’s plans to give Lili a little brother or sister.
Jiang Liangwu: “!!!”
I let my guard down. I’ve lost both my husband and my son.