The emperor, mentally strained for days with little rest, was overwhelmed by the shock of the twin news. He was simply too happy—so he fainted.
No one knew how long Xiao Yun laid there, unconscious on the bed, until his eyes suddenly opened wide. Disoriented, he heard faint voices speaking.
He turned toward the door and saw Jiang Huaiyi talking quietly with Xie Zhe. After a few words, Jiang Huaiyi gave him a soft smile and left, while Xie Zhe came inside.
Seeing Xiao Yun awake, he let out a breath of relief. “Your Maj—”
“Hahahahahaha!”
Xiao Yun’s sudden laughter cut him off.
“…Your Majesty?”
“Hahahahaha!” Xiao Yun started rolling on the bed in his boots. “How did I become a Royal Father?! This is so strange, so unbelievable. Just… just a few hours and now I’m the father of two kids! Hahaha…”
Xie Zhe watched the wriggling emperor on the bed, expression unreadable.
“Chu Chu is amazing—no, I am amazing! I’m a father now, with two kids! Hahaha…”
The once neat bedding was now in complete disarray, half the quilt hanging off, the canopy swaying with his movements like it might collapse at any moment.
It was winter, bitterly cold, but Xiao Yun seemed to be on something. He laughed hysterically for a while, then his face suddenly changed. He sprang upright, expression shifting under Xie Zhe’s sympathetic gaze. “How long was I out?”
“Two hours…?” Xie Zhe guessed.
Xiao Yun’s face stiffened. He jumped off the bed. “Oh no, oh no!! Chu Chu must think I don’t care about him anymore now that I have kids!!”
“Why didn’t you wake me up?!”
Furious, Xiao Yun rushed out, only to find a crowd gathered outside the bedroom door.
“Let me hold them! Let me!”
“Quiet! I just held them!”
“Liar! You held them forever!”
“I’ve served longer in court—my turn next!”
Xiao Yun’s face darkened to an extreme.
In the two hours he’d been unconscious, who knew how many people had already held his babies?
The two swaddled infants finally made their way into Liu Yun’s arms. The old man cradled one in each hand, both his arms and face trembling.
Xiao Yun stormed forward.
Liu Yun, beaming, called out, “Your Majesty!! You’re awake! Come take a look!”
Xiao Yun approached.
Liu Yun leaned in so that the babies’ faces were right in front of him, plump and dewy. “The princess is so beautiful—looks just like you, big eyes and bold brows!”
He wanted to show off the prince too—just needed to turn a little—but instead spun around in place like a weirdo. “The prince looks like Caiqing! Look at his features…”
Xiao Yun: “Give them to me!”
Only then did Liu Yun realize the emperor’s face was frighteningly dark—as if he might kill them all for stealing the first cuddle.
Liu Yun reluctantly passed over the twins just before Xiao Yun lost his temper.
With a baby in each arm, Xiao Yun felt their weight and his heart pounded chaotically, his steps a little unsteady.
He marched into the room with long strides, leaving behind a trail of ministers gazing longingly at the babies.
Jiang Huaichu laid on the bed. Though his face was a little pale, he didn’t look too worn out—just weak. His hair was loose, body curled slightly under a brocade quilt. When he saw Xiao Yun, his calm eyes lit up noticeably, making Xiao Yun feel even more guilty.
Chu Chu must’ve been waiting for him this whole time. And he… had passed out.
Xiao Yun: “Chu Chu… I’m late…”
“Bring them over. Let me see.”
Xiao Yun: “……?”
“Chu Chu?”
“What are you doing just standing there? Bring them over.”
Xiao Yun looked stunned. “…Chu Chu?”
Jiang Huaichu looked back at him with confusion.
Suddenly, Xiao Yun didn’t feel like handing them over. Begrudgingly, he shuffled over and placed the babies side-by-side at Jiang Huaichu’s bedside.
Jiang Huaichu’s gaze was instantly drawn to them. He pushed himself up slightly—only to wince. Xiao Yun immediately moved to support him, watching as he reached out with pale fingers to touch their soft, chubby cheeks, gently caressing one, then the other, his heart swelling with warmth and emotion.
Jiang Huaichu still seemed in disbelief, touching them like he was confirming again and again that they were his and Xiao Yun’s children.
The babies were sound asleep—quiet and peaceful.
After all the fuss and worry, the birth had gone smoothly.
The babies were healthy, perfect, and incredibly beautiful.
Jiang Huaichu had never imagined having two children. A deep sense of fulfillment welled up in him, softening his entire demeanor.
Xiao Yun crouched down so that he was level with the two children, pressing up beside them, and said unhappily, “Chuchu, I want it too.”
Jiang Huaichu looked at him blankly. “Want what?”
“To be touched.”
Jiang Huaichu choked, his still-pale face instantly flushing red. “Go away.”
“I want to be touched, I do. You can’t be biased.”
“Xiao Yun, how old are you? Fighting with children out of jealousy—”
Xiao Yun snorted and had already taken Jiang Huaichu’s hand, pulling it to rub against his stubbly cheek, moving it back and forth petulantly.
“I am jealous. You told me before—when it comes to children, everything has to be fair. Well, I’m the same as them! Whatever they get, I want too! Don’t leave me out!”
Jiang Huaichu was so exasperated he laughed. “Xiao Yun, you’re ridiculous… are you going to drink milk like them too?”
Xiao Yun seriously considered it, gave Jiang Huaichu a glance, and grinned. “Well… I wouldn’t say no?”
“…” Jiang Huaichu’s face turned bright red. Embarrassed and annoyed, he tried to pull his hand back. “Go away.”
Not only did Xiao Yun refuse to move, he leaned his face closer, held Jiang Huaichu gently, letting him rest against his chest. This time, he dropped the joking tone, his voice soft. “Chuchu, does it hurt?”
His hand hurt from Xiao Yun’s stubble, but Xiao Yun still wouldn’t let go. Jiang Huaichu said, “It’s okay.”
It had hurt, but thankfully it hadn’t lasted long.
Though he was talking to Xiao Yun, Jiang Huaichu kept glancing toward the head of the bed. At last, he couldn’t help but ask, “Was it a boy or a girl?”
Xiao Yun looked confused. “You don’t know?”
Jiang Huaichu replied, “Mm, it was too noisy in there at the time, I didn’t catch it. Then I was so tired I fell asleep. When I woke up, the babies were already gone—someone said they’d been snatched up to be taken outside and shown off. I just sent Taifei out to bring them back when you arrived.”
Xiao Yun let out a breath of relief.
So Chuchu hadn’t been the first to hold the babies either.
That pack of mutts actually dared to take the babies away behind their backs, stealing their first-hold rights.
At this rate, they’d be the hundredth in line to carry them.
How utterly disrespectful!
Xiao Yun said, “One little princess, one little prince.”
Jiang Huaichu froze.
He had imagined it could be a girl, or a boy—but never that it would be both at once.
As he basked in this joy, one of the babies near the head of the bed suddenly began to wail.
The two of them exchanged a glance and immediately fumbled about in panic. Jiang Huaichu picked the baby up, glanced down, and, seeing the delicate features, spoke softly: “Don’t cry, daughter.”
Xiao Yun leaned forward for a better look. His expression shifted slightly. He rubbed his nose. “That might be the boy…”
Jiang Huaichu’s arms stiffened. “…”
He looked down in disbelief at the baby still on the bed, whose deep-set features and large, alert eyes blinked up at him: “…That one’s the girl?”
“Mm… Liu Yun told me, I wasn’t sure, let me check.”
Not wanting to offend the little princess, Xiao Yun calmly lifted the swaddling cloth of the baby in Jiang Huaichu’s arms, stared with great seriousness, and spoke gravely, “Yep, no mistake. You’re holding the boy. That one’s the girl.”
Jiang Huaichu: “…”
Xiao Yun: “I don’t hit little girls. The boy probably looks like you on purpose, afraid he’ll get beaten by me or his uncle. Smart little guy.”
Jiang Huaichu: “…”
…
Because there were too many people spoiling the children, if Jiang Huaichu and Xiao Yun so much as looked away, the kids would disappear.
Thankfully, everyone in the residence had been vetted and trusted—there was never any real danger.
As it turned out, the stress of parenting had been entirely in their heads. With so many people helping, Jiang Huaichu wouldn’t even see the babies unless he asked for them. Sometimes he even wondered if he had really given birth at all.
For the first few days, Xiao Yun was either out searching for the babies or trying to reclaim them. Every time he finally reached the person who supposedly took them, they would angrily report that someone else had come by, and snatched them away while they weren’t looking. Then Xiao Yun would rush to that person, only to be told another person had taken the babies. It was endless.
Eventually, Xiao Yun gave up on the chase and just assigned shadow guards to keep watch at all times.
That turned out to be the better way. Since Jiang Huaichu didn’t need to nurse the babies himself, both he and Xiao Yun—after weeks of constant stress—were finally able to get a good night’s sleep. Xiao Yun could finally stay close and rest with him.
Jiang Huaichu recovered well, and within days was already out of bed. One afternoon after waking from a nap, he saw Xiao Yun sitting at the desk, uncharacteristically holding a book in one hand and writing on rice paper with the other. Puzzled, he walked over, and saw the paper covered with strange little red-and-black stick figures. He looked for a while but couldn’t make any sense of it. “…What is this?”
Xiao Yun was so focused he hadn’t noticed him get up. He brightened and brought the sheet over excitedly. “I’m making picture books for the kids!”
“…They’ve only been born for a few days.”
“Even prenatal education is a thing! Of course postnatal education is important!”
Jiang Huaichu, fearing he would start lecturing again about the importance of early childhood education, quickly agreed: “You’re right. So what is this drawing?”
Xiao Yun looked at him like he’d grown a second head. “Isn’t it obvious?!”
Jiang Huaichu: “…”
An awkward silence followed. Xiao Yun, disappointed by his husband’s lack of appreciation, slumped. “I’ve been flipping through history books, collecting little examples—thirty-six good deeds, thirty-six bad deeds—planning to illustrate them with simple captions to teach the kids right from wrong.”
“Forget it, forget it!” Xiao Yun tossed the book aside and stood up. “This isn’t for me. I’ll just go beat the bookshelf instead.”
“…Why don’t I draw, and you write?” Jiang Huaichu offered with a gentle smile.
Xiao Yun’s eyes lit up instantly.
Following Xiao Yun’s descriptions, Jiang Huaichu began sketching. As Xiao Yun watched the lifelike little figures come to life on the paper, then looked at the calm, upright figure beside him, he became more and more convinced of how important it was to have their son learn music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and etiquette from an early age.
A man who is proficient in the arts and refined in manners—what charm he would have. Enough to move the hearts of the world.
Casually, Jiang Huaichu said, “You seem to be getting along well with royal brother lately?”
“…”
Every time Xiao Yun looked at his daughter’s face, it was like skipping forward ten years—he felt a vague sense of shared understanding with Jiang Huaiyi. And with that empathy came a much more peaceful relationship.
Jiang Huaichu said, “It seems royal brother and Xie Zhe have a good relationship?”
Yesterday when he was out, he saw Xie Zhe playing chess with his royal brother.
Xiao Yun replied, “Many years ago, Xie Zhe was ambushed and severely wounded at the border. He recovered at Miluo Manor. He was probably in his teens back then. At the time, he didn’t know it was the emperor of Nanruo. They became friends—pretty close, I think. I don’t know the details. Once he recovered, they each went their own way. Haven’t been in contact for years.”
“I see,” Jiang Huaichu said.
Now he finally understood why Xie Zhe had let him go back then.
Maybe, back then, when he felt inexplicably drawn to Xie Zhe, it was because he sensed a shadow of his royal brother in him.
Speaking of the past, Xiao Yun paused and said, “And your poison…”
Jiang Huaichu said, “And your medical skills…”
The two spoke almost in unison. They looked at each other, paused for a few seconds, and both laughed.
Xiao Yun asked, “Your ancestors from Nanruo… could it be…”
Jiang Huaichu replied, “Yes. She was still alive back then and taught me how to use poison. Later she roamed the world.”
Nanruo was known for its poisonous insects, and its mastery of poisons was renowned.
As he spoke, Jiang Huaichu’s eyes showed a faint wistfulness.
That person, in the earliest years of his life, never showed him warmth, but taught him how to protect himself.
The night he completed his training, she left quietly, alone.
Jiang Huaichu looked at Xiao Yun. “Your ancestor later moved to Nanruo… was it also because of…”
Xiao Yun said, “Mm. Back then, due to their difference in status, he let her down. Later he regretted it, abandoned his fame, and went searching for her. But she never agreed to see him again, and he never found her.”
He sighed. “The Miluo information network spread across the world—its original purpose was just to find her. That was why Miluo Manor was founded.”
Jiang Huaichu said, “Maybe she forgave him… but was no longer in this world.”
Xiao Yun said, “Still, it’s a lingering thought. Maybe one day she’ll return. Maybe bringing the two of us together is his way of fulfilling the regrets of his youth.”
He wrapped his arms around Jiang Huaichu from behind and smiled. “Love in this world is hard to make sense of. But to pick the right one out of a messy tangle—I’m so lucky. Though really, it’s because I’m smart.”
Jiang Huaichu turned and smiled. Rare for him to get sentimental—yet he still had to brag at the end.
He looked at the man bathed in sunlight.
Anyone else wouldn’t have come back for him.
That’s why in this world, there’s only one Xiao Yun. The one and only Xiao Yun.
His heart ached for this man, moved for him again and again.
…
That night, lights glittered faintly. Jiang Huaichu went outside—and froze at what he saw.
Xiao Yun was sitting cross-legged on the ground, cradling their pink-cheeked little daughter on his lap. He was holding her chubby arms up, pressing his face against hers, and saying: “Your Royal Father is the number one scoundrel in the world, that’s how I tricked your other Daddy. So to keep you from getting swindled by the second biggest scoundrel in the world, listen up!”
The little girl: “Waaaaaaahhh.”
“Let me tell you—men can’t be trusted. All men are greasy pigs in denial. They think with what’s down there, they’re fickle, and always think wildflowers smell better than home flowers. All their sweet words are just to get you into bed or knock you up so they can marry you and save on bride price.”
“They’re all beasts. They want to steal away Royal Father’s little princess, whom I’ve raised with such care. They want to make you leave home, leave Daddy and Royal Father behind, and have you bear their children out of love. But our little princess won’t fall for that, right? You won’t make your Daddy and Royal Father sad and upset.”
The little girl sobbed harder. “Waaaaaahhh.”
“I’m telling you—when a man gives you gifts, it’s for that thing. When a man says he loves you, it’s for that thing too. When a man—never mind, you’re too young to understand. I’ll just teach you. If any dog-man dares come near…”
Xiao Yun lifted the little girl’s leg. “Kick him. Like this.”
Tears streamed from the girl’s eyes. “Waaaaahhhh!”
Xiao Yun waved her tiny pink fists. “Royal Father will teach you martial arts, make you the strongest in the world. Kick! Just kick hard! Kick him so bad he has to come crying to me! And don’t you dare turn out like your Daddy—be like your Royal Father and take what you want with force—”
“CHUCHU!!” Xiao Yun looked up and nearly burst a blood vessel.
Jiang Huaichu stood there, a smile not quite a smile.
Truly, a dog-man is sometimes a man… and sometimes just a dumb dog.
Author’s Note:
And with that, the story is complete!
Some rambling thoughts—I honestly didn’t expect so many of you to love this book. It’s not a pure fluff piece, and it’s not a grand political drama. It was just an idea I had on a whim, something I really wanted to write. The “toxic points” are obvious, and I thought it would be pretty niche. I’m not even that good at this kind of story—but I loved it too much not to try. The fact that you’ve been with me all the way through serialization was such a pleasant surprise. Thank you so much.
After much thought, I’ve decided not to write a detailed side story about raising their daughter. Every day between Xiao Dog and Chuchu is full of shy sweetness. Writing about the kid would mean skipping years at a time—one year old, then suddenly several—and I just can’t bear to do that. To me, they’re real, vivid people. The story ends, but their lives continue.
Another novel completed!!! Thank you to all the readers who joined us on this journey and supported my translations, it really does mean a lot!!! <3 If you enjoyed the translations and the novel, please make sure to give the novel a good rating and review on Novelupdates or donate on Ko-fi or Paypal <3P.S. Go check out the other amazing novels being translated on this site :))
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