Chapter 49
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“Alright, since Second Sister hasn’t seen Little Seven in such a long time, she must be very anxious.”
Upon hearing about his Second Sister, Murong Xu, although reluctant to part with his precious little one, didn’t insist on keeping him.
Seeing his reluctance, Murong Xue casually remarked, “If you like children so much, you can have your wife give you one after you get married.”
Murong Xu quickly waved his hand at this suggestion. “Big Sister, I’m not in a hurry to get married.”
Having just come of age, he still wanted to enjoy his carefree days for a while longer.
To prevent his sister from bringing up marriage again, Murong Xu turned around and hurried to her room.
The door was slightly ajar.
Murong Xu pushed the door open and saw the little one sprawled out on the bed. He went over and laid down beside him, watching the little one’s sleeping face from the side.
“These eyelashes are so long.”
Murong Xu, looking at Little Seven’s thick and curled long eyelashes, couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch them.
The long eyelashes, the cute little nose, and the chubby cheeks—there wasn’t a single feature that wasn’t adorable.
Murong Xu admired the little one’s face and thought to himself…
If in the future I can really have such a cute child, getting married wouldn’t be out of the question.
Murong Xu wasn’t just admiring; he couldn’t resist reaching out to touch.
The sleeping little one was touched and kissed, and after a while, he wrinkled his small face, woke up with a look of wanting to cry.
“Sleepy.”
Even the normally easygoing little one, being tossed around like this, was so angry he kicked his legs straight. He closed his eyes and reached out, grabbing the mischievous hand of his little uncle.
When Murong Xu saw him move, he kissed him again, “Little Seven, wake up quickly. Uncle will take you out to play.”
Under the persistent wake-up calls from his little uncle, Ling Rui on the bed finally slowly opened his eyes.
He yawned, his small hands forming chubby fists, rubbing his eyes.
Murong Xu found Ling Rui’s yawning and eye-rubbing appearance so cute, “Little Seven, tell me, are you trying to make Uncle kiss you on purpose?”
Ling Rui: “…”
Ling Rui looked puzzled, “Huh?”
What was his uncle talking about?
After a bit of roughhousing between the big and small on the bed, Ling Rui finally managed to shake off his sleepiness. He sat on the bed and obediently let his little uncle dress him in clothes and little shoes.
“Uncle, did you see Ah Wu?” Ling Rui, now awake, asked his little uncle.
Thinking of Ah Wu still in his room, Murong Xu complained to Ling Rui indignantly, “Little Seven, Ah Wu is very rude!”
Ling Rui was taken aback and retorted, “Polite.”
“No, he’s not.”
Murong Xu was very sure, “He shows me no respect at all.”
Ling Rui: “…”
Ling Rui woke up wanting to resolve the conflict between Ah Wu and his little uncle. He scratched his head in worry.
“Uncle, Ah Wu is really good.”
Ling Rui tried hard to speak of Ah Wu’s merits, but even after talking for a long time, his little uncle still didn’t buy it.
Just as the two were glaring at each other face to face, Murong Xue, who had put away her sword, returned.
“Little Seven, have you finished washing up? I’ve asked someone to bring breakfast.”
“Not yet.”
“Let your uncle wash you up.”
With Murong Xue present, Murong Xu temporarily gave up on complaining further. He picked up the little one and went to wash his hands and face.
After washing his little hands and face, Ling Rui looked at his uncle with concern and asked, “Uncle, what does Ah Wu eat?”
“Don’t worry, he won’t let himself go hungry.”
Murong Xu knew a little about Ah Wu: “You eat your meal properly. Don’t mind him. After eating, I’ll take you out for a good walk.”
“Okay!”
Ling Rui could eat on his own early on, but here, it was either Murong Xue feeding him or Murong Xu feeding him.
The children of the Murong family were independent early, but Murong Xue and Murong Xu never thought of making Ling Rui self-sufficient.
“Uncle, eat veggies.”
Sitting on the chair, Ling Rui asked for veggies on his own initiative.
Murong Xu tried to feed him meat, but he turned his little face away and refused to eat it.
“Eating only veggies won’t give you enough nutrition. Have a bit of meat.” Murong Xu continued to feed him bits of meat.
Ling Rui closed his mouth tightly, resolutely shaking his little head.
After a standoff for a while, Murong Xu had no choice but to give him a spoonful of greens.
“I wonder what’s wrong. I remember you used to love eating meat.” Murong Xu wondered.
Ling Rui didn’t say a word, just eating his greens.
After finishing his greens, he didn’t even want goat’s milk, instead drinking tons of plain water.
Murong Xu was baffled.
He had seen picky children before, but other picky children refused veggies and preferred meat. Their little one was doing the opposite.
After eating his fill, Ling Rui patted his little belly contentedly.
He opened his small hands, asking Murong Xu to carry him: “Uncle, let’s go play!”
Murong Xu smiled, lifted him up, and hoisted him onto his neck: “Let’s fly, Little Seven, let’s fly!”
As Murong Xu spoke, he ran forward.
Ling Rui sat on his neck, holding his head tightly, nervous yet excited.
The two left the general’s mansion, and Ling Rui was about to call Ah Wu, but before he could finish his words, his little uncle took him away running.
They climbed to the top of a tall building in the border city.
Standing on the high building and looking outside, they saw the vast and spectacular scenery that seemed endless.
Murong Xu pointed ahead and said to him, “From here, fifty li ahead, is actually our land.”
“In the future, I will definitely take back this fifty li of land.”
This fifty li of land had been lost long ago. Originally, there was more than fifty li, but his eldest sister had reduced their occupied land to just fifty li.
“Little Seven, after you go back, take good care of yourself, grow tall. Uncle will bring you over to play in the future.”
“Okay.”
Ling Rui liked it here. He liked the people here more than the scenery.
Just now, as they walked all the way from the street, he sat on his uncle’s neck and was asked many questions by many people.
Everyone knew he was from the Murong family and handed him food, praising him.
After spending most of the day outside, Murong Xu led him to eat the special snacks of the border city.
From morning till night.
Ling Rui stayed with Murong Xu all day, not even taking a nap.
Late at night, when Ling Rui, who had been brought back to the mansion, was still eating an extra serving of egg custard, he suddenly tilted his head and fell asleep with his mouth open.
Murong Xu withdrew the spoon from his mouth and called to him, “Little Seven? Little Seven, are you asleep already?”
Ling Rui, with egg crumbs still on his lips, slept soundly.
Seeing this scene when she came in, Murong Xue frowned slightly and said, “You tired him out so much today, are you trying to exhaust him?”
“I thought if I made him a bit tired, he wouldn’t have the energy to cry when he leaves tomorrow.”
Murong Xu still remembered the last time he left, this little guy cried quite a bit.
In the letter from his second sister, it said that the little one not only cried, but also threw tantrums. He didn’t eat properly for several days.
“Oh right, have you told Little Seven that he’s leaving tomorrow?” Murong Xue asked.
Murong Xu was taken aback, “You mean you didn’t tell him?”
Murong Xue frowned even more deeply, “I thought you did.”
The siblings looked at each other, both silent at that moment.
The people who came to send the little one off had already made arrangements.
But the little one still didn’t know he was leaving.
Murong Xu glanced at the sleeping child and, after a long silence, said, “If we wake him now to tell him, he’d probably be furious.”
“Let’s wait until tomorrow morning,” Murong Xu continued.
After saying this, he looked at the little one, seeming to have the urge to slip away.
Murong Xue gave him a cold glance and said, “You come back tomorrow morning to tell Little Seven. If you don’t, I’ll break your legs.”
With that, Murong Xue sent Murong Xu away. She cleaned up the little one and held him as she drifted off to sleep.
The next day.
Upon hearing the news that he was leaving, the little one indeed lifted his tear-streaked face and started crying.
Murong Xu comforted him, “Don’t you want to go back to see your mother and father? What about your brothers and sisters?”
“I want, I want,” the little one sobbed. His small hands gripped Murong Xu’s arm, his pretty face covered in tears. “I also want to see Uncle and Aunt.”
He wanted to see both Uncle and Aunt, as well as his father and mother.
With his emotions torn between both sides, the little one cried even harder.
Murong Xu had no choice but to patiently console him.
After consoling him for who knows how long, Murong Xu finally managed to quiet his cries a bit. “Here, have some water.”
Murong Xu kept offering him water, afraid he might get dehydrated from crying.
Ling Rui drank obediently, but after finishing, he cried a couple more times.
Originally scheduled to leave in the morning, due to the little one’s crying, they postponed it to the afternoon.
Before departing, Ling Rui packed quite a few things.
Murong Xu hung the small parcels prepared for him around Ah Wu’s neck. Several small parcels hung there, which looked a bit funny at first glance.
But considering they were all for the little one, Ah Wu glanced at Murong Xu but didn’t protest.
“I know you want to personally escort Little Seven, but please keep a low profile on the way,” Murong Xu said, emboldened by the presence of his child, reaching out to pat Ah Wu’s head.
Ah Wu gave him a cold look, causing Murong Xu to retract his hand.
After instructing Ah Wu, Murong Xu turned to Little Seven. “Little Seven, when you go back, listen to your mother, eat well, grow strong, and stay healthy. Understand?”
Ling Rui nodded his little head.
He hugged Murong Xu and rubbed against him, saying anxiously, “Uncle, be careful too, don’t get hurt.”
“Don’t worry, your uncle is tough,” Murong Xu kissed his little cheek, reluctant to let him go as he handed him over to Ah Wu.
Murong Xue had arranged for people to accompany Ling Rui, but Murong Xu knew that Ah Wu was the most reliable for safely bringing the little one back.
Sure enough, shortly after they set off, Ah Wu took Ling Rui away, putting him on his back and leaving the others far behind.
Upon hearing this news, Murong Xue was about to chase after them but was stopped by Murong Xu.
It was only then that Murong Xu mentioned Ah Wu’s ability.
Murong Xue’s eyelids twitched. “Since Ah Wu is so capable, how can you guarantee that he will bring Little Seven back instead of taking him away?”
Murong Xu was at a loss for words.
He explained, “Ah Wu will definitely bring him back. If Ah Wu doesn’t bring him back, then…”
Murong Xu trailed off.
He had not spent much time with Ah Wu. He only knew that Ah Wu was solitary in nature, not close to others, and had a bad temper, but he was exceptionally good to Little Seven.
Apart from that, he didn’t know where Ah Wu lived or whether he would take Little Seven away to raise him.
“Sister, should we, should we chase after them?” Murong Xu stuttered.
Murong Xue pressed her temple and lectured her younger brother, “Little Xu, sometimes you’re too careless in your considerations.”
Murong Xu said nothing, obediently listening to the reprimand.
Murong Xue sent someone to chase after them, but whether they could catch up, she couldn’t guarantee.
According to Murong Xu, Ah Wu was very fast. Even if she sent someone to chase after him, they might not be able to catch up.
Ah Wu did indeed run very fast.
Ling Rui laid on his back, and Ah Wu nearly stumbled once when he carried him.
“Ah Wu, I’m tied up good and tight.”
During a break, Ling Rui found a piece of cloth and tied himself securely to Ah Wu’s back.
This way, he could sleep on Ah Wu’s back without fear of falling off.
After seeing Ling Rui securely tied, Ah Wu didn’t immediately start walking. He stood in place and asked Ling Rui, “Little one, do you want to come with me?”
Bringing the little one back was somewhat risky, but Ah Wu would do his utmost to protect him.
This question lingered for a while without an answer from the little one.
Ah Wu turned his head slightly, and then he saw Ling Rui’s tear-stained face.
Not only was his face wet with tears, but his voice also sounded sad, “Wuwuwu, why do I have to make choices again?”
Aunt Shali asked him to choose whether to be a little prince or a little undercover agent.
Uncle and mother also made it difficult for him to choose.
Now Ah Wu was also making him choose.
In just a few days, the little one who had to choose again and again couldn’t hold back anymore. He cried and threw a tantrum, “The little one is only one!”
He wants to accompany his uncles and aunts, and also wants to be with his parents, and he also wants to be with Ah Wu…
But there’s only one child, and he can’t be everywhere.
When Ah Wu heard him crying, he was silent for a few seconds before changing his mind, “Child, I won’t make you choose anymore.”
“When you grow up a little more, and I grow up a little more too, I will come to get you.”
Ah Wu was not satisfied with his identity and age as a human child. He was too limited, although so far, he had been gradually expanding his influence, but it was still not enough.
Ah Wu had always been ambitious. In the world of mountains and seas, his goal was to become the king of fierce beasts, with his own territory, so that the child could live and play freely in it.
Now that he was here, his ambition remained.
His current ambition was that everything he could see would belong to him.
He wanted to give the child a bigger territory.
Ah Wu was born a solitary beast. He had never been raised, nor did he have any experience in raising children.
The method he figured out to raise a child was to give the child he raised the largest territory and the best food.
“Child, we will arrive soon.”
Ah Wu changed the subject, comforting the aggrieved little one.
On this journey, they only had each other, but the little one didn’t feel bored at all.
Their bundle was filled with food, but Ah Wu would still occasionally find some fresh and sweet fruits, and catch some small fish and rabbits to roast for him to eat.
They traveled for a few days, and on the fourth day, Ah Wu brought the little one back.
Their destination was Luocheng.
When Emperor Ling received Murong Xue’s letter, he immediately set off for Luocheng and asked Murong Xue to send the child directly there.
Ah Wu arrived at night.
Although Ling Rui missed Noble Consort Yi very much, it was so late that he didn’t want to disturb her.
“I can wait a bit,” he said.
The little child clenched his fists, not wanting to interrupt Noble Consort Yi’s beauty sleep.
Sitting on Ah Wu’s back, he looked around the courtyard of the temporary palace. Finally, he puffed up his little face and made a decision: “I’ll go see Third Brother.”
“Last time I visited Third Brother at night, he wasn’t sleeping.”
Thinking of his “late-sleeping” Third Brother, the little child decided to visit him again and spend the night with him.
“Ah Wu, you need to sneak me in.”
Ling Rui hugged Ah Wu’s neck and whispered, “Don’t let anyone see, especially not the Empress.”
Ah Wu: “…”
Seeing the child’s sneaky expression, Ah Wu wanted to say something but ultimately chose to indulge him.
It was still the dead of night.
It was still by the window, but this time, instead of a knock, Ling Yi’s window was suddenly pushed open by a paw, and then the little child was shoved into the room.
The little child, unable to stand steadily, fell on his bottom.
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