When A’Bao gave birth prematurely, he wasn’t there to accompany her, which always left him feeling guilty. Combined with his longing for A’Bao, Xiao Rongyan wished he could sprout wings on his journey to the capital, yet he had to maintain composure and restraint. Thus, every moment of the journey to the capital was torment for him.

“His Majesty and the little prince and princess are already waiting for Prince Ninth in the great hall,” Wei Zhong said with a smile to Xiao Rongyan.

There were no imperial guards stationed outside the hall—they had all been arranged below the high platform.

Xiao Rongyan nodded, signaling for Yue Shi who was following behind him to wait here, then followed Wei Zhong toward the towering, brilliantly lit Ming’an Hall.

Watching the hall doors draw closer, Xiao Rongyan inexplicably felt a sense of nervousness. He was already a father.

Once, Xiao Rongyan had never imagined that one day he would have children, that he would become a father. He had thought he would dedicate his entire life’s energy to Yan.

A’Bao… was beyond his expectations, and the two children caught him completely off guard.

Xiao Rongyan wasn’t certain whether he would be a good father, because his own father had been so cold-blooded and ruthless toward his own flesh and blood. That man’s blood flowed through his veins, and he feared he too might not be a good father.

The doors of Ming’an Hall were slowly pushed open by Wei Zhong.

Layer upon layer of bright yellow curtains and gauze hangings descended from the beams above, secured with peony-shaped golden hooks studded with gems to the golden pillars on either side. White sandalwood incense rose in wisps from the Boshan incense burner. At the far end of the heavy curtains and golden gauze, on red carpeting embroidered with dragons and fortune patterns and covered with ivory mats, Bai Qingyan and Dong Shi each held a child in their arms. Chun Tao was kneeling at the edge of the ivory mat, saying something that brought smiles to both Bai Qingyan’s and Dong Shi’s faces.

Xiao Rongyan stood in place, watching this warm scene. The anxiety in his heart was momentarily soothed, and he couldn’t bear to disturb this heartwarming moment.

Wei Zhong was about to step forward and report to Bai Qingyan and Dong Shi, who were chatting and laughing and hadn’t noticed the hall doors opening, when Xiao Rongyan raised his hand to stop him.

This scene seemed to touch memories buried deep in Xiao Rongyan’s heart. Vaguely, he seemed to remember that when he was young… his mother and his father, who had not yet awakened from his stupor, would also spread ivory mats in the hall during summer, place a small ebony table with fruits and pastries, and his mother would hold him and his sister playing cat’s cradle. Under the flickering lamplight… his mother’s smile had been just as moving and beautiful.

Dong Shi covered her lips with a handkerchief and laughed softly, noticing Xiao Rongyan standing at the hall entrance in the corner of her eye.

Xiao Rongyan quickly came back to his senses, removed his mask and handed it to Wei Zhong, then bowed respectfully to Dong Shi from afar.

“A Yan has returned…” The smile in Dong Shi’s eyes deepened, filled with maternal love as she beckoned to Murong Yan. “Come quickly!”

After speaking, Dong Shi also instructed Chun Zhi: “Bring A Yan some sour plum soup.”

The capital had already grown hot in May. The sour plum soup was Nanny Tong’s specialty, prepared early. However, Bai Qingyan’s wasn’t chilled, only warm. Knowing Xiao Rongyan was coming, Dong Shi had specifically ordered a chilled bowl for him.

Hearing the word “returned,” Xiao Rongyan felt overwhelmed with gratitude. He walked respectfully and quickly toward Dong Shi, not even glancing at Bai Qingyan, only stopping not far from Dong Shi to kowtow again in a formal ceremony: “A Yan pays respects to Mother!”

Bai Qingyan’s gaze fixed on Xiao Rongyan, seeing his restrained demeanor, she couldn’t help but secretly smile. Dressed simply in plain robes with only a wild goose hairpin, Bai Qingyan looked down at the daughter in her arms, then at Xiao Rongyan who appeared so constrained before Dong Shi, the smile in her eyes deepening.

“Enough, we’re family—stop with all these formalities!” Dong Shi smiled and beckoned to Xiao Rongyan. “Come quickly and look at the two children…”

Wei Zhong stepped forward to help Xiao Rongyan remove his shoes.

Xiao Rongyan knelt beside Bai Qingyan, his deep black eyes glancing at Bai Qingyan before his gaze fell on the children. Looking at the white, tender little one in Bai Qingyan’s arms, Xiao Rongyan felt his heart touched as if by a feather—an indescribable feeling.

“Quick, bring Xi Le over for A Yan to see…” Dong Shi handed the little one in her arms to Chun Tao.

Chun Tao carefully took Xi Le and walked to Xiao Rongyan’s side, saying softly: “Son-in-law, please look at the young master—he’s growing well!”

As Bai Qingyan’s attendant, Chun Tao naturally already knew Xiao Rongyan’s identity and had roughly learned about the eldest miss and son-in-law’s situation from Chen Qingsheng. After the initial shock, Chun Tao felt that if this Prince Ninth of Yan was truly so devoted to the eldest miss, she was willing to acknowledge this son-in-law.

After all, when she was in the capital and heard that the eldest miss was trapped in Jiangzi City, it was this Prince Ninth of Great Yan who abandoned Yunjing and, despite serious injuries, rode day and night without rest to rescue the eldest miss.

Since the son-in-law could put their eldest miss first, even if Chun Tao had many grievances, they all dissipated, and she was even happy for the miss.

Seeing the two children, Xiao Rongyan finally felt somewhat like a father.

Previously, when he learned Bai Qingyan had given birth, when he learned of her premature delivery, he had been more worried about Bai Qingyan. Even his urgency to come to the capital was mostly due to missing Bai Qingyan. While he missed these two children he had never met, it wasn’t as intense as his longing for Bai Qingyan.

Now, seeing the two sleeping children, Xiao Rongyan felt the softest part of his heart stirred by these white, tender, chubby, and pink little ones, creating ripples. He couldn’t help wanting to kiss both children, but he hadn’t yet washed up and feared bringing the weariness of travel to them.

He reached out to touch the children’s small hands curled up in their sleeves, feeling they were as soft as if made of water—unbelievably tender.

“Would you like to hold the children?” Bai Qingyan asked.

Xiao Rongyan’s spine stiffened. He looked up, his eyes full of tender warmth meeting Bai Qingyan’s, his palms inexplicably breaking into a sweat as he said quietly: “I haven’t had time to change these clothes—is it alright to hold the children like this?”

Bai Qingyan smiled and placed Kang Le in Xiao Rongyan’s arms. The little girl looked so tiny, but when Xiao Rongyan carefully held her, he felt she was heavier than he had imagined—substantial and warm.

Perhaps sensing the change of embrace, the little girl stirred. Her pink little mouth smacked once, her fan-like eyelashes on her chubby little face fluttered twice, then she went back to sleep.

Xiao Rongyan’s spine remained rigid, trying to keep his arms as gentle as possible for fear of hurting the child. He couldn’t help looking up at Bai Qingyan for guidance: “Am I holding her correctly?”

Dong Shi covered her lips with her handkerchief and laughed: “If she’s not crying, then it’s correct!”