Chapter 58

At the little one's first-month ceremony, Ye Shu had fully recovered — if anything, he had gained a little weight compared to before.

Jin Wang was not in the capital, but he hadn't missed the opportunity to show off his son. On the day of the little prince's first-month celebration, His Majesty the sovereign decreed three days of banqueting across the capital city, tax reductions in regions throughout the realm, and a general amnesty — a shared celebration of the joyous occasion.

As for the family of three — they had a quiet, peaceful first-month ceremony of their own at the traveling palace.

"…I think this one is fine. Wait, actually — maybe this one." Ye Shu frowned deeply, his gaze fixed on the paper spread before him with an expression of grave seriousness, as though weighing some matter of state.

Jin Wang's expression was similarly thoughtful. He pointed to a character on the paper. "What about this one?"

Ye Shu shook his head. "That doesn't work. Let me think."

Gaojin, who had been standing to the side holding the baby for nearly half an hour, waited in patient silence.

He simply couldn't understand — naming the little prince was a tremendously important matter, certainly, but did it really need to take this long?

Gaojin held himself back for as long as he could, then finally said in a quiet voice: "Your Majesty, dinner has already—"

The two of them turned simultaneously. "Wait."

Gaojin: "…"

Gaojin lowered his head helplessly and looked at the small bundle in his arms. The little one's dark, bright eyes narrowed, and he gave a lazy, wide-mouthed yawn.

Ye Shu pointed at a name on the paper and said with great seriousness: "I understand what you mean — that character has a very good meaning, I admit that. But I absolutely refuse to let my son be called Jin Jiang. Don't ask me why."

"…" Jin Wang clearly still wanted to argue the point, but seeing Ye Shu's thoroughly earnest expression, he relented. "Then which one do you want?"

Ye Shu: "If I could decide I wouldn't be asking you."

That both of them had named a childhood dog "Awang" was evidence enough that neither had any gift for naming whatsoever. From the child's birth until now, a full month had passed, and to this day they still hadn't settled on a name.

Jin Wang thought for a moment, then spread the paper covered in name candidates across the table, stood, and took the dozing baby from Gaojin's arms. "Let Yeye pick his own name."

Ye Shu: "…"

Ye Shu laughed helplessly. "Other people's children grab objects at their first-month ceremony. Your child gets to pick his name. Isn't that a bit half-hearted on our part?"

Jin Wang looked at him sideways. "And you can actually decide on one?"

"…" Ye Shu said: "Actually, nothing wrong with it — let him choose for himself. Men should learn to take responsibility for their own decisions."

The little one, suddenly burdened with immense responsibility: "…"

Jin Wang sat down with the baby. The little one's chubby hands reached out toward Ye Shu, wanting to be held by Papa.

Jin Wang stopped him and tapped the paper on the table. "Pick one first."

The little one scrunched his brow in dissatisfaction and made a face at Jin Wang.

"…"

This little one had always been fonder of Ye Shu.

Ye Shu suppressed a smile and took the baby. He rubbed the little head. "Good boy, Yeye — pick one first."

The little one seemed to understand what Ye Shu was saying, and broke into giggles.

Ye Shu lifted the paper and held it before the little one.

Small hands waved in the air.

The paper had more than ten names written on it — each one carefully selected by Ye Shu and Jin Wang over the course of a month. The two of them exchanged a glance, held their breath, and were inexplicably nervous.

A moment later, the little one slapped his hand down on the paper.

It landed on the character "Zhao."

"Zhao — the brightness of the sun. Great shines the Han river, as it gleams across the sky." Jin Wang said. "A fine name."

Ye Shu let out a breath of relief. "At least it isn't something like Jinyong or Jinye — poor Yeye would curse us behind our backs when he grows up."

As he said this, he turned to glare at Jin Wang. "This is all your fault. The Jin surname is impossibly hard to work with for names."

Jin was the imperial surname of Changlu. No one had ever dared say anything so audaciously irreverent about it. The attendants nearby all drew sharp breaths — yet His Majesty the sovereign showed no irritation whatsoever. He simply laughed and pulled the person into his arms.

Jin Wang said: "I said before — the child can take your surname."

"That absolutely won't do." Ye Shu was occupied with playing with the little one's feet and didn't look up. "It wouldn't be proper."

The people of Changlu cared deeply about protocol and propriety. Jin Wang had already bent many rules for Ye Shu's sake. Ye Shu didn't want this person to keep making sacrifices on his behalf.

Besides — whose surname the child took didn't matter to him. He didn't care about that.

"As you like." Jin Wang naturally understood what he meant and didn't press the point.

Jin Wang said: "Then it's settled. The surname is Jin. Given name — a single character, Zhao."

The sovereign having spoken, a dedicated attendant immediately recorded the prince's name.

Jin Wang then carefully folded the paper covered in name candidates and placed it in a wooden box.

Ye Shu asked: "What are you keeping that for?"

Jin Wang deliberately glanced at Ye Shu and said idly: "We might have use for it again someday."

Ye Shu: "Cough cough!"

"There's a child right here — what are you talking about? Dinner, dinner." Ye Shu's ears had gone a little red. He picked up the little one and headed outside, his steps slightly hurried.

Jin Wang gave a quiet laugh.

A child had already been born, and he was still this easy to fluster.

He had the attendants bring the dinner, and settled at the table with Ye Shu. Ye Shu idly played with the little one's tiny feet, but was clearly somewhat distracted.

Jin Wang tilted his head and looked at Ye Shu, then reached out and lightly covered Ye Shu's hand with his own.

Ye Shu pulled his hand back as though shocked by something.

Jin Wang raised an eyebrow. "Not letting me touch you?"

"No — that's not…" Ye Shu's expression was a little unnatural. He pressed his lips together slightly.

Between the latter stages of pregnancy and the month of recovery after childbirth, they had been living in abstinence for close to three or four months now.

Better not to think about it — but now that it had come to mind, Ye Shu couldn't stop his thoughts from wandering.

His dependency on Jin Wang was like something etched into his bones — impossible to resist.

Jin Wang didn't answer.

He propped one hand on his chin, and with the other he reached around Ye Shu from behind and gently drew him in. His palm moved slowly over the thin fabric, and the scorching warmth transferred directly to the skin beneath — that small patch of skin was nearly burning from the heat.

Ye Shu squirmed. "Little Zhao is right here."

"I'm not doing anything." Jin Wang smiled deliberately. "Unless my Chancellor wants me to do something?"

Ye Shu: "…"

Attendants were bringing the evening dishes to the table one by one. Jin Wang leaned unassumingly toward Ye Shu's ear and said quietly: "Shall I take care of you tonight? Don't worry — I won't touch the rest, just in front."

Ye Shu's hand jolted. He nearly dropped the bowl and dish he was holding.

Since when had this person become so completely shameless — how could he say things like that???

Ye Shu's ears had gone crimson. The more Jin Wang saw him like this, the more he liked it. He pressed further. "Do you want it or not? If not, forget it."

"…"

Jin Wang: "Do you want it or not? I'll drop the matter if you don't."

Ye Shu gritted his teeth and forced out a single word between clenched teeth. "…Yes."

Jin Wang didn't hold back his laughter. He broke into a grin.

Ye Shu glared at him in embarrassed irritation. Jin Wang gave the top of his head a soothing pat, and with steady, deliberate pressure pulled Ye Shu close.

The two of them drew closer and closer together — until they both stopped at the same instant.

Both looked down simultaneously. The little one, cradled in Ye Shu's arms, was looking up with bright eyes, his head cocked slightly to one side with an expression of apparent puzzlement.

Jin Wang: "…"

Ye Shu: "…"

Jin Wang swiftly covered the little one's eyes and said with great seriousness: "You're not allowed to look at this."

Then quickly leaned over and pressed a light kiss to the corner of Ye Shu's lips.

Brief and deep, it was over before one had time to react.

Ye Shu instinctively looked at Jin Wang. Jin Wang gave him a wink and silently mouthed two words: "Tonight — continued."

Ye Shu looked away. Red had spread all the way from his face to his neck.

Dinner was laid out and ready. The two of them were about to eat when an attendant came to report — someone was requesting an audience outside the traveling palace.

The fact of His Majesty's presence at the traveling palace was not a secret — but those who could approach this place were very few.

Ye Shu glanced at the token the attendant presented and said mildly: "Let them in."

This token was unique, and he knew perfectly well whose hands it was currently in.

Second Prince of Dayan, Yu Yan.

Ye Shu ground his teeth and gave a cold laugh. "I was just wondering how to get my revenge, and he delivers himself to my door."

Yu Yan, just stepping inside the door: "Achoo!"

Yu Yan had come in plain civilian clothing, a jade flute at his waist — he had the look of a fine young gentleman from a wealthy merchant family.

He walked into the hall and bowed to the two of them. "I greet His Majesty the sovereign and Chancellor Ye."

Ye Shu gave a cold huff and ignored him.

Jin Wang, on the other hand, had no particular grievance with him. If anything, he was somewhat grateful to this person.

Thanks to the small gift Yu Yan had left behind before his departure, Jin Wang had used the contents of that box to explore many techniques he had never previously considered, considerably enriching the sovereign and Chancellor's nighttime life.

A genuine contribution.

Of course, this could absolutely never be said in Ye Shu's presence.

Jin Wang dismissed those standing to either side and said mildly: "What brings the Second Prince here?"

"A discreet visit — I'll be leaving shortly." Yu Yan's gaze kept drifting toward the little one in Ye Shu's arms. He produced a small silver longevity lock. "I came specifically to see my little nephew — I rushed to make it just in time for the first-month celebration."

Hearing this, Ye Shu's expression softened somewhat. He gave a cool hum. "Just in time? More like you came to mooch a meal."

"If you insist — I'll graciously accept." Yu Yan grinned cheerfully, without the slightest shame, settled himself at the table, and called for someone to bring him a bowl and chopsticks.

The dinner was cheerful and lively. Yu Yan was completely smitten with little Zhao, and once he had the baby in his arms couldn't bring himself to put him down. First the longevity lock, then a thumb ring and a jade pendant — the moment little Zhao looked at something twice, it was immediately taken off and gifted to the child.

Whatever remnants of Ye Shu's grudge remained, they dissolved entirely by the end of the first-month celebration.

Night had fallen deep. Jin Wang went to settle little Zhao to sleep. Ye Shu walked Yu Yan to the door.

His Highness the Second Prince took several steps, then looked back at the bedchamber, then several more steps, then looked back again. His entire bearing screamed that he didn't want to leave.

Ye Shu gave a cold huff. "If you like babies that much, go and have your own — stop coveting my son."

"I'd rather not go through that — better to have someone produce one for me." Yu Yan also gave a huff, dripping with feeling. "Once I ascend to the throne, I'll naturally have a whole household of wives and concubines and a whole litter of children to play with every day."

He slung an arm around Ye Shu's shoulders. "How about it — want to marry little Zhao into our Dayan? I wouldn't mistreat him."

"Get lost." Ye Shu pushed him away, laughing despite himself. "We don't even know yet whether little Zhao is a qian-sovereign or a kun-sovereign. Why don't you bring your own son over instead?"

Yu Yan let out a long sigh. "Forget it — right now all I want is to get my revenge first. As for taking a wife and having children… it's too early to talk about all that."

Ye Shu asked: "But that guard of yours…"

"You mean Yǎn guī? He and I have absolutely nothing going on!" Yu Yan suddenly jumped as though someone had stepped on his tail. "Don't talk nonsense — what if someone hears, how would that look!"

Ye Shu: "…"

Could he look any more guilty?

But Ye Shu had never been one to pry into other people's private business, so he didn't press further. The two of them reached the gates of the traveling palace. Yu Yan's carriage was waiting outside.

Just as he was about to get in, Yu Yan suddenly looked back in Ye Shu's direction. "I think Jin Wang must treat you very well."

Ye Shu startled. "Why say that all of a sudden?"

"How to put it — you look very different now from before." Yu Yan thought for a moment, but didn't elaborate. He simply smiled. "But whatever it is, it's certainly not a bad thing."

Ye Shu caught his meaning and gave a nod. "He does treat me very well."

A summer night's breeze drifted gently past. Ye Shu tipped his head back to look at the sky above, and said quietly: "And… I love him very much too."

Yu Yan: "…Go on then, show off."

Ye Shu laughed. "Go on — write if anything comes up, and take care of yourself."

Yu Yan: "Take care."

Watching Yu Yan leave, Ye Shu turned and walked back toward the traveling palace — and then his steps slowed to a stop.

Jin Wang was standing beneath a tree not far away, a smile in his eyes, looking toward him from a distance.

Ye Shu walked over. Jin Wang said: "I wasn't following you on purpose this time — you two talked for so long, I just came to find you."

Ye Shu blinked. "I figured."

Jin Wang added: "Little Zhao is already asleep. No crying, no fussing — very well-behaved tonight."

Ye Shu: "Mm."

"The little one is settled. Now it's time to settle the big one." Jin Wang turned, and bent down slightly. "Get on — I'll carry you back."

The moon was bright, the stars sparse. Jin Wang carried Ye Shu on his back and walked slowly in the direction of the bedchamber. Then suddenly he said: "I'll admit — I overheard something just now."

Ye Shu looked sideways at him. Moonlight carved the profile of Jin Wang's face into sharp and deep relief. "What did you hear?"

"I'm not going to say. Saying it out loud changes something about it." Jin Wang's pace slowed slightly. He said quietly: "I'd rather hear it said directly to me."

Ye Shu gave a small smile and buried his face in Jin Wang's shoulder. "Then I'll just have to guess."

"Did I say…"

"Jin Wang treats me very well. I am very happy right now."

"I love him, too — from the past until now, no matter how memory might change, I would fall in love with him. And only ever with him."

Ye Shu pressed a kiss to the side of Jin Wang's face and said quietly: "…I truly… love him very, very much."