After The Soft And Cute Beauty Marries The Wolf King - Chapter 67

“Lang Sa, Lang Sa…” Xie Zhiqing’s voice was barely more than a whisper. He opened his eyes, his lashes damp with tears.

 

“Hmm?” Lang Sa finally let go of his finger, leaning down as if to listen closely to what Xie Zhiqing wanted to say.

 

But he only paused at the little prince’s lips for a brief moment—

 

The sky gradually darkened.

 

In the evening, someone knocked on the door.

 

Lang Sa was busy preparing vegetable juice.

 

Imperial Physician Sun had mentioned that Xie Lingyue could start having a little solid food, so in addition to warming milk, the wolf king now had another task.

 

Hearing the knock, he went to open the door.

 

It was someone delivering their meal, saying that they noticed the wolf king and his consort hadn’t come for dinner, perhaps because they were delayed by something, so they decided to bring it over.

 

Lang Sa accepted the food and said, “Thank you for your trouble.”

 

The noise woke Xie Zhiqing, who rubbed his eyes as he sat up in bed.

 

The dark quilt slid off his shoulders, revealing several dark marks on his fair skin. He asked, “Dinner? Is it that late already…?”

 

As he spoke, he grew a bit annoyed, pursing his lips and glaring at Lang Sa.

 

The little prince tried to look fierce, but in Lang Sa’s eyes, he still seemed like a harmless little bunny—even his fingertips still bore the marks of being nibbled on.

 

Lang Sa’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he cleared his throat. “Are you hungry? Come eat.”

 

Xie Zhiqing slowly got out of bed, squeezing himself beside Lang Sa and nudging him with his head, only to be pulled into his arms and have his hair mussed up.

 

His long, smooth hair fell down to his waist, and the thick, black strands softly coiled around Lang Sa’s wrist. Even that slight, cool touch was enough to stir his heart.

 

But Xie Zhiqing still wouldn’t behave; he kept nudging Lang Sa’s shoulder with his head, his fingers slipping into his collar. “Are you in heat again? You—”

 

Lang Sa grabbed his fingers, pulling up his sleeve to reveal the faint wolf pattern on his wrist, raising an eyebrow as he said, “Yes, so don’t provoke me.”

 

“…” Xie Zhiqing had only said it casually, not expecting it to be true. He quickly backed away, shaking his head and saying, “Let’s eat, let’s eat!”

 

Lang Sa snorted, then pulled him back into his arms and ruffled him up before letting go.

 

*

 

The days passed by one after another.

 

Xie Lingyue was growing rapidly. It only took her three or four days to progress from saying a vague “Nian” to clearly pronouncing the words “A-Niang.”

 

During this time, the old wolf king and queen came to visit several times. Even the well-traveled old wolf king couldn’t help but marvel at Xie Lingyue’s intelligence.

 

Listening to these praises, Xie Zhiqing’s heart bloomed with joy.

 

A few days later, Lang Sa began preparing to welcome Xie Zhiqing’s imperial father.

 

According to the calculations, in five or six days, they would arrive on the grassland.

 

As the day drew closer, Xie Zhiqing became increasingly anxious.

 

One night, as they lay in bed, Xie Zhiqing whispered to Lang Sa, “Zhi Feng and the others have visited once, and the Crown Prince has also been here once. But now, knowing that they’re coming to see me, I still feel…”

 

He placed a hand over his chest, his smile shy and gentle. “I still feel both excited and happy. Sigh, I always feel like I’m still a child who can’t keep anything in his heart. But, but…”

 

He thought for a moment, then shook his head with a smile. “I don’t know if you can understand this feeling, but just thinking about Father coming to see me makes my heart fill with so many emotions, so full.”

 

Lang Sa held him tighter, listening with his eyes closed as Xie Zhiqing rambled on.

 

Xie Zhiqing really was simple-hearted; whatever was on his mind, he had to say it out loud. Once he spoke it out, he was fine. Snuggled in Lang Sa’s arms, he soon fell asleep.

 

Lang Sa opened his eyes to look at him. The little prince lay on his chest, his cheek squished into a chubby puff.

 

Lang Sa found it amusing, gently pinching Xie Zhiqing’s face before adjusting his position to make him more comfortable.

 

Xie Zhiqing’s long hair spread across the pillow, its soap-scented fragrance incredibly pleasant.

 

Lang Sa twirled a small strand between his fingers, quietly admiring Xie Zhiqing’s sleeping face in the darkness.

 

The feeling Xie Zhiqing described—that sense of being so full of emotion—was something Lang Sa understood all too well.

 

He experienced that feeling constantly—just watching Xie Zhiqing was enough to fill his heart with joy.

 

He playfully poked Xie Zhiqing’s face with the end of his hair, but when he saw him frown in his sleep, he stopped teasing.

 

Lang Sa pulled him back into his arms and finally fell into a deep sleep.

 

*

 

Two days later, the attendants reported that the carriages carrying the emperor of Anyu Kingdom and his entourage had entered the grassland and would arrive soon.

 

Xie Zhiqing changed into a beautiful red outfit, eagerly awaiting their arrival.

 

Knowing how anxious Xie Zhiqing was, Lang Sa had stationed people at every possible route to report as soon as they saw the convoy. Eventually, Xie Zhiqing couldn’t help but laugh. He nudged Lang Sa’s arm and said, “There’s no need for all this trouble. They’ve already entered the grassland, so they’ll be here in less than half an hour. We can just wait.”

 

Lang Sa, with his arm around Xie Zhiqing’s shoulder, said, “I’m just worried about you being anxious.”

 

“Yes, I am anxious,” Xie Zhiqing nodded. “They say, ‘The closer you are to home, the more nervous you get.’ But now that they’re almost here, a few more moments won’t make a difference.”

 

Hearing this, Lang Sa carefully studied the person beside him.

 

The little prince still had that same delicate and refined appearance. The harsh cold and intense sun of the grasslands had not affected him in the slightest. Now that spring had arrived, he had shed his heavy winter coat and looked no different from when he first arrived on the grassland.

 

But somehow, he was different.

 

What was it? Lang Sa couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Perhaps seeing Xie Zhiqing every day made it hard to notice the gradual changes over time.

 

Suddenly, he remembered the first time Xie Zhifeng and his sister had visited.

 

Back then, Xie Zhiqing was so anxious that he lost his appetite and couldn’t sit still.

 

But now…

 

Lang Sa glanced over.

 

Xie Zhiqing’s gaze was still fixed on the distance, but his expression was much calmer, occasionally whispering softly to Lang Xiaoxiao.

 

He stood there, his silhouette exuding a refined and noble air.

 

The youthful naivety was fading away; the little prince was quietly growing into an adult.

 

Lang Sa rubbed his nose and, when he looked at him again, couldn’t hide the affection in his eyes.

 

“Hey, they’re here!” Lang Xiaoxiao called out from nearby. “I hear the sound of the carriages! They’re here! They’re here, they’re here, they’re here!”

 

She seemed even more excited than Xie Zhiqing, rubbing her hands together as she said, “Hehe, the little princess is coming again! Hehehehehe!”

 

“…,” Lang Sa grabbed her braid and pulled her over to his side, “Lang Xiaoxiao, you know you sound like a pervert, right?”

 

Xie Zhiqing smiled as he watched the siblings bicker.

 

He rubbed his fingers together, and the anticipation in his heart finally became a reality.

 

Father… Father is here.

 

*

 

The emperor of Anyu Kingdom was named Xie Kuang.

 

Xie Kuang and his empress didn’t have much luck with children. After their eldest son was born, many years passed before they had any more.

 

During those years, Anyu Kingdom didn’t have it easy. Although Xie Kuang hadn’t ascended the throne yet, he had already been overseeing the kingdom as the crown prince for many years, working tirelessly day and night.

 

Then, at that time, his wife became pregnant again—this time with twins!

 

Xie Kuang was nearly overwhelmed with joy.

 

…But many things happened after that.

 

Some in the court said the twins were a bad omen, a curse on Anyu.

 

Xie Kuang remained outwardly calm, but after ascending the throne, he found excuses to execute those who had spoken ill of his children, earning a reputation as a “tyrant.”

 

His sons, no matter what, were the apples of his eye, and no one had the right to speak ill of them.

 

But now, one of his beloved sons had been sent far away to marry into the wolf tribe…

 

Whenever he thought of this, Xie Kuang felt his heart ache.

 

“Father, you don’t look well. Is the carriage too bumpy?” Xie Zhifeng asked with concern.

 

His second son’s words brought Xie Kuang back to the present. After a brief moment of confusion, he shook his head and slowly said, “…No.”

 

He sat up a little straighter, gently patting Xie Zhifeng’s hand in reassurance. “Father is fine, let’s focus on getting there without delay.”

 

“We’re almost there.” Xie Zhifeng lifted the curtain and looked outside. “Only a few kilometers left.”

 

Now that he thought about it, the long journey from Anyu to the grasslands seemed to have passed in an instant. Xie Kuang pressed a hand to his chest, feeling his heart race like it hadn’t in decades.

 

“Xiao Qing’er! I see Xiao Qing’er!” 

 

The princess had been craning her neck to look out the window from afar, and now that she finally saw the person she had been longing for, she clapped her hands in excitement, pointing him out to her father and brother.

 

Xie Kuang couldn’t sit still either.

 

Having been a crown prince since childhood and later an emperor, he was used to being dignified, but for the first time, he felt at a loss.

 

The old emperor used his wrinkled hands to lift the curtain, and at once, he saw his youngest son, whom he had not seen in so long.

 

That person was standing tall in the distance, dressed in red.

 

After what seemed like an eternity, the carriage finally came to a stop.

 

Xie Zhiyue was the happiest, immediately jumping out of the carriage and rushing to throw herself into Xie Zhiqing’s arms.

 

He stroked the princess’s cheek, saying something like, “You’ve grown so tall,” but his gaze remained fixed on the carriage.

 

Xie Kuang was helped down from the carriage by the wolf tribe attendants. As he looked at his youngest son in the distance, his hands trembled slightly.

 

He saw Xie Zhiqing gently let go of the princess, soothing her with a few words, and then begin to walk toward him.

 

He’s grown up. Xie Kuang thought, looking at his youngest son. He’s grown up.

 

Xie Zhiqing slowly walked up to him, smiling as he called, “Father.”

 

That smile was pure, but his eyes glistened with a hint of tears.

 

Xie Kuang felt a sharp pang in his chest. He waved away the attendants who were trying to support him and walked toward Xie Zhiqing.

 

“…My child,” the old emperor’s hands tightly grasped Xie Zhiqing’s, his voice trembling uncontrollably, “My child…”

 

**Author’s Note:**

 

I was locked in all night, no other choice…

 

There wasn’t much content in this chapter, so I’ll try to finish with a double update (), there’s another one coming.