After The Soft And Cute Beauty Marries The Wolf King - Chapter 68

Xie Zhiqing thought he was calm enough, but when he finally saw those few people, the longing and excitement in his heart surged uncontrollably.

 

Zhifeng seemed to have gained some weight and no longer looked as frail as before. Little Yue’er had grown a lot taller—in just a few months, she had already reached his shoulder. And then, there was Father…

 

Father had grown old.

 

Xie Zhiqing had never realized this so clearly before. His nose stung as he carefully examined the person he had respected the most since childhood.

 

…How did Father get so old…

 

When he left Anyu and came to the grasslands, Father was still young.

 

Back then, Father had jet-black hair, a straight posture, and an aura of unchallenged power in every move.

 

But now… his hair was gray, and his back slightly hunched.

 

Xie Zhiqing felt a pang in his heart, tears almost falling.

 

He quickly walked over to his father, lifted his robe, and knelt in front of him.

 

Xie Zhiqing pressed his forehead to the ground, solemnly paying his respects to his father.

 

“Your son… greets Father.”

 

Tears streamed down Xie Zhiqing’s face.

 

The old emperor slowly walked over to him and bent down to help him up. He looked at Xie Zhiqing’s face, sighed deeply, and couldn’t speak for a long time.

 

Behind them, Xie Zhifeng, assisted by a few attendants and the princess, got off the carriage and sat in a wheelchair. He came over to them with a smile and said, “Don’t just stand outside, Father.”

 

“Oh, right!” Xie Zhiqing wiped his tears and turned to introduce the people to the emperor. “Father, these are the people of the wolf tribe. Let me introduce them to you!”

 

“Aiya, Princess!” Lang Xiaoxiao suddenly appeared like a whirlwind, directly rubbing Xie Zhiyue’s face. “The princess has grown so tall! Let Sister Lang take a good look at you!”

 

Xie Zhiyue struggled to escape her clutches and craned her neck to find her brother, anxiously asking, “Brother, Brother! Where’s the baby? Where’s the baby?!”

 

Her question snapped the old emperor back to reality. He patted Xie Zhiqing’s hand and asked in a deep voice, “Xiao Qing’er… how’s your health?”

 

Xie Zhiqing pursed his lips and said, “I’m fine, I’m doing well. I…”

 

He scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed, and said, “…Anyway, I haven’t suffered too much, especially since Imperial Physician Sun and the others are here.”

 

Only then did the old emperor feel reassured. “That’s good, that’s good… We were most worried about your health.”

 

“Yes, our brother has been constantly thinking about you back in the palace,” Xie Zhifeng added with a smile.

 

Xie Zhiqing scratched his face and said, “The baby is in the room. She’s asleep, so I didn’t bring her out.”

 

Xie Zhifeng teased him mischievously, “Xiao Qing’er is so good at taking care of the baby.”

 

“Brother!” Xie Zhiqing whispered, “Don’t make fun of me!”

 

The old emperor listened quietly to his two sons’ playful banter.

 

His twins had always been like this, one lively on the surface, the other lively at heart.

 

Despite their physical “imperfections,” they had the best personalities. They had supported each other and grown up together—it was truly… truly wonderful.

 

Thinking of this, he felt his eyes grow warm again. He quickly suppressed his emotions and said to Xie Zhiqing, “Let’s go, let’s see your… daughter.”

 

Xie Zhiqing’s ears turned red, and he murmured, “Alright.”

 

The old emperor felt another wave of confusion.

 

Xiao Qing’er’s… daughter, Xiao Qing’er’s baby.

 

The old emperor looked at Xie Zhiqing, who was walking ahead of him, leading the way, and his heart was filled with mixed emotions.

 

Xie Zhiqing’s back was still slender and thin. In the old emperor’s heart, how could Xie Zhiqing be anything but a child?

 

And yet now, his child also had a child of his own…

 

Countless thoughts raced through his mind. Suddenly, the old emperor felt a weight on his sleeve—

 

He looked down to see it was Xie Zhifeng.

 

Zhifeng smiled gently at him, silently mouthing the words, “Don’t space out, Father.”

 

The old emperor pressed a hand to his chest, and when he spoke again, his voice was firm.

 

“Let’s go, let’s go see… Xie Lingyue.”

 

*

 

The princess was the happiest—she was finally no longer the youngest child in the palace.

 

She was eager to see her little niece and missed her long-lost brother so much that she stuck to his side as they walked.

 

Xie Zhiqing smiled and said, “The princess has grown up; you’re a big girl now, and Brother can’t carry you anymore.”

 

Xie Zhiyue pouted slightly.

 

She tugged at her hair, and her face took on a slightly conflicted expression as if she had thought of something.

 

She bit her lip and hesitantly said, “The baby is Yue, and Xiao Yue’er is also Yue…“

 

She looked at Xie Zhiqing with an awkward expression.

 

Xie Zhiqing patted her on the shoulder and laughed, “That’s right. From now on, our family will have two little moons.”

 

Hearing this, Xie Zhiyue brightened up again. She let out a small cheer and turned to Xie Zhifeng, “Brother! Did you hear that?”

 

Xie Zhifeng quietly instructed the attendants behind him to push him a few steps faster to catch up with the others. He said, “I heard, two little moons!”

 

Xie Zhiyue clapped her hands in delight.

 

Walking between her two brothers, she was about to meet her newborn niece. She felt like the happiest person in the world.

 

*

 

Lang Sa had already left earlier—after greeting the old emperor and his entourage, he thoughtfully left to give the family some privacy to talk and returned home to take care of Xie Lingyue.

 

Xie Lingyue was still asleep.

 

This child… her sleeping posture was far from elegant.

 

She had her bottom sticking up and was resting her chin on the pillow. Even Xie Zhiqing would probably frown at this sight.

 

Lang Sa stared at her for a moment, then picked her up and held her in his arms to wake her up.

 

Xie Lingyue wasn’t happy about it and tried to hit him, but after receiving a stern look from Lang Sa, she sheepishly put her hand down.

 

“Meanie! Mama! I’m telling!”

 

Her speech was a bit clearer now, but she still couldn’t speak in complete sentences. Lang Sa and Xie Zhiqing had gotten used to deciphering her words over time and could understand what she meant.

 

“Your mama doesn’t have time to listen to your complaints.” Lang Sa shook his head, pretending to feel sorry for her. “He’s entirely focused on his father and brother right now, not on you.”

 

Not only was Lang Sa unaffected by Xie Lingyue’s threats, but he also taunted her even more, “Go ahead and complain; he’ll be here soon.”

 

Xie Lingyue was shocked.

 

She babbled, “Uncle! Grandpa! I’m telling!”

 

Lang Sa replied smugly, “They’re even less likely to pay attention to you!”

 

Xie Lingyue was about to hit him with a fierce expression.

 

At that moment, the door creaked open.

 

Xie Zhiqing pushed the door open, followed by several people.

 

Xie Lingyue’s actions froze, and she stared at him with her mouth agape.

 

Xie Zhiqing frowned in mock anger and said, “Lingyue, are you bullying your father again?”

 

Xie Lingyue’s eyes widened as she said, “No! No! No!!”

 

The child didn’t know how to say “no” properly and only said “not have” instead of “no.”

 

Xie Zhiqing turned his face with a smile, walked over, and took Xie Lingyue in his arms, gently saying, “Grandfather has come to see you! Are you happy, Lingyue?”

 

Xie Lingyue cheered, “Happy! Happy!”

 

Her language development speed was truly… both surprising and embarrassing.

 

Xie Zhiqing covered his face, then turned to the others behind him and said, “Lingyue just started learning to speak recently. She only knows a few words and phrases and can’t form sentences yet. Even the words she says are often incorrect.”

 

Xie Zhifeng craned his neck to look at the baby, continuing to push his wheelchair to the bed, eager to see what Xie Zhiqing’s baby looked like.

 

Coincidentally, Xie Lingyue was just climbing back from the Wolf King’s arms at that moment. As she turned her head, her eyes met Xie Zhifeng’s.

 

“!” Xie Zhifeng exclaimed repeatedly, “So cute! Father, look! Little Lingyue is so cute!”

 

But Xie Lingyue…

 

The baby didn’t understand that there were “identical twins” in this world. She stared blankly at Xie Zhifeng for a long time.

 

She blinked in confusion and quickly turned her head to look for Xie Zhiqing.

 

Xie Zhiqing didn’t notice her confusion in time. He continued to smile at her and gestured toward the others, indicating that she should greet them.

 

Xie Lingyue: “…”

 

She was even more shocked!

 

How could this be? How could there be two identical mothers?!

 

Xie Lingyue was stunned for a long time but finally gathered the courage to investigate for herself!

 

She crawled out of the crib, her chubby little arms resting on the bed’s edge as she peered outside.

 

This time, she saw another older girl.

 

The older girl looked hesitant and seemed a bit timid as she gazed at her.

 

Xie Lingyue immediately forgot about the “two” mothers and waved her little hand at the older girl, saying, “Yah! Yah!”

 

Her unshy behavior amused everyone present.

 

Xie Zhiqing was almost in tears from laughing. He wiped his eyes and went forward to pick up Xie Lingyue, asking gently, “Who does Little Lingyue want to hold her?”

 

Xie Lingyue thought for a moment, first glancing at the strange person who looked exactly like her mother, then at the older girl nearby.

 

She decided: it’s you!

 

Xie Lingyue reached her arms out toward the older girl and said, “Hold!”

 

“…Me?” The princess pointed at herself hesitantly and said, “I, I…”

 

She moved behind the old emperor and said, “I’m afraid I’ll drop her…”

 

Xie Lingyue pouted.

 

Alright, let’s find someone else.

 

She blinked and looked for another candidate.

 

This time, she pointed to an old man with gray hair but still bright eyes.

 

“Hey!” Xie Lingyue called, “Hey!”

 

Xie Zhiqing: “…”

 

He pressed down Xie Lingyue’s finger and said softly, “You can’t point at Grandfather.”

 

Grandfather? Xie Lingyue tilted her head.

 

She sucked on her finger and continued to look at the old man, calling out loudly, “Grandpa! Grandpa!”

 

The old emperor was stunned for a long time before he came back to his senses.

 

Xie Lingyue was calling him… Xiao Qing’er’s baby was calling him.

 

He had been distracted ever since he saw Xie Lingyue for the first time.

 

She looked just like Xie Zhiqing did when he was born…

 

The old emperor reached out to the baby, carefully holding her in his arms.

 

The baby poked his face with her tiny fingers, her dark, bright eyes shining.

 

He looked up, and Xie Zhiqing was standing opposite, smiling at him and the baby.

 

In that moment, the old emperor felt a disorienting sense of returning to the past. He looked at the baby in his arms with deep affection.

 

He touched Xie Lingyue’s little face and spoke with a slightly trembling voice.

 

“Lingyue really looks… so much like you when you were little.”

 

*The baby is Yue, and Xiao Yue’er is also Yue…* – Yue in english is Moon