"Hey, how do you think we got out? Wasn't it because he said we always made Mother angry and he indirectly chased us away, even accidentally dropping a pile of silver? He thought we were too young to see through his petty mind, didn't he just want to monopolize Mother?"
Emperor Mingde: "......How could your father do that! You're so young! Really, really excessive!"
Xiao Beiyue and Xiao Beishang simultaneously looked at Emperor Mingde, who was somewhat annoyed.
Suddenly, they spoke in unison, "How dare you speak about our father? Mother can handle him, it's not for others to say."
Emperor Mingde: "......"
Alright, he was an outsider.
So dejected.
Beishang was a girl and liked shiny jewelry and trinkets. Beiyue did not. He wandered around the jade desk and spotted the imperial seal, which had just been used and not yet put away.
"What is this? Is it a stamp used after finishing a painting?"
However, this stamp was truly exquisite, coiled with a dragon, very imposing. It was just a bit heavy; he could only lift it with both hands.
"No, this is something that makes everyone in the world obey."
Emperor Mingde walked over, picked up the imperial seal, and pressed it onto a white paper. "With this stamp, this paper is no longer just paper; it becomes a priceless treasure."
He gently tempted, "Does little Beiyue want it?"
So magical?
Little Beiyue's eyes lit up: "Yes!"
This was truly a good thing. He nimbly folded the paper, then folded it again, and tucked it into his embrace. "You don't know how heavy the silver my father gave me was; it was exhausting to carry. Is this paper worth this much? Can you stamp more for me!"
Emperor Mingde: "......"
Shouldn't he be asking for the imperial seal?
Little Beiyue: Father said not to take other people's things randomly, as it's easy to fall into a trap. However, taking a piece of paper is fine. As for the priceless treasure he mentioned, it was probably bragging.
"Oh, right, Master Wunian asked us to persuade you to eat well. I, Xiao Beiyue, always keep my promises. Eat quickly, I'll watch you eat."
Xiao Beiyue.
Not surnamed Feng.
"You two, are you both surnamed Xiao? Neither of you takes after your mother's surname?"
The two little ones opened their innocent big eyes, not understanding, "Of course, we're surnamed Xiao. Our whole family is surnamed Xiao."
Emperor Mingde's eyes widened, "How can you all be surnamed Xiao? Your mother is surnamed Feng!"
Little Beishang was the first to retort, "Are you stupid? Mother and we are one family, so of course, she's surnamed Xiao. Everyone calls her Madam Xiao."
Little Beiyue said nothing, furrowing his small brows as he examined Emperor Mingde.
Emperor Mingde's jade-like face flushed, his chest heaved slightly, feeling both sour and bitter, sad and wronged.
She was clearly surnamed Feng.
Why didn't she tell the children?
Did she not even want her surname anymore?
Little Beiyue began to speak slowly, "My eldest maternal uncle is surnamed Feng, I don't know my third maternal uncle's name. I asked Mother if there was a second maternal uncle. Mother said yes. I asked where he was, and she said I would know later. You wouldn't be our second maternal uncle, would you?"
Emperor Mingde's head shot up, his eyes slowly reddening.
She still acknowledged him, acknowledged his existence.
For so long, he hadn't dared to let these two little ones know his identity.
Wuwuwu—
"I am your second maternal uncle!" he shouted, tears welling up in his eyes. The man who had seemed quite majestic moments ago now looked utterly wronged.
"Oh, why are you crying? We didn't know earlier, did we? You should have said something sooner! You made me wonder if you were a bad person. I thought you looked so familiar!" Little Beiyue was truly speechless.
They were family! Why didn't he say so earlier.
Little Beishang's eyes also sparkled, "You didn't say so earlier! Isn't this our own home! Second Uncle, quickly, have someone bring more of these pastries, they're delicious!"
Since they were family, it didn't matter if he wasn't their father.
She wanted to stay here for a few more days.
Little Beiyue laboriously tucked the imperial seal into his embrace, "Then I'm taking this!"
Emperor Mingde snapped out of his stunned state and took it back from his embrace.
"This can only be given to you when you're older, and you'll have to change your surname to Feng. For now, I'll keep it for you."
Outside the hall, a woman in elegant attire stood quietly by the door. Listening to the cheerful laughter from within, her gaze flickered a few times.
Fulu bowed, "Your Imperial Concubine, His Majesty is indisposed at the moment. Please return for now."
The woman nodded, dragging the soup tureen in her hand, and slowly turned away.
Since entering the palace, she had never heard the Emperor's voice filled with such genuine emotion. Were the people inside the little Prince and Princess of the Divine Maiden's family?
The Fengque Tower, which had been closed for years, was opened again.
There was no sign of decay within. The lotus pond flowers were in full bloom, with dragonflies perched atop them. The garden was a riot of flowers, surrounded by butterflies. The winding corridors were magnificent.
"This is where your mother lived back then."
What?
Little Beiyue, who was diligently memorizing everything, thought: I wanted to go back and tell Mother and Father about this. How did it become where Mother lived?
Was he the bumpkin?
Little Beishang had already gone to chase butterflies.
Wearing a small pink dress, she flitted through the flowers.
Time seemed to rewind to the past.
The little girl before his eyes gradually transformed into the image of his younger sister.
Father was playing chess with the Grand Shaman in the pavilion, and he was searching everywhere for the loud grasshopper. Little sister and a few personal maids were catching butterflies.
......
It wasn't until he heard little Beiyue's voice that he was pulled out of his memories. He touched his face; it was wet with tears.
"Fine, I promise! I'll come to the palace often to accompany you!" Little Beiyue mumbled, "Mother never said Second Uncle was a crybaby! Isn't the Emperor the most powerful person in the world? You don't seem like it at all!"
He had been criticized.
Emperor Mingde didn't want to cry either! He had been holding it in for too long. Sister didn't want to see him, but at least these two little ones had come. He was excited.
That night, the two little ones stayed in the Fengque Tower.
Second Uncle said this was their home, and the feeling of being home was different.
It felt so comfortable!
Mother, such a great beauty, should live in a place like this. Why did she follow Father to the countryside? It must have been Father tricking her again.
The palace maids bathed them, applied fragrant lotions, and then put them into a very soft bed.
Second Uncle stayed by the bedside, rubbing their feet and applying medicine.
They slept soundly.
The next day, the two little ones encountered the Imperial Concubine, holding her daughter and basking in the sun in the Imperial Garden.
Hao Yue quickly called out, "Little Prince, Little Princess."
Indeed, they were as beautiful as princesses, not like mortals. Hao Yue's cold heart melted slightly.
After her father died, her eldest uncle took charge, and she was forced into the palace. Among the many beauties in the harem, she had to harden her heart, scheme, and jostle for position, slowly rising to the rank of concubine. The Empress was a mere figurehead, and she became the head of the harem.
The Emperor was indifferent, and she dared not hope for more. It was merely a transaction of mutual needs.
However, no matter how numb and hardened her heart became, a sliver of softness always remained within.
She had never forgotten the princess's smiling compliment at a palace banquet years ago, which had made her happy for a long time.
That was the first time she had experienced the feeling of moonlight pouring over her.
She would never forget it.
"Are you Auntie? Is this little sister? So small."
The little girl, dressed exquisitely, could just walk. She was clean and fair-skinned, unlike the village children whose faces were always dirty. Little Beishang instantly felt fond of her.
Hao Yue dared not respond to the address of "Auntie." Seeing Beiyue and Beishang holding her daughter's small hands, one on each side, her heart softened completely.
The Princess's children were also moonlight.
They could dispel the darkness in people's hearts.