Clouds of hesitation gathered over Yun Chuhuan's face as he froze mid-thought, clearly entangled in a dilemma he had never truly pondered before.
Yun Shu, holding a melon in one hand and her amusement in the other, simply watched the show unfold without interference.
She slipped quietly into her bedchamber, removed her court attire, and changed into simpler garments. Then she instructed the servants to load the carriage with the gifts she had prepared for Tang Xinhua, Xiao Doubao, and Third Royal Brother.
Only when all was ready and it was time to leave the palace did Yun Shu circle back to the main hall to fetch Yun Chuhuan. Just as she stepped over the threshold—
Yun Chuhuan suddenly looked up, as though some great realization had struck him. His expression grew serious, and he turned to her with eyes full of solemnity.
"Fifth Sister," he declared, "I have given it much thought. There is truly no need for a household full of wives and concubines.
My Consort Mother used to scold the Deposed Empress, then the Consort Xian, and after her, the Consort Shu. If there are too many women, the inner palace will become just like Father Emperor's—forever unrestful.
I think five wives is sufficient. If each of them bears four children, that would still be twenty in total!"
Yun Shu: "…?"
Very well. She would remember this moment.
If this boy ever awakened to other ideas one day, this would make for excellent material to tease him with.
…
Because she had already sent word to the Third Prince's residence ahead of time, when Yun Shu arrived with Yun Chuhuan in tow, both the Third Prince and Tang Xinhua were already waiting at the gates.
Yun Shu wasted no time. As soon as the carriage came to a halt, she stepped down briskly and went straight to Tang Xinhua. Before the formal greetings could even be completed, she reached out and grasped Tang Xinhua's hand, feeling the warmth of her fingertips.
"It's freezing out. Why would you come outside?
Did I not make it clear when I sent word yesterday that there was no need to greet me at the door?"
"Rites must not be neglected," Tang Xinhua replied, her tone soft and composed.
She had always been gentle by nature. Now, as a mother, her presence had become even more serene and nurturing.
With Yun Shu's support, she began walking inside, a quiet smile playing on her lips as she explained, "It is not as if I have just given birth. I've already returned to manage Tian Waitian Restaurant in recent days. How could I justify not coming to receive Your Highness?"
"The restaurant is already running smoothly. Cousin, there is no harm in resting a while longer before returning to work," Yun Shu replied with a slight frown.
Xiao Doubao had only been born this past August—barely over three months ago.
Fortunately, the little one had been quite well-behaved even during his time in the womb. Aside from an insatiable craving for doubao—particularly those made by the Third Prince himself—he rarely caused trouble. For a time, the Third Prince had even taken to waking in the middle of the night just to satisfy her cravings.
Perhaps thanks to this ease, Tang Xinhua's recovery had gone remarkably well. Her complexion now seemed healthier and more radiant than ever.
She merely shook her head with a smile and said, "There is not much to handle at Tian Waitian. I only go for an hour or two each day. It is not exhausting.
Besides, Xiao Doubao is in good hands with my husband and the wet nurse. He is very well-behaved. I have no worries."
"I never expected that this Third Royal Brother of mine, who once looked every inch the idle playboy, would turn out to be a devoted husband and doting father."
Yun Shu glanced back at the Third Prince, who was now entertaining Yun Chuhuan with some mischief. Her lips curled into a faint smile.
"You truly are blessed, Cousin."
"Only thanks to Your Highness," Tang Xinhua replied softly, though her eyes shimmered with emotion.
"It was Your Highness who reached out and pulled me from the mire, who showed me that a woman could live another way entirely."
"I merely offered a hand. If you had not possessed the strength to rise on your own, how could you have made it to where you are today?"
As they spoke, they arrived at the bedchamber.
Xiao Doubao had just finished nursing and was now wide awake, his large black eyes darting about like glossy grapes. When Yun Shu picked him up, his soft little face broke into the most endearing smile.
"This little one truly does judge by appearances!" the Third Prince remarked as he entered the room behind them, a hint of jealousy in his voice.
"Every time Xinhua holds him, he grins. When I do, he stares with a stern face. When the nurse picks him up, he cries. I thought it was about familiarity.
Turns out this rascal just thinks his father isn't as good-looking as his mother?"
"You really aren't as good-looking as Third Sister-in-law," Yun Chuhuan chimed in gleefully.
He had just been mercilessly mocked by the Third Prince along the way here, and now it was time for payback.
"Your face is only passable when out in public. Among our family, you're the least attractive!"
"Utter nonsense!"
The Third Prince huffed. Just because Father Emperor had few children, and every one of them happened to be good-looking…
The two who were uglier than him had, unfortunately, brought ruin upon themselves.
As for Fourth Brother…
Tch. Though Fourth Brother wasn't better-looking, he was at least a decent man, albeit too rigid. The Third Prince would refrain from speaking ill of him behind his back.
He flicked back his hair with flair.
"And here I thought I was the very picture of elegance and charm."
"Is that wind you carry... the kind that makes people go mad?" Yun Chuhuan wrinkled his nose, clearly unimpressed by the flamboyant pose.
Raising his chin, he issued a challenge.
"You just wait. I'll hold Xiao Doubao next, and I guarantee he'll smile at me too."
"You?"
The Third Prince scoffed, perfectly fluent in the art of mockery.
"You're still a little brat. Your face hasn't even grown into its full form yet.
If he smiles at you, it's probably because he thinks you're a fellow child."
"You're the brat!" Yun Chuhuan snapped.
At twelve, nothing irked a boy more than being called a child.
"You're just jealous because I look better than you, and your son smiles at everyone except you!"
Fuming, he turned to Yun Shu and held out his arms.
"Fifth Sister, let me hold Xiao Doubao. I must prove to Third Royal Brother once and for all that he is indeed the ugliest of us all!"
Yun Shu said nothing for a moment.
"...Just be careful."
Though utterly exasperated by the childish squabble, she handed the baby over.
To his credit, Yun Chuhuan was quite gentle. Though full of bluster a moment ago, his hands were careful as he took the infant into his arms.
A three-month-old child, soft and delicate, felt nothing like the pillows he had practiced with.
He stared nervously at the tiny creature in his embrace.
Big black eyes stared back without fear.
Then Xiao Doubao's little mouth opened into a wide grin, tongue poking out as he giggled.
"See? What did I say!" Yun Chuhuan beamed, triumphant.
He threw a smug glance at the Third Prince.
"Your son clearly has better taste than you do!"
===
If you forget, Yun Chuhuan mother have title as 贵妃 (Guifei) – Noble Consort, Second only to the Empress; most favored consort.
Consort Xian 贤妃 (Xianfei), Consort Shu 淑妃 (Shufei) included in 'Virtuous Consorts'. Likely equal in rank or just under Guifei. Historically part of the "Four Fei," each representing a specific virtue.