Chapter 161 White Owl's Postpartum Depression
Bai Xiao could only resign himself to lifting Cheng An up a bit, making sure he was firmly perched on his shoulders, muttering, "Come on, little ancestor. Sigh, I must have owed the Yuwen family something in my past life..."
Although he complained, his eyes were full of smiles. He carefully supported Cheng'an's legs and carried him as they trotted around the Imperial Garden. The sound of the wind mingled with the child's laughter: "How fast is it? Let's fly!"
Yuwen Che ignored the two people who were having a blast.
Seeing her brother having fun, Ning'er slid off Su Luoxue and took her short little steps to Yuwen Che's side.
She tugged at his robes and opened her little arms: "Father, please hug Ning'er..."
Yuwen Che looked down at his daughter's rosy cheeks and longing eyes, and his heart instantly melted.
He quickly lifted her onto his lap and said softly, "Alright, alright, Father will hold you, hold my little princess."
Seeing that Yuwen Che was only focused on coaxing Ning'er, Su Luoxue worried that Yuwen Hao, who was standing next to her, would feel neglected.
She turned to him and asked gently, "Hao'er, tell your mother quietly, is there anything you particularly like or want to do?"
Yuwen Hao hadn't expected his mother to ask this so suddenly. He hesitated for a moment, nervously twisting the hem of his clothes with his small hands, his voice soft but clear: "Mother... I... I want to learn swordsmanship... I want to be as powerful as Father..."
Upon hearing this, Su Luoxue's eyes flashed with relief. She immediately grasped his small hand and said affirmatively, "Of course that's great! It's good for boys to learn martial arts to strengthen their bodies. How about I talk to your father about it another day, and ask him to spend some time practicing swordsmanship with you and Cheng'an?"
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Hao's eyes lit up instantly, filled with anticipation and disbelief. He looked excitedly at Su Luoxue: "Really? Mother..."
His gaze timidly drifted towards Su Luoxue's side again. His father was playing with Ning'er and seemed to pay no attention to him at all. The light in his eyes dimmed slightly.
Seeing his anxiety, Su Luoxue reached out and pinched Yuwen Che's waist lightly without saying a word.
"Hiss...?" Yuwen Che was startled by the sudden attack and turned to look at Su Luoxue in confusion. "Xue'er, what's wrong?"
Su Luoxue winked at him, then gestured to Yuwen Hao beside her, whose eyes were filled with both anticipation and unease.
Yuwen Che understood instantly. He looked at his eldest son, remained silent for a moment, and finally spoke before the child was about to lower his head: "Want to learn swordsmanship? Very well, when I have time, I will personally teach you and Cheng'an the basics."
Such a simple promise brought an incredibly bright and pure smile to Yuwen Hao's face.
He nodded vigorously, his voice filled with joy: "Thank you, Father! Your son will definitely study hard!"
Yuwen Che nodded to Yuwen Hao in response, "Mm..."
Before he could finish speaking, Ning'er, restless in his arms, reached out and grabbed his cheek, curiously kneading it, instantly drawing his attention back. Yuwen Che helplessly let his daughter toy with it: "Ning'er... how come you're just as mischievous as your mother..."
Seeing that Yuwen Hao was still somewhat cautious despite receiving the promise, Su Luoxue gently comforted him, "Hao'er, your father just dotes on your younger sister more because she is younger."
Yuwen Hao nodded sensibly, his little face showing no dissatisfaction. Instead, he said earnestly, "Your subject understands. Your subject... also feels sorry for your sister."
Looking at his obedient appearance, Su Luoxue felt even more affection for him and gently patted his head.
At this moment, Li Dehai and Fuling carefully cut the roasted meat, placed it on a plate, and presented it to the group: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the meat is ready. Please enjoy."
Yuwen Che first picked up a piece and tasted it himself to confirm that the taste and cooking time were just right and there was nothing wrong with it. Then he carefully blew on it to cool it down and handed it to Su Luoxue's lips: "Xue'er, have a taste."
Su Luoxue ate it from his hand, savored it carefully, and nodded: "Hmm, it tastes pretty good."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ning'er in her arms protested, grabbing Yuwen Che's arm and shaking it: "Father! Feed Ning'er first! Ning'er wants some too!"
Yuwen Che was at his wits' end with his daughter's persistent nagging, and he could only laugh and cry as he repeatedly agreed, "Alright, alright, let's feed our little princess first." With that, he picked up another piece, carefully blew on it to cool it down, and fed it into his daughter's wide-open mouth.
Seeing this, Su Luoxue also picked up a piece, blew on it to cool it down, and held it to Yuwen Hao's lips, saying softly, "Hao'er, come, let your mother feed you."
Yuwen Hao looked at the fragrant meat at his lips, then at his mother looking at him so tenderly. His face flushed slightly with embarrassment, but he obediently opened his mouth and ate it. "Thank you, Mother."
After feeding his daughter, Yuwen Che realized that one of the little ones was missing. He looked around and called out, "Where's Cheng'an? Bai Xiao, where did Cheng'an go?"
Bai Xiao carried Cheng An back at a brisk pace, and without saying a word, he shoved the little guy in his arms into Yuwen Che's arms. He then leaned on his knees, panting heavily, his bangs slightly disheveled.
Yuwen Che quickly reached out and caught them, instantly filling his arms with the two little ones, one on his left and the other on his right.
Bai Xiao caught his breath, put his hands on his hips, and pointed at Cheng An, who was still giggling.
He poured out his grievances to Yuwen Che: "Yuwen Che! This is definitely your own son! He's such a troublemaker! He's practically a little devil reincarnated!"
He wiped the sweat from his forehead, his eyes filled with resentment. "Have you been particularly annoyed with any old geezer in the court lately? You'd better give me some work, even murder or arson!"
"If I have to take care of your child for two more days, I'll forget about getting married and settling down; I might not even have the will to continue the family line! Our Bai family will surely die out in my hands!"
Looking at his friend's disheveled and exaggerated appearance, and then at his two innocent-looking children with their big, blinking eyes in his arms, Yuwen Che couldn't help but chuckle and tease, "Can't handle this? Looks like you're really not suited for marriage."
Upon hearing this, Bai Xiao immediately jumped up and said, "Who said that! I'm just not suited to taking care of your energetic little tyrant!"
He glanced at Yuwen Hao, who was sitting obediently next to Su Luoxue and quietly eating meat, and added, "Hmm... I'd take a dozen of those quiet guys over there!"
Sitting in his father's lap, Cheng'an seemed to understand that Bai Xiao was complaining. He immediately hugged Yuwen Che's neck and announced in a childish voice, "Father! Cheng'an loves Father the most!"
Ning'er, not to be outdone, squeezed into Yuwen Che's arms: "Ning'er also loves Father the most!"
Yuwen Che was in a great mood as the two children confessed their love to him, and he didn't care about his resentful friend next to him.
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