FID – Chapter 881

Chapter 881: What Kind of Little Monsters Were Actually Born?!

“It has been decades since we last met. What brings Your Majesty here today? For a fortune or misfortune divination?” The old monk, with snow-white eyebrows and beard, set down his wooden staff and looked at the Empress Dowager. His half-lidded eyes were filled with profound wisdom.

The Empress Dowager approached him, bowed respectfully, and knelt on a meditation cushion to the side. “Master, you are a most revered monk. I have come today for two reasons: first, to request a character for naming; second, to pray for blessings.”

Master Juehui smiled gently. “The newborn dragon and phoenix twins were conceived with spiritual essence. Their very birth signifies nobility and great fortune. Ordinarily, mortal flesh and bone cannot bear such destiny. However, by giving them humble names, that overwhelming fortune is slightly tempered. The balance is perfect. If you request further characters now, it may disrupt that balance and bring harm instead.”

“You mean they shouldn’t be given formal courtesy names?” The Empress Dowager was surprised. 

So, Feng Qingbai’s haphazard naming of the elder child as Badou actually turned out to be the most appropriate?

Master Juehui nodded.

The Empress Dowager was speechless for a long while. She had climbed that mountain for hours just to ask for names — only to be told by the monk that it wasn’t necessary at all.

She had climbed for nothing.

And she owed Qin Xiao a favor because of it.

“Since I cannot ask for names, then I shall at least ask for blessings. May my two little babies live a peaceful life.”

“So long as they do not stir up trouble, peace will naturally follow them all their lives.”

“What if they do stir up trouble?” the Empress Dowager countered. Both of the little ones were mischievous, and honestly, what child wasn’t? 

Better safe than sorry. 

No matter what, she was determined to bring two protective talismans home today.

“Your Majesty, everyone has their own destiny. These things cannot be forced.”

“How is this forcing? I’m only asking for two peace talismans. After all these years, the royal family rarely disturbs the Royal Temple. And every year we allocate generous funds for your temple’s repairs, allowing your incense offerings to flourish. Buddhism values reciprocity. Since the Royal Temple enjoys the protection of the royal family, naturally it should do something in return. Master, don’t try to placate me with vague philosophies. Just write the charms.”

Master Juehui was left speechless.

The Empress Dowager had already helped herself to the ink, brush, and talisman paper at the side. “I know your capabilities, Master Juehui. Two consecrated peace talismans won’t cost you much spiritual effort. I’ll make another offering for incense money later.”

Outside the door, Qin Xiao had heard the entire exchange loud and clear.

A small, unbidden smile rose in his eyes.

Aman was slowly becoming her old self again.

The Empress Dowager carefully tucked the two consecrated peace talismans into her robes and thanked the monk before leaving the meditation room. “Let’s hurry back down the mountain. It’ll be late afternoon by the time we return to the capital.”

She hadn’t seen the two little ones for most of the day and missed them terribly.

As for the name Badou, the Empress Dowager frowned. She still couldn’t fully embrace it. 

However, since it turned out to be auspicious for the child, she could only reluctantly accept that Feng Qingbai had stumbled into something right.

From now on, they’d just have to call him Badou.

As the elderly woman walked out, her brows alternated between tightening and relaxing, as if she had completely forgotten there were two others by her side.

The old maid kept sneaking glances at the Grand General but saw no sign of displeasure on his face—only a faint, lingering smile.

How strange.

“General, there’s no need for you to keep following me,” the Empress Dowager suddenly remembered, as they descended the temple steps. “It’s not often one visits the Royal Temple. Go seek your own fate. I can return on my own.”

“I have no requests to make. While Your Majesty was in the meditation room, I already walked a lap nearby. I should be heading back as well.”

“Then wait a bit before leaving. Don’t walk back with me. I’m a woman. How can I be seen walking alongside an unmarried man?”

“……”

Watching her figure grow smaller as she steadily descended the stairs, Qin Xiao’s lips slowly curled into a smile, then into hearty laughter.

A deep, joyful laugh.

In the past, she would never have said such things to him.

In fact, even when she spoke, her voice used to carry no emotion at all.

Or perhaps in the past, she wouldn’t even speak more than a word to him.

But today, Aman had deliberately teased him.

She even mocked him for being a bachelor.

Her heart had finally opened.

The reason she could change so much overnight was entirely because of those two newborn dragon-phoenix twins at the King’s Manor, and Feng Qingbai’s two words last night: ‘Mother Empress.’

After laughing heartily, a glimmer of tears welled in his tiger-like eyes.

He had won countless battles in his life, but never had he felt a moment as fulfilling as this one.

The missed chance all those years ago had made him loathe the northern tribes to the bone. Because of it, he had stationed himself at the border for forty years, swearing to wipe every last one of them out.

Yet even if he truly succeeded in that slaughter—what then?

His true knot was Aman.

At the King’s Manor, Liu Yusheng had finished her dinner and fed the two little ones once more before falling into an exhausted sleep.

As soon as she drifted off, the two babies were immediately carried into the adjoining nursery, where a crowd gathered around to coo and play with them.

The worst culprit was Liu Zhiqiu, who actually managed to wake up Badou just when he had fallen asleep from exhaustion.

His dark, shiny eyes stared at him. He did not cry or fuss, but if you looked closely, you could even see a subtle hint of disdain.

Liu Zhiqiu’s face darkened slightly. Taking advantage of the elders being distracted, he sneaked a hand to tickle his palm. “Hey, kiddo, are you looking down on me? I’m your uncle, you know!”

Xiao Badou spat out some saliva; the little bubble popped with a soft ‘pop’ sound.

With no way to complain, Liu Zhiqiu felt triumphant. He went on to tickle both hands, left and right, unaware of the soft footsteps approaching the doorway.

Suddenly, the previously quiet Badou puckered his lips and tears quickly welled up in both eyes, “Waaah—waaah—!”

He cried heartbreakingly loud.

Liu Zhiqiu, “…”

“How can you, a grown man, bully a little baby like that!” came an angry scolding from the doorway. A silver-haired woman hurried in, scooped up the little baby from the cradle—his eyes and nose red from crying—and glared fiercely at Liu Zhiqiu like an angry lioness.

Her shout made the Liu family members, who had been quietly discussing what nourishing soup to prepare next for their own daughters while the baby slept, all turn to look.

Liu Erlin even took off his shoes and started hitting Liu Zhiqiu. “You think you’re so capable, do you? You won’t play with anything else, but you mess with a little baby! Look at Badou crying because of you, you troublesome thing!”

Liu Zhiqiu, “…” What the hell? I am being unfairly blamed!

Then he realized what was happening, and as he ran away, he bared his teeth and glanced at Badou—just in time to see Badou’s mouth curl into a sly grin!

That little brat was tricking him!

Damn it! What kind of monster were these babies born from?!

Liu Zhiqiu fled the nursery in a panic.

At that time, Feng Qingbai didn’t know another adult besides himself was also being messed with by his son. He was in the study meeting with Wei Cheng.

Wei Cheng had been sent years ago to a southern town to look for the late emperor’s trusted old eunuch and had gathered some information, returning just today.

“He said the late emperor once intended to suppress Baicao Valley?”

“Yes. The eunuch said Baicao Valley’s ambitions were growing; they even started reaching into royal families of various countries, clearly scheming for power. To crush their ambitions, the late emperor ordered the execution of the most ambitious elders of Baicao Valley.”

“And then?”

“When the court’s men went to arrest people in Baicao Valley, they found a river of blood. Over three hundred people in the valley had been killed with no one left alive!”