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following morning, only then did Zhu Mingli asked to see his son. He was busy rolling in the sheet with his wife the whole night he almost forgot about his own son. Yan Gen wanted to beat the shit out of him for it, however when he scolded him about it, he became even more clingy and said unreasonably that he missed him that much. It seems that he was throwing all the blame on him. How did it become his fault?

“Wa-wait, I don't know how to hold a child” Mingli became flustered and tried to lean away but Yan Gen already put Xiao Jin in his arms “What if he breaks?” Yan Gen flicked his forehead “You're a dad now, you should know how to look after your child. You'll have to feed, clothe, and put him to sleep yourself”

But his highness is a man and a prince at that. He doesn't need to do all of those things, that job is for the child's mother and if the mother herself can't properly take care of him then they can simply hire a nanny for the child. The servants thought at the side.

Yan Gen momentarily forgot that they're in ancient era, not in a modern era where a man can also look after the child alternatively with his wife, sometimes, men were the one raising the children and looking after the house while his wife made money.

For Yan Gen, even if it came to him later that this is the ancient era, he would still make Zhu Mingli learn how to take care of their child. In any case, Yan Gen was also a man. A parents who doesn't know how to take care of their children are no parents at all! He thought indignantly to justify his action. Who said that women are the only one who can raise children ah? This one is also a man but has to take care of his own children too. All gender are equal.

“You have to hold him like this” Yan Gen motioned with his arms seeing Mingli's arms that are too stiff. Not long after, Jinhai started crying, feeling uncomfortable.

Yan Gen immediately got the child from Zhu Mingli, the latter also has an awkward expression, not knowing what to do. Yan Gen slowly rocked him in his arms. Soon, the child stopped crying.

“I seem unsuitable in taking care of him” said Zhu Mingli to which Yan Gen denied “It's your first time, of course you wouldn't know how to take care of him. You'll eventually learn how” he was just like him when he first held Xiao Jin.

Zhu Mingli stared down at his son “En. Just as handsome as me” he nodded to himself, his wife refused to comment on his shamelessness. Clearly, his son is more handsome than him. He has such a handsome fath--mother after all.

After Mingli stared at his pair of wife and son for a minute, a petty thought emerged in his mind. What if his wife love their son more than him? Wouldn't that be a problem?

“Zhu Mingli...” he snapped out of it when his wife gently called him with her sweet voice “hmm...?” he moved to her side, his arms sneaking around her thin waist and he started kissing her neck.

“Stop fooling around. Have you seriously thought about what I told you last night?” A sly grin crossed his face “There are so many things you told me last night, which one of it?” Yan Gen glared at him, if he wasn't holding Xiao Jin, he would have smacked him already.

“Lan-er, you should have known already, you're above anything and anyone else for me. Of course, I will listen to you”

A victorious return of the army from a large scale war also calls for a lavish banquet. Just like how the previous Emperor held a banquet to the current Emperor, though the former Emperor didn't want to put more glitters to his eldest son's name for he was already a threat to his throne, he still has to keep a formal appearance. He fought for his Empire thus he ought to give a reward for his son.

And now, the same thing is going to happen. Zhu Deming who just sat on the throne has to held a banquet for his youngest brother whose very existence is a threat to him.

The banquet will be held at night but Zhu Mingli still has to report directly to the Emperor after the morning court assembly.

Yan Gen will have to talk with Wei Yuu before Zhu Mingli reported to the Emperor. That way, Wei Yuu will have some time to convince the Emperor to let them go, Zhu Mingli held no ambition towards the Dragon throne.

Yan Gen can't talk to Wei Yuu in the morning since he held a high position in court, of course he definitely has to attend the morning court assembly.

After thinking it through, Yan Gen decided to send him a letter instead, informing him of his concerns. There's no guarantee that Wei Yuu will have some free time after the morning court assembly. Furthermore, even if he did met with him, Zhu Mingli will probably be reporting to the Emperor at that time. Wei Yuu won't be there to advice the Emperor if that's the case. It's wise to send his cousin a letter.

In the afternoon, Yan Gen feel even more restless. Zhu Mingli had already gone to the palace to report to the Emperor. At the same time, the Emperor will give him rewards along with the generals that fought alongside with the fifth prince. He didn't know what kind of 'reward' will the Emperor bestow on Zhu Mingli. It can also be something that might cause Mingli to be framed if the Emperor tried to nitpick on him or it can also be a pardon. If that's the case, Zhu Mingli's wish to become a border prince will be granted, this is also lessening his majesty's worries.

After all, even if he wanted to get rid of the fifth prince who is a thorn on his side, it won't be that easy, considering that he still has to maintain an image of a benevolent Emperor to stable his throne.

“What's happening?” Yan Gen rushed out of his courtyard after hearing a series of loud noises from the main hall, there were sounds of things being moved about and the sounds of people's footsteps.

“Wangfei” the people in the main hall, mostly dressed in palace servants outfits respectfully saluted him before resuming their work.

Yan Gen saw these palace servants moving in a lot of things in the wangfu, rolls of silk, horses, treasure chests, and also new servants. On the other hand, he saw the servants from a far who are originally serving the wangfu packing a lot of things, as if they're going to move out today.

Looking at them bustling around made Yan Gen dizzy “They're moving in the rewards bestowed by the Emperor” replied the head maid “What about the servants that are packing?” At his second question, the head maid also revealed a confused expression .

“This... wangfei, nubi doesn't know too. They just started packing a while ago, they said that they're ordered by the prince to do so”

Packing? Are they getting kicked out? But these palace servants are moving in the rewards given by his majesty.

“What the hell is going on here?” Yan Gen marched to Zhu Mingli the moment he entered his sight.

Yan Gen furrowed his eyebrows at his husband's faint smile. “The Emperor agreed for me to become a border prince” Isn't that a good news then? Yet seeing Mingli's expression, a bad premonition crept up to him.

As it turns out, the Emperor can't be reassured without laying out a few condition that the fifth prince 'must' obey.

The fifth prince, Zhu Mingli, as decreed by the emperor was granted a march of more than 2000 households along with bolts of silk and other treasure. Henceforth, he's also granted the title of the King of the West to guard the Western border.

As a figure guarding the Western border that is constantly being harassed by a small barbaric tribes every now and then, he shall always be in his own territory, and shall not make any contact from the high officials and royal bloods that doesn't concern the Western border, unless ordered by the Emperor.

A collective execution will be the consequence of transgressing this decree, and they will not have a resting place (graves)

This is equal to banishment. They're being banished in the Western border.

King- Confusingly, some Chinese emperors styled many or all close male relatives of certain kinds such as brothers, uncles, or nephews as wang, a term for king, using it as a courtesy title. They have their own territories in the Empire but is still under the Emperor's authority.