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Snow Bao closed the door to her room, leaving several bewildered palace servants outside. A few calls sounded through the door, but Snow Bao ignored them. She had more important matters to worry about.
Her four older brothers sat on the ground in front of her. Each Bao had their eyes solely focused on Snow Bao. Snow Bao almost laughed; she was their last hope, and she knew it.
“Daddy’s birthday is in two weeks.” Snow Bao said, holding two of her small fingers up for the others to see. Her four older brothers nodded, each chubby face wearing a serious expression. The seriousness of the situation could not be underestimated. “And this year won’t be like last year,” Snow Bao resolutely added.
The four Baos sheepishly glanced towards each other before nodding their heads in agreement. Snow Bao stifled a giggle; Seeing the guilt that appeared on Bao #1’s normally serious face was hilarious. She looked up to her oldest brother, and she relished the chance to be in charge. Snow Bao was aware she wasn’t set to inherit the Emperor’s throne, but she was quickly coming to the realization that she liked being in charge. Right now, Bao #1 (and #2, #3, and #4) listened to her. Snow Bao took a deep breath and schooled her expression, just like her Emperor Father had taught her. This was no time for giggles. This was a very serious situation.
In previous years, the Baos had relied upon their Emperor Father for help with Li Yu’s birthday present. Last year, however, the Baos had decided they were big enough to prepare something without their father’s help. With Bao #1 in charge—and Bao #2, Bao #3, Bao #4, and Snow Bao to help—birthday plans were decided upon relatively quickly.
Li Yu loved fish food; he was a carp demon after all. The five Baos had easily settled on making fish food for Dad. Children making their parent’s favorite food was common, right? So what if Dad’s favorite food was a little unconventional? Bao #2 and Bao #3 had come up with the plan to tell Wang Xi that the fish food was for the carp family that lived in the Palace waterways. Bao #1 had let this slide since it technically wasn’t a lie. Under the impression that the Baos weren’t going to feed the fish food to a human, Wang Xi had gone through the trouble of teaching the Baos how to prepare the best fish food from flour.
After several attempts, they finally mastered the craft. With the best fish food in hand, they were certain their present would be well-received.
Their present was not well-received.
In the Baos’ defense, how where they supposed to know that Dad didn’t like fish food while he was in human form? And that adding fish food—what should have been his favorite food—as a surprise to his dinner at the imperial banquet would cause trouble? And that Dad would be so surprised he would nearly choke to death in front of all the ministers and officials in attendance? Even precious Bao #4 hadn’t escaped the piercing stare of their Emperor Father.
The Baos had burst into tears upon the first sign of interrogation from their Emperor Father. Mu Tianchi and Li Yu were not bad fathers, however, and after establishing that it had been a mistake from failed attempt at a birthday gift, the Baos were let off without punishment. Their Emperor Father had continued to ask questions, trying to figure out how the children learned to make fish food. The Baos all refused to answer out of fear of getting Wang Gonggong in trouble (Later, Wang Xi told their Emperor Father what happened anyway).
This year, all four Baos had unanimously relinquished birthday plans to Snow Bao. Snow Bao, the forgiving sister that she was, graciously included her four brothers in the planning phase. With a chance to redeem themselves, the four older Baos devoted their attention to their little sister.
Snow Bao joined her brothers on the floor and carefully spread paper on the floor. She gripped the brush with her little hand, doing her best to imitate Fish Dad when he worked as the Reagent Empress.
“Da Bao Ge, any ideas?” She asked her oldest brother.
Bao #1 thought for a moment, “Dad already has any material thing he could wish for since Father spoils him.” The other siblings nodded in agreement. Their Emperor Father was constantly showering Li Yu with precious jewels or expensive clothes—Li Yu was absolutely the most spoiled fish in the kingdom. “I suggest we make something.”
“Like food?” Bao #3 asked.
“No, you dummy. We’re trying to avoid last year.” Bao #2 said, elbowing Bao #3.
“Who are you calling a dummy? I didn’t say fish food,” Bao #3 said, crossing his arms defiantly.
Snow Bao ignored her bickering brothers and carefully wrote ‘handmade’ on the sheet of paper.
“Xiao Bao Ge?” Snow Bao asked, lifting her eyes to look at her brother. Bao #4 had remained silent thus far. Snow Bao was worried that if she didn’t pull her brother into the conversation he might fall asleep.
Bao #4 yawned, the hard thinking making him sleepy. “Something… fish related? Like the fish tank that Father made?” The crystal fish tank was one of Li Yu’s most prized possession. Even if their dad spent most of his time as a human, he made sure the crystal fish tank stayed clean day after day.
“What would Dad do with another crystal tank?” Bao #3 pointed out.
“Father already added waterways and ponds to the whole palace.” Bao #2 added.
“No fish food, no fish tanks.” Bao #1 concluded. Snow Bao added the notes to her list.
“What else does Dad like other than fish food and fish tanks?” Bao #4 asked, flopping backwards on Snow Bao’s floor. He stretched out, clearly still bitter that this meeting had forced him to reschedule his afternoon nap.
“Father.” Bao #2 said.
“Obviously. But it’s not like we could wrap Father up and give him to Dad for his birthday.” Bao #3 snorted.
As soon as the words left Bao #3’s mouth, it was as if lightning struck each Bao. They all looked at each other.
“That’s not… such a bad idea.” Snow Bao started. Their Emperor Father was definitely Li Yu’s favorite thing. Even the most expensive fish tank or the tastiest fish food couldn’t compete with Mu Tianchi.
“What? Absolutely not!” Bao #1 tried to stop the plan in its tracks.
Bao #2 shushed his older brother. “Why not? Dad definitely wouldn’t be unhappy to unwrap Father on his birthday.”
“It definitely wouldn’t almost kill him like last year!” Bao #3 pointed out.
“Do you think Father would be opposed?” Bao #4 asked.
Bao #2 snickered, “of course not, Father loves Dad just as much as Dad loves him…”
“Maybe even more…” Snow Bao added. They thought silently. Their Emperor Father’s love was truly limitless.
“But Dad isn’t something handmade by us.” Bao #1 pointed to the first thing on Snow Bao’s list.
“The wrapping paper could be.” Bao #2 and #3 retorted. They gave each other a high five (a gesture their Dad had taught them recently, although it failed to catch on with Bao #1).
“Oh no,” Bao #1 whispered, watching his futile attempt to reign in his siblings’ energy crumble before his eyes. He could see his hold on his siblings’ chaos slowly melt away.
“Just let it happen.” Snow Bao said, watching Bao #2, Bao #3, and Bao #4 begin planning.
——
The Baos were once again sitting on Snow Bao’s floor. This time, however, Snow Bao wasn’t the only one with paper and a brush. The amount of paper they needed to fully wrap their Emperor Father was absurd; so, each Bao had ended up with a large strip of paper in front of them. Snow Bao thought “strip of paper” was inaccurate—it was basically a scroll.
While not all five Baos had inherited their Father’s neat handwriting, they all had inherited his love for painting. For many years, they had begged Emperor Father to teach them to paint. Emperor Father had suggested maybe hiring a tutor, someone trained in painting. The Baos all resolutely refused; if it wasn’t Father’s painting, then it was no good! Li Yu had agreed with his children, and the Emperor had no choice but to indulge his children.
Snow Bao’s painting was filled with many curved lines. The palace filled part of the paper while the rest was taken up by beautiful waterways of the palace that almost seemed to flow across her page. Her little tongue stuck out of the corner of her mouth as she concentrated on drawing a family of carp in the foreground of the picture. She had already finished painting the two large carp (much easier to paint) and was now focusing on adding the five small carps needed to complete the family.
Bao #1 had been more ambitious, and was subsequently becoming more frustrated, than his other siblings. A larger piece of paper sat in front of him, the paper filled with a family of seven. The Emperor stood with his hand on Dad’s shoulder. Snow Bao sat in Dad’s lap, her chubby face adorned with the smile that seemed to lighten up the room. Bao #1 had drawn himself and his three brothers standing in front of their Emperor Father. The only thing missing from the painting was Li Yu’s smile. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t seem to get it quite right. He had seen Father’s painting of Li Yu hanging on the Palace wall many times, and he had tried to replicate it. But he was still not there yet. He ignored his bitter feelings. He couldn’t possibly give Dad something made with bitterness.
Bao #2’s painting depicted an underwater scene. While not as skilled as Snow Bao or Bao #1, one could still recognize the little miniature palace and little miniature family in his painting. As a fish, Bao #2 loved to spend his time in the replica of the palace. Dad had told him that the first miniature replica in the old estate had only contained Emperor Father. Li Yu had promptly placed a fish-shaped rock with the miniature Jing-Wang. Bao #2 thought his parent’s courtship was so sweet and had no hesitation in drawing the replica family from the palace waterways.
Bao #3 had a little more difficult deciding what to paint. He wasn’t very good at painting people (or fish). Even his architecture painting was subpar, so the palace wasn’t a great choice. After much deliberation, he had fetched a book from the library about the West Frontier. He glanced at the weathered pages of the book, slowly added the scenery of the West Frontier into his painting. His family hadn’t been back to the West Frontier since he had been born, but he knew the place held special meaning for his family.
Bao #4, true to himself, painted whatever came to mind. He painted some peach blossom cookies and some fish food. He drew the precious jewels and pearls that adorned the original crystal tank. He even painted some of his memories. There was a depiction of Fish Dad carrying him on his head before he had become human. A Fish Dad teaching him and the other Baos to talk. Four little Baos swaddled in colorful robes at the wedding in the West Frontier. The Baos laughing with their grandfather. The Baos becoming fish again. His page was much more chaotic than his siblings, but Bao #4 didn’t care in the slightest.
——
The five Baos marched towards the largest hall of the Palace, where their Father spent his days bettering the kingdom. Each Bao held their painting with pride, they were certain Dad would like his birthday present this year.
The Imperial Banquet was tomorrow night, but tonight was Li Yu’s actual birthday. Emperor Father had arranged a family dinner for Li Yu’s birthday and then a banquet celebration for the night after. After last year’s catastrophe, Snow Bao decided it’d be best to do this tonight.
The guards in front of the doors to the Palace Hall stepped aside, the Baos never needed summons to see their Emperor Father. It was known throughout the kingdom how much the Emperor spoiled his five children.
The doors to the Hall swung open and the five little Baos filed in. Their Emperor Father looked up from the scroll in his hands and smiled at the sight of his children.
“Emperor Father! We’ve come to kidnap you!” Snow Bao said, her hands full with her painting and a few chi of rope.
Wang Xi nearly fell over from his position behind the Emperor. Had this been any other Emperor, there would’ve been legal repercussions if the princes and princess of a kingdom dared to say such words. “Now, now, Children–” Wang Xi started.
Mu Tianchi had a smile on his face though and held up his hand for Wang Xi to stop. “What has this Emperor done that requires such force?”
Snow Bao paused; she hadn’t expected resistance from Emperor Father. Even with being in charge of planning, she had only planned to say that one line. Bao #1, however, came to her rescue.
“We intend to…” Bao #1 swallowed, as if he was having a hard time playing the villain, “We intend to kidnap you and present you as a gift.” Mu Tianchi raised his eyebrow after hearing his oldest son’s words. Usually it was only maidens that were captured to be presented as gifts, but here were his children capturing the Emperor. What had those royal tutors been teaching his children? At least he was certain Bao #1 had paid attention during history and politics lectures.
Wang Xi was about to same something again, but an amused glance from the Emperor told Wang Xi it was fine. Wang Xi could only watch helplessly as the five little Baos marched up to their father and began tying his hands with the rope.
The Emperor did his best to hold back his laughter as he watched Bao #4 struggle to secure the rope around his bound wrists. His attention was drawn away as he watched his children begin wrapping him in paper. He discretely smiled as he looked at the paper. Each page was carefully painted with pictures of their family and their memories.
After fulling wrapping Emperor Father up (and the Emperor assuring Wang Xi that he was fine, and Wang Xi could retire for the evening), the Baos led their Emperor Father to the courtyard, where Li Yu’s birthday dinner had been set up.
Li Yu was sitting alone at the table, somewhat confused at why he was the only one there to celebrate his birthday. The laughter of his children filled the air, and he raised his eyes to greet his children. Instead of a standard greeting, laughter bubbled out. Li Yu couldn’t contain himself.
In front of him stood his five children, each looking quite proud of their accomplishment. Snow Bao’s small hand grasped the end of a rope which was used to bind Mu Tianchi’s wrists. The more Li Yu looked, the more his laughter erupted.
His husband, his usually serious and confident husband, looked hilarious. Mu Tianchi’s dignified robes had been covered by paper, giving him a strange appearance. Stranger than the paper clothes was that the Baos had also wrapped their father’s head. The Emperor’s head and face were also covered by paper, but disheveled tufts of Mu Tianchi’s hair poked out the top of the wrapping.
“Aiyo! What have you done to your father?” Li Yu asked, still laughing. He stood up to help his husband.
“You’re supposed to unwrap your present before you figure out what it is.” Snow Bao said. Li Yu laughed again before examining the wrapping paper.
“Ah, so this is my birthday gift?” Li Yu asked. All the children nodded, and Li Yu felt his heart start to fill with warmth. “Did you all paint these?” Li Yu asked, examining the scenes of his family that covered his husband up.
“This one’s mine!” Snow Bao said, pointing at the scene of the palace waterways and the carp family.
“How pretty! Exactly like little Snow Bao!” Li Yu said. Li Yu delicately untied the rope holding Snow Bao’s painting in place. He carefully put the painting aside, already trying to decide where he would hang it up.
It was Bao #1’s turn. “This one is mine, Dad.” Li Yu examined the detailed portrait of all seven family members in their human forms; it looks just like Mu Tianchi’s painting style. In a few years, Li Yu might not be able to distinguish Bao #1’s paintings from his husbands. Again, Li Yu delicately removed the rope securing the scene to his husbands body. He sneakily used this chance to rub his husband’s body, he almost snicked as he felt Mu Tianchi inhale sharply when Li Yu felt his husband’s toned chest.
None the wiser, Bao #2 took his turn to point out his painting. “It looks just like the miniature replicas!” Li Yu said, touched that his son loved the replicas as much as he did. His heart felt quite warm remembering when he had added the little fish stone next to the replica Jing-Wang all those years ago.
With Bao #2’s painting gently set aside, Bao #3 proudly pointed out his depiction of the West Frontier. “Bao #3! If you can paint this well, we might not have to take Snow Bao to the West Frontier someday. She can see where you all were born right here!” The West Frontier was really a special place for him and Mu Tianchi. It was where they had confessed, where they had raised the Baos as fish and as infants, and where they had gotten married.
Bao #4 was last, and Li Yu almost laughed upon seeing the chaos that his son had painted. He smiled widely, patting Bao #4 on the head. “Now this painting has so much of Bao #4’s personality in it!” Bao #4 laughed, eagerly pointing out the peach blossom cookies.
Li Yu carefully removed Bao #4’s painting from Mu Tianchi’s face and giggled upon seeing his husband’s hair all askew. He gently set Bao #4’s painting with the other paintings, before holding his arms out to his children and his husband.
“Happy Birthday, Dad!” All five Baos said, quickly embracing their parents.
“Thank you,” Li Yu said, sniffling. He was not going to cry!
After a long, warm hug, the five Baos drew back to take their places at the table, chattering among themselves. Li Yu graciously took this chance to remove the rope from Mu Tianchi’s wrist.
“Ah, look at this,” Li Yu said, examining his husband’s face. “Who knew my children could find me such a beautiful present.”
Mu Tianchi closed the small distance between them, giving Li Yu a kiss that was much too chaste for his own liking. He made up for it by leaning close to Li Yu and whispering into his ear.
“Maybe you can finish unwrapping me after dinner.” Mu Tianchi accentuated his point by wrapping his arms around Li Yu’s waist.
Li Yu’s face blushed red, already imagining said ‘unwrapping.’ He cleared his throat and smiled deviously at his husband before kissing him again. He whispered against Mu Tianchi’s lips, “Maybe I will.”