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"Please~!" Jinming begged, eyes wide and lips pouted in his best puppy dog expression.
The Emperor and Empress share a look. They'd been doing that a lot lately, as if swapping bodies and a series of near death experiences had somehow left them telepathic.
"I don't know.." Xu Yu hedges uncertainly, bouncing her infant son gently in her arms.
"Come on, it's just for an afternoon. Don't you want him to have a good relationship with his uncle?"
The couple share another long look.
Xiao Jinyun releases a long sigh.
"Fine. At least we don't have to worry about you scheming against him."
Xiao Jinming knew he was thinking of their own uncle, Lord Ning. Growing up among court politics, the brothers had learned very early on to be very discerning of who they trusted. When Lord Ning's plot had been uncovered, the Emperor had no choice but to act swiftly and eventually execute their uncle without mercy. But it had not been easy for him. Jinyun had once respected his uncle and the betrayal still stung.
Xiao Jinming smiles softly. "Of course not," he reassures. "Besides, if I'm Emperor I won't be able to have fun with the beauties in town anymore."
"DO NOT TAKE OUR SON TO A BROTHEL!"
The couple shouts in unison, twin pictures of fury and disapproval.
Xiao Jinming raises his hands, placating.
"I won't! I won't!"
The baby sniffles.
"Ah! Sorry!" The couple fuss over the young prince for a few moments before paying Xiao Jinming any mind again.
His brother fixes him with an icy stare.
"The baby stays in the palace," he says sternly.
"Okay," Xiao Jinming agrees easily.
"Swear it."
"Okay. Okay, I promise. Happy, Ge?"
Xiao Jinyun releases a short huff.
"Fine," he says, shortly.
Xiao Jinming bounces on his toes impatiently and makes little grabbing motions with his hands.
"Lemme see~."
Xu Yu laughs quietly and finally hands the baby over. The baby blinks confusedly as he switches arms.
"Hi hi." Xiao Jinming coos. "Did you miss your favorite uncle?"
The baby gurgles happily.
"Ha! Don't let my brothers hear you say that," Xu Yu teases.
Xiao Jinming boops the baby's nose. "I won't need to. The results will speak for themselves."
The little prince chortles and clumsily reaches for his fingers.
Xiao Jinming looks back up at the couple. "Now, don't you two have some foreign dignitaries to meet?"
The couple sighs reluctantly. Xu Yu leans over to kiss the baby on the forehead.
"Be good for Uncle Jinming. Mommy and daddy will be back soon."
She smiles softly, stepping back.
Xiao Jinyun also leans down to give the baby a kiss and gently rubs a hand across the wispy strands of hair on his head.
"If something happens-," he begins.
"You'll marry me off, I know." Xiao Jinming finishes, rolling his eyes.
Xiao Jinyun's lips quirk. "Actually, I was going to say if something happens to ask one of the maids for help. They've been assisting A-Yu with diaper changes, nap times, and such since the birth."
"Ah, alright. I'll keep that in mind." He shoos them away with one hand. "Now go! Can't have the Emperor and Empress make a bad impression by showing up late."
"Alright, alright we're going." Xu Yu laughs.
Xiao Jinyun takes her hand and the two stare adoringly into each other's eyes before walking away.
Xiao Jinming sighs heavily.
"Finally," he mutters. "It's just you and me, nephew! You ready to spend the day with uncle?"
The baby babbles in agreement and Xiao Jinming happily skips away singing a silly little song to his new charge.
• • •
He takes time to show his little nephew all the best places in the palace, including the best spots for a quiet late night rendezvous.
"You'd be surprised at how often people refuse to look up," he explains. "Always so busy going from this place to that, they miss what's right in front of them."
"And these are the royal gardens. Your dad and I used to play here a lot. I'm pretty sure the gardener hates us 'cause of that one time we squashed a row of flowers."
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a dainty figure strolling by.
"Lady Tao!" Xiao Jinming calls out a greeting.
The woman in question stops and bows as she spots him.
"Second prince," she greets cordially.
She tilts her head slightly, curious. "Your highness, is that the crown prince you're carrying there?"
"Yes," Xiao Jinming answers, bouncing the baby a bit. "The Emperor and Empress are busy today so this little one gets to spend the afternoon with me."
"Would you like to hold him?"
The normally stone-faced Lady Tao's expression changes into something longing and full of adoration.
"Would I!?"
She coughs. "I-I mean, yes please."
Now Xiao Jinming did not whisk away his nephew just to flirt with the palace girls! But the baby had a strange way of melting people's hearts, so it was only natural that even normally serious people would stick around longer than normal while he had his nephew in tow.
The crown prince was very good with people already and did not fuss while being held by strangers. He merely sucked contentedly on his fingers and looked around while the grownups talked.
Xiao Jinming notices when the crown prince gets restless, almost wiggling his way out of Lady Tao's arms.
He catches him and readjusts his hold as the baby leans out of his arms to swat playfully at a butterfly.
"Ah, don't wiggle so much!" Xiao Jinming scolds lightly. "You're going to hurt yourself."
The baby shrieks excitedly.
"You want to look at the butterflies?"
The baby wiggles around more, stretching out his arms and gurgling something incomprehensible.
"Okay, okay."
Xiao Jinming sets the baby down in the grass.
He laughs and giggles and claps his hands as the pretty insects flutter by.
"He's so adorable," Lady Tao compliments. "You're very good with him."
Xiao Jinming smiles bashfully.
"You'd make a great dad someday."
Xiao Jinming can feel his skin break out into hives.
"Your future wife will surely be a lucky person," she continues, oblivious. "Many women wish for a husband both handsome and kind. But being good with their children is sure to be an unexpected bonus. I can't wait for the palace to have another wedding!"
"R-right. Of course."
Xiao Jinming looks around fishing for a way out of this conversation, immediately.
"Oh, I think I just saw the royal financial advisor!"
Lady Tao turns around. "Where?"
"Just went by the gate. You were looking for your father weren't you? I shouldn't hold you up."
"Ah, right. Then this one shall take her leave. Goodbye your highness."
Xiao Jinming breathes a sigh of relief as she disappears around the corner.
He wipes his forehead. That was a close one.
"Okay, nephew let's-"
Xiao Jinming turns around to pick up the baby but there is no baby.
"Nephew?"
"Nephew?!"
Xiao Jinming's veins freeze to ice.
I lost the crown prince!
"A-YUE!"
Xiao Jinming bursts through the doors to the Imperial Astrologer's private office, on the verge of panic.
"You have to help me! It's an emergency!"
The Imperial Astrologer hardly looks up at the frazzled entrance, instead focusing on carefully writing something on a piece of paper. Well, drawing judging by how long the strokes are, which means he's either making a star map or drawing for fun. Both are extremely likely for this person.
"So it's finally happened," the Imperial Astrologer says calmly.
If Xiao Jinming hadn't known this person all his life he'd naturally assume A-Yue was referring to the disappearance of the crown prince. But the Imperial Astrologer is loyal to the royal family and would have mentioned long ago if he'd foreseen a terrible fate for the infant.
So instead of getting angry Xiao Jinming asks, "What are you talking about?"
The Imperial Astrologer finally looks up. "Aren't you being targeted by a huli jing or a beautiful ghost? If it was money problems, I'd assume you'd run to the Emperor."
Xiao Jinming can't help but feel a little offended that his friend thinks he's amorous enough to get targeted by demons. He doesn't sleep with the women at the brothel that often! He really does go mostly for company and entertainment-of the harmless variety!
"Nevermind that," Xiao Jinming says hurriedly. "I lost the Crown Prince!"
The brush clatters to the table.
The Imperial Astrologer stands, heading for the door. "Where did you see him last?"
"In the garden. I turned my back for one second and he was gone!"
"What happened?"
"I was having a conversation with Lady Tao. But this can't be a plot she's involved in- I approached her for conversation first," Xiao Jinming explains, trotting after on the Astrologer's heels.
"Anyway, he was getting fussy about being held and wanted to look at the butterflies so I just set him down-right there."
Xiao Jinming points to the exact spot in the garden as they approach.
"He was right here."
The Imperial Astrologer crouches down, looking around intently. He lifts up the edge of a nearby bush. Xiao Jinming had already checked the bushes, of course, but maybe his friend would find something he didn't.
Finding nothing in the bush, the Imperial Astrologer sits back on his heels.
A purple butterfly floats past, gliding on an early spring wind.
"This way," he says, following the pretty insects across the garden.
Xiao Jinming follows him into a more open part of the garden where trees flower along the edge of the lake and lotus flowers and lily pads drift in the water.
"There," the Imperial Astrologer says nonchalantly gesturing casually to the middle of the lake.
The color instantaneously drains from both men.
The crown prince cackles happily from where he's hitched a ride on the back of a turtle shell, lazily drifting across the water.
"NEPH-!"
A-Yue claps a hand over his mouth.
"If you distract him, he might startle and fall off," he says quietly. "Stay here."
Without further ado, he begins to shed his outer robes. Xiao Jinming makes a noise that sounds embarrassingly close to a squeak and quickly looks back out across the lake.
A-Yue pulls off his boots and plunges into the cold water splashing droplets as he dives in.
Hold on, little nephew! We're coming for you!
A-Yue makes his way across the lake with strong measured strokes but the turtle makes its way to land first.
The crown prince tumbles off the shell and into the mud with a wet splat. The crown prince blinks curiously at the squishy substance. Then deciding that he likes it, proceeds to slam his hands down in the mud over and over-laughing like it's the best day of his very short life.
Xiao Jinming sinks to the ground.
Well , he thinks distantly. At least he's safe.
Then he disappears again.
Xiao Jinming blinks.
No, wait-
The baby has been snatched by an eagle!
"NEPHEW!!!" Xiao Jinming wails.
Since when did they even have eagles around here? And where's the Empress' messenger hawk when you need him?!
Xiao Jinming hurriedly gathers up the Imperial Astrologer's clothes and scrambles for the other side of the lake.
Raising his hands, A-Yue draws in the air and says something Xiao Jinming cannot hear at a distance.
A gust of power flies forth and envelops the eagle but it appears to be unaffected.
"What was that!?" Xiao Jinming yells, shouting to be heard at a distance.
The Imperial Astrologer climbs out of the lake and doesn't respond until he can hear Xiao Jinming's footsteps at his back.
"Sleep spell," he answers, turning around to take his clothes and dressing hastily.
"It should take effect gradually so the bird will find someplace to rest nearby instead of flying away to its nest."
They watch as the eagle glides low over one of the palace walls.
"Come on. We can't lose sight of it!"
The two men run to the wall and stop. The gate isn't anywhere near here. They'll have to jump the wall.
"Boost me," Xiao Jinming suggests. "And then I'll pull you up after me."
The other nods, holding out his palms and interlocking the fingers together.
Xiao Jinming backs up to take a running start and then-
Fwoosh!
The Imperial Astrologer sends him flying atop the palace wall.
Xiao Jinming lands gracefully then turns around and kneels down wincing as the tiles bite into his knees.
"Okay," he says, reaching out a hand. "Jump!"
Pah!
Their hands clap together.
Xiao Jinming pulls, straining with the effort. Finally he gets the Astrologer onto the rooftop, flopping backwards from exertion.
"A-Yue," he pants. "You've gotten so dense since our childhood."
"Not as much as you," the astrologist returns mildly.
Xiao Jinming sits up with an offended gasp.
But before he can protest the remark A-Yue is already moving to the other side of the rooftop.
Their eyes scan the busy courtyard.
"Over there."
The eagle rests atop an unlit torch stick, head nodding with sleep.
"But where…?"
Xiao Jinming looks around carefully. His eyes widen when he spots it-the baby prince!
The baby's head peeks out from among the sheets and empty crates of a delivery wagon. His shining gold eyes sparkle as he waves from the back of a wagon that had just left the palace.
Xiao Jinming groans, flattening himself across the roof.
"Oh, no. Ge is going to kill me."
A-Yue leaps down from the roof leaving Xiao Jinming to clamber after him.
He stares at the palace gates, a small frown on his lips.
A-Yue hadn't left the palace since the time they went to investigate the source of the smallpox disease that turned out to be an evil spell. The Imperial Astrologer leaving the palace in general wasn't forbidden as far as Jinming knew, but it was important they stay on hand to deliver prophecies, interpret messages from the Heavens, and ensure their favor with the gods. And this…wasn't exactly official business. At least not any business they could tell people about.
"Go invisible and sneak around the guards," Xiao Jinming whispers. The Emperor and Empress are busy all day so no one will notice you've gone. I'll see you on the other side."
At least if anyone sees Jinming leaving it won’t be unusual and A-Yue can corroborate any excuses he may have to use about leaving the baby with him while he went into town.
A-Yue nods and with a quick spell, vanishes from sight.
Xiao Jinming straightens his robes and casually strolls up to the gate, pulling out his fan and waving it leisurely.
"Your Highness!" The guards greet him with proper courtesy.
"Good afternoon," he responds pleasantly. "Working hard, I see."
"Yes sir!"
"Going out again, your highness?" The guard on the right asks.
"Yes," Xiao Jinming answers. "It's too nice to be cooped up in the palace all day."
He leans towards that guard conspiratorially. "Just don't let my brother know I've been out today, okay?"
He pushes a few coins into his hands and winks. "It's our secret."
He flounces out the door. "I'll be back!"
"A-Yue?" He whispers when he's gotten far enough from the gate. "A-Yue where are you?"
"Right here."
Xiao Jinming nearly jumps out of his skin from the voice behind him.
"Don't do that," he whines. "You scared me."
A-Yue, unimpressed as ever, simply says, "We need to locate that cart." As if he didn’t hear him!
"You're so mean to me!" Xiao Jinming pouts, leading the way into the marketplace. "You don't care about my well being at all."
"If I didn't, I wouldn't be here," A-Yue counters. "I'd have left you at the mercy of the Emperor and Empress instead."
Xiao Jinming shudders at the image.
Left to brother and sister-in-law, he'd be a dead man for sure!
"Nevermind, I take it back," he says quickly, latching onto the other's arm. "You're the best!"
The Imperial Astrologer hums noncommittally.
Vendors call out to them as they step onto the busy street.
"Young Masters, would you like some sweets?"
"Jewelry for sale! The finest hand-crafted pieces in Dachen!"
"Your highness," an old man calls. "Out with a new friend I see! Want to give them a taste of Old Man Cao's fried noodles?"
"Not today sir!" He calls back. "Maybe some other time!"
Little nephew where'd you go? If uncle has lost you for good I'll never forgive myself!
A piercing wail carries over the sound of the hustle and bustle of the marketplace.
Xiao Jinming shares a look with A-Yue.
They push through the crowd, which gradually grows abuzz with talk of the crying child.
"Who's baby is this?"
"Oh, poor thing. Where are your parents?"
"He's so dirty."
"Think he's been abandoned?"
Xiao Jinming finally shoves his way to the front of the crowd. The Crown prince sits on the ground, clothes and face covered in dried mud. Xiao Jinming feels his heart break at the sight.
He tries to take a step forward but is stopped by a hand on his shoulder. A-Yue shakes his head minutely.
"If we don't want this to get back to the Emperor, it's best you don't walk back in the castle with him," he murmurs.
"I'll meet you back at Zhaixing tower."
So saying, A-Yue steps out of the crowd. Xiao Jinming hangs back in the crowd, feeling too nervous to leave. He trusts A-Yue a lot but the man doesn't know much about babies.
What if he doesn't stop crying? What if he hasn't seen the Imperial Astrologer enough to trust him?
As the Crown Prince's uncle it's his duty to make sure he's safe and comfortable!
He watches as A-Yue kneels in front of the shrieking baby and reaching out a hand, gently rubs the top of his head.
"It's okay," he soothes in a low voice. "You're safe now."
The crown prince blinks his large watery eyes, sobs slowly quieting.
Guess Xiao Jinming was wrong to be worried, even babies can't resist that smooth honeyed voice!
"There we are."
The Astrologer smiles softly, wiping away at the remaining tears with the sleeve of his robe.
Scooping the crying baby up, he holds him against his chest seemingly uncaring of the dirt on his robes.
The crown prince hiccups and sniffles some more.
"Are you the boy's father?" Someone in the crowd has the sense to ask.
"No," A-Yue answers smoothly. "I was watching him for my sister. I set him down for just a moment to handle something else and he got away from me."
"You should be more careful-"
Xiao Jinming silently backs out of the crowd as the Imperial Astrologer begins to calmly apologize for his negligence, and quietly slips away.
"NEPHEW!!!"
Xiao Jinming twirls the baby round and round the room in Zhaixing tower.
He hugs the crown prince to his chest and squishes their cheeks together.
"I'm so glad you're okay! Don't you ever scare Uncle like that again!"
The baby, calm and content again, just drools on him.
"Blech."
Oh. And there's mud on his clothes too.
Xiao Jinming sniffs the air.
"What is that-? Oh,ew!"
He gags realizing the smell is coming from the baby diaper. He covers his nose with one hand.
"What else were you expecting," the Imperial Astrologer remarks, also pinching his nose.
"..Please just call for a bath."
• • •
"Thanks so much for taking care of the baby this afternoon," Xu Yu says.
"It was nothing," Xiao Jinming lies with a bright smile.
"And you too," she says to A-Yue. "I hope he wasn't too distracting."
"Not at all," the Imperial Astrologer answers smoothly, also lying through his teeth.
Xiao Jinyun looks between the two suspiciously.
"What did you two do?"
"What do you mean, ge?" Xiao Jinming smiles innocently.
"I- I mean we have been perfect angels all afternoon."
Xiao Jinyun narrows his eyes. "Uh-huh."
Xu Yu gently elbows her husband in the ribs.
"Come on, whatever it is, it can't be that bad. At least the baby is all in one piece."
Xiao Jinyun sighs. "Fine," he relents. "Thank you for taking care of the baby."
"It's no problem ge! I am the best uncle after all."
A-Yue snorts.
"Speaking of which.."
Xiao Jinyun puts an arm around Xu Yu's shoulders bringing her closer to his side. "We haven't had much time to be alone together recently if you two wouldn't mind watching him for another afternoon?"
Xiao Jianming laughs nervously.
"You know I've actually gotten super busy recently so unfortunately I won't have time to."
"I need to prepare for the return of an unusual astrological event in a few weeks."
Xu Yu scrunches her brows together. "That sounds important."
A-Yue shakes his head. "It's nothing Your Highnesses need worry about."
"We'll leave you to it then," the Emperor says.
Xiao Jinming flops backwards onto the floor as they finally leave, the stress and hectic pace of the day finally catching up and leaving him exhausted.
"Ah, I really thought they were going to figure us out," he groans. "That was too close."
He rolls over onto his belly resting a cheek on the cool wooden floor.
"Remind me that I owe you a ton of favors and at least a whole tray of pastries later," he sighs in A-Yue's general direction.
"Why not now?"
"Huh?"
Xiao Jinming raises up on his elbows to see A-Yue staring straight back with his striking purple eyes.
"The pastries. You can call for them now," A-Yue clarifies. "Unless you have something else to do right now?"
Xiao Jinming grins brightly, his tiredness suddenly all falling away.
"Nope! Not at all!"