Chapter Text
The bathing chamber of Paradise Manor was filled with the soothing fragrance of blooming jasmine and fresh lotus, their delicate scents mingling with the warmth that hung gently in the air. Warm steam drifted lazily from the cedarwood tub, curling in pale ribbons beneath the carved wooden rafters, while silk lanterns cast a gentle golden glow across the polished floors. Their light shimmered faintly upon the surface of the bathwater, illuminating the scattered petals that floated upon it like tiny pieces of spring. Outside, the evening breeze stirred the flowering branches beneath the quiet gaze of the moon, causing the shadows of blossoms to sway softly across the lattice windows.
It should have been the most peaceful hour of the evening. Instead, the room echoed with the indignant cries of one very unhappy baobao.
Xiao Hua sat in the middle of the bath, his chubby little hands splashing the water with surprising strength as fat tears rolled down his rosy cheeks. Every splash sent warm droplets scattering onto the sleeves of his parents, who were already thoroughly soaked, their robes darkened in places where the water had reached them. His damp dark curls clung softly to his forehead, and his little face had turned pink from both the warmth of the bath and the sheer force of his outrage.
Xie Lian and Hua Cheng had tried everything.
Xie Lian gently rubbed slow, soothing circles over Xiao Hua’s tiny back, whispering soft words of comfort while keeping his voice as tender and reassuring as possible, while Hua Cheng had brought every one of his favorite toys—the little plush rabbit, the wooden fox, the painted sparrow, even the tiny dragon that never failed to earn delighted giggles.
Today, however, none of them worked.
Xiao Hua only sniffled harder, his tiny fists patting the water with determined little splashes as though he were personally protesting the bath itself. His lower lip trembled indignantly between hiccupping breaths, and every time Xie Lian thought he might finally be calming down, another miserable little cry escaped him.
Xie Lian brushed a damp strand of hair behind his ear and exchanged an amused yet helpless smile with Hua Cheng.
“I think,” he said softly, his eyes suddenly brightening with an idea, “Mama knows one thing we haven’t tried yet.”
Xie Lian watched another tear roll down Xiao Hua’s soft, rosy cheek as his son continued to splash miserably at the water.
His heart melted.
Then, suddenly, his eyes lit up.
“I know.”
A gentle smile spread across his face as he leaned over the edge of the tub until he was at eye level with his little flower.
“Xiao Hua,” he whispered. “Look what Mama can do.”
Their son’s cries quieted into tiny hiccups as curious, beautiful mismatched eyes blinked up at him. His damp lashes clung together from his tears, and for the first time since the bath had begun, his attention seemed completely captured by his mama.
Xie Lian lifted two fingers to his lips.
Then he blew the gentlest kiss.
The kiss floated through the warm steam like a spring breeze.
The moment it touched the bathwater, tiny, colorful blossoms bloomed one after another across the surface.
Soft pink peonies.
Crimson Roses
Snow-white lotuses.
Golden jasmine flowers.
Each one glowed with a warm, gentle light as they slowly spun across the water like dozens of tiny lanterns set adrift during a festival. Their golden reflections danced over the rippling bath, turning the entire chamber into a scene from a dream, while delicate petals drifted lazily through the steam and gathered around Xiao Hua like a magical garden that had somehow found its way into the bath.
Xiao Hua froze.
His tears stopped.
His little mouth fell open in wonder.
The glowing flowers drifted and twirled around him, circling gently like little lanterns carried upon the water.
A tiny, delighted squeal escaped him.
His chubby hands reached eagerly toward the nearest flower, splashing the water not in protest this time, but in excitement as the blossom playfully drifted just beyond his reach. His eyes followed every glowing petal with wide-eyed fascination, and his tiny fingers opened and closed eagerly whenever a flower floated close enough for him to touch.
Hua Cheng watched Xiao Hua’s delighted little squeals with a smile that only his family would ever have the privilege of seeing. The fearsome Ghost King, whose name alone could silence entire halls, looked utterly helpless beneath the charm of his own child’s laughter.
With the lightest flick of his fingers, silver spiritual energy shimmered through the warm steam.
A heartbeat later, dozens of silver wraith butterflies appeared, their delicate wings gleaming like moonlight. They fluttered gracefully through the bathing chamber, weaving between the glowing blossoms before circling lazily above the bath. Their silvery bodies caught the lantern light, leaving faint trails of spiritual radiance behind them as they moved.
One butterfly landed upon a floating lotus.
Another perched atop a peony.
The rest danced through the air, their silver trails sparkling softly beneath the lantern light.
Xiao Hua’s eyes grew even wider.
A joyful squeal burst from him as he kicked both little feet beneath the water, sending tiny splashes in every direction. His chubby hands reached eagerly toward the butterflies, giggling each time they fluttered just beyond his fingertips before circling back again. His laughter rang through the bathing chamber, bright and innocent, completely erasing the miserable cries that had filled the room only moments before.
Xie Lian laughed softly, watching the silver butterflies and glowing flowers drift together across the bath.
“Our little flower has quite the audience.”
Hua Cheng’s gaze softened.
“They’ve come to keep him company.”
Just then, one large crimson rose floated gently toward Xiao Hua.
Their son’s curious eyes immediately lit up.
Without a moment of hesitation, he reached out with both tiny hands, scooped up the flower...
And promptly tried to stuff the entire blossom into his mouth.
Xie Lian gasped.
“Xiao Hua!”
Hua Cheng was quicker.
A quiet chuckle escaped him as he gently plucked the oversized rose from between his son’s tiny lips before it had the chance to disappear.
“No eating the flowers.”
Xiao Hua blinked up at his baba with innocent confusion. Then, after a moment, he pouted ever so slightly, as though he truly could not understand why such a beautiful flower wasn’t meant for tasting. His little brows furrowed, and he looked from the rose in Hua Cheng’s hand back to his baba with an expression of profound betrayal.
Hua Cheng couldn’t help but smile.
“They’re for admiring, not snacking.”
As if to comfort the disappointed little prince, one of the silver wraith butterflies drifted down and settled delicately upon the tip of his tiny nose.
Xiao Hua crossed his eyes, desperately trying to look at it.
Then he erupted into another fit of happy, breathless giggles, filling the bathing chamber with laughter once more. His little shoulders bounced with every giggle, and his hands fluttered excitedly at his sides as though he could hardly contain his delight.
The bathing chamber of Paradise Manor had finally fallen into peace.
The earlier cries and fussing had long disappeared, replaced by the soft laughter of their son surrounded by drifting blossoms and silver butterflies. The peaceful sound seemed to settle into every corner of the chamber, mingling with the quiet rustle of the evening breeze beyond the lattice windows.
The warm cedar bath shimmered beneath the glow of silk lanterns. The fragrance of jasmine and lotus lingered in the air, mingling with the faint sweetness of the enchanted flowers that still floated upon the water like tiny lanterns set adrift beneath the moon.
Xiao Hua sat happily between his parents, his dark curls damp and his chubby cheeks rosy from the warmth of the bath. Tiny droplets clung to his lashes and gathered along the round curve of his cheeks, while a few flower petals floated around his little body.
His tiny hands reached eagerly toward the silver wraith butterflies fluttering above him, and every time one drifted close before flying away again, he released a delighted little giggle.
Xie Lian watched his son with a tender smile.
Their little flower had gone from crying so fiercely that he had soaked both his parents to laughing as though the entire world belonged to him.
Hua Cheng gently rinsed the last drops of soap from Xiao Hua’s hair while Xie Lian carefully brushed away a few petals from his son’s tiny shoulders. His touch was impossibly gentle, taking care not to disturb the little one who had finally become so peaceful.
Once they were finished, the two exchanged a quiet glance.
Without needing to say a word, they began to sing.
It was an old love song from Xianle, a melody that had once drifted through palace gardens and been whispered beneath flowering trees. Now, within the walls of Paradise Manor, it became a lullaby meant only for their child. The familiar melody seemed to soften beneath the warm lantern light, carrying with it the faint memory of an older time while becoming something entirely new in the quiet home they had built together.
Xie Lian’s voice was gentle and sweet.
Hua Cheng’s voice was low and warm.
Together, their voices intertwined, creating a harmony that felt as though it had existed long before either of them had found the words to describe their love. Their voices mingled with the faint sound of water and the fluttering wings of the silver butterflies, turning the bathing chamber into a place of quiet intimacy where nothing existed beyond the three of them.
Xiao Hua slowly stopped reaching for the butterflies.
His little eyes moved between his mama and baba, listening quietly as their voices wrapped around him like the warmth of a cherished memory. His tiny hands gradually relaxed, and his little body settled more comfortably against the warmth of the bath as he listened to the familiar voices he knew better than any song.
When the final note faded, Hua Cheng turned his gaze toward Xie Lian.
The sight before him made his heart soften.
His beloved Flower Consort sat beneath the lantern light, damp ink-black hair falling over his shoulders, flower petals still clinging to the silky strands. Their son rested safely between them, happy and content. The warm golden light touched Xie Lian’s features softly, making him appear almost as though he belonged among the flowers that had bloomed from his own magic.
Hua Cheng reached out and gently tucked a loose lock of hair behind Xie Lian’s ear.
Then, with endless tenderness, he leaned closer and pressed a soft kiss against Xie Lian’s rose-colored lips.
It wasn’t a grand declaration.
Not a vow before Heaven.
Only a quiet kiss shared between husband and wife at the end of an ordinary evening.
A tiny giggle broke the silence.
They looked down.
Xiao Hua was staring at them with wide, delighted eyes.
His little hands waved excitedly, and his shoulders bounced with laughter.
To him, seeing his beautiful mama and his fearsome baba kiss was the funniest thing he had ever witnessed.
Xie Lian covered his smile with his sleeve.
“Look at him...”
Hua Cheng’s lips curved faintly.
Their son was clearly very pleased with himself.
Before Xiao Hua could become too excited, both parents leaned down at the same time.
They kissed his chubby cheeks together.
Soft kisses covered one cheek, then the other.
Xiao Hua squealed happily, his little feet kicking beneath the warm water as his parents showered him with affection. His laughter echoed brightly through the chamber, and the silver butterflies fluttered excitedly above them as though even they had been drawn into the family’s happiness.
When they finally pulled away, Xie Lian paused.
A quiet laugh escaped him.
The faint rouge from his lips had transferred onto Xiao Hua’s round cheeks, leaving his little face decorated with soft rosy marks.
Their son looked as though he had been kissed by spring itself.
Xie Lian gently touched his son’s cheek, his eyes full of warmth.
“My sweet flower...”
Hua Cheng looked at the sight before him and felt his heart ache with happiness.
The feared Ghost King.
The man who had faced countless battles without fear.
Yet here, in the quiet warmth of their home, he was nothing more than a husband watching his beloved wife and their child beneath the glow of lanterns.
And he would choose this happiness in every lifetime.
By the time the bath was over, Xiao Hua’s delighted squeals had become tiny, sleepy yawns. His earlier excitement had softened into drowsy contentment, and his little eyelids fluttered each time he blinked.
Hua Cheng carefully lifted him from the warm water while Xie Lian wrapped him in the softest towel they owned, embroidered with little white lotuses along the edges.
The moment the warm towel enveloped him, Xiao Hua released a sleepy little hum and melted into his mama’s embrace.
As though guided by instinct, his tiny fingers searched until they found Xie Lian’s necklace, his little fist closing around the pendant before he finally seemed completely content, and Xie Lian smiled as he gently stroked his son’s damp hair.
“So this is what you were looking for.”
Xiao Hua’s lashes fluttered, his grip on the necklace never loosening.
Several enchanted flower petals still clung to his soft curls and chubby cheeks, while others had woven themselves into Xie Lian’s long black hair. A pale pink petal rested against his shoulder, another caught within the folds of his snowy robes. The delicate petals seemed almost deliberately placed, as though the flowers themselves wished to accompany the little family beyond the bathing chamber.
Hua Cheng paused.
His gaze lingered on the two of them.
His beloved Flower Consort...
Holding their own little flower.
Somehow, the blossoms always seemed to know exactly where they belonged.
Xie Lian noticed him staring and laughed softly.
“San Lang?”
Without saying a word, Hua Cheng stepped closer.
He reached up and tucked a stray lock of damp hair behind Xie Lian’s ear before gently brushing a flower petal from his cheek with the back of his knuckles.
“So beautiful...”
Xie Lian’s cheeks warmed.
“You’ve said that three times today.”
“I’ve thought it far more than that.”
Xie Lian ducked his head, smiling despite himself.
“You spoil me.”
“You deserve to be spoiled.”
A smile escaped Xie Lian as he looked down at the sleepy little flower in his arms.
Suddenly, Hua Cheng slipped one arm beneath his knees and the other around his back, lifting both his wife and their son with practiced ease.
Xie Lian laughed quietly, careful not to jostle Xiao Hua.
“You carry us every night.”
“And I’ll carry you every night after this one.”
Nestled safely against Hua Cheng’s chest, Xie Lian leaned his head against his husband’s shoulder.
The three of them left the bathing chamber together.
The corridors of Paradise Manor were peaceful beneath the glow of hanging lanterns. Their warm light stretched across the polished floors, catching upon carved screens and painted pillars as the family passed quietly through the manor.
Outside, the scent of jasmine drifted through the open windows. Inside, only the quiet rustle of robes and Xiao Hua’s tiny, sleepy breaths could be heard.
As Hua Cheng walked, little flower petals slipped from Xiao Hua’s damp curls one by one, floating lazily to the polished floor behind them like blossoms marking the way home.
By the time they reached their bedchamber, Xiao Hua had fallen completely asleep, his tiny cheek resting against his mama’s chest and one little hand still stubbornly clinging to the pendant. Xie Lian carefully laid him upon the soft bedding inside the little butterfly cradle, then dried him with a fluffy silk towel, gently patting away the remaining droplets from his chubby little arms and legs before dressing him in a fresh sleeping robe.
Once he was warm, dry, and comfortably dressed, Xie Lian smoothed the soft fabric over his little shoulders and brushed a damp curl gently away from his forehead.
“There we are, my sweet flower.”
Then, with the greatest care, they tucked their sleepy son beneath the soft covers of the butterfly cradle beside their bed.
The delicate scent of lotus and jasmine still lingered in the room, and a few tiny flower petals remained scattered throughout the cradle, resting softly around Xiao Hua like a blessing from spring.
With infinite patience, Xie Lian carefully eased the pendant from Xiao Hua’s tiny fingers.
Their son frowned in his sleep for the briefest moment.
Both of them smiled before leaning down together, pressing a gentle kiss against his tiny cheeks.
As if sensing their affection, Xiao Hua let out a small, sleepy yawn, his little face relaxing once more. A few petals remained tangled in his soft hair as he nestled deeper into his blankets.
Xie Lian remained leaning against Hua Cheng's chest, his gaze lingering on the peacefully sleeping Xiao Hua.
A faint blush slowly crept across his cheeks.
"...San Lang."
"Hm?"
Xie Lian lowered his eyes, suddenly finding the embroidered hem of his sleeve terribly interesting.
"I..." He hesitated, his voice barely above a whisper. "I want another baobao."
For a heartbeat, the room fell silent.
Then Hua Cheng's lips curved into a slow, amused smile.
"Another one?"
His gaze gleamed with unmistakable fondness as he tipped Xie Lian's chin upward with a single finger.
"So..." he murmured, unable to hide the teasing warmth in his voice, "Gege wants to give Xiao Hua a little brother or sister already?"
Xie Lian's face immediately bloomed a deeper shade of pink.
"I-I didn't say already..."
"No?"
Hua Cheng chuckled softly.
"I must have misunderstood."
Xie Lian hid half his face behind his sleeve, though the rosy color spreading to the tips of his ears betrayed him completely.
"You knew exactly what I meant."
"I did."
Hua Cheng smiled, his expression gentler than moonlight.
"I simply enjoy seeing gege flustered."
Xie Lian let out a quiet, embarrassed laugh and lightly nudged Hua Cheng's shoulder.
"You're terrible."
"So I've been told."
His teasing faded as his gaze drifted to the sleeping Xiao Hua.
Their little flower sighed softly in his sleep, one tiny hand curled beside his cheek.
Hua Cheng looked back at Xie Lian, every trace of mischief giving way to quiet tenderness.
"If that's what gege truly wants..."
He gently brushed a loose strand of hair behind Xie Lian's ear before resting his forehead against his.
"...Then I would be very happy."
Xie Lian smiled, his eyes shining with warmth.
"So would I."
Outside, the jasmine swayed gently in the night breeze.
Inside Paradise Manor, beneath the glow of silk lanterns, husband and wife stood together beside their sleeping son, quietly dreaming of the future their family had yet to bloom.