Chapter 787: Many Sons, Many Blessings

The first thing Liu Chengyou did upon returning to the capital was, naturally, to go to Ciming Hall to pay his respects to Empress Dowager Li — this was proper both in sentiment and in etiquette. The Emperor's return naturally filled the Empress Dowager with extraordinary joy, but what delighted her even more was the return of Liu Chenghsun and his family of three.

She held her grandson Liu Chun in her arms and refused to put him down, and the little child's few calls made her laugh with delight. Parents often dote exceptionally on their youngest child, and Lady Li was no exception to this rule. She grabbed Liu Chenghsun and asked him about this and that, full of concern, afraid that he had suffered hardships in Chang'an.

"Mother, I'm already twenty-three years old!" Faced with Lady Li's enthusiasm, Liu Chenghsun served her carefully but also found it somewhat overwhelming, and could only remind her with a hint of helplessness.

"Even if you were thirty-three, you would still be my son!" Hearing this, Lady Li's phoenix eyes glared wide as she fixed her gaze on him.

At these words, Liu Chenghsun instinctively shrank his neck, then stepped forward to support Lady Li, saying: "Mother is right!"

Seeing this, Lady Li couldn't help but laugh again. Her look of feigned displeasure faded, replaced by a kindly visage. She looked at her youngest son with some emotion: "True enough! In the blink of an eye, my third son has indeed grown up, and now he's a father himself! But your mother is getting older and older!"

"Mother, you're still young!" Liu Chenghsun's tongue was sweet, and he put on an expression of playful argument.

Lady Li was now past fifty. As Empress Dowager, her appearance was well-maintained, but in the end she could not resist the erosion of time — the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes and the grey at her temples all showed her age.

Noticing this, Liu Chenghsun put away his playful grin, his tone turning somewhat grave as he said with concern: "Mother, you must take care of your health! That illness you had last year frightened me half to death!"

Feeling her beloved son's concern, Lady Li revealed a gratified smile. She looked at him and asked: "Now that you've returned to the capital, how long can you stay? Will you have to go out to guard the frontier again?"

Though the words were directed at Liu Chenghsun, her sidelong glance was clearly fixed on Liu Chengyou, who stood quietly nearby. Reading the situation, Liu Chengyou's expression was calm as he stepped closer, supported Lady Li, and said: "Third Brother has been stationed in Chang'an all these years, playing a tremendous role in stabilizing the situation west of the Pass. After so many years of tempering, his growth has been considerable. In my view, he can be entrusted with important duties. I've brought him back this time with the intention of keeping him in the Eastern Capital, having him enter the court to manage affairs and assist me!"

Hearing this, Liu Chenghsun looked at his imperial elder brother with some surprise and couldn't help asking: "Brother, what post do you intend to give me?"

"Don't worry — I won't do you any injustice as a full Prince!" Liu Chengyou's tone was light and relaxed, blending into the harmonious atmosphere.

Lady Li then said: "Whatever the post, as long as he stays in the Eastern Capital, that's fine!"

Clearly, Lady Li cared more that her children and grandchildren could be by her side — somewhere she could see them and look upon them.

"Third Brother, during this time, come to the palace often and keep Mother company. All these years, she's missed you terribly!" Liu Chengyou instructed.

"Yes!"

Lady Li then turned her gaze to Liu Chengyou and said: "Now that His Majesty has returned to the capital, you should also pay a visit to the rear palace!"

Seeing Liu Chengyou's surprised expression, the Empress Dowager pointed a finger to remind him: "While you were away, two more sons were added to the palace. And you — you just had to go on your inspection tour right when they were giving birth. Pure Consort Zhou was on her first pregnancy. And the younger Lady Fu — she's already eight months pregnant, and her mood has been somewhat depressed lately. If you'd delayed your return any longer, you might not have made it in time for her delivery..."

Hearing Lady Li's scolding, Liu Chengyou dared not argue, nor did he offer the excuse of "the significance of the inspection tour" to brush it off. He simply acknowledged honestly: "Mother's rebuke is right — I have been somewhat neglectful!"

During the months Liu Chengyou was away from the capital, Lady Zhou and Lady Zhe had each given birth to an imperial prince for him — these were already his seventh and eighth sons.

After spending over an hour at Ciming Hall, Liu Chengyou hurried to Qiuhua Hall to visit Worthy Consort Zhe. She had given birth at the end of the third month — her third pregnancy. Whatever the official histories might say, in the era Liu Chengyou presided over, Lady Zhe indeed carried the attribute of "bearing many children."

Inside the hall, Lady Zhe was still holding Liu Fang and questioning him carefully. A mother worries when her child travels a thousand li — after all, he was only a six-year-old child, and the journey had been several thousand li. Liu Fang was not of a settled disposition either, so Lady Zhe worried he might have been hurt or fallen ill. Fortunately, he had returned safe and sound.

Liu Fang was active and lively by nature. When Liu Chengyou arrived, he was telling Lady Zhe about what he had seen on the inspection tour. The little child had no logic to speak of and his account was rather scattered, but Lady Zhe listened very attentively, her gaze full of encouragement.

"Your Majesty!"

He gently helped Lady Zhe rise, saying in a warm voice: "No need for such formality!"

With a good constitution, after more than three months of recovery, her figure had already returned to nearly its former state — though it was now fuller and more voluptuous. Long legs and a slender waist gave Liu Chengyou a sense of firm, powerful vitality. He had a strong urge to personally measure her with his own hands, but with his sons at his knee, he could not be wanton — he had to maintain the dignity of a father.

As he sat down, Liu Fang immediately sat at his feet. His fifth son, Liu Yun, was more reserved, but he followed his elder brother's example and sat on the other side, timidly calling out "Father."

"What — you don't recognize me?" Seeing Liu Yun's unfamiliar expression, Liu Chengyou asked with a smile.

Little Liu Yun shook his head, then nodded. His tender face flushed red, and in the end he lowered his head.

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou had to sigh inwardly — with this many children, it truly was impossible to give each one full attention. His state affairs kept him busy, with endless government business to handle and endless worries to occupy his mind. The limited attention he could spare for his offspring fell almost entirely on his four elder princes; as for the others, he simply didn't have that much energy. One could say it was a case of gains and losses.

"Has this child always been this shy? He even blushes when he sees me!" Looking at Lady Zhe, who was personally serving him tea, Liu Chengyou asked.

Lady Zhe said: "He's somewhat quiet and doesn't like to talk. But after his younger brother was born, he started smiling more, and he's well-behaved too — he even takes the initiative to help me look after the baby..."

"Is that so? That mature?" Liu Chengyou patted Liu Yun's head, looked at Lady Zhe, and said with a beaming smile: "Where's my eighth prince? Hurry and bring him out for me to see!"

Chunlan Hall was the bedchamber of Worthy Consort Fu, the younger Lady Fu. The hall's decor was not exactly luxurious, but it exuded an air of nobility. In Liu Chengyou's rear palace, in terms of birth alone, no one could compare with her except her elder sister, the elder Lady Fu. For this reason, Lady Fu had always carried a certain pride.

A faint fragrance that could calm the mind and soothe the spirit permeated the air. Eight months pregnant, her belly round and full, she wore a loose, revealing palace gown and reclined quietly on a soft couch in a comfortable posture.

The sky had already begun to darken, and palace attendants were carefully lighting candles to brighten the hall. A female attendant stood respectfully to one side, reporting cautiously: "After returning to the palace, His Majesty first went to Ciming Hall to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. After leaving Ciming Hall, he went successively to Qiuhua Hall and Shulan Hall to visit Worthy Consort and Pure Consort. It seems he's still at Pure Consort's place now..."

Hearing this, the younger Lady Fu's moon-like countenance could not help but show a trace of melancholy. Her eyes were thick with grievance as she muttered: "His Majesty can think to visit Pure Consort, but can't think of me?"

"My lady, don't worry too much. His Majesty may simply be going to see the two princes — perhaps he'll come here shortly!" Seeing her low spirits, the attendant spoke up to comfort her.

"Hmph..." Her lips twitched, and the expression of a neglected palace beauty deepened on the younger Lady Fu's lovely face.

Just then, a commotion came from outside — it was the laughter of the eldest Princess, Liu Jia. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, and the younger Lady Fu said: "Go see what's going on. Keep an eye on Liu Jia — don't let her run around!"

The words had barely left her mouth when a eunuch hurried in, and through the beaded curtain and white gauze, reported joyfully: "My lady, His Majesty has arrived!"

Hearing this, the younger Lady Fu's grievance instantly turned to delight. She braced herself on the armrest to rise, but then thought of something and lay back down, saying flatly: "Mm, I see..."

Outside the hall, a delicate, adorable little girl was running around the hall's pillars, her steps somewhat hurried, like Little Red Riding Hood being chased by the big bad wolf — except she was laughing as she ran, letting out sweet, childish sounds.

A tall shadow loomed over her, and two large hands clamped around her. In the end she couldn't escape his grasp, and with a crisp, charming cry, the Great Han's eldest Princess was scooped into Liu Chengyou's arms.

"Can't escape, can you!" Liu Chengyou pinched his eldest daughter's nose.

She shook her head vigorously to break free from Liu Chengyou's teasing, then called out sweetly: "Father!"

The eldest Princess Liu Jia was not yet four years old, but she showed no shyness toward Liu Chengyou at all. Her bright eyes were full of spirit. Her little hands wrapped around Liu Chengyou's neck, and she planted a kiss on his cheek, leaving a bit of saliva behind.

Holding his beloved daughter, Liu Chengyou asked: "Did you miss me?"

"Yes!"

Liu Chengyou said: "Why are you playing alone outside the hall?"

Liu Jia pouted: "Mother doesn't like to smile, and she won't play with me..."

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou fell into thought for a moment, then quickly revealed a gentle smile: "Father's back now — I'll play with you! Come on, let's go see your mother first..."