Wolf King and his Fox Consort [BL]

In the end, they persuaded Gu Wei to let them leave just short of two weeks after the twins' birth.

Despite all the visits, Gu Wei's constant hovering and Jin Luan's silent watching, Chu Yun felt like it had been an overall positive thing that he'd ended up in the Second Prince's estate instead of the Palace for the delivery.

The royal physicians had examined him and the babies and confirmed everything was well, but they didn't overstay their welcome.

Away from the palace, Chu Yun could almost forget everything that remained to be done; from Ru Long's presence, to Hui Lang's haphazard conspiracy.

They weren't in the clear yet, but Chu Yun appreciated the reprieve, however brief.

Gu Wei reminded him to rest well when they arrived at the palace while they stood outside the carriage. "The month is still not up," he advised sternly, pulling the two halves of Chu Yun's outer robe together over his chest despite the summer heat. "You need to eat well, don't overextend yourself, and don't worry about things that haven't yet come to pass."

Xiao Zai kissed his dam on the forehead and whispered, "We'll be good, papa," against his silky hair.

Gu Wei was so startled by the casual intimacy that he forgot about all his advice, and let the two of them go with only a 'en' of acknowledgement.

On the way to the palace, each of them carrying a sleeping baby in their arms, Chu Yun shot Xiao Zai a knowing look.

"So you've decided to forgive Gu Wei..."

Xiao Zai shrugged and looked out the window between a gap in the blinds. "Over these past few days, I came to realise that he won't ever change." His expression went dark. "If he can imagine something awful, all the little small evils done to prevent it from ever coming to pass are worth it in his mind."

Chu Yun agreed with him, and part of him thought there was no point in expecting any different from Gu Wei.

But unlike him, Xiao Zai never had to see his dam in anything but a positive light.

"It hurt me to think that he didn't treasure your life, and could so recklessly risk it but...over the week, and seeing how he was," he shrugged with a pensive sigh, "he kept worrying about you after the babies were born. I think the possibility that something could have gone wrong, either during the pregnancy or the delivery never crossed his mind."

Chu Yun nodded. "He's a survivor, so he very generously casts everyone in the same role."

Which explained his heartbreak at the late Queen Consort's death, and his dramatic revenge against Xiao Yuan's mother for killing her. He never expected that someone, who like him, had survived Xiao An would die at the hands of another.

In any case, Chu Yun was glad Xiao Zai had decided to move past it. His own parents were far away in Xin, he didn't want his children to grow up estranged from their grandfather, or for there to be tension in their family.

He had worked hard over the months to rebuild Xiao Zai's relationship with his siblings -- he had nothing to gain by insisting that Xiao Zai kept his dam at arm's length.

For his part -- he didn't need to like Gu Wei to act cordially in his presence.

He had made much bigger sacrifices. Besides, he was convinced almost no one got along with their in-laws.

He amused himself with the mental image of Lieba Chun trying to charm his parents and failing.

Indeed, there were worse fates than his.

---

Speaking of his parents -- one of the first things Chu Yun did once he returned to the palace was write a letter informing them of the twins' birth, and inviting them for their one month celebration. By the time the letter arrived, his parents would need to start making preparations to depart for Zui.

That was assuming they would come.

Chu Yun's hand faltered on the brush and one of his characters came out looking wonky. His father would take note of his poor calligraphy. He ripped the cream paper to shreds and started anew.

His parents would come. They would want to meet their grandchildren.

Everything had been resolved when Chu Yun left Xin, there was no reason for his anxiety.

In the end, he told Chu Hean to write them a letter as well. Informing them of his upcoming engagement to Lieba Chun.

"Do I have to?" he groaned, not stopping his practice with the throwing knives even as Chu Yun kept talking with him from inside the room, while Chu Hean remained outside in the courtyard.

"Yes, unless you want to get married without their blessing."

Chu Hean shrugged and squinted one eye. Aiming at the knot on the trunk of the plum tree he was using as a target.

"Maybe we could elope, run away to the grassy plains without no one being the wiser."

Just then, the baby boy started crying in his crib.

Chu Yun laid back down on the bed, raising a trembling hand to his forehead. "Please go check on your nephew, I'm not feeling well."

From outside, he heard the sharp twack of the throwing knife hitting its mark. Chu Hean's head popped over the windowsill to glare accusingly at Chu Yun. "You were fine just moments ago."

Chu Yun closed his eyes and heaved a laboured breath. "Please, maybe he needs a change, and  my vision is swimming, I'm seeing all kinds of odd shapes."

Chu Hean cursed him and all his ancestors, ignoring that they shared them, but he did still went to dutifully check on his nephew. Who, it turned out, had made quite a mess of his crib.

---

Not a week after Chu Yun and Xiao Zai had returned to the palace, the King of Su arrived, with a large entourage and several chests of treasure as a testament of his gratitude to the King of Zui in helping put an end to his torment.

Chu Yun had been really diligent at sitting the month up until then, resting plenty and eating all kinds of mild foods, but that was a spectacle he was not willing to miss.

The scar on his lower abdomen no longer felt tender to the touch, and he could mostly move around without pain.

Three weeks was almost a month. Gu Wei and the physicians could cope.

"If you're sure," Xiao Zai said pleasantly, taking Chu Yun's arm as the two of them left the King's quarters together to meet the King of Su in the throne room.