If earplugs are already invented up to this date, then, the emperor's royal parade could have been happy and bless the gods. Unfortunately, all they could do is to stuff cotton or anything that could at least muffle the loud crying of a baby coming from the inside of the royal carriage. The subordinates could only shake their heads while enduring that hateful cry.

While birds and crawling animals flap their wings and crawl down deep the ground to hide from the nerve-wracking noise, the Emperor is firmly holding a plump baby boy crying it wits until both cheeks turned red. JiDan is wriggling, struggling from the strong hold of his father trying to leap towards the other chair on their front where Lang Yuan is lightly sleeping. Yu XueQin who is still indifferent from the baby's crying did not try to coax or stop JiDan from crying.

Let him cry ba. The baby will get tired and stop sooner anyway.

And that would give him one slap from Lang Yuan if ever the youth heard his thoughts.

"Awuwaaawaa waaa waa," Get off of me! I want my mommy!

"What? You're saying something?"

The emperor raised the baby in front of his face. JiDan stops from crying but he turned those wet eyes to a glare. Yu XueQin was amused. How could this little son of his glare at him like this? Shouldn't he (JD) be more grateful that he has now met his father? Of course, Yu XueQin understood what those eyes mean.

"Awuuwuwuwu gyuu baaaa!" You're so mean! How could you do that to my mother! Give him to me!

JiDan started throwing punches to the air but those small hands could only hit the air. And even if he hits the emperor, he is still a kid. What can you expect from a child this small? Could haul a boulder and end the world? Well, let's say that JiDan could do that but for a one-year-old body still has its limits. Plus, Yu XueQin is already beyond thousand, a simple punch from only a day's old baby could not do harm.

Even mosquito bites are itchier than those cute little punches.

"Want to fight me? But you are so weak. Grow and become stronger. Win against me and you will get whatever you wanted," the emperor announced.

"Agyuuuuu wuuuu! Wayayabba na na nnnnaaaabaaa!" Of course! If I am not strong, who will protect my mother? You're not even there to protect him when he got in danger!

JiDan could still remember those times when he was still inside the egg. He can remember how Lang Yuan treated him, how the boy was surprised to see a large egg, like how he changed his heart and carried him around despite being heavy, how Lang Yuan would whisper sweet little things to him. Sometimes, Lang Yuan would scold him from jumping around or from getting lost when he just closed his eyes to take a blink.

Lang Yuan is a stranger, yet, he treated the egg as if a companion. JiDan fell in love with this trait and wanted this youth to become his mother. Even if there are more people who could make him hatch, JiDan chose Lang Yuan as its owner. And he will do anything to protect his benefactor.

What made JiDan mad was during that time when Lang Yuan was stocked inside the forest and somehow the youth fell to a high fever. He could not do anything than to jump and roll around while Lang Yuan is shivering from the cold. He stayed beside the shivering human, fearing that Lang Yuan will die. When things almost turned to naught, JiDan called out to his father. He knows that Yu XueQin is aware of his awakening and calling him using their blood link is a usual thing.

But that damn father did not even bat an eye. Dragons are prideful creatures. They will never ask any help even if they meet any danger. But JiDan forgot about it just to protect his mother. Lang Yuan recovered from that fever but JiDan will never forget how his father ignored his pleas. And the time that they will met, he will make sure that his father will suffer...

It also happened last night. If ever JiDan is not there to guard Lang Yuan, surely Lang Yuan could have been a cold body right now. This made JiDan shiver and afraid... afraid that the person who made him happy will be gone in a swift.

Emperor Yu XueQin noticed the agony of his son and heaved a sigh. He placed JiDan back to his lap. The baby who snapped from the trance started wriggling again, but at least he stopped crying. The people around the carriage whispered thanks when things become silent again.

After a few hours on the road, Yu XueQin let go of the struggling baby. JiDan quickly leaped towards Lang Yuan and cried silently to the side. The emperor watched how JiDan carefully shook Lang Yuan then patted his chest to wake up. Lang Yuan who was disturbed by the movement moved slightly, fluttering his eyes open to see.

"Moooma!" JiDan happily called out.

"Hmmm? Ji-ji?" Lang Yuan hazily muttered.

"Mooma?"

Lang Yuan thought that he was still in the inn sleeping so he took the annoying baby into a hug and snuggled beside him. He locked the baby under his arms towards his chest and let the baby rest. He returned to his sleep and started snoring lightly.

What is left is Emperor Yu XueQin watching his Empress-soon-to-be holding another 'man' on its arms.

Oh? Did anybody drink a lot of vinegar?

Yu XueQin could only sneer and let the baby feel its fill FOR NOW. He propped his elbow to the side and rested his chin on his hand lazily while watching the sleeping figure in front of him. A light knock came to the side window. He didn't look out to know who did it.

"What is it?" His face became serious. "Did you find anything?"

"Master," a light whispering voice replied. "This servant didn't found anything."

"Oh?" A dangerous glint suddenly appeared from the eyes of the emperor while observing Lang Yuan. The shadow guard who is reporting shivered from the sudden chill. "Spill it."

"This servant reporting, sire."

A while ago, Yu XueQin received the news about Lang Yuan arriving the city. He already knows that the youth will come to the city knowing that the boy has been wandering inside the forest. The closest city would be the capital, and most of the merchants are coming to this direction. It would be weirder if he will go towards the other direction. However...

The emperor noticed that there's something wrong with the set-up. Why would Lang Yuan come to the capital?

He knows about the enmity between Lang Yuan and Minister Jiang XeXun. Actually, he was more aware about these things than the persons themselves were. Lang Yuan is from the YanLing Sect. When he took the egg from the minister and bonded with it, there's a high chance that he will be targeted and be punished. Minister Jiang XeXun isn't a soft man. He can kill the youth right away the moment the boy stepped inside the YanLing's territory.

That's why it would be more normal for Lang Yuan to use the other road. Then why is he here then?

"From what I gathered, Master Lang is a probationary disciple of the YanLing Sect. His examination would still be in three months’ time and is only joining the crowd to earn connections. From the people who are always around him, Master Lang is a timid kid. He never talks to anybody if not asked, will only eat a few if not given, and would do tasks by himself if nobody will offer any help. He almost has no presence if nobody will take time to notice him."

"What about his family? Where is he from?" The emperor asked.

"Regarding his origins... this servant tried his best to know more but the information I managed to gain is only a few. The senior disciples who recruited Master Lang said that he is a beggar on the street. If only not from his magical power leaking that they will not take him with them. I went to the town where they found him and asked about Master Lang's parents. But nobody knows who are his parents or if he has any relatives. The boy just appeared on the streets."

"Just appeared on the streets?" The emperor slightly chuckled, looking at Lang Yuan more intently. "You are already interesting... and now you have this kind of..."

It was only a split second but that blood lust made JiDan look up and glare at his father. The baby bared his fangs, intending to protect Lang Yuan if ever Yu XueQin will try anything. The emperor just nodded coyly to JiDan and returned to the shadow guard.

"Look for more information about him. I will give you a week. Bring more people to dig his secrets. Don't leave anything."

"Yes sire. This servant will heed."

Yu XueQin let the shadow guard go. Five shadows flew to the air. The emperor returned on watching Lang Yuan.

"I have lived for thousands of years. Let's see what surprises you can bring to me..."

JiDan heared the conversation of the shadow guard and his father. If only he was older and stronger he could have taken Lang Yuan away from here. But the baby is too focused on hating his father that he didn't notice their arrival. The carriage went to a strong halt as the horses skidded to the ground.

The Sleeping Lang Yuan who had nothing like a seat belt was tossed from his chair, jerking the youth awake. Scared, he grabbed the closest thing that he could grab and hugged it tightly. It's just that the 'thing' he was hugging is warm and has a slight beating. His breathe gathered slowly as he looked up to meet two golden slit irises. His face quickly paled.

"Rise and shine, did you have a sweet dream?" Yu XueQin smirked.

And what was heard is a shriek from another person, louder than the cry of the baby.

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