Han Xin bid the emperor farewell. With a firm possessive grip on Xiang Yu’s, he turned away from the dignitaries with a spring in his step. It was useless for Sirius to provoke him. Xiang Yu loved only him and they were already married.
But to be honest, he would have ended Sirius and gouged out his eyes if it weren’t for the treaty they had agreed on.
Meanwhile, the Emperor unaware of Han Xin’s thoughts, stifled an exasperated sigh before smacking Sirius upside the head. "Can’t you just listen to me for once?" His frustration was palpable, a mix of paternal concern and disappointment. Sirius merely chuckled, unfazed by his father’s reprimand.
Serena, standing nearby, rolled her eyes at her brother. "You’re already , yet you still provoke him," she chimed in, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Look who’s talking," Sirius retorted, smirking. "You have been wearing that sad sad face and puppy dog eyes since we got here. You are sulking so much I almost thought it was a funeral instead of a wedding."
Serena shot him a glare that could rival the fiercest of storms. She wanted nothing more than to beat him up for his relentless teasing, but the image of a graceful princess held her back. Instead, she levelled him with a contemptuous stare while Sirius continued to chuckle at his sister’s frustration.
Meanwhile, Xiang Yu felt the weight of the day pressing down on him. He was exhausted from greeting guests, toasting with dignitaries, and navigating the sea of faces in the banquet hall.
He sighed softly, wishing for a moment of peace. Han Xin noticed his discomfort, concern flickering in his eyes. "You should go rest," he suggested gently.
Xiang Yu felt as if he had been granted an amnesty. The prospect of relaxation was a welcome relief. He gathered Lian, Mei, and Little Bai, leading them to the leisure room where they could finally unwind.
As soon as they settled onto the plush couch, Xiang Yu slumped down, a blissful sigh escaping him as he sank into the cushions.
Lian and Mei settled on either side of him, both equally worn out. Lian lifted a glass of wine to her lips and took a long sip. "Master, I have eaten so much. I feel like a piggy," she remarked with a touch of discomfort. Her belly was round like she had eaten a basketball.
Before Xiang Yu could respond, Mei chimed in with a playful nudge. "Yet you are still drinking," she teased, rubbing her full belly as if to emphasize her point.
Little Bai sat quietly, clearly not immune to the indulgence that had overtaken the evening. Always so reserved, he, too, had overindulged and felt the weight of it pressing down on him. "Brother Zhan is going to be so drunk after this. I saw him drink that strong liquor so many times," Mei noted with a smirk.
"Yeah," Lian agreed, chuckling softly. "He has been drinking on Big Brother’s behalf."
"I heard Big Brother say he wanted to be sober for tonight," Mei added, her tone interestingly conspiratorial.
Little Bai paused, his brow arching in confusion. He couldn’t help but wonder if they were truly oblivious. He rubbed his belly thoughtfully, torn between feeling full and the inexplicable urge to pour out another cup and drink.
Lian glanced over at Xiang Yu, who was smiling brightly as he reclined on the plush couch. "Master isn’t drinking much either," she remarked, a teasing lilt in her voice.
Mei, who had been watching Xiang Yu with a gleam in her eye, leaned closer and asked, "Should I pour you some?"
Xiang Yu shook his head, his smile unwavering. "No, I need to be sober for tonight."
Lian and Mei exchanged brief glances of surprise. With a cheerful wave, Xiang Yu got up, announcing, "Good night!"
"Already going to sleep?" Mei asked, incredulous. "Aren’t you watching the fireworks?"
Xiang Yu waved his hand once more, bright and unbothered. Little Bai, ever the cautious and caring medical professional, chimed in. "Don’t overdo it."
"We won’t!" Xiang Yu called out reassuringly as he made his way out of the room. "Night night!"
Once he left, Lian threw a curious look toward Little Bai. "Well, that was weird. I thought Master would hang out with us some more."
Little Bai replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "That’s what the bachelor party was for. Tonight is the wedding night."
Mei raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"
Lian piped up, "Shouldn’t we be gathering together as a family on the first night?"
Little Bai felt as if he were talking to a wall, so he clarified. "Consummation."
"What’s that? Is it a medical term?" Mei asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. Lian watched Little Bai get up and pour out some wine.
"Search it," Little Bai suggested
As Little Bai was pouring himself a glass of wine, Lian and Mei leaned in close together, curiosity blazing in their eyes as they searched the meaning of the word.
The room filled with a mix of excitement and anticipation as they eagerly waited for the screen to illuminate with knowledge.
Awkward tension soon morphed into shared giggles and squeals, as if they had stumbled upon the most tantalizing secret. Little Bai stood by, shaking his head with a knowing smile, half-amused by their youthful exuberance.
Lian and Mei playfully slapped each other, unable to contain their delight. "I hope Master gets twins!" Mei exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Yeah!" Lian echoed. "Brother Bai, you are a doctor, right? What are the chances they will have twins?"
Little Bai blinked, caught off guard by their sudden interest. "..." He felt the weight of their expectant gazes, his smile fading slightly at their enthusiasm.
As their giggles filled the room, he sighed, contemplating how he would ever explain the complexities of genetics to them in a way that would satisfy their curious minds.
He said to them, "It depends." Little Bai thought that it would end there but he had severely underestimated these two.
Mei asked, "On what?"
Little Bai said, "You shouldn’t think about this," before taking a sip from his glass. The two didn’t ask anything from then on but judging from their expressions there were up to no good.