The King's Mate - Part 1: Banyue

Chapter 27

CONTENT WARNING
for uhhhhhhh.... non-sexual lactation kink? or whatever the hell you call it when it's non-sexual lol
idk but you know what I mean, right? ^-^;

Xie Lian almost didn't have the patience to wait until Shi QingXuan had cleaned the baby up. Apparently that was necessary before letting Xie Lian and Hua Cheng cuddle it thoroughly. Xie Lian could understand that, but it still felt a bit like torture.

However, when Shi QingXuan finally brought the tiny bundle back to Xie Lian's bedside, and when he placed it on his chest, Xie Lian couldn't even pretend to be irritated. His world just zeroed in on the small thing in his arms and the fact that it blinked up at him sleepily. Suddenly he was so overwhelmed by the fact that his San Lang and Xie Lian himself had somehow created this tiny person that was somehow just there with them now, and the ungodly amount of love he felt for it. Xie Lian was so overcome by emotion, he couldn't help but tear up again.

Luckily, Hua Cheng was still there with him, and while Xie Lian could tell from his mate's scent that he was feeling the same as he himself did, he still somehow managed to make Xie Lian feel steady, simply by having his arm around him.

"Congratulations", Shi QingXuan said. "I'm sure she's going to grow up into a breathtaking beauty, considering the parents", he grinned.

"She?", Hua Cheng asked. "It's a girl?"

"Yes. I realise Your Majesty must already be terrified of her future suitors, but at least you have a bit of practice raising girls already, yes? I'm sure Banyue can help if you have questions", the doctor snickered, before he yelped, and said something about coming back in a short while.

Xie Lian didn't know what Hua Cheng had done to cause the doctor's blatant escape, since he was still too entranced by finally meeting his daughter face to face, but he didn't really care either. If he was honest, a son would have been preferable from the practical side of things, especially because it was unheard of to have a female heir to the throne, but Xie Lian was just about ready to throw these customs out of the window. He didn't think Hua Cheng cared much about such a detail either. After all, this was their daughter. Why shouldn't she be a proper heiress to the throne? Xie Lian would just make sure to raise her to be especially well prepared for the task.

"Gege, have you decided on a name by now?", Hua Cheng asked quietly.

They had had several discussions about names before, and it had been obvious that Hua Cheng was ready to get along with whatever Xie Lian decided on. Which hadn't been very helpful, because Xie Lian had been rather indecisive and thrown new names into the room every other day. All of which Hua Cheng had found to be beautiful. In the end, Xie Lian had gotten a bit fed up with the indecisiveness of both of them, which was why, in the end, they had thrown dice. If it was a boy, Hua Cheng would decide on the name by himself, and if it was a girl, Xie Lian would have to come to a decision by himself as well.

It was just his luck that it really was him who had to make the decision now. Though, if he was honest, he already had developed a bit of favouritism towards one name in particular over the past few months.

"I have. Her name is Ruoye."

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The first few months after Ruoye was born were a bit strenuous. Their baby had strong lungs and no regard for what time of day or night she was screaming. Hua Cheng had more than once suggested letting Yin Yu deal with the nightly screaming, but Xie Lian always refused, even though he really wanted to agree sometimes. But ultimately, Xie Lian was the one who gave birth to Ruoye, and he'd be damned if he couldn't take care of his baby himself.