The Villain in the Quick Travel is My Wife

Chapter 49

Chapter 49.2.19

"Your Majesty, it's getting late. Are you planning to return to the palace?" Xiao Yi asked softly, noticing the hour. He kept his tone neutral, though he felt slightly awkward under Duke Zhao's sharp gaze.

An Shuting waved him off with an easy smile. "I haven't been home in ages, so I'll stay a few days. We'll talk about the palace later."

Accustomed to An Shuting's stubbornness, Xiao Yi could only bow and step back.

Though Duke Zhao had known for some time that his son led the rebel forces, he still found it jarring to hear others address An Shuting as "Your Majesty."

Yes, true to his brazen nature, An Shuting hadn't hesitated to proclaim himself emperor the moment he raised the flag. He'd left himself no way out, unlike those who endlessly debated proper etiquette and protocol. Back then, only his close followers and the people under his protection took him seriously as a ruler, while everyone else mocked him as a self-styled king. But as his territories grew, An Shuting had indeed become a true power in the land.

Now, seeing Xiao Yi-his once-loyal general-serve An Shuting with a respect and attentiveness matching any palace eunuch's, Duke Zhao grasped the full reality. He shook his head and let out a wry chuckle as he sat back in his chair, studying his son. "So, you took my household and made it yours, hmm?"

An Shuting had never feared his father, and he certainly didn't now. He chuckled, unfastening his armor and casting an expectant look at Sun Yuebai.

Sun Yuebai sighed. He wasn't keen on challenging Duke Zhao's patience, but he knew how relentless An Shuting could be. Reluctantly, he got up to help him with the armor.

Finally free of it, An Shuting slouched comfortably in his chair. "Well, I am the next head of the An family, right? What's wrong with getting familiar with my own resources ahead of time? You were the one who pushed me to learn these things in the first place."

Duke Zhao's lip curled in a slight smirk. "So, when I sent my troops north to deal with rebels, that was just throwing meat buns to a dog, was it? You took all the benefit."

He'd been baffled when the rebel forces, once rumored to be 100,000 strong, had somehow swelled to 200,000. A hundred thousand well-trained soldiers had slipped from under his command without his knowledge.

No one else in the world, he thought, could be so blindsided by their own son.

An Shuting seemed unfazed by his father's rebuke. His attention had drifted to the baby in his mother's arms. Without looking away, he answered casually, "If the emperor sends them, what's that got to do with me?"

Seeing the small child in his mother's arms reaching out to him eagerly, An Shuting chuckled and took him in his arms. "Little golden nugget, don't grow up to be like your father-calm and courteous on the outside, but rude and hot-headed underneath. You and I, we'll be real gentlemen."

Duke Zhao shot him a fierce glare, his patience already wearing thin. Ignoring An Shuting's playful words, he asked, "Where is Sun Chengping?"

An Shuting, still smiling as he weighed the baby in his arms, replied, "You mean, did I take over the imperial city with his help? Your beloved general is well cared for, don't worry." He laughed, marveling at the baby's solid little frame.

In truth, Sun Chengping had always been fiercely loyal to Duke Zhao. When An Shuting staged his uprising, Sun Chengping had chosen neutrality rather than following him. Instead, An Shuting had secured the support of Xiao Yi, his father's second-in-command. That neutrality made it easier for An Shuting to take control without serious opposition.

Duke Zhao watched his son with a mix of emotions. In the past, he'd thought that those with flamboyant personalities were open books. Now he saw that An Shuting, as bold as he was, understood the tides of power well. The world, he realized, truly belonged to the young.

Outside the mansion, the transfer of power proceeded smoothly, and for the first time in over a year, An Shuting slept soundly in his own bed. Though his responsibilities had taught him caution and restraint, here at home he felt he was still the boy spoiled by his family and cousin.

When he awoke, the room was dimly lit with soft candlelight. For a moment, he thought he was dreaming, but soon he recognized the familiar surroundings of his home.

"You're awake?" Sun Yuebai was nearby, playing with their child. The little one, settled comfortably in Sun Yuebai's arms, looked up at An Shuting with bright, curious eyes.

An Shuting turned and lazily draped an arm over Sun Yuebai's hand. "Why did you bring your little brother in here, too?"

Sun Yuebai glanced down at him, and the sense of distance he'd felt upon seeing An Shuting earlier that day disappeared. He gently rested his head on An Shuting's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "This is your son."

An Shuting tensed at the words, and Sun Yuebai felt his own heart sink. The man beside him was no longer someone he could easily sway or control. Their son's existence made Sun Yuebai feel both vulnerable and uncertain. Human hearts were changeable, and in time, he feared he and the child might become inconvenient for An Shuting.

An Shuting looked down at the plump baby now crawling up his legs, dressed in red pajamas and radiating happiness. His son-his very own blood. For a moment, he felt utterly at a loss, but instinctively he caught the child as he climbed up to him.

With Sun Yuebai in one arm and his son in the other, An Shuting was utterly captivated by the two.

Bits and pieces of Sun Yuebai's recent behavior fell into place. The secrecy, the strange moments-all explained. He realized that Sun Yuebai must have been carrying their child even back then. Knowing how cautious Sun Yuebai was, An Shuting could only imagine how difficult and lonely that time had been.

He tightened his hold on Sun Yuebai's arm, his voice tinged with regret. "I'm sorry. I wish I had known sooner. You went through something so difficult and dangerous all on your own."

Sun Yuebai, touched by the remorse and care in An Shuting's eyes, felt his own fill with tears. He took a deep breath, his voice soft. "I kept it from you on purpose. But in the end, it was all worth it."

He looked down at the baby, a gentle smile on his lips. "Our child came into the world filled with our love and hopes. Isn't that enough?"

An Shuting met his gaze, warmth spreading through him at the tenderness and strength he saw there. He nodded, a gentle smile crossing his face. "Absolutely. I may have missed his early days, but from now on, every day, I'll love him and you with all my heart."