After that day, Serena Feng and Ninth Royal Uncle grew steadily closer, both consciously learning to understand and respect each other. Neither wanted the same tragedy to happen again—they both hoped to stay together for life.
"After the full-month celebration, you'll move into the palace. Feng Manor will become the Phoenixfield-Li estate, and Victor Phoenixfield will take up residence there." Ninth Royal Uncle was informing Serena, not asking for her opinion.
Serena wasn’t bothered at all—this was just Ninth Royal Uncle’s way. If he changed, she’d actually find it strange. Being together meant mutual tolerance: he accepted her stubbornness and temper, so she could certainly accept his domineering and forceful style.
For example, even though Serena was still in her confinement period, Ninth Royal Uncle refused to leave her side. He complained about the lingering ‘milk smell’ on her, saying it was unbearable, yet he loved sticking close to Serena—he even insisted on watching every time she nursed Little Dumpling.
To keep Ninth Royal Uncle comfortable, Serena tried to stay extra clean during her confinement—even in the dead of winter—just so this ancestor wouldn’t get moody.
"Can’t you just let him have a wet nurse?" Ninth Royal Uncle stood off to the side, watching Little Dumpling eat his fill, and the more he looked, the more displeased he felt.
This little guy, so young and already daring to compete with him for Serena’s attention.
"It’s not like I don’t have milk—why would I need a wet nurse?" Serena shot Ninth Royal Uncle a glare, then turned her back to him.
Ninth Royal Uncle’s gaze was so intense she simply couldn’t take it.
When Serena dodged away, Ninth Royal Uncle circled around and sat down facing her. "This little guy eats a lot. You never manage to feed him enough."
Seeing Little Dumpling’s satisfied face, Ninth Royal Uncle couldn’t resist—he reached out and poked the baby’s cheeks twice. Little Dumpling grew annoyed, pouted, and was about to cry before Nolan finally let go.
Serena didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "You’re a grown man, still jealous of a baby. Aren’t you embarrassed?"
"You’re my wife," Ninth Royal Uncle declared righteously. If this brat weren’t his own son, there’s no way he’d let Serena nurse him personally.
"He’s your son, too."
Ninth Royal Uncle looked at the soft, squishy Little Dumpling, tempted to poke him again, but Serena smacked his hand away. "Don’t bother him—he’s about to fall asleep."
After eating his fill, Little Dumpling gave a contented yawn and curled up in Serena’s arms to sleep. Ninth Royal Uncle’s annoyance at being smacked vanished as he stepped forward to help Serena adjust her clothes, then called for the wet nurse: "Take him out." Finally, he left.
The wet nurse silently took Little Dumpling, not daring to linger even a moment…
With no outsiders left, Ninth Royal Uncle sat down beside Serena, pulled her into his arms, and complained, "Serena, you haven’t really paid much attention to me lately." Little Dumpling had taken up most of her time and focus—a situation he didn’t like at all.
"It’s just because the baby’s still so little. In a couple months, things will be better." Ninth Royal Uncle was acting more childish than ever lately—Serena almost felt like she’d given birth to two sons.
Ninth Royal Uncle’s expression softened a bit, but he was still dissatisfied. "In a couple months, you’ll say he’s still little, and in a couple years you’ll say he’s still young. Serena, the child has his own life—parents shouldn’t interfere too much."
"He’s at the age when he needs his parents most." Serena looked exasperated—Little Dumpling was still so tiny. How could she possibly be interfering with his life?
"We need to raise him to be independent from the start. He’s going to be emperor one day—he can’t be clinging to his mother all the time." Ninth Royal Uncle sounded righteous, but no matter how noble he made it sound, it didn’t change the fact that he was competing with Little Dumpling for Serena’s attention.
Serena rubbed her forehead, knowing there was no point arguing further. She could only ask, "So what do you plan to do?"
That was exactly what he’d been waiting to hear.
Ninth Royal Uncle said, "After his full-month celebration, let him sleep with the wet nurse." During Serena’s confinement, he’d tolerated her sleeping with the baby, but after the month was up, absolutely not!
"Isn’t that risky? What if he gets hungry in the middle of the night?" Serena disagreed. As a mother, she wanted to watch over her child every moment—if she couldn’t see Little Dumpling at night, she’d never sleep.
"If he’s hungry at night, the wet nurse will be there. You don’t need to worry." Seeing Serena hesitate, Ninth Royal Uncle added, "I was raised by wet nurses and palace maids from birth, back when my royal brother held power, and I survived just fine. Our son will be fine too."
"Serena, think about it—for my sake…" Ninth Royal Uncle nuzzled against her, shamelessly pulling his best pleading trick. Serena melted and, to avoid embarrassment, quickly nodded. "Fine, fine, after his full-month, he can sleep on his own." Son, it’s not that your mother’s weak—it’s just that your dad is way too shameless.
"Wean him after one month." Ninth Royal Uncle pressed his advantage, making another demand. This time, Serena refused to compromise—she had to fight for her child’s interests while he was still little.
"One month is too soon. Six months—after he’s half a year old, I’ll wean him." By then, he’d be able to eat some solid food, and Serena wouldn’t worry about Little Dumpling going hungry.
Seeing Serena give in, Ninth Royal Uncle decided not to push further. "Six months, then. I’ve waited a year—what’s another half-year?"
Serena let out a long sigh of relief—she’d finally managed to settle this big kid, Ninth Royal Uncle.
But Serena knew that Ninth Royal Uncle could only cling to her day and night for these few days; her hardship would only last a little longer.
After the seventh day, Ninth Royal Uncle would have to start attending early court sessions again. All the accumulated state business, plus the aftermath of Southern Lyn’s collapse, would keep him busy for a long while.
The seven-day break vanished in a flash. Tomorrow was court, so Serena urged Ninth Royal Uncle to return to the palace early. "It’s getting late—you should head back."
"Serena, are you tired of me already?" He raised his brows, all seriousness—clearly in a bad mood, even using the imperial 'I'.
"I’m just worried about you. The trip from Feng Manor to the palace isn’t short—if you go back late, you’ll barely get any sleep." Serena had used her Smart Med-Pack to check on him a couple days ago. Based on its diagnosis, she knew just how bad his health really was.
Serena wasn’t skilled at rehabilitation, so for Ninth Royal Uncle’s sake, she suggested he summon the Valley Master to the Capital to help nurse him back to health. She didn’t want her man plagued by illness in middle age.
Ninth Royal Uncle knew Serena was worried about him, but he just couldn’t bear to leave. He argued, "Leaving in the morning is the same."
These seven days had been so blissful, he almost couldn’t believe they were real. He was afraid that once he left, Serena would start brooding again and ignore him.
"Come on… Don’t make me worry, okay?" Serena looked helpless, her face pleading.
Just as Ninth Royal Uncle knew Serena’s weaknesses, Serena also knew exactly how to get through to him. Sure enough, as soon as she pleaded, he relented.
"Alright, I’ll go back to the palace. I’ll come see you again tomorrow." Reluctant as he was, Ninth Royal Uncle finally got up…
Family and country, the world at large. If the realm wasn’t stable, how could he protect his wife and child, keep his family safe? He refused to end up like the emperor of Southern Lyn—a ruler who lost his country. If that happened, he wouldn’t even be able to protect himself, let alone his wife and child…