Chapter 129: After All, It's Not Yours

Baili Xian sat there with a forced smile, his eyes betraying no joy as he watched Liu Ling’er, silently waiting for her explanation. Although he knew well enough that Liu Ling’er could not possibly be without a child, hearing that Xiao Shuangshuang had been fighting with another child early that morning ignited a sudden fury within him.

Xiao Shuangshuang was the child of his eldest brother, Baili Hao, who years ago had been usurped of the crown prince title by Baili Hai and had even been hunted to the point of disappearance. Baili Hao’s wife, Ning Susu, had been confined to the cold palace under Baili Hai’s control, forced to live a life of solitude and hardship.

At that time, Xiao Shuangshuang had just been born. Baili Xian had taken her to the Xian Prince’s residence to raise her as his own daughter, never once raising a hand against her.

Yet this morning, hearing of a scuffle between Xiao Shuangshuang and some boy, Baili Xian had assumed it was mere child's play. But the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. Where in the Xian Prince’s estate would a child like that come from? And the servants said the boy was the prince consort’s son. Where on earth did Liu Ling’er get a child?

Without even eating breakfast, Baili Xian followed his men to find Xiao Cui. There, Xiao Shuangshuang and Chu Xiaosheng were rolling around on the floor, taking turns pinning each other down. Thankfully, their fight was limited—no weapons drawn, no blows to the face—just two children covered in dirt, like little mud monkeys wrestling on the ground.

Seeing Xiao Shuangshuang unharmed, Baili Xian let out a sigh of relief and scolded the guards and maids harshly, “Are you all dead? How could you let children fight like this? You’re useless! Why aren’t you separating them yet?!”

The guards and maids had been unlucky indeed. Early that morning, Xiao Shuangshuang wanted someone to play with. Somehow, Xiao Tao had brought him to Xiao Cui’s place. Afterward, Xiao Tao left to relieve his stomach cramps, leaving Xiao Shuangshuang to jump over to Chu Xiaosheng, circling around him with curiosity.

When Liu Ling’er had brought Chu Xiaosheng back yesterday, she hadn’t looked closely. But now, observing the fragile-looking boy, there was an air of proud solitude about him that piqued Xiao Shuangshuang’s interest.

With his chubby little finger, Xiao Shuangshuang poked Chu Xiaosheng and said, “Hey! I’m Baili Shuang. How old are you? What’s your name?”

Chu Xiaosheng glanced at him but said nothing, as if unwilling to speak or perhaps treating Xiao Shuangshuang as a stranger. His father had told him never to talk to strangers.

This attitude immediately angered Xiao Shuangshuang, who puffed out his cheeks and poked Chu Xiaosheng again. “You don’t look much older than me. From now on, when you see me, you’d better call me Sister Shuang, got it?”

Unexpectedly, Chu Xiaosheng became stubborn and brushed Xiao Shuangshuang’s hand away. “Not a chance. I think you should call me Brother Chu.”

There was no way Xiao Shuangshuang would call him brother. This little bean sprout dared to demand such familiarity! If he weren’t Liu Ling’er’s chosen companion for him, Xiao Shuangshuang would have long since given him a good thrashing.

“Tch! With your little frame, you want me to call you brother? Dream on! How about this: we fight, and whoever wins gets to be obeyed!” Xiao Shuangshuang proposed.

Chu Xiaosheng blinked a few times, then surprisingly nodded in agreement.

Xiao Cui panicked. If they really started fighting, her place would be turned upside down. She hurried to intervene, but as a mere maid, there was no stopping Xiao Shuangshuang, who had trained in martial arts under Liu Ling’er and was far too strong. Besides, Xiao Shuangshuang was a person of action—he clenched his fists and immediately went at Chu Xiaosheng.

Xiao Cui had no choice but to seek Liu Ling’er, confident that the two children could only be handled by her. The guards and maids also tried to break them up, but whenever they approached, Xiao Shuangshuang and Chu Xiaosheng would team up and drive them off. No one dared retaliate, leading to the comical scene that greeted Baili Xian’s arrival: two mud-covered monkeys fighting!

Upon the prince’s order, the guards swiftly intervened this time, bolstered by authority. Xiao Shuangshuang saw Baili Xian and dared not misbehave, immediately releasing Chu Xiaosheng. Baili Xian glanced at Chu Xiaosheng, unfamiliar with the boy, but seeing that Liu Ling’er had brought him, he said nothing more, merely ordering the maids to take both children to bathe.

The guards, sensing Baili Xian’s simmering anger, trembled and dared not breathe loudly, their eyes fixed on the floor as if ants crawled across their toes.

When Liu Ling’er arrived, she tried to avoid Baili Xian, knowing this matter was unavoidable and fearing a harsh reprimand. It was better to lie low, especially since the children were no longer present.

But Baili Xian called her over. There was no escaping it—whether she faced it head-on or shrank away, either way, punishment awaited. Perhaps it was best to find a solution that satisfied both parties.

He gestured her forward, and she obediently approached. Baili Xian glanced at her, then surprisingly pulled out a chair and patted it. “You’re hurt. Sit and speak.”

That was it—he intended to settle this matter thoroughly before letting her go. Liu Ling’er felt a flicker of relief that she bore injuries; without that, he might have demanded she kneel while explaining herself.

She sat, awkwardly asking, “What about the two children? Is Xiao Shuangshuang alright?”

Baili Xian grunted, “Xiao Shuangshuang is fine. But you owe me an explanation about that other child. How come everyone’s calling him your son? I don’t recall you ever raising a child.”

Liu Ling’er muttered softly, “Wherever he came from, he’s definitely not yours.”

Baili Xian’s sharp ears caught that. Narrowing his eyes, he said, “What did you say? Could it be the child is really yours?”

That was something she absolutely could not admit. Waving her hands anxiously, Liu Ling’er replied, “You’ve got it all wrong. How could I possibly have such an old child? Let me start from the beginning.”