Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 269: Natural Phenomena, an Omen of Auspiciousness

Chapter 269: Chapter 269: Natural Phenomena, an Omen of Auspiciousness

Only five days after birth, the two children were no longer as red as when they were just born. Their little cheeks were white and tender, with a hint of pink, and they slept so peacefully that it brought joy to one’s heart.

Some children gradually turn yellow after birth, but Zhijin and Zhiyu did not, because during the pregnancy, Divine Doctor Zhai had prepared many nourishing medicines for Murong Jiu, including one to prevent jaundice in fetuses; that’s why the two children were so fair-skinned, their skin like a peeled eggshell, making Murong Jiu want to kiss them.

"You can only kiss their foreheads, be careful not to kiss their cheeks, and you can’t kiss them too often or for too long."

Divine Doctor Zhai said from the side.

Heaven knows how much he doted on these two children now, visiting to see them whenever he had the chance, they were incredibly precious.

"Right! Grandpa Zhai said you can’t kiss babies too much. If you’re not careful, they could get sores."

Xiao Wen echoed.

When he wanted to kiss his brother and sister, it was Grandpa Zhai who stopped him and explained the risks of kissing cheeks.

Murong Jiu laughed, "I know, I’ll just kiss their foreheads."

Jun Yuyan brought the children to her, allowing her to kiss them properly.

Recalling how stiff Jun Yuyan’s posture was when holding the children just a few days ago, he had now become very adept at it, learning everything after just one try.

Smelling the milky scent of the children, Murong Jiu’s heart melted even more, her eyes glued to them, tracing their faces with her gaze.

To say they looked alike was true when they were just born, but now, looking at them, the sister was slightly more delicate than the brother, with even lighter eyebrows.

Although still very young, one could faintly discern the shadows of their future selves. Their facial features, following Jun Yuyan’s, had a certain depth.

Of course, they were still too small to tell who they resembled; Murong Jiu couldn’t yet see it, but she knew as they grew, the two would look more like him and like her too, the brother’s little mouth and the sister’s eyes both resembled her own.

They were just too thin. Inevitably, through these as-yet plump little babies, she recalled her children from her past life – they were too thin, skeletal, making their eyes appear even larger, big and black, looking at her with a pitiful, hopeful gaze, timidly calling her ’Mother’.

The Second Prince said they were weak and sickly, taking more medicine than food, and that’s why they didn’t put on weight. Only after her rebirth did she learn in a dream that they were carelessly handed over to servants by the Second Prince. The servants cursed them as bastards, denying them food and medicine. The brother could only take his sister to crawl through dog holes to find food, and when the holes were sealed, their only sustenance was spoiled swill, and they were often subjected to the servants’ venting and beatings.

What difference was there between their fate and her own childhood? She had given birth to them, yet she had made them suffer in life, wholeheartedly believing they were the Second Prince’s own flesh and blood, thinking he wouldn’t treat them badly.

How could she have been so foolish?

"What’s wrong, girl? Why are you crying?"

Divine Doctor Zhai voiced his concern anxiously.

Jun Yuyan’s brow was even more furrowed. He immediately took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears, asking if she felt unwell anywhere, and told the wet nurses to take the children away.

"I’m fine; it’s just that seeing them made me too happy. Please let me hold them a bit longer."

Murong Jiu held one in each arm. With so much commotion around, the two children weren’t awakened and continued to sleep very soundly.

In this life, they were not premature, technically full-term, albeit a couple of weeks or so before the due date. Coupled with a balanced diet and the medicinal meals carefully prepared by master, they grew exceptionally well in her womb, nothing like the sickly infants of her past life.

Their fate had changed even before they were born.

And she, too, would definitely be kind to them.

Moreover, they had their father’s love, their grandmaster and grandfather, their maternal grandfather, and three uncles. The involvement of everyone would enrich their growth.

Thinking of this, Murong Jiu’s face bloomed with a smile, gazing at her children over and over until she grew tired, then she handed them over to the wet nurses.

Seeing she was exhausted, Divine Doctor Zhai, General Fu, and the others also left, allowing her to rest well.

Jun Yuyan stayed by her side, asking with concern, "Are you really not feeling uncomfortable anywhere? It seems like something is on your mind. Uncle Zhai mentioned that it’s very possible for a woman to feel dejected and fret over things after giving birth. If there’s anything on your mind, you must tell me."

"I really am fine; I’m in a good mood, and thank you for staying with me, for giving me strength. Looking at our little ones so fair and delicate, knowing they’ll probably put on weight in a few days, I can’t help but feel overjoyed. It’s just a pity I can’t nurse them myself, or else..."

Because she had lost too much blood, master had given her many strong medicines, which she was still taking, so it was impossible for her to breastfeed the children.

"Even if you could, it wouldn’t be right. It would affect your sleep, and Zhijin and Zhiyu have hearty appetites. They’d need at least two wet nurses each, how could you possibly nurse both? They need to feed four or five times a night and have their diapers changed. If they were with you, you’d hardly get any sleep. Uncle Zhai said you need to focus on recovering well, and you’ll need to continue recuperating for several months."

"Alright, alright, I was just talking about it; I know what’s important." She smiled and said, "Why do I feel like you’ve become even more of a chatter now? When we first met, you were a man of few words."

Jun Yuyan gently stroked her hair: "Does Ah Jiu think I’m too talkative now? Even if you do, it doesn’t matter; I’m sticking with you for life."

Murong Jiu blushed slightly and leaned into his embrace: "How could I dislike it? I can’t get enough of it."

While the two were basking in their tender and sweet moment, suddenly a report came from outside: the Emperor had summoned Jun Yuyan to the Imperial Palace.

Murong Jiu expressed her surprise: "Why would he summon you to the palace at this hour?"

Shouldn’t everyone know that Prince Ling’s Mansion had welcomed new life? The Prince was naturally supposed to stay at the mansion. If the Emperor summoned him, could it be that something significant had happened?

Jun Yuyan, seeing her eyes widening, assured her with a smile, "Don’t be nervous; it’s probably because the Xiongnu envoys have entered the palace. Moreover, on the day you gave birth, a prodigious omen appeared, a Divine Bird flew into the Imperial Palace. Such an auspicious sign would, of course, warrant a few questions from father."

Murong Jiu’s eyes grew even rounder, somewhat bewildered.

Signs of auspiciousness, she hadn’t heard anyone mention this at all.

The Divine Bird and such sounded very mysterious.

She did know that Jun Yuyan had prepared to counter the belief that twins were a bad omen, but not like this.

The eunuch from the Prince Mansion urged with urgency. Jun Yuyan had no time to explain further, so along with General Fu and his son, who were also required at the palace, he had Chang Chonghai go behind a door and relay the recent happenings to Murong Jiu.

"On the day of your childbirth, a seven-colored auspicious cloud appeared in the sky above the Prince Mansion. Following that, a red and a white long-feathered Divine Bird emerged from the snow and flew straight into the Imperial Palace. Many citizens witnessed it and took it as a sign of good fortune, kneeling and bowing their heads. Soon after, people learned about the birth of the Young Heir and the young miss, claiming them to be the blessing stars of Great Yan."