Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play-Chapter 892 - 867: Star

"He’s so ugly!" Xie Xun stared at his son, whose eyes were yet to open, with extreme disdain.

Xie Jue pondered, "...A bit."

When Ruyi was first born, he was fair and tender, with big, round eyes, adorably plump, thick black hair, and a loud cry. But the little prince’s skin was red and wrinkled, somewhat dark, with sparse, slightly dry hair, and his cry was as weak as a newborn kitten’s. He looked like he might not grow well. Xie Xun was worried yet disdainful, and Xie Jue knew he shouldn’t compare, but having held the newly born Ruyi, he inevitably recalled and thus compared.

"Is he really born of Ayu and me? Ayu and I are so good-looking, how did we produce such an ugly thing? He’ll probably have to rely on a marriage grant to find a wife in the future."

Xie Jue, "..."

You are thinking too far ahead.

Zhang Lingzheng, unable to listen any longer, and several imperial physicians were examining the newborn little prince’s health. Hearing the emperor and the prince show such disdain, they dared not speak up, but only Zhang Lingzheng dared to say, "Your Majesty, Prince, newborns are like this. Their appearance changes day by day, and after a few days, he’ll look better."

Xie Xun spread his hands, hoping his son would look fairer and more tender in a few days. Xie Jue asked, "Why could Ruyi open his eyes when he was just born, but this one cannot? Is there something wrong?"

"Some children open their eyes quickly, some slowly. It’s all normal. Don’t worry, Prince. Although the little prince is a bit frail, he is not in serious trouble. The first three months need careful nurturing, with ample food and sleep, avoiding cold. My colleagues at the Imperial Hospital and I will do everything we can to ensure the prince grows up safely."

These first three months are the most critical. Once they pass peacefully, everyone can breathe a little easier. Actually, children need to be watched particularly carefully before they turn ten – three years, seven years, and ten years are significant stages. It all needs to be taken slowly. Fengyu’s body is frail, so naturally, the prince would also be weak, requiring even more meticulous care.

Xie Xun, possibly because he treated Ruyi as his own over these past few years, did not show the excitement of a first-time father, appearing much calmer. Zhang Lingzheng secretly pondered whether the emperor dislikes the prince because he was born ugly, and if the Empress knew, she would probably be heartbroken.

Fengyu slept for a day and a night, waking up only to find her lower body numb with pain, feeling discomfort at the slightest movement. Upon her waking, Qiuxiang and Chunlu came to serve her. Fengyu tried to support herself up but frowned in pain; Qiuxiang hurried over to assist her. Fengyu leaned against Qiuxiang with effort, "Is the child healthy?"

"Very healthy, don’t worry, Your Majesty. It’s a prince."

"Really?" Fengyu was somewhat delighted. With it being a prince, she immediately felt relieved. "The imperial physician clearly said it would be a princess."

Fengyu sighed in relief, feeling somewhat sickly, lacking appetite, yet she wanted to see her child. Nanny Chang had long selected a wet nurse, and brought the wet nurse’s child into the palace to live and eat with the princes to prevent any ill intent from the wet nurse. Three wet nurses were selected in total to serve in turns.

Xie Xun, knowing Fengyu had awakened, carefully brought the child to see her, "Ayu, come quickly to see our son. He looks quite special."

Upon hearing ’special,’ Fengyu knew it wasn’t necessarily a good term, and despite being mentally prepared, she was still surprised. "He’s so small, why is his skin so red?"

"The imperial physician said it’s normal and will fade in a few days. He is born looking like you," Xie Xun said happily.

Fengyu, "..."

She was certain she did not look like that.

Fengyu did not despise the child like Xie Xun; she always felt that he was a part of her own flesh, how could he not be adorable? Her heart softened, her eyes brimmed with tears; she had become a mother. Bearing children was something she had never dreamed possible in this lifetime, and now it had come true, resulting in unspeakable emotion.

Xie Xun wiped her eyes softly, "The imperial physician said not to cry during confinement; it’s bad for the eyes."

"I’m not crying; I’m just so happy." Fengyu held back her tears obediently, "It’s so wonderful, like a dream, unreal."

"Then hit me." Xie Xun put his face forward, and only then did Fengyu notice the scratch marks on his face. "What happened to your face?"

"The little kitten scratched it."

Fengyu remembered the scene where Xie Xun insisted on staying by her side during labor and she had driven him away, her cheeks flushed slightly. Her current state was quite disheveled, not wanting Xie Xun to see, and though incense was lit, she could still smell a faint scent of blood and some not very pleasant odors. Fengyu belatedly felt embarrassed, urging Xie Xun to leave.

Xie Xun, "..."

Ayu really cares too much about face!

Though Fengyu did not nurse the child, she loved having the child nearby. After the wet nurse fed the child, she would always bring him over, and Fengyu, accompanying him to sleep, looked at his face in slumber, feeling her future life full of joy and hope.

The little prince, under the meticulous care of the imperial physicians and wet nurses, gradually grew up, indeed shedding his red skin, becoming fair and tender, with a pair of eyes resembling Fengyu. As his body gradually regained health, he became full of energy, eating and sleeping well, his cries loud. Before his full month, he suffered a major illness, but fortunately, the physicians’ skills saved him from danger. Fengyu, realizing how fragile life was, became extremely cautious, even postponing family visits into the palace until after the full-month celebration.

Fengyu recovered for half a month, still feeling unwell, and as the weather warmed, her confinement wasn’t as comfortable. Understanding her ordeal, Xie Xun would return to the palace early, and the two would amuse themselves by playing with the child, discussing the child’s name. The little prince’s nickname was Xingxing, a name Fengyu and Xie Xun had chosen long before, suitable for both a boy and a girl, though Xie Xun had thought it would be a princess and gave it a more princess-like name.

The formal name was yet undecided; Xie Xun had devised a few names that sounded good, but the two found it hard to decide, finally letting the child pick a lot, eventually settling on Xie Yu.

Fengyu had some reservations, preferring the name she had chosen, but reluctantly accepted since the son picked this name. The two discussed names for days, cautious and careful, both wanting a nice and memorable name. The little prince’s full-month ceremony was lively and grand, the most significant celebration since Xie Xun’s ascension and marriage. Xie Xun offered amnesty across the empire, with a feast lasting three days after the full-month ceremony, involving the entire capital in the grand event.

After Xingxing’s full month, his health solidified. Xie Jue bade farewell to Xie Xun and Fengyu to embark on a long journey. Ruyi matured over the year, gradually accepting the frequent absences of his father. He often resided with Princess Mingzhu in the Prince Manor, especially after the little prince’s birth, as it became necessary to distinguish Ruyi from the prince, an understanding among the ministers. Even before Xie Xun finalized his decision, the circumstances pushed Ruyi away from the court, despite Xie Xun and Fengyu’s strong desire for Ruyi and Mingzhu to reside in the palace, for Ruyi’s good, they couldn’t afford to be selfish.