FIVE YEARS LATER

The sounds of hurrying footsteps were heard in the corridor as an annoyed woman walked towards the door.

She then barged inside the door without even knocking.

"Duke, where is SIMON!" Aurelia yelled at him.

Yibo sat on his chair going through his work when Aurelia had barged into the room. Yibo looked at her with a bored expression, "How would I know that Aurelia, when you were the one who took him with you?"

Aurelia went forward and banged her hand on the table, "Don't act like you have no idea where he is Duke. I know you know very well where he is." She said with gritted teeth.

Yibo sighed and leaned back on his chair, "Aurelia," He said calmly as he looked at her with a calm face, "Are you losing your mind lately?"

Aurelia frowned deeper,  "That's not the answer to my question."

"Well... for your information this was the time of his training so obviously he must be with his master... and Aurelia please don't go and barge into their residence and insult yourself because Simon hates it when anyone absolutely anyone interrupts his training."

"Why?" Aurelia asked and Yibo rolled his eyes "well because if you stop his training now, his master will give him an extra task to complete."

"What a cruel master you have assigned to my son, can't expect anything more from a mad man."

Yibo rolled his eyes and didn't even bother to look at Aurelia, "If you are done wasting my time then leave."

Aurelia said nothing and left from there.

Yibo shook his head and got up from his seat, he stretched out himself and faced the window to have a look outside.

Five years have passed, in a blink of an eye.

And so much has happened.

His little brat has grown, became as tall as him.

Many forces have joined him, the army has been trained, the Queen and Rufus have remained quiet for some time.

Wen Qing has been a great help in gathering forces for the rebellion and her hold in the royal court is firm, hs is now one of the strongest person in the empire.

Yanli has helped the other nobles to bring their business back on track and Cheng, started the business with the help of the merchants, and with his business skills and strategies he is now immensely successful with the ventures he started with the merchants.

Yibo sighed as he stared outside and looked at the sky, times have changed and soon the rebellion will also start.

While in his thoughts he heard the door open again and this time he didn't bother to turn around he just smiled brightly when he felt two arms snake around his waist and pull his body into a hard chest.

Zhan placed his neck on his shoulder as he sighed, Yibo raised his hand and touched Zhan's head before kissing him on his cheeks, "Welcome back, general."

Zhan smiled and sighed with content one year and a half years after staying away from his home he was finally back and had his favorite person back in his arms and he had no intention of letting him so easily.

Yibo turned back and hugged him tightly and Zhan hugged him back, one and a half years they had stayed away without seeing each other's face and hearing each other's warmth.

"I missed you so much."

"I missed you too," Zhan said before he gently kissed his forehead, "Where is the brat? I am dying to meet him."

Yibo smiled, "Well before that, you have to get fresh and then let me examine your injuries, then I will take you to him."

"Alright, but I met Aurelia outside why the hell is she so mad?" Zhan asked.

"Well, your son had literally made her life hell." Yibo said, "One time he made her fall down the stairs, other time he dumped cold water on her head, the third time he tore her dress that she was supposed to wear to the ball... I am honestly shocked that how the hell is she still here."

Zhan laughed and saw his husband smile Yibo laughed as well, "I know that I am really proud of my son."

Yibo sighed, "You have really spoiled him and I know the idea of dumping cold water on Aurelia in the winters was given by you."

Zhan replied, "Don't act like you didn't enjoy all those events, Simon wrote in the letter how much you laughed after all those incidents. And I spoiled him? why didn't you punish him after he did all those things."

Yibo smiled, "Well I married you for disciplining him."

Zhan smiled as he had his arms around Yibo's waist, "Okay but where is he? I am dying to meet him."

Yibo smiled, "Before I take you there, I want you to change and take bath and let me examine your injuries."

Zhan rolled his eyes. "Alright, I have to go meet Sister and Cheng as well, oh wait what time is it? Simon must be in his training I am also a fool."

Yibo smiled, "Let's go."

~~~~

"Wohooo." A cheerful voice was heard from a young man as he was riding his horse across the green field, under the bright sky enjoying to the fullest.

Black hairs, black eyes beautiful pale skin, and perfect figure, Simon had grown to be a fine lad.

"Get down Simon." Cheng his master called out to him.

"No master, let me enjoy a bit more."

Cheng sighed he regretted bringing Simon to his secret space where he only kept hundreds of animals because since the day he bought Simon to his safe space Simon became obsessed with the space and fell in love with all the animals.

There were days when he would refuse to leave the place and Yubo would have to drag him out sometimes he would come here at late night and Yibo would be worried sick before he would come here to get him.

All the animals, including the horse and cats, dogs birds ducks rabbits who were found here fell in love with Simon just like Cheng.

"Get down Simon," Cheng called him again.

Simon finally listened to him and stopped his horse in front of Cheng and got down from the horse, "Come on, master you have to let me enjoy a bit more... and not as a maser but as an uncle you should take care of me right?"

Cheng folded his hands in front of his chest and shook his head, "Your parents have really made you a whiny man."

Simon only smiled cheesily, but they heard another voice, "Who is a whiny man the Simon I know is still a brat."

Simon's eyes widened and Cheng smiled brightly before Simon turned and saw Zhan with a bright smile, "DAD!" he ran towards him and hugged him tightly and Zhan hugged him back.

"When did you come back and why didn't you tell me? and what about father why didn't he tell me anything?"

Zhan broke the hug and smiled, "So many questions at once? relax will you? and for your last question, your father didn't know that I was coming it is a surprise."

"That was one hell of a surprise." Cheng said and Zhan hugged him as well, "How have you been?"

"I have been better."

Zhan smiled in the past few years Cheng had made a lot of progress regarding his fear and paranoia and Zhan and Yanli are proud to see their baby brother slowly getting back on his feet, of course.

"Where is sister?"Zhan asked.

"Right here." Yanli spoke from behind him, Zhan smiled and hugged his sister as well, "I am glad that you are back, and you are back at the perfect time, the festival of Bastina is just around the corner."

Zhan smiled, "Of course this time I am going to spend this festival with my family."

Cheng spoke, "Well another reason why you are back at the perfect time is that you will be able to see your son in the completion of Bastina."

Zhan looked at Simon, "So you are taking part in the competition?"

"Of course I am... and I am going to win." 

"That's the spirit."

Yanli said, "Everyone let's go in we have a lot to discuss."

Author's note: Simon has finally grown up!

And here you go with his parents

And whoever made these edits I love you.