Du Fen was weeping, and it was all the Emperor's fault. The man in question was actually grinning, and before Du Father and Mother could get angry about that, they were informed of the reason why.

"I'm too young to be a mother!" Wailed Du Fen while the beaming Emperor Jian Jun held him carefully in his arms. Du Father's and Mother's eyes opened wide in disbelief, but then they counted the days that had passed from the wedding.

"Ah! It's been four days!" Du Mother said with a shocked look at the Emperor as he sat in their sitting room with her son bawling in his lap.

"Yes, Mother-in-law." He said proudly with a hand stroking his bride's head comfortingly and a loving gaze looking down upon him.

"Does that mean..." Du Father asked hesitantly, not wanting to say the words out loud and incite his son's tears more.

"We are pregnant." Jian Jun said proudly. Du Fen suddenly sat up and smacked him on the chest, eliciting a grunt.

"What WE? You beast! This great devil wouldn't let me be. Now I... I... I'm infected." He pouted with a trembling lip and Jian Jun couldn't help but kiss it for his cuteness.

"Hush now my sweet. I am so happy right now. Your heat is over and you are bringing me the greatest gift to man. I love you so much, and I won't let anything happen to you. Now let's have a nice visit with your parents." He coaxed the boy with gentle words and soft kisses.

Du Fen hiccupped a few times and Jian Jun rested his lover's head on his shoulder. Both parents noticed that despite the boy's protests, he leaned into the Emperor's arms and touch. They shared a knowing glance, as although he railed abuse at the man... he snuggled into the side of him rather than pull away.

"We are both very happy for you. If you like, Du Fen, your mother can stay to help you through this. Would you like that?" Du Father offered. Du Fen sniffed his red little nose and nodded sheepishly.

"Good. It is settled. I will stay with you for the next year to help you get accustomed. Don't worry Ah Fen, you are strong and healthy. It will be alright." Du Mother reassured him. He nodded, now feeling a little silly for carrying on.

Du Fen looked up at the Emperor, who held him close even in his parent's company. His eyes were gentle and loving, his touches were soft and careful. He was everything a husband should be, and did not seem to care about his title of Emperor just now.

"Are you... are you really happy?" He managed to choke out with his teary eyes and trembling lip. Jian Jun stroked his face tenderly.

"Ah Fen, I am so happy. More because it is with you than anything else." He said in a whisper to the boy. Du Fen felt his heart ease a little and he gulped.

"You won't throw me away when I get fat?" His lip trembled at the last bit and he looked down. Jian Jun raised his chin back up.

"Never. You will still be the most beautiful boy I ever saw in my life." He assured him.

Du Father and Mother were starting to regret them coming over to visit. So much regrettable newlywed dogfood*! Should have stayed home if they were going to act like this. Even the serving staff couldn't look at them.

(*PDA, lovey-dovey atmosphere slang)

General Yu was standing with disbelief at the front entry as a procession was stopped in front of the gates of the ancestral home of the Yu family. There were guards befitting the royal family, courtiers and servants, and a cart full of gifts piled in behind a magnificent carriage holding a ceremonially dressed second prince.

"Gods Ling Min, what on earth are you doing?" The General muttered under his breath as he walked forward to take the man's hand and escort him in.

"Hmm? My Imperial Brother is busy, and his Imperial Mother is sent to exile now, so I am bringing the betrothal gifts to your parents to initiate talks for our wedding." He said with casually elegant air.

"That's... I meant... why are you so dressed up? Is all of this necessary?" General Yu was blushing as he gestured to the formal robes he was wearing and the trailing people with quietly whispered words barely heard.

"Of course it is necessary! I am asking for their son's hand, and you are a remarkably successful Lord General of the Imperial army. I must show my sincerity." He held a proud look on his face and held his head high. General Yu sighed to himself and led the prince into the main hall.

"Prince Ling Min, to what do we owe the honour of your presence in our humble home?" Yu Father had been told of the procession that had arrived and came forthwith to receive their distinguished guest.

"May I have an audience with Yu Father and Mother?" He asked respectfully with a short bow. Yu Father was surprised at the gesture from the royal and stammered a little when asking his wife to be fetched. He regarded the pale and serious faces of the prince and his son with concern.

"Yes, yes. Come to the tearoom and relax as I have Yu Mother fetched." He led the way across the hall to a wide courtyard. It was a short walk around the gardens to the side building with a gently appointed tearoom. Two guards followed them at a safe distance but did not enter the room.

General Yu was surprised at the show of trust from the ever-cautious prince and waved their own guards to stay outside as well. When Yu Mother arrived, she was a little out of breath if you looked closely but held her countenance with grace as though she was not.

Such a distinguished guest, she had to wear one of her finest robes and jewelry. She bowed to the prince and was equally surprised as her husband when he gave a short bow back. The two made to sit down to serve tea and watched in utter shock as the great Second Prince fell to his knees before them gracefully.

"Yu Father, Yu Mother... I came today with a selfish request. You see... I must confess that I am... in love with your son. I wish...." Ling Min had troubles finding his words now. His elegant stature was bowed in humble apology, his sure countenance was etched with hesitance.

General Yu took pity on him with a gentle sigh. He knelt down next to the prince to face his parents and bowed as well, taking the frustratingly insistent man's hand with one of his and looking at him gently.

"Pa... Ma... We wish to get married. Ling Min has been pursuing me for many years, and with the recent marriage of the Emperor... we have his brother's blessing to approach with an offer." He waved the servants in with some of the gifts for the Yu Family and stayed silent with his head bowed as the two processed the words.

Prince Ling Min snuck a peek at the General with a hopeful look, trying to keep his head bowed humbly. The General looked back with a gentle and reassuring smile. Yu Father and Mother were thunderstruck! Prince wants to do what? Marry their son in?

Under normal circumstances it would be the lesser married to the greater's surname, so would that end the main house of the Yu Family? They would have only their daughters and the concubine's children to continue the main branch if this, their great son, married a man.

On the other hand, marrying into the royal family was so greatly desirable for both political reasons and family honour. They were at a loss. Yu Father waved the servants to all leave immediately after setting the gifts down and waited until the door was closed to say anything.

"Zhi Zhi! Are you gone crazy!?" Yu Mother let out as soon as they left, her face gone from elegant to distraught mother in an instant. Yu Father shushed her and patted her hand.

"Now, now. Let us hear the children out. Explain yourselves." He looked at the two of them sternly. "Is this a joke?"

"No!"

"No!" Both of them looked up earnestly and protested. It was the general that spoke up after though. He held an embarrassed face as he tried to explain to his parents. He told how he had thought it was a joke himself at first, but that the prince had slowly won him over with his persistence.

"As the greater family, he must approach us first, but after discussion... he has agreed to marry into the Yu Family." He finished with those words, and his father seemed to imperceptibly relax his shoulders.

"Prince... Ling Min will marry... in?" He looked at the silent and bowed head of the royal with surprise. The boy looked up at that and his slightly teary eyes gazed at him hopefully.

"Yes, Yu Father. I have no desire to embarrass my general. His feelings are of the utmost importance to me. I wish to enter the Yu Family if you will allow it." He bowed his head to the ground and pressed his forehead to the mat in supplication.

"Ai-ya! Get up, get up. No need for that child." Yu Mother cried frantically in awkwardness. Never did she think a day would come that a royal begged in her tearoom. Shameful! "What do you think, Yu Father? It... is a most illustrious bride for our son... don't you think?"

They hesitantly looked at each other. It would be very much talked about, but there were plenty of reasons it would be a good thing for both their family and the royal family. Their son would be tied to the Emperor by blood, and that would be good to show the army's leader's loyalty. Not to mention the end of his brother's rights to succession that would be assured.

Their family would gain the recognition of trust and blood ties to the Emperor when they had dealings in the future. But more interestingly, was the interactions they saw before them today. They had never seen their son look at someone with such gentle eyes.

He did not stand aside and let the prince humiliate himself alone, so there must be some affection on both sides of this union. So, did that mean it was a love match? If that was the case, the two who doted on their eldest and most beloved son were hesitant to disallow it. Yu Father gulped.

"Y...Yes. Alright. Zhi Zhi, my only son, you must promise to take one of your sister's children into your home as your heir... and then I will allow it." He sighed heavily as the two heads raised in joy, one more so with gratitude and bright eyes.

"I promise Father." General Yu said with a serious face, and then bowed once more in thanks. Prince Ling Min tugged his sleeve a little.

"Does this mean we are getting married?" He asked with a dazed face. General Yu chuckled and wiped the tears that now streamed down the elegant prince's face.

"Yes, yes. Dry those eyes you silly prince and thank my parents." He admonished him with a stern look and a gesture. Prince Ling Min bowed over his hands and then wiped his face with his sleeve, shocking everyone there.

"Come now, future... er, daughter-in-law, have a cup of tea with us to celebrate." Yu Mother prepared the tea with gentle gestures and Yu Father patted his shoulder as he passed him a cloth to blow his running nose. It really felt like comforting a nervous daughter-in-law ah.

"Thank you, thank you. I am so happy." Ling Min took the cloth and blew heavily into it, making all the rest laugh under their breaths at him.

"Good. That is done. We will find an auspicious day and set everything up." Yu Father said as he retook his seat. Prince Ling Min eagerly leaned forward.

"Ah! There is one in three months! Can we do it then? Please?" His eager gaze had the man frozen in shock. The others exchanged a helpless look and General Yu grinned as his parents discovered the shameless behaviour of this elegant prince. Yu Mother laughed out loud, unable to hold back.

"Oh dear, such an eager bride. Yes, yes. We can do it in three months. You will have to come and learn to take care of the house for one of those months, and I will not go easy on you." She teased the young man with a cheerful face.

"Ah, yes Yu Mother. As you say." He obediently took his teacup and sat back with modesty. General Yu shook his head. He could not help but think with a sigh... his days were not going to be easy.

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