Feng Manor was alive with joy as they prepared for Li Qingyue's first birthday. The main hall was decorated with flags and lights, casting a festive glow throughout the property. The servants were busy, making sure everything was perfect for the youngest Feng family member's celebration.
In the nursery, Feng Yuhua dressed Qingyue in a traditional silk outfit, its deep red fabric embroidered with golden phoenixes. "You look so handsome, my little moon," she said, smoothing down his tiny sleeves.
Qingyue, now a year old, looked up at his mother with wide silver eyes. He reached out to touch the delicate embroidery, his curiosity evident. "Pretty," he said, his voice filled with wonder.
Yuhua smiled, her heart swelling with love. "Yes, Qingyue. Very pretty. Today is a special day, and you are the star of the show."
Li Tianfeng entered the room, his face lighting up at the sight of his wife and son. "Are we ready to introduce our little one to the guests?" he asked, lifting Qingyue into his arms.
"Yes, we are," Yuhua replied, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
Qingyue patted his Father's chin in response, "Papa!"
Li Qingyue was the most comfortable in the arms of his mother and father, they brought him the emotion of peace and comfort that he never felt before.
The family made their way to the grand hall, where guests were beginning to arrive. The room was filled with the sound of laughter and conversation as friends and family gathered to celebrate Qingyue's birthday.
As they entered, Tianfeng's voice boomed with pride. "Everyone, may I present our youngest son, Li Qingyue, on his first birthday!"
The guests turned, their faces lighting up with smiles and cheers. Qingyue looked around, his eyes wide with fascination at the sea of unfamiliar faces. His father carried him through the crowd, introducing him to each guest.
"This is my dear friend, Zhang Wei," Tianfeng said, holding Qingyue up to a tall man with a kind smile. "And this little one is Li Qingyue."
Zhang Wei grinned, leaning in to get a closer look. "What a handsome young boy. Happy birthday, Qingyue!"
Qingyue looked at him, reaching out to touch Zhang Wei's beard. "Funny," he said, eliciting laughter from the surrounding guests.
As they moved through the hall, Tianfeng continued to introduce Qingyue to each guest. "This is Madam Liu, who helped deliver you, and over there is General Chen, who has always supported our family."
Each introduction was met with warm smiles and kind words, and Qingyue's charm quickly won over everyone in the room.
The baby was really so cute, those big silver eyes moving around the hall and looking at everything curiously.
Too cute.
Meanwhile, in another part of the manor, Feng Yuhua was preparing for the moment she would present her son to the family formally. She was surrounded by her two brothers, who had traveled from their distant home to be here for this special day.
"Yuhua, your son is the spitting image of you," said her elder brother, Feng Zhihao, as he handed her a beautifully wrapped box. "This is a jade pendant that has been in our family for generations. It is said to bring protection and wisdom to its wearer. We hope it will keep Qingyue safe and guide him as he grows."
Yuhua accepted the gift with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Brother Zhihao. Qingyue will cherish this always."
Her younger brother, Feng Ming, stepped forward with a grin. "And this," he said, producing a small, intricately carved wooden phoenix, "is a toy for him to play with. May it remind him of his heritage and the strength that runs in his veins."
Yuhua laughed softly. "Thank you, Brother Ming. I'm sure Qingyue will love it." She hugged both her brothers, her heart full of warmth and gratitude.
At first the Fire Pheonix clan didn't want to marry their beloved lady to the Ice Pheonix clan, as the two clan's had clashed a lot from time immemorial but later their sister and brother-in-law fell in love and the two Feng Young Masters had to give in and let their Sister marry that fellow.
When the time came for the family to gather, Yuhua carried Qingyue into the hall, where Tianfeng was waiting with Qingchen and Qingyun. The brothers had been busy showing off their baby brother to their friends, who all seemed equally enamored with the little boy.
"Everyone, please gather around," Tianfeng called out, his voice carrying over the crowd. "It's time to celebrate our son's first birthday properly."
The guests formed a circle around the family, their faces alight with anticipation. Yuhua gently placed Qingyue in the center, where a small table laden with gifts and ceremonial items awaited.
"Qingyue," Tianfeng began, his voice thick with emotion, "today we celebrate the day you came into our lives. You have brought us immeasurable joy. So remember you only need to enjoy life."
Yuhua stepped forward, holding the jade pendant from her brother. She slipped it over Qingyue's head, the cool stone resting against his chest. "This pendant is a symbol of our family's protection and wisdom. May it guide you always."
Qingchen and Qingyun, eager to present their gifts, approached with beaming smiles. Qingchen held a small, intricately designed kite. "This is for you, Qingyue. We'll fly it together and reach for the skies."
Qingyun, not to be outdone, presented a brightly colored ball. "And this is for you to play with, little brother. We'll have so much fun together."
Qingyue's eyes widened with delight as he looked at the gifts, his little hands reaching out to touch them. "Thank you, brother," he said, his words bringing a collective "aww" from the gathered crowd.
Tianfeng couldn't help but laugh. "He's already winning hearts with his words. Just like his mother."
Feng Yuhua rolled her eyes, "You are too glib."
As the festivities continued, Qingyue found himself the center of attention. He moved from one group to another, his curious eyes taking in everything around him. His little mind, filled with memories of another world, found the warmth and love of his family in this ancient world both strange and comforting.
At one point, he found himself in the midst of Qingchen's and Qingyun's friends, who were eager to meet the famous little brother they had heard so much about.
"This is our brother, Li Qingyue," Qingchen announced proudly. "He's the smartest and cutest baby in the world."
Qingyun nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, and he's got the brightest eyes! Just like the moon!"
One of the boys, a little older than Qingchen, leaned in to get a closer look. "He's adorable! Can he really talk already?"
Qingyue, always ready to impress, smiled and said, "Hello!"
The group of children burst into laughter and applause. "Wow, he's amazing!" another boy exclaimed.
Qingchen and Qingyun exchanged a proud look. "We know," they said in unison, their hearts swelling with pride and love for their baby brother.