The family date continued for a few hours.
The imperial palace was situated at the heart of the city. Further out along the main road, it transitioned to the commerce division and then to the noble division.
"We should head back."
Jin Yang gazed further on the main road. The common division was out there.
Their walk had been slow as they were on a sightseeing trip. The moon hung high above the sky, indicating that it was deep into the night.
Wang Chang saw everything, but he didn't understand that they traveled through several divisions. There was no particular marker, and it was only obvious if someone understood the concept.
And by all means, Wang Chang was clueless about such things. He simply admired the scenery as it was his first time in an imperial city. He inwardly compared the buildings to his village and made sense of the difference between the two.
This city is so big… It feels so cramped.
Wang Chang didn't feel comfortable.
As this was still in the noble division, the houses around him had courtyards, but they were side-by-side with other houses. In comparison, Wang Chang's village was sparse, and rarely would houses touch each other.
"I want Jiayi to see the commoners."
The Empress faintly smiled and resumed walking with Jin Jiayi in her arms. Jin Yang followed beside her and stayed silent.
The two had discussed a variety of things. These topics were safe to converse in public, but the remaining topics weren't.
Thus, the imperial family of the Jin Empire silently walked through the streets. Following behind them was a squad of military soldiers who had a variety of short-range and mid-range combat weapons.
Their entourage attracted a lot of attention. The nobles kneeled and the commoners prostrated.
From their clothing, Wang Chang could tell that the nobles were wealthy, and he had an inkling as to why they were kneeling instead of prostrating like the others.
My status is different now. It feels unbelievable. These nobles must have higher statuses than those prostrating people.
Wang Chang's baby eyes stared at them. He was thickly wrapped with a blanket. The innocent baby was slowly being exposed to the intricate social classes of the Jin Empire.
Soon after, the group reached the common division. The houses visibly appeared much more rundown compared to the houses of the nobles. There were fallen tiles, missing bricks, and old tables outside the houses, and they were densely packed together.
Wow.
Wang Chang had been to the city a few times in his life. He never liked it there since it was so cramped. He was wondering earlier why that wasn't the case in this city. It turned out that the commoners were living in a different part of the city.
"See this, Jiayi? They are the heart of the empire. Do not look down upon them or they will look down at your grave."
The Empress showed a mixture of sternness and gentleness. It was a look in her eyes that Wang Chang saw for the first time.
The heart of the empire... I will remember it.
Wang Chang sensed the warning in her words. It was a sort of reminder to herself as well.
"Okay. We should go back, Empress."
Jin Yang glanced at the gathering crowd, stopping his footsteps. The people in the common division were less disciplined, and when they heard that the imperial family was touring on foot, they ran to the front of the crowd, creating chaos.
The squad behind the trio took advantage of them pausing in their footsteps and protected them from the chaotic crowd. Qian Gang took the lead and glared at the crowd, making them discipline themselves.
The long spear he held in his hands contributed to their intimidation.
The Empress said nothing and faintly smiled.
A carriage was prepared for them, and they took it back to the imperial palace. The horse pulled with immense strength and agility. Their hours of walking only took fifteen minutes in comparison.
After departing the carriage, they returned to the Empress' room.
"Jiayi, we're home!"
She rotated him in her embrace so he faced her wide smile.
Wang Chang smiled back at her, infected by her joy.
"Hehe. You're going to grow into a Mama's boy, Jiayi."
The Empress smirked and coldly glanced at Jin Yang. He wryly smiled at her and didn't say anything. He didn't know why she was fixated on that.
She then placed Wang Chang on the bed, and it must be because of the cold wind outside as Wang Chang instantly felt drowsy.
"Oh, Jiayi, you don't want to eat first before sleeping?"
The Empress' words made Wang Chang pause. He sensed his empty stomach and looked at her, then his gaze lowered to her chest. As a baby, he was a slave to his body's instincts to eat.
"Hehe."
The Empress grinned and breastfed Wang Chang before putting him to sleep.
Jin Yang was silent the whole time as if he was waiting, and when Wang Chang was fully asleep. A passion ignited between the two…
. . .
After that night, Jin Yang returned to the Wen Kingdom. Wang Chang's boring daily routine resumed. Eat, sleep, repeat.
Although he had a lot of chances to look out the window with his mother, the same sight grew repetitive in his eyes.
Finally, something changed after a month ever since the family date.
"Jiayi, you're going to have a tutor. I don't think he can teach you yet, but he will help prepare your body for cultivation."
The Empress was lying on the bed with Jin Jiayi. She was on her side and ruffled his baby hair with a sweet smile hanging on her lips.
Cultivation? I'm really going to become a cultivator…
Wang Chang didn't know what to feel. He had heard about it a lot in his past life, but he was never interested. After all, he was poor, and then he had a happy marriage with Luo Nuying.
Can I find her if I become one?
Wang Chang asked himself. He was in the process of moving on from his wife. He distracted himself from her by focusing on his mother's endless affection.
"Jiayi, why are you sad? Don't you want to become a cultivator?"
The Empress cupped his cheek and stared into his eyes.
She was sensitive when it came to his emotions. She could almost read his thoughts.
I want to ask her why.
Wang Chang came to a conclusion. He balled his tiny fist and hid his face in the sheets.
"Jiayi?"
The Empress was concerned about him when she saw his emotions. She didn't know what exactly he was feeling, but it seemed extremely sad to her.
"Mama is here, Jiayi."
She inched closer, pressing his face to her chest, and rubbed his back.