A month later, Wang Chang woke up without the Empress by his side.
He stared at the empty side of the bed and felt an urge to cry. It was an instinct from his body, and he barely kept it from happening.
I'm becoming so much like a baby with every passing day.
Wang Chang frowned and sat up. He groggily scanned the room and found no sign of anyone.
"Baby Jiayi, are you hungry?"
Anatolia walked out from behind him. She had been standing beside the bed, out of his vision.
!?
When he heard her voice, Wang Chang jumped a little. He looked at her with tears welling in his eyes.
"I-I'm sorry."
Anatolia took a step and kneeled beside the bed. She buried Jin Jiayi in her chest and patted his back. This instantly removed his urge to cry.
I hate my body. I feel so ashamed of myself.
Wang Chang would bury his head under the sand if he could. He couldn't believe an old man like him had to be comforted like this.
After a while, Anatolia pulled back. She carefully checked Jin Jiayi's face if he was fine.
"Here, Jiayi."
Anatolia breastfed Jin Jiayi.
After eating, Wang Chang stared at Anatolia in a daze. He was flabbergasted.
"The Empress is preparing. Let's give you a bath, okay?"
Anatolia smiled and lifted him up, ignoring his shock.
She gave him a bath and when he came to again, he was already wearing a robe made of golden threads, and the word JIN was embroidered with silver threads. It was basically a tiny version of the Empress' imperial robe.
"Crown Prince Jiayi."
Anatolia fixed his clothing one last time and carried him out of the room.
Wang Chang blinked his eyes with curiosity. He threw the absurd event earlier to the back of his mind and mentally prepared himself for what was to come.
Is there some sort of ceremony happening?
Wang Chang watched as Anatolia headed out the front of the imperial palace. There were many guards standing in a line, and they made way for the two.
Surrounding them were tall curtains that covered them from the outside world. Cheers and mumbling could be heard from outside.
A gong sounded, jolting Wang Chang.
"After 100 days since his birth, our Empress' son will be officially introduced to the world!"
A heavy and deep tone came from the front, behind the curtain. It was an unfamiliar voice to Wang Chang.
The cheers erupted in the crowd.
Gulp.
Wang Chang's heart beat thumped in his chest. He sensed the large crowd behind the curtain.
"A dragon among men and a genius of the dao. Behold, Her Imperial Majesty's son!"
The voice became louder and Anatolia walked out of the curtain with Wang Chang in her arms.
The crowd cheered louder as they saw Jin Jiayi's figure.
Wang Chang covered his face with his hands as their uncomfortable stares pierced into him. This was his first time being at the center of so much attention.
As Anatolia brought him to the center of the platform, he noticed the Empress sitting at the back, with Jin Yang sitting a step lower and his legs together.
They both wore extravagant clothing that clearly defined their status in the empire. The Empress had makeup on, and she looked doll-like and stunning.
Once they were at the center, Anatolia kneeled and raised Wang Chang up into the air with both hands.
"Your Imperial Majesty."
The voice from earlier called out respectfully.
"When he was born, he made auspicious signs. Thus, I named him Jiayi, Jin Jiayi!"
The Empress' words reached all the ears of the audience.
Their eyes shone with excitement as they learned of Jin Jiayi's name.
"Long Live Jin Jiayi!"
"Long Live Jin Jiayi!!"
"Long Live Jin Jiayi!!!"
The crowd's excitement reached a peak, especially those who had seen the family touring the main road. Their curiosity of the baby in her arms back then had finally been given an official answer.
Auspicious signs? I don't remember that, but I remember her saying she named me that way to have a name at the same level as hers…
Wang Chang realized that his mother was lying. He took a glance at her, and she was similarly looking at him. A smile blossomed on her face, making him blush.
The Empress lied in order to give Jin Jiayi a brand for the citizens to believe in. Otherwise, he would seem too ordinary. It was a smart move that Wang Chang has yet to realize.
When the crowd's voice died down, the Empress opened her mouth once more.
"Let this be known far and wide. As my first child, I declare him as the Crown Prince of the Jin Empire!"
The Empress' words resounded heavily, displaying an ounce of her supernatural powers.
Wang Chang looked at her again and saw her smiling at him.
My mother loves me a lot.
From her continued smiling, Wang Chang could feel her overflowing motherly love. It made him feel happy, and it further healed his heart which was missing a part.
The crowd took deep breaths before shouting again. Their cries and screams became fanatical and hardcore.
"Long Live Crown Prince Jin Jiayi!"
"Long Live Crown Prince Jin Jiayi!!"
"Long Live Crown Prince Jin Jiayi!!!"
Wang Chang looked at this scene and took a deep breath of his own. It was a stark contrast to his boring and simple past life.
I'm Crown Prince Jin Jiayi.
Wang Chang felt a sense of duty and purpose. He recalled his mother's words, and it resounded in his heart at this moment.
"See this, Jiayi? They are the heart of the empire. Do not look down upon them or they will look down at your grave."
He made a vow that he would never look down upon these people and treat them with respect. After all, that was what his mother said.
"Unless he displays inadequate abilities, he will remain as Crown Prince."
The Empress continued.
Wang Chang shuddered. It was like a reminder to him from her.
The crowd became silent, and they imagined various futures under Jin Jiayi's rule. These futures were all possible depending on how Wang Chang acted, but they all believed that he would become a light as bright as the Empress.
"May the Crown Prince Jin Jiayi be with Her Imperial Majesty."
The voice came again and Anatolia embraced Jin Jiayi, walked to the Empress, and gave him to her.
"Thank you, Anatolia," the Empress said quietly.
"I fed him too, Empress."
"Oh?"
Their short exchange went unnoticed except for Jin Yang who was sitting beside her.
S-She did it on her own!?
Wang Chang realized that Anatolia wasn't even under his mother's orders. It was something she did because she thought it was right. The event that happened earlier stuck to his mind again.
"Naughty, Jiayi."
The Empress lightly pinched his cheek.
"Besides the appearance of our crown prince, we also have another announcement under Her Imperial Majesty's behest."
A young man walked out from behind the red curtain. He stood at the center of the platform and bowed to the audience.
"I, Su Zihao, have been appointed by Her Imperial Majesty as the Imperial Preceptor for the crown prince. From now on, I will be teaching and guiding his cultivation."
His clear and gentlemanly voice reached the ears of the audience, and they gasped as they recognized him.
"It's really that genius Su Zihao!?"
The audience erupted into chaos as their disbelief pierced the sky.
Su Zihao raised his hand and the crowd grew quiet.
"The Elders have given me orders to supervise the Jin Empire which is under the sect's guidance. When I arrived at the empire, the Empress welcomed my arrival as she also needed my expertise in cultivation. With my 7th Spiritual Gathering cultivation, I can guarantee the success of the crown prince."
Upon giving his speech, the audience took deep breaths but they didn't dare to be rowdy anymore. The name of the Four Grass Sect struck fear into everyone's hearts.