Xiao Zai's words proved to be prophetic.
They stayed for over a week in the Second Prince's estate, and there wasn't a day someone didn't pay them a visit to wish Chu Yun a speedy recovery and gawk at the royal twins.
They all had the same question too.
"Are they alphas?" asked Chu Hean with an arched eyebrow.
"They're my children," replied Chu Yun with a tight smile.
Chu Hean returned the smile with a smirk. "So, no."
Chu Yun said nothing and Chu Hean let the issue go, but the air of infuriating smugness at having guessed right permeated the rest of his visit.
Only Lieba Chun's cheerful presence prevented Chu Yun from throwing his brother out for being annoying and describing his children as: "surprisingly turnip looking for a pair of wolves."
---
Next came Xiao Ziyi, bringing with her a metaphorical dark cloud, like a kite on a string.
"The Queen Consort of Su is in a terrible mood and demands to see her son posthaste twice a day..." Her expression was thunderous, making it evident how she felt about the Queen Consort and her demands. "Hui Lang is still hanging around like a bad smell and we haven't gotten word back from Xiao Yuan and how everything went in Su."
Just then, one of the babies started crying, saving Chu Yun from having to answer her.
Xiao Zai too turned to his sister with an apologetic smile. "Will you excuse us? It's time to feed them."
It wasn't, but Xiao Ziyi left all the same.
"You know, I think I'm beginning to understand that a lot of 'new parents are always busy' is a very convenient excuse for said new parents to bow out of all outstanding commitments in their life." Chu Yun told Xiao Zai once Xiao Ziyi had left.
He was already planning on taking extensive advantage of this discovery.
---
They would use their children as excuses not to see people, or cut visits short plenty of times during that week.
"I think it would be better if you just sat the month here. Reasonably speaking, you shouldn't be going outside during such a sensitive period, not even in a carriage."
Chu Yun didn't say anything at that, but he did hold on pleadingly to the hem of Xiao Zai's robes, hoping to convey his despair at the idea of spending an entire month in Gu Wei's presence.
He really thought the two of them got along better when they didn't see each other often.
---
Xiao Yuan was one of the last to visit, recently returned from his trip to Su. He came in with Fan Jiang, and while Fan Jiang was charming and courteous, Xiao Yuan was visibly frazzled.
He could only hold out for about an incense stick's time before blurting out:
"Is the succession guaranteed? The ministers are driving me insane. Hui Lang is still hanging around like a bad smell--"
Chu Yun interrupted him. "What about the King of Su?" he asked, not so skilfully changing the subject.
Xiao Yuan let out a laboured sigh. "He recovered after the antidote. I brought a missive penned by his hand conveying his gratitude, and decrying Ru Long's actions."
He paused, cutting a look towards Xiao Zai. "However, he is adamant that Ru Long should return to Su so that he can be tried."
Xiao Zai sat down on the bed next to Chu Yun and looped an arm over his shoulders. "Then he can come take him back himself."
"We can't risk him making a run for it during the journey back to Su," Chu Yun agreed, resting his head against Xiao Zai's shoulder. "We won't be held responsible for something like that. Now he's the King's problem."
Xiao Yuan slumped against the pillar behind him with a winded expression. "That means more work for me, doesn't it?"
"Just for a little while longer," Xiao Zai said, smiling very widely.
---
Hua Nanyi had a lot to say about both children.
"They're wolves but they look like you," she declared with propriety, after looking into both their faces attentively.
In Chu Yun's opinion they didn't look like much yet, but he didn't want to admit that his brother was right about them kind of resembling turnips.
At least they were very cute turnips.