#my baby fei liu is all grown up

[larks-and-katydids]

Mei Changsu 🤝 Ling Buyi

living under a fake identity for 10+ years so they can get revenge on their uncles who caused thousands of people to die for political purposes

[tabloidtoc]

People, May 20

Cover: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s baby joy

Page 3: Chatter -- Tessa Thompson, Oprah Winfrey, Katie Holmes, Shailene Woodley, Sam Smith, Jennifer Aniston 

Page 4: 5 Things We’re Talking About This Week -- An “I Adulted” calendar rewards grown-ups with stickers, Channing Tatum washes off his Jenga defeat, Kelly Clarkson has her appendix removed after hosting the BBMAs

Page 7: Contents 

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Page 9: Lady Gaga 

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Page 14: Jennifer Lopez, Billy Porter, Bella Hadid and Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas, Serena Williams, Jamie Foxx and Katie Holmes 

Page 19: Princess Charlotte turns 4 

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Page 23: Chris Hemsworth, Darren Criss, The Billboard Music Awards -- Taylor Swift and Paula Abdul and cats, Mariah Carey, Ciara and son Future 

Page 25: Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner’s surprise Vegas wedding 

Page 26: More surprise weddings -- Gina Rodriguez and Joe LoCicero, Jude Law and Phillipa Coan 

Page 29: Heart Monitor -- Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez going public, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson happy anniversary, Thomas Jane and Anne Heche new couple, Katherine McPhee and David Foster ready to wed 

Page 30: Alex Trebek fighting cancer and staying strong, Amy Schumer’s new baby, how Adele is healing after heartbreak 

Page 32: First Look -- Renee Zellweger as Judy Garland

Page 35: Double Talk -- Rebel Wilson and Anne Hathaway of The Hustle, This Week in People History -- Brooke Shields’ daughters 

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Page 42: All Is True, There Is No Other from Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi, One to Watch -- Be More Chill’s Will Roland 

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Page 45: Pokemon Detective Pikachu, What’s My Name: Muhammad Ali, Q&A -- Charles Melton 

Page 46: Tolkien, Beauty Marks from Ciara, Q&A -- Ato Essandoh

Page 47: Wine Country, now streaming & on DVD -- Destroyer, Arctic, Serenity 

Page 49: Books 

Page 50: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry welcome their baby boy 

Page 69: Randy Travis -- Grateful to be alive after a near-fatal stroke in 2013 

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Page 81: With no resolution in the 1995 death of her son, LaWanda Hawkins hopes to help police find answers to unsolved killings 

Page 83: Heartbroken after her boyfriend stole thousands from her, actress Hayley Orrantia of The Goldbergs is channeling her grief into new music 

Page 88: Billy Bush begins again after scandal 

Page 91: Katie Lee opens up about her struggle to conceive and the surprising sources of heartbreak and hope she’s discovering along the way 

Page 94: Sean Gobin’s Warrior Expeditions give veterans a chance to heal from PTSD in nature’s solitude 

Page 97: Dionne Warwick -- My life in pictures 

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Page 114: Second Look -- New York City mayor Bill de Blasio and Big Bird, Elmo and the Count of Sesame Street 

Page 116: One Last Thing -- Tony Goldwyn 

[orangememory]

Jingyan/MCS where they adopt Fei Liu?

Finally filled this prompt! Emperor Jingyan and Consort Mei discussing Princely naming options for Fei Liu. The names were supplied by friends on discord and explained in a note at the bottom. Thanks for the prompt! Also dedicated to @kngfishergrl who inspires me to write bb!FL always.

“What do you think of ‘Chong’? It suits him well, he is alwayscharging through,” says Jingyan to his newest consort, comfortably ensconcedaround one arm, his cool head on Jingyan’s shoulder. “The Ministry of Rites hasalso recommended ‘Zhong’ for hisloyalty to you, and ‘Lie’ for hisbright nature.* You know Fei Liu best, you should pick a name that he wouldlike.”

Consort Mei just softly sighs,knowing it is useless to dissuade Jingyan when he has his mind set onsomething. He can sense Fei Liu in the gardens, playing around the elaboratetreasure traps and hunts Auntie Jing has set up for the child who gets bored soeasily. Fei Liu’s energy is much more different from how it was five years ago,the aura is less sinister, more refined, and definitely bright and raging, thewords Jingyan has used to describe him.

However, Fei Liu is a still achild, in mind if not body, and there are some things Jingyan may not seethrough. And some things in Jingyan’s heart that only Mei Changsu canunderstand.

“What are you thinking Xiao Shu?Answer me quickly, yes? Select one for him, the other title can be set asidefor Tingsheng.”

If only the answer was so simple,Mei Changsu sighs.

Jingyan lays a kiss on Xiao Shu’sforehead, and his nose brushes against the delicate filigree of the gold crownthat Xiao Shu wears, making him look so regal, so ethereal, the words Jingyanwould never use for his knobbly-kneed, mud-caked, mischief-loving cousin. Ithas been quite a journey, the years in between in abject loneliness, his ascentto the throne, fighting with the Court to marry Xiao Shu and adopt Fei Liu andTingsheng, pacifying all the officials censuring the Emperor for taking thescheming, sharp Su Zhe as a consort and children with a questionable past ashis own.

Jingyan can never give back LinShu his strength and vigour, but he can give him the highest place by his side.And he can give little Fei Liu and Tingsheng, who have had the most unfortunatelife, a secure, stable place – then Xiao Shu and Brother Qi can rest easy.

There is also the matter ofTingsheng. Jingyan still feels gutted when he cannot tell Tingsheng their truebond, that the throne should belong to him – and yet Jingyan has not even beenable to make him the prince that he deserves to be, yet. In some ways, this isa start, because the Court still defers to Fei Liu’s new Langya ranking, yetthey still murmur about Tingsheng’s background as a slave.

Tingsheng has grown up so fast,he has already headed to his first military post to the East. Jingyan will notsay it out loud, but he has instructed that all military reports from the Eastbe delivered at post-haste, and on a new schedule of every week instead ofevery two weeks.

Fei Liu shares his concern, andJingyan bonds with him over the little pigeon that comes from Tingsheng everytwo days, and Jingyan laughs as he reads aloud to Fei Liu all the youthful escapadesthat Tingsheng has detailed.

Tingsheng always signs off askingnot to show it to Father, and have Sir Su or Grandmother read it to Fei Liu. Inturn, Jingyan makes sure to write back on Fei Liu’s behalf, distorting hishandwriting. Fei Liu always tells Tingsheng about the latest cookies he ate,and how many people he beat that day.

Jingyan loves these littlemoments with the two children. The three of them have never had a real father,Jingyan muses, and maybe that’s why they bond.

Although Xiao Shu would kill himfor thinking that, for he has spoiled Fei Liu just like Tainainai indulged LinShu. Jingyan smiles as he even thinks of Tainainai’s and Xiao Shu’s commondeclarations of ‘but my baby has a good temper’ even as the Lin Shu and FeiLiu, the little hellions, wreaked their own brand of havoc everywhere.

“Jingyan.”

Jingyan snaps out of his reverieas he hears his name, and realises he is still waiting for Xiao Shu’s answer onthe matter. Fei Liu still needs a title, a legitimacy only Jingyan can give.

Xiao Shu’s lips brush Jingyan’sshoulder, as he continues, “Fei Liu doesn’t need a princely title, Jingyan. Wehave already battled to adopt him, and that is enough. I know why you’reworrying, but trust me, neither of us will hold anything against you.”

Jingyan’s forehead furrows. Whatdoes Xiao Shu mean? He just wants-

“You want to make my positionstable, show the Court that no one can take me from your side. Fei Liu andTingsheng are our children now, bridges that connects us, you have tostrengthen them as well. Do you really think I did not understand your worriesand your intentions? I grew up reading your mind, water-buffalo.”

Xiao Shu’s gentle but sharp wordspierce right through Jingyan’s façade. Grinning sheepishly, Jingyan realisesthat he can never hide anything from the boy who knows Jingyan better than hisown self. Jingyan has been fighting his own insecurities, the quiet emptinesson his own – and he’s tried to protect Xiao Shu from his failings.

Jingyan thanks the heavens thatXiao Shu knows him so well, too well in fact.

“I just-”

“You don’t have to worry Jingyan.I have my own methods to silence the critics. I don’t care about positions, wewill never be apart from each other again – and I will take down anyone whodares come between us.”

Xiao Shu’s voice turns to steelas he speaks these words, and Jingyan’s heart leaps because he can now trustXiao Shu to never abandon him again, as he had almost done after the Chiyancase had been resolved.

“As for Fei Liu, a princely titlewill only bring him worries. He will have to have a certain bearing andcomportment, learn how to plot and scheme, otherwise he will be ridiculed. Ihave already taken Fei Liu through two wars, for the rest of his life, I justwant him to be happy and carefree with us, to follow his own path of martial arts.You love him so much, and that is enough.”

Jingyan’s feels this rush ofwarmth, the way Xiao Shu sees through his pain.

“The Court is still willing togrant a title to Fei Liu for his martial accomplishments, and you wish to useit to pave a way for both his and Tingsheng’s future. For now, this is notrequired. The officials who say Tingsheng is from a traitor’s family, they canbe convinced slowly, as Tingsheng succeeds in his military career. And if theyaren’t, Consort Mei will return to being Su Zhe for some time. So, you justfocus on the Empire, and I will support you in every way.”

Xiao Shu’s last words are spokenwith a strength of resolve and love, that he will always protect Jingyan andthe children. Jingyan cannot help but lean in to lay a deep kiss on Xiao Shu,which he returns just as fiercely. They’re lost in each other for some time,not needing words, until there are excited noises from the garden which disturbthem.

Commander General Meng and theEmpress Dowager are praising Fei Liu for finding the hidden treasure, and theservants are clapping with glee. Fei Liu is beaming.

As Jingyan and Xiao Shu opentheir eyes to this sound of domestic bliss, they start chuckling.

“I will heed your words Xiao Shu,it’s enough if Fei Liu is happy and loved – and we shall wait for Tingsheng,”Jingyan promises.

“As usual, I am the smart one inthis relationship, you gurgling water-buffalo,” Xiao Shu teases.

“Yes, of course, I am only just asmall Emperor of this land, nothing important at all,” Jingyan retorts rightback with a smirk.

“Well, if you were smart, youwould know by now how many people Tingsheng has kissed – hmm?”

“Xiao Shu, what-”

“You think he doesn’t know youread his letters and imitate Fei Liu’s handwriting? He writes all the boringstuff to you, and the juicy stuff to me of course.”

Jingyan just puts his head in hishands. Xiao Shu always played him, aargh! And now he was training Tingsheng?What was his life coming to?

“I give up. If there were anypolite words for smartass and cheeky I would bestow those titles upon you two!”

“Well, I may just have asuggestion for my own Consort title. How about ‘lustful’? Because that is howyou make me feel all the time.”

Jingyan’s indignation is thensilenced with Lustful Consort Mei pouncing upon him. Xiao Shu always lived upto his titles, if nothing else in this world.

*Special thanks to Discord Friends who had answered the questions about Princely Titles.

1. 冲 chong(surge, charge) 2. 忠 zhong (loyal) 3. 刚 gang (firm, upright) 4. 烈 lie(bright, raging) 5. 齐 qi (order, fast) 6. 悫 que (honest & careful/simple) 7. 熹 xi (bright, dawn) 8. 翼 yi(wing, to assist the ruler) 

1 - 4are better if he’s gonna get involved in military/war shenanigans, 5 - 8 ifit’s more court stuff xD