Chapter 356: Chapter 356 : Celebration (2)

The table at the center of the room was loaded with all sorts of mouth-watering delicacies.

There was a rich selection of treats that included candied fruits, cream pastries, and soft cakes on a huge platter.

There was also a huge array of delicacies such as a plate of roast suckling pig, its delicate meat standing in contrast with its crispy, caramel-colored skin; three-tiered steamer baskets full of colorful dumplings, steam rising from them incessantly as soon as the basket lids were removed; and a hundred grilled lamb meat and onion skewers that were piled together in the form of a tower.

All the food were placed strategically around an adorable tiger and dragon sculpture made of colored rice cakes. The tiger and dragon were hugging each other like two brothers.

"Waaaaaaaahhhh~!!!"

With eyes sparkling with delight, Zhang Mingrui wriggled out of his father’s embrace and ran toward the table.

"So many delicious foods! Waaaaahhhh~!"

"Young Master Mingrui, wait! Allow me to assist you."

Head Servant Zhou lifted Zhang Mingrui by his armpits and seated him in a chair.

Zhang Fengxi pressed a kiss against Xie Junjie’s cheek. The little dragon had been staring at the lavish spread without saying a word.

"What is it, Baby Junjie? Do you not like what you see?"

"Today... Today is..."

"Today is your and Mingrui’s fifth birthday," Zhang Fengxi playfully pinched his son’s cheek. "Have you two forgotten your own birthday?"

"Oh."

In the Heavenly Realm, only the first, fifth, and seventeenth birthdays were marked with celebrations.

The first birthday celebrated a full year of the child’s life.

The fifth birthday marked their transition from the carefree days of childhood to the path of knowledge and cultivation

The seventeenth birthday blessed and welcomed the young adult to the realm of adulthood. It was the age when said young adult was deemed ready to accept a certain weight of responsibilities above their shoulders.

The other birthdays often went uncelebrated, thus the younger children often forgot their own birthdays.

Xie Junjie put his arms around his father’s neck and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thank you, Daddy."

"What, no thank you for me?" a voice interjected, interrupting the tender father-son moment.

Two curious gazes shot up, meeting the figure who just emerged from the kitchen. Their eyes widened in surprise and admiration.

"And I believe I played a crucial role in preparing this delightful feast," Xie Jianshen, the Heavenly Emperor, declared with a playful scoff.

A synchronized kowtow swept across the room, except for the two little boys who eagerly rushed towards their Imperial Uncle.

"Imperial Uncle!" their voices echoed in unison.

"You came!"

Xie Jianshen lowered himself to embrace his beloved nephews, planting a kiss on each of their cheeks.

"Happy Birthday, Mingrui and Junjie. May Heaven shower you with infinite blessings and fill your days with boundless joy and fulfillment."

"Heeey, I am also here, you know???" another voice protested. It belonged to a man who was carrying a big bowl of longevity noodles on a tray.

"Elder cousin!" the little boys shouted in unison.

Chuckling, Zhang Fengxi stepped forward, relieving Jiang Muchen of the heavy load. With a swift motion, the Fire Guardian scooped his little cousins into his arms and showered them with a round of affectionate kisses.

"Mwah! Mwah! Mingrui and Junjie look so much like your mother! That is very good, you are going to be very handsome when you grow up!"

A while later, the remaining guests -- Jiang Rufeng, Lady Song, and Zhang Zhiyuan -- poured into the dining hall.

After all the feast attendants gathered around the dining table, the birthday feast officially commenced.

Two years prior, Jiang Rufeng relinquished the title of Shuiran Palace Master to his son, Jiang Muchen, and relocated to the Golden Dragon Palace to be with his beloved wife. This marked his formal adoption of the prestigious title of "Imperial Consort," establishing him as the second highest person in command who ruled the empire alongside Xie Jianshen.

Zhang Zhiyuan, despite his years of service and close ties to the imperial family, couldn’t shake off a lingering sense of awkwardness in the presence of those with elevated status. Though he had once addressed Jiang Rufeng as a brother and knew Xie Jianshen as the former’s legal wife for a long time, their current titles as the Imperial Consort and the Heavenly Emperor respectively demanded a deference he found difficult to reconcile with their past camaraderie.

Thankfully, Jiang Rufeng remained as humble and approachable as ever. Aware of his good friend’s tendency to stiffen up even in informal settings, Jiang Rufeng made a deliberate effort to ease Zhang Zhiyuan’s discomfort. He took a seat beside Zhang Zhiyuan and poured him wine throughout the night.

"Come, Brother Zhiyuan, drink, drink, drink!"

"But Your Majesty, I..."

"Stop with the honorifics. I am sick of having people kiss my feet every second of the day. Tonight, you will address me with ’Brother Jiang’ only."

"Yes, Brother Jiang. I mean, no, Your Majesty, I..."

As the two elder alphas engaged in a convivial exchange of wine, their respective wives were rekindling their long-standing rivalry. Trapped in between, Zhang Mingrui and Xie Junjie could not help but follow the heated exchange.

"It is customary to eat a bowl of longevity noodles first before touching other food," Lady Song insisted.

"If they finish the entire bowl, they won’t be able to taste the other foods. Just a few mouthfuls are enough. They don’t have bottomless pits as stomachs," Xie Jianshen remarked with a scowl.

"Your Majesty, I oversaw their growth ever since they were but mere infants. I know their stomach capacity very well," Lady Song argued.

Xie Jianshen crossed his arms before his chest and pinned Lady Song with a sneer.

"What’s this? Lady Song, are you suggesting that I have been absent this entire time?"

The air between the two omegas was practically loaded with gunpowder. Worried for his children’s safety, in one or another way, Zhang Fengxi braved the danger and intervened.

"Ahahaha, Your Majesty, esteemed Mother, this is a joyous occasion. Let the boys eat what they want..."

"Shut up, Fengxi," Lady Song snapped in his direction.

"Mind your business, Supreme General," Xie Jianshen scowled at him.

"..."

Sighing inwardly, Zhang Fengxi signaled for his sons to start eating. Never mind their Imperial Uncle and their grandmother -- they would never see eye-to-eye.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay