Mua Kong brought his son back to the bed and gently laid his son next Pao Hua. He pulled the blanket over his son and made sure the two boys were nicely tucked underneath. "Sleep." He muttered softly.

"OK." Little Superglue whispered.

Little Superglue hugged his mother"s dress and closed his eyes while smiling as he doze off to sleep.

Seeing that his son is content for the night, Mua Kong walked back to the living area where the table was at and sat down. Once he sat down on the chair, he stared at the direction of the bed lost in thought for a while. His little man, although went through such harsh ordeal, survived and born at full term. It seemed like Hli Ja took care of his boy well. There are no words to express how thankful he is to her for living and took care of the child with lots of love.

After some times, he leaned in closer to the table and blew the lamp out before walking to his study room.

The whole time, inside his heart and mind, has been in turmoil like a volcano about to erupt but he has been keeping his appearance calm for the sake of his son. If he acts out, he might scare his son whom he was not around for the first three years. The first impression means a lot so Mua Kong does not want his son to remember him as an uncontrolled, mean angry man.

Knowing that Hli Ja is alive makes it very hard for Mua Kong to contain his emotions. Since Yee Len left with a few of the elite guards, he wished that he joined them in the search but the festival coincides with the length of time to get to the northern border. Getting to the northern border at straight shot and full speed takes almost two weeks. If he left with Yee Len them, he would not make it back in time to surprise his enemy at the festival.

Mua Kong sat on the chair in his study room. Both his feet planted on the ground, in hunch forward position, his elbows rested on his thighs and his fingers intertwined. He gazed across the empty s.p.a.ce as many thoughts ruminated through his mind while the darkness of the night illuminate his figure, like a predator planning how to hunt it"s prey.

The next morning, the sun rose bright in the sky, Elder Mae entered into the room and saw the two boys already up debating. The Young Lord, with his stubby legs ran to the door, spread his arms and legs by the door, "I love mommy thisss much." Motioning his arms in half circle to express how big his love for his mommy is from the bed to the door. It seemed like the boys were debating about how much they love Hli Ja.

Elder Mae chuckled feeling delighted at the sight. It has been so long since the palace is filled with noise of children. The feeling is so nostalgic to Elder Mae as if she was back in the main palace in the days when Lord Mua Kong and Mua Mong were young. They quarreled and fight for attentions from their mother almost on a daily basis.

Pao Hua walked from the middle of the room outside to the walkway, "Well, mine is this much." Pao Hua stood on the walkway that leads to the other quarters in the palace. Past the walkway is a nice big pavilion that Hli Ja often spend her days when she was around.

Little Superglue felt disappointed that Pao Hua"s love is more than his. "Uh.. Then.. then.. I love mommy thisssss much!" He ran out with his stubby legs past the walkway to the gra.s.s and into the pavilion in the center of the courtyard. It was at this point that Mua Kong arrived to see his son scurried in barefoot over the gra.s.s to the pavilion declaring his love for Hli Ja.

Mua Kong was about to reprimand his son for walking barefoot outside but he lost the will when he saw how desperate his son was trying to expressed his love for his mommy. Even Mua Kong feel tempted to compete with them too.