Chapter Two

The Zhang Prince

Monday

Imperial Palace

Ling was wrong, he realized right away, by thinking his younger brother was three. As he looked down from the balcony, at the child now he doubted the boy was anywhere close to three. He tried to remember how long before he'd left to cross the desert that it was announced his brother had been born. Now that he thought about it, it couldn't have been more than a few months, making this child now even two yet. That made things a bit more complicated. He hoped he could win the mother over.

His youngest brother, one and a half year old Huan Zhang was due to arrive any moment, and Ling awaited them in the secondary court designed for the crown prince/princess rather than the emperor. He tried not to show any sign of nervousness, but the truth was if he couldn't win this one over it seemed like it was probably a lost cause on the other four.

Eventually, twenty minutes after he had been informed the Zhang clan had arrived to see him, the doors finally opened. A small boy, about the size of Ed's son, was led into the room by an elderly woman and young girl of about eight. The baby looked around with wide eyes at all the glittering ornaments along the walls, the girl was doing slightly better at hiding her interest but not much. The elderly woman kept her eyes trained on the floor, a frown on her face.

One of the palace guards followed closely behind them, much to Ling's annoyance. He could handle an old lady and a couple of children. He'd crossed the dessert and fought immortal beings! Of course, that wasn't general knowledge. Before anyone could speak one of his father's advisors slipped into the room and gestured to Ling that they needed to speak to him.

Ling sighed but waived them up. This was not going to leave a good impression on the Zhangs. The man rushed over to him as the woman kneeled and quietly instructed the girl to do the same. Little Huan was then pulled into the woman's lap. Ling leaned over his temporary throne so that the advisor could speak to him without passing the top step of the dais which is forbidden.

"We encountered a problem with the Zhang clan my lord." The man said almost to quietly for Ling to hear. "It appears this is what remains of them. They were raided last week, and the woman who was the head cook of Prince Huan's household was able to escape with the two children."

"I see." Ling said growing cold. With his clan gone, little Huan would need to be absorbed into another clan or he would be exiled according to the old laws. The woman had spared his life, but for how long? Ling didn't need to think about it. He had called this meeting in hopes of joining the clans and this was what he had to do. "Send word to my father. I have adopted a third heir."

The advisor nodded. As crown prince it was Ling's right to keep or reject any of the dead clans before anyone else was consulted. It was fortunate for Huan that Ling had won the race. Indeed there were several of their siblings who would have ordered these three directly out of the palace and into the desert. "Very good my lord. He said he would expect that reaction after the adoption of the Chan clan. He said to remind the Zhangs that Prince Ping is still considered first son."

Ling nodded as he suppressed a snort. As if birth order had mattered in his father's court. Ling then turned to the group kneeling before them. If they had overheard any of the conversation they didn't let on. Ling smiled down at the toddler who apparently was now to be his son. To think, he had been sad to learn he would never be a father and it turned out he would be anyway.

With the advisor's departure an aide stepped forward to formally introduce the members of the Zhang clan. The elderly woman was introduced as Ai Lon, and the girl Boa Zhang. As it turned out Boa was Huan's aunt. Ling felt immense sadness for the child and the woman who was the girl's caregiver. He invited them to live in the palace along with little Huan.

Ai seemed skeptical, but accepted the offer. She would work in the kitchens as she had for her clan. After a long conversation it was decided that Huan, as Ling's adopted son, would join Ping in Ling's apartments. Boa was given the choice to stay with Ai or Huan. She debated but in the end wished to stay with Ai but was promised she could come and play with Huan as often as she liked.

Once that was settled, and Ling really hoped to avoid anymore adoptions of this nature, he stepped down to the top stair of the Dias so the Ai could hand him his new son. Huan had been passed through enough caregivers in his young life that this trade barely managed to be noticed aside from a brief waive to the woman who had saved his life. Ling gave the boy a bemused smile as the room emptied and he was able to sneak out to the hallway.

He carried the boy up to his rooms to introduce him to his wife and son. As he entered the apartments he heard Ping crying in the nursery and Lan singing to him. Ling smiled at the sound and headed in that direction. He ran into Mei along the way as she came out of her rooms. She noticed the child on his hip right away, and the deep purple of his clothes.

"I know you said you were hoping to adopt in the other clans, but I didn't know you meant it literally." Mei said as she wiggles her fingers at the toddler.

"The Zhang clan has been destroyed. There remains three members including the prince." Ling said tightly.

"I see. Well, Lan did say she wished you could have a second son." Mei said. She, like Ling, knew what it meant to lose your clan. Unlike Ling she had come close to the minimum numbers during her childhood and as such she felt great sympathy for the child.

"Come Huan, lets introduce you to your new mother. She's going to adore you." Ling said instead of responding.

Mei followed her brothers through into the nursery where Lan was about to place Ping back into his cradle. She spotted Huan, and recognized him by his colors like Mei had. Lan quickly settles her son into his cradle and gestures for them to leave the nursery.

As soon as they are out to the sitting room Ling set Huan down to let him explore the area. Mei quickly shut the door so no one would have to chase after him. "Lan, Mei, allow me to introduce Huan Zhang Lao. Second son of the crown prince."

"Which clan was it that did this?" Lan asked as she picked the boy up. He patted her shoulder then looked around again in fascination.

"I am having it looked into as we speak. If this behavior persists now that word has had a chance to get around I will be sure to have them banished." Ling said, all lightheartedness leaving his voice instantly.

The two women nodded before Ling came over to hug his wife. "You see though my love? You feared you would not be able to provide me enough heirs and providence provided."

"You don't really believe that so you brother?" Mei asked.

"Of course not, but the advisors will. They will see it as a strong sign that I can already list three heirs." Ling said. "Oh, just wait until Edward finds out that Yuery has a playmate! I'm not going to mention it in my letter, wait for him to find out in person. It will be fun."

"I wish Alphonse could make it." Mei said with a sigh.

"None of that, dear sister. I've already decided I'm sending you back to teach the Elrics." Ling said and pretended to be annoyed by Mei's squeal of happiness. "You will see him soon enough because I'm sending you back with them. None of that crossing the desert on your own nonsense this time."

"Oh thank you brother! I can't wait to see my Alphonse again." Mei gushed before wandering out of the room. She intended to write Al herself, though Ling would mention to her to keep it secret before she had a chance to send it.

Tuesday

Ling woke to a small face pressed nearly nose to nose with his own. He was very grateful to spending several months in the company of his friend and child because it prepared Ling for this sort of thing. Instead of reacting with the initial instinct to pull his dagger, he relaxed at the smallness of the human on top of him and instead wrapped his arms around the boy and tucked him to his side. He had seen Ed do this a thousand times it seemed like. He had mimicked the move a few times himself. It always seemed to work with Yuery to get him to sleep for a while longer.

As it turned out Huan wasn't much different. Though he didn't go back to sleep, he did willing stay laying cuddled next to Ling. Ling hoped this meant the boy was used to being doted on and not that he was craving affection. He didn't have enough experience to gage it correctly, but he assumed it was that Huan was used to cuddles in the morning.

Lan Fan stirred beside them, used to waking early after years of training she rarely slept in Ling had noticed. It made sleeping in himself impossible since his own conditioning made him a very light sleeper. Huan noticed Lan Fan stirring and seemed to decide that meant it was absolutely time to get up. He squirmed around in Ling's arms until Ling gave up and let go. Huan then launched himself at Ln Fan to wrap his tiny arms around her neck. "I think someone likes you." Ling said with a smile.

"Good morning little one, how did you get in here?" Lan Fan said softly to the baby as she returned the hug careful of her automail arm.

"He was just across the hall, next to Ping. I assume he wandered in by luck." Ling said as he sat up himself. "I woke to him staring at me."

"He's probably hungry." Lan Fan said as she set the boy down to grab her robe. Ling picked the child up before he could begin to fuss and headed for the door. If his boy was hungry he was getting food. Ling knew all about hunger and this child was one of his siblings it was very possible he had some of Ling's issues with food.

Ling ran into the night Nurse in the hall, who looked immediately relieved to see the boy in his arms. She had been searching for the child for at least fifteen minutes and had no idea where he could have gone. Once she knew the elder baby was alright she turned her attention to the younger one.

As they ate breakfast, Ling realized he had found himself with several days with nothing prescheduled. He had dedicated that time to convincing his brother's guardians that joining the Yao clan was in their best interest but now all that was left to do was fill out the official paperwork. Well, and get started on bonding with the boy.

Ling was excited, now that it had begun to sink in, at the prospect of having not one but two sons, when just two months ago he had been told he would never have children at all. Edward would always have his gratitude for making fatherhood possible for him. He intended therefore to officially name the Elrics to be considered 'Honored Friends of the Yao Clan" which would give both brothers permission to enter the country whenever they wished without waiting through the red tape at the edge of the dessert. It would make it easier for the entire Amestrian party if he could get the paperwork pushed through fast enough.

Suddenly Ling had new self appointed work to fill in those empty three days, because as it turned out the crown prince doesn't actually get a day off. That said, he fully intended to set aside time to bond with his new children.

Thursday

Ling had a headache, and after spending the better part of two days with his father and the advisors, he seriously considered gathering his family and just running back across the desert. He was pretty sure he could beg for asylum based on his role in Promised Day.

He changed his mind about leaving halfway to his apartments when he realized that would mean abandoning the hope that he could make things better for his people. Not just the Yao clan but all of them. He just needed to remind himself of that when things grew tense with his father. He had to step carefully, weigh every word and gesture, the entire time he was in the man's presence. The Emperor would love to find a reason to rescind the agreement made between himself and his surviving children.

Instead of allowing anything to show on his face, or beginning to pack, Ling turned his thoughts to what still needed to be done before the foreigners began arriving. Aside from what he had already taken over to study, Ling's days were currently rather empty.

After these meetings, Ling didn't think he'd be keeping any of his father's advisors. He began planning on how he would go about phasing them out as he walked along, barely noticing the bodyguards that constantly surrounded him outside of his apartment. He had been surrounded by guards most of his life after all, and he was well trained and could easily defend himself.

Huan and Ping were both awake and in the sitting room with Lan Fan and Mei when Ling arrived. He was happy to see them all, as he scooped Ping out of Lan Fan's arms and sat on the lounge so Huan could climb up next to him. He then began breaking down his day for the others leaving out the parts that shouldn't be repeated like the exact location of troops, ect.

Lan Fan wasn't used to being princess yet, she was still very much a bodyguard in her mindset. Luckily, in her opinion, Mei had decided to take it upon herself to teach Lan Fan what she needed to know. Lan Fan and Mei were spending the hours Ling was locked in conference rooms with Mei teaching Lan Fan the ins and outs of her new role. Despite their rough start, and it was more than just rough, the two girls had grown to get along fairly well most of the time, much to Ling's relief.