Among the few candidates in his mind for the role of 'fake mother' for the 5th Prince, the one whom inspired him the most since the beginning was one in particular. One who doesn't seem in a hurry to re-marry any time soon and whom never looked interested in catching his attention for whatever secondary finality.

After agreeing with Bang-sul it would be wise to involve a woman into this matter and seen that he too seems to approve the main candidate LianBi had in mind, they decide to summon her and see what she thinks about it. Forcing her would make no sense, last they need is a resenting Shinobi woman.
A servant of the court goes to warn Haru that the Emperor summoned her to the Red Hall at a set time of that afternoon.

A long night of rest is enough for him to clear his mind about the whole matter. Weirdly enough, for his standards, it's even too easy for him to accept what the alchemists said and the Goddess herself confirmed. In a way, Phoei's gift wasn't only for her Avatar. The thought to actually share a son with his beloved one fills him with an overwhelming enthusiasm.
After all, the main difference among his children was their mother: he loved his First Son's mother, although the disappointment he received later on about her, while never loved his Second Son's mother nor the Concubine who gave life to his only daughter. And there is no need to say how much he loves his Bang-sul.

While his lover seems so tormented and leaves the Palace, he heads to the nursery to see the baby. When he arrives, the child is crying and screaming desperately, so much he worries that someone could be causing him harm.
He speeds up to the room reserved to him and just sees him in the arm of the poor Physician who is trying, without any result, to calm him down.
He approaches the man and takes the baby off him. The child stops to cry almost instantly after.
The physician drops on his knees. "Mianhamnida Jeonha, I'm unfit..." murmurs the man, who seems really exhausted.
"You've always been the most fitting, what would have changed just now?" replies the Emperor while looking at the babe. "Go to rest, someone else will replace you in the meantime."
"Your grace is limitless, Jeonha..." says the physician while standing up. He bows and slowly takes his leave.
*The truth is, baby Tero only reacts well in the presence of the people he liked before he died, thus it's an infallible method to know whether he hated or liked someone.

As he stares at the babe, he can't help but feel so softened. It's basically the dream of any same-sex couple, to be able to have biological children and they seriously got one, although not naturally but with the involvement of the Gods.
He also knows how important this must be to Bang-sul, after what Tero did. That's also why he is terribly determined on giving this babe everything and beyond, all the love and respect and comfort he ever lacked, all the safety and care a child deserves. He might end up even a bit obsessed on this point, which could lead to some jealousy from his other children.

Now, the babe has his blood and that of Bang-sul. He is officially and at all effects a Prince, IF he acknowledges him. And he intends to do so.
The big question for him right now is: should this child actually have a chance to the throne?
His options are two: do nothing, give no insight about him, let the world think he is either an adopted child or a bastard, OR do what it takes to make him a legitimate heir. After all, considering the plans he has for Bang-sul, he'd be the most rightful of all his children, but he can't just tell the people the 5th Prince is the son of two fathers and no mother out of Divine Intervention. The life of his children is complicated enough without causing some unsettling rumors to spread about their nature.
"Should I give you a fake mother?" he mumbles to himself. It's a chance he is considering: pick a trustworhy woman and make her a Consort, fake a story regarding her pregnancy and delivery... how hard would it be? Most women are only waiting for the chance to get a child from him, they wouldn't even hesitate to steal other women's children or to get other men to put them pregnant, would even just one of them refuse to take part in such thing?
But at the same time he doesn't want it to be a random woman. Nor one who could endanger Bang-sul in any way due to her own ambitions.

These are just wild thoughts for now, he even has some potential candidates in mind, but he is not sure. He can't take such decision without consulting Bang-sul, despite they have to act fast, or any chance to produce fake proofs will fail.
For the moment, he leaves the babe in the nursery under the care of the Imperial Physicians and heads to the Red Hall. An even more urgent matter than dynasty is to make sure nobody of the 'less close' people present at the funeral could spread words and doubts about the weird happening they witnessed. He wants the world to believe Tero to be his son.

As ordered, Norihiko gathered all those people, except from one he didn't manage to find yet, and escorted them to the throne hall. A couple of physicians, some eunuchs entrusted of caring of the funerary garden and a couple of guards. He has a rather creepy conversation with these people, sending them some indirect threats about the not-so-merciful fate they will receive if any weird rumor about the 5th Prince OR the death of Tero will spread anywhere. They are the only untrustworthy people present at the funeral, if any rumor spreads it won't take long to figure out it could only come from one of them and surely not from close friends or family.

After the terrified group of people leave, Norihiko remains in the hall to face the Emperor regarding the only one person who is still missing.
"Are you sure he was present there?" asks LianBi, while drinking some tea.
"Ye, Jeonha. I saw him."
"Then he must be found at all costs. Even more than just for this matter. I can't let another pshycopath wander freely inside my Palace endangering my people!" Referring to what happened with ZiFu's brother.
"I will keep searching until he is found, Jeonha."
"You never failed. How can a little nimox give you so much difficulty?!" He is annoyed and can't hide it. Also since he has too many things in his mind to bother even about this. "This matter should have been closed the same moment those people left this room!"
Norihiko kneels. "I'll take your punishment for my failure, Jeonha."
He waves his hand in the air and snorts. "Get out of here and find that nimox, dicreetly! Don't cause any more rumors to be invented."

After ZiFu left, he has a very long conversation with XiYu. As expectable, he doesn't act harsh and mean with her, he can't feel angry, only feel sympathy for what she had to go through. He might be a little short in patience and have some troubles to contain anger, but he is not that bad, after all.

He convinces to simply start anew with her real identity, including revealing the truth to her brothers. And she accepts, on the condition he won't let them see her for a while, at least until they will calm down, as she expects lots of anger.

Since she went through a lot and was beaten so harshly in the trainings, LianBi has her escorted to the nursery so that the periapical Physicians will take care of her.
And right now she is still there, with some bandages on. Anyone can visit her except her brothers.

The night develops this way:

-> Bang-sul and LianBi leave the room for almost half an hour, during which the Emperor has to convince the other that it's not some trick or test. Not easy, but eventually
-> an overly hesitant Bang-sul comes back in, followed by LianBi. Due to the hesitation and the fact that he can't help but feel sympathy towards ZiFu, he turns out to be rather gentle.
-> LianBi goes next, being even more gentle but... he is an XL top, lel. Bang-sul is more normal-average in size.

In the end -> LianBi, ZiFu and Bang-sul all lie on the huge bed of the Emperor's room. It's big enough to comfortably fit 5 adult people, thus they sure don't have problems with space.
LianBi is lied in the middle, keeping the other two with his arms, at both sides.

*The red dot that was applied on the wrist of each cairen upon being admitted to the harem, that is of course magic, vanishes from ZiFu almost right after the Emperor is done with him.

"Are you still upset, my love?" asks LianBi while wrapping his arm around Bang-sul's waist, from behind, and placing his head on his shoulder.
No answer from the other, but his gaze instantly snaps on the floor.
"I know. Just trust me on this one thing." At least as long as it will need to develop into the bigger picture he has in mind. Bang-sul can't even imagine how totally uninterested he is in having sex with those people. It has to happen to make it official, but his reasons behind it certainly do not have to do with the need of more partners.

It's morning and he can't remain long in his quarters. He has to head to the Red Hall, in order to take part to the morning meeting with the Generals.
On that same day, he has summoned ZiFu for the first night, the first of the new cairen.
He didn't reveal much to Bang-sul even on what he has in mind for the night, he only forbid him to move elsewhere while he will be busy with the boy. Why choose seemed to only add to the other's frustration.