The naming controversy, a battle of wits between master and servant

The birth of the twins brought the joyous atmosphere of Prince Yi's mansion to its peak. The Emperor was overjoyed, and gifts poured into the mansion like a flowing river. Zhao Jingyi was even happier than usual, wishing he could spend every single moment of the day with his wife and two little darlings, grinning foolishly at their wrinkled little faces.

However, amidst the joy, a serious question arose: what to name the child.

According to custom, the names of royal descendants must be drafted by the Imperial Clan Court and submitted to the Emperor for approval. However, nicknames (pet names) are usually decided by the parents themselves. Zhao Jingyi showed great enthusiasm for this, eager to give his two children the most resounding and imposing nicknames!

That day, Qin Yuti was feeling a little better and was leaning against the headboard, watching the wet nurse bring the two little ones, who had eaten and drunk their fill, to her side. Zhao Jingyi excitedly ran in with a large red sheet of gold-flecked paper, on which he had written his "achievements" after racking his brains for several days in a flamboyant style.

"Wife! Look! I've come up with names for our son and daughter!" Zhao Jingyi proudly presented the paper to Qin Yuti.

Qin Yuti took it and saw that it was written on it:

Son: Zhao Tiezhu (nickname: Tiedan)

Daughter: Zhao Jinfeng (nickname: Fengya)

Qin Yuti: "..."

She took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to slap the paper at Zhao Jingyi's face, and asked as calmly as possible, "Your Highness, could you... explain the meaning of these two names?"

Zhao Jingyi, completely oblivious, explained smugly, "Isn't it simple? Iron Pillar! It symbolizes our son's body being as strong as an iron pillar! Iron Egg, even more so, is incredibly hard! Just hearing it makes you feel healthy! Golden Phoenix! It symbolizes our daughter's future wealth and good fortune, like a golden phoenix! Phoenix Girl, how endearing!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jinshu, the personal maid who was serving medicine to Qin Yuti, couldn't help but burst out laughing. She immediately realized her rudeness and quickly covered her mouth, but her shoulders were still shaking.

Zhao Jingyi immediately became displeased, glaring at her: "Jinshu! What are you laughing at? Isn't the name I chose good?"

Jinshu was a trusted confidante whom Qin Yuti had brought from the Qin family. She was straightforward and outspoken. When the prince asked about it, she put down the medicine bowl, curtsied, and boldly said, "Your Highness, please calm down! This servant... this servant just feels that the young prince and the young princess are so precious and noble, and these names 'Iron Egg' and 'Phoenix Girl'... sound... sound like names that peasant families would give their children to make them easier to raise. It's a bit... a bit rustic." She carefully chose her words, trying to be as tactful as possible.

"Uncool?!" Zhao Jingyi jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "What do you know! This is called down-to-earth! It has a good meaning! It's practical! Isn't it better than those pretentious, affected names?"

Jinshu was unconvinced. Having grown up with Qin Yuti, she had been exposed to literature and had read some books. She retorted, "Your Highness! Names can be both elegant and auspicious! For example, the young prince could be named 'Huaijin' (meaning 'carrying beautiful jade'), signifying noble character; the young princess could be named 'Anle' (meaning 'peace and joy'). They sound good and have auspicious meanings, wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

"Huaijin? Anle?" Zhao Jingyi curled his lip. "Too soft! Not imposing enough! My son and daughter's names have to be memorable! They have to be easy to remember!"

"But Your Highness..."

"No buts!" Zhao Jingyi started to act spoiled, hands on his hips, "I am the father! I decide! They'll be named Tiedan and Fengya! No one can object!"

Jinshu's face flushed with anger, but she didn't dare to argue with the prince. She could only look at Qin Yuti with a pitiful expression and plead, "Your Highness..."

Qin Yuti listened quietly to this battle of wits between master and servant. Looking at Zhao Jingyi's unreasonable behavior and Jinshu's aggrieved expression, she finally couldn't help but cough softly.

Zhao Jingyi immediately leaned over and asked anxiously, "Honey, what's wrong? Are you tired?"

Qin Yuti ignored him, only glancing indifferently at the paper with "Tiezhu" and "Jinfeng" written on it, then looked up at Zhao Jingyi, her tone calm but carrying an undeniable authority: "Your Highness, what do you think Father Emperor and Mother Empress (referring to the late Empress's memorial tablet) would think if they knew their grandchildren were named 'Tiedan' and 'Fengya'?"

Zhao Jingyi: "..." He imagined the scene and immediately shuddered.

Qin Yuti continued slowly and deliberately, "Furthermore, if the Crown Prince and Prince Huai ask about the names of your nephews and nieces, Your Highness... can you really say them with a clear conscience?"

Zhao Jingyi's momentum instantly diminished, and he stubbornly said, "Then... what's wrong with not saying it..."

"Furthermore," Qin Yuti's gaze shifted to the two children sleeping soundly in the cradle, her voice gentle yet firm, "our children will one day stand tall and proud before others. Does Your Highness wish for them to be ridiculed by their peers because of an overly 'down-to-earth' nickname?"

These words struck a nerve with Zhao Jingyi. He might not care about his own pride, but he would never let his child suffer even the slightest injustice!

Seeing Zhao Jingyi begin to waver, Qin Yuti pressed her advantage and offered her final proposal: "The nicknames don't need to be too complicated, but they should be elegant and easy to pronounce. In my opinion, our son should be named 'Yuanbao,' which contains the noble connotation of 'Yuan' and the precious meaning of 'Bao,' and it also sounds kind and adorable. Our daughter should be named 'Nuannuan,' wishing her a warm and gentle life, and that she will be cherished by others. What does Your Highness think?"

Gold ingot? Warm and cozy?

Zhao Jingyi silently repeated the name several times in his mind. Yuanbao, although not as "hardcore" as Tiedan, sounded noble! Nuannuan, even more so, sounded like the kind of soft and cuddly girl he, Zhao Jingyi, should cherish and pamper! Most importantly, his wife's choice was definitely right! It sounded even better than what Jinshu had suggested!

He immediately changed his tune, his face beaming with smiles: "Great! Excellent! Yuanbao! Nuannuan! My wife is so knowledgeable! These names are wonderful! They're both elegant and auspicious! It's settled then!" After saying that, he glanced at Jinshu with a smug look.

Jinshu: "..." She was speechless at her prince's ability to change his expression faster than flipping through a book. She could only roll her eyes silently and think to herself: Your Highness, where did your toughness go?

A naming controversy was brought to a successful conclusion thanks to the "wise decision" of Princess Yi.

The young prince, Zhao Huaijin (his formal name), was nicknamed Yuanbao.

Princess Zhao Anle (official name), nicknamed Nuannuan.

And our Prince Yi, once again, predictably, suffered a complete defeat in his quest to pamper his wife and children.

The entire Prince's mansion could finally address the two young masters with peace of mind. As for the two "alternative names" the Prince had chosen, they became a new source of amusement for the servants to tease him about.