Chapter 114 Naming Failure

Although Shen Jin and Jiang Mianmian had already secretly pledged their lives to each other (scratch that, they had secretly chosen the name of their child) on that private night in the East Warm Pavilion, according to the rules of the Great Gan Dynasty, the name of the Regent Prince's heir was a major event that had to be recorded in the Imperial Register and announced to the world.

Thus, on the day of the third-day celebration, the Regent's Palace once again became as bustling as a vegetable market.

Inside the main hall, everyone was gathered.

The young Emperor Shen Xingchen sat in the main seat. Although the Empress Dowager was under house arrest and could not attend, she sent a trusted confidant with the imperial edict bestowing the name. To his left sat Jiang Zhan, Jiang Mianmian's biological father, and to his right sat several highly respected members of the imperial clan, as well as a group of scholars from the Hanlin Academy holding dictionaries.

Everyone had only one goal—to give the young prince a resounding name.

"Cough cough."

Jiang Zhan spoke first, stroking his beard with a confident expression: "Last night I observed the celestial phenomena and searched through ancient books. Since this child was born amidst the flames of war and has achieved a great victory, why not name him—Chen Sheng! It means invincible and unconquerable!"

Jiang Mianmian, who was holding a child behind the screen, rolled her eyes.

[Shen Sheng? Father, do you want him to grow up to be a reckless brute who only knows how to fight?]

[It sounds like the name of a butcher, so corny!]

"No, no!"

Scholar Li of the Hanlin Academy shook his head and said, "The Crown Prince is of noble birth, so his name should be elegant and meaningful. I think the name Shen Yuan is excellent. It means 'a hidden dragon in the abyss,' implying that he will surely achieve great things in the future."

Jiang Mianmian: [Shen Yuan? Abyss? It sounds eerie, like he might turn evil at any moment.]

"I don't think either of them are good!"

Shen Xingchen jumped off the chair, raised his hand, and declared, "I am the emperor, I will take it! I think it should be called—Invincible Shen! How domineering!"

The entire room fell silent.

Shen Wudi... If this name were to be uttered, neighboring countries would probably laugh their heads off.

Jiang Mianmian couldn't help but laugh out loud from behind the screen.

[Invincible? Why don't you call yourself Silent and Lonely? Invincibility is so lonely...]

At this moment, the eunuch sent by the Empress Dowager announced the imperial decree in a high-pitched voice: "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager bestows the name Shenxiao. This is to teach the Crown Prince to prioritize filial piety, serve the emperor, and be respectful to his elders."

Shen Jin, who had been sitting to the side drinking tea, put down his teacup heavily upon hearing the word "filial piety."

"filial piety?"

He gave a cold laugh.

What does the Empress Dowager mean by this?

Is he trying to use the word "filial piety" to suppress his son? To make his son a dutiful son and grandson to the young emperor who has not yet truly taken power, or even to her, the empress dowager who is under house arrest?

Dream on.

"I appreciate your kind intentions."

Shen Jin stood up, his gaze sweeping across the entire hall. The regent's imposing presence instantly silenced the noisy hall.

"But the name of this child... has already been decided by the King and Queen."

"It's settled?" Jiang Zhan was taken aback. "What's it called?"

Shen Jin walked to the screen and helped Jiang Mianmian out. Jiang Mianmian was holding the little bundle of joy who was still fast asleep in her arms. Although she was in confinement and couldn't be exposed to the wind, she was wrapped up tightly, with only her shrewd eyes showing.

“His name is—Shen An.”

Chen Jin's voice was not loud, but it was firm and resolute: "An as in peace."

"Chen An?"

The group looked at each other in bewilderment.

This is... too ordinary, isn't it?

The Crown Prince of the Regent, a future pillar of the court, is given such an ordinary, even somewhat perfunctory, name?

“Your Highness,” Scholar Li couldn’t help but advise, “While the character ‘An’ has a good meaning, it is perhaps too… ordinary. It may not reflect the noble status of the heir.”

"mediocre?"

Shen Jin looked at his son in his arms, his eyes softening completely—an expression he had never shown in court.

"Throughout my life, I have been ruthless and decisive, wielding immense power. But I have lost too much and experienced too much unease."

“I do not seek his honor, for he was born the son of the Regent, which is already honorable enough.”

"I do not seek fame or fortune for him, for I will safeguard the great kingdom for him."

"I only ask that he... live a peaceful life, free from disasters and hardships, and not have to live like me, licking blood from the edge of a knife and struggling to survive in conspiracies."

Shen Jin raised his head, his gaze intense:

"In this world, is there anything more precious than the word 'peace'?"

The entire room fell silent.

Jiang Zhan touched his nose, somewhat moved. He recalled the life-or-death battle in Dragon Valley, and the harrowing delivery his daughter had endured.

yes.

To be alive and safe is the greatest blessing.

"Great!" Jiang Zhan slapped his thigh. "Let's call him Shen An! What a great name! It's like a great skill appearing clumsy, returning to simplicity!"

With the father-in-law having spoken, who else would dare to object?

"Then... what about a nickname?" Shen Xingchen asked unwillingly. "If we can't decide on a formal name, at least let me participate in the selection of a nickname, right? I think 'Little Tiger' would be a good name!"

Jiang Mianmian: [...]

[A little tiger? Are you picking a fight with animals?]

"No."

Jiang Mianmian said with a smile, "The nickname has also been decided. It will be called Tuantuan."

"round and round?"

Shen Xingchen wrinkled her nose in disgust. "What kind of name is this? It's so soft and weak, not imposing at all! It sounds like a girl's name!"

"What's the use of being powerful? Can it feed you?"

Jiang Mianmian pinched her son's chubby cheeks in her arms. "Tuantuan is so nice! He's all round and round, and... it sounds like a rice ball, so appetizing!"

He's chubby and fair-skinned, like a little rice ball. Just looking at him makes me want to eat two more bowls of rice!

Everyone burst into laughter.

So this name is meant to be eaten with rice?

"No!" Shen Xingchen protested, "My nephew can't be called Rice Ball!"

"Protest invalid."

Jiang Mianmian waved her hand dismissively, "I'm his mother, and I'm in charge! If you're not happy... there's no family bucket tonight."

Shen Xingchen immediately shut up.

"Tuantuan...it's actually quite a nice name." The young emperor immediately changed his tune, his face full of flattery. "Tuantuanyuanyuan means national unity and family harmony! Your Majesty is so cultured!"

Shen Jin looked at this scene and shook his head helplessly.

He reached out and tapped his son's little nose:

"Did you hear that, Shen An?"

"Your mother bought out your naming rights with just one family bucket meal."

The little girl in his arms seemed to understand her father's complaints. She moved her mouth and spat out a big saliva bubble.

"puff--"

The bubble burst, splashing Chen Jin's hand.

Jiang Mianmian laughed heartily:

[See! My son agreed! He even blew bubbles to celebrate!]

【Chen An, Tuan Tuan. From now on, these will be your codenames!】

Grow up quickly, and Mommy will take you to eat your way around the world!

Thus, at the grandest naming ceremony in Dagan, amidst the siege of a group of literary giants, powerful ministers, and the emperor, the name of the regent's heir was settled in an extremely simple and unadorned manner.

Shen An.

round and round.

These two names would accompany him throughout his life and became the warmest symbols in the Regent's Palace.

However, what Shen Jin didn't expect was...

This child, whose name means "peace and safety," grew up to be... a real handful.

That's a story for another time, of course.

Now, looking at Jiang Mianmian holding the child and grinning like a greedy old man, Shen Jin felt that this was probably what he wanted—

The world is at peace.