Chapter 131 Erhe, Xiaoyi?

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang refocused her gaze on the baby's face in her arms, her expression becoming deep and focused.

"Yinzhen... The character 'zhen' is indeed auspicious, signifying sincerity that moves the gods and brings blessings; it is an excellent character. However..."

She shook her head slightly, as if she felt that this single word was not enough to express all her high hopes for this first great-grandson.

Seeing this, Kangxi tentatively asked in a soft voice.

"Grandmother, if you feel that Yinzhen still needs to be reconsidered, should we consider the generation name Cheng? Previously, the name Cheng was used, which means to inherit the ancestral foundation and ensure the eternal stability of the country."

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang slowly shook her head, gently stroking the baby's delicate face, her eyes filled with boundless love and expectation.

"The character 'Cheng' is auspicious, but too heavy, as if one would be bound by responsibility for life. This is my precious son, an auspicious omen for our Great Qing Dynasty. I have named him Erhe."

When Emperor Kangxi heard that his grandmother had named his eldest son Erhe, he silently recited the name in his heart.

He was fluent in Mongolian and immediately grasped the profound meaning behind the name.

It combines the power of the Mongolian language with the blessings of peace and well-being from the Manchu language.

It not only demonstrates the grandeur and authority of the nomadic people, but also embodies the most fundamental expectations for their successors.

He nodded solemnly, his eyes filled with approval and emotion.

"Grandmother has thought this through carefully. The name has an excellent meaning, and I think it is most appropriate. Erhe, good, let's call him Erhe!"

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang nodded with satisfaction when she saw that Emperor Kangxi understood her profound meaning.

Holding little Erhe, he whispered a few words of blessing in Mongolian, his face beaming with a kind smile.

Just then, a slightly hurried sound of footsteps came from outside the hall, and Niohuru hurriedly entered.

She had clearly arrived as soon as she received the news; her hair was slightly disheveled and her breathing was a little unsteady.

She quickly bowed and greeted Emperor Kangxi and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager!"

After the ceremony, she immediately raised her head, her eyes scanning her surroundings anxiously, her tone filled with barely concealed worry.

"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, how is Consort Jin...? I was extremely anxious upon hearing that she was about to give birth..."

Her gaze finally fell on the swaddled baby in Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's arms, and her voice abruptly stopped.

His face was filled with disbelief and astonishment.

"This...this can't be...Your Majesty...But I just heard that Your Majesty only recently went into labor? How...how could this be..."

Looking at her, she was so shocked that she was almost speechless.

Emperor Kangxi finally couldn't help but chuckle softly.

It's no wonder that Niohuru reacted this way.

Anyone who hears the news of entering the delivery room and the baby already being brought out, so close together, would find it unbelievable and defy common sense.

Emperor Kangxi couldn't help but chuckle as he spoke.

"You're not mistaken, this is the Crown Prince Erhe, whom Nan Nan just gave birth to. Mother and child are both safe and sound and are resting in the side hall right now. Go to the side hall and keep an eye on her for me, so that she won't be restless and cause trouble right after giving birth."

Niohuru was somewhat stunned by this series of messages.

She glanced at the swaddling clothes again, almost unconsciously.

Then, his gaze drifted absently toward the sleeping quarters, as if he was still processing the fact.

She bowed mechanically.

"Yes... Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."

She left the main hall almost as if sleepwalking, heading towards the side hall, her mind filled with countless questions.

How could it be so fast? This...this is unheard of!

She was so shocked that she forgot to take a closer look at what the extraordinary young prince looked like.

Watching her absent-minded departure, Kangxi shook his head and smiled at Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.

“Grandmother, look, even Consort Niohuru was startled by Nannan’s speed.”

Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang also laughed.

"That girl, Consort Jin, always manages to give people unexpected surprises."

————————

The following morning, inside a side hall of Yongshou Palace.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, filling the hall with warmth, yet it was permeated with an atmosphere completely out of place for postpartum recovery… like the atmosphere of playing cards.

Jiang Nan sat casually on the soft chair in the main seat.

He was still wearing loose pajamas, but his face showed no signs of fatigue; on the contrary, he looked radiant.

Niohuru and Daijia sat on either side, and a deck of cards was already laid out on the table in front of the three of them.

Consort Wang, holding her little princess, sat quietly on an embroidered stool a little further away.

He watched this unusual scene with a gentle smile.

When Emperor Kangxi shed his majestic imperial robes, he would toss aside the memorials awaiting his approval after court.

He transforms into a patient and meticulous dad, enjoying the bliss of family life.

Carefully cradling the little Erhe, wrapped in a bright yellow swaddling cloth, I paced back and forth gently.

His eyes were filled with the wonder of becoming a father for the first time and an awkward tenderness.

Emperor Kangxi strolled to the vicinity of the mahjong table and finally couldn't help but look up.

He looked at the concubine in the main seat who was clearly fully recovered, his tone filled with helplessness.

"Nannan, can't you just shut up? In this entire harem, no, in this whole world, what new mother would gather people to play cards on her very first day after giving birth?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nan rolled her eyes at him.

She is now absolutely certain that the physique she gained from transmigrating is immune to all poisons and has super regenerative abilities.

Yesterday, she gave birth simply by following Chunlan's instructions and exerting all her strength.

The baby came out like it was on a rocket, without any difficulty or pain.

It feels like... well... easily solving personal hygiene problems.

Where can you go to reason with this?

She even felt that if she were to have another child, Emperor Kangxi wouldn't need to notify her in advance.

Anyway, by the time he arrives from the Qianqing Palace, she'll probably have everything sorted out.

As for the Mongolian name Erhe that Empress Xiaozhuang chose.

She always felt like she was reciting a tongue twister, which sounded very awkward.

She was determined to have many children, as it would be a problem if her children's names were too difficult to remember.

She replied without looking up as she arranged the cards in her hand.

"Your Majesty, I've said it a hundred times, it's alright. Just hold Xiao Yi in peace and don't disturb me while I'm playing cards."

Emperor Kangxi was taken aback by her address and had no choice but to correct her.

“Nannan, my little prince is named Erhe, a name bestowed by the Empress Dowager herself. How can he be called Xiaoyi? This… this is too insulting.”

Jiang Nan casually picked up the cards.

"I can call the child I gave birth to whatever I want, and the little one has to respond. If I have any more children in the future, I will call them Little Two, Little Three, Little Four, Little Five... all the way up to Little Ten. It's simple, easy to remember, and doesn't require much brainpower."

Niohuru was so amused by Jiang Nan's shocking remarks that she quickly covered her mouth with a handkerchief.

His shoulders twitched slightly as he forced himself not to laugh out loud.

Who would name their noble princes and princesses like that?

Kangxi looked at Erhe, who was sleeping soundly in his arms, and then at his unreliable mother.

She could only whisper her grievances to the bewildered baby.

"Erhe, oh Erhe, what will become of you? With a mother like this, I'm truly afraid she'll make you stupid..."

Whether it was a coincidence or not, he had barely finished speaking when...

The little Erkh in his arms pouted and suddenly burst into tears with a loud waar.

Emperor Kangxi panicked and gently shook the child while holding him, looking helplessly toward the mahjong table.

"Nannan, Nannan, the child is crying, what... what happened?"

Jiang Nan drew a good card, and her eyes lit up.

Hearing this, he merely gave a perfunctory "oh," his attention entirely focused on the cards, and urged Niohuru and Daijia to hurry up.

"You two hurry up, what are you standing there for? Who's going to draw cards? You've been chatting for ages and haven't even started a game yet. Get your hands dirty and be quick about it."

After she finished speaking, she seemed to realize something and looked up at Kangxi.

"What did you just say, Your Majesty?"

Kangxi was completely at a loss with her and raised his voice.

"I say, the child is crying!"

Jiang Nan gave the orders as if it were commonplace.

"Isn't it normal for a baby to cry? If he's hungry, he can be fed by a wet nurse. If he's wet or soiled, he can be checked by a nanny. Why are you holding him and rocking him around? Don't make him dizzy."

Emperor Kangxi was rendered speechless by these remarks.

Looking at her son in her arms, whose little face was red from crying.

Looking at the mother of the child, who was already engrossed in the land grabbing, he could only sigh heavily.

Holding little Erhe, he turned and walked out of the hall, giving instructions to the wet nurse who came to greet him as he went.

"Quickly check what's wrong with the little prince? Is he hungry or does he need a change of clothes?"

Emperor Kangxi thought to himself: Who raises a child like this? This Nan Nan, really... sigh!

Meanwhile, at the mahjong table, Jiang Nan, seeing that Kangxi had left, immediately tapped on the table to urge Dai Jia Shi, who was clearly still in a daze, to hurry up.

"What are you daydreaming about? Sister Dai Jia, it's your turn to call. Are you going to bid for the landlord position or not? If not, I'm going to take it."

Daijia looked at the Empress with admiration, then shook her head blankly.

"This concubine...this concubine dares not rob, Your Majesty, you...you want the landlord, right?"