Chapter 260
Han Jing indeed missed the baby's third-day celebration. By the time he returned, the baby was already six days old and had become chubby and fair-skinned.
Moreover, Yan Shujin was sleeping at that time. Even though Han Jing's return was a joyous occasion, no one would wake Yan Shujin up at that moment.
After Han Jingxian washed up and changed his clothes, he carefully squatted down by the bed and looked at Yan Shujin for a long time. He felt that Yan Shujin looked much more haggard, and the more he looked at her, the more guilty he felt. After all, he had not been able to accompany Yan Shujin during the most difficult and dangerous time.
After watching for a while, Han Jing tucked the blanket around Yan Shujin and quietly left the room.
The child was in the next room, being cared for by a wet nurse.
Missing the baby's birth and the baby's third-day celebration filled Han Jing with guilt towards Yan Shujin and the child. When he saw the child, he didn't even dare to touch him. The child was sleeping soundly and occasionally smacked his lips.
Han Jing whispered, "She looks like a princess, and she's really beautiful."
Upon learning of Han Jing's return, Madam Yuan rushed over. She overheard her son's words and smiled, saying, "Yes, but his eyes are like yours when you were little."
Han Jing gently touched the child's hand and asked, "What's this child's name?"
Standing to the side, Madam Yuan's eyes were full of satisfaction as she said, "The princess said she would wait for you to return."
Han Jing found the child exceptionally adorable and couldn't get enough of looking at him. He said, "I'll go offer incense to my father."
Yuan said, "Together."
Han Jing responded, glanced at the child a few more times, and then followed his mother to offer incense. On the way, he hesitated for a moment and said, "Mother, I'm thinking of having this child take the princess's surname."
Thinking her son was hesitating about something, Madam Yuan replied, "Anything is fine."
Han Jing breathed a sigh of relief and said, "On the way here, I thought a lot about what the children would be like. I thought they were cute enough, but when I saw them, I realized how superficial my thoughts were."
His daughter with the princess could no longer be described as simply adorable; he couldn't imagine any words to praise her. It was a love that came from the very core of his being.
After Madam Yuan and Han Jing finished offering incense, Yan Shujin had already woken up. She had just finished feeding the child when Madam Yuan reached out and took the child, gently patting the child's back. Everyone in the room was pushed out to give Han Jing and Yan Shujin some space to talk.
Han Jing stepped forward, gently took Yan Shujin's hand, and said, "Princess..."
Yan Shujin smiled and said, "It's good that you're back."
Han Jing knew that General Shi and the others couldn't understand his choice, but Han Jing knew that nothing could compare to Yan Shujin's words: all he wanted in this life was to be with his family.
Both Yan Shujin and Han Jing came up with many names for the child, and Prince Xuan also contributed two whole pages. However, when they actually started discussing them, it seemed that none of the names could express their love and expectations for the child. As a result, Yan Shujin still hadn't come up with a name for the child even after she finished her postpartum confinement.
The imperial court's rewards and gifts from Prince Xuan's residence arrived shortly after the child's birth. Since it was still uncertain whether the child was a boy or a girl, Princess Xuan specially prepared two sets of some items.
Emperor Yan's imperial edict seemed to be timed precisely when Yan Shujin would finish her postpartum confinement. The edict arrived on the third day after Yan Shujin finished her confinement, when she and Han Jing were discussing the name of their child.
Yan Shujin was unusually calm after receiving the imperial decree. She even wondered if Yan Qiyu would secretly cry under the covers if he knew about this.
The joy of the baby's postpartum period vanished completely the moment the imperial edict was read. Yan Shujin, however, smiled and said, "Alright, it's not a big deal."
Mr. Du also looked unpleasant at this moment, but upon hearing Yan Shujin's words, he composed himself and said, "What the princess says is true."
The envoy, though feeling guilty, forced himself to speak: "Princess, what about the southern regions..."
"My lord, please go and rest." Yan Shujin interrupted him directly, saying, "Does this imperial edict stipulate when I must set off for Nanzhong? Does it stipulate that I must go to Nanzhong? Or does it stipulate that I am required to go to Nanzhong to quell the rebellion?"
The envoy's expression changed. There were none. This was not a glorious thing. The imperial edict could not possibly be so explicit. However, anyone who had read the edict would understand its meaning. But now Princess Yongfu was pretending to be ignorant. The envoy did not know what to do in this situation.
Yan Shujin said, "Send the master to rest."
The envoy looked at the guards of the princess's residence and dared not say anything more. Even if the princess really had him killed, no one in the court would speak up for him, and they would not even punish Princess Yongfu. Moreover, judging from Princess Yongfu's behavior, she was indeed capable of doing such a thing.
After everyone left, Yan Shujin stared silently at the imperial edict in her hand for a long time before handing it to Mr. Du and saying, "The matter of Fuzhou is now in your hands again, sir."
Mr. Du said in a deep voice, "I'll go to Nanzhong."
Yan Shujin said, "It's no use for you to go, sir."
In that situation, Mr. Du had no official position or title, so not only would the officials there not accept him, but even the recluse would probably not give him any face. Even if Mr. Du was full of talent, he would not be able to put it to use.
Yan Shujin said, "Sir, please ask someone to come back so we can discuss when to go to Nanzhong."
Mr. Du calmed down and said, "Okay."
Han Jing pursed his lips tightly. For the first time, he craved power, not for himself, but for his family.
Yan Shujin reached out and took her daughter from Aunt Yu, saying, "Ning'an, it's time to change our daughter's diaper."
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