Chapter 73 "The Making of a Little Princess."...
Chapter 73: The Little Princess
The dimly lit bedchamber allowed Su Wanyue to make out only the man's outline. She asked him what time it was.
"It's already past 7 PM." Xiao Yu touched her still slightly damp forehead, his voice deep and somewhat hoarse.
Xiao Yu summoned servants to attend to her. The servants first lit several lamps, and then methodically laid out the food. Because the Empress had just given birth, the imperial kitchen prepared extremely light meals, consisting of porridge and soft, sticky noodles.
Just as Emerald and Qin'er were about to serve the Empress her meal, the young Emperor picked up the porridge before them and personally fed it to Su Wanyue, saying, "Open your mouth."
Having just woken up, Su Wanyue had no appetite at all, but under Xiao Yu's "coercion and enticement," she still ate half a bowl of porridge and half a bowl of milk soup. Seeing his wife's almond-shaped eyes fixed on his arm, Xiao Yu raised an eyebrow slightly and asked with a smile, "What's wrong?"
"Husband, you should go and take care of this first." Su Wanyue tapped his arm and could vaguely see blood seeping out.
Xiao Yu raised an eyebrow and teased, "Feeling sorry for me?"
Su Wanyue glared at him, not wanting to talk to him anymore. Xiao Yu paused for a moment and promised to take care of it later.
"Would you like the midwife to bring the baby to you to see?" Xiao Yu stared at his wife. "I just went to see her. She's very well-behaved. She fell asleep right after nursing and didn't cry much."
He knew his wife wanted to take the child to the main hall, but she needed to rest, and he wouldn't let the child disturb her rest at this time.
Thinking that the child was already asleep, Su Wanyue gave up the idea. She gently shook her head, "Have you thought of a name for our daughter, husband?"
Xiao Yu thought of several, and the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household Department also drafted several, but Xiao Yu was not very satisfied with any of them. "I am still thinking about it. I will discuss it with Wanwan after I have thought it through."
“Then my husband must think it over carefully.” Su Wanyue nodded, then, realizing she had thought of several as well, she lifted the gold-threaded quilt. “I’ve also thought of a few. Perhaps I should write them down for my husband to see.”
Xiao Yu was startled by her. He stretched out his long arm and firmly pressed down on her slender arm. "I will have the servants fetch pen, ink, paper and inkstone. You can write slowly."
Nanqiong had just experienced a heavy snowfall last night. The snow was deep and thick, and as far as the eye could see, everything was a vast expanse of white. A few birds perched on the treetops, fluttering their wings and chirping. Qin Jue was reviewing the memorials submitted by various prefectures and counties when a guard knocked on the door.
Qin Jue raised his elegant face and invited the guard in. While looking at the memorial in his hand, he asked him what it was about. The guard respectfully held up the letter and said, "Your Highness, it's a letter from Bei Li sent by carrier pigeon."
A letter arrives at this time...
Qin Jue already had a vague guess in her heart, and a smile appeared on her elegant face. "Bring it here."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The guard respectfully presented the letter. After glancing at it, Qin Jue burst into laughter. It was the first time the guard had ever seen his master laugh so heartily. He tentatively asked, "Your Highness, what did the letter say?"
Qin Jue smiled and placed the letter face down on the table. "The letter says that Wanwan has safely given birth to a daughter. Guiyi, I'm going to be an uncle."
Seeing that his younger sister was doing well, Qin Jue was finally able to feel a little relieved.
None of the Emperor and Empress's children are married yet. Princess Zilu is a member of the royal family and was later bestowed the title of Princess Dingguo by the Emperor and Empress. Now she has given birth to a daughter with His Majesty Beili. Although the guards have not yet seen what the little princess looks like, with such a noble status, she will be able to roam freely in the world in the future.
A smile appeared in the guard's eyes as he congratulated Qin Jue, "Your Highness, congratulations! Will Your Highness be making a trip to Bei Li?"
The Crown Prince values his younger sister, Princess Zilu, highly. He has even made several trips to Beili for her sake.
Qin Jue pondered for a moment and said, "Tell Father and Mother about this first, then go and invite Yun Lingjun and the four embroiderers from Yuzhu Pavilion to come to me."
Yun Lingjun is a renowned carpenter in the capital of Nanqiong. As for the four embroiderers, they made clothes for the empresses in the palace and the princes and princesses in the capital.
"What does this mean, sir?" The guard's mind hadn't quite caught up yet. Wasn't this a question about whether or not to go to Beili?
Qin Jue glanced at him and said unhurriedly, "It's the little princess's first birthday banquet, and as her uncle, I should send something."
"I'll go right away." The guard finally came to his senses, slapped his forehead, and hurriedly said.
Upon learning that Su Wanyue had given birth to a daughter, the Emperor and Empress of Nanqiong were still happy. At least this child had the blood of their Nanqiong royal family. With this child, Nanqiong and Beili would surely be at peace. However, since the child was not a prince, the Empress of Nanqiong still felt a little regretful.
"What use is a legitimate son if he is a good-for-nothing? Did you forget that the deposed crown prince of Beili forced the emperor to abdicate and rebel before the New Year?" The Emperor of Nanqiong was more open-minded about this than she was. He glanced at the Empress and said.
"Your Majesty's words make sense." Before the Lunar New Year, the Crown Prince of Beili was deposed and a coup was staged. Fortunately, the Emperor of Beili was prepared, otherwise…
***
On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, with the New Year approaching, the whole country was celebrating. In this lively atmosphere, the little princess's name was decided. After the emperor and empress decided, Eunuch Zhou handed the name to the retired emperor. After abdicating, the emperor had been living in the imperial garden. When he saw the name presented, he stared wide-eyed: "Xiao Chengxi".
"He's probably acting recklessly."
Who names their children like that...?
Qin Ruofu happened to be there as well. Upon hearing this, she glared at the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, what are you saying? The little princess has the blood of both Nanqiong and Beili flowing in her veins, and she is Yu'er and Wanwan's first child. Does she not deserve this name?"
Since the Emperor abdicated and became the Retired Emperor, and Qin Ruofu became the Empress Dowager, she has become completely unkind to the Emperor, showing none of the tenderness and affection she once had. The Emperor, however, has grown accustomed to it, since this Consort is the kindest and most sincere towards him. Qin Ruofu has one more thing she hasn't said yet: this child might be Yu'er and Wanwan's only child. She fears that if she says it, the Emperor will be even more furious.
“It’s not that we can’t bear this name, but if the princess uses this name, what will they name their future children?” The Emperor’s brows furrowed tightly, and a guess suddenly arose in his mind. He turned cold and asked tentatively, “Does Yu’er intend to make this child the Crown Princess?”
Qin Ruofu wanted to say "possibly," because her son hadn't given the little princess a title, but the little princess had just been born, and the emperor certainly wouldn't accept it anytime soon. To avoid causing unnecessary trouble, Qin Ruofu deliberately covered her mouth and smiled, "Oh dear, the little princess has just been born, why is the emperor saying these things? Isn't this about naming the little princess?"
The Emperor stared intently at the name in his hand, wanting to choose another name himself, but no matter what he chose, there was no better name. In any case, Consort Qin was right about one thing: this child was of noble status and was the first child of the Emperor and Empress, so it wasn't impossible. The Emperor's voice boomed, "Enough, enough. The child is theirs. They can name him whatever they want."
"Your Majesty is wise." Qin Ruo poured a cup of tea and tenderly presented it to the Emperor, speaking in a sweet and affectionate voice.
Xiao Chengxi.
The powerful families in the capital and the people in the court are not fools. The fact that the Emperor and the Empress would give the little princess this name is enough to prove that the little princess will be extraordinary in the future.
Upon hearing this name, the Prince of the South remained silent for a long time. "He truly cared for Wanwan."
"That's why they say our princess and His Majesty are a match made in heaven." The steward who used to serve in the Southern Prince's mansion, along with a group of loyal servants, also came to Beili. The steward knew that the prince was extremely satisfied with the current emperor, and of course, His Majesty was truly devoted to the princess, so the steward smiled.
Even Master Huiyuan said that although His Majesty and the Princess's marriage was a twist of fate, it was a destiny ordained by heaven.
Regardless of what people in the world thought, the palace was peaceful and harmonious.
After Su Wanyue's health improved slightly, the midwife would carry the little princess to the main hall during the day. In about half a month, the wrinkled little girl seemed to have grown up quite a bit. Her face was rosy and tender, and her eyes were just like her biological mother's, round and bright, capable of bewildering people when she looked at them.
Those who served the Empress loved the little princess and always tried to amuse her, but the little princess was mostly uncooperative and sometimes even cried. Only when the Empress amused her would the little princess be happy, and she was extremely dependent on the Empress.
The Empress Dowager doted on the little princess, visiting her in the Jiaofang Palace every day. She not only held the little princess but also asked if she could take her to the Cining Palace to stay for a few days, since the Emperor had asked her to take care of the little princess after her birth. Of course, the Emperor did not have to agree.
Not only did Qin Ruofu like to visit the little princess, but the Seventh Princess would also run to Jiaofang Palace every few days. Seeing the little princess staring at her with her big round eyes, the Seventh Princess couldn't help but laugh, "Sister-in-law, she's so cute, and she's not at all aloof to strangers."
"She's very well-behaved." Su Wanyue held a rattle drum in her hand and gently shook it. The little girl in the swaddling clothes seemed to like the sound, watching intently without blinking or crying.
The midwife said the baby princess cried the most when she was first born.
The seventh princess wanted to touch the little girl's face, but the child's skin was delicate, so the seventh princess didn't dare to touch her. She just looked at her and smiled.
The seventh princess sighed and muttered about when she would finally find a husband.
While teasing her daughter in her arms, Su Wanyue asked the Seventh Princess with a smile, "Didn't Mother select many noble young men for the Princess before? Didn't the Princess like any of them?"
"I don't really like people who are too bookish," the Seventh Princess said, pursing her lips.
Su Wanyue: "What about Nan Shao?"
The seventh princess was stunned for a moment, her expression changing from bewilderment to embarrassment. She said that kind of thing wasn't what she liked either, and then ran away.
"I'll come down in a few days to see my sister-in-law and the little princess."
Su Wanyue smiled and shook her head. At this moment, the little princess in her arms burst into tears, and the crying grew louder and louder. The wet nurse beside her hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, is the little princess hungry?"
Has His Majesty finished court?
"Not yet." The wet nurse, not knowing why she suddenly asked about His Majesty, asked softly, "Does Her Majesty have something to discuss with His Majesty? This servant will go and inform Eunuch Zhou."
Eunuch Zhou had previously instructed that if the Empress had any problems, the Emperor should be informed immediately.
"You can go out now," Su Wanyue said softly to the wet nurse, her cheeks flushed an unnatural red.
The wet nurse, being an experienced woman, simply said "Eh," and led the group of maids away.
A moment later, the servants of Jiaofang Palace saw the emperor's bright yellow dragon carriage. A young eunuch flicked his whisk and announced, "His Majesty has arrived."
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