The Slender Waist-Chapter 814 - 578: Amongst Men, Dragon and Phoenix
On the twenty-sixth day of the first month of the Second Year of Jingning, the day before the Little Princeβs full moon, Feng Yun brought the wet nurse and attendants to stay overnight in the palace, discussing thoroughly with Pei Jue.
Tomorrow, a grand banquet will be held in the palace to celebrate the Little Princeβs full moon. ππΏπππ ππππ¨πππ.ππ π
The childβs name has yet to be decided. The Astronomical Bureau has presented several auspicious and propitious characters, but Pei Jue finds none to his liking.
In his eyes, no name seems worthy of his son.
However, naming the child formally during ceremonies held at the hundred-day mark, on his first birthday, or when he matures, is a tradition. They are in no hurry. Still, letting others call him "Qilin" repeatedly made Feng Yun feel odd.
"Letβs give him a childhood name then," said Feng Yun, looking at the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Fair and plump, delicate features, especially those jet-black eyesβbeautiful and profound. The more she looked, the more she cherished him.
"Hmm." Even deciding on a childhood name left Pei Jue troubled.
He gazed at the child for a moment and furrowed his brow before looking at Feng Yun.
"You decide."
Feng Yun: "..."
Is it necessary to be so cautious over a mere childhood name?
Pei Jue treasured this child too much...
Really going overboard!
She glanced at the manβs serious expression and tentatively proposed:
"Then letβs call him Rui Bao."
"Rui Bao?" After what seemed like an intense internal battle, Pei Jue hesitated for a long time before finally nodding.
"Treasure of Auspiciousness. Approved."
Feng Yun let out a long sigh of relief.
Prior to today, she had advised him on the name three times already.
Pei Jue refused to be satisfied, hemming and hawing, so unlike his usual decisive nature.
She couldnβt help but find it amusing.
"Then itβs decided. No matter what name, isnβt he still our child? Isnβt that right, Rui Bao? Your father is too nervousβitβs rather strange."
Pei Jue said, "A name accompanies oneβs entire life; it must be carefully thought out."
Feng Yun laughed at him. "So is that why youβre so domineering and feared by allβthanks to your fatherβs choice of name?"
Pei Jue discovered that her tongue was becoming sharper and sharperβit seemed she feared him not one bit.
"You arenβt afraid of me at all."
Feng Yun gave him a sideways glance. "Do you wish me to fear you?"
Pei Jue chuckled softly. "You are my queen. How dare I even think of such a thing?"
"Donβt say thatβ" Feng Yun added with a hum, "If word spreads, who knows how Iβll be denounced as a femme fatale again."
"I wonβt say that, wonβt say that." Pei Jue gently grasped Rui Baoβs tiny hand, unwilling to let go.
The Little Prince, recently handed over by the wet nurse, lay cozily sleeping in his swaddling clothes. He seemed a bit annoyed by the parentsβ chatter as his brows knitted faintly. One eye stayed closed while the other slowly opened. His tiny mouth puckered briefly before lazily letting out a yawn, gripping his fatherβs finger tightly before dozing off again.
Pei Jue was bending over.
At the babyβs tight grip, he froze.
He didnβt dare moveβnot in the slightest.
Feng Yunβs sidelong glance swept over him.
A tall and imposing man, infamous for his lethality, now stooping before a small infant. The emotions unconsciously emanating from him caused an inexplicable pang in her heart...
He had longed for this child far more desperately than Feng Yun...
"Alas."
Feng Yun gently "rescued" Pei Jueβs fingers from the childβs grasp, saying faintly:
"Your Majesty, donβt be too tense. Right now, while the child is small, itβs still manageable. But when he grows up, if you spoil him like this, indulgent parenting can ruin a childβyou must remember that..."
Pei Jue glanced at her but remained silent.
Feng Yun: "What? Did I say something wrong?"
Pei Jue: "Lady Yun is right. I will learn."
Learn?
Indeed...
Being a father requires learning too.
Feng Yunβs lips curved slightly as she gently caressed the babyβs head. "Our Rui Bao is the embodiment of auspiciousness, and he will grow up safe and sound, wonβt he, Rui Bao? Let your father stop worrying so much..."
Pei Jueβs lips curled faintly.
Slowly, he reached out to pull Feng Yun into his embrace.
Feng Yun raised her head and glanced at him. "The baby is here."
Pei Jueβs gaze grew complex as he looked at her. "After all these years, in your eyes, am I still a beast?"
Feng Yun smiled. "After all these years, have you ever really changed?"
Pei Jue tightened his arms slightly, lowered his head, kissed her forehead, and embraced her with a gentle smile.
The Emperor never smiled, yet lately, palace attendants noticed that he would inexplicably smileβa smile that sent chills down their spines...
Especially after the Lady moved into the palace, His Majesty became unusually meticulous. From the moment court was adjourned yesterday, he personally inspected every corner of the palace...
The Lady disliked the cold and had just completed her confinement. His Majesty decreed that she must not be exposed to even the slightest chill. The underfloor heating must burn brightly, and personnel inside and out must be stationed to monitor everything carefully, leaving no room for mishap.
The Little Prince was also delicateβonly this small, he couldnβt endure drafts. Daily washing and rinsing required hot water to be readily available at all times. His Majesty even personally felt the diapers, checking their softness, ensuring they wouldnβt scrape the Little Princeβs tender skin...
