Chapter 230: The Joy of the Full Moon

It was the tail end of midsummer, the heat unbearable. In the Bian Palace, everyone's clothing had become much thinner.

Inside the Renming Hall, there was rare liveliness. Empress Fu, Noble Consort Gao, the two imperial brothers Liu Chengyun and Liu Chenghsun, the Grand Princess and her husband, along with several maternal uncles and their families, had all been invited into the palace for a banquet. It was because Liu Chengyou's eldest son had reached his one-month mark.

Palace rules were not yet overly strict. Since all were relatives, and they were in the Empress Dowager's bedchamber, the atmosphere was relaxed and warm.

"Your Majesty, look, this child has dragon brows and phoenix eyes—how handsome." Gao, holding the imperial prince, smiled at the corner of her lips and said to Empress Dowager Li.

"His features also resemble His Majesty's greatly. When he grows up, he will be a handsome young lord." The elder Lady Fu, seeing Gao Huaijin holding the child as if reluctant to let go, also smiled and spoke from the side.

Li's face was full of loving affection. Seeing her eldest grandson, her phoenix brows curved almost into a perfect crescent moon.

"Mother, let me see—since the imperial nephew was born, I haven't held him yet." Princess Yongning stepped forward, asking as she begged. Taking the child, she too spoke to liven the atmosphere: "In his brow, there is indeed some of His Majesty's bearing."

The swaddled infant was chubby, his features not yet formed—how could he resemble Liu Chengyou? But since everyone said so, so be it. The emperor's son—if not like the emperor, then like whom? Perhaps only his mother.

Liu Chenghsun also squeezed into the circle of women, eagerly reaching out to touch the prince's face. His clumsy hands were slapped away by Li.

Among the imperial family's direct line, Liu Chenghsun was the youngest. Now there was finally someone younger, and of a lower generation—this made him quite excited.

"Sister, my sisters-in-law can all hold and touch him. Why can't I?" Liu Chenghsun blurted out.

Liu Chenghsun had already recovered his former liveliness, and on ordinary days in the palace, he quite enjoyed playing around. However, with Li and his imperial elder brother Liu Chengyou's discipline, he had been restrained—otherwise, left unchecked, he might well have become a spoiled second-generation wastrel.

Giving him a reproachful look, Li said: "Look at your reckless movements, not knowing your own strength!"

Still, since he was after all the child's young imperial uncle, Li carefully let him hold the baby. The moment the child entered his arms, he burst into loud crying, leaving Liu Chenghsun, whose movements had already been very gentle, at a loss. Soon, his youthful face put on a "angry" expression as he said: "This brat actually won't give his imperial uncle any face!"

This scene made everyone present laugh. The several maternal uncles might be ostentatious outside, but here, they were all well-behaved. However, the young maternal uncle Li Ye, seeing a crowd fussing over an infant—especially his sister Li, whose gaze hadn't moved away—felt an inexplicable pang of sourness in his heart.

"His Majesty arrives!" The palace eunuch's loud call temporarily interrupted the hall's atmosphere.

Amid everyone's greetings, Liu Chengyou strode quickly into the Renming Hall, his gaze instinctively sweeping over the four maternal uncles—Li Hongxin, Li Hongjian, Li Hongwei, and Li Ye—and their families. Throughout the entire hall, Li's maternal relatives occupied more than half.

It was the joyous occasion of the prince's one-month celebration, so Liu Chengyou did not deliberately keep a stern face, but he was as solemn and grave as usual. His sweeping gaze carried an inherent authority that made people dare not look askance. Liu Chenghsun in particular couldn't help shrinking his neck—he was especially afraid of his imperial elder brother now.

Just like an ordinary family's full-month banquet, the ceremony was very simple, with nothing special arranged.

The prince was wrapped in a set of festive clothing—coat, hat, pants, shoes, socks—and wore a green-gold talisman on his person to signify good fortune. Everyone sat down, eating eggs, cakes, and rice balls... In short, what they ate was good wishes. It was clearly noticeable that after Liu Chengyou arrived, the hall's atmosphere dropped a notch.

But Liu Chengyou didn't concern himself with that. He personally held his son. In the past month, Liu Chengyou had held him no more than three times in total.

This time, the child didn't cry. In Liu Chengyou's arms, he kicked his little legs slightly, his pair of dark, glossy eyes exceptionally bright, looking at Liu Chengyou and clearly smiling. Seeing that childish smile, Liu Chengyou felt something stir in his heart, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously curved into a slight smile.

Whether it was an illusion or not, after Liu Chengyou smiled, the surrounding atmosphere gradually warmed again.

Only when the child needed to be fed did Liu Chengyou hand him to the wet nurse.

"The Eastern Capital has returned to order, and the neighborhoods are gradually at peace. The Patrol Inspector's office has worked hard, but it also relies on Brother Zhongjian's devotion to his duties—the Army Supervisor's merit!" Liu Chengyou called his brother-in-law Song Yanwo to his side, chatting casually with him.

In his position, he attended to his duties. Song Yanwo was very competent in his post at the Patrol Inspector's office, almost entirely following the rules and policies Liu Chengyou had established when he himself had patrolled the capital. A very clever man, he never overstepped any bounds.

Song Yanwo appeared very humble, responding with proper courtesy: "Your servant merely followed established precedents. Without Your Majesty's trust and support, with my meager abilities, how could I have achieved such results?"

"We are all family, and this is a family banquet—Brother-in-law need not be so formal." Seeing his restraint, Liu Chengyou waved his hand and casually changed the form of address.

"Yes!" Song Yanwo's attitude did not change, maintaining a measure of respect throughout.

Liu Chengyou couldn't help sizing up this brother-in-law—handsome and dashing, elegant and refined, even more handsome than himself. Song Yanwo came from a distinguished family; his father and grandfather had served as Military Governor and Army Commander, his maternal grandfather was Li Cunxu, Emperor Zhuangzong of the Later Tang, his mother was Princess Yining, and when he grew up, he himself married a princess. When Liu Zhiyuan had married his daughter to Song Yanwo, it could to some extent be called marrying up. After the founding of the Han, he had enjoyed the trust of two generations of emperors.

In this era, Song Yanwo could be described as a winner in life. Most rare of all, with so many halos upon him, at the height of wealth and honor, he could still remain unperturbed by favor or disgrace, humble before others, without a trace of ostentation or arrogance. He was also learned and talented, and contemporaries praised him as virtuous. Among the Great Han's imperial relatives—some corrupt, some cruel, some incompetent—compared to them, Song Yanwo was truly exceptional.

"Brother-in-law, would you be interested in serving as an official outside the capital?" Liu Chengyou seemed to consider for a moment, then asked in a consultative tone.

Song Yanwo was slightly surprised, but meeting this young brother-in-law's calm gaze, he thought for a moment, then cupped his hands and replied: "Should Your Majesty command it, your servant is willing to go."

"I intend to make you Military Governor of Shunyi Army." Talking with a clever man was refreshing—Liu Chengyou said it directly.

"Shunyi Army..." Song Yanwo muttered, thought for a moment, then reacted: "Yaozhou?"

"Exactly!" Liu Chengyou said calmly: "Guanzhong has never been easy to pacify. Brother-in-law is an imperial relative with no ordinary prospects. I wish to use you to manage the region west of the pass and restore order to the Three Auxiliaries."

Song Yanwo frowned in thought for a moment, then seemed to understand. He nodded, glanced at Princess Yongning among the circle of women, and requested: "Your servant wishes to go alone; the Princess should remain in the Eastern Capital."

The situation in Guanzhong was growing increasingly delicate. Song Yanwo had clearly already guessed something, understanding the purpose behind Liu Chengyou sending him to Yaozhou.

Less than two hundred li east of Yaozhou lay Tongzhou, Xue Huairang's territory. East of Tongzhou, across the Yellow River, was Hezhong Prefecture. And south of Tongzhou, less than a hundred li away, across the Wei River, was Huazhou, the territory of Hou Zhang, Military Governor of Zhenguo Army. These three had been interacting somewhat closely of late.

"Erlang, it's been so long—you must give your grandson a name." At this moment, Empress Dowager Li called Liu Chengyou to her side and said.

Liu Chengyou replied: "Your son has already ordered the Hanlin Academy to deliberate on a name."

"Your Majesty, after our discussions, the eldest prince may be named 'Chang.' Chang means the lengthening of days, unobstructed, relaxed, enduring brightness—" Hanlin Academician and Vice Minister of Justice Bian Guidang and several other Academicians had been summoned for an audience, parsing words and meanings.

Before he could finish, Liu Chengyou cut him off directly, without giving any face: "Not good!"

The terse response made it impossible to continue the conversation. The several men exchanged glances, standing in the hall at a loss.

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou asked: "Did you all not prepare several more characters?"

That stumped them. Perhaps they hadn't reacted, or perhaps they dared not speak further. Bian Guidang and the others could only apologize: "Please forgive us, Your Majesty."

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou did not reproach them further, merely waving his hand and instructing: "Go think again."

"Yes!"

By the time they returned to the Hanlin Academy, the matter had already spread. An Academician asked Tao Gu about it, and Tao Gu's lips curled with a hint of disdain as he said flatly: "How could our dynasty's eldest prince take the name of a fallen state?"