Chapter 441: When Knowledge and Action Remain Calm, Follow the Heart's Ease!

"What a chubby boy!"

"That crying is really intense!"

Having said that, Yun Xi couldn't help but raise her hand and give a pat.

She was clearly filled with joy when she thought of that child.

After all, that child was born to Xiao Zhiqing, who was extremely close to her, and she herself had helped the midwife deliver it...

Naturally, she loved it dearly!

Pei Suiwan lightly pressed her red lips together, gathered the stray strands at her temples behind her ears, and softly said, "Husband, Zhiqing was born a few days ago..."

"I wanted to surprise you, so I didn't send anyone to deliver the news..."

Chen Yan's mouth twitched upward slightly; he raised his hand in a wave, looking unconcerned, his loose‑sleeved robe stirring a light breeze, and declared loudly, "No problem, no problem!"

Before the words finished, he stretched his arm to pull Pei Suiwan's shoulder into his embrace, gently patting her back with his fingertips, the laughter bubbling from his throat growing louder until it turned into a hearty guffaw, "Still a chubby boy, hahahaha!"

This is the first child of a soul reborn for two lifetimes, and he's a son!

I never expected that one day I would also have a consort...

The feeling is indeed rather strange.

Moreover, for future power arrangements, offspring must be as many as possible, especially legitimate sons...

Cradled in his arms, Pei Suiwan's lips curved into a gentle smile, the corners of her eyes tinged with mirth, "Husband, shall we go see Zhiqing's courtyard?"

Chen Yan immediately straightened up, his eyes brighter with joy, gave a firm nod, reached out and took Pei Suiwan's wrist, "Let's go, quickly!"

Having said that, he led Pei Suiwan out, and Yun Xi and Dantai Mingyue, seeing this, hurried to follow.

Their steps lightened as they headed toward Xiao Zhiqing's courtyard.

The summer heat had already faded by more than half.

A draft through the hall, carrying the faint scent of the osmanthus tree in the courtyard corner, slipped into the room through a half‑open window lattice.

Sunlight slanted across the gilded carved bed, bathing the pale cyan gauze canopy in a warm glow.

Xiao Zhiqing leaned half on a soft pillow, her moon‑white nightgown loosely tied at the collar.

The exposed line of her neck remained slender, yet now carried a few more gentle curves than before.

Her unadorned face bore a faint post‑partum pink flush; the charm that once lingered at the ends of her brows was gone, replaced by a soft, warm radiance.

It was the unique warmth that only a new mother exudes from her eyes.

Her fingertips lightly rested on the thin brocade quilt, her gaze fixed on the nearby cradle, her breath barely a whisper for fear of disturbing the little life within.

The maid Chun Tao held the carved rail of the cradle, gently rocking it; her voice was as soft as honey‑soaked, and in her other hand she held a rattle, occasionally tapping it lightly, "Little treasure, be good, little treasure, stop crying!"

"Wah! Wah! Wah!"

But the baby in the cradle still wailed at the top of its lungs.

Its tiny face flushed bright red, its little fists clenched tightly, and its cry was so clear it could pierce the gauze canopy.

Nursemaid Wang stood nearby, gently patting the outside of the infant's swaddle.

Xiao Zhiqing lifted the bird's‑nest soup from the bedside table, her fingertip touching the warm porcelain, scooping a spoonful and slowly bringing it to her mouth.

The silky bird's‑nest, mingled with the light sweetness of rock sugar, melted on her tongue, yet she had little appetite to savor it, her gaze unintentionally drifting outward.

The shadows of the osmanthus tree in the courtyard swayed gently in the wind, the patches of light on the window paper shifting with them; the fingers gripping the bowl tightened slightly, and a barely perceptible frown formed on her brow.

"Didn't they say the Duke would arrive in Chang'an today?"

Xiao Zhiqing's voice was soft, as if speaking to herself, yet also as if asking the person beside her; the gentle light in her eyes dimmed slightly, gaining a hint of urgency, "It's already noon, why hasn't he returned to the residence?"

After speaking, she glanced again toward the courtyard gate.

Her gaze seemed to try to pierce the gate, and even the hand holding the bowl hovered in mid‑air.

She appeared utterly yearning, eyes fixed through the opening.

She truly, truly missed her own little man...

She wanted him to hold her, then hold the child...

Chun Tao was gently rocking the cradle when she heard Xiao Zhiqing's murmurs; without stopping her movements, she turned and softly soothed, "Madam, I heard the matriarch say the Duke will first enter the palace for his investiture, then return to the residence; it should be soon..."

Xiao Zhiqing paused with the porcelain bowl in hand, her long lashes casting faint shadows beneath her eyes, she slightly pursed her lips, her voice tinged with a plaintive grievance, as if complaining yet muttering to herself, "That heartless, wicked man, he's been gone for half a year, even when our son was born he wasn't here..."

At that moment, a familiar voice with a teasing tone echoed from the doorway, cutting through the afternoon's silence and dropping straight into the room, "Your house's heartless, wicked man just came back to see you!"

Before the words finished, the door creaked open, and Chen Yan, still in his unaltered purple official robe, entered leading Pei Suiwan, Yun Xi, and Dantai Mingyue.

"Hm?"

When her gaze landed on the familiar figure, Xiao Zhiqing jolted, her lips moving, her tone full of astonishment, "Chen... husband...?!"

The person she had thought of day and night suddenly appeared before her eyes; she momentarily forgot how to address him, feeling her breath slow by half a beat.

The maid and the nursemaid, hearing the commotion, hurried in, both kneeling in unison, their voices respectful, "We have seen the Duke!"

"We have seen the Madam!"

Chen Yan raised his hand and waved, "No need for formalities!"

Having said that, he turned his head toward Xiao Zhiqing, a smile in his eyes, and gently brushed his hand across the woman's cheek.

Xiao Zhiqing snapped back to herself, grasped Chen Yan's hand, and her eyes instantly welled, the earlier complaints turning into grievance, yet she still retorted stubbornly, "You still remember to come back?"

"I thought you no longer wanted me or our son..."

But the hand holding his wrist pressed a little tighter, not letting him release.

Between the lines lay deep grievance, yet also an extra layer of longing.

"Where is that?"

Chen Yan was amused by the evasive remark, and gently soothed, "Zhiqing, thank you for your effort!"

He understood her difficulty...

A woman's emotions after pregnancy and childbirth are very sensitive, and she needs even more companionship.

Xiao Zhiqing's throat tightened at first, and that "hm" sounded as light as falling on cotton; the moment it left her mouth, all the forced composure she had been holding onto collapsed instantly.

She couldn't mind the post‑birth soreness, only lifted herself slightly, then lunged into Chen Yan's arms, her cheek pressed tightly against his chest, her voice thick with nasal tone, unable to hide any longing: "I miss you so much!"

Before the words finished, tears streamed from the corners of her eyes onto his garment, spreading a small damp spot.

She clutched his lapel tightly, as if to pour out the half‑year's longing, the grievances of childbirth, and the day‑and‑night anticipation.

All of that poured out through the embrace, even her shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

Chen Yan quickly reached out to support Xiao Zhiqing's back, his palm gently gliding along her spine to soothe her; his movements were light and slow, as if coaxing a wronged child, his voice tinged with apology and tenderness: "I am in the Northwest, and I often think of you all!"

Xiao Zhiqing brushed her tears in his embrace, then slowly lifted herself; her eyes were still red, but she pouted deliberately, a hint of lingering grievance in her stubborn tone: "I don't believe your words…"

Though she said that, the hand gripping his lapel loosened a bit, and the resentment in her eyes faded by more than half.

Just after speaking, she suddenly remembered something, her eyes brightened, and she quickly shouted: "Bring the little treasure over quickly!"

The sobbing vanished from her voice, replaced by urgency, as if to make up for the delayed parent‑child meeting.

Chun Tao held the little treasure wrapped in soft brocade in her arms; the youngster had fallen asleep at some point.

The little face was flushed, a faint smile at the corners of the mouth, even the breathing became gentle and lingering, completely unlike the earlier crying.

She carefully handed the little treasure to Chen Yan's arms, fearing to disturb the child.

Wang Shi stood nearby, a grateful smile on her face, her tone full of emotion: "The little one was just crying nonstop…"

"The little one was just crying nonstop; we soothed for a long while before it calmed a bit, but when the Duke entered, he instantly quieted, and now he's sleeping especially soundly!"

"I've been a wet nurse for many years, have seen many children; only the scent of family can make a child sleep so peacefully. I think this child recognized the Duke's aura, knew father was back, and thus felt secure!"

"Well said!"

Chen Yan lowered his head, gazing at the sleeping little one in his arms, his fingertips lightly touching the child's soft earlobe; a smile almost spilling from his eyes, he said: "These days you've all worked hard serving Zhiqing; each of you receives ten taels of silver!"

Chun Tao, Wang Shi, and the other maids, upon hearing this, instantly broke into joyful smiles, quickly bowed and said, their voices full of gratitude: "Thank you, Duke!"

Pei Suiwan, seeing this, let a gentle smile spread at the corner of his lips, and instructed: "Take good care of Madam Xiao and the Young Master; in the future you won't be without rewards!"

Chun Tao and the others quickly responded, bending their waists even lower, replying in unison: "Yes."

Having said that, they bowed again to Pei Suiwan, then quietly slipped away to a corner of the outer room, heads lowered, standing still.

Yun Xi crowded beside Chen Yan, alternately staring at his brows and eyes, then peeking to see the little one's sleeping face, comparing back and forth several times; suddenly her eyes lit up, hands on hips, her tone full of tsundere pride:

"Suiwan sister, Zhiqing sister, I told you before that the little one looks especially like Brother A Yan, yet you didn't believe me!"

Chen Yan nodded in agreement: "It really does look alike!"

Immediately, he gently pinched the chubby little face with his fingertip, smiling: "What a cute little fellow…"

For some reason, Chen Yan felt an extraordinary affection for the one in his arms, unable to let go; perhaps this is the feeling of blood ties…

Xiao Zhiqing, watching Chen Yan playing with the little one, suddenly tapped her forehead as if recalling something urgent, her tone a bit urgent: "Husband, the little one doesn't have a name yet!"

"Give him a name quickly…"

Chen Yan was startled by the words, lowered his head to glance at the sleeping child in his arms, then lifted his gaze to Zhiqing, his tone a bit surprised: "No name yet? I thought you had already discussed it…"

Xiao Zhiqing gave him a gentle scoldful look, her fingertip lightly touching the little one's hand, "Shouldn't we wait for you, the father, to come back and name him?"

Chen Yan, holding the little one, gently stroked the child's back with his fingertips, his brows slightly furrowed as he thought seriously, murmuring softly: "What name would be good?"

His gaze fell on the child's tranquil sleeping face, then turned to Zhiqing's gentle brows, as if an idea suddenly struck: "How about calling him Zhiye?"

Pei Suiwan, standing nearby, her beautiful eyes tinged with curiosity, asked softly: "Husband, what does that signify?"

Chen Yan lowered his head again to look at the Chen Zhiye in his arms, lightly tapping the child's nose, smiling: "One who knows and acts remains at ease, following the heart's comfort!"

"What a good name!" Pei Suiwan's eyes lit up as she blurted.

He truly lives up to being a Great Zhou Poet Immortal; the name's meaning is indeed superb…

Xiao Zhiqing gently stroked Chen Zhiye's cheek, a maternal glow shining, softly laughing: "Zhiye, Zhiye, little Zhiye, you have a name now!"