Chapter 620: Bestowed Name

That shout, like thunder tearing the silence, instantly ignited the hope in everyone's hearts.

Li Shimiao froze, the prayer beads he was twirling abruptly halted, hanging in midair; he could hardly believe his ears, his lips trembling as he whispered hoarsely, "Born?!"

"My daughter gave birth?!"

The voice trembled with post‑disaster relief and ecstatic joy, and his eyes instantly reddened.

Du Yaoguang and Yuwen Hu almost simultaneously stepped forward, their eyes brimming with uncontainable anticipation, and they asked in unison, "Is it a boy or a girl?!"

The midwife, cradling the swaddled infant with a joyful face, carefully lifted the baby, hurried to the crowd, knelt in salute, and announced loudly enough for the whole courtyard to hear, "Congratulations, Grand Preceptor! Congratulations, Prince!"

"It's a little prince!"

"His eyebrows and eyes are well‑shaped, his cry is loud; he will surely be blessed in the future!"

"Hahaha!" Yuwen Hu laughed, his tense morning expression instantly relaxed, he threw his head back and burst into a hearty laugh, his laughter full of uncontainable joy and exhilaration.

He pounded his thigh repeatedly, shouting, "Good! Very good!"

"Shuying's child truly has done a great service for our Jin Wang Fu!"

He has spent half his life in war, holding the highest ministerial rank, yet now he looks like an ordinary grandfather, his eyes full of doting affection, his gaze at the swaddling so gentle it could drip water.

This not only continues the bloodline, it is my eldest legitimate grandson, A Ze's eldest son, and also the future of Jin Wang Fu!

One must know that even with the highest rank, without heirs one is unstable, prone to division and loss of virtue!

(See the childless Ming Emperor Zhu Qiyu for details.)

Du Yaoguang let out a long sigh, releasing the white‑knuckled fist, a smile lifting his eyebrows, his lingering anxiety finally settled.

He looked at the tiny face faintly showing in the swaddle and couldn't help praising inwardly, "Shuying's belly is truly commendable!"

She has, in one act, given the Grand Preceptor a legitimate eldest grandson!

This child is Jin Wang Fu's first legitimate grandson and will surely inherit the Jin Prince title!

Chen Yan gazed at the infant whose eyebrows and eyes were relaxed in the swaddle, its delicate, jade‑like features endearing, and he turned to exchange a glance with his wife Pei Suiwan.

Both had uncontainable smiles in their eyes.

Chen Yan's mouth twitched upward, and he silently mused, "Time flies; in a blink, A Ze's kid is already a father!"

Pei Suiwan also smiled and nodded, her gaze falling on the swaddle.

Her gentleness seemed about to drip water; she lightly grasped Chen Yan's sleeve, her brows and eyes full of satisfaction.

Amid the courtyard's jubilant atmosphere, Yuwen Ze showed no trace of the first‑time‑father's excitement.

He never even looked at the child in the midwife's arms, his eyes fixed on the delivery room; when the midwife finished speaking, he anxiously stepped forward and asked, "What about the lady? Is she alright?"

The urgency and worry in his tone dulled the surrounding joy a bit.

Just as the crowd was about to soothe, the wooden door of the delivery room creaked open, and a slender figure stepped out slowly.

The newcomer was Yun Xi, her plain‑colored dress stained with a few faint blood spots.

Her normally bright, spirited eyes now held a hint of fatigue, her complexion slightly pale, likely from worrying over Du Shuying's safety.

Seeing Yuwen Ze's anxious look, she hurried forward, her voice gentle yet firm: "Prince, rest assured, Sister Shuying is fine; she merely exhausted herself delivering the child and has fallen into a deep sleep. Once she awakens and takes some warm restorative soup, she'll gradually recover."

Those words were like a calming pill, instantly settling in Yuwen Ze's heart.

He finally let go of his lingering worry, his face breaking into a sudden smile; he stepped forward a few strides, bowed respectfully to Yun Xi and clasped his fists, saying gratefully, "Thank you, little sister‑in‑law!"

"If it weren't for you being here to guard, the outcome would be unimaginable; your great kindness, Prince, Yuwen Ze is deeply grateful!"

Yun Xi had never seen such a display; startled by the sudden grand tribute, she quickly stepped back half a pace, her fair cheeks flushing, her hands fluttering, so nervous she stammered, "No… you don't have to…!"

"It's… it's what I should do!"

She steadied herself, glanced back toward the delivery room, warmth in her brows and eyes, and softly added, "Sister Shuying has always treated me very well!"

"In the past, when she came to the residence to chat with Sister Suiwan, she never failed to bring me delicate pastries and sweet‑sour candied fruits, treating me like a real sister."

Chen Yan, seeing Yun Xi's awkwardness, couldn't help stepping forward, raising his hand to rub the top of her head, his gesture full of gentle indulgence, and whispered, "Xi'er, you've worked hard!"

Yun Xi looked up at him, instantly shedding her tension, her brows and eyes curving into a sweet, demure smile, "No, it's no trouble, no trouble!"

"As long as Sister Shuying and her child are safe, everything is worth it!"

The midwife, holding the swaddled baby, hurried forward, smiling to smooth the moment, and presented the infant to Yuwen Hu and Yuwen Ze, saying, "Grand Preceptor, Prince, take a look at our little prince!"

"Look at those brows and eyes, how handsome!"

The comment reminded Yuwen Ze, and he finally fixed his gaze on the swaddle.

The tiny infant was wrapped in bright‑yellow brocade, its face round, breathing even, a slight pursing at the mouth, looking very endearing.

Yuwen Ze's eyes softened instantly, a flood of emotions stirring within, and he whispered, "So… I'm a father too."

Yuwen Hu, seeing the scene, felt great relief, laughed loudly, his booming voice echoing through the courtyard, "Everyone, you've all worked hard today! My heart is joyous, and I must reward you properly!"

Speaking, his gaze swept over the serving maids, midwives, and young attendants standing in the courtyard, his tone becoming even more cheerful, "Those who tended the Crown Princess and the little prince in the delivery room receive 5,000 coins and ten pieces of brocade!"

"Those servants and maids who stood guard outside the delivery room receive 3,000 coins and five pieces of brocade!"

"As for the other household staff, everyone gets 100 coins today, sharing the joy!"

Such generous rewards far exceeded everyone's expectations.

The maids and midwives were first stunned, then their faces lit with ecstatic joy, all kneeling together, their voices loud and synchronized, full of gratitude: "Thank you, Grand Preceptor!"

The morning light poured down, gilding every smiling face in the courtyard.

Yuwen Hu's gaze slowly settled on Yun Xi; though she was still young, her superb medical skill had saved both his daughter‑in‑law and his eldest grandson's lives.

Her earlier nervous yet sincere demeanor only deepened his admiration.

Yuwen Hu withdrew his smile, his expression solemn, and proclaimed loudly, "If Yun Xi had not intervened today, Shuying and this child would have faced a grim fate!"

"Appoint Yun Xi as County Lord! Reward ten thousand taels of silver and a thousand pieces of brocade!"

The decree caused a hush across the courtyard, then low murmurs of awe rose.

The County Lord title is a glory many noblewomen covet but cannot obtain, let alone the weighty reward of ten thousand silver and a thousand brocades.

Yun Xi, upon hearing this, first froze, then her eyes suddenly lit up, the weary gaze instantly filled with brilliance.

She subconsciously murmured repeatedly, "Ten thousand taels of silver? A thousand bolts of brocade?"

Her tone was filled with incredulous delight, and she couldn't help sighing with a beaming smile, "So many!"

Before the words finished, as if she suddenly remembered something, she quickly tugged at Chen Yan's sleeve, lifted her small face, and in puzzled eyes asked softly, "Brother A Yan, what is a county lord?"

Chen Yan was amused by the little maid's naive look, almost laughing, but constrained by the setting, he lowered his voice and whispered into her ear, "This is a Court title, a great honor; we'll return to the mansion and explain it to you in detail…"

Speaking, he gave Yun Xi a subtle glance, his tone carrying a hint of reminder, "Aren't you going to give thanks first?"

Yun Xi only then reacted, her cheeks flushing slightly, quickly straightening her collar, stepping forward, and respectfully bowed to Yuwen Hu.

Her movements were still a bit stiff, her voice tinged with nervousness, yet each word was clear: "I… I, your servant wife, thank the Grand Preceptor for the reward!"

Yuwen Hu, seeing the little maid's obedient demeanor, couldn't help laughing aloud, his gaze then turning to Pei Suiwan beside him.

Pei Suiwan, calm in crisis and orderly in coordination, managed the affairs inside and outside the delivery room meticulously; this composure and competence is equally rare.

He immediately added, "Grand Duke's Lady Pei Suiwan, who today commands the station, has labored greatly, receives a reward of five thousand taels of silver and one hundred bolts of brocade!"

Born of the He Dong Pei Clan, Pei Suiwan had witnessed countless grand scenes; upon hearing it she merely gave a slight nod, walked forward with composure, knelt in salute, and said in a gentle yet dignified voice, "I, your servant wife, thank the Grand Preceptor!"

Just as the rewards here concluded, a burst of hearty laughter rang out from the other side of the courtyard.

Yuwen Ze, at some point, strode to Chen Yan's side, reached out and hooked his hand around his brother A Xiong's shoulder, the upward curve of his mouth unstoppable, his tone full of pride, "A Xiong, it seems my younger brother's son will become your and sister‑in‑law's son‑in‑law in the future!"

As soon as the words fell, he threw his head back and laughed loudly: "Hahaha!"

"My son is so handsome; paired with your little Shuying, that would be a match made in heaven!"

Chen Yan, hearing this, couldn't help rolling a huge white eye, reached out and gently nudged Yuwen Ze's chest with his elbow, and said irritably, "You kid have just become a father and you're already eyeing my daughter?"

"Is that so?" Yuwen Ze lifted his head and chest, his face full of pride, squinting mischievously as he leaned toward Chen Yan, lowering his voice yet unable to hide his delight, "After some time, I will ask my father, petition Your Majesty for a royal marriage decree, and send it to the Weiguo Gongfu!"

Chen Yan curled his lip, reached out to brush his hand away, and whispered, "Hold back that lecherous look you have on my little Shuying!"

As he spoke, he gave Yuwen Ze a subtle glance, and in a voice only the two could hear hinted, "For now, let's handle the proper business first."

Yuwen Ze instantly understood; the mischievous grin on his face faded a bit, replaced by solemnity.

He carefully cradled the infant in swaddling cloth, walked slowly to Yuwen Hu, bowed slightly, and said respectfully, with a father's joy, "Father, please grant a name to your legitimate eldest grandson!"

Everyone in the courtyard fell silent upon hearing this, their gazes collectively fixed on Yuwen Hu.

Yuwen Hu stood with his hands behind his back, his left thumb slowly turning the Jade Ring, his eyes resting on the sweet‑sleeping infant's face in the swaddle, thoughtful.

After a moment, he spoke slowly, his voice steady and powerful: "Your brother A Xiong's legitimate eldest son, the name derives from the meaning 'save the world, bring peace to the people'...."

He paused, his gaze growing softer, and said word by word, "Then your legitimate eldest son shall be called Ji Min!"

"Yuwen Ji Min!"

"May he in the future have compassion for all living beings, save the world and bring peace to the people, and protect the vast rivers and mountains of Great Zhou!"