Chapter 621: Ji Min and Shuying

"Ji Min!"

"Yuwen Ji Min!"

Du Yaoguang stood aside, his eyes shining astonishingly, a deep furrow of laughter etched on his wrinkled face, raising his voice to call his grandson's name, the ending wrapped in uncontainable excitement.

When his words settled, he turned his head and exchanged a glance with Li Shimao beside him.

The couple's smiles met fully in their eyes, their mouths unable to stop lifting, and they repeatedly praised the infant in Yuwen Ze's arms: "Excellent, wonderful!"

"This name sounds bright!"

Standing to the side, Chen Yan also smiled and nodded, rubbing his chin, and loudly echoed: "What a good name!"

Having said that, he stepped forward two paces, his gaze landing on the delicately carved child in Yuwen Ze's arms, his tone becoming ever more resonant: "These two brothers—one Ji'an, one Ji Min—will surely join hands in the future and help uphold Great Zhou's state!"

"Defend my borders, secure my people!"

Beside Chen Yan, Pei Suiwan listened attentively, nodding repeatedly, a gentle smile spreading across his brows and eyes.

She looked at the swaddled infant and said softly, "Indeed, little Ji Min will surely become a pillar of the nation in the future!"

Yuwen Hu stood at the center of the crowd, laughing brightly at the words, his tone full of agreement: "Exactly!"

His gaze swept over everyone in the courtyard, finally resting on Chen Yan and Yuwen Ze, his eyes heavy with expectation; he raised his hand to pat Chen Yan's shoulder, then looked at his own son, admonishing word by word, "You two brothers must join hands, and their brothers must also join hands!"

"Only with brothers united will Great Zhou enjoy lasting peace! The people can then live and work in safety and happiness!"

Yuwen Ze, holding the child in his arms, bowed solemnly at the words, his spine straight: "Son, I will heed father's teachings!"

Chen Yan also stepped forward, clasping his fists in salute to Yuwen Hu, his expression solemn: "I, your servant, will heed the Grand Preceptor's teachings!"

As soon as his words ended, Yuwen Ze seemed to recall something, taking another half‑step forward with the child, bowing deeply again to Yuwen Hu, his voice gentle yet solemn: "Ji Min thanks Grandfather for the bestowed name!"

Yuwen Hu, seeing this, smiled even wider, taking from his bosom an exquisite longevity golden lock, its whole body gilded, engraved with the words "Year after year, peace and safety."

Its corners were inlaid with a few tiny rubies, clearly prepared with great care.

He stepped forward slowly, carefully placing the golden lock around Yuwen Ji Min's neck, his fingertips lightly brushing the infant's delicate cheek, and said softly, "Ji Min, wearing this longevity golden lock, must live a hundred years, safe and sound!"

"In the future, become a man who stands tall and upright!"

Chen Yan looked at the golden lock, gently pinching Pei Suiwan's hand…

In fact, the Meeting Gift for little Ji Min had been prepared long ago, but because today's events unfolded suddenly and hurriedly, they hadn't brought it.

Nevertheless, with this younger sibling and nephew and mother safe, there was no need to rush.

"It will definitely be so!" Yuwen Ze nodded vigorously, his brows and eyes full of paternal joy; he looked down at the child in his arms, then raised his gaze to Yuwen Hu, laughing as he added, "Ji Min, Ji'an will both be!"

"These two brothers will surely support each other in the future, not disappointing your expectations!"

At that moment, Li Shimao, who had been standing nearby, let out a light exclamation, pointing at the infant in Yuwen Ze's arms, his tone full of surprise: "Look!"

"Little Ji Min smiled!"

Everyone, hearing this, hurried forward.

Pei Suiwan was the first to look over, eyes full of amazement, unable to suppress a light laugh, his tone indulgently affectionate: "It really is!"

"This little look is truly endearing!"

He paused, then looked again at the shallow curve at the infant's mouth corner, saying softly, "He must really like this name!"

Standing beside Pei Suiwan, Yun Xi also raised her brows, watching the infant in the swaddle smile with curved eyes, her voice sweet and full of joy, praising: "Little Ji Min smiles so well!"

"When grown, he'll surely be a warm‑hearted good child!"

Yuwen Hu, listening to the courtyard's laughter, felt the fatigue that had lingered through the night smooth out, soothed perfectly by the child's smiling cheeks.

He stepped forward two paces, speaking warmly to Yuwen Ze: "A Ze, let father hold this child."

Yuwen Ze quickly nodded, carefully handing over Yuwen Ji Min from his arms.

Yuwen Hu spread his arms, his movement gentle as if cradling fragile crystal, embracing the infant in his arms, lowering his head to examine the delicately carved little face.

Sunlight fell on the child's full forehead and petite chin, casting a soft halo.

As Yuwen Hu watched, he suddenly lifted his gaze to Yuwen Ze, his eyes full of emotion, his voice a slightly hoarse nostalgia: "A Ze, this child truly resembles you when you were young!"

He paused, his fingertips lightly brushing Ji Min's brows, more firmly sighing, "You two are almost carved from the same mold!"

Standing aside, Chen Yan, hearing this, smiled and nodded, echoing: "Indeed, they look alike!"

Having said that, he looked again at Yuwen Ze, his mouth slightly upturned, jokingly laughing: "It's as if father and son share the same face!"

Yuwen Ze listened, his smile deepening, raised his hand and lightly tapped the tiny tip of Yuwen Ji Min's nose, his eyes full of tenderness: "But this nose and mouth corner resemble Shuying a bit more…"

Before his words finished, his peripheral glance involuntarily drifted toward the direction of the delivery room.

A hint of concern and tenderness flashed in his eyes, as if the labor pains of Shuying's delivery still echoed in his ears.

At this moment, he thought, all myriad feelings had turned into deep cherishment.

Li Shimao, standing beside her husband, nodded repeatedly at the words, laughing in agreement: "A Ze, you speak so rightly!"

She leaned closer, her gaze lovingly fixed on her grandson in her arms, carefully examining the contours of his brows and eyes, affirming: "Ji Min's nose and mouth corner are almost identical to Shuying's as a child, both so delicate and pleasing to the eye!"

Yuwen Ze, hearing everyone's words, recalled his wife Shuying's usual scene of grinding ink, writing, and composing poetry, and let out a light sigh, his tone carrying a hint of hope: "If this child can inherit Shuying's talent, that would be wonderful…"

"Later in his studies, we would have fewer worries!"

Though spoken offhand, his eyes concealed a genuine hope.

He certainly didn't want his legitimate eldest son to inherit his own mediocre talent…

It would be best if he could inherit his mother's literary gift; later, being able to both charge into battle and speak eloquently would be a wonderful thing!

Yuwen Hu, holding his cherished grandson in his arms, pondered the words for a moment, looking down at Ji Min's sleeping face, then raising his gaze to Yuwen Ze, his tone a little profound: "Ji Min and Ji'an are only a few months apart in age, close enough that they can be initiated together…"

"Then, I, the King, will personally invite the great Confucian scholar of the Hedong Liu Clan to teach them the classics and histories!"

When these words were spoken, the courtyard fell silent for a moment.

Yuwen Ze, walking beside Chen Yan, having trained for so long, instantly grasped his father's deeper meaning.

The Hedong Liu Clan is a prestigious family of Guanzhong, its alumni and former officials spread throughout the court and bureaucracy…

Father's arrangement is not merely for the two children's education; clearly, it uses the pretext of initiation to secure the Hedong Liu Clan's influence for the next generation, adding bricks to his own family's foundation!

He immediately bowed his head respectfully and replied, "Father's consideration is most appropriate!"

"Such an arrangement could not be better!"

Yuwen Hu listened to his son's words, nodded with satisfaction, lowered his gaze at the infant in his arms, and muttered, "As for arranging troops and formations…"

Before the words finished, he suddenly looked up, his eyes landing on Chen Yan beside him, a flash of brilliance in them, and he laughed aloud, "Let A Yan personally teach the two children!"

A Yan's reputation as a war immortal is truly earned!

Only those who have fought on the battlefield themselves know the value of an unblemished record…

Having him teach the children is undoubtedly the best choice!

Du Yaoguang, listening nearby, could not help but clap in admiration, his face full of delight: "Excellent! Excellent!"

He stroked his beard, growing more satisfied, and said loudly, "With Chen Zhuguo personally teaching military strategy, the two children will surely become both scholarly and martial, excelling in both!"

Everyone in the room nodded in agreement.

Only Yuwen Hu, holding his eldest legitimate grandson, had eyes that grew ever deeper.

He looked down at the radiant golden lock of longevity around Ji Min's neck, then raised his eyes, his clear voice resonating through the courtyard with undeniable authority: "Ji Min is destined for great achievements; he cannot be without an official post."

"Today we shall decide: first grant him the title General Jianzhong, Right Marquis Guard Middle Colonel!"

At those words, the room fell silent.

Du Yaoguang was first stunned, his smile frozen for a moment, almost subconsciously murmuring in his mind, "General Jianzhong? Right Marquis Guard Middle Colonel?"

Those two official ranks are no small honor!

Even the sons of ordinary nobles, after reaching their twenties, may never obtain such distinction.

The Grand Preceptor, at the very moment of the child's birth, bestowed such a high rank; the deeper meaning is plainly evident, isn't it?

He looked at Yuwen Hu's sleeping grandson in his arms, a sudden surge of tumult rose in his heart, and he sighed heavily, "The Grand Preceptor truly places great expectations on my grandson!"

At that thought, a resolute glint flashed in Du Yaoguang's eyes.

Then, quietly clenching his fist, he resolved, "I, of the Jing Zhao Du Clan, will spare no expense to support Ji Min in inheriting the Prince of Jin's throne!"

He knows well that if his grandson can securely sit on the Prince of Jin's seat, and perhaps go even further…

Then the Jing Zhao Du Clan can ride this favorable wind, preserving at least fifty more years of prosperity, and the family's glory will endure endlessly.

Sunlight streamed into the courtyard, reflecting the varied expressions of those present.

Yuwen Ji Min seemed to sense the surrounding stir, gently smacking his lips in Yuwen Hu's arms, a faint smile spreading at the corner of his mouth.

Standing beside him, Chen Yan listened intently to Yuwen Hu's resonant arrangement, first slightly startled, then his brows lifted lightly, a knowing smile flashing in his eyes.

He pursed his lips and murmured inwardly, "It's almost the same setup as that little Ji'an fellow…"

"Grand Preceptor father truly treats everyone equally!"

When Ji'an was born, the Grand Preceptor father also made a swift, decisive move, the position almost surpassing his own as father…

Yuwen Ze, watching the toddler securely held by his grandfather, recalled the two weighty titles, and solemnly faced Yuwen Hu, bowing with clasped fists, his voice earnest and respectful: "Child, on behalf of Ji Min, thanks you, Father!"

Yuwen Hu, upon hearing this, gave a faint nod, his gaze passing Yuwen Ze and settling on the smiling Chen Yan standing nearby.

Holding Ji Min, he shifted his steps slightly, stood before Chen Yan, his tone carrying a hint of profundity, a faint smile at his lips: "A Yan, I intend, at Ji Min's hundred‑day banquet, to enshrine him as the heir and simultaneously arrange a marriage with Shuying. What do you and your spouse think?"

At those words, the courtyard's atmosphere grew even warmer.

Chen Yan exchanged a glance with Pei Suiwan beside him.

Both husband and wife had smiles in their eyes, without hesitation; Chen Yan first clasped his hands and loudly replied, "I think it is excellent!"

Pei Suiwan also smiled and nodded, softly agreeing, "Our two families are already close; this arrangement makes the bond even tighter!"

Yuwen Hu, hearing this, smiled even more, lowered his head and raised his hand, gently tapping the smooth forehead of his eldest legitimate grandson in the swaddling silk, the fingertip warmth passing through with reverence.

He gazed at Yuwen Ji Min's tranquil sleeping face, a wave of indescribable warmth rising in his heart, pure satisfaction at a long‑held wish fulfilled, and could not help murmuring, "A Tang, did you see that?"

"The child of Ji Min and Shuying will carry both of our blood…"

"Our bond will now extend for a lifetime!"