Chapter 664: Princess or Prince? Naming!

Upon arriving at the courtyard, the midwives were all dazed.

So Your Majesty is such a gentle person.

Yes, the princess consort is truly tender-hearted; seeing that pained expression, I feel moved for her.

I never expected Your Majesty to have such a disposition; wouldn't the common folk then be blessed?

Your Majesty is honest and kind, skilled in war, and tall and handsome—can such fortune last?

Never mind the future; isn't it enough that right now they feel deep affection for the princess consort?

Exactly, from now on the princess consort won't be just a princess consort… Your Majesty, naturally won't belong to her alone—who knows how many women are eyeing Your Majesty's empty harem?

Que'er grew more annoyed listening, and let out a low growl: 'You all act as if your lives are too long, don't you?'

What place is this, letting you old geezers gossip here about Your Majesty and the princess consort!

Don't think that just because you've recently earned merit you can say whatever you want!

Someone, take them away!

The midwives only then fell to their knees in fright, continuously begging for mercy.

On such a joyous occasion, Que'er naturally wouldn't kill them.

But if we don't lock them up and give them a proper punishment, they'll surely cause trouble.

After they were taken away, Qin Ling said, 'They're just ignorant women from the frontier; Que'er, why get so worked up?'

Soon they'll see that Your Majesty is far from kind and honest—clearly a living King of Hell.

Que'er glared fiercely at Qin Ling: 'You still want to stay, don't you?'

Don't think freedom is just around the corner, only to ruin everything with a loose tongue—that wouldn't be worth it.

Qin Ling's mouth twitched.

He flicked his sleeve and hurriedly pulled Li Yunchu away, striding off.

Li Yunchu: 'It's not impossible...'

Qin Ling roared at her: 'Shut up!'

Li Yunchu shoved him away angrily: 'You're getting more and more outrageous! Don't forget, Luo'er is my niece!'

'If you yell at me again, I'll have her deal with you.'

Huh?

Got a backer?

These days your speech is getting bolder and bolder.

Where is the former docile, obedient, gentle and considerate demeanor?

Qin Ling was so angry his eyes felt like they'd twitch out of place.

No, he must quickly take his wife and leave this vortex of power and influence, lest she sink deeper; otherwise he'd never have a chance to turn his life around.

Li Qingluo slept straight through to the quarter of Mao the next day.

After waking fully, she opened her eyes to see Duan Rongshi sitting with his head propped on the floor beside the bed, never leaving her side.

Li Qingluo couldn't help rubbing her eyes.

Confirming it was real, she immediately took the nearby shawl and lightly draped it over him.

Yet that very motion woke him.

Seeing her already risen, Duan Rongshi immediately reached out and pulled her into his embrace.

Luo'er, you've finally awakened.

His voice was hoarse and low; clearly he was utterly exhausted.

Li Qingluo also held him tightly in return.

Seeing him, she also felt it was unbelievable.

Could he have come flying back all the way?

Such a long journey, she could almost imagine the hardships he endured.

Instantly, a feeling of pity for him welled up in her heart.

Ashi, how did you come back?

How long have you been guarding my bedside?

How did I fall asleep?

By the way, how did the battle go? Did we win? Did everyone return safely? Is the Wolf Three King dead or alive? Could we have captured him alive?

Upon waking, Li Qingluo naturally felt full of vigor.

As she spoke, her emotions rose uncontrollably; Duan Rongshi patted her head, helpless.

Which should I answer first?

It seems you're truly fine now.

The expression on his face finally relaxed as well.

Rest assured, we have won another great victory.

We not only captured the Wolf Three King alive, but also seized five thousand prisoners.

This time we have won a complete victory again.

This time you have earned top merit!

Luo'er, your achievements will be recorded in history; for all ages to come, it will be known that I have such a brave and resourceful empress as you.

Empress?

Li Qingluo lowered her gaze, not responding.

Instead, she urgently asked about another pressing matter: 'How is the child?'

"Ashi, I still haven't seen the child."

"By the way, did we have a daughter or a son?"

She was eager to see at once the little life that had been in her womb for nine months, never having been apart from her day and night.

Now that her belly was suddenly empty, Li Qingluo still felt the matter was like a dream, not real.

Her heart also felt empty.

Duan Rongshi's expression tightened: "This… I…"

Li Qingluo guessed what, and immediately widened her eyes in shock: "You haven't seen our child yet, have you?"

Duan Rongshi, looking uneasy, clenched his fist and cleared his throat lightly: "So what of it?"

"Qingluo, you are safe and sound; I will see him together with you."

Li Qingluo, irritated, said: "Ashi, although you are anxious about me and care about me, the child is our shared flesh and blood. You leave him alone, all by himself—does that make him not pitiful?"

"After birth, a sleepy mother and a father who ignores him."

"Neither of us has ever held him, and we don't even know his appearance or gender."

"Just thinking of it makes my heart ache."

"Quick, quickly bring the child in!"

Li Qingluo let out an urgent low shout, and the guard at the door immediately responded.

Duan Rongshi, however, slightly frowned.

Just born, and now we have to compete for him?

Soon, Zheng Mama and Que'er personally brought the wrapped baby inside.

"Princess, you finally woke up."

Zheng Mama, eyes filled with hot tears, first gazed deeply at Li Qingluo, then placed the child beside her.

Li Qingluo nodded to Zheng Mama, and finally lowered her head to carefully look at the infant in the swaddling.

The snow‑white little face was tinged with pink, and a head of jet‑black hair was slightly curled.

The tiny hands and feet were so soft it seemed they had no bones.

Li Qingluo couldn't help but reach out and touch; the skin was as soft as cotton, an astonishing sensation.

At that moment, the baby, who had been sleeping, suddenly woke up.

He neither cried nor fussed, opening his round eyes to look at his own mother.

Li Qingluo's tears almost fell.

Zheng Mama, frightened, quickly admonished: "Miss, you must not cry. For the sake of the child's future eyes, we cannot be overly sentimental during confinement."

Li Qingluo hummed, and couldn't help but lower her head to gently press her face against her first child's little face.

"I am your mother."

"We finally meet."

"By the way, Grandma, I still don't know whether he is a little girl or a little lord."

Zheng Mama and Que'er only just realized this.

Everyone outside knelt: "Congratulations, Your Majesty; congratulations, Princess."

"The one the Princess gave birth to is a little princess."

Li Qingluo, overjoyed, said: "A little girl?"

No wonder she's so beautiful!

"Ashi, look."

"She looks a lot like you."

"When she grows up, she'll certainly look even more like her mother."

Li Qingluo, moved, leaned down again to embrace her daughter, holding back tears.

"Ashi, give her a hug."

"Don't you like her?"

She lifted her head and looked at him with a doubtful expression.

Duan Rongshi: "I… I just don't know how to hold her…"

Li Qingluo first carefully lifted her daughter, then handed her into Duan Rongshi's arms.

Fortunately, he had already bathed and changed clothes, so he was clean.

But when the child was suddenly placed in his arms, he instantly stiffened like a piece of wood.

Where had Li Qingluo ever seen Duan Rongshi like this?

With a "pfft" sound, she laughed.

"Don't be nervous."

"Look at her quickly; she's looking at you."

"You are her father."

"She will surely like you a lot, and love you deeply."

Duan Rongshi, somewhat startled by the favor, looked up at Li Qingluo.

"Really?"

Li Qingluo: "Of course!"

"Ashi, we will be responsible good parents, teach her well, and accompany her as she grows up."

"Loving her will be like loving each other."

"From now on, the two of us will no longer be just two, but three of us."

Li Qingluo gently rested her head on Duan Rongshi's shoulder.

They reached out to touch the daughter's hand, but she unconsciously gripped a pinky finger tightly, and they were instantly delighted.

So this is the true bond between parents and children in the world.

After Li Qingluo and Duan Rongshi couldn't help but gaze at each other, Duan Rongshi, disregarding that Que'er and the others were still in the room, lowered his head and gently kissed Li Qingluo's lips.

Que'er and Zheng Mama bowed their heads and giggled, and the two quickly knelt and moved aside.

Looking up, Duan Rongshi's eyes gazed into the depths of Li Qingluo's pupils: "Thank you, Luo'er."

"It was you who gave me a new home."

"Regarding all this, I still find it somewhat unreal. But since you love her so much, I will learn how to be a good dad."

"If there are any shortcomings, please give me plenty of guidance."

Li Qingluo was a bit stunned: "How should I guide you? I'm also a first-time mother."

Duan Rongshi smiled faintly: "Then we... shall learn together?"

The two teased the child for a moment, and Li Qingluo recalled the most important matter.

"Ah Shi, what name should we give our eldest daughter?"

Duan Rongshi thought for a moment, then asked slowly, "Luo'er, what do you think of Duan Qingwu?"

Li Qingluo quickly understood: "'Qing' signifies vitality and sharpness, while 'wu' (phoenix tree) attracts phoenixes. You wish her to be resilient and dignified, like a Qingwu standing toward the sun."

"Ah Shi, you have placed such high hopes on her; she won't disappoint you, dad."

Duan Rongshi was pleased that she could so intuitively understand his meaning.

"Then leave the nickname to Luo'er."

Li Qingluo tapped her chin with her finger, thought it over carefully, and then cheerfully said, "Actually I have thought of many better nicknames, but now I've decided to call her Fangfang."

"I hope she grows freely, unbound."

Her words carried a faint sense of loss and depth; how could Duan Rongshi not understand?

He turned, handed the Fangfang in his arms to Zheng Mama first, let them go downstairs, and then tightly embraced Li Qingluo again.

"Luo'er, are you scared?"

The meaning of Fangfang expresses her yearning for freedom and the world beyond.

She was afraid that becoming an empress would strip her of freedom, which is why she didn't answer her earlier 'empress' remark?

However, regardless, he would never let her go away from him.