Song Chuyi nodded in agreement: “Let’s do it that way, but don’t actually use what they harvest to feed the chickens and ducks.”
Who knew what malicious thoughts the Li family people harbored in their hearts? Moreover, who knew if they still had contact with the Li family? They definitely wouldn’t release them—might as well consider it paying to keep a few snakes around to catch mice.
Nanny Xu nodded in agreement, then looked at Song Jie and Ye Jingchuan behind her with some difficulty—after all, Lianyi was still in her lying-in period. How could men properly go in together?
But seeing that this Second Young Master Ye had no intention of leaving at all, she couldn’t help but feel that Second Young Master Ye didn’t understand propriety.
Song Chuyi was too lazy to accommodate him. With a half-smile, she stood on the steps about to head inside. Seeing that Ye Jingchuan had actually followed her a few more steps, she turned back to ask him: “Lianyi has just given birth to a child… It doesn’t seem quite convenient to have Second Young Master Ye come in…”
Nanny Xu quickly added: “Speaking of which, Second Young Master coming at this time should also partake of the auspicious joy. We’ve already boiled red eggs. If Second Young Master doesn’t mind, you might take a few—it would be an auspicious sign.”
Song Jie also hurried over to pull him: “Come on, come on, I’ll take you outside to drink. When you came in just now, didn’t you think it was fun watching them carve wood shavings in the hall?”
Ye Jingchuan was somewhat unwilling. After being pulled along by Song Jie for a few steps, he ran back again with quick steps and shamelessly sat on the horizontal railing of the corridor: “I won’t go in, but you can at least bring the little baby out for me to see, right? After all, I did save her mother back then. What’s wrong with letting me take a look?”
Qing Tao and Luyi looked at each other, almost unable to keep from laughing aloud.
Song Chuyi also lost her temper dealing with his antics. She looked at Song Jie, who could only stand with him in the corridor and sigh: “If that’s the case, just bring her out for him to see.”
Lianyi inside had already heard the commotion. Seeing Song Chuyi’s party enter, she smiled with her eyes narrowed and hurriedly tried to get up.
Song Chuyi quickly had the attending maids stop her. She walked over to Lianyi’s side in a few steps and sat down, grasping her hand. Seeing that her complexion looked much better and there was color in her lips, Song Chuyi’s heart eased somewhat. She smiled and asked her: “Is there anything you want to eat or drink? Just tell me.”
Lianyi smiled and waved her hand, reaching out to point at the cradle beside her, her eyes and brows full of smiling joy.
Nanny Xu had already carefully picked up the child and came over, bending down to show her to Song Chuyi: “Look at this little appearance. When she grows up, she’ll definitely look like Lianyi—she’ll be a little beauty.”
Song Chuyi carefully extended her arms to hold her, so nervous that her whole body was tense as a bowstring. The infant in her arms was full of milky fragrance. Meeting Song Chuyi’s eyes, she broke into a grin and giggled.
Nanny Xu smiled so wide her eyes disappeared: “This child is blessed. She smiles at everyone she sees and doesn’t cry no matter who holds her.”
Nanny Xu was also infected by the atmosphere. She reached out to tuck the string of the little cap behind the baby’s ear and echoed affectionately: “Indeed. Such a blessed little girl will never need to know tears in her life.”
Lianyi smiled, then felt like crying. She grasped Song Chuyi’s hand and pointed at her daughter, gesturing with her hands.
“She wants Miss to give her a childhood name.” Nanny Xu, watching Song Chuyi’s helpless appearance, felt somewhat bitter in her heart, but more than that, she felt happy: “Of course her formal name must be given by a scholar who will match it with her eight characters. But we can decide her childhood name ourselves. You’re full of ideas. If it weren’t for you, this child…”
Song Chuyi’s hand tightened. Looking at the child’s milk-white little face, she suddenly smiled: “Let’s call her An’an.”
Everyone was somewhat stunned. Lianyi also looked at the child with some confusion.
Song Chuyi pressed her face against An’an’s little face. A teardrop suddenly fell onto it without warning: “We don’t ask for anything else, only hope that she can grow up peacefully and safely, and live this life healthily. Let’s call her An’an.”
They say that names contain parents’ wishes for their children. She believed Lianyi felt the same—as long as the child grew up safely, that was enough. Whether she had wealth and honor or not didn’t matter.
For an instant, Ye Jingchuan, perched at the window, seemed to see Song Chuyi crying. He stood dazed at the window, watching Song Chuyi hold that child with an almost reverent manner, watching Song Chuyi’s earnest and sincere face. Suddenly he felt this girl was even more interesting than he had imagined. Strong yet soft, powerful yet fragile, unlike any girl he had ever met before.
Lianyi nodded with all her strength, gripping Song Chuyi’s hand tightly.
Nanny Xu took a thick blanket and wrapped An’an completely airtight before carrying her out for Ye Jingchuan to see.
Ye Jingchuan lowered his head and poked at her with his finger. An’an stuck out her tongue to lick his finger, then immediately drew it back. He found it extraordinarily novel and was eager to try holding her for a while, but was stopped by Nanny Xu.
Smiling helplessly, he untied a jade pendant from his waist and placed it in An’an’s swaddling, and for once completely restrained his frivolous and naive air. In a soft and gentle voice, he touched her face again and spoke an auspicious phrase: “Little one, may you live a hundred years and enjoy lasting happiness without worry.”
Nanny Xu was momentarily stunned. Returning to the room, she held up the jade pendant with some hesitation: “This gift is too valuable…”
“Since he gave it, just accept it.” Song Chuyi used the jade pendant to amuse An’an until she laughed, then handed it to An’an’s wet nurse: “Put it away.”
But after all, Ye Jingchuan had already come and showed no intention of leaving anytime soon. Nanny Xu thought for a moment and had someone go out to ask Song Jie whether they should prepare a banquet for the evening.
Song Jie quickly sent back word, saying that Ye Jingchuan would stay overnight at the estate and leave the next day.
“Tomorrow we must return as well. Young Master Yan has been traveling for over a month. Word from Shu should arrive any day now.” Nanny Xu was somewhat suspicious: “This Second Young Master Ye seems almost able to divine the future—what a coincidence.”
Song Jue had personally accompanied Song Yan, and with Qin Chuan leading so many guards, yet Song Chuyi still couldn’t help worrying. Hearing this, she nodded absently.
Thinking of Ye Jingchuan, she couldn’t help but frown slightly—counting the days, his departure for Fujian was only two or three months away. How did he still have time to idle about outside? Fujian wasn’t like Zijing Pass, where Yuan Hong watched over and managed him. Once in Fujian he would just be an ordinary soldier. Even the Prince of Zhennan couldn’t extend his influence to the south. At this time he should be frantically cultivating connections and practicing his skills…
Speaking of cultivating connections… In a few days, the Princess’s manor would host a welcome banquet for Cui Shaoting. Could it be that this fellow was actually waiting here for her?
She carefully handed An’an to the wet nurse. Seeing Nanny Xu and the others busy closing windows and having maids change the braziers, she smiled and told Lianyi to rest well, then headed outside with Luyi, Ziyun, and Qing Tao.
Tomorrow I start repaying my debt. The owed updates begin now, and there’s also the promise of three chapters in the last ten days of the month to fulfill. The road ahead is long and arduous. Also, please subscribe, please subscribe, please subscribe! Important things must be said three times.