Extra 5
Dim light spilled over. Zhao Yiyi followed the light to look at his face, asking in confusion, “Why would there be a taboo?”
For an Imperial Princess’s name, only the palace servants and the future household retainers and attendants of the Princess’s manor would need to observe the taboo. All in all, it wouldn’t be that many people. How could it be troublesome?
Zhao Yiyi was puzzled. Seeing Gu Zhen looking at her without speaking, his phoenix eyes cold and indifferent, she became anxious. grasping his sleeve, she asked again.
Gu Zhen had a smile on his face. His large palm rubbed her soft waist, and he pressed his forehead against hers. “In the future, when she grows up, it will eventually be needed. It’s not good to wait until then to discuss it. Pick another one, hmm?”
If Luoyang were not the capital, he would not have rejected the decision Yiyi made.
Precisely because Luoyang’s status was extraordinary, and court officials mentioned it in every few sentences, it wasn’t worth changing the name of the city for such a small matter.
Zhao Yiyi opened her mouth, intending to say more, but Gu Zhen blocked her soft lips. Dense, frantic kisses fell without warning, and she couldn’t make another sound.
The two hadn’t been this intimate for a long time.
Just being kissed by him in such an unruly manner a few times, Zhao Yiyi felt her heart race. Her body went weak, and her arms hooked around his neck lost their strength.
If not for Gu Zhen’s palm still across her waist, she probably would have fallen the next moment.
Before her eyes, faint light swirled. Warmed by the glowing charcoal fire, her body felt burning hot.
Even her pink fingertips were scorching.
Zhao Yiyi’s body trembled slightly. Her fingertips, hanging off his body, couldn’t help but curl up, clutching his sleeve in her hand.
As her strength gradually increased, the fabric became crumpled under the kneading of her palm.
Just as she leaned helplessly into Gu Zhen’s arms, the confinement was suddenly released, pulling her out of the kiss.
Zhao Yiyi’s apricot eyes were already watery. She turned her head, looking at him vaguely. The next instant, a large palm covered her eyes. “Don’t look at me like that.”
As her eyelashes fluttered lightly, a tingling sensation spread across his palm, making his body even more tense.
Gu Zhen closed his eyes, staring at those lips that had just been bullied, the rouge long since smudged. His gaze darkened, his voice hoarse. “Don’t move, be good.”
“Hmm? What’s wrong?” Zhao Yiyi didn’t know what had happened. She held his arm with both hands, trying to remove the large palm from her eyes.
But her little bit of strength was like that of a child before Gu Zhen.
He leaned down, his thin lips brushing against the tip of her ear, and whispered, “If you move around again, I can’t guarantee what I might do.”
Zhao Yiyi blushed instantly. The burning heat spread to the roots of her ears, red almost to the point of dripping blood.
She bit her lip and turned her face away. “What nonsense are you talking about?”
Actually, just then, she hadn’t expected Gu Zhen to stop suddenly either.
Gu Zhen’s eyes darkened. The hand covering her phoenix eyes moved away, his thumb pressing under her soft lips, gently wiping away the smeared rouge. His movements were slow and meticulous.
After a long while, he let go and patted the small of Zhao Yiyi’s back, saying gently, “Alright, your body hasn’t fully recovered yet. Did you think I wanted to do something?”
They were almost pressed together.
Charcoal was burning in the hall, and the attendants had retreated at some unknown time.
It was a little hot.
Zhao Yiyi looked away with a snort, annoyed. “Why are you telling me this? You’re the only one thinking about these things all day.”
“What am I thinking about?” Seeing her shy appearance, Gu Zhen couldn’t help but want to tease her every time.
Zhao Yiyi was rendered speechless.
How could she say those words out loud?
“You know it yourself, no need for me to say it,” she mumbled.
Gu Zhen gently stroked her cheek. His fingertips seemed wrapped in infinite affection as they brushed over her brow, the corner of her eye, and the tip of her nose, finally landing on the beauty mark at the corner of her eye. He chuckled low, “If Yiyi doesn’t say it, how would I know?”
Outside the window, the north wind blew, knocking against the lattice.
But inside the hall, red basket charcoal was burning, giving people an inexplicable sense of peace.
Zhao Yiyi’s cheeks were bright red, unsure if it was from the heat or shyness. She simply withdrew her hand, climbed off him, and glared at Gu Zhen. “If you don’t know, then forget it.”
Day after day, pretending to be confused when he understood perfectly well.
Gu Zhen suddenly laughed aloud. Before she could truly leave, he grabbed that soft, jade-like little hand. With a slight tug on her wrist, Zhao Yiyi stumbled backward, falling back into his lap.
This time, there wasn’t a gap left between them.
She thought it was some shameful matter, but Gu Zhen spoke to her about serious business. “At the banquet in a few days, you take her first. Later, I will send someone over to take her to the Purple Luster Hall.”
Zhao Yiyi responded with a lazy “Okay,” then wrapped her arms around his neck and urged, “What about the baby’s name? If you won’t use Luo, you have to come up with one.”
Gu Zhen squeezed her hand, playing with it, and chuckled lightly. “Allow me to think about it first.”
Once a name was given, barring accidents, it was a lifetime matter. There was no harm in being cautious.
Zhao Yiyi thought about it and agreed.
However, Gu Zhen’s expression wasn’t so good. His large palm gripped her waist, and he gritted his teeth. “It’s just naming, why haven’t I seen you care so much about me?”
Zhao Yiyi got a headache from his pestering. “Stop making trouble out of nothing.”
Gu Zhen’s breath hitched. The hand gripping her waist used a bit more force, and even his breathing stalled for a moment.
The wind howled; the cypress leaves in the courtyard trembled in the wind.
After a long time, he lowered his voice and asked, “What did Yiyi just say?”
“Nothing.” Zhao Yiyi looked away somewhat uncomfortably, lowering her eyes to stare at the carpet and the Xiezhi mythical beast pattern on his front lapel.
Gu Zhen gently stroked her smooth black hair, his voice lower. “I can feel hurt too.”
Her eyelashes, dense as feather fans, trembled lightly. Zhao Yiyi stared blankly at his lapel, unconsciously pinching the pear blossom jade pendant, her grip tightening and loosening.
She didn’t know how long it had been since she had seen him like this.
The last time seemed to be when he looked at her in exasperation, asking why he couldn’t go to Beimang.
No matter when, he always seemed cold and steady, standing in an invincible position. His tall figure stood there like a high mountain, able to block all wind and rain.
It was extremely rare to see him this dejected.
A man like him, competitive since childhood, how could he show weakness?
Zhao Yiyi was lost in thought when he hooked her finger. That dull voice followed into her ears, “Don’t say such things in the future, okay?”
It felt as if the tip of her heart had been fiercely pinched.
Before she could recover, she nodded in a daze and followed with a “Okay.”
Inside the palace chamber, the two chatted incessantly for a long time. Only then did Gu Zhen personally carry Zhao Yiyi to the inner hall, place her on the wide couch, remove her shoes and socks, and cover her with a brocade quilt.
“Sleep for a while first. In two hours, I will call you up,” Gu Zhen said softly, rubbing her hair.
Zhao Yiyi nodded and agreed.
Though he said that, Gu Zhen knew that let alone two hours, even if he called her then, he likely wouldn’t be able to wake her.
But sleeping too much wasn’t good; she would have trouble sleeping at night. He would just have to coax her more later.
After all, he was a few years older than Yiyi. Giving in to her was only reasonable.
Last year’s Winter Solstice palace banquet wasn’t held, but that day happened to coincide with the little Imperial Princess’s birth. Whether it was the “Third Day Wash” or the “Full Moon,” they were celebrated grandly with rewards bestowed upon the officials. It was extremely solemn.
According to the older people, the scale was no less than when His Majesty was born. But His Majesty was the designated Crown Prince, while this was just an Imperial Princess. Everyone felt a little strange in their hearts, but remembering that this was the Emperor’s first child, born of the Empress, it stood to reason that the treatment would differ from ordinary Imperial sons and daughters.
People always have a different affection for the first child, and the Imperial Family is no exception.
Therefore, this year’s New Year Palace Banquet appeared less special in comparison.
When Zhao Yiyi emerged from the inner hall, the titled ladies were already waiting in the main hall. Seeing the beauty seated above, dressed in the Yi robe and wearing the twelve-flower hairpin, a trace of emotion flashed through their hearts.
Everyone hadn’t seen the Empress for a long time. Seeing her again now, they realized that even after giving birth, the Empress’s appearance and bearing were undiminished—perhaps even surpassing the past.
Someone remembered that when they saw the little Imperial Princess at the Full Moon celebration, she didn’t have a name yet. They couldn’t help smiling and asking, “Has Your Highness given the Imperial Princess a childhood name?”
Zhao Yiyi nodded and said warmly, “Her childhood name is A-Luo. You may just call her that.”
The two had discussed it for a long time and finally settled on A-Luo as her childhood name. Since it was just a childhood nickname, there was no issue of taboos. They were also following the common folk’s custom, allowing others to call her by a nickname in the hope that the child would be healthier.
Princess Runan looked much more haggard, with sudden grey hair at her temples. Except for necessary matters, she had been staying behind closed doors in her own princess manor. At this moment, she smiled along. “This nickname is good. It must have been chosen by Your Highness. Our little A-Luo looks just like Your Highness born anew; in the future, she will be as beautiful as the Goddess of the Luo River.”
She added a few instructions on how to raise children. Just as Zhao Yiyi was listening intently, a palace servant announced that His Majesty wanted to take the Imperial Princess to the Purple Luster Hall.
everyone’s expressions changed. Zhao Yiyi had already discussed this with Gu Zhen, so she calmly ordered someone to carry A-Luo over.
Princess Runan couldn’t help asking, “His Majesty is…?”
“It wasn’t easy to have A-Luo. His Majesty wants to carry her over to show the court officials.” Zhao Yiyi turned her head to look at Princess Runan, who sat in the first seat on the right, her voice clear and melodious.
Princess Runan was speechless for a moment. What was the point of taking such a small girl to see the court officials? Was he so dazzled by joy because it was rare to have a child?
The Emperor had been a model for his peers since childhood. For the first time, Princess Runan felt that this nephew of hers acted rather absurdly at times.
In the Purple Luster Hall, Gu Zhen looked at the gathered officials below with a smile. “When the Imperial Princess was born, I troubled all the ministers to show concern. There wasn’t much chance to let the ministers see her before. Today, with this banquet, is the perfect time for everyone to take a look.”
That day when the Emperor took the little Imperial Princess to the side hall, several key ministers already knew about it. But they didn’t expect him to bring her to such an occasion today. Whether sincere or fake, after seeing the little Imperial Princess one by one, the officials all offered a round of praise.
“The Imperial Princess has delicate features, looking exactly like Your Majesty.” “Her forehead is full; she is a blessed one.” “Her bearing is steady, dignified, and calm, also possessing Your Majesty’s style.”
Someone even mentioned that, taking advantage of this auspicious New Year time, why not have His Majesty bestow a name upon the Imperial Princess?
Gu Zhen had exactly this intention. His expression remained as usual, showing neither joy nor anger, only containing that hint of a smile he had habitually worn since he was Crown Prince. “A-Luo is my first daughter, specially beloved by the Empress and me. After discussing with the Empress for a long time, only this morning did we settle on a name. She shall be called Yueheng.”
Yueheng. Like the moon waxing (Yue zhi heng), like the sun rising.
It came from the “Tianbao” section of the Book of Songs, a prayer for the new monarch’s reign to be prosperous and the fate of the nation to flourish.
Which of these old foxes hadn’t read this?
Looking at the Emperor seated above, the officials had varying expressions. They turned to look at the Imperial Princess named Yueheng. for a moment, they couldn’t quite gauge His Majesty’s intent.
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