Two days later.
When a child is born, the first thing that most people naturally think of is naming the child.
"With such a round face, let's call her Yuanzi (Round Round)."
His Highness Prince Zhao's words shocked the entire household.
The princess was so fed up with this utterly perfunctory name that she grabbed a soft pillow and threw it at his face.
After dismissing everyone, Yun Lie hugged the soft pillow and approached the bedside, saying, "Don't be angry, listen to me."
Luo Cuiwei, who was leaning against the headboard, snorted and reached out to take the small white porcelain cup from the bedside table.
Yun Lie quickly threw the soft pillow to the corner of the bed and brought the bowl of chestnut soup to her.
The snow-white crucian carp soup is mixed with a little bone marrow juice, then chestnuts and rice are added and simmered over low heat to make a thick soup. On top, pumpkin, goji berries, tender green beans and other colorful diced vegetables are arranged in a beautiful rainbow shape. It has good color, aroma and taste, and is just right for nourishing the body.
Yun Lie held the bottom of the soup bowl with one hand and picked up a small spoon with the other, carefully feeding Luo Cuiwei a few mouthfuls. Seeing that Luo Cuiwei's expression had softened, he cleared his throat and began to explain.
"She's so tiny and can't talk, we can't bully her." Yun Lie looked down at the inside of the bed, his eyes and brows full of smiles.
The little one with a round face was sleeping soundly in the swaddling clothes, sucking on his fingers.
Looking at his precious expression, Luo Cuiwei's heart stirred, and she vaguely understood his intention.
However, she remained silent and patiently waited for him to continue.
"Does she want the surname Luo or Yun?" Yun Lie turned his gaze back to his beloved wife, "She can choose for herself when she's a little older."
Their daughter should be the most carefree and vibrant person in the world.
"As long as she is virtuous and has a clear conscience, she can do whatever she wants. We will protect her." Yun Lie's eyes shone brightly, his determination unwavering.
Luo Cuiwei lowered her head slightly, looked at the little round face in the swaddling clothes beside her, and laughed.
“I thought my father was already spoiling his daughter to the point of obsession, but you are even worse.”
She looked up and met Yun Lie's smiling eyes, then nodded, "Okay."
The little girl, temporarily named "Yuanzi," was still fast asleep, completely unaware of the precious gift her parents had given her.
However, she will understand when she grows up.
The surname Yun or Luo signifies two drastically different lives.
She was very fortunate to have an extremely generous pair of parents who, from the moment she was born, generously gave her the power to make choices and did not forcefully decide her life for her.
Whether she wants to be upright and honorable or gentle and peaceful, whether she wants to shoulder the burdens of the world or indulge in unrestrained behavior, it is all up to her to choose.
No matter what kind of girl she ultimately chooses to become, her parents will protect her to the end, give her guidance when she goes astray, and hug her when she falls and suffers setbacks.
Her parents will always give her a way out and a place to go.
****
The newborn Yuanzi in the Prince Zhao's mansion has never cried since birth.
It is said that the midwife patted the little one's bottom several times that day, and it was almost red from the pats, but the baby only whimpered twice.
In the days that followed, if it was hungry or sleepy, it would just hum a few times, and its short, lotus-root-like arms and legs would move around randomly. After eating and drinking its fill, it would just sleep and wouldn't bother anyone at all.
It's just a bit too quiet.
More than a month later, Xiong Xiaoyi came to Yun Lie to report on the affairs of the defense zone as usual. As soon as he entered the door, he beat his chest and lamented that he had missed the full moon banquet, so Luo Cuiwei had someone bring the child out for him to see.
Xiong Xiaoyi got playful and suddenly brought his face close to the little guy, making a slightly scary face.
Those big, round, dark eyes stared at him for a short while before she sucked on her fingers and turned her face away.
Xiong Xiaoyi didn't believe in superstition and tried several more times, but to no avail.
He found it strange and asked Luo Cuiwei curiously, "Why isn't she saying anything?"
An ordinary child would have burst into tears after being so frightened by him.
“She’s never really cried properly since she was born,” Luo Cui said with a helpless smile. “It was only yesterday, when Doctor Huaming slapped her, that she cried a couple of times as if it were just a formality.”
It's a bit strange that a child this age doesn't cry.
After settling into bed that night, Luo Cuiwei thought of this again and said to Yun Lie with undisguised worry, "Could it be that he's mute..."
"Nonsense."
Yun Lie raised his hand to cover her mouth, then looked down at Yuanzi, who was lying between the two of them sucking her fingers. "She's eating well and sleeping soundly, nothing's wrong with her, why do you have to make her cry?"
When Luo Cuiwei was giving birth, he saw how much pain she was in and secretly decided that he would give her a good beating after the child was born.
But in fact, I can't put it down at all, and I can't bear to beat it.
“Other kids this age cry a lot,” Luo Cuiwei pulled down his hand, her questioning gaze following his lowered head. “I’m still a little worried.”
"What does it have to do with our family if other people's kids are like this?" Yun Lie picked up Xiao Yuanzi and held her high. "She's always sucking her fingers. Sooner or later, she'll suck all ten of her fingers into sewing needles."
The little guy, who had been lifted up, seemed to be startled and stopped sucking his fingers. He stared at him with his big, round, dark eyes for a long time.
Luo Cuiwei chuckled and patted Yun Lie on the shoulder, "Put her down, don't scare her!"
"Don't be scared, I saw it coming a long time ago," Yun Lie said smugly, shaking the little guy. "You're pretty brave, aren't you?"