The Slender Waist-Chapter 811 - 576: Qilin Prince

That afternoon, Ao Zheng changed his attire and stepped out, intending to meet Pei Yao before heading to Changmen for a visit, when a servant hurriedly ran through the main gate.

"Prime Minister Ao, there’s trouble, a major event has occurred!"

Ao Zheng’s expression darkened.

"Why the panic? Speak properly!"

He had been Prime Minister for several years now, and his authority had grown considerably.

The moment he spoke, the servant immediately lowered his head to apologize, and then urgently said:

"After today’s rain, a flock of colorful sparrows flew into the Qilin Pavilion within the palace, circled atop the pavilion for a moment, and then all landed in the stone canal in front of the pavilion’s courtyard to drink water. Palace attendants went to drive them away but discovered a Qilin Stone in the canal..."

Ao Zheng questioned in disbelief, "A Qilin Stone?"

"Yes. A Qilin Stone, found right in the canal. Carved upon it is the Ancient Qilin Diagram with an inscription written on it."

"What does it say?"

"’Qilin Prince, bearer of the nation’s hope.’"

Such an uncanny omen?

Ao Zheng was dumbfounded.

Eagerly, the guard’s eyes lit up, brimming with excitement.

"The Director of the Astronomical Bureau has declared it a divine auspicious sign, foretelling that the Little Prince is destined to be a wise and brilliant ruler who will illuminate the future of Da Yong."

Ao Zheng said, "Let’s go and take a look."

-

The Qilin Stone bore the carving of the Qilin’s child.

Auspicious blessings descend to extend the nation’s prosperity.

This was heaven’s favor upon Da Yong!

Once the auspicious sign appeared, nearly all doubts about the Little Prince vanished.

Reverence for divine spirits and awe of nature led the majority to believe the Little Prince’s birth was preordained by heaven, making Lady Feng Shi Er’s secrecy during pregnancy seem perfectly reasonable...

Someone extraordinary cannot be understood through ordinary logic.

Feng Yun learned of the Qilin Prince’s matter three days later.

She didn’t believe in such coincidences and cornered Pei Jue, who was just about to leave Huaxi to attend the morning court, directly asking:

"There’s no one else here; Your Majesty, speak honestly, what is happening here?"

Pei Jue remained composed, "It’s exactly as you’ve heard, Lady Yun. Heaven’s blessings and auspicious signs have graced Da Yong."

After speaking, he countered, "Does Lady Yun doubt me?"

Feng Yun narrowed her eyes slightly, "Of course. I’ve never believed in auspicious signs. My mother says every so-called sign is manmade."

Pei Jue chuckled softly, sat back down beside her on the bed, leaned closer to look at her, and spoke gently: "Perhaps it’s just coincidence. I can command thousands of troops, but directing sparrows to gather at the canal is beyond me."

Feng Yun pondered and found his words logical.

"Could it be that this child truly bears a divine mission?"

Pei Jue’s lips curled faintly, "Naturally. And consider who his father is."

His face radiated pride, as though having this son instantly made him ruler over all the world, and matters of governance were completely cast aside.

When Puyang Jiu inquired about his health recently, he unabashedly replied with "Six pounds, eight ounces."

Feng Yun thought this was amusing. "Get your act together; you’re the Emperor."

Pei Jue nodded, assenting lightly, "I must indeed focus on the matter of naming our son... Yes, this is of great importance." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

His brow furrowed slightly, revealing genuine concern.

Feng Yun recalled how he’d spent three days searching through ancient texts, yet still hadn’t chosen a name for the child, and smiled faintly.

"There’s no need to rush the naming. If Your Majesty skips court again, there will truly be trouble."

Pei Jue nodded seriously, agreeing.

Then suddenly, he raised his eyes to gaze at her and asked:

"Who named Queque back then?"

Feng Yun froze.

She did not respond immediately; her face displayed a complex mixture of emotions.

Nostalgia, sorrow, and an understated warmth.

"I. I named him."

Pei Jue exhaled a breath of relief.

"That’s good."

Feng Yun lifted her gaze, "Why?"

Pei Jue lowered his head and stared at her intently, softly kissing the corner of her eye.

"You should name this child as well. His mother has more knowledge than his father."

Feng Yun raised her brows slightly at these words, "Won’t your court officials want my head for this?"

Pei Jue gave a light snort, "He is our child. As long as we’re happy, that’s all that matters."

Feng Yun smiled faintly, "Why give me such an important task out of the blue?"

Pei Jue sighed, "I just want to spare myself the effort."

Feng Yun chuckled softly.

Choosing a name for a child was indeed a troublesome task.

She stretched out her arms to encircle Pei Jue’s waist and hugged him tightly.

"Go attend court."

"Alright." Pei Jue stood up, adjusted his robe, "Wait for my return."

He strode out confidently.

Feng Yun watched his tall, austere silhouette beneath the dragon robe, gradually receding into the distance, and slowly smiled, instructing the wet nurse to bring the Little Prince over.

The swaddled infant’s face was rosy, resembling a little pink bundle. His brows were already refined and dark, his tiny mouth puffed up while he slept, his eyelashes long and thick, slightly curled, his even breathing exuding vitality and pure innocence...

"The Little Prince is truly handsome. When he grows up, I wonder how many young women will be smitten by him..."

The wet nurse joked, and Xiaoman nodded repeatedly.

"I’ve never seen a newborn so handsome before. When my Ah Hao was born, his face was all wrinkled like an old man’s. Even now, though he’s thick-browed and big-eyed, compared to the Little Prince, he’s ... still a bit rough around the edges."

Feng Yun laughed aloud.

"How can you say that about your own son? Be careful; if Ah Hao hears, he’ll burst into tears..."

Xiaoman chuckled, full of maternal tenderness as she spoke of her son.

"He wouldn’t cry; that boy has always been tough. No matter how many times his father spanked him, he didn’t shed a single tear—he’s stubborn, a carbon copy of his father..."

The wet nurse praised with a smile, "Naturally, a child takes after their parent..."

Feng Yun felt her heart stir and examined the infant’s features carefully.

They were right; this child was indeed born beautiful.

In just three days, he seemed to grow like a sprouting seed, changing every day—handsome and calm. The wet nurse said he was exceptionally easy to care for, never fussing or crying at night, eating his fill and sleeping soundly—a considerate child, indeed...

Queque was like this, too.

It’s true that children take after their parents, isn’t it?

The child’s brows and features resembled Queque’s.

And both bore traces of Pei Jue’s appearance...

Feng Yun subconsciously thought about the dream she had before the child was born.

Staring at the baby, she fell into deep thought.

At this moment, she was still unaware that this baby’s birth would not only affect her and Pei Jue’s lives and destinies but also profoundly alter the future trajectory of the Yong Dynasty and the fortunes of the entire realm for decades to come.

Auspicious signs were fake, but when everyone in the world believed in this supposed divine blessing, he would ultimately become a radiantly divine ruler of his era...

And in the future, he would never know what lengths his father went to on the day of his birth, to borrow such an auspicious sign from heaven...

-

As the new year approached, snow-laden winds brought a piercing chill.

Within the previously desolate imperial palace, a festive atmosphere began to stir.

The harem of Emperor Yong had been vacant, lacking any consorts, but now palace attendants were ordered to clean it up and new maids were enlisted—surely someone was about to move in.

It seemed likely to be the lady from Huaxi.

A mother endowed with the noble position conferred by the birth of a prince and enjoying the Emperor’s devoted favor; who wouldn’t praise Feng Shi Er Niang’s luck?

Among court officials, there were whispers predicting the proclamation of empresshood was imminent. The Ministry of Rites had even begun discussing preparations for both the Little Prince’s full-month celebration and the empress inauguration ceremony. Yet, the Emperor remained uncharacteristically quiet.

After court was dismissed one day, Ao Zheng couldn’t hold back and went to Qianyuan Hall.

"Your Majesty, wisdom and benevolence! Lady Feng has done a great service for Da Yong by bearing the Crown Prince—why hasn’t Your Majesty issued the decree to officially establish her as Empress to set the record straight?"

He was the first to advocate for Feng Yun’s ascension to Empress.

Pei Jue’s expression softened slightly, gesturing for him to sit and speak.

"This matter requires careful consideration."

The Emperor wasn’t in a hurry, but Ao Zheng was growing impatient.

"Forgive my boldness, Your Majesty, but what hesitation remains? Delaying further may only invite censure from both court and commonfolk."

Pei Jue frowned, his expression complex, a vexed look crossing his face.

"Minister Ao, your concerns are valid, but presently... she has yet to agree. I cannot act unilaterally and risk hurting her feelings."

Ao Zheng let out an "Ah," frozen in place, feeling utterly bewildered.

Everyone assumed Feng Shi Er Niang had schemed for the Empress crown, carefully orchestrating every move to corner the Emperor into submission...

Who would believe there existed a woman so indifferent to status, so unworldly, that she dismissed the crown as trivial?

And the Emperor? He was, undeniably, an anomaly!

Becoming Empress wasn’t like being led to an execution—what damage could it possibly do?

Ao Zheng’s decades of political experience were rendered entirely useless in the face of this pair.

Feng Yun’s thoughts weren’t nearly so complicated.

She wasn’t disdainful of the Empress title.

But having been an Empress once, she knew well how arduous such a role could be.

Carrying golden decrees and royal seals, she would no longer be herself but a marionette burdened with Da Yong’s future, responsible for bearing children while helping the Emperor select other beautiful concubines, managing the harem, witnessing women competing for favor, all the while maintaining an appearance of grace and serenity despite inner turmoil...

That wasn’t the life she wanted.

As long as she wasn’t the Empress of Da Yong, the court officials couldn’t pin her down, nor demand her compliance with ancestral traditions, nor require her to endure humiliation and compromise...

Ultimately, the Empress role wasn’t a glory to her; it was shackles and chains...

Yet, Pei Jue indeed needed an Empress.

When Pei Yao, acting on Ao Zheng’s behalf, half-seriously sat by her bedside and inquired, Feng Yun, holding the child, sighed deeply.

"Let’s wait until the son’s full-month celebration."

The full-month?

Pei Yao relayed her answer to Ao Zheng.

Ao Zheng promptly approached Pei Jue with the matter.

"I’ve already inquired, and after the Little Prince’s full-month celebration, we should select an auspicious day."

Pei Jue’s gaze flickered, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk.

This Prime Minister does his job thoroughly.