Chapter 105
**Chapter 105: Naming the Child**
The night was stifling, the sky heavy with clouds. After leaving the Fangfei Garden, Wang Ye of Yan returned to the Liuli Pavilion, where two guards greeted him with cupped hands at the entrance.
Wang Ye raised his hand, signaling his attendants to be quiet, not to disturb Shen Wei inside the pavilion. He was curious to see how his Wei Wei spent her nights alone when he wasn’t around.
Delicate palace lanterns hung from the eaves of the Liuli Pavilion, their soft white light spilling out and casting a gentle glow. Tiny bells adorned the corners of the eaves, chiming softly in the breeze.
A gust of wind blew, and the copper bells tinkled again.
Shen Wei had already finished her dinner and was now enjoying the coolness of the waterside pavilion.
Wang Ye tiptoed closer, peering through a sheer curtain to see Shen Wei sitting in a rattan chair, chatting with Cai Lian.
Cai Lian spoke with a hint of exasperation, “My lady, you’ve already had a bowl of ice dessert; you can’t have any more.”
Shen Wei waved her fan, “It’s so hot tonight; I can’t eat anything else. Cai Lian, go get me another bowl of ice dessert.”
Cai Lian replied, “My lady, you’re pregnant now. If the Wang Ye finds out you’re sneaking ice treats, he’ll surely be angry.”
Shen Wei paused her fan, casting a sidelong glance at the shadow beyond the curtain, and feigned indifference, “If you don’t say anything, and I don’t say anything, how would Wang Ye know? Being pregnant isn’t that delicate. Back in my hometown, women work in the fields even when they’re expecting.”
Wang Ye, who had been eavesdropping: ...
He felt a mix of anger and helplessness. Other wives in the Wang Fu were meticulous about their diets during pregnancy, afraid to indulge even a little. But Shen Wei? She showed no signs of impending motherhood and was sneaking ice treats.
“If I hadn’t come, would you have eaten several bowls of ice dessert?” Wang Ye’s cool, serious voice cut through the thin curtain of the pavilion.
Shen Wei jumped in surprise, standing up to pull aside the curtain. Seeing Wang Ye in his dark brocade robe, she stammered, “Wang... Wang Ye, why are you back?”
Her guilty expression was evident, as if she feared Wang Ye wouldn’t notice her unease.
Wang Ye stepped into the pavilion, and Cai Lian wisely withdrew. Shen Wei, like a child caught in wrongdoing, couldn’t bring herself to meet Wang Ye’s gaze.
She looked rather pitiful.
Wang Ye settled into a cool chair, his expression stern. “If I hadn’t come, how many bowls of ice dessert would you have eaten, Wei Wei?”
Shen Wei sat beside him, raising a delicate finger and shaking it gently, defending herself, “I only had one bowl, I didn’t overindulge.”
Wang Ye shook his head internally. Without his supervision, this gluttonous little girl was simply out of control.
He took Shen Wei’s soft hand in his, speaking earnestly, “Overindulgence in the summer can lead to diarrhea. What if it harms the child?”
Shen Wei leaned her head obediently on Wang Ye’s shoulder, affectionately saying, “With you protecting us, the child will surely be born safely. I’m not worried at all.”
Her every word and action radiated trust and dependence on Wang Ye. It was as if, in Shen Wei’s heart, as long as Wang Ye was there, she had nothing to fear. This was not only admiration for Wang Ye himself but also a deep respect for his strength.
Wang Ye felt pleased. He thought to himself, she truly loves me and trusts me wholeheartedly.
After a moment of tender intimacy, Shen Wei suddenly lifted her head, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Wang Ye, today I was thinking about names for our child. I’ve come up with two great ones.”
Wang Ye raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Let’s hear them.”
Shen Wei said earnestly, “If it’s a girl, let’s name her Li Cui’er. ‘Cui’ symbolizes vitality; I hope our child will be as full of life as spring.”
Wang Ye’s eyelids twitched.
Shen Wei looked at him expectantly, her enthusiasm bubbling over. “If it’s a boy, he should be strong and self-reliant, so let’s name him Li Qiang, which means strong and powerful. What do you think of these names, Wang Ye?”
Wang Ye’s lips twitched.
Seeing Shen Wei’s hopeful gaze, Wang Ye silently rubbed his forehead. If they named the child that, their daughter might struggle to find a husband, and their son would be embarrassed to carry that name.
Noticing Wang Ye’s silence, Shen Wei furrowed her beautiful brows, hesitating, “Is it not good?”
Wang Ye shook his head. “Not good.”
Disappointed, Shen Wei lowered her head, muttering, “Then I’ll think of something else. There’s still plenty of time before the baby arrives; I’m sure I can come up with a suitable name. If Li Qiang doesn’t sound good, how about Li Tie? A boy should have a strong name like Li Tie.”
Wang Ye felt a throbbing in his temples. He helplessly grasped Shen Wei’s hand. “The child’s name will be decided by me. You just focus on taking care of yourself.”
In the Wang Ye’s family, the sons were named by the Emperor and Empress, while the daughters were named by their biological mothers.
Wang Ye’s gaze fell on Shen Wei’s still-flat belly, and he resolved that if she bore a child in the future, the name must come from him, the father.
The daughter of the Wang Ye of Da Qing could never be called “Li Cui’er” or “Li Qiang”!
Shen Wei’s eyes sparkled, showering him with compliments, “Wang Ye, you’re so talented and knowledgeable. The names you come up with will surely be better than mine.”
This was also Shen Wei’s strategy.
She wanted to continuously elevate the presence of the child in Wang Ye’s heart during her pregnancy. A child cared for and named by Wang Ye would surely receive the most love from him in the future.
With more paternal love, the child’s future would be smoother, and her own status as the mother would be more secure.
After the stifling night, a strong wind blew, and a summer rain poured down. Shen Wei and Wang Ye returned hand in hand to their chamber to rest, the rain pattering against the roof, with occasional low moans echoing within.
The copper bells hanging from the eaves chimed clearly in the wind and rain.
Mama Rong, accompanied by two young eunuchs carrying hot water, passed by the courtyard. As she glanced at the copper bells, a faint smile crossed her lips.
Wang Ye’s temperament was unpredictable; sometimes when he came to the Liuli Pavilion, he would not allow anyone to disturb Shen Wei. Shen Wei had devised a clever plan, altering the bells at the eaves by threading a wire through them.
If Wang Ye came quietly to the Liuli Pavilion, Mama Rong would discreetly pull the wire, causing the bells to ring three times in a regular pattern, signaling Shen Wei—
**[The Wang Ye has come secretly.]**
“Truly, my lady is clever,” Mama Rong sighed with admiration. Following such a wise master, her future as a servant looked bright.
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