Chapter 135
**Chapter 135: A Flood of Fatherly Love**
Shen Wei handed the baby over.
The child, just half a month old, had not yet been given a formal name; she was affectionately called Duo Duo. March was the season when flowers bloomed, making it a fitting nickname.
Since Shen Wei became pregnant, the Yan Wang had been attentive to her diet. As the baby began to move in her womb, the Yan Wang often listened to the gentle kicks. Naturally, he felt a deep affection for his newborn daughter.
Without much thought, the Yan Wang carefully cradled the infant in his arms, albeit a bit clumsily.
Then, something miraculous happened.
The baby, who had been crying incessantly, suddenly stopped when held by the Yan Wang. She reached out her tiny, soft hands towards him, making cooing sounds.
Gazing at his daughter’s adorable little face, the Yan Wang felt as if his heart had been brushed by a soft feather. It is said that sons resemble their mothers and daughters their fathers; this little girl’s eyes bore a striking resemblance to his own.
“Impossible!” Shen Wei exclaimed, clearly annoyed. “I struggled to bring this child into the world, and when I hold her, she just cries—Your Highness, let me hold her again.”
Seemingly unconvinced, Shen Wei gently took the baby back into her arms.
As soon as the infant returned to Shen Wei, her rosy little mouth curled into a pout, and she let out a loud wail.
Shen Wei was at a loss.
The Yan Wang burst into laughter and took the crying baby back into his embrace. Almost immediately, she stopped crying, opening her little hands and gazing at him with her large, dark eyes like precious black jewels.
“Looks like my daughter prefers me after all,” the Yan Wang said, feeling a swell of pride.
His affection for the child deepened.
He held the baby for a while longer, and she remained calm and content. It wasn’t until dinner time that the wet nurse arrived, respectfully taking the child away to feed her.
During dinner, Shen Wei was clearly still troubled. After sipping a rich fish soup, she muttered, “The Yan Wang doesn’t come to see Duo Duo often. Why does this little girl stop crying the moment she sees him?”
The Yan Wang replied with a smug tone, “When she was still in your belly, I spoke to her every night through your skin. Naturally, she feels close to me.”
The Yan Wang had many children, but only the one born to Shen Wei seemed to bond with him right from birth. When the baby opened her tiny hands and nestled against him, even a man of his stature felt an overwhelming sense of emotion and joy.
This feeling was new and delightful, filling the Yan Wang with satisfaction.
Shen Wei pouted, sulking as she drank her fish soup to regain her strength. That night, the Yan Wang naturally stayed in Shen Wei’s chamber.
The candlelight was soft and warm, and Shen Wei, now dressed in dark red nightwear, looked radiant, exuding an alluring charm. The Yan Wang gazed at her fair, smooth skin and round, delicate features, feeling a stir of desire. However, knowing that Shen Wei had not fully recovered, he had to exercise restraint.
Once she was completely healed, he would make up for lost time.
They fell asleep fully clothed, drifting off until midnight.
In a hazy state, the Yan Wang sensed Shen Wei quietly getting out of bed and heading towards the nursery. After a while, she returned softly.
“Where did you go?” he asked, pulling her into his arms, still half-asleep.
Shen Wei, drowsy, replied, “I went to check on the baby’s breathing, to see if she was okay.”
The Yan Wang chuckled softly.
Shen Wei nudged him with her elbow, a bit annoyed. “I was just worried; don’t laugh at me.”
As a new mother, Shen Wei was still getting used to the presence of her child, and her maternal instincts were not yet fully developed. The baby had a wet nurse and a host of maids attending to her, allowing Shen Wei to enjoy a leisurely confinement period. But occasionally, when she woke in the middle of the night and didn’t hear the baby crying next door, a sense of anxiety would creep into her heart.
So, she would sneak out of bed, using her finger to check if the baby’s nose was still warm.
It was a childish act, but she couldn’t help herself.
Lying in bed, it wasn’t long before she fell asleep. The Yan Wang, holding Shen Wei, also drifted off, but suddenly awoke in the middle of the night. He realized he hadn’t heard the baby crying for a while, and a flicker of worry crossed his mind.
Beside him lay the peacefully sleeping Shen Wei, her beauty illuminated by the soft glow of the candlelight. He tiptoed out of bed, careful not to wake her, and quietly made his way to the nursery.
The maid was still awake, tending to the baby by the cradle.
The Yan Wang gestured for her not to bow, then approached the cradle quietly. Duo Duo lay nestled in a soft silk blanket, her face pale and delicate, with long eyelashes. Her chubby little fingers clutched the fabric, short and adorable.
The Yan Wang watched his daughter for a long time, noticing she seemed to be still. Unable to resist, he gently placed his finger under her tiny nose.
Her breaths were shallow and even; the child was alive.
The Yan Wang let out a silent sigh of relief.
He caressed her round little face, a satisfied smile spreading across his lips. He tiptoed away, leaving the maid staring in astonishment.
The next morning, the Yan Wang awoke feeling refreshed. After breakfast, he went to the nursery to play with his lovely daughter, then checked on the newly planted vegetables in the courtyard, finally stepping out in good spirits to attend court.
Shen Wei saw the Yan Wang off and returned to her room to continue her breakfast.
“Master, the Yan Wang really likes the little princess,” Cai Lian said, bringing in a steaming bowl of fish soup.
Shen Wei smiled and took a sip of the warm soup. “The child depends on the Yan Wang, so of course he likes her.”
A crying child gets the sweetest treats; a child who expresses affection receives the most love from their father.
Duo Duo was drawn to the Yan Wang, reaching out her hands and flashing a charming smile every time she saw him, as if he were her only source of comfort. This behavior, of course, was not without Shen Wei’s efforts.
Since the day the baby was born, before each feeding, Shen Wei would let her smell “gan song xiang” (甘松香), a fragrant spice often used by the Yan Wang to scent his clothes. Gan song xiang was elegant and soothing, with a distant, peaceful aroma. In the entire Yan Wang residence, only the Yan Wang carried this unique scent.
Gradually, the baby developed a subconscious association—whenever she caught a whiff of gan song xiang, she knew it meant she would be fed.
With the Yan Wang enveloped in the fragrance, every time he held her, the child instinctively thought there would be milk, prompting her to eagerly reach out her chubby little hands and smile at him with trust.
Shen Wei suppressed her smile, leisurely continuing to sip her soup.
With the Yan Wang’s fatherly love, this child’s future was undoubtedly bright.
Outside, Cai Ping rushed in, announcing to Shen Wei, “Master, Princess Zhaoyang and Lady Sun have come to visit you!”
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