Xue Chucheng's face instantly changed. Just as he was about to greet them in person, he saw Qi Yuyun striding over in a plain black robe embroidered with dragon patterns. By his side was the elegant and noble Queen Su Yuyan. They were followed by several palace servants.
"I pay my respects to Your Majesty and Your Highness!" Xue Chucheng stepped forward, bowing his head. His voice was calm and steady.
Everyone present was surprised and quickly bowed to pay their respects.
Qi Yuyun let out a soft laugh and pretended to help Xue Chucheng up. "Rise, Minister Xue. Today is the full - moon feast for your daughter. There's no need for such formalities."
Xue Chucheng stood up respectfully. "Your Majesty and Your Highness's presence has shed glory on the Xue Mansion. It is truly an honor for our family. Your Majesty, Your Highness, please take your seats of honor!"
Qi Yuyun nodded and sat down on the main seat with Su Yuyan.
Su Yuyan looked at Song Zhaoyang with a smile. "Zhaoyang, the ceremony hasn't started yet. It's just right that the Emperor and I came at this time."
Song Zhaoyang and Su Yuyan were close friends since childhood. Hearing Su Yuyan's words, she replied respectfully, "It is my daughter's honor to receive the blessings of Your Majesty and Your Highness."
Qi Yuyun leaned forward slightly, meeting the big, bright eyes of little Yaoyao, and couldn't help smiling.
"Look at those eyes and eyebrows. She takes after her mother. She's sure to be a great beauty in the future."
Su Yuyan nodded in agreement. "I think so too."
She looked up at Song Zhaoyang and asked, "May I hold her?"
Song Zhaoyang respectfully placed the swaddled Yaoyao in Su Yuyan's arms.
Su Yuyan held little Yaoyao and gently stroked her chubby little face with her fingertips. The smile on her lips was hard to hide.
"I'm so envious of you, Zhaoyang, having such a lovely daughter."
As she said this, she turned to look at the senior maid beside her.
The maid understood and opened the box in her hands. Inside was a delicate longevity lock.
Su Yuyan personally tied the longevity lock to the swaddle and said softly, "This child is surely blessed."
Qi Yuyun bestowed a jade - inlaid ruyi scepter. He looked at Xue Chucheng meaningfully. "Minister Xue has been loyal to the country. I am very pleased. I have no daughters of my own. The Crown Prince is five years old now. How about betrothing this child to the Crown Prince and making her my daughter - in - law?"
As soon as Qi Yuyun finished speaking, everyone present was shocked.
Su Yuyan's fingertips paused slightly. She raised her eyes and met Song Zhaoyang's gaze.
The Emperor hadn't told her about this before leaving the palace.
She couldn't help looking closely at the baby in her arms. Her eyes lit up. It wouldn't be a bad thing for this little girl to become her future daughter - in - law.
Song Zhaoyang noticed the surprised look in Su Yuyan's eyes. Her eyes darkened. It would be a laughingstock for the Emperor to betroth a just - born baby girl to the Crown Prince in public!
Moreover, in a dozen or so years, when the princes came of age, they would see the Crown Prince as a thorn in their side. When the Crown Prince was on a tour of the south of the Yangtze River on behalf of the Emperor, he was assassinated by a killer from the martial arts world and died young after being hit by a poisoned arrow.
If her daughter was betrothed to the Crown Prince, the Xue family would be dragged into the Crown Prince's camp. If the Crown Prince died young in the future, would her daughter have to spend the rest of her life as a widow?
This made her think of herself. Back then, the Empress Dowager wanted her to marry the fourth prince, who was now the Emperor. But the Song family didn't want her to step into this mess.
Even though the Queen was her good friend, she had to think about her daughter's future...
Thinking of this, she turned to look at Xue Chucheng, frowning slightly.
Xue Chucheng immediately understood what she meant. He knelt down and kowtowed. "I'm terrified, Your Majesty. My daughter is not worthy of the Crown Prince. Please take back this order!"
Song Zhaoyang also curtsied to Qi Yuyun and Su Yuyan. "Cousin, Cousin - in - law, this little girl is just a baby. Who knows what she'll be like when she grows up? If she turns out to be a little devil, won't she be a disaster for the Crown Prince?"
"Let's forget about this marriage. We can talk about it when the little girl grows up. There's no rush."
Xue Chucheng hadn't heard Song Zhaoyang speak to him in such an intimate tone for a long time. He was stunned for a moment, then laughed at her words. "Have you ever seen a mother belittle her own daughter like this? You're her mother, after all!"
Song Zhaoyang sighed helplessly. "I'm just worried that this little girl will be spoiled by you two. If she causes chaos in the capital in the future, I'll be in big trouble. Let's forget about this marriage. Otherwise, I won't be able to sleep tonight."
Qi Yuyun raised his eyebrows and looked at Song Zhaoyang half - smiling. Seeing her helpless expression, he nodded. "Alright, let's talk about the betrothal when the child grows up. Has the child been named?"
Hearing that Qi Yuyun had put the betrothal on hold, Song Zhaoyang secretly let out a sigh of relief. Then she replied with a smile, "No. We've only given her a nickname, Yaoyao. We haven't come up with a formal name yet."
As she said this, she looked at Xue Chucheng helplessly. "I wanted to leave the naming to the Marquis, but he has searched through the Four Books and Five Classics and still can't find a suitable name. He said all the names were not nice."
Xue Chucheng blushed when he was teased by Song Zhaoyang in public. But his face was so dark that it wasn't obvious.
Qi Yuyun burst out laughing. "Since Minister Xue hasn't come up with a good name for so long, I'll name this child. Let her be called Xue Lingrong. 'Her beauty shines like the morning sun; who wouldn't admire her lovely face!'"
Xue Chucheng and Song Zhaoyang looked at each other when they heard the name.
Xue Chucheng's eyes were full of annoyance. He should have named his daughter earlier. Now he didn't even have the right to name her.
Song Zhaoyang was also helpless and amused. But this name was different from the one Xue Chucheng had chosen in the previous life. She secretly let out a sigh of relief.
"Her beauty shines like the morning sun." This was a good omen. She hoped that her precious daughter would one day shine brightly in the capital...
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Su Yuyan returned the baby to Song Zhaoyang. Little Yaoyao's maternal grandmother, Lady Luo, personally shaved the baby's first hair.
When her hair was being shaved, the little one started to cry aggrievedly, which brought good - natured laughter from the people present.
Only the younger Lady Wen pulled a long face like a donkey.
When the Emperor was about to propose the betrothal, the younger Lady Wen was extremely excited. Her precious daughter was going to be the Crown Princess and the future Queen!
This was the supreme honor!
But before she could be happy for long, Xue Chucheng and Song Zhaoyang's refusal to the marriage proposal was like a bucket of cold water poured on her head, freezing the smile on her face.
Why?
Why did Xue Chucheng and Song Zhaoyang refuse the marriage?
Were they crazy?
The younger Lady Wen was so angry that her face was distorted. If she hadn't tightly clenched her fists and tried her best to control her anger, she would have lost her mind.
What a great opportunity!
It was just wasted like this!
The younger Lady Wen was so angry that she gasped for breath. Overcome with anger, she fainted...
"Second Lady!"
The maid behind the younger Lady Wen was shocked when she saw her mistress fainting. She quickly supported her.
When Song Zhaoyang heard that the younger Lady Wen had fainted, she frowned.
Bad luck!
She should have stopped her from attending the full - moon feast.
She said calmly, "Send the Second Lady back to her courtyard. Don't disturb the guests."
Ziying took the order and left.
Qi Yuyun and Su Yuyan didn't stay long at the Xue Mansion. After the ceremony of shaving little Yaoyao's first hair was over, the Emperor and the Queen left for the palace.
After the full - moon feast ended, Song Zhaoyang let out a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to take a bath and change clothes, she heard a commotion outside...