Si Fengwu was taken aback. He hadn't known that Lu Qingwan was carrying triplets, so he had only prepared two names, one for a boy and one for a girl.
He had spent almost half a year racking his brains to come up with those two names, and now he was missing one.
Thinking that the names of three children would need to be registered when officials from the Imperial Clan Court arrived, he felt that no matter which child received a name chosen on the spur of the moment, it would be an injustice to Lu Qingwan, who had worked so hard to give birth to that child.
Si Fengwu's prolonged daze made Su Shang feel a little helpless. Fearing she had said something wrong, she cautiously called out, "Your Highness?"
Si Fengwu came back to his senses and walked out of the sleeping quarters in a daze.
Before he could figure out what to say, someone reported from outside, "Reporting to Your Highness, Madam Meng requests an audience."
Meng Fuyao's arrival temporarily pulled Si Fengwu out of his panic about not having prepared enough names.
"Announce her arrival immediately!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Regent's intelligence also returned.
He quickly issued orders, "His Majesty has given birth to one son and two daughters, a great blessing from heaven!
Immediately transmit my command: all businesses shall close for the day.
All mothers who give birth today will receive a postnatal care package from their local government office, funded by myself.
Send the birth charts of the eldest prince and the two princesses to Xiangguo Temple immediately, and have Master Liao Kong lead the monks in offering prayers for His Majesty and the three children..."
A series of sweeping orders were given. Liyang blinked his eyes, and his mischievous nature got the better of him.
"Your Highness, according to this subordinate, when Xiangguo Temple offers prayers, in addition to birth charts, names are also required, right?
But it seems you only prepared two names, one for a boy and one for a girl, so will the memorial lamp for the other little princess be inscribed with 'Anonymous'?"
If anyone could be said to have a profound skill in striking a nerve, it would be Liyang.
He always hit the mark unerringly!
Si Fengwu's face immediately darkened to an unbearable degree. "I have prepared several names, do I need you to remind me?"
Liyang felt a chill down his spine, instinctively knowing he might have said something he shouldn't have, and quickly scampered away.
Lian Yu, who had been pretending to be a background prop after delivering the maternity package and medicine box, slithered over. "Don't worry. When Su Shang mentioned His Majesty was expecting triplets, I had already sent someone to invite the two Grand Secretaries, Wen and Chi, into the palace.
They are both well-read and will surely find a perfect name for my little niece."
Si Fengwu's sword-like eyebrows shot up. "If you're itching for a beating, just say so. Although I'm very busy, out of respect for you being A'Wan's brother, I have time to help you loosen your skin."
"So boring!"
Lian Yu's devilishly handsome face turned serious in an instant.
"When it was confirmed that His Majesty was indeed about to give birth, I ordered the Black Armored Army to secure the entire new capital and then sent orders to the King of Nan to summon all the ministers who wished to wield real power in the court under the guise of celebrating His Majesty's birth of a prince.
In the current new capital, no one can move freely except for you and His Majesty's confidantes."
The common folk in the city would not be completely deprived of their freedom, but Lian Yu dared to guarantee that if anyone dared to approach the imperial palace gates with a blade today, they would be riddled with arrows by the soldiers of the Heavenly Character Camp of the Black Armored Army before they even reached the palace gates.
As for other parts of the new capital, any miscreant would certainly be severely punished.
This action was not only to prevent anyone from causing trouble during Empress Lu Qingwan's childbirth but also, to some extent, to showcase Lu Qingwan's majesty as Empress.
Lian Yu's arrangements were impeccably thorough, and Si Fengwu accepted them without reservation.
"Since you've prepared so meticulously, the banquet should also be arranged, right?"
Si Fengwu said with an assumption of entitlement, "Summon everyone. Let the officials witness the birth of the eldest prince and the two princesses."
Before they were inscribed in the Imperial Jade Register, they were merely three children of noble blood.
Only when they were officially entered into the Imperial Jade Register would they become the eldest prince and princesses of the Celestial Phoenix.
And to be inscribed in the Imperial Jade Register in the presence of all the civil and military officials was the supreme honor for these three children.
Although Si Fengwu spoke to Lian Yu, these matters did not require him, the Minister of War, to arrange personally.
After Li Jin left to carry out the orders, Lian Yu said seriously, "Although Liyang, that kid, is still as tactless as ever, he's not wrong. Have you thought of a name for the other child?"
Although they all knew that Si Fengwu had not known Lu Qingwan was carrying triplets, nor whether she was carrying a prince or a princess, and thus had prepared only two names, one for a boy and one for a girl.
But in the eyes of ministers with more hidden agendas than the sun, having three children but only two names implied that Si Fengwu and Lu Qingwan, as parents, did not value the child for whom no name was prepared.
This would not only lead to much discussion and annoyance among the ministers,
but it would also affect the ministers' future attitudes towards the three children.
Although as a princess, that child might not suffer much, Lian Yu absolutely did not want the child to suffer any grievance because of such a baseless matter.
He was unwilling for any of his children to suffer.
Si Fengwu pondered for a moment, then nodded. "A'Wan and I agreed that she would name the boy, and I would name the girls.
I named the girl Wuxia, meaning that in my heart as her father, she is flawless, the best gift from A'Wan to me.
As for the youngest one, she is A'Wan's surprise for me, so I'll call her Wuyou.
My and A'Wan's daughters should be carefree and without worries."
As soon as he finished speaking, the youngest one began to make whimpering sounds.
Si Fengwu looked over with great curiosity. The wet nurse skillfully chimed in, "The little princess really likes the name Your Highness gave her!"
Lian Yu chuckled. "What can a child who has just been born possibly know? She hasn't even opened her eyes yet!"
He then leaned over and tucked his finger into the little princess's palm. "You came out last, and you're the fattest one. Little fatty, I'm your uncle..."
Wuwuwu...
A heart-wrenching cry startled Lian Yu to a standstill.
Just as he was about to try and soothe her, the other two who had been quiet also started to cry.
The wet nurse quickly and skillfully began to comfort them. Lian Yu felt extremely embarrassed.
Just as he was about to say something to salvage his pride, he heard a gentle female voice say, "Uncle Regent, you don't understand.
Even the youngest children hold grudges.
You called her 'little fatty' as soon as you came over, so it's no wonder she's making a fuss.
And with the strong telepathic connection among multiple births, Uncle Regent, you're in trouble. With one sentence, you've offended all three siblings!"
The person who arrived was Meng Fuyao, her voice filled with laughter and her expression gentle. Even when teasing Lian Yu, she looked as if she were doting on her own child.
Si Fengwu and Lian Yu quickly bowed to her, "Madam Meng, it has been a long time!"