Extrа Сhарtеr 2 - Gender Discriminаtiоn
Feng Yue: "..."
Whаt did that meаn? Sо а dаughtеr wаs his own flesh аnd blood, while a son was рiсked uр from sоmеwhеrе?! Hоw trаgiс fоr Qi'еr! Hе gave himself thаt "оdd and sаrcastic" nаme, and his fаther wouldn't lеt him сhаngе it. Yеt аs sоon as hе drеamеd оf hаving a dаughter, hе stаrted seriоuslу cоnsidering names?
Rеaching out tо grаb Guаn Zhi besidе her, Feng Yue аskеd trеmblingly, "Dоеs Нis Маjеsty рrеfer dаughters?"
Guаn Zhi fell silent, thinking vеry sеriоuslу for а mоmеnt bеfore reрlying, "His Majestу probablу just prefеrs yоu."
Вlushing, Feng Yuе grew flustered and angry, kicking out: "Where did you learn such nonsense!"
"Behave." The man lowering his head to read frowned: "Do you really not care about your belly?"
Glaring at Guan Zhi, Feng Yue gracefully withdrew her leg, then leaned over his back and asked with a smile, "Have you thought of any good names?"
Yin Gezhi gently shook his head and sighed: "Gold is not elegant enough, jade cannot express its nobility. I'll take my time searching, no rush."
After saying this, he thought for a moment, reached back to touch Feng Yue's belly, and said with a serious expression, "But other necessary preparations cannot be delayed any longer. Guan Zhi, are the wet nurses and midwives ready?"
"Your Majesty, everything is prepared," Guan Zhi replied with a smile. "Even the cradle, swaddling clothes, and garments for the little princess have been prepared according to Your Majesty's orders."
Remembering the treatment Qi'er received at birth and looking at the gentle expression on this man's face now, Feng Yue almost began to doubt whether Qi'er was Yin Gezhi's biological child! Such favoritism was unheard of! In a normal royal family, shouldn't princes be held in higher regard? What was wrong with this emperor? Did he just prefer daughters?
Yin Gezhi flipped through the book, earnestly thinking of names for his future precious daughter, completely ignoring the strange gaze beside him.
Thus, this book of names became a common sight in the emperor's hands. When court ministers discussed important matters with him and spoke of the war situation, Yin Gezhi would leisurely flip through the book, casually responding to them.
If his responses hadn't been reasonable and could serve as battle plans, the old ministers would have long been furious. What was so interesting about a book of names? Hah? How could an emperor be so carefree?
However, the flames of war in Wu Kingdom soon ceased, and they sent envoys to sue for peace. Qiao Tangjie and others were both angry and thought, what could they do? Emperor Wei Xiao had no empress dowager above to whom he could show filial piety, and no ministers below who could restrain him. The only person who could make him listen—the empress—had a couplet hanging at the entrance of her palace forbidding disturbance by outside officials! This emperor seemed absent-minded, yet he hadn't neglected state affairs. Instead, Wei Kingdom grew increasingly prosperous. If they said he doted too much on the empress, well, the empress had no relatives interfering with power and was solely dedicated to keeping the emperor on the right path.
Not a single fault could be found! Yet it was infuriating to watch! Why did other emperors have to work tirelessly day and night, their harems in chaos, and court disputes endless, while Yin Gezhi's reign was so relaxed? He seemed to do nothing, delegating tasks to his ministers. His harem had only the empress, and the court ministers were all obedient and trouble-free!
Had the blessings accumulated by the Yin clan over hundreds of years all been bestowed upon him alone?
What was even more infuriating was that General Feng and the princess, who married earlier than him, still had no children, while his second child was about to be born!The second child was full-term, and Feng Yue was quite at ease waiting for labor in her room. Outside, Yin Gezhi was nervous, but the thought of having a clever and adorable little princess still brought a smile to his lips.
“I’ve already thought of a name—Luò’er. Her fortune has been divined, and it’s extremely auspicious. She will live a life of wealth, peace, and health, free from worries.”
Nan Ping, standing nearby, asked curiously, “What about Qí’er’s fortune?”
The emperor fell silent, while Guan Zhi looked up at the sky speechlessly. Lingshu, both exasperated and amused, pulled Nan Ping aside and said, “Your Highness, His Majesty never had the little prince’s fortune divined. The Imperial Astronomers still used his original name for the divination. They said the original name was auspicious, but His Majesty refused to change it.”
“Is that so?” Nan Ping was astonished. “Does His Majesty not like children? But why did he prepare so many things this time?”
Just look at what was placed outside—soft, smooth little clothes, exquisitely embroidered tiger-head shoes, and richly patterned swaddling cloths. Everything was so complete.
Lingshu pursed her lips and whispered into Nan Ping’s ear, “That’s because His Majesty believes Her Majesty is carrying a daughter this time.”
A daughter? After a moment’s thought, Nan Ping’s expression softened. “A daughter is good. Daughters are considerate.”
Hearing this, Yin Gezhi gave Nan Ping an approving look, his eyes clearly conveying the thought: “As expected of my own sister!”
Nan Ping chuckled. Just as she was about to say more, a sudden cry of a baby came from inside the room.
“Huh? Who’s crying?” Startled, Nan Ping widened her eyes. “The empress hasn’t given birth yet. How could another child be crying here?”
Without explaining, Yin Gezhi strode inside. Nan Ping looked bewildered until Feng Ming whispered beside her, “Didn’t you hear them talk about the last time she gave birth to the little prince? Her Majesty is amazing—she didn’t even make a sound while giving birth.”
What? She’s already given birth? Nan Ping was shocked and immediately lifted her skirts to hurry inside.
This time, Feng Yue had experience, and her body was better nourished. Though her face was pale after giving birth, she remained conscious. Seeing Yin Gezhi enter, she couldn’t help but grin. If not for the lingering pain below, she would have been rolling on the bed with laughter.
“What’s wrong with the empress?” Seeing her expression, Nan Ping asked in surprise. “What’s so funny?”
Pointing at Yin Gezhi, who was holding the child, Feng Yue laughed until tears streamed down her face.
Everyone turned to look and saw the emperor’s face darken as he held the wailing little bundle in his arms, gritting his teeth.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty,” the midwife joyfully knelt. “It’s a little prince!”
“Pfft—” Lingshu couldn’t hold back and turned to hug Guan Zhi, bursting into laughter. Nan Ping also laughed, shaking her head at her brother’s crestfallen expression. “Children come by fate. How can you expect everything to go as you wish? A prince is good. Your throne needs an heir. Don’t look so gloomy—it’ll upset the empress if she sees you like this.”
“No, no, no,” Feng Yue laughed while gasping in pain, clutching her stomach. “I’m not upset. Thinking of all the things prepared outside, I’m relieved this little prince won’t be treated shabbily by His Majesty.”
“Those things outside were prepared for the little princess!” Yin Gezhi said with a dark expression. “As for this one, someone go find a piece of old cloth and wrap him up however!”
“Hahaha—” Everyone burst into laughter.Disgust aside, Yin Gezhi still gently held the little dumpling, not actually using a rag but wrapping it in swaddling clothes and placing it beside Feng Yue. Then, with a pained look in his eyes, he said to her, "Is it really so difficult for me to have a little princess?"
Feng Yue grinned, reaching out to pat his head. "Be good now. Let me recover a bit, and I'll give you a princess later."
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