Chapter 678 The Ineptitude of Naming (End of Main Text)

Chapter 678 The Ineptitude of Naming (End of Main Text)

Before Su Youyue and her family left Dongrong, she asked the Bai family to look after Shen Yuanzhen and Shen Yuanyang.

The Bai family agreed.

Though they held a grudge against the Shen family, their main resentment was towards the Shen couple.

Moreover, Su Youyue simply asked that the two not be treated too harshly.

With the Bai family now supported by Princess Pingyang's household, they still held some influence.

After visiting the rebuilt tomb of Shen Nan to pay their respects, they finally began their journey back to Dasheng.

Because of the snowstorms they encountered, by the time they returned to Dasheng, spring had arrived, and flowers were blooming.

Jiuyuan Pass was blanketed with golden winter jasmine.

After Hua Qingyun sent a message to the Hua residence, he said goodbye to the group there.

As he left with Chu Xiaozi's ashes and belongings, his back showing a trace of sadness, Su Youyue sensed he had understood Xiao Zi's feelings.

They simply hadn’t had the chance to express their feelings before being separated by death.

Hua Qingyun was still the same man who had written the Annals of Dasheng's Mountains and Rivers in his past life, but with a changed perspective in this life, it was unclear what kind of annals he would write this time.

"Let's go."

As Su Youyue turned, she thought she saw a white shadow flicker across Dongrong.

But when she looked closely, there was nothing there.

Assuming it was just her imagination, she quickly boarded the carriage.

This time, they didn’t go far.

Since Emperor BaiLi hongxuan and the Xiao family were waiting for them at Jiuyuan Pass.

They also carried a letter from the Su family matriarch, who knew they were about to arrive at Jiuyuan Pass, so the letter was not sent to Dongrong.

The letter contained the matriarch’s reprimands to her son and daughter-in-law, and her hope for their early return.

Xiao Feiyan nearly threw herself at Su Youyue but stopped when she saw her belly.

"Ahhhhh! Yue'er, you, you, you, you, you!"

The Xiao brothers, poised to intervene, relaxed.

BaiLi hongxuan turned his attention to Xie Yuan.

Xie Yuan remained on high alert, watching Xiao Feiyan.

The elderly couple from the Su family were no exception, both just a step away from stepping forward to stop her together.

Seeing that she was still so lively, Su Youyue couldn't help but smile: "Yes, you're going to be an aunt."

Xiao Feiyan was first overjoyed, then slapped her forehead: "Oh no, when I go back, my parents are definitely going to start pressuring me to get married!"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh.

Xiao Feiyan bent down and waved at her belly, "Little one, you’re already having quite the adventure with your mom before you’re even born!"

The little one in Su Youyue’s belly was clearly destined for adventure.

Since her belly was growing, the trip back to the capital was carefully planned.

But the little one decided to arrive just one day before they reached Yanjing.

Everyone, from the generals to the soldiers, knew Lady Xie was about to give birth, and they were all in a panic.

Jin’er stomped around anxiously, accidentally stepping on Zhe Jing’s feet multiple times.

Qingluo dragged Zhe Ying to boil water, but when she saw a dozen shadow guards fighting to fan the flames, she pulled him back to see what was happening.

Xiao Feiyan paced nervously outside the door, looking even more worried than Su Zhenyun, the actual father.

In truth, Su Zhenyun was so dazed he didn’t even hear someone call him 'Lord Su' three times.

Seeing Xie Yuan rush in, BaiLi hongxuan said to his confidant, "May they have a safe delivery. I’ve already spoken with Xie Yuan—I’ll be this child’s godfather."

"..."

Xie Yuan barely made it inside before his mother-in-law nearly shoved him out. He ended up crouching in a corner, holding Su Youyue’s hand, his eyes red with worry.

"Nuan Nuan, if it’s too painful, don’t push..."

Su Youyue noticed his red eyes and grew anxious, "Why are your eyes still red?"

"Is the poison still not out of his system?"

Lu Xixue slapped Xie Yuan on the shoulder, "What are you saying? If she doesn’t give birth, Nuan Nuan’s in trouble! If you’re not helping, get out of the way!"

Her slap rang out, and the moment it landed, Su Youyue tensed, and Xie Xiaobao burst into the world with a cry.

Xie Yuan didn’t even look at the baby and rushed to hold his wife.

Lu Xixue slapped him again, "You’re in the way, go on, I still need to take care of Nuan Nuan!"

The slap didn’t faze Xie Yuan, but Xie Xiaobao started wailing at the top of his lungs.

Everyone outside perked up and let out a collective sigh of relief.

"This kid could’ve waited to be born safely at home, but no, he had to come on the road. Let’s call him Xie Lusheng!" Xiao Sanlang muttered.

Xiao Feiyan punched her Third Brother, "That’s a terrible name! Let me, the auntie, pick. I’ve got it—Su Baobao!"

"...Why the Su surname?" Xiao Silang questioned.

Xiao Feiyan snorted, "What’s wrong with using Yue'er’s surname? She’s got a fortune to inherit! The Su family’s been wealthier than the Xie’s since Madam Su came back!"

Xiao Silang couldn’t argue with his sister and quietly said to his Third Brother, "Su Baobao doesn’t sound impressive. It’s a boy—he should be like Lord Xie, unbeatable in battle. Let’s call him Xie Bushu."

Jin'er frowned upon hearing this, "That’s awful. I’ve got ideas too—babies are round and soft. If it’s a boy, Tuan Ge’er, if it’s a girl, Mian Mian!"

Seeing the disapproving looks, Jin'er was unhappy, "Zhe Jing, do you like the names I picked?"

Zhe Jing nodded, "Absolutely."

Everyone glanced at them, thinking, 'You’re about to be family, so of course you’d agree.' Qingluo whispered beside them, "Ah Ying, what would you name him?"

Zhe Ying firmly refused, "It's not my place to name the little master."

Noticing his inflexibility, Qingluo changed her approach, "What if it was your son or daughter?"

Zhe Ying found this much more acceptable, "If it's a boy, I’d name him Xie Alin, and if it’s a girl, Xie Amu."

"That’s a nice name!" Qingluo praised.

Since she didn’t have a surname, if she had a son or daughter in the future, they’d take my lady’s family name!

"Does it actually sound nice?" Zhe Ying, noticing that everyone else’s names were mocked, felt a bit insecure about his own being praised.

Qingluo praised enthusiastically, "It sounds great!"

Finally, Emperor BaiLi Hongxuan chimed in, "Enough arguing, these are my godson and goddaughter, and I’ll name him BaiLi Shengye, wishing our great empire a prosperous future!"

"..."

Since it was the Emperor, no one dared to criticize the name as unpleasant, only Su Zhenyun had the courage to question, "Your Majesty, even if Xiaobao doesn’t take the Xie family name, he should take our Su family name, how can he take yours? It’s not reasonable, I must submit a memorial!"

"Your memorial is pointless, it’s denied!" BaiLi Hongxuan vetoed with one vote.

Hearing the noise outside louder than in the delivery room, Su Youyue, cradling her chubby son, asked in confusion, "Mother, what are they arguing about outside?"

Lu Xixue leaned toward the window to eavesdrop, then a surge of anger rose, and she shouted outside, "Shut up, this is for me to decide, this little grandson will be named Lu Dadao, strong and powerful!"

Suddenly, it was quiet outside.

Su Youyue was embarrassed.

With Lu Xixue’s care along the way, she wasn’t too tired after giving birth and still had the strength to kick Xie Yuan.

"Child’s father, say something!"

"Let my lady decide." Xie Yuan couldn’t suppress the corners of his mouth, his eyes looking at her with infinite indulgence, as in countless previous lives.

Su Youyue was deeply moved by this gaze, so she opened her mouth.

"Alright, I’ll decide."

"Then let’s call him Xie Xiaobao!"

Thus, the name Xie Xiaobao was firmly decided by his naming-challenged mother.