Chapter 139: Naming the Child

Du Wanchun arranged for Lady Liu to stay at Zhang Qiuhe’s house.

Zhang Qiuhe and her son usually lived a rather quiet life, but ever since Lady Liu arrived, their home had become livelier.

Having run a rouge and cosmetics business for years, Lady Liu had some silver saved up. Upon settling in, she bought plenty of good things for the household—pastries, fish, meat, bedding, and fabric. She even got small sugar figurines for Zhang Qiuhe’s child.

To conceal her identity, Lady Liu changed her attire and claimed to be a cousin of the Zhou family from the capital. With her striking beauty, she didn’t resemble a village woman, but the villagers believed her story without question.

Meanwhile, Prefect Zheng arrived in Cheng’an County to personally investigate the arson at the Liu family’s rouge shop. To avoid trouble, Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruizhen refrained from visiting the store and stayed home to help Aunt Zhou with incense making.

“Wanchun, here, try this. I just made some fragrant rice cakes,” Aunt Zhou said as she placed a plate of soft, round, white rice cakes in front of Du Wanchun.

With Du Wanchun, Aunt Wang, and the eldest daughter of the Du family helping in the incense workshop, Aunt Zhou had more free time. Whenever she could, she would secretly make delicious treats for Du Wanchun—always ensuring that Third Prince was out working in the fields when she did so.

If he were home, he wouldn’t allow her to enter the kitchen at all.

Du Wanchun took a piece of the rice cake and bit into it. It was soft, delicate, and infused with the mild fragrance of rice and the sweet aroma of osmanthus.

“Mother, this rice cake is delicious!” she exclaimed.

Aunt Zhou beamed with joy. “I’m glad you like it! This is my first time making it, so I wasn’t sure if you’d enjoy it.”

Du Wanchun eagerly ate several more pieces, nodding in delight. “It’s delicious! Mother, you should have some too.”

She picked up a small rice cake and handed it to Aunt Zhou.

Aunt Zhou took it, smiling as she ate. “If you like it, eat as much as you want. I’ll make more next time.”

Du Wanchun grinned and nodded.

Aunt Zhou wiped her hands and stood up. “You go ahead and eat. I’ll clean up the kitchen before your third uncle comes back and gets angry again.”

With that, she walked toward the kitchen, leaving Du Wanchun to enjoy the rice cakes.

Du Wanchun curved her brows into a smile and said, “Mother, don’t worry. Even if Third Uncle comes back, he wouldn’t dare be angry with you.”

That was indeed true.

No matter how fierce the Third Prince was, he never raised his voice at Madam Zhou.

Even if he was furious enough to stomp his feet, the moment he stood before Madam Zhou, he became as obedient as a child.

Madam Zhou’s face was full of joy as she turned and entered the kitchen.

Du Wanchun picked up a plate of pastries and made her way to her room.

In just over a month, Zhou Ruiyuan would be heading to Qingzhou Prefecture to take the provincial exam. These past few days, he had been practicing his calligraphy diligently in preparation.

His original handwriting was too recognizable, making it easy for the Emperor and officials in the capital to identify him. To avoid drawing attention, he had been practicing writing with his left hand.

The characters written with his left hand were entirely different from before—though a bit unsightly, they would serve their purpose. He still needed more practice to refine them.

“Husband.” Du Wanchun approached him, carrying the rice cakes. “Mother made these. Try some.”

Zhou Ruiyuan set down his brush and looked up at her with gentle eyes. “Mother made them especially for you. You should enjoy them.”

Du Wanchun picked up a piece and held it out to him, then glanced at his writing. “Husband, your calligraphy looks beautiful.”

Zhou Ruiyuan spread out the paper and chuckled. “You’re just flattering me. This handwriting is barely passable. But it should be good enough for the exam.”

After speaking, he reached out and wrapped an arm around Du Wanchun’s waist, resting his ear lightly against her belly. His voice was low and warm as he asked, “Is the little one restless?”

As the months passed, the baby’s movements became more pronounced, sometimes waking Du Wanchun in the middle of the night.

She looked down at her slightly rounded belly and smiled. “A little restless, but that just means the baby is strong and healthy.”

Zhou Ruiyuan picked up a brush and wrote two characters on the table: one was “Yi” (懿), and the other was “Yu” (裕).

Du Wanchun looked at them with curiosity. “Husband, what are these?”

Pointing at the characters, Zhou Ruiyuan explained, “If the baby is a boy, he will be named Zhou Yi. If it’s a girl, she will be Zhou Yu.”

Du Wanchun couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re already choosing names for our child?”

Zhou Ruiyuan rested his head lightly against her waist and looked up at her. “Yes, I’m picking names for our child.”

Du Wanchun took the paper with the names, examining it closely. “Isn’t it a little too early for this?”

Zhou Ruiyuan raised his hand, gently stroking her belly. “It’s not too early. In just a few more months, the baby will be born.”

Looking down at him, Du Wanchun reached out to stroke his hair, her face full of anticipation.

Since this was their first child, they were eager for the baby’s arrival.

Late at night, they would often imagine what the baby would look like, hoping to give their child the best that the world had to offer.

“Husband, if you pass the provincial exam this time, will you have to return to the capital?” Du Wanchun asked him.