IDWBE -Chapter 427 Your Name

Moreover, it wasn’t even certain whether he would keep the throne in the future!

He was determined to be the gravedigger of feudal society, and the royal family would undoubtedly become a stumbling block to capitalism.

Leaving the throne to his heirs would only be harming them.

If he were to keep it in the end, it would likely only be symbolic. Whether the emperor was a man or a woman would hardly matter.

“Your Highness!”

He Jiuxiang truly didn’t know what to say!

Had their lord gone mad?

Did he not understand that a hen ruling in the morning would bring disaster to the state?

He wished he could advise him with his life!

Clenching his jaw, he shouted loudly, “I beg Your Highness to reconsider!”

“Reconsider?”

Seeing He Jiuxiang’s desperate, almost self-sacrificial expression, Lin Yi waved his hand and said, “Enough, no need to say more. I understand your point. I’ll follow your advice and plan carefully for the long term.”

“Your wisdom is unmatched, Your Highness!”

Everyone rejoiced and once again kowtowed three times and prostrated nine times.

“Today, I am in high spirits,” Lin Yi said, hands behind his back, eyes glancing toward the adjoining room from which cries could occasionally be heard. “Tonight, the palace will host a grand banquet to celebrate with the people.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Naturally, everyone agreed. There was no reason to disobey this order.

It was just a banquet, nothing too serious.

As long as Lord Lin was happy and no trouble arose, that was all that mattered.

Besides, these were not matters that could endanger the realm.

They had no reason to oppose him; it was easier to just go along.

Lin Yi was pleased with their attitude and ignored them, walking straight into the adjoining room.

“Long live Your Highness, a thousand, a thousand more!”

The midwives and maids inside were shocked to see Lin Yi kneel so suddenly.

“Rise,” Lin Yi walked to the bedside and glanced at Hu Miaoyi, sweating profusely, exhausted, eyes tightly shut. “How is the princess consort?”

Chen Xilian hurriedly reported, “Your Highness, the princess is overly fatigued and has already fallen asleep. She should recover in a few days.”

She was from Sanhe, with a broad horse-like face, in her thirties.

Sanhe was a relatively wild region, short on doctors and medicine. There were only one or two real physicians, maintained by prominent families like the Liang, Wang, and Hu families. Poor households could not afford them.

She considered herself experienced in childbirth, having personally assisted her mother in delivering five younger siblings, so she became a midwife. Whenever someone needed her, she would go straight to their door with scissors in hand.

From the age of ten, she had wielded scissors, and she had been a midwife for nearly twenty years.

When she first arrived in Sanhe with Lord Lin, she began spreading basic hygiene knowledge on a large scale, strictly implementing sanitation systems. She was astonished to find that the previously rampant “big belly” disease, “big neck” disease, dysentery, scalp ringworm, and ulcers had decreased significantly!

Especially after the implementation of compulsory education, Lord Lin required all students not to touch unboiled water! Even for bathing, it had to be boiling hot water!

At the time, this order caused a huge stir in Sanhe. The summers were sweltering, and people could barely tolerate the heat—yet they were expected to bathe in hot water?

Generations had never followed such rules!

But when Lord Lin gave an order, it had to be followed.

In schools, this was almost compulsory.

Unless you weren’t sending your children to school.

If children didn’t go to school, literate or not, the people of Baiyun City didn’t care, but they couldn’t miss the chance to let children eat for free.

Thus, the people of Baiyun City let Lord Lin’s “madness” continue.

In previous years, Sanhe had plenty of skeletal children with big bellies.

But after forbidding children from going into rivers, starting hot water baths, and drinking boiled water, there were far fewer children with big bellies than before.

She became increasingly curious about Lord Lin’s so-called “science,” having personally witnessed many of its miracles.

Later, when Hu Shilu arrived in Sanhe, she admired him utterly.

It turned out that if someone’s abdomen was cut open, stitching it with sheep intestine thread could allow them to survive! Saving lives wasn’t that difficult.

Many pregnant women she had encountered didn’t need to die.

Following Lord Lin’s instructions, Hu Shilu established the Sanhe School of Hygiene. She disregarded others’ gossip and registered without hesitation.

Her husband felt embarrassed that she was immersed among men and even threatened to divorce her, but she paid no mind.

She knew that missing this opportunity meant she might never have another chance.

Medical skills were inherited knowledge.

In the past, to learn even a minor remedy, she had to kneel and kowtow day and night.

Yet, the old midwives still refused to teach her the real techniques.

Now, someone was willing to teach her medicine, and for free!

Not going would have been foolish.

During her days at the School of Hygiene, the worst part was being illiterate. Reading the blackboard felt like reading the heavens.

She had to memorize everything mentally.

Hu Shilu taught so much every day, with many new terms she had never heard of. She had entered a vast new world!

With no choice, she sat with her own daughter in a classroom, relearning pinyin and characters.

Her teacher, Hu Shilu, had a bad temper, but she was deeply grateful for his instruction. He was always patient and shared knowledge without reservation.

One taught earnestly, one learned earnestly.

Now, she was a well-known midwife throughout Sanhe.

After becoming pregnant with Lord Lin’s child, her master sent a message via pigeon, summoning her and Yan Hong to Ankang City.

When the master gives an order, they could not refuse.

Moreover, it involved the Prince He’s residence, a matter of great importance.

They had to come to Ankang City, no matter what.

Unexpectedly, in less than half a year, she and Yan Hong had made quite a name for themselves in Ankang City.

She was delighted by her nickname, “Seeking Child Guanyin.”

As for Yan Hong’s nickname, “Yan Wang Po,” she was even happier.

Whether Yan Hong herself liked it or not, who cared? Back when they were fellow disciples, that little wretch always embarrassed her in front of the master!

If it weren’t for Lord Lin, the two of them wouldn’t even be in the same room today.

It would be “you without me”!

That was certain.

Now, kneeling on the ground, after speaking, she couldn’t help but glance at Yan Hong, also kneeling.

Little wretch!

You must understand proper order!

I am your senior sister. In front of Lord Lin, you have no say!

“Thank you for your hard work,” Lin Yi smiled, looking at the sweat beading on Wu Xilian and Yan Hong’s faces. “You may go rest now.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

Everyone shouted their praises.

Lin Yi stepped past the two midwives and approached the wet nurse holding the child.

The wet nurse had been sought throughout Ankang City by the Prince He’s residence, a young woman who had just given birth. Seeing Lord Lin approach, she panicked, afraid she was doing something wrong, turning pale and trembling all over.

The more she trembled, the more Lin Yi focused his attention.

“Your Highness,” Finally, Mingyue couldn’t bear it and softly called to Lin Yi.

“Take good care of the princess, and I will reward you handsomely,” Lin Yi said, then walked straight to Hu Miaoyi’s bed.

Hu Miaoyi lay on the bed, hair plastered to her sweat-stained forehead. Lin Yi felt a pang of pity.

In this era, giving birth was like passing through the gates of hell.

He owed her understanding.

He sat beside her, long fingers carefully smoothing the stray hairs on her forehead.

Mingyue gestured to the others, who quickly bowed and exited.

After everyone left, she carefully stepped out and quietly closed the door.

At the faint sound of the door shutting, Hu Miaoyi suddenly opened her eyes, struggling to sit up. “I am guilty!”

“Don’t move,” Lin Yi gently pressed her down, smiling. “You gave birth to the princess for me. What crime is that? I can’t thank you enough.”

“Your Highness,” Hu Miaoyi said, ashamed, “I did not give birth to a male heir, disappointing you.”

“You dare say that?” Lin Yi was surprised. “You’ve been displeased with me all this time, even wanting to divorce me. Why now do you care whether it’s a son or a daughter?”

He helped her lie back down and, after a moment’s hesitation, held her hand.

No matter how she had acted, having borne his child meant he had a responsibility to give her a sense of security.

“Your Highness,” Hu Miaoyi said calmly, “Divorcing you would be for personal reasons; giving birth to a male heir is for duty. I may be dull, but I am not incapable of distinguishing between public and private matters.”

She had once fretted over whether she would bear a boy or a girl.

If she could not produce a male heir, she would feel useless and possibly bring trouble to her father.

“I’ve said it before,” Lin Yi patted her hand. “A boy or a girl, it’s the same—they are my blood. You need not worry. Do you still wish to divorce me?”

Hu Miaoyi had once thought of leaving the Prince He’s residence, but hearing this, her heart wavered. “What do you mean, Your Highness? Where do you want me to go?”

Lin Yi brought a cup of water to her lips, smiling. “Your lips are cracked. Drink some water.”

“Your Highness,” Hu Miaoyi hesitated, but finally took the cup and drank.

After a while, she rested her hand on her belly and exhaled deeply.

“You…” Lin Yi sighed. “You’ve become even more cautious. I know you wanted a divorce, but Wen Zhaoyi was right: even if I allowed it, you couldn’t survive outside Ankang City, let alone leave the Prince He’s residence. Many would come after you.”

To protect his “kingly” authority, his subordinates would never let Hu Miaoyi live. And they feared his “wrath” even less.

“Your Highness, you overstate, I dare not,” If it were before, Hu Miaoyi would have abandoned everything and agreed immediately.

But thinking of the rosy daughter she had just delivered, she realized she was now a mother.

That was her own child.

If she died, who would protect her from abuse or being called a wild child?

In that brief instant, she thought about so much.

Most importantly, as Lord Lin said, if she divorced him, she wouldn’t survive outside Ankang City, not to mention the Prince He’s residence.

“You are bold. Is there anything you dare not do?”

Lin Yi wrung out a wet towel and wiped the sweat from her forehead. “In life, it’s best to act according to your heart. Don’t go against yourself. If you’re unhappy, I’m unhappy; if I’m unhappy, everyone’s unhappy. There’s no point otherwise.”

He spoke honestly.

Hu Miaoyi turned her head, feigning sleep, saying nothing more.

“You’ve just given birth, your immunity is low. It’s time to rest properly. Don’t think too much. Recover well, or you’ll suffer later.”

Lin Yi patted her hand again, then rose and left the room.

The princess had been born.

At the same time Lin Yi hosted a banquet, he issued another order: to reward the army.

Reward the army for the birth of a princess?

Many couldn’t understand this order.

In all previous dynasties, there was no such precedent!

Not even for a princess—much less a daughter of the state!

The Da Liang army had developed from the Sanhe garrison, now numbering at least 150,000 soldiers.

A simple order of reward would cost tens of thousands of taels of silver!

For someone as frugal as Lord Lin, why spend so much?

Jiao Zhong, by Lin Yi’s side, didn’t understand either.

He kept glancing at Lord Lin, who laughed and said, “I must let these soldiers know who is giving them this feast.”

“Reporting, Your Highness, naturally it is the princess,” Jiao Zhong said quickly.

“I won’t attend the banquet tonight,” Lin Yi said after a thought. “With the emperor present, it’s enough.”

Jiao Zhong loudly replied, “As commanded!”

Seeing that Lin Yi gave no further instructions, he arranged for a messenger to notify Tan Xizi in the palace.

In short, tonight’s banquet would be in honor of Emperor Delong.

Mingyue came over, massaging Lin Yi’s shoulders while smiling. “Your Highness loves the princess so much. Have you decided on her name?”

She had asked before.

Now it was just a matter of repeating the question.

Lin Yi smiled, “I’ve already thought of it. As the ancient saying goes: ‘Mountains have beautiful flowers, marquises have chestnuts and plums.’ Let her be Jiahui.”

Lin Jiahui?

Mingyue only dared to recite it quietly in her mind, smiling. “Your Highness is wise. The princess will surely be pleased with this name.”

Lin Yi nodded. “Very well.”

Having just become a father, Lin Yi was very happy.

The little girl had been wrinkled at birth, but within days, her face smoothed out.

Having grown up in an orphanage, Lin Yi had never seen a child emerge fully healthy from the womb.

In this world, he had established his own orphanage. Though he cared, they weren’t his blood. Seeing the child in his arms, he could only look a little.

His daughter was the first healthy child he had ever seen.

“My daughter, let go. Do you know how important every hair is to a middle-aged man?”

Lin Yi couldn’t understand why a less-than-month-old baby could have such a strong grip.

He could neither hit her nor scold her.