His eager gaze fixed on Yu Meng, making her a little apprehensive.
Yu Meng softly called out to him, "Dad, why are you smiling so creepily? Let's be normal, okay? My sister just had a little niece, you should be looking at the baby in Mom's arms, not me."
Why was her dad staring at her when his daughter just gave birth? Was he expecting her to give him a granddaughter too?
Yu Meng couldn't understand her father's thoughts, feeling that his smile was off, almost like he was possessed. Yes, that was the feeling.
She timidly moved away from her father, drawing closer to her mother.
After her brother-in-law finally left her sister, they went to visit. Zhao Jiaqi placed the baby beside Jun Jun, letting her have a good look.
"So fair and plump, just like you. She's a beautiful embryo."
Jun Jun, overcome with emotion, shed tears. The joy of being a new mother overflowed.
After a while, she reluctantly took her eyes off her daughter and looked at Zhao Jiaqi, "Mom, can you give her a name?"
A name?
Zhao Jiaqi repeatedly shook her head. Naming was something she was truly incapable of. She had named her own children on a whim.
Yao Yao and Sen Sen's names were meant to signify taking fewer detours, but Zong Han's daughter, born as a Crown Princess, was a different story. She begged to be spared from naming a future empress.
She chuckled awkwardly and tactfully said, "It would be best to have your father name her."
Speaking of her father, Jun Jun scanned the room again but didn't see him, feeling a bit disappointed. Zong Han noticed this and said, "You started labor in the middle of the night yesterday, and I didn't send a message to your mother. Now that you've just given birth, I've sent someone to notify her. Don't worry, Dad will be here soon."
Jun Jun smiled and nodded at Zong Han. Lacking strength, she closed her eyes and fell asleep. Zhao Jiaqi, seeing this, took the baby and led everyone out, leaving the private space for the couple.
The status of Crown Princess quickly caused an uproar in Zongsheng Kingdom. Within half a morning of her birth, many old ministers arrived, all urging the Emperor to reconsider.
Upon hearing the news, Fan Zehao's veins bulged on his forehead, and he was restless. He refused to eat and paced back and forth in his room.
Zhao Jiaqi glanced at him and advised, "This is Zongsheng Kingdom. Zong Han knows how he'll handle it. Why are you so anxious? Sit down and eat."
Fan Xudong also agreed. He advised, "Big Brother, this is their family affair. Let's not interfere. If Zong Han ever wrongs Jun Jun, we can take the child and Jun Jun with us when we leave. Besides, Zong Han doesn't seem like an ungrateful person. You're just worrying for nothing."
"I know, but with me here, the ministers of Zongsheng Kingdom are acting so arrogantly, it's truly despicable."
Her husband's words were hard to agree with. She directly exposed his shortcomings, "You're a somebody in the inner city, but in Zongsheng Kingdom, you're at best just a person. What's there to be so proud of?"
Her words stunned Fan Zehao into silence. He stared blankly at his wife, his eyes wide enough to fall out of their sockets.
Seeing that he still wasn't convinced, Zhao Jiaqi shot him a glance, "Keep glaring, and I'll pluck your eyeballs out and use them as fish bladders to step on."
"A princess of a nation, made Crown Princess at birth. It's not unreasonable for the ministers here to resist. Have you seen any country where a woman becomes empress?" Zhao Jiaqi calmly reasoned with him, "When you were Emperor, you pushed through the abolition of the harem against all opposition. There's always a process, so why are you so anxious?"
Upon hearing this, Fan Zehao no longer dwelled on his wife's earlier remarks and sat down obediently, pouting and sighing dejectedly.
"I just don't understand. As Emperor, why does Zong Han need the ministers' approval to name his heir? I say these ministers are just being meddlesome. They should focus on their own family's mess and not stick their noses into others' business. Aren't they tired?"
Zhao Jiaqi really wanted to retort again, but with Fan Lao Er and Ping Ting present, she decided not to, to save him some face.
She merely snorted, "You have a throne, who do you plan to pass it to? You should focus on your own affairs for now."
Mentioning this, Fan Zehao's disappointed face suddenly lit up with a smile, startling everyone at the table.
He directly dropped a bombshell, "I've thought about it. I'll pass my throne to our daughter. That way, Yu Meng won't have to marry out. We can find a son-in-law to live with us. What do you think, my dear?"
Before Zhao Jiaqi could speak, Yu Meng from the side immediately objected, slamming the table and standing up. Her small face was very serious as she said to Fan Zehao, "Dad, I don't care for your throne. Please don't leave it to me. I don't want it."
Her righteous words shocked Fan Zehao. He couldn't believe what he was hearing or seeing.
He asked, "Isn't the throne alluring? Why wouldn't you want it?"
Yu Meng retorted, "If the throne is so alluring, why don't you want it?"
Fan Zehao: ...
Zhao Jiaqi felt her child had said the perfect thing. She looked at Fan Zehao and raised her eyebrows. His plan was completely ruined.
For a moment, the dining table fell silent. Fan Zehao's mouth hung open, unsure of what to say. Suddenly, he felt the throne was a hot potato.
The atmosphere in the room became rigid. When Ying Xiong entered, he saw everyone looking dazed. He frowned and quietly asked, "What's wrong?"
Zhao Jiaqi smiled and waved her hand, "Nothing, we were just wondering why you weren't here yet."
Ying Xiong lifted the food box in his hand and beamed, "I made some chicken soup for Jun Jun. This chicken is a stewing hen I bought, very nutritious."
Even before the food box was opened, a fragrant aroma wafted out, showing it was made with care.
In the afternoon, Jun Jun woke up and, after tasting the soup made by her father, her eyes became moist. Zhao Jiaqi watched the father and daughter reconcile with a smile, feeling genuinely happy from the bottom of her heart.
Meanwhile, in the grand hall, the ministers were still urging Zong Han to reconsider. Some even threatened to die in protest, unwilling to sacrifice their lives to threaten the Emperor. Zong Han's response was simple, 'If you want to die, no one is stopping you, but whether you live or die, no one can stop my decision.'
Soon, an imperial decree was issued, and the news spread throughout Zongsheng Kingdom. The Emperor had conferred the title of Crown Princess upon the eldest princess. Immediately, the entire Zongsheng Kingdom erupted in excitement. Some even plotted rebellion, but any such signs were ruthlessly suppressed by Zong Han.
His methods were extremely harsh; public execution and dismemberment were considered light punishments. The masterminds were subjected to extreme torture, carried out in front of the ministers, undoubtedly as a deterrent and a clear threat.
Soon, the storm subsided. Those who did not accept the Crown Princess were forced to accept her, or risk not living to see their next meal. They truly didn't know.
Zhao Jiaqi was also shocked by these methods after hearing about them, and she was deeply moved by what he had done for Jun Jun.