Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?

When she heard this, Shang Ruyi’s heart skipped a beat.

Beside her, Yu Wenye’s gaze flickered as well. He stepped forward and said, "I wonder what name Father has bestowed upon Little Yuanzi."

Yu Wenquan smiled as he caught Little Yuanzi’s constantly reaching little hand in his own. His palm was broad, heavy, and powerful, yet when it closed around the child’s soft, tender fingers, it was incomparably gentle. Not only did Little Yuanzi not feel any pain, he even found it fun to grab Grandpa’s fingers and wrestle with them. Yu Wenquan was thoroughly amused by the child, then turned his head to smile at the couple. "Come and take a look. See if you like it."

The two of them immediately stepped up. On the huge sheet of snow‑white xuan paper, two bold characters, written in flying dragon and dancing phoenix strokes, heavy with ink, crashed into their sight—

Yuan Qian.

Both of them were taken aback and instinctively exchanged a glance, but Yu Wenquan was already smiling as he said, "I pondered for a long time, thought through many options, and in the end settled on these two characters."

"..."

"To encompass the origin and tread in virtue, to keep a heart as limpid as water steeped in tea; to exert oneself from dawn till dusk, so that no effort is made in vain."

As he spoke, he lowered his head to look at the plump Little Yuanzi in his arms. This was the first grandson he had obtained at his age, after his achievements and fame were already established—the Imperial Grandson. No matter what his relationship with Yu Wenye might be, no matter how fierce the winds on the court now blew, how intense the struggle between the Crown Prince and King Qin, how much it troubled him, his affection for this child was something no external factor could ever change.

He smiled and said, "I hope this child will achieve merits surpassing those of civil and martial officials, and a virtue to match the deeds of the exalted forebears."

As Yu Wenye looked at these two characters, his gaze gradually darkened.

Shang Ruyi reacted quickly and immediately knelt, facing Yu Wenquan. "This child, Yuan Qian, thanks Father for the bestowed name!"

Yu Wenye only came back to his senses when he heard her speak, and knelt as well. Yu Wenquan raised his hand with a smile. "Get up."

As he spoke, Little Yuanzi in his arms began restlessly climbing toward the table. Clearly such a soft, pink‑cheeked little doll of a child, yet he had so much strength. Yu Wenquan was so delighted by his antics that he did not stop him, merely cupped his hands around the child’s sides to keep him from falling, saying, "You two also needn’t thank me. This child is my Imperial Grandson. I give him a name—do I still need thanks for that?"

"..."

"It’s only that it’s been dragged out for so long—you must blame me for it."

As he spoke, he glanced sideways at Yu Wenye.

Shang Ruyi had already risen to her feet. Hearing this, she quickly said with a smile, "Father speaks too seriously. How could Feng Chen and I dare blame Father?"

"..."

"These past days, we only feared that Father planned to give the child too weighty a name, and worried he wouldn’t be able to bear it."

Hearing this, Yu Wenquan immediately laughed and said, "My grandson is born to be honored like gold and jade. How could he not bear it?"

"..."

"No matter how weighty, he can shoulder it!"

As he spoke, Little Yuanzi had already climbed from his knee up onto the table. One small hand happened to press into the inkstone beside him, and came away drenched in ink. He blinked, looked down at the snow‑white xuan paper before him, then at his own glossy black palm, and suddenly began slapping his hand down onto the paper.

"Oh!"

Shang Ruyi gave a start, hastily reaching out to stop him, but Yu Wenquan raised a hand to block her. He watched Little Yuanzi pat his hand on the paper over and over, stamping one tiny handprint after another, and listened to the child’s crisp peals of laughter. He too began to laugh, saying, "Looks like Yuan Qian likes this name as well."

As he spoke, he leaned closer to the little child. "You like it, don’t you? Look at you, stamping your own seal on it."

Seeing the grown‑ups all smiling, Little Yuanzi grew even happier. He simply used both hands, slapping nonstop at the xuan paper. The splashing ink spattered onto his face, and in no time he was dyed into a little tabby cat. Yu Wenquan was so amused that he burst into hearty laughter. His broad, powerful mirth rang out, and even the candle flames around the great hall trembled and flickered.

Off to the side, Eunuch Yu said with a smile, "The Emperor has been gloomy these last few days. It’s still the young prince who’s best—His Majesty brightened up at once."

Yu Wenquan laughed. "You talk nonsense. Hurry and fetch water to wash Yuan Qian’s hands!"

"Yes!"

Eunuch Yu went off cheerfully to fetch water.

With Little Yuanzi there, the whole evening passed in high spirits. Yu Wenquan truly did have the Food Bureau prepare many homestyle dishes, and there was even Cold Roasted Lamb that Shang Ruyi favored. The few of them ate and chatted, making jokes, and did not speak at all of court affairs or the campaign in the Eastern Capital, so the mood was very harmonious.

The meal went on until deep into the night.

Seeing Little Yuanzi in his arms begin to yawn, his eyelids drooping again and again, Yu Wenquan smiled. "It’s getting late. You should go back and rest early."

At his words, Yu Wenye and Shang Ruyi immediately rose.

Though he had told them to leave, when he saw the two of them stand up, a look of wanting to speak yet holding back appeared on Yu Wenquan’s face. But before he could open his mouth, Yu Wenye spoke first. "By the way, Father, I plan to go to the Ministry of Revenue tomorrow to adjust the grain. I’ll have them set out at once, and send the provisions ahead."

At this, Yu Wenquan’s eyes lit up.

Yet his face remained fairly expressionless. He only said, "These matters, decide on them yourself. Since I have already appointed you Grand Minister of the Imperial Council of Shandong Road, all related business is yours to command. You needn’t report every single thing to me."

Yu Wenye said, "Yes."

Then he added, "I only thought, if Father’s edict were issued, those below would carry things out faster, and I could depart a day sooner."

Yu Wenquan let out a sigh. "Very well. Tomorrow I’ll issue an edict, ordering the Ministry of Revenue to hasten their preparations."

"Thank you, Father."

Standing to one side, Shang Ruyi watched as Eunuch Yu, holding the already drowsy Little Yuanzi, brought him back and handed him into Tushere’s arms. Once father and son finished their exchange, they fell quiet. Shang Ruyi then said, "Father, in that case we won’t disturb your rest any longer. We take our leave."

Yu Wenquan waved a hand. "Go on, and mind the way."

"Yes."

With that, the two of them led Tushere out.

Just as they stepped out of Liangyi Hall, a cool breeze swept over them. The wine fumes they had picked up in the hall were scattered at once. Shang Ruyi shivered as if suddenly sobered and turned to look at Yu Wenye. "..."

Her gaze flickered and slipped away, yet she did not say a single word.

Yu Wenye also glanced at her, smiling faintly as he reached out to take her wrist. The two of them walked forward in silence, the whole way quiet, until they returned to Qianqiu Palace. Chang Wan and Wo Xue had long since laid out the bedding and prepared hot water for washing. After Tushere carried Yuanyuan down and away, only the two of them remained in the great hall.

Only then did Shang Ruyi draw a deep breath. She turned to face Yu Wenye, who was already sitting on the couch and seemed quite calm, and said, "Is it what I think it means?"

Yu Wenye lifted his eyes to look at her, the corners of them still faintly curved.

He smiled. "What meaning?"